Saturday, January 18, 2020
Beowulf Movie Critic
Beowulf Movie Critic Do you envision a strong female role or a male role as your hero? In my opinion the Beowulf movie was a thumbs up, due to Angelina Jolieââ¬â¢s use of seduction and female wiles. Angelina is a critical character who drives the plot. In the movie, her character of Grendelââ¬â¢s mother overshadows Beowulfââ¬Ës character as a hero. This is in drastic contrast to the original poem ââ¬ËBeowulfââ¬â¢ because in the original, women were not valued and they had no important role. Grendelââ¬â¢s mother differs from the original, in three aspects; character, plot and theme.The difference between the characters from the original Beowulf poem to the movie is vast. Grendelââ¬â¢s mother in the movie was beautiful, for example ââ¬ËBeowulfââ¬â¢ Movie Review says, ââ¬Å"The link between the early battles of a young hero and his fatal confrontation with the dragon as an aging king is his temptation by the monsterââ¬â¢s mother who dangles wealth, power a nd sexual favors before his bedazzled eyes,â⬠the writer reminds us of the beauty she portrays. In the poem readers are led to believe she looks monstrous; it is said that the warriors from Herot thought she looked like Grendel and also Beowulf is not one bit attracted to her.In the poem Grendelââ¬â¢s mother is a violent being who creates conflicts to avenge her son; she eats people and kills many of Hrothgarââ¬â¢s men. In the movie Angelina Jolie lures Beowulf with her sexuality and beauty; her strategy is seduction, as for in the poem Grendelââ¬â¢s mother is a monster who attacks Beowulf and drags him into the cave where they engage in combat; her strategy is direct attack. In my opinion the movie Beowulf was successful, whereas the poem was not. The role played as Grendelââ¬â¢s mother was more thought out.Her strategy was a wise one because not only did she live, but she is free to lure more men into her cave, where she will pursue to seduce and sin. Grendelâ⬠â¢s mother changes the plot from beginning to end. If she had never seduced the king in the movie, then there would have never been the character Grendel. Without Grendel, Beowulf would have no reason to travel to Denmark on behalf of King Hrothgarââ¬â¢s request. King Hrothgar was sick and tired of Grendel savaging at night; he surmised Beowulf would save his kingdom.Grendelââ¬â¢s mother creates all conflict, for example she allures Beowulf knowing that lust was his weakness; where in the original ââ¬ËBeowulfââ¬â¢ she is an ugly lake monster with dragon claws, a long snout, yellow feathers, red eyes, a pale face and since Beowulf is not attracted, he defeats her. In the movie Grendelââ¬â¢s mother gives birth to a dragon, but this monster is also son of Beowulf. The plot was changed once again because in the poem the dragon was not Beowulfââ¬â¢s son and if it werenââ¬â¢t for Grendelââ¬â¢s motherââ¬â¢s promise to Beowulf, he would have not become king of He rot and would have not fallen in love with the queen.He chose to kill his evil son to save his love, the queen and his mistress. In the movie every victory was glorious. Each battle won is sung and celebrated. People remember you from your battles. In ââ¬ËBeowulfââ¬â¢ the poem, the theme is complete opposite. Christian element is used; battle is bad, and one was not known for battles, but how honest and faithful you were throughout your life. Beowulfââ¬â¢s morals were very different in the movie, because he was not using the Christian element, but was deceitful and unfaithful; for example, he lies about his battles and betrays the kingdom by fornicating with Grendelââ¬â¢s mother.Whereas in the poem he never did such thing. Contrary to the original Beowulf, the new film wants us to understand and humanize our monster. The changes of theme from story to movie give Beowulf a more modern feel. The movie was a real life depiction of the poem, which was a fantasy. In real life there is reality like sin. The movie is like a metaphor to the poem; we picture Grendelââ¬â¢s mother as an ugly creature, but she was not ugly; she was a monster within but not on the outside. ?
Friday, January 10, 2020
Benefits of Human Resource Portals Essay
Torres-Coronas & Arias-Oliva define a human resource portal as a set of applications which avails a single gateway to personalized as well as customized information (2005). It is worth mentioning that Portal strategies are currently being either adopted or employed in many modern organizations. This has been necessitated by the need of organization to implement one common base in terms of Human Resource procedures and policies throughout the organization. In addition, there is an increase in the number of international branches in several organizations due to the urge for global expansion. With this background this paper will objectively discuss the reasons for the popularity of human resource portals among the human resource managers. Human resource portals enable the human resource managers to experience enterprise unification especially if a global HR portal is put in place. This solution ensures the provision of better services to the employees. Besides, human resource managers in global organizations find it very easy to connect directly with the employees and the entire workforce of the firm in all locations. Employees can easily access all the relevant services via the employee portal and as such the human resource manager does not have to attend to each individual employee unless under very special circumstances. This consequently reduces the workload of the human resource managers due to the availability of short cut processes (Torres-Coronas & Arias-Oliva, 2005). Additionally, the managers are in a better position to focus on the achievement of organizational strategic goals. A case in point is the Time Warnerââ¬â¢s portal, which is referred to as the Employee Connection. This portal gives the 80,000 employees of this organization, expense reimbursement, access to benefits enrollment and other services (Robb, 2006). The recruitment process has equally been made easier, faster and more efficient. Considering global staffing technology and operations, the BearingPoint portal is a milestone achievement when it comes to global recruitment. Its ââ¬Å"Called Career Connectionsâ⬠enables employees to access and apply for jobs internationally, thus making it very simple for human resource managers to carry out recruitment. Moreover, the referral section found in this portal allows for online employee referrals that give room for new employees, unlike initially where the firm relied on premium job boards which were very expensive (Robb, 2006). It is worth mentioning that these portals are usually affected by issues such as local regulations in terms of taxation as well as privacy. For instance, the Data Privacy Directive employed within the European Union which restricts transmission and monitors the type of data in question. This therefore implies that some employees working in other international branches of any firm may not be able to access information stored in other parts of the world (Hildebrandt & Gutwirth, 2008). However, when the right measures are put in place, there are more advantages that come with the employment of these portals and as such human resource portals are increasingly become more popular among the human resource managers.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Tragic Hero In Oedipus The King - 1502 Words
The idea of a tragic hero was first thought of by the philosopher Aristotle in his work, ââ¬Å"Poeticsâ⬠. In article discussing the philosopherââ¬â¢s ideology of a tragic hero, with emphasis on hamartia, the author states: The function of a tragedy is to arouse the emotions of pity and fear and Aristotle deduces the qualities of his hero from this function. He should be good, but not perfect, for the fall of a perfect man from happiness into misery, would be unfair and repellent and will not arouse pity. Similarly, an utterly wicked person passing from happiness to misery may satisfy our moral sense, but will lack proper tragic qualities. His fall will be well-deserved and according to ââ¬Ëjusticeââ¬â¢. It excites neither pity nor fear. Thus, entirely goodâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦The queen Jocasta tells Oedipus to ignore this but also states the oracle told her first husband, who was Laius, would die at the hands of their son. She believed this to be false because she believed her husband was murdered during a robbery and her baby died. This made Oedipus become nervous because before he came to Thebes, he killed a man who resembled Laius at a crossroads and when he was younger, an oracle to ld him he would kill his father and marry his mother. After the death Polybus, he finds out that Polybus and Merope are not his real parents and the messenger himself gave Oedipus to the couple when a shepherd offered him an abandoned baby from the house of Laius. The shepherd confirms Oedipus is actually the son of Laius and Jocasta. Oedipus realized the prophecy is becoming true and becomes devastated by his fate. Oedipus finds that the queen has killed herself so he takes the pins from her gown and rakes out his eyes, blinding himself. He begs Creon to kill him, but ultimately surrenders under Creons leadership, and awaits the decision whether or not he will casted away from Thebes, the place he once ruled. 2. Nobility and Respectability He is a king of excellence, love, and esteem. Due to his nobility, he left his originally thought city of birth to make sure the prophecy didnââ¬â¢t come true. Beginning with the opening of the play, Oedipus shows he is a good king andShow MoreRelatedThe Tragic Hero Of Oedipus The King1528 Words à |à 7 Pagesdescribes the tragic hero as having three components which should be present in order to influence the audience. The audience must become involved emotionally with the hero so they become fearful for his welfare or well-being. The concluding suffering of the hero draws pity from the audience. Aristotle describes this emotional transition as ââ¬Å"catharsisâ⬠which refers to the purging or releasing of emotions. This is what Aristotle believes entices audiences to watch tragedies. The hero must also beRead MoreOedipus The King : A Tragic Hero1541 Words à |à 7 PagesAristotle (384-322 B.C.) defines a tragic hero as one who possesses the characteristics of hamart ia, peripeteia, anagnorisis, and that the characters fate must be greater than deserved (Else). Since the main character in Sophoclesââ¬â¢ classic tragedy Oedipus Rex or Oedipus the King matches up to Aristotleââ¬â¢s definition, Oedipus certainly exemplifies what it is to be a ââ¬Å"tragic hero.â⬠The playââ¬â¢s protagonist Oedipus is revered as a good man and intelligent ruler who acts quickly to support Thebes- a cityRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Oedipus The King987 Words à |à 4 PagesWhile exemplifying the high estate, noble character, and flawed nature of Aristotleââ¬â¢s tragic hero, Oedipus fails to have a personal mistake become his undoing, hence denying him the status of Aristotleââ¬â¢s tragic hero. A key criteria of Aristotleââ¬â¢s tragic hero is that he or she comes from high estate, such as a royal family. Aristotleââ¬â¢s definition of the tragic hero is well thought out in this manner. High status is important as it gives the character a long way to fall (Kennedy Gioia, 2013). ThisRead MoreOedipus The King : A Tragic Hero987 Words à |à 4 PagesLike most greek tragedies, Oedipus the King had a tragic hero whose downfall was the result of a tragic flaw. Oedipus, like other greek characters, did not see his errors until his reign was coming to an end. Oedipus, the man who saved Thebes did not understand that every good thing must come to an end. A tragic hero defined by Aristotle has five characteristics that lead to their downfall and their understanding of why the situation happened. Oedipus is the ideal tragic hero because his downfall followedRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Oedipus The King1156 Words à |à 5 Pages The topic I chose is the tragic hero topic. There exists a number of parameters that describe a tragic hero and thus it was my desire to get to understand these parameters. It was also my desire to be in position to give the difference between normal heroes and a tragic hero and give see the main dimensions of the two figures. I preferred to work with the book by Sophocles Oedipus, the king, in order to portray the attributes of a tragic hero. The book contains adequate information concerning theRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Oedipus And King1060 Words à |à 5 Pageshowever, Oedipus and Dido lost much more than that. These were two great leaders that both, suffered by losing their reputations, their sanity, and their kingdoms. These are two great examples of what a tragic character displays, according to Aristotleââ¬â¢s conception. Aristotleââ¬â¢s definition of a tragic hero is a distinguished person occupying a high position, living in prosperous circumstances and falling into misfortune because of an error in judgment. King Oedipus and Queen Dido are tragic charactersRead MoreOedipus the King a Tragic Hero936 Words à |à 4 PagesEnglish 1302-6504 Mrs.Weatherford 21 November 2011 A Tragic Hero Indeed! In Sophocles tragedy Oedipus the King, King Oedipus swears to solve the murder of former King Laios in order to free the city from the plague. The plague taunts the city destroying crops and livestock and making the women unable to bear children. A seer, Teirsias tells Oedipus that he himself is Thebesââ¬â¢s pollution for killing his father and marrying his mother. Oedipus ignores his words and is blind to the truth until he discoversRead MoreOedipus The King : A Tragic Hero870 Words à |à 4 Pagestragedies and his most famous being performed there. While only seven of his plays have survived, many, like Oedipus the King, are still prevalent today. It definitely meets the five main criteria for a tragedy: a tragic hero of noble birth, a tragic flaw, a fall from grace, a moment of remorse, and catharsis. Oedipus the King is seen as a perfect tragedy. It features a hero with a tragic flaw, Oedipus, and highlights many common themes in Greek tragedy such as fate or destiny, love, pride, loss, the abuseRead MoreOedipus : The King Of Thebes And Tragic Hero Essay728 Words à |à 3 PagesOedipus: The King of Thebes and Tragic Hero Ancient Greek Literature encompasses an assortment of poetry and drama to include the great masterpieces of tragedy. In Classic Literature, tragedies were commonly known for their elaboration of a protagonist fitting the classification of a tragic hero. This type of a tragic hero often collectively described as a character of noble birth, facing an adversity of some nature and a fate of great suffering. The characteristics of what encompassed a tragic heroRead MoreThe Tragic Hero Of Sophocles Oedipus The King1518 Words à |à 7 Pagesaudiences so well. A tragic hero plays the most essential role in this. Tragic heroes can be defined differently for whoever is trying to force a character into the tragic hero mold. However Aristotle, the great Greek philosopher, established an outline of the requirements a tragic hero has to meet in order to be considered one. These requirements include a downfall, a hamartia, and recognition of said tragic heroââ¬â¢s condition. Oedipus, the prot agonist of Sophoclesââ¬â¢ play Oedipus The King fits the mold.
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
Foreign Investment And Its Effects On Economic Development
Introduction Foreign investment is a tool to foster the economic development in a country. It can be denied that foreign investment helps poor countries to boost their development faster than just only relying on domestic business. The first bilateral treaty was signed in 1959 between Germany and Pakistan. After World War II, European countries started to expand their business to the developing countries? markets. BITs were signed to give confidence to business players from developed states by offering more protection than just relying on domestic law. Before 1980, the protection of investment was the task of diplomatic negotiations, and when disputed, international customary law was in the eyes of ad hoc claims tribunals. Internationalâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦According to Vinuales, environmental considerations become more and more necessary component in foreign investment disputes.[footnoteRef:4] In addition, Sonarajah states that the emergence of environmental claims in international inve stment field started in the beginning of the 2000s where environment had been neglected in the IIAs negotiation and dispute settlement.[footnoteRef:5] The traditional BITs did not put much debate on environmental protection, but, the first regional investment treaties integrated into a free trade agreement, the NAFTA became starting point for environmental lawyers and policy makers about the possibility risks to environmental regulation.[footnoteRef:6] Even though, these treaties still put restriction to host countries to regulate the law in the purpose of environmental protection, the investor-state dispute settlement in modern BITs has managed to take into account environmental as a component in some cases.[footnoteRef:7] [4: The environment issues
Tuesday, December 17, 2019
The Concept of Infant-Mother Attachment Essay - 690 Words
AINSWORTH: Infant-Mother Attachment The concept of infant-mother attachment is as important to the child as the birth itself. The effect this relationship has on a child shall affect that child for its entire life. A secure attachment to the mother or a primary caregiver is imperative for a childââ¬â¢s development. Ainsworthââ¬â¢s study shows that a mother is responsive to her infantââ¬â¢s behavioral cues which will develop into a strong infant-mother attachment. This will result in a child who can easily, without stress, be separated from his mother and without any anxiety. Of course the study shows a child with a weak infant-mother relationship will lead to mistrust, anxiety, and will never really be that close with the mother. Without theâ⬠¦show more contentâ⬠¦Children exposed to aggressive models will reproduce aggressive acts resembling those of the models. The observation of non-aggressive models will have an inhibiting effect on the subjects future behavior. Subjects will imitate the beha vior of a same-sex model to a greater degree than a model of the opposite sex. Boys will be more predisposed than girls towards imitating aggression (Diessner, 2008). In the first stage of the experiment, children were brought to the experimental room by the controller and the model, who was in the hallway outside the room and was invited to come in and join in the game. The room was set up for playing and the activities were selected because they had high interest for nursery school children. One area was arranged was a childââ¬â¢s play area, where there was a table and chair, potato prints and stickers. After settling the child in its corner the adult model was brought to the other side of the room where there was a small table, chair, tinker-toy set, a mallet and a big inflatable Bobo doll. After the model was seated the experimenter left the experimental room (Diessner, 2008). An example of physical aggression was raising the Bobo doll and started hitting it on the head with a mallet. An example of verbal aggression was, Pow!and Sock him in the nose. After ten minutes the controller entered and took the child to a new room which the c hild was told was another game room. TheShow MoreRelatedModifications of Bowlbys Attachment Theory Essay1724 Words à |à 7 PagesModifications of Bowlbys Attachment Theory Bowlbys original theory of attachment was concerned with the bonding relationship that develops between an infant and his primary caregiver. He believed the process of bonding to have a biological basis as the genes of those infants who successfully sought the protection of a caregiver (from predators and other dangers) will have survived and been passed on. Bowlby also formulated the Maternal Deprivation hypothesis (1953)Read MoreThe Dependency Relationship A Child Develops With Her Primary Caregivers1452 Words à |à 6 PagesAttachment is a term used to describe the dependency relationship a child develops towards his or her primary caregivers. It is first observable during the latter half of the first year of life and develops progressively over the first four years of life. It is most readily observed in the behavior of children when they are sick, injured, tired, anxious, hungry or thirsty. Although early attachment research focused on the mother and infant, it is now generally accepted that children develop multipleRead MoreBonding : Maternal Infant Attachment And The Maternal Role Attainment Theory1707 Words à |à 7 PagesA concept is an abstract group of thoughts that integrates unrelated phenomena, and is the primary building block of a theory. Concepts are necessary components of a phenomenon, which are used to comprehend and be synthesized into a theory or paradigm. (McEwen, M. Wills, E.M.) According to McEwen Wills concept exploration, concept clarification, and concept analysis are three strategies described by Meleis in 2012. These are used in nursing theory, research and practice to develop conceptualRead MoreSecure Attachment Relationship Between Young Children And Their Families898 Words à |à 4 PagesSecure Attachment Relationship The mother is usually the first and primary object of attachment for an infant, but in many cultures, babies become just as attached to their fathers, siblings, and grandparents. When infants are attached to their caregivers, they gain a secure base from which babies can explore their environment and a haven of safety to return to when they are afraid. Attachment begins with physical touching and cuddling between infant and parent. Some babies become secure or insecureRead MoreAttachment Theory on Socio-Emtionals Development of Children1435 Words à |à 6 PagesAttachment Theory: One of the most studied topics in todayââ¬â¢s psychology is the attachment theory whose common references are from attachment models by Bowlby and Ainsworth. Since its introduction, the concept has developed to become one of the most significant theoretical schemes for understanding the socio-emotional development of children at an early stage. In addition, the theory is also developing into one of the most prominent models that guide parent-child relationships. Some of the keyRead MoreThe Extent to Which Psychological Theories Have Been Successful in Explaining Attachments675 Words à |à 3 PagesTheories Have Been Successful in Explaining Attachments There are various psychological theories to regard as which have been successful in explaining attachments and I will be explaining the majority of them. Sigmund Freud developed a theory of personality - an explanation of how each individuals personality develops. This theory can be used to explain many aspects of behaviour, including attachment. Feud proposed that attachment grows out of the feeding relationshipRead MoreThe Mother And The Baby Enter The Room744 Words à |à 3 PagesSECURE Scenario 3: The mother and the baby enter the room. The baby slowly moves away from the mother checking back periodically for reassurance. When the mother leaves the room, the baby gets very upset. When the mother returns the baby is able to be comforted by the mother. The experience of attachment is one of pleasure and comfort, crucial in the healthy development of forming relationships for infants and children. The concept of attachment is a positive emotional bond between a child and anRead MoreThe Theory Of Attachment Theory1510 Words à |à 7 PagesAttachment theory was advanced in 1951 by British psychoanalyst and psychiatrist John Bowlby. According to this theory infants have an inborn need to be close to their main caretaker. If the attachment is deprived from an infant Bowlby argued that the infant could suffer from negative impacts on their development. This could possibly imply that children places in early daycare will later in life suffer consequences for this. The basis of attachment theory can be linked to Sigmung Freud s (1926)Read MoreOutline and Evaluate One Theory of Attachment920 Words à |à 4 Pagestheory of attachment (12 marks) Bowlbyââ¬â¢s theory is an evolutionary theory because, in his view attachment is a behavioural system that has evolved because of its survival value and, ultimately, its reproductive value. According to Bowlby, children have an innate drive to become attached to a caregiver because attachment has long-term benefits. Both attachment and imprinting ensure that a young animal stays close to a caregiver who will feed and protect the young animal. Thus attachment and imprintingRead MorePsychology : The Nurture Theory And The Nature Theory1498 Words à |à 6 Pagespsychology, attachment describes an affectional bond between an infant and its caregiver. An infant who is attached to its caregiver will want to maintain proximity to him/her, will experience distress upon separation and will use the caregiver as a secure base. This paper will discuss two theories in developmental psychology: The nurture theory and the nature theory. The nurture theory, known as the behaviourism theory, tell s us that babies learn all of their behaviours and that attachment is a result
Sunday, December 8, 2019
Structured Approach to Enterprise Risk Management
Question: Discuss about the Structured Approach to Enterprise Risk Management. Answer: Here, I am choosing Entry 4 where my friend has focused on the wellbeing and security programs which needs speculation of employees and a strong obligation from the side of an organization to ensure workplace safety I chose this particular area as I believe there are two parts to workplace safety. The two parts are played by two parties. One the organization and the second is the worker. It needs a great cooperation from both these to make a workplace a safe and sound place to work. An organization which is reasonable will address all the problems and dangers of its operations. An employee who is cautious will always bring his fears, doubts and concerns to the knowledge of the higher authority for his and his teams well being. I will discuss how an organization can undergo risk management in an ideal manner to ensure the well being of its workers. Risk management is managing the occurrences of any risks by carefully speculating the risks at a certain workplace. Either on detection of such risks, they are erased or they are minimized to their lowest possible levels. Today this subject has become a security program for the well being of workers In a workplace where organization holds themselves concerned and responsible for their people (Anonymous, 2012). There are many guidelines of implementing risk management techniques in a workplace. Any uncertainty that is surrounded to a future event can be considered as a risk( Peterburg, 2015) These are discussed here in brief:- Guidelines to risk management; Context establishment - This is the scope of the entire investigation for risks. Here the authority lays down the objectives of risk management, identifies the shareholders involved and gathers the relevant background information. It is a framework which is created in which risks are to be assessed. Detection of risks The next task is detection of the risks. Here one must answer questions like these:- a) What risks can happen? b) How such risks can take place? c) Where can such risks occur? d) Why will these risks occur? e) What will be the impact of these risks? f) How till the company be affected if such risks occur? Risk analysis For the security program ensuring employee well being to be designed these risks speculated above must be analyzed. By that the strength and weakness of an organization which exists presently which can be used to control such risks are ascertained and analyzed. The frequency at which risks might occur is also analyzed Evaluation of risks An evaluation is made by the organization whether the entire scope of risks detected acceptable or not acceptable. When there is a decision taken not to treat a risk it can be considered to be acceptable. Treating risks Effective strategies are put in place during this stage for treating the risks evaluated. Here one also evaluates the right process of such treatment of risks and what are the chances they will be revived back (Anonymous, 2010). It is the legal commitment of the supervisors at a workplace to look after the workplace safety of its workers by issuing proper risk management techniques. References Anonymous, (2012)A Structured Approach to Enterprise Risk Management and the Requirements of ISO 31000, Retrieved from https://www.theirm.org/media/886062/ISO3100_doc.pdf Peterburg, H. (2015), Risk Management, Retrieved from https://ww.gnedenko-forum.org/Journal/2010/022010/RTA_2_2010-09.pdf, Anonymous, (2010) Risk management handbook, Retreived from https://www.adelaide.edu.au/legalandrisk/docs/resources/Risk_Management_Handbook.pdf
Sunday, December 1, 2019
Neurofibromatosis & Its Genetic Implications Essays -
Neurofibromatosis & Its Genetic Implications The National Institute of Health defines Neurofibromatoses as group genetic disorders that affects the development and growth of neural cell tissues. These disorders cause tumor growth in nerve tissues, skin changes, and in some cases bone deformities. Of the eight possible subtypes of Neurofibromatosis (NF) at least 85% are represented by NF Type 1, also known as von Recklinghausen or classic peripheral neurofibromatosis. It has a prevalence of about 1:4000 live births. An additional ten percent have NF Type 2, also known as acoustic or central neurofibromatosis and occurs in about 1:50,000 live births (Baskin 1). This paper will deal only with the more prevalent NF Type 1 and focus on the symptoms of the disease and biochemical aspects of the NF1 and the ethical implication of inherited genetic disorders. NF1 is an autosomal dominant inherited disease characterized by multiple caf?-au-lait spots, numerous fibromas, and Lisch nodules. Most manifestations appear during childhood and early adult life. Clinical criteria for diagnosing the disease must include two or more of the following symptoms: (1) six or more caf?-au-lait spots larger that 5 mm in pre-pubescent individuals and greater than 15 mm is post-pubescent individuals, (2) two or more neurofibromas of any type or one plexiform neurofibroma, (3) axillary or inguinal freckling, (4) sphenoid bone dysplasia, (5) optic glioma, (6) Lisch nodules, and (7) a family history of NF1. Other manifestations include learning disabilities, epilepsy, mental retardation, scoliosis, gastrointestinal neurofibromas, pheochromacytomas, and renal artery stenosis (Goldman 2074). Caf?-au-lait spots are pigmented macules of giant melanin granules seen in the basal layer of the epidermis and are distinguished by the presence of more DOPA-positive melanocytes than surrounding skin and a smooth border and light brown color of the macules. Neurofibromas are hamartomatous, a mass of disorganized tissue indigenous to a particular site (Robbins 134), that are composed mostly of Schwann cells, but also contain fibroblasts, mast cells and macrophages. Plexiform neurofibromatoas, large, multilobe pendulous masses, are more deeply situated in large nerves, usually involve the limbs, and are associated with hypertrophy of underlying soft tissues and bones. Lisch nodules, or iris harmartomas, are the most common manifestation of NF1. They are dome shaped, elevated, avascular, melanocytic nodules of the iris with a smooth shape and some translucency (Baskin 1-3). Neurofibromatosis Type I is an autosomal dominant disorder without predilection for sex, race, or color. It shows with complete penetrance with highly variable expression. The gene is located on chromosome 17q and the gene encompasses around 350 kilobases (Goldman 2074). The gene codes for the protein neurofibromine which resembles certain proteins that inactivate oncogenes (Hulsebos 620); thus lacking neurofibromine can lead to an increased disposition to cancer. Although the disorder is inherited, the spontaneous mutation rate is between 2.4 and 4.3 x 10-5 (ncbl.nlm.nih.gov). A predominant paternal derivation suggests that the original mutation occurs in the mitotic divisions that take place during male gametogenesis but not during female gametogenesis. The NF1 gene can show a twelve kilobase deletion involving exons thirty-two through thirty-nine in some cases or a more severe deletion involving a 100 kilobase deletion from exon four near the five prime end of the gene to intron thirty-nine near the three prime end of the gene (nclb.nlm.nih.gov). There does not appear to be any correlation between particular genotypes and phenotypes (Goldman 2074). The sequence of the NF1 gene predicts 2,485 amino acids in the NF1 peptide. The peptide shows some similarity to human GTPase activating protein (GAP). This finding suggests that NF1 codes for a cytoplasmic GAP-like protein that interacts with proteins like the RAS gene product in the control of cell growth in. shows that the tumor suppressing activity of the NF1 protein negatively regulates p21 (RAS) and shows a ?positive? growth role for RAS activity in NF1 tumors. The NF1 gene product neurofibromine contains a GTPase activating protein known as NF1 GRD that downregulates RAS by stimulating intrinsic GTPase. Since RAS and GTP are major regulator molecules in cell growth and differentiation, mutant neurofibromines resulting from somatic mutations in the NF1 gene might interfere with the RAS signaling pathway and thus contribute to the development of tumors (ncbl.nlm.nih.gov). The probability of transmission of NF1 is 50% with each pregnancy,
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