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This paper offers an ecocritical interpretation of Walt Whitman's renowned work, "Leaves of Grass." The primary objective is to delve into the multifaceted interpretations of this text within the broader context of Whitman's literary corpus. Our research is grounded in the premise that the act of writing is intricately interwoven with the natural world, particularly plant life. Consequently, we aim to scrutinize the various manifestations of plant imagery and symbolism present in Whitman's oeuvre. The argument unfolds across three distinct sections: the first section delves into the influence of Ralph Waldo Emerson on Whitman's thought; the second section investigates the portrayal of nature's principles within "Leaves of Grass"; and finally, the third section critically examines the assumptions and implications of Whitman's poetic approach to nature. Central to our thesis is the assertion that what we term "minimal natures" not only shape poetic construction and life itself but also engage with pertinent political issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oviposition and embryonic-larval development are described for the muricacean snailThais(Stramonita)chocolatafrom the Southeast Pacific coast. As with numerous other muricacean snails, this species engages in communal egg laying, with females depositing egg capsules in clusters on subtidal rocks. Each cluster of capsules contains 100-150 pedunculate, ampulliform egg capsules, with each capsule containing an average of 2,600 small (130 µm) eggs. Intracapsular development was followed using light and scanning electron microscopy to describe the successive embryonic stages of the species. Free-swimming veliger larvae of about 225 µm length were released from capsules after 49 days incubation at 13.6°C. The planktotrophic larvae were cultured in seawater aquaria by feeding with pure cultures of phytoplankton, recording growth and form of the larvae. Larvae reached competence after 4 months at 22°C, at 1,450-1,740 µm in size, and a few larvae were observed through metamorphosis and early definitive growth. The embryonic-larval development ofT. chocolatacoincides with the general characteristics of the ontogeny observed in otherThaisspecies as well as of other genera of the Rapaninae such asConcholepas. This lent support to grouping these genera into a single clade. The lack of knowledge of the development of free larvae ofThaisspp. means that we do not know whether these similarities also include an extensive larval phase as generally characteristic of other members of the clade. The mode of development may be useful in characterizing some clades of this family. Thus for example, the transference of someThaisto the genusNucella(Subfamily Ocenebrinae) is supported by differences in the mode of embryonic development, which differentiates these subfamilies. Paleobiological data reported for Neogastropoda allow postulation of primitiveness in planktotrophic larval development compared to more recent developmental strategies such as direct development of different types, which characterize various clades of this family. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The study analyzed the alcohol consumption, in terms of age of drinking onset and average amount consumed weekly by schooled adolescents, of both sexes, from Córdoba and Santiago del Estero (Argentina), in function of positive and negative expectancies towards alcohol and drinking contexts. Materials and Method: The sample was made up of 259 participants between 13 and 18 years old. The Alcohol Expectancy Questionnaire - Adolescent and the Drinking Contexts Questionnaire - Adolescent form were used. Nonparametric statistics were applied in order to analyze differences and associations. Type I error was set at < 0.05. Results: Both alcohol consumption and positive expectancies towards alcohol were higher in men than in women. The age of drinking onset was inversely associated only with the consumption contexts parental control. Remarkably, the average amount of alcohol consumed by adolescents weekly was positively associated with the expectancies towards alcohol, both positive and negative, and with all consumption contexts. However, those associations varied among adolescents from Córdoba and Santiago del Estero. Conclusions: Part of these findings contradicts what the literature states on the association between negative expectancies towards alcohol and less alcohol consumption. The findings and implications of this study were discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Cognitive control deficits are commonly seen in Depression of Bipolar Disorder (BDd) and Unipolar Major Depressive Disorder (UDd). Because failure to differentiate BDd from UDd has significant clinical consequences we aimed to identify differential patterns of neural activity in BDd versus UDd underlying response inhibition and motor control in adolescents. Methods: Functional MRI was used to compare 12 BDd adolescents (mean age= 15.5±1.2) with age- and sex-matched ten UDd and ten healthy control (HC) adolescents during the performance of well-validated Go/NoGo task. NoGo response inhibition versus Go motor control blocks was used in whole-brain analysis and results were corrected for multiple comparisons. Results: There were no significant behavioral or neuroimaging findings between adolescents with BDd and UDd. However, both groups relative to HC showed significantly higher left superior temporal and left caudate activity during the NoGo condition. Moreover, left anterior cingulate (ACC) activity relative to HC was significantly higher only in BDd - not UDd - adolescents during the NoGo condition, and left caudate activity was higher only in UDd - not BDd - adolescents during the Go condition. In addition, several neural regions including dorsolateral prefrontal (DLPFC) were positively correlated with increased reaction time in UDd - not BDd - adolescents. Conclusions: Despite some similarities, neural correlates of depression are different in BDd and UDd relative to HC, and greater recruitment of ACC resources during response inhibition can help distinguish BDd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents some findings of an evaluation study conducted in five spanish universities on the design of a 'FORCOM Guides for Self-Assessment Teaching Competencies'. This device has been developed to help university teachers to cope with the teaching demands of EHEA. Data collected in a previous teaching needs? assessment were the grounds of the very first design of the guide. Sixteen senior university teachers - of any scientific area- had been demanded, firstly, implementing the Guide, and next, they had been required in order to look for their perceptions about: a) the ease and other aspects of practical management of the Guides ('format evaluation'), and b) the utility and suitability of its content to teachers? teaching needs ('content evaluation'). Data analysis points to: 1) the validity and utility of the created device, especially for helping well experienced teachers in EHEA; 2) its capability the increase the teaching technical knowledge of the teacher, and 3) some change demands related with the present format and with the content of the Guides, as well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A magnetic AC susceptibility characterisation of rat tissues after intravenous administration of superparamagnetic iron oxide (Endorem), at the same dose as established for Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) contrast enhancement in humans, has been carried out. The measurements reveal the presence of the contrast agent as well as that of physiological ferritin in liver and spleen while no traces have been magnetically detected in heart and kidney. This preliminary work opens suggestive possibilities for future biodistribution studies of any type of magnetic carriers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Magnetic nanoparticles are good candidates used for the targeted delivery of anti-tumor agents. They can be concentrated on a desired region, reducing collateral effects and improving the efficiency of the chemotherapy. We propose a method in which permanent magnets are implanted by laparoscopic technique directly in the affected organ. This method proposes the use of Fe@C nanoparticles, which are loaded with doxorubicin and injected intravenously. The particles, once attracted to the magnet, release the drug at the tumor region. This method seems to be more promising and effective than that based on the application of external magnetic fields. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]