The book of Nightmare By Galway Kinnell Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

The book of Nightmare By Galway Kinnell - Essay Example The book contains ten poems. It is possible to single out two poems which reveal the main themes articulated in the book: â€Å"Under the Maud Moon† and â€Å"Little Sleep’s-Head Sprouting Hair in the Moonlight†. â€Å"Under the Maud Moon† is the first poem presented in the book. It is possible to regard the poem as an introductory one. Kinnell starts depicting one of his frightening worlds and in the very end of the poem he states that the book is the book of nightmares which many people still would like to read because the real world is full of nightmares and there is no escape from them. The only way to handle with one’s nightmares (as suggested by Kinnell) is to understand that there are people who can always help. It is important to point out that the poet uses very evocative language. Metaphors, similes, allusions serve to create a very special atmosphere of dark and gloomy world. More so, it is possible to state that the poem has a definite m agic color. Of course, black color prevails in the first poem of the book: â€Å"black ashes, black stones† and a black bear (Kinnel 3). Even the time is colorful since even â€Å"a moment, turns blue as coal† (Kinnell 6). Admittedly, such images and colorfulness help Kinnell create the world of nightmares. The other poem which is also representative is â€Å"Little Sleep’s-Head Sprouting Hair in the Moonlight†. The poem appears in the middle of the book and it also reveals the world of nightmares which frighten a little child. In this poem the poet contemplates on people’s life which is cyclical. Kinnell tries to comfort his child who â€Å"scream[s], waking from a nightmare† (49). He depicts the images from nightmares and then thinks of the real life stating that everything passes. The poet claims that any nightmare ceases to exist when there is someone who can support a person. Kinnell emphasizes the great power of love which is stronger than any nightmare. This poem reveals the major idea of the entire book: any nightmare can be defeated since there is always somebody who can help. In spite of the fact that the poems considered above are the most representative another poem deserves as much attention. The poem â€Å"The Dead Shall Be Raised Incorruptible† is slightly different from the rest of the poems presented in the book. It is not different stylistically. Like all the poems in the book it is full of bright similes and metaphors. However, it is possible to state that it is more emotional and it is more realistic. The poem appears in the middle of the book. It does not depict some non-existing world of someone’s nightmares, but reveals the major vices of the contemporary society. The poem is very personal and it seems it is a kind of confession and self-reflection. The poet stipulates his ideas about the world around him: â€Å"I, Christian man, groan out this testament of my last will† (Kin nell 42). The poem is really impressive since it proves that the most frightening â€Å"nightmares† happen in the real world because of the imperfect nature of a human being. In conclusion, it is possible to point out that the book is a must-read for all young people. Kinnell wanted to depict the world of nightmares and he managed to do it. Many people are likely to be impressed by the book. In the first place, the reader will plunge in the world of a talented poet. The reader will understand that apart

History- African Health and Society Research Paper

History- African Health and Society - Research Paper Example Africans relied on traditional medicine emanating mainly from plants. There were other believes about health and healing and some Africans believed on praying their God for healing. Though Africans criticized certain features of Western biomedicine, there were a variety of compromises and accommodations. Conflicts The proponents of Western biomedicine espoused an uncompromising stance toward African healing strategies. Through the introduction of Western biomedicine, the colonizers aimed to supersede traditional values, beliefs, and knowledge that were vital to African therapeutic practices. The Africans and Europeans were involved in conflict where the Africans aimed at guarding their traditional health practices, whereas the West aimed at replacing these African traditional health practices. In Kenya, the conflicts were manifest in avoidance of public hospitals and drug prescriptions, formal protests, and indifference to the European public health campaigns (Ndege 2002, 4).2 One co nflict arose as a result of the interpretation of the causes of diseases. Western biomedicine came along with hospitals and medical laboratories. This introduction and institutionalization of Western biomedicine led to empirical and intellectual conversations among Africans and the state regarding issues and implications concerning health, sickness, and therapy. The colonizers relied on laboratory based system to examine the causes of diseases, whereas Africans relied on traditional explanations concerning causes of diseases. The colonial government conducted aggressive public health campaigns, and this weakened the attempts by Africans to comprehend the objective of the state officials (Ndege 2002, 2).2 The colonial state established commissions of inquiry to address the problems of race and conflict, injustice and equality, and the power of the rulers and the followers. The colonial state gave little attention to the function of such commissions on the issue of health care (Ndege 2002, 3). For example, there is an argument that such commissions in South Africa are established by the state with an aim of legitimizing citizens’ minds and what the government desires, which the government is incapable of accomplishing through formal policy proclamations. However, the appointing authority of these commissions determined the final report of the commissions. A conflict arose in regard to recognition of Western biomedicine and African biomedicine. The laboratory system of the Western biomedicine enabled the identification of the causes of the diseases through the examination of the blood and other tissues. The colonial state absorbed, extended, and customized the medical operation of blood and other tissues, thereby embracing this brand of medicine irrevocably to the administration of the colonies. The colonial state did not accord similar recognition to the African medicine. The instantaneous conflict originated from the refutation of indigenous curative kno wledge, agency, and personhood. The denial motivated a domestic, cultural critique, which questioned the very principles that Western biomedicine advocated (Ndege 2002, 5).3 In particular, this happened during the shadow-boxing era of medical

Activation of inflammasome Dissertation Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3500 words

Activation of inflammasome - Dissertation Example There is a connection between deficiencies in the molecular underpinnings of the adaptive immune system and vulnerability to infections that this report will explore. This study will investigate the most immediate pathogenic effects resulting from this disorder using cells infected with S.typhimurium and L.Monocytogenes to demonstrate vulnerability to infections. Homozygous mutants suffered the highest mortality rates. Assays were conducted to determine the molecular cofactors most involved during the acute disease state by examining the process of inflammasome formation. Mutations along several stages of the process elucidate the cofactors involved. Ataxia Telangiectasia alters the formation of the inflammasomes complex based on caspase recruitment, and is characterized by deficiencies in interleukins as opposed to tumor necrosis factors. The identification of cofactor levels corresponding with the autosomal recessive genotype could potentially support the development of enhanced sc reening or diagnostic techniques with an ultimate goal of corrective therapy. INTRODUCTION The Immune system offers protection to the body from internal and external threats. Mammalian Immune system is classified into innate and adaptive immunity. Adaptive immune system appeared later in the evolutionary time line and it is more specific than the innate immunity. Through feature called immunological memory, adaptive immune system evokes a quick immune response upon subsequent exposure to similar pathogenic stimuli. These responses are typically dependent on T-cells, which involve not only the removal of active pathogens; but also the elimination by cell-death (Apoptosis). Innate immune system has no immunological memory. This analysis depends upon the genetic basis underlying failure in the immune system due to molecular changes. Innate immunity is the body’s first line of defense. Innate immune recognition and responsiveness to biological danger is mediated by germ-line enco ded innate immune receptors called pattern recognition receptors (PRRs). PRRs recognize conserved motifs on pathogens called Pathogen associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) or endogenous molecules called Damage Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) that are released by stressed of dead cells6. PRRs are classified into trans-membrane receptors: Toll like receptors (TLRs) and C-type lectin receptors (CLRs), the cytoplamic families of PRRs: Nucleotide-binding oligomerization (NOD)-like receptor (NLRs), RIG-I like receptors (RLRs) and cytoplasmic DNA receptors (CDRs)6. Cytoplasmic DNA Receptors (CDRs) consist a diverse and growing number of receptors that recognize DNA in the cytoplasm. Members of this family include DAI, IFI16, LRRFIP15. TLRs are type-I trans-membrane proteins composed of an ectodomain domain rich in leucine-rich repeats that play a role in the recognition of PAMPs, trans-membrane region and cytosolic Toll-IL-1 receptor (TIR) domain which are involved in the activation of downstream signaling pathways. 10 and 12 TLRs have been identified in human and mouse, respectively. TLRs are localized at the cell surface and endosomal compartments where they recognize a broad range of bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoan PAMPs such as lipoproteins (recognized by TLR1, TLR2, and TLR6), double-stranded (dsRNA) (by TLR3), lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (by TLR4), flagellin (by TLR5), single-stranded RNA (ssRNA) (by TLR7 and TLR8), and DNA (by TLR9)1. NLRs consists of a large family of receptors that recognize broad spectrum of PAMPs and DAMPs in the cytoplasm8. Till now 34 murine and 23 human NLR genes have been identified. Plants contain NLR orthologues as R genes. Plants lacking adaptive immune s