THE TROPICS OF EMPIRE: WHY COLUMBUS SAILED SOUTH TO THE INDIES

Nicolás Wey Gómez, The Tropics of Empire: Why Columbus Sailed South to the Indies, Cambridge, The MIT Press, 2008, 592 pp

El mito liberal del Imperio: España, Cuba y el 98

RESUMEN: Desde una perspectiva postcolonial, que lleva al autor a considerar la historia del imperialismo como uno de los terrenos en los que resulta obligado el enfoque transnacional, el artículo estudia el mito liberal del imperio forjado por la política colonial española de mediados del siglo XIX. Tras perder la mayor parte del imperio americano en los años 20, españoles y cubanos reconstruyeron un nuevo orden colonial en el Caribe, más limitado territorialmente, pero muy pujante y económicamente eficaz. Dentro de este nuevo régimen, a mediados de siglo surgen una serie de tendencias anti-hegemónicas que aspiraban a crear un nuevo modelo de dominio colonial, basado en las instituciones liberales y sólidamente sustentado en la unidad racial de los "españoles" de ambos lados del Atlántico. Finalmente, el artículo constata la persistencia del mito liberal del imperio y analiza algunas de sus implicaciones para la historia reciente de Cuba y España. Palabras Clave. Imperialismo, España, Cuba, Rafael María de Labra, Crisis del 98. ABSTRACT: From a post-colonial perspective, which leads the author to consider the history of imperialism as one of the areas which must be given a transnational focus, this article studies the liberal myth of empire forged by the colonial policy of the mid-nineteenth century. After losing the greater part of the American empire in the 1820s, the Spanish and the Cubans reconstructed a new colonial order in the Caribbean, more limited territorially but very vigorous and economically effective. Within this new regime, a series of anti-hegemonic trends arose in the middle of the century that aspired to create a new model of colonial domination, based on liberal institutions and solidly supported by the racial unity of the "Spanish" on both sides of the Atlantic. Finally the article shows the persistence of the liberal myth of empire and analyses some of its implications for the recent history of Cuba and Spain. Key Words: Imperialism, Spain, Cuba, Rafael María de Labra, Crisis of 1898. "Las conmemoraciones abarcan las dos caras de lo histórico. Imponen silencio a aquellos acontecimientos que ignoran, y llenan ese silencio con narraciones de poder sobre el acontecimiento que celebran" Michel-Rolph TROUILLOT, Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (Boston: Beacon Press, 1995), p. 118

Sensibilidades socio-raciales en el Atlántico Hispano. Posturas anti-esclavistas, empatías ideológicas y actitudes temerosas hacia los sectores subalternos de color en España e Hispanoamérica a fines de la edad moderna

This article studies from a longue durée perspective the articulation of anti-slavery sentiments and other socio-racial sensibilities within the Spanish Atlantic, from the first theological criticisms of the 16th century to the efforts to abolish slavery in Cuba, Puerto Rico and Spain, in the second half of the 19th century. We focus on the most significant cases of individuals who shared a white identity and who advocated against slavery, slave trade and socio-racial discrimination of Free Coloureds. We argue that the many egalitarian proposals made during the Spanish American revolutions and at the Cortes of Cádiz represent a second golden moment (after the ‘Mulatto Affaire’ during the French Revolution) in the struggle for the granting of political equality to subaltern sectors the Atlantic World. In the end, we expect to provide a clearer picture of how the socio-racial sensibilities contributed to accelerate, or to postpone, the introduction of abolitionist or equalitarian measures vis-à-vis the coloured subaltern sectors in the Spanish Atlantic in the Late Modern Age.Este artículo estudia desde una perspectiva de longue durée la articulación de los sentimientos anti-esclavistas con otras sensibilidades socio-raciales en el Atlántico español, desde las primeras críticas teológicas del siglo xvi hasta los esfuerzos para abolir la esclavitud en Cuba, Puerto Rico y España, en la segunda mitad del siglo XIX. El estudio se centra en los casos más significativos de individuos que compartían una identidad blanca y que abogaron contra la esclavitud, la trata de esclavos y la discriminación socio-racial de los libres de color. El mismo sostiene que las muchas propuestas igualitarias hechas durante las revoluciones hispanoamericanas y en las Cortes de Cádiz representan un segundo momento dorado (después del llamado ‘Asunto de los mulatos’ durante la Revolución Francesa) en la lucha por el otorgamiento de igualdad política a los sectores subalternos en el Mundo Atlántico. Al final, se aspira proporcionar una imagen más clara de cómo las sensibilidades socio-raciales contribuyeron a acelerar, o posponer, la introducción de medidas abolicionistas e igualitarias para los sectores subalternos de color en el Atlántico español a fines de la Edad Moderna

La abolición de la esclavitud en Hispanoamérica y Brasil : Nuevos aportes y debates historiográficos [Recurso electrónico]

Los esfuerzos de los esclavos en pos de la abolición en Ecuador / Camilla Townsend. El final de la esclavitud y el final del imperio: la emancipación de los esclavos en Cuba y Puerto Rico / Christopher Schmidt-Nowara. La abolición de la trata de esclavos en Brasil en 1850: historiografía, acción esclava y el arte de estadista / Jeffrey Needell. La abolición en el Brasil: Movimientos sociales y políticos en el sudeste cafetalero / María Helena Pereira Toledo Machado. La decadencia del plantador progresista y el auge del agente subalterno: Cambios en las narrativas de la emancipación de los esclavos en el Brasil / Barbara Weinstei

A crossover randomised controlled trial of oral mandibular advancement devices for obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea (TOMADO)

Rationale Mandibular advancement devices (MADs) are used to treat obstructive sleep apnoea-hypopnoea syndrome (OSAHS) but evidence is lacking regarding their clinical and cost-effectiveness in less severe disease. Objectives To compare clinical- and cost-effectiveness of a range of MADs against no treatment in mild to moderate OSAHS. Measurements and methods This open-label, randomised, controlled, crossover trial was undertaken at a UK sleep centre. Adults with Apnoea-Hypopnoea Index (AHI) 5–<30/h and Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) score ≥9 underwent 6 weeks of treatment with three nonadjustable MADs: self-moulded (SleepPro 1; SP1); semi-bespoke (SleepPro 2; SP2); fully-bespoke MAD (bMAD); and 4 weeks no treatment. Primary outcome was AHI scored by a polysomnographer blinded to treatment. Secondary outcomes included ESS, quality of life, resource use and cost. Main results 90 patients were randomised and 83 were analysed. All devices reduced AHI compared with no treatment by 26% (95% CI 11% to 38%, p=0.001) for SP1, 33% (95% CI 24% to 41%) for SP2 and 36% (95% CI 24% to 45%, p<0.001) for bMAD. ESS was 1.51 (95% CI 0.73 to 2.29, p<0.001, SP1) to 2.37 (95% CI 1.53 to 3.22, p<0.001, bMAD) lower than no treatment (p<0.001 for all). Compliance was lower for SP1, which was the least preferred treatment at trial exit. All devices were cost-effective compared with no treatment at a £20 000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY) threshold. SP2 was the most cost-effective up to £39 800/QALY. Conclusions Non-adjustable MADs achieve clinically important improvements in mild to moderate OSAHS and are cost-effective

Clinical Implications of Mandible and Neck Measurements in Non-Obese Asian Snorers: Ansan City General Population-Based Study

ObjectivesAnthropometric abnormalities of the mandible and neck may contribute to snoring in non-obese Asians. The study evaluated the clinical implications of mandible and neck measurements in non-obese Asian snorers.MethodsThe external mandible and neck measurements (neck circumference, two lengths of neck, mandibular body angle, and lengths of mandibular ramus and body) were compared between snorers and non-snorers in a sample of 2,778 non-obese Koreans (1,389 males, 1,389 females) aged 40 to 69 years (mean, 48.47±7.72 years).ResultsThe overall prevalence of snoring was 64.7% (899/1,389) and 48.3% (671/1,389) in non-obese male and female subjects, respectively. In non-obese males, snorers had significantly a greater neck circumference (P<0.0001) and shorter mandibular body length (P=0.0126) than non-snorers. In non-obese females, snorers had significantly greater neck circumferences (P=0.0165), compared with non-snorers. However, there were no statistically significant differences in other variables between non-snorers and snorers.ConclusionAnthropometric abnormalities of the mandible and neck, including thick neck circumference in both genders and small mandible size in males, may be relevant contributing factors to snoring in non-obese Asian snorers

Respiratory Muscle Strength and Cough Capacity in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy

The function of inspiratory muscles is crucial for effective cough as well as expiratory muscles in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). However, there is no report on the correlation between cough and inspiratory muscle strength. To investigate the relationships of voluntary cough capacity, assisted cough techniques, and inspiratory muscle strength as well as expiratory muscle strength in patients with DMD (n = 32). The vital capacity (VC), maximum insufflation capacity (MIC), maximal inspiratory pressure (MIP), and maximal expiratory pressure (MEP) were measured. Unassisted peak cough flow (UPCF) and three different techniques of assisted PCF were evaluated. The mean value of MICs (1918 ± 586 mL) was higher than that of VCs (1474 ± 632 mL) (p < 0.001). All three assisted cough methods showed significantly higher value than unassisted method (212 ± 52 L/min) (F = 66.13, p < 0.001). Combined assisted cough technique (both manual and volume assisted PCF; 286 ± 41 L/min) significantly exceeded manual assisted PCF (MPCF; 246 ± 49 L/min) and volume assisted PCF (VPCF; 252 ± 45 L/min) (F = 66.13, p < 0.001). MIP (34 ± 13 cmH2O) correlated significantly with both UPCF and all three assisted PCFs as well as MEP (27 ± 10 cmH2O) (p < 0.001). Both MEP and MIP, which are the markers of respiratory muscle weakness, should be taken into account in the study of cough effectiveness

Obstructive sleep apnoea: A review of the orofacial implications

The document attached has been archived with permission from the Australian Dental Association (8th Jan 2008). An external link to the publisher’s copy is included.Obstructive sleep apnoea is a complex multifactorial condition produced by a combination of anatomical and physiological factors. There is a significant associated mortality and morbidity to obstructive sleep apnoea. There is an at least 25 per cent increased mortality from cardiovascular disease when obstructive sleep apnoea patients are compared to age and gender matched healthy people. Obstructive sleep apnoea sufferers also have a much higher industrial and motor vehicle accident rate. Management of the condition should be undertaken by a multidisciplinary team including respiratory physicians, sleep laboratory technicians, otorhinolaryngologists, oral and maxillofacial surgeons and dental specialists. The diagnostic and therapeutic interactions of team members are the key to successful treatment. The treatment regime utilises nasal continuous positive airway pressure devices, mandibular advancement splints and soft and hard tissue surgery. This review provides the dental practitioner with an introduction to obstructive sleep apnoea with particular emphasis on the orofacial aspects.David Sherring, Norman Vowles, Ral Antic, Suren Krishnan and Alastair N Gos