Superstitions of composure: the Ayn Rand cult and the pop-psychology of self-esteem.

Ayn Rand is known as an advocate of rugged individualism and unregulated capitalism, which has led to a scholarly focus on her influence on neoliberal and right-wing politics. This article focuses on the psychologically unrealistic conceptualisation of self-esteem in Rand's ethics, which arguably prevails in today's self-help culture. Rand endorsed Nathaniel Branden, her acolyte and lover, as official therapist for her circle. In this role, he promoted the positive effects of living according to Randian principles on mental health. Rand's so-called objectivism therefore provides not only a questionable philosophical framework for neoliberal politics but also, and perhaps predominantly for its followers, a set of guidelines for the project of self-optimisation. The fact that Rand's ideal of radical self-sufficiency is ultimately psychologically unliveable makes its use in applied psychotherapy ineffective and harmful. The article offers a cultural-historical case study about the ideological entanglements of philosophy and pop-psychological concepts and of clinical malpractice.

"The blinding disease". The history of trachoma in Italians between the 19th and 20th centuries: colonial or national blindness?

Trachoma is one of the oldest known causes of blindness in humans and it is caused by the intracellular Gram-negative bacterium Chlamydia trachomatis serovars A, B, Ba and C. Its transmission has historically been related to poorness, overcrowded housing and scarce hygiene. We have traced the history of trachoma in Italy in the 19th and 20th centuries, among people living in Italy, those who immigrated to America and the population in the colonies, with a focus on Libya (1912-1943). Trachoma knowledge and perception in Italy and in its colonies was ambiguous during the 19th and 20th centuries. Trachoma was responsible for a great morbidity on both sides of the Mediterranean, in Italy as well as in Libya. Trachoma is still one of the leading infectious causes of preventable blindness worldwide and it was widespread in Italy and the Italian colonies in the first half of the last century.

Periodontitis and alveolar resorption in human skeletal remains: The relationship between quantitative alveolar bone loss, occlusal wear, antemortem tooth loss, dental calculus and age at death in a low socioeconomic status, modern forensic human collection from Yucatan.

OBJECTIVE: This paper assesses the relationship between the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and alveolar crest and risk factors commonly associated with periodontitis. MATERIALS: Eighty individuals between 28 and 92 years old with known biological sex and age were analyzed from a 20th century forensic human collection from Merida, Yucatan (Mexico). METHODS: Macroscopic assessment, along with metric analysis, was employed using a probe. RESULTS: Ante-mortem tooth loss was positively correlated with the distance between the cemento-enamel junction and alveolar crest, as was the presence of root calculus in females. CONCLUSIONS: Cemento-enamel junction to alveolar crest distance is not a reliable indicator of periodontitis since it is not directly related to periodontitis-causing infectious pathogens, and since ante-mortem tooth loss can affect root exposure. SIGNIFICANCE: This study demonstrates that a purely quantitative approach to diagnosing periodontitis in archaeological and forensic human remains can be misleading. LIMITATIONS: The skeletal collection is only representative of the low socioeconomic class of Merida, and its female cohort is underrepresented. In addition, because the Xoclan collection is modern, limitations (particularly with respect to tooth wear) of the applicability of these interpretations to older archaeological remains exist. SUGGESTION FOR FURTHER RESEARCH: A combination of quantitative and qualitative characteristics of alveolar bone is needed to reliably diagnose periodontitis in skeletal populations.

La cultura compasiva en el abordaje de la poliomielitis en entornos sanitarios. El caso español (1940-1970) / Compassionate culture in addressing polio in healthcare settings. The spanish case (1940-1970)

La presencia de brotes epidémicos de poliomielitis en las décadas iniciales y centrales del siglo pasado constituyó un importante problema de Salud Pública, debido a la ausencia de tratamientos eficaces, por afectar de forma preferente a edades infantiles, en entornos con niveles aceptables de salubridad y por las temibles secuelas paralíticas. En este trabajo se intentan reconstruir algunas de las respuestas que se dieron en el estado español, tanto en los ámbitos profesionales sanitarios como desde planteamientos hete-rodoxos alternativos como el método Kenny, tomando como eje de referencia la cultura compasiva que estuvo detrás del desarrollo de las medidas adoptadas, así como su análisis crítico, en el periodo anterior a la puesta en marcha de las vacunas antipoliomielíticas.(AU)

The presence of epidemic outbreaks of poliomyelitis in the initial and central decades of the last century constituted an important Public Health problem due to the absence of effective treatments because it preferentially affected children, in environments with acceptable levels of health, and the fear of the paralytic sequelae. This work attempted to reconstruct some of the responses that were given in the Spanish state, both in professional health settings and from alternative heterodox approaches such as the Kenny method, taking as a reference axis the compassionate culture that was behind the development of the measures. adopted and their critical analysis, in the period before the implementation of anti-polio vaccines.(AU)

Our values and our historical understanding of psychiatrists.

Many people like to perceive themselves as better than previous generations: more knowledgeable, moral, tolerant and humane. Values associated with these aspects of ourselves may affect how we understand our professional forebears. In the early 20th century, some psychiatrists adopted new biomedical theories, including focal sepsis and eugenics, which resulted in inestimable harm. Detrimental clinical practices arose and were perpetuated in the context of societal values, medical ethics and other forces within and outside the medical profession. Historical understanding of the processes by which these things took place may help inform debate concerning current and future challenges of providing psychiatric care. The methods by which psychiatrists consider their predecessors may also have a bearing on how psychiatrists of the future will perceive us, the psychiatrists of the 2020s.

La Cruz Roja española en la profesionalización enfermera entre 1912 y 1939 / Spanish Red Cross In Nursing Professionalization Between 1912 And 1939. Bibliographic Review

Introducción: La fundación de la Cruz Roja Española se puede remontar a la tercera Guerra Carlista, los fines, principios y el servicio de esta institución repercutieron en el desarrollo de la profesión de enfermería en la época. Objetivo: determinar la implicación de la Cruz Roja Española en la profesionalización enfermera entre 1912 y 1939. Material y método: se realizó una búsqueda bibliográfica en los principales portales de búsqueda, así como en bibliotecas de especialización en historia de la enfermería. Resultados: la Cruz Roja Española participó en el desarrollo asistencial y formativo de la enfermería, fundando y regentando hospitales propios y hospitales de campaña para atender a los heridos surgidos de diferentes conflictos bélicos, como las propias Guerras Carlistas, la Guerra del Rif o la Guerra Civil Española. En la formación fundaron diversos Hospitales-Escuelas que impartían una formación teórico-práctica, supervisada por monjas religiosas. Conclusión: la participación de la Cruz Roja en la profesionalización enfermera radica en la colaboración, atención y asistencia de los heridos en numerosos conflictos bélicos a nivel nacional, como fueron las Guerras Carlistas, la Guerra del Rif y la Guerra Civil Española. La Cruz Roja también participó en el avance y mejora de la formación reglada hasta la época, contando con figuras como la de Dama Enfermera, Enfermeras profesionales y enfermeras especialistas. (AU)

Background: The foundation of the Spanish Red Cross can be traced back to the third Carlist War, the purposes, principles, and service of this institution had an impact on the development of the nursing profession at the time. Objective: to determine the involvement of the Spanish Red Cross in nursing professionalization between 1912 and 1939. Methods: A bibliographic search was carried out in the main search portals, as well as in specialized libraries in nursing history. Results: The Spanish Red Cross participated in the development of nursing care and training, founding and running its own hospitals and field hospitals to care for the wounded from various wars, such as the Carlist Wars themselves, the Rif War or the Spanish Civil War. In the training they founded various Hospital-Schools that provided theoretical practical training, supervised by religious nuns. Conclusion: The participation of the Red Cross in the professionalization of nursing lies in the collaboration, care, and assistance of the wounded in numerous armed conflicts at the national level, such as the Carlist Wars, the Rif War and the Spanish Civil War. The Red Cross also participated in the advancement and improvement of regulated training up to that time, with figures such as the Lady Nurse, professional nurses, and specialist nurses. (AU)

Divulgación higiénica-sanitaria y prevención de la obesidad en España: la obra de Jesús Noguer Moré (1903-1983) / Hygiene and health diffusion and the prevention of obesity in Spain: the work of Jesús Noguer Moré (1903-1983)

Introducción: entre los retos epidemiológicos de la sociedad española de la primera mitad del siglo XX, destacaba el problema de la malnutrición. Aunque eran el hambre y la desnutrición las formas más prevalentes, el sobrepeso y la obesidad empezaban a emerger entre las clases acomodadas. En todos los casos y, sobre todo, en el escenario de la sobrealimentación, la cuestión no era tanto económica como de falta de conocimientos. Por esta razón, para los higienistas eran fundamentales la divulgación y la educación en alimentación y nutrición. En este ámbito, destaca la aportación del endocrinólogo catalán Jesús Noguer Moré (1903-1983). El objetivo es analizar los trabajos que dedicó a la obesidad. Material y método: análisis bibliográfico de las obras de Jesús Noguer Moré. Resultados y conclusión: consideraba la obesidad una patología de etiología multifactorial con graves consecuencias para la morbimortalidad. Intervendrían desde la genética hasta patologías previas, pasando por hábitos alimentarios y de vida inadecuados. Su abordaje terapéutico debía basarse en restricciones calóricas y actividad física. Subrayaba el papel de determinados tipos de actividades familiares o profesionales en el fomento del sobrepeso y la obesidad. En materia preventiva, resaltaba la importancia de las prácticas culinarias y gastronómicas, al mismo tiempo que hacía recaer la responsabilidad de las mismas en las amas de casa, un discurso de género que llevó a Noguer a situar a las mujeres como colectivo diana de su acción divulgadora y donde estuvo muy presente el ideal de belleza femenina vigente en el periodo de entreguerras. (AU)

Introduction: among the epidemiological challenges facing Spanish society in the first half of the 20th century, the problem of malnutrition stood out. Although hunger and malnutrition were the most prevalent forms, overweight and obesity were beginning to emerge, particularly among the wealthier classes. In all cases, and especially in the overnutrition situation, the issue was not so much economic as one of lack of knowledge. For this reason, for the hygienists, dissemination and education in food and nutrition was fundamental. In this field, the contribution of the Catalan endocrinologist Jesús Noguer Moré (1903-1983) stands out. The aim is to analyze the work he devoted to obesity. Material and methods: bibliographic analysis of the works of Jesús Noguer Moré. Results and conclusion: he considered obesity as a pathology of multifactorial etiology with serious consequences for morbidity and mortality. It would involve everything from genetics to previous pathologies, as well as inadequate dietary and lifestyle habits. Its therapeutic approach should be based on calorie restriction and physical activity. He underlined the role of certain types of family or professional activities in promoting overweight and obesity. In terms of prevention, he emphasized the importance of culinary and gastronomic practices, while at the same time placing the responsibility for these practices on housewives. A gender discourse that led Noguer to place women as the target group for his dissemination activities and where the ideal of feminine beauty in force in the inter-war period was very much present. (AU)

Characterisation of 20th Century Cementitious Materials from Selected Cultural Heritage Structures in Slovenia.

This paper deals with the characterisation of cementitious materials from selected cultural heritage structures in Slovenia. The mineralogical-petrographic compositions of an aggregate, a type of binder and secondary minerals were studied via electron microscopy and X-ray powder diffraction. The porosity and pore network were determined using a mercury porosimeter. The results show that the aggregate of the samples was highly diverse, ranging from limestone, dolomite, quartz, feldspar and mica. The binder of the investigated samples was cementitious; either ordinary Portland cement was used, or ordinary Portland cement blended with ground granulated blast furnace slag was used. Some samples consisted of cement-lime binders. The investigated examples entailing cement materials for their construction contribute to a better understanding of the technology used to prepare historical cementitious and cement-lime mixtures.

Digital Twinning for 20th Century Concrete Heritage: HBIM Cognitive Model for Torino Esposizioni Halls.

In the wide scenario of heritage documentation and conservation, the multi-scale nature of digital models is able to twin the real object, as well as to store information and record investigation results, in order to detect and analyse deformation and materials deterioration, especially from a structural point of view. The contribution proposes an integrated approach for the generation of an n-D enriched model, also called a digital twin, able to support the interdisciplinary investigation process conducted on the site and following the processing of the collected data. Particularly for 20th Century concrete heritage, an integrated approach is required in order to adapt the more consolidated approaches to a new conception of the spaces, where structure and architecture are often coincident. The research plans to present the documentation process for the halls of Torino Esposizioni (Turin, Italy), built in the mid-twentieth century and designed by Pier Luigi Nervi. The HBIM paradigm is explored and expanded in order to fulfil the multi-source data requirements and adapt the consolidated reverse modelling processes based on scan-to-BIM solutions. The most relevant contributions of the research reside in the study of the chances of using and adapting the characteristics of the IFC (Industry Foundation Classes) standard to the archiving needs of the diagnostic investigations results so that the digital twin model can meet the requirements of replicability in the context of the architectural heritage and interoperability with respect to the subsequent intervention phases envisaged by the conservation plan. Another crucial innovation is a proposal of a scan-to-BIM process improved by an automated approach performed by VPL (Visual Programming Languages) contribution. Finally, an online visualisation tool enables the HBIM cognitive system to be accessible and shareable by stakeholders involved in the general conservation process.

Theodor Kocher (1841-1917) and his outstanding contributions to surgery

Theodor Kocher (1841-1917), an exceptional Swiss surgeon who described a technique for the safe removal of enlarged thyroid unraveled the true function of this endocrine gland but also made significant contributions to many other fields of surgery. Kocher was the first surgeon awarded the Nobel prize in Physiology and Medicine in 1909 for his work on the physiology, pathology, and surgery of the thyroid gland. He was professor and clinical director at Insel Hospital during 45 years. Kocher created the prominent Surgeon's School in Bern. He was the first president of the International Society of Surgery in 1903 and the founding president of the Swiss Society of Surgery in 1913.

Theodor Kocher (1841-1917), excepcional cirujano suizo que describió una técnica para la extirpación segura del agrandamiento del tiroides y desentrañó la verdadera función de esta glándula endocrina, pero también hizo importantes aportaciones a muchos otros campos de la cirugía. Kocher fue el primer cirujano galardonado con el premio Nobel de Fisiología y Medicina en 1909 por sus trabajos sobre la fisiología, patología y cirugía de la glándula tiroides. Fue profesor y director clínico del Hospital Insel durante 45 años. Kocher creó la destacada Escuela de Cirujanos de Berna. Fue el primer presidente de la Sociedad Internacional de Cirugía en 1903 y el presidente fundador de la Sociedad Suiza de Cirugía en 1913.

Industrial Vestiges: Legacies of Ancillary Impacts of Resource Development.

This article offers a different way to understand the heritage of extractive industries by exploring the material afterlives of what has been termed the "ancillary impacts of resource development"-a variety of quarries, forest cuts, transportation corridors, and power lines that surround industrial operations, especially those created in areas distant from established industrial population centers. To study this, the article expands upon the concept of "vestige" to explore the landscapes around two single-industry mining towns in Kola Peninsula, Russia, and in Labrador, Canada, by specifically focusing on two abandoned quarries located in each. The results highlight the need to explore developments that trail behind industrial settlement of colonial hinterlands. By focusing specifically on the afterlives of such developments, the article demonstrates how chronological and geographical boundaries of resource extraction are blurred over time, creating a deep, unruly, self-perpetuating set of legacies.

Este artículo ofrece una manera diferente de comprender el patrimonio de las industrias extractivas mediante la exploración de las vidas materiales posteriores a lo que se ha denominado los "impactos secundarios del desarrollo de recursos": una variedad de canteras, cortes de bosques, corredores de transporte y líneas eléctricas que rodean las operaciones industriales, especialmente aquellas creadas en áreas distantes de los centros de población industrial establecidos. Para estudiar esto, el artículo amplía el concepto de "vestigio" para explorar los paisajes alrededor de dos pueblos mineros de una sola industria en la península de Kola, Rusia, y en Labrador, Canadá, centrándose específicamente en dos canteras abandonadas ubicadas en cada uno. Los resultados resaltan la necesidad de explorar los desarrollos que vienen después de los asentamientos industriales del interior colonial. Al centrarse específicamente en las vidas posteriores de tales desarrollos, el artículo demuestra cómo los límites cronológicos y geográficos de la extracción de recursos se desdibujan con el tiempo, creando un conjunto de legados profundos, rebeldes y que se perpetúan a sí mismos.

Cet article propose une manière différente de comprendre le patrimoine des industries d'extraction par l'étude des vies postérieures matérielles de ce qui est désigné sous le terme d'« impacts accessoires du développement de ressources ¼­plusieurs carrières, abattages de forêts, corridors de transport et lignes électriques entourant les exploitations industrielles, en particulier ceux créés dans des zones distantes des centres établis de population industrielle. Aux fins de cette étude, cet article expose en détail le concept de « vestige ¼ pour explorer les paysages environnant deux villes minières à industrie unique dans la Péninsule de Kola en Russie et dans le Labrador au Canada, et s'intéresse tout particulièrement à deux carrières abandonnées dans chacune d'entre elles. Les résultats soulignent la nécessité d'une étude des développements faisant suite à l'implantation industrielle des arrières-pays coloniaux. En s'intéressant plus particulièrement aux vies postérieures de ces développements, l'article démontre comment les limites chronologiques et géographiques de l'extraction de ressources deviennent floues au cours du temps, créant de ce fait un ensemble enraciné, chaotique et se répétant sans cesse de transmissions.

La revisión emocional del encuentro médico-terapéutico en M. Balint, P. Freeling y K. Browne (1957-1967) / The emotional perspective of the encounter between doctor and patient in m. Balint, P. Freeling and K. Browne (1957-1967)

Se analiza la perspectiva emocional de la relación médico-paciente y la confianza propia de esta interrelación, a través de publicaciones y relatos médicos de Michael Balint, Kevin Browne y Paul Freeling, aparecidos en la década de 1960. Balint promovió en la clínica Tavistock (Londres) los llamados ‘Grupos Balint’ en los que participaron Browne y Freeling. Sus publicaciones se enmarcan en la aproximación psicoanalítica y psicosomática, enfoque que actualizó la consideración de la persona como un todo y mostró el significado de las emociones en la enfermedad. Balint, Browne y Freeling destacaron el carácter terapéutico de la relación médico-paciente y subrayaron la subjetividad y la participación tanto del profesional como del paciente, en el encuentro médico-paciente. El movimiento Balint y en ese marco, la obra de Browne y Freeling, se sumó a otras que llevaron a promover la integración de lo psicológico y el entorno social en la definición de la enfermedad y en la práctica de la medicina de ese tiempo. El artículo pone de manifiesto los contrastes entre las propuestas de Michael Balint y las planteadas por la Escuela Psicosomática norteamericana y otros movimientos de origen psicoanalítico, respecto a la psicogenia y a la relación médico-paciente.(AU)

The emotional perspective of the doctor-patient relationship and the trust inherent in this interrelation are analysed through medical narratives published in the 1960s by Michael Balint, Kevin Browne and Paul Freeling. Balint promoted the so-called ‘Balint Groups’ in the Tavistock clinic (London), in which Browne and Freeling participated. Their publications are part of the psychoanalytic and psychosomatic approach, that updated the consideration of the person as a whole and showed the meaning of emotions in illness. Balint, Browne and Freeling highlighted the therapeutic nature of the doctor-patient relationship and underlined the subjectivity and participation of both the professional and the patient in the doctor-patient encounter. The Balint movement and within this framework, the work of Browne and Freeling, joined others that led to promoting the integration of the psychological and the social environment in the definition of the disease and in the practice of medicine at that time. The article also focusses the contrasts between the proposals of Michael Balint and those raised by the American Psychosomatic Society, and other psychoanalytic movements, regarding the doctor-patient relationship.(AU)

A recent Cannabis pollen increase on the Iberian Pyrenees.

The continuous, varved and absolutely dated sedimentary record of Lake Montcortès (Iberian Pyrenees) has provided evidence for a distinct and characteristic 20th century (1980s) increase in Cannabis pollen (20C) that persists today. This event was coeval with the geographical shift of the hemp production center in the Iberian Peninsula from east to northeast (where Lake Montcortès lies), which was accompanied by a significant production increase. This increasing trend was fostered by the renewed interest of the paper industry in hemp and was promoted by the onset of European Union subsidies to hemp cultivation. Illegal cannabis crops could have also contributed to the Cannabis pollen increase, but sound evidence is still lacking. These preliminary conclusions should be reinforced by increasing the resolution of the current palynological record and modeling the dispersal of Cannabis pollen around the Montcortès region. More similar high-resolution records are needed to verify the geographical extent of the 20C event. Additionally, Lake Montcortès varved sediments are proposed as a suitable candidate to characterize the onset of the "Anthropocene" epoch (mid-20th century), as currently defined by the Anthropocene Working Group.

[On the way to democracy-The transformation process 1990/1991 and the role of the Association for Psychiatry and Neurology in the GDR]. / Auf dem Weg zur Demokratie ­ der Transformationsprozess 1990/91 und die Rolle der Gesellschaft für Psychiatrie und Nervenheilkunde in der DDR.

OBJECTIVE: The transition from socialist dictatorship to liberal democracy in the GDR was associated with political and social upheaval. The transformation accompanying the democratic sociopolitical process is examined using the example of the Association for Neurology and Psychiatry of the GDR, which led to its unification with the German Association for Psychiatry and Neurology (DGPN). METHOD: For the historical investigation material from the archives of the DGPPN as well as the personal belongings of the protagonists of the time were used and eyewitness interviews were conducted. RESULTS: The transformation process can also be seen for the Association for Neurology and Psychiatry of the GDR. As at the political level, there was also a loss of legitimacy at the board level of the Association for Psychiatry and Neurology in 1990. The new understanding of democracy required the participation of all members. The Spokesman Council and the DGPN (East) were responsible for establishing and consolidating democratic structures. CONCLUSION: Beyond the transformation process, little is known about the merger. The phase of reorientation at the beginning of the 1990s should be examined for the DGPN as well as the question of how to deal with the suspected political abuse of psychiatry in the GDR.

Chest circumference and structural and short-term changes: a study of the Italian military call-up registers from 1881 to 1909.

The aim of this study is to demonstrate the utility of chest circumference measurements as a proxy for the socioeconomic characteristics of past populations. Our analysis is based on over 80,000 military medical examinations relating to Friuli (north-eastern Italy), recorded from 1881 to 1909. Chest circumference can be used to describe changes in standard of living, but also seasonal variations in food intakes and physical activities. The findings show the way in which these measurements are highly sensitive not only to long-term economic changes but, above all, to short-term variations in some economic and social elements, like corn prices and occupations.

Emil Kraepelin as a historian of psychiatry - one hundred years on.

This article reviews Emil Kraepelin's address 'Hundert Jahre Psychiatrie', at the opening of the Deutsche Forschungsanstalt für Psychiatrie in 1917, and published as an essay in 1918. Kraepelin's publication represents a part of his late work: his commitment as a historian of psychiatry. He composed a classic narrative of psychiatric progress, which includes an outlook on desirable future developments in therapy and prevention. The present article considers the essay's socio-historical context as well as its structure and content. The focus lies on its time of origin around the end of World War I, its sources in relation to the state of the art of historiography at that time and the history of its reception, including the English-language edition of 1962.

Pietro Pacifico Gamondi (1914-1993), tropical physician and ethnologist. A protagonist of medical research in the middle of the 20th century.

Pietro Pacifico Gamondi was a tropical physician, who was one of the main protagonists of medical research during the 20th century. His training as a doctor first saw him in Rome following doctor Aldo Castellani. Gamondi then left for Lisbon, London, and the extra-European countries that have characterized his path as a doctor and as a man. In fact, he traveled to Indonesia and Africa, where took care of the population, combining European and local medicine. In this contribution, we wanted to remember the figure of a man who dedicates his life to tropical medicine and to the care of others.

Dr. Vladimir Fortunato (1885-1938), once lauded but now obscure Russian-American medical model sculptor.

Arriving to the United States in 1921, Dr. Vladimir Fortunato (1885-1938) was a respected and celebrated figure responsible for creating striking medical models and anatomical sculptures. Although Dr. Fortunato was well connected and worked for some of the United States' most prestigious medical institutions, his legacy, achievements, and creations have all but vanished from the annals of American medical history. In an effort to establish a more defined profile of this obscure man's life and lifework, this article draws on scant information provided by a range of sources, including academic journal articles, obituaries, and physician autobiography. In the present-day era of digital imaging technologies, Dr. Fortunato's lifelike sculptures represent a bygone age of medical visualization that embraced both utility and beauty.