Sancho Panza: Su conducta y sus motivos

This dissertation meticulously traces and analyzes the behavior and motivations of Sancho Panza throughout El Ingenioso Hidalgo Don Quijote de la Mancha and Segunda Parte del Ingenioso Caballero Don Quijote de la Mancha. To date, seemingly all criticism of Sancho has studied him on the basis of aspects of a particular episode or of a selection of episodes. In contrast, the contribution of the current monograph is its sustained and methodical approach to analyzing him and his development by means of scrutinizing every motive that he reveals and every action that he performs. I assert and demonstrate that the co-protagonist, a product of the mind of Cervantes, comports himself in a way that responds to discernible psychological forces that provide a detailed and complex characterization of Sancho. Employing critical premises of Lisa Zunshine, Mikhail Bakhtin and Leon Festinger, the present investigation endeavors to examine Sancho\u27s motives and behavior as an individual interacting with his world. In consequence, it elucidates the motivations and other forces underpinning the behavior of don Quixote\u27s companion, thus providing a nuanced and dynamic portrait. Indeed, it exposes that as a consequence of his increasing knowledge and experience, Sancho\u27s behavior evolves over the two parts of the novel and his motivations do so as well

Imaging of cardiac neuronal function after cocaine exposure using Carbon-11 hydroxyephedrine and positron emission tomography

AbstractObjectives. The aim of the study was to define the effect of cocaine on the myocardial uptake and retention of C-11 hydroxyephedrine in the anesthetized dog model.Background. Cardiac toxcity of cocaine has been linked to its inhibitory effect on norepinephrine reuptake by the sympathetic nerve terminals of the heart. Carbon-11 hydroxyephedrine is a C-11-labled norepinephrine analog that has high specific affinity for uptake-1 and thus makes possible the assessment of the effect of cocaine on norepinephrine reuptake by cardiac sympathetic nerve terminals.Methods. The cardiac kinetics of C-11 hydroxyephedrine as assessed by dynamic positron emission tomographic imaging were used to characterize norepinephrine reuptake by the sympathetic nerve terminals. Carbon-11 hydroxyephedrine was injected intravenously before, as well as at 5 min and 2.5 h after, intravenous administration of 2 mg/kg body weight of cocaine in anesthetized dogs. Hemodynamic variables and microsphere-determined cardiac blood flow were also measured before and after cocaine exposure.Results. Intravenous injection of cocaine did not significantly affect hemodynamic variables and myocardial blood flow in the anesthetized animals. Compared with baseline, myocardial retention of C-11 hydroxyephedrine was significantly reduced by 78 ± 3% (mean ± SD) at 5 min and remained significantly reduced (28 ± 17%) at 2.5 h after cocaine injection. Cocaine administration after C-11 hydroxyephedrine injection (39 min) resulted in rapid biexponential clearance of C-11 hydroxyephedrine from myocardium.Conclusions. These results suggest prolonged effects of cocaine on the sympathetic nerve terminals of the heart. Positron emission tomography provides a noninvasive and sensitive means to objectively assess the cardiac pharmacokinetics of drugs such as cocaine

Lifetime determination of excited states in Cd-106

Two separate experiments using the Differential Decay Curve Method have been performed to extract mean lifetimes of excited states in 106 Cd. The inedium-spin states of interest were populated by the Mo-98(C-12, 4n) Cd-106 reaction performed at the Wright Nuclear Structure Lab., Yale University. From this experiment, two isomeric state mean lifetimes have been deduced. The low-lying states were populated by the Mo-96(C-13, 3n)Cd-106 reaction performed at the Institut fur Kernphysik, Universitat zu Koln. The mean lifetime of the I-pi = 2(1)(+) state was deduced, tentatively, as 16.4(9) ps. This value differs from the previously accepted literature value from Coulomb excitation of 10.43(9) ps

Shape and structure of N=Z 64Ge; Electromagnetic transition rates from the application of the Recoil Distance Method to knock-out reaction

Transition rate measurements are reported for the first and the second 2+ states in N=Z 64Ge. The experimental results are in excellent agreement with large-scale Shell Model calculations applying the recently developed GXPF1A interactions. Theoretical analysis suggests that 64Ge is a collective gamma-soft anharmonic vibrator. The measurement was done using the Recoil Distance Method (RDM) and a unique combination of state-of-the-art instruments at the National Superconducting Cyclotron Laboratory (NSCL). States of interest were populated via an intermediate-energy single-neutron knock-out reaction. RDM studies of knock-out and fragmentation reaction products hold the promise of reaching far from stability and providing lifetime information for excited states in a wide range of nuclei

HIV prevalence, testing and treatment among men who have sex with men through engagement in virtual sexual networks in Kenya: a cross-sectional bio-behavioural study

INTRODUCTION: In Kenya, men who have sex with men (MSM) are increasingly using virtual sites, including web-based apps, to meet sex partners. We examined HIV testing, HIV prevalence, awareness of HIV-positive status and linkage to antiretroviral therapy (ART), for HIV-positive MSM who solely met partners via physical sites (PMSM), compared with those who did so in virtual sites (either solely via virtual sites (VMSM), or via both virtual and physical sites (DMSM)). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional bio-behavioural survey of 1200 MSM, 15 years and above, in three counties in Kenya between May and July 2019, using random sampling of physical and virtual sites. We classified participants as PMSM, DMSM and VMSM, based on where they met sex partners, and compared the following between groups using chi-square tests: (i) proportion tested; (ii) HIV prevalence and (iii) HIV care continuum among MSM living with HIV. We then performed multivariable logistic regression to measure independent associations between network engagement and HIV status. RESULTS: 177 (14.7%), 768 (64.0%) and 255 (21.2%), of participants were classified as PMSM, DMSM and VMSM respectively. 68.4%, 70.4% and 78.5% of PMSM, DMSM and VMSM, respectively, reported an HIV test in the previous six months. HIV prevalence was 8.5% (PMSM), 15.4% (DMSM) and 26.7% (VMSM), p < 0.001. Among those living with HIV, 46.7% (PMSM), 41.5% (DMSM) and 29.4% (VMSM) were diagnosed and aware of their status; and 40.0%, 35.6% and 26.5% were on antiretroviral treatment. After adjustment for other predictors, MSM engaged in virtual networks remained at a two to threefold higher risk of prevalent HIV: VMSM versus PMSM (adjusted odds ratio 3.88 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.84 to 8.17) p < 0.001); DMSM versus PMSM (2.00 (95% CI 1.03 to 3.87), p = 0.040). CONCLUSIONS: Engagement in virtual networks is associated with elevated HIV risk, irrespective of individual-level risk factors. Understanding the difference in characteristics among MSM-seeking partners in different sites will help HIV programmes to develop subpopulation-specific interventions