The Summer People, By Shirley Jackson And Smoke Ghost By...

QUESTION 3 The assertion that all works by weird fiction authors are simply â€Å"ridiculous flights of fancy wholly detached from ‘real world’ issues and problems† is completely false. I could choose almost any example from our readings and pick out some sort of â€Å"real world† issue or important thing that I have learned from them. For the sake of time, however, I will focus on â€Å"The Yellow Wallpaper† by Charlotte Perkins Gilman, â€Å"The Summer People† by Shirley Jackson and â€Å"Smoke Ghost† by Fritz Leiber. Each of these stories has succeeded in broadening my horizons and has taught me something important about the world in which we live. Weird fiction stories cover a wide range of important issues including sexism, the social structure of tourist towns and the disparity of the working class. In the introduction to the book Weird Fiction by S. T. Joshi, different aspects of the weird tale are examined. Joshi states that â⠂¬Å"the weird tale†¦did not (and perhaps does not now) exist as a genre but as the consequence of a world view† (1). This quote refers to the fact that weird literature stems from a desire to display a certain view of the world to readers, not just take them on a flight of detached fancy. Another point that Joshi makes about weird literature, is seen through a quote on the last page of his introduction, â€Å"In every case we shall see that each writers entire output is a philosophical unity, changing as the author’s conception of the world changes†

A Perspective On Alzheimer s Disease - 1610 Words

A PERSPECTIVE ON ALZHEIMER’S DISEASE Introduction Alzheimer s disease is the most common type of dementia, affecting almost 500,000 people in the UK. The term dementia describes a loss of mental ability associated with gradual death of brain cells (NHS, 2013). This essay, provides an overview of Alzheimer’s disease, focusing on the amyloid hypothesis, which states that the accumulation and deposition of fibrillar -amyloid (beta-amyloid) is the primary driver of neurodegeneration and cognitive decline leading to dementia (Tanzi, 2005). Neurodegeneration is the progressive damage of nerve cells (News medical, 2014), and cognitive decline is a situation in which an individual’s ability to process thoughts and learn†¦show more content†¦As Alzheimer is a progressive condition, it is usually difficult to identify it or recognize there is a problem with the person in question. In places like Africa where little is known about both dementia and Alzheimer, most people associate the signs and symptoms of Al zheimer’s disease with old age (since it affects mostly people above the age of 65). And thus, thinking it is natural, they do nothing about it. This might also be due to the fact that Alzheimer’s disease is rarer in Africa (developing countries in general) than in other parts of the world. It has been discovered that both environmental and cultural factors have a role in the acquisition of Alzheimer (Josefson, 2001). Besides, it is very important to diagnose Alzheimer early, so as to have the best chance of preparing for the future. Unfortunately, up to date, there is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease. On the other hand, medications which can slow down the development of the disease and improve symptoms, are available, although these medications target the symptoms and not the disease itself. People who have contracted Alzheimer’s disease live for around 8 to 10 years on average. Some people might be luckier and live longer, but others not. Although Alzhei mer’s disease is dangerous, it is not usually the main cause of death. Pneumonia, for example, is

Mechanism of Vitamin D Action Free Essays

Introduction Once absorbed, active elements of vitamin D, such as calcitriol, attach themselves to intracellular receptors and then act as transcription factors so as to modulate gene expression (Holick, 2010). The vitamin D receptors are similar to thyroid hormones and steroid hormones receptors and contain DNA- binding and hormone-binding domains. According to Holick (2010), these receptors bind with the retinoid-X receptors, another intracellular receptor, forming a complex bond. We will write a custom essay sample on Mechanism of Vitamin D Action or any similar topic only for you Order Now This heterodimer is what binds to cellular DNA and activates a biological reaction. The biological reaction can either be the stimulation of proteins that perpetuate intestinal absorption of calcium or providing the appropriate balance of elements crucial for bone function and growth (Holick, 2010). Vitamin D and Bone Health. Numerous studies have demonstrated that vitamin D has important ramifications on bone health, not only in life, but even in the course of fetal development. For instance, DeLuca Schnoes (1976) cite Dr. Cooper’s research that studied the key factors associated with normal patterns of skeletal growth and established that maternal vitamin D deficiency, coupled with other dynamics, inhibited bone mineral absorption during intrauterine life, and was linked to stunted childhood growth and weak bones in adulthood (DeLuca Schnoes, 1976). Lack of vitamin D has insidious consequences on the skeleton since it inhibits the accumulation of optimal levels of calcium that is genetically prearranged for the skeleton (Holick, 2010). Watson (2013) also retaliates that once peak bone mass is reached, adults lacking vitamin D in their system will annually loose approximately 0.5% of their skeletal mass if they lack sufficient vitamin D and calcium in their systems (p.18). In addition, vitamin D deficiency can also lead to osteomalacia (DeLuca Schnoes, 1976); a mineralization defect of the collagen matrix. This condition is often accompanied by throbbing bone pain and aching (DeLuca Schnoes, 1976). Holick (2010) points out another research at the University of Pittsburgh that also established a correlation between vitamin D deficiency and increased susceptibility to bone fractures. The study measured the vitamin D levels of 400 participants with hip fractures and compared the results with the vitamin D levels of 400 other healthy women. The outcome demonstrated that individuals with the lowest levels of Vitamin D were 71 percent susceptible to bone fractures compared to those with the highest levels of vitamin D. Consequently, the role played by vitamin D in sustaining bone health can never be overemphasized. Not only does it aid in mineral absorption and bone development in intrauterine growth and childhood, but is also responsible for strong bones in adults as well. References DeLuca, H, F., and Schnoes K.K., (1976). Metabolism and Mechanism of Action of Vitamin D. Annual Review of Biochemistry. Vol. 45: 631- 637 Holick, M.F., (2010). Vitamin D: Physiology, Molecular Biology, and Clinical Applications. New York: Springer Science Business Media Watson, R.S., (2013). Handbook of Vitamin D in Human Health: Prevention, Treatment and Toxicity, Chicago: Wageningen Academic Pub. How to cite Mechanism of Vitamin D Action, Essay examples