The Westminster Doctrine of Predestination

In scope this work is both theological and historical. The aim is to recover an understanding of the Christian doctrine of predestination as presented in the Westminster Confession of Faith. As will be made clear in the Introduction, a part of Church teaching, once prominent, has become neglected and has even been disowned. This work is an attempt to get beyond the ignorance and misunderstanding that surround both doctrine and Confession. It is an attempt to see the Westminster teaching in its context. Whither the view is worth the journey will be known only when the journey is completed. The first task will be to examine the confessional form and its place in the history and thought of the Church. While the confessional profusion of the Seventeenth Century will he given particular attention, study will be made first of the Bible and the ancient creeds to try and establish the relationship between confessions and the affirmation of community identity, a relationship which will be shown to be highly significant for the Westminster Confession. The particular situation in which the Westminster Confession was composed will require detailed examination. This will include a survey of both English and Scottish Reformed theology prior to Westminster as well as a thorough investigation of the complicated background to the Assembly. This will set the Confession in its context. A similar service must then be performed for the doctrine. The prominence enjoyed by the doctrine in the Confession cries out for investigation# So does the relationship of the doctrine to the understanding of God and man. That cry will be answered. The development of the doctrine from its first formulation by Augustine through Luther and Calvin to the Seventeenth Century will be traced with particular reference to the options open at the time of the Assembly. In this way the ground will have been cleared for the meaningful analysis of the Westminster statement which will then be attempted. However, something more is required. In order to get a full, rounded picture of what the divines believed it will be necessary to consider the way they and their successors taught the doctrine. This will be done with an eye to arguments made against the alleged effects of their teaching. The Westminster doctrine of predestination having been set in its context, historically and theologically, that doctrine having been analysed as theory and studied as practice, the Conclusion will attempt to assess its true significance

The Role of Physics in the Christian Liberal Arts University

The Role of Physics in the Christian Liberal Arts Universit

Alien Registration- Crichton, James A. (Gorham, Cumberland County)

https://digitalmaine.com/alien_docs/31956/thumbnail.jp

Phase Shift Ambiguities for Spin-independent Scattering

The representation of scattering data by phase shifts is by now a deeply-rooted tradition accepted universally by each new generation of physicists. After measuring a differential cross-section, (1) dσ / dΩ = Ιf(θ)Ι2 at a certain energy (here it is assumed that there is no spin dependence), one seeks to represent the data by means of a set of real angles such that (2) Equation where k is the momentum in the center-of-mass system(l). The advantage of such a representation is in situations in which one expects and finds that only a small number of non-vanishing phase shifts will suffice. It is an implicit assumption, never proved, that there will be a unique set of such phase shifts, aside from well-known and obvious ambiguities. (We exclude here a consideration of experimental uncertainties.) We show that this assumption is false by exhibibiting a counter-example. The problem here is that specification of the phase shifts also specifies the phase of the scattering amplitude f, whereas only its absolute value is determined experimentally. Thus we inquire if it is possible for two or more different sets of phase shifts to satisfy the experimental data. The ambiguities which we discuss here for spin-independent scattering are somewhat analogous to the famous Fermi-Yang ambiguities encountered in the early history of π p scattering

Testing the libido of breeding sires to predict mating performance in the field and the hormonal control of male sexual behaviour.

Thesis (Ph.D.)-University of Natal, Pietermaritzburg, 1988.The incidence of sexually low-response rams was determined in a group of 31 young Ile de France stud rams by means of three libido tests. Eight rams ( 25,8%) we reclassified as being sexually low-response. The proportion of rams showing normal sexual behaviour did not increase over the three tests. As testing progressed the incidence of mounting behaviour increased significantly. The increase in serving activity was non-significant. Following flock mating two low-response rams had not marked any ewes and showed preference for homosexual company. Five of the eight low response rams had a common sire and it is suggested that sexual behaviour may be influenced genetically. A group of 20 month-old beef bulls (n=54) representing nine breeds were evaluated for libido using five serving capacity (SC) tests (bulls tested in groups) followed by one libido score test (bulls tested as individuals). Bos indicus bulls displayed significantly lower SC than bulls from exotic breeds. Bulls underwent a definite learning process over the five SC tests. The increase in SC was not significant for all breeds. The use of oestrous teaser females held no advantage over the use of properly restrained non-oestrous females. Agonistic behaviour did not depress SC (individual exceptions were noted). Growth rate did not have a consistent effect on SC. Activity on the libido score test was highly significantly correlated to SC. The influence of night or day and the presence or absence of an observer on the SC of 20 month-old Bos indicus bulls (n=18) was evaluated over 12 SC tests. Bulls showed no preference for nocturnal sexual behaviour and were not hindered by personnel scoring SC. The improvement in SC with progression of the tests suggested some form of adaption to pen test conditions and/or learning experience. Serving behaviour was however inconsistent from test to test indicating that restrained females do not represent the ideal stimulus. Agonistic interaction depressed SC. Subsequent pasture mating behaviour was significantly related to SC. Some of the factors influencing pasture behaviour are discussed. High SC bulls achieved a conception rate that was 10,8% higher than that of the low SC bulls (difference non-significant). The relationship between bull libido (libido score test) and conception rate following a 21 day breeding season was investigated over two seasons. The average bulling percentages were 2,9 and 2,5% in the first and second seasons respectively. High libido bulls had no advantage over medium libido bulls in both seasons. Bulls achieved acceptable conception rates (> 70%) in both years and it is suggested that the commonly recommended bulling percentage of 4% is conservative. In an investigation into the hormonal control of sexual behaviour in the ram the technique of active immunization against specific steroid hormones was used in an attempt to highlight the possible central action of dihydrotestosterone (DHT) on mounting behaviour. The central aromatization of testosterone gives rise to DHT and oestradiol (E2). Immunization against E2 and a combination of oestrone (E1) and E2 in testosterone propionate (TP) implanted wethers reduced mounting behaviour to animals (no exogenous hormone). levels seen in control Results suggest that DHT has no or limited central nervous action. The effect of DHT appears to be largely via its sensitization of the penis which enhances mounting behaviour in DHT+E2 implanted wethers to levels higher than those recorded in E2 implanted wethers but similar to the activity recorded for wethers receiving TP implants

Dissecting the meiotic defects of Tex19.1-/- mouse spermatocytes

The maintenance of genomic stability through suppression of retrotransposon activity is vital for the avoidance of potentially mutagenic genomic disruption caused by retrotransposition. Germline development is a particularly important phase for retrotransposon silencing as retrotransposition events here have the potential for transmission to the entire embryo, threatening the health of offspring. A collection of germline genome defence genes are required for the suppression of retrotransposons in the developing germline of male mice (e.g. Tex19.1, Dazl, Mili, Miwi2, Gasz, Mov10l1, Mael, Dnmt3l), all of which trigger meiotic prophase arrest when mutated. I have analysed the meiotic defects which arise in Tex19.1-/- male mice to contribute to the understanding of the fundamental mechanisms required for successful completion of meiosis and to investigate the involvement of retrotransposon silencing in this process. The absence of TEX19.1 in male mice causes infertility; with failed chromosome synapsis in ~50% of pachytene nuclei and associated apoptosis, as well as individual univalent chromosomes in 67% of remaining nuclei progressing to metaphase I. Where studied, failed chromosome synapsis is a common feature of germline genome defence mutant spermatocytes. One aim of my studies has been to better understand the mechanism responsible for this failed chromosome synapsis. I have demonstrated that unlike Mael-/- spermatocytes, additional SPO11-independent DNA damage potentially attributable to retrotransposition is not detectable in Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes. Rather, the formation of meiotic DNA double strand breaks (DSBs) is dramatically reduced in early prophase to around 50%, resulting in a reduction in nuclear γH2AX signal, production of SPO11- oligonucleotide complexes and foci formation by early recombination proteins RPA, DMC1 and RAD51. Despite this early reduction, DSB frequency recovers to more normal levels shortly after in zygotene. I have shown that defective pairing of homologous chromosomes by meiotic recombination is likely responsible for the asynapsis previously reported. The initial reduction in DSB frequency could be sufficient to cause failed chromosome synapsis in this mutant, assuming that late-forming DSBs cannot participate effectively in promoting homologous pairing. Alternative hypotheses include altered positioning of DSBs in response to altered chromatin organisation relating to retrotransposon upregulation, misguiding the pairing of homologous chromosomes. Such a model of disruption could also extend to other germline genome defence mutants. I have demonstrated that despite successful pairing of homologous chromosomes in a sub-population of Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes, subsequent progression of these cells through pachytene is delayed. Numerous diverse features of progression are all delayed, including recombination, ubiquitination on autosomes and sex chromosomes, expression of the mid-pachytene marker H1t, and chromosome organisation. The delay identified is related to recombination therefore this feature is likely to stem from the initial defect in DSB formation early in prophase. While some delayed features are probably directly related to recombination, others are not. The coordinated delay observed may suggest the presence of a recombination-sensitive cell-cycle checkpoint operating to regulate progression through pachytene. My research has also aimed to establish the cause of elevated univalent chromosomes not connected by chiasmata in metaphase I Tex19.1-/- spermatocytes. I have demonstrated that that absence of chiasmata is not due to failed crossover formation between synapsed chromosomes. Rather, the frequent observation of individual unsynapsed chromosomes during crossover formation suggests that some spermatocytes with low-level asynapsis are leaking through meiotic checkpoints and are unable to form a crossover before reaching metaphase. Therefore, again this later meiotic defect appears to stem from the initial defect in meiotic DSB formation, the consequences of which vary widely in severity. Remarkably the unsynapsed chromosomes present during crossover formation include both sex chromosomes, and autosomes. Tolerance of an unsynapsed autosome from pachytene into metaphase is an unusual observation in mice and this observation may aid the understanding of spermato cyte quality control mechanisms during this progression. Together these findings have greatly advanced the understanding of the infertility incurred during meiosis in Tex19.1-/- male mice. These findings may also extend to benefit the understanding of other germline genome defence mutants. Diverse observations made during my investigations also reveal a potential system of coordinated progression through pachytene relating to meiotic recombination. The variable severity of the synapsis defects incurred in this mutant appears to have variable effects on spermatocyte survival and could also inform the understanding of meiotic checkpoint sensitivity

Epicedium illustrissimi et reuerendissimi cardinalis Caroli Boromaei. ab Iacobo Critonio Scoto ... Proximo post obitum die exaratum

[4] c. ; 4 Segn.: A4 Ultima c. bianca Stemma xil. sul front Iniziale xil

A Gravitational Theory of the Quantum

The synthesis of quantum and gravitational physics is sought through a finite, realistic, locally causal theory where gravity plays a vital role not only during decoherent measurement but also during non-decoherent unitary evolution. Invariant set theory is built on geometric properties of a compact fractal-like subset $I_U$ of cosmological state space on which the universe is assumed to evolve and from which the laws of physics are assumed to derive. Consistent with the primacy of $I_U$, a non-Euclidean (and hence non-classical) state-space metric $g_p$ is defined, related to the $p$-adic metric of number theory where $p$ is a large but finite Pythagorean prime. Uncertain states on $I_U$ are described using complex Hilbert states, but only if their squared amplitudes are rational and corresponding complex phase angles are rational multiples of $2 \pi$. Such Hilbert states are necessarily $g_p$-distant from states with either irrational squared amplitudes or irrational phase angles. The gappy fractal nature of $I_U$ accounts for quantum complementarity and is characterised numerically by a generic number-theoretic incommensurateness between rational angles and rational cosines of angles. The Bell inequality, whose violation would be inconsistent with local realism, is shown to be $g_p$-distant from all forms of the inequality that are violated in any finite-precision experiment. The delayed-choice paradox is resolved through the computational irreducibility of $I_U$. The Schr\"odinger and Dirac equations describe evolution on $I_U$ in the singular limit at $p=\infty$. By contrast, an extension of the Einstein field equations on $I_U$ is proposed which reduces smoothly to general relativity as $p \rightarrow \infty$. Novel proposals for the dark universe and the elimination of classical space-time singularities are given and experimental implications outlined

Policy Process Editor for P3BM Software

A computer program enables generation, in the form of graphical representations of process flows with embedded natural-language policy statements, input to a suite of policy-, process-, and performance-based management (P3BM) software. This program (1) serves as an interface between users and the Hunter software, which translates the input into machine-readable form; and (2) enables users to initialize and monitor the policy-implementation process. This program provides an intuitive graphical interface for incorporating natural-language policy statements into business-process flow diagrams. Thus, the program enables users who dictate policies to intuitively embed their intended process flows as they state the policies, reducing the likelihood of errors and reducing the time between declaration and execution of policy