The Death of King Arthur: The Literary Evolution of a Myth

Around 1151, Geoffery of Monmouth, a priest at St. George\u27s college in Oxford, completed a work known as The History of the Kings of Britain (Geoffery, Forward). Geoffery researched older texts and manuscripts in order to present what he considered an accurate account of Britain\u27s history. In this work, Geoffery introduced King Arthur to the English and French as one of the greatest kings of Britain. His work would serve as the foundation for the French chansons de geste, or romances of chivalry, which in turn influenced Sir Thomas Malory\u27s Morte Darthur (1469). Malory\u27s work would go on to serve as the model for countless retellings of the Arthurian legend. Using this foundation, authors such as Alfred Lord Tennyson and T.H. White would go on to build critiques of the problems in their societies. Geoffery\u27s work considers Arthur as an actual historical figure. His history shows everything from the moment of Arthur\u27s crowning to his death, including the prophecy of the \u27\u27once and future king, which states that if Britain ever has a need, her greatest king will rise from the dead and assist her. Geoffery introduces Arthur as a young man, only fifteen years old; but he was of outstanding courage and generosity, and his inborn goodness gave him such grace that he was loved by almost all the people (212). The Arthur of Geoffery\u27s version has a brilliant military mind, and through many battles, he finally manages to send the Roman invaders away from Britain\u27s shores. The king\u27s death, as outlined by Geoffery, shows the love and adoration he received from his subjects. Geoffery reports , Arthur himself , our renowned king, was wounded and was carried off to the Isle of Avilion so that his wounds might be attended to (26 1). Geoffery certainly considers Arthur to be one of the greatest kings of England. In her monograph, King Arthur, Norma Loree Goodrich also discusses the historicity of Arthur and the stories surrounding him. Goodrich maintains that Arthur actually existed, not as ruler of all of England, but as a warlord, most likely Celtic, who fought twelve battles to free Britain from the Romans . She writes, King Arthur lived in an unsettled world. . . . he is the one man who successfully opposed floods of invasion all his life , if not forever. King Arthur seems to demonstrate the heroic theory of history , which holds that an individual can permanently alter the course of events. (13) However, none of this explains why the French authors of the chansons de geste would center their fictitious works around a historical British hero like Arthur. Most likely they chose Arthur because many of their ancestors would have been dispersed Celts who were living in France, in what is now Brittany. The Arthur of these works barely resembles the war lord of Geoffery. In the French romances, Arthur\u27s birth is shrouded in mystery and his death is embellished . Also, the code of chivalry seems to be present in the chansons de geste but not in the historical research of Geoffery . It seems that the authors of the chansons de geste are the ones who managed to transform the historical figure of Arthur into a purely fictitious figure. How they achieved this remains unclear, and the transformation of Arthur from historical king to literary myth continues to be a mystery. Today there are few people not familiar with at least the names associated with Arthur and his realm, if not the entire series of Arthurian legends. The basic foundation of the story always remains the same. The majority of this foundation comes not from the historical work of Geoffery, but from the embellishments of the chansons de geste. Traditionally, Arthur receives the legendary sword Excalibur in some magical way, and the sword proves his right to be king. Arthur then proceeds to form a kingdom based on the code of chivalry. Arthur surrounds himself with the best knights that the British Isle and France can provide. These knights meet together at a round table where all, including King Arthur, are considered equal. Arthur strives to make the code of chivalry law for not only himself, but everyone. He lives with the idea that the code is more important than any man, including himself. The knights of the Round Table have adventures and quests, helping the poor and oppressed. Arthur\u27s kingdom of Camelot appears utopian. However, Camelot crumbles at the king\u27s feet when his code is betrayed by the adulterous love between his wife, Guinevere, and his best friend, Lancelot. Lancelot, formerly considered the best knight in the world, brings about the code\u27s ruin because he disrespects its principles. Corrupted by Lancelot \u27 s betrayal and disenchanted with a life of peace, the other knights soon begin expressing dissatisfaction with Arthur \u27 s political system. The resulting schism in the Round Table gives Arthur\u27s son, Mordred, an opportunity to steal the crown. This attempt to usurp the throne leads to both of their deaths in a final battle. Many authors have used this plot structure, provided by the French romances, to discuss the problems of their society. While Arthur is always portrayed as a good king, the portrayals and the themes addressed by these authors differ greatly. One of the greatest portrayals of Arthur, which was used as a vehicle to discuss personal themes of societal troubles, came from the pen of Sir Thomas Malory. His work, Morte Darthur, also served as the inspiration for Alfred Lord Tennyson\u27s Victorian classic Idylls of the King (1859) and T.H. White\u27s children\u27s book, The Once and Future King (1939) . These three works are prime examples of authors \u27 using the foundational plot line of the Arthurian legend to portray their own ideas and societal concerns. In these three works, there are many comparable scenes that would aid in examining the use of the Arthurian legend for societal critique. However, for the sake of brevity, I have chosen to discuss only one scene from each work. The scene that provides ample examples of the authors\u27 themes, while providing enough information for a paper of this length, is the final battle between Arthur and his son, Mordred

The Investigation of Geologically Relevant Metal Phosphites as a Plausible Source of Phosphorus in Prebiotic Chemistry

To understand the origin of life, the abiotic incorporation of phosphorus in energy-promoting molecules like adenosine triphosphate (ATP) need to be identified. However, a consensus has not been reached on the source of phosphorus for prebiotic chemistry on Archaean Earth. One hypothesis is that metal phosphites were an important source of phosphorus for prebiotic chemistry. The primary issue with this hypothesis is the lack of phosphites in the geological rock record, where different phosphorus compounds (mostly inorganic phosphates) are observed instead. Two geologically relevant metal phosphites with varying waters of hydration, CaHPO3 and MgHPO3, were synthesized, structurally characterized, and thermally processed to determine if the conditions on early Earth could explain the lack of phosphite in the geological record. The phosphites were characterized using Thermogravimetic Analysis, X-Ray Diffraction, and phosphorus Nuclear Magnetic Resonance. From these experiments, interstitial waters associated with the metal phosphites are dehydrated from the compounds, which influences their reactivity. From Thermogravimetric Analysis, and phosphorus Nuclear Magentic Resonance data, simultaneous polymerization and oxidation is observed defining reactivity. Also, X-Ray Diffraction data validated the synthesis of metal phosphites in the lab. Since they are subject to polymerize and oxidize at higher temperatures in different environments, metal phopshites may not easily preserved in the geological rock record. Preliminary data to support this investigation will be presented here

The Alliance for Cellular Signaling Plasmid Collection: A Flexible Resource for Protein Localization Studies and Signaling Pathway Analysis

Cellular responses to inputs that vary both temporally and spatially are determined by complex relationships between the components of cell signaling networks. Analysis of these relationships requires access to a wide range of experimental reagents and techniques, including the ability to express the protein components of the model cells in a variety of contexts. As part of the Alliance for Cellular Signaling, we developed a robust method for cloning large numbers of signaling ORFs into Gateway® entry vectors, and we created a wide range of compatible expression platforms for proteomics applications. To date, we have generated over 3000 plasmids that are available to the scientific community via the American Type Culture Collection. We have established a website at www.signaling-gateway.org/data/plasmid/ that allows users to browse, search, and blast Alliance for Cellular Signaling plasmids. The collection primarily contains murine signaling ORFs with an emphasis on kinases and G protein signaling genes. Here we describe the cloning, databasing, and application of this proteomics resource for large scale subcellular localization screens in mammalian cell lines

Regulating CCTV? : We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them

Peer reviewedPostprin

Histoplasmosis Cluster, Golf Course, Canada

We report a cluster of 4 cases of acute histoplasmosis (1 culture proven and 3 with positive serology, of which 2 were symptomatic) associated with exposure to soil during a golf course renovation. Patients in western Canada with compatible symptoms should be tested for histoplasmosis, regardless of their travel or exposure history

Morphological and functional properties distinguish the substance P and gastrin-releasing peptide subsets of excitatory interneuron in the spinal cord dorsal horn

Excitatory interneurons account for the majority of neurons in the superficial dorsal horn, but despite their presumed contribution to pain and itch, there is still limited information about their organisation and function. We recently identified 2 populations of excitatory interneuron defined by expression of gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) or substance P (SP). Here, we demonstrate that these cells show major differences in their morphological, electrophysiological, and pharmacological properties. Based on their somatodendritic morphology and firing patterns, we propose that the SP cells correspond to radial cells, which generally show delayed firing. By contrast, most GRP cells show transient or single-spike firing, and many are likely to correspond to the so-called transient central cells. Unlike the SP cells, few of the GRP cells had long propriospinal projections, suggesting that they are involved primarily in local processing. The 2 populations also differed in responses to neuromodulators, with most SP cells, but few GRP cells, responding to noradrenaline and 5-HT; the converse was true for responses to the μ-opioid agonist DAMGO. Although a recent study suggested that GRP cells are innervated by nociceptors and are strongly activated by noxious stimuli, we found that very few GRP cells receive direct synaptic input from TRPV1-expressing afferents, and that they seldom phosphorylate extracellular signal–regulated kinases in response to noxious stimuli. These findings indicate that the SP and GRP cells differentially process somatosensory information

Coilin Phosphomutants Disrupt Cajal Body Formation, Reduce Cell Proliferation and Produce a Distinct Coilin Degradation Product

Coilin is a nuclear phosphoprotein that accumulates in Cajal bodies (CBs). CBs participate in ribonucleoprotein and telomerase biogenesis, and are often found in cells with high transcriptional demands such as neuronal and cancer cells, but can also be observed less frequently in other cell types such as fibroblasts. Many proteins enriched within the CB are phosphorylated, but it is not clear what role this modification has on the activity of these proteins in the CB. Coilin is considered to be the CB marker protein and is essential for proper CB formation and composition in mammalian cells. In order to characterize the role of coilin phosphorylation on CB formation, we evaluated various coilin phosphomutants using transient expression. Additionally, we generated inducible coilin phosphomutant cell lines that, when used in combination with endogenous coilin knockdown, allow for the expression of the phosphomutants at physiological levels. Transient expression of all coilin phosphomutants except the phosphonull mutant (OFF) significantly reduces proliferation. Interestingly, a stable cell line induced to express the coilin S489D phosphomutant displays nucleolar accumulation of the mutant and generates a N-terminal degradation product; neither of which is observed upon transient expression. A N-terminal degradation product and nucleolar localization are also observed in a stable cell line induced to express a coilin phosphonull mutant (OFF). The nucleolar localization of the S489D and OFF coilin mutants observed in the stable cell lines is decreased when endogenous coilin is reduced. Furthermore, all the phosphomutant cells lines show a significant reduction in CB formation when compared to wild-type after endogenous coilin knockdown. Cell proliferation studies on these lines reveal that only wild-type coilin and the OFF mutant are sufficient to rescue the reduction in proliferation associated with endogenous coilin depletion. These results emphasize the role of coilin phosphorylation in the formation and activity of CBs

INSIG2 gene polymorphism is associated with increased subcutaneous fat in women and poor response to resistance training in men

Background A common SNP upstream of the INSIG2 gene, rs7566605 (g.-10,1025G\u3eC, Chr2:118,552,255, NT_022135.15), was reported to be associated with obesity (Body Mass Index, [BMI]) in a genome-wide association scan using the Framingham Heart Study but has not been reproduced in other cohorts. As BMI is a relatively insensitive measure of adiposity that is subject to many confounding variables, we sought to determine the relationship between the INSIG2 SNP and subcutaneous fat volumes measured by MRI in a young adult population. Methods We genotyped the INSIG2 SNP rs7566605 in college-aged population enrolled in a controlled resistance-training program, (the Functional Polymorphism Associated with Human Muscle Size and Strength, FAMuSS cohort, n = 752 volunteers 18–40 yrs). In this longitudinal study, we examined the effect of the INSIG2 polymorphism on subcutaneous fat and muscle volumes of the upper arm measured by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) before and after 12 wks of resistance training. Gene/phenotype associations were tested using an analysis of covariance model with age and weight as covariates. Further, the % variation in each phenotype attributable to genotype was determined using hierarchical models and tested with a likelihood ratio test. Results Women with a copy of the C allele had higher levels of baseline subcutaneous fat (GG: n = 139; 243473 ± 5713 mm3 vs. GC/CC: n = 181; 268521 ± 5003 mm3; p = 0.0011); but men did not show any such association. Men homozygous for the G ancestral allele showed a loss of subcutaneous fat, while those with one or two copies of the C allele gained a greater percentage of subcutaneous fat with resistance training (GG: n = 103; 1.02% ± 1.74% vs. GC/CC: n = 93; 6.39% ± 1.82%; p = 0.035). Conclusion Our results show that the INSIG2 rs7566605 polymorphism underlies variation in subcutaneous adiposity in young adult women and suppresses the positive effects of resistance training on men. This supports and extends the original finding that there is an association between measures of obesity and INSIG2 rs7566605 and further implicates this polymorphism in fat regulation