Diplomacia transfronteriza en tiempos de revolución: el Alto Río Negro iberoamericano, 1815-1820 (Estudios)

This article studies the impacts of the independence war in the regional border of the High Negro River, taking as it’s object of analysis the existing multiples connections between the inhabitants of both sides of the imaginary boundary line. From July 1817, the independence war in Venezuela changed the coordinates: the struggles between the republican patriots and those obedient to the King (Realistas), faithful to the restoration of the Spanish monarchy of Fernando VII, managed the great border region, and influenced the political, social and local dynamics, mainly the existing cross-border relations between both, impacted the ordinary life of the local population and affected the diplomacy between the Portuguese and Spanish American authorities, those faithful to the King (Realistas) and patriots.

Historia de la “gripe española” que llegó a Quito en 1918

La “gripe española” –nombre asignado a la pandemia de gripe debido a que la prensa española propagó con mayor énfasis la noticia de la enfermedad- se originó en Kansas, EEUU. Fue provocada por una mutación gripal aviar (en el marco de condiciones económicas, sociales y ambientales que facilitaron la circunstancia originaria de la gripe y los factores del contagio) que inicialmente afectó a algunos ciudadanos estadounidenses muchos de los cuales, como parte de las tropas de su ejército, fueron conducidos hacia Europa, en el año de 1918. Desde los EEUU la gripe se difundió en los territorios de la primera guerra mundial, pero también se propagó por otras zonas del orbe, causando una mortandad que osciló entre 60 y 70 millones de víctimas. La “gripe española” llegó a Quito en diciembre de 1918. Se extendió hasta enero de 1919; provocó en ese lapso alrededor de15 mil casos de contagio y 185 muertos. Los efectos de esta pandemia fueron menos agresivos en Quito que en el resto de la región. Aquello se debió a las voces de alerta provocados por la prensa local y debido a la puesta en macha, mediante la “Cartilla sobre la gripe” y el “Instructivo de la Facultad de Medicina” –los dos documentos concebidos por Isidro Ayora- de una política informativa y preventiva en diversos niveles. El Cabildo jugó un rol importante a pesar que ante las políticas higienistas propuestas se evidenció algunos desfases desde el conjunto de la Institucionalidad.

State and society in the English countryside: the rural community movement 1918-1939

This paper assesses the relationship between state and society in interwar rural England, focusing on the hitherto neglected role of the Rural Community Councils (RCCs). The rise of statutory social provision in the early twentieth century created new challenges and opportunities for voluntaryism, and the rural community movement was in part a response. The paper examines the early development of the movement, arguing that a crucial role was played by a close-knit group of academics and local government officials. While largely eschewing party politics, they shared a commitment to citizenship, democracy and the promotion of rural culture; many of them had been close associates of Sir Horace Plunkett. The RCCs engaged in a wide range of activities, including advisory work, adult education, local history, village hall provision, support for rural industries and an ambivalent engagement with parish councils. The paper concludes with an assessment of the achievements of the rural community movement, arguing that it was constrained by its financial dependence on voluntary contributions.

Investigation of the impact of feeding Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 1815 encapsulated in microbially derived polymers on the rat faecal microbiota

AIMS: The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of the administration of microencapsulated Lactobacillus plantarum CRL 1815 with two combinations of microbially derived polysaccharides, xanthan : gellan gum (1%:0·75%) and jamilan : gellan gum (1%:1%), on the rat faecal microbiota. METHODS AND RESULTS: A 10-day feeding study was performed for each polymer combination in groups of 16 rats fed either with placebo capsules, free or encapsulated Lact. plantarum or water. The composition of the faecal microbiota was analysed by fluorescence in situ hybridization and temporal temperature gradient gel electrophoresis. Degradation of placebo capsules was detected, with increased levels of polysaccharide-degrading bacteria. Xanthan : gellan gum capsules were shown to reduce the Bifidobacterium population and increase the Clostridium histolyticum group levels, but not jamilan : gellan gum capsules. Only after administration of jamilan : gellan gum-probiotic capsules was detected a significant increase in Lactobacillus-Enterococcus group levels compared to controls (capsules and probiotic) as well as two bands were identified as Lact. plantarum in two profiles of ileum samples. CONCLUSIONS: Exopolysaccharides constitute an interesting approach for colon-targeted delivery of probiotics, where jamilan : gellan gum capsules present better biocompatibility and promising results as a probiotic carrier. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF STUDY: This study introduces and highlights the importance of biological compatibility in the encapsulating material election, as they can modulate the gut microbiota by themselves, and the use of bacterial exopolysaccharides as a powerful source of new targeted-delivery coating material.

Aesthetical and narrative uses of the trench in the Hollywood cinema of 1918-1930

Throughout history of painting, the representation of landscape has been considered a laboratory for the human gaze on the world. The First World War and its new approach to the battlefield altered deeply the classical forms of representation, and replaced them with a mechanised and fragmentary vision, which was related with the development of photography and cinema. As Vicente J. Benet has analysed, Hollywod cinema used these deep changes in its filmic versions of the conflict, although it organised them following a narrative logic. In this text we intend to study how the battlefield and, particularly, the trench, are inserted in this logic of the history of landscape painting. We do so through some Hollywood films from the period 1918-1930. Firstly, we approach the trench as a composition value which can structure the image and guide the camera movement. In the second place, we study how it creates a dialog between its inside, melodrama scenery, and the outside, battlefield and danger. In both cases, we conclude that the trench as a form and as a narrative element plays a structuring and integrative role with the storytelling logic.