316 research outputs found

    The Influence of the “Memorandum” of the Most Rev. Philip Carrington, Archbishop of Quebec, in Revising the Liturgy of the Book of Common Prayer 1959 Canada

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    In 1943 the Anglican Church of Canada began to revise its Prayer Book. The central matter, the real reason for the undertaking, was the revision of the Eucharist. In 1952 the revised Eucharistic Rite was presented to the Church, and comments solicited. A year later, in a memorandum sent to all members, The Most Rev. Philip Carrington, Archbishop of the Ecclesiastical Province of Canada and Bishop of the Diocese of Quebec, a prominent member of the General Committee on Revision of the Book of Common Prayer, wrote that the revised Rite had been “very successful in creating public interest and in eliciting criticisms and suggestions.” That was putting as good a face on things as possible. The plain truth was that, after long preparation and careful consideration, the revisers felt that in the 1952 Rite they had done their best. The largely negative reaction to their work left them shaken and uncertain as to what direction they should take next. But one thing was certain in the tense situation created by the 1952 Rite: they must not seem to be responding to one criticism above another, or giving way to pressure from one group or another. Into this dilemma came Carrington’s Memorandum: a policy statement which outlined a purposeful new approach, and which was reinforced by the acceptance of his ideas of rising nationalism and new political alignments emerging out of World War II, the message was to strengthen the unity of the world-wide Anglican Communion by a spiritual bond manifested in a commonly distinguishable pattern of worship. As a result of Carrington’s initiative, the Canadian revisers began to re-work the 1952 Rite, using his suggestions and the related models in other Anglican liturgies. In the end they produced a Rite which took its place as one of the contemporary family of liturgies by which various branches of the Anglican Communion were mutually identifiable in a common pattern of Christian life. But it was Archbishop Carrington’s theory of the nature of the Prayer Book in the Anglican Communion, and his concrete proposals for the Rite, which were fundamental in making their achievement possible

    Bayesian model and selection signature analyses reveal risk factors for canine atopic dermatitis

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    Canine atopic dermatitis is an inflammatory skin disease with clinical similarities to human atopic dermatitis. Several dog breeds are at increased risk for developing this disease but previous genetic associations are poorly defined. To identify additional genetic risk factors for canine atopic dermatitis, we here apply a Bayesian mixture model adapted for mapping complex traits and a cross-population extended haplotype test to search for disease-associated loci and selective sweeps in four dog breeds at risk for atopic dermatitis. We define 15 associated loci and eight candidate regions under selection by comparing cases with controls. One associated locus is syntenic to the major genetic risk locus (Filaggrin locus) in human atopic dermatitis. One selection signal in common type Labrador retriever cases positions across the TBC1D1 gene (body weight) and one signal of selection in working type German shepherd controls overlaps the LRP1B gene (brain), near the KYNU gene (psoriasis). In conclusion, we identify candidate genes, including genes belonging to the same biological pathways across multiple loci, with potential relevance to the pathogenesis of canine atopic dermatitis. The results show genetic similarities between dog and human atopic dermatitis, and future across-species genetic comparisons are hereby further motivated

    Reference conditions for restoration of heterogeneous Mediterranean wetland are best defined by multiple, hydrologically diverse sites

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    In a mediterranean climate, the vegetation of embanked salt marshes can vary considerably in time and space to obscure the definition of reference condition for restoration purposes. The aim of our study was to find a basis for defining reference vegetation for the reinstatement of a wetland hydrological regime on abandoned agricultural land. We investigated five reference sites surrounding a 2,668 ha restoration site in the Doñana National Park (southwest Spain). Environmental conditions were monitored on a sampling grid for seven years: surface elevation and hydroperiod were mapped (using LIDAR -Light Detection and Ranging- and satellite imagery, respectively) and rainfall, soil salinity and soil pH were recorded. The reference sites collectively encompassed the range of elevation and environmental conditions at the restoration site, although none individually was representative. The vegetation at the reference sites was sampled annually at fixed grid points. Hierarchical cluster analyses identified assemblages of perennial and annual species that were differently distributed among the reference sites. BIO-ENV analysis showed that the distribution of perennial assemblages was determined by elevation, annual hydroperiod, and salinity. More labile annual assemblages were loosely associated with particular perennial ones. Species composition fluctuated over the seven years, in concert with rainfall and hydroperiod, but showed no directional change. Understanding the hydro-chemical drivers of spatio-temporal variation in vegetation across multiple sites has established a rationale for defining reference conditions for large, heterogeneous wetland restoration sites

    Geophysical and geochemical survey of a large marine pockmark on the Malin Shelf, Ireland

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    Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2012. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Geochemistry Geophysics Geosystems 13 (2012): Q01011, doi:10.1029/2011GC003787.Marine pockmarks are a specific type of seabed geological setting resembling craters or pits and are considered seabed surface expressions of fluid flow in the subsurface. A large composite pockmark on the Malin Shelf, off the northern coast of Ireland was surveyed and ground truthed to assess its activity and investigate fluid related processes in the subsurface. Geophysical (including acoustic and electromagnetic) data confirmed the subsurface presence of signatures typical of fluids within the sediment. Shallow seismic profiling revealed a large shallow gas pocket and typical gas related indicators such as acoustic blanking and enhanced reflectors present underneath and around the large pockmark. Sulphate profiles indicate that gas from the shallow reservoir has been migrating upwards, at least recently. However, there are no chimney structures observed in the sub-bottom data and the migration pathways are not apparent. Electromagnetic data show slightly elevated electrical conductivity on the edges of the pockmarks and a drop below regional levels within the confines of the pockmark, suggesting changes in physical properties of the sediment. Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) experiments were employed to characterize the organic component of sediments from selected depths. Very strong microbial signatures were evident in all NMR spectra but microbes outside the pockmark appear to be much more active than inside. These observations coincide with spikes in conductivity and the lateral gas bearing body suggesting that there is an increase in microbial activity and biomass when gas is present.We wish to thank the Geological Survey of Ireland, the INtegrated Mapping FOr the Sustainable Development of Ireland’s MArine Resource (INFOMAR) program, the Irish Environmental Protection Agency, Science Foundation of Ireland, QUESTOR (Queens University Belfast) and the Irish Council for Science, engineering and technology for funding this research. AJS thanks NSERC, (Strategic and Discovery Programs), the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI), and the Ministry of Research and Innovation (MRI) for providing Canadian funding. The survey data utilized in the research has been co‐funded by the Geological Survey of Ireland and the Offshore Irish Petroleum Infrastructure Programme (PIP; Ref. No: IS05/16 Malin Basin EM).2012-07-1

    Sampling, separation, and quantification of N-acyl homoserine lactones from marine intertidal sediments

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    N-acyl homoserine lactones (AHLs) are molecules produced by many Gram-negative bacteria as mediators of cell-cell signaling in a mechanism known as quorum sensing (QS). QS is widespread in marine bacteria regulating diverse processes, such as virulence or excretion of polymers that mediate biofilm formation. Associated eukaryotes, such as microalgae, respond to these cues as well, leading to an intricate signaling network. To date, only very few studies attempted to measure AHL concentrations in phototrophic microbial communities, which are hot spots for bacteria-bacteria as well as microalgae-bacteria interactions. AHL quantification in environmental samples is challenging and requires a robust and reproducible sampling strategy. However, knowing about AHL concentrations opens up multiple perspectives from answering fundamental ecological questions to deriving guidelines for manipulation and control of biofilms. Here, we present a method for sampling and AHL identification and quantification from marine intertidal sediments. The use of contact cores for sediment sampling ensures reproducible sample surface area and volume at each location. Flash-freezing of the samples with liquid nitrogen prevents enzymatic AHL degradation between sampling and extraction. After solvent extraction, samples were analyzed with an ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS) method that allows to baseline-separate 16 different AHLs in less than 10 min. The sensitivity of the method is sufficient for detection and quantification of AHLs in environmental samples of less than 16 cm(3)

    Limited congruence exhibited across microbial, meiofaunal and macrofaunal benthic assemblages in a heterogeneous coastal environment

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    One of the most common approaches for investigating the ecology of spatially complex environments is to examine a single biotic assemblage present, such as macroinvertebrates. Underlying this approach are assumptions that sampled and unsampled taxa respond similarly to environmental gradients and exhibit congruence across different sites. These assumptions were tested for five benthic groups of various sizes (archaea, bacteria, microbial eukaryotes/protists, meiofauna and macrofauna) in Plymouth Sound, a harbour with many different pollution sources. Sediments varied in granulometry, hydrocarbon and trace metal concentrations. Following variable reduction, canonical correspondence analysis did not identify any associations between sediment characteristics and assemblage composition of archaea or macrofauna. In contrast, variation in bacteria was associated with granulometry, trace metal variations and bioturbation (e.g. community bioturbation potential). Protists varied with granulometry, hydrocarbon and trace metal predictors. Meiofaunal variation was associated with hydrocarbon and bioturbation predictors. Taxon turnover between sites varied with only three out of 10 group pairs showing congruence (meiofauna-protists, meiofauna-macrofauna and protists-macrofauna). While our results support using eukaryotic taxa as proxies for others, the lack of congruence suggests caution should be applied to inferring wider indicator or functional interpretations from studies of a single biotic assemblage

    Murine Leukemia Virus Spreading in Mice Impaired in the Biogenesis of Secretory Lysosomes and Ca2+-Regulated Exocytosis

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    Retroviruses have been observed to bud intracellularly into multivesicular bodies (MVB), in addition to the plasma membrane. Release from MVB is thought to occur by Ca(2+)-regulated fusion with the plasma membrane.To address the role of the MVB pathway in replication of the murine leukemia virus (MLV) we took advantage of mouse models for the Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) and Griscelli syndrome. In humans, these disorders are characterized by hypopigmentation and immunological alterations that are caused by defects in the biogenesis and trafficking of MVBs and other lysosome related organelles. Neonatal mice for these disease models lacking functional AP-3, Rab27A and BLOC factors were infected with Moloney MLV and the spread of virus into bone marrow, spleen and thymus was monitored. We found a moderate reduction in MLV infection levels in most mutant mice, which differed by less than two-fold compared to wild-type mice. In vitro, MLV release form bone-marrow derived macrophages was slightly enhanced. Finally, we found no evidence for a Ca(2+)-regulated release pathway in vitro. Furthermore, MLV replication was only moderately affected in mice lacking Synaptotagmin VII, a Ca(2+)-sensor regulating lysosome fusion with the plasma membrane.Given that MLV spreading in mice depends on multiple rounds of replication even moderate reduction of virus release at the cellular level would accumulate and lead to a significant effect over time. Thus our in vivo and in vitro data collectively argue against an essential role for a MVB- and secretory lysosome-mediated pathway in the egress of MLV

    High resolution profile of inorganic aqueous geochemistry and key redox zones in an arsenic bearing aquifer in Cambodia

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    Arsenic contamination of groundwaters in South and Southeast Asia is a major threat to public health. In order to better understand the geochemical controls on the mobility of arsenic in a heavily arsenic-affected aquifer in northern Kandal Province, Cambodia, key changes in inorganic aqueous geochemistry have been monitored at high vertical and lateral resolution along dominant groundwater flow paths along two distinct transects. The two transects are characterized by differing geochemical, hydrological and lithological conditions. Arsenic concentrations in groundwater are highly heterogenous, and are broadly positively associated with iron and negatively associated with sulfate and dissolved oxygen. The observed correlations are generally consistent with arsenic mobilization by reductive-dissolution of iron (hydr)oxides. Key redox zones, as identified using groupings of the PHREEQC model equilibrium electron activity of major redox couples (notably ammonium/nitrite; ammonium/nitrate; nitrite/nitrate; dissolved oxygen/water) have been identified and vary with depth, site and season. Mineral saturation is also characterized. Seasonal changes in groundwater chemistry were observed in areas which were (i) sandy and of high permeability; (ii) in close proximity to rivers; and/or (iii) in close proximity to ponds. Such changes are attributed to monsoonal-driven surface-groundwater interactions and are consistent with the separate provenance of recharge sources as identified using stable isotope mixing models
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