Volcanism of the Late Silurian Eastport Formation of the Coastal Volcanic Belt, Passamaquoddy Bay, New Brunswick: GAC–MAC Halifax 2022 Pre-Meeting Field Trip

This field trip is an excursion through the exquisite, nearly pristine exposures of a Silurian, felsic-dominated bimodal volcanic and sedimentary sequence exposed in the Passamaquoddy Bay area of southwestern, New Brunswick (Eastport Formation). These rocks form the northwest extension of the Coastal Volcanic Belt that extends from southwestern New Brunswick to the southern coast of Maine. The sequence is significant because it is part of a large bimodal igneous province with evidence for supervolcano-scale eruptions that began to form during the close of the Salinic Orogeny (about 424 Ma), and continued into the Acadian Orogeny (421–400 Ma). The geochemical characteristic of the rocks can be explained by extension related volcanism but the specific drivers of the extension are uncertain. The Passamaquoddy Bay sequence is 4 km thick and comprises four cycles of basaltic-rhyolitic volcanism. Basaltic volcanism typically precedes rhyolitic volcanism in Cycles 1–3. Cycle 4 represents the waning stages of volcanism and is dominated by peritidal sediments and basaltic volcanics. A spectrum of eruptive and emplacement mechanisms is represented ranging from the Hawaiian and Strombolian-type volcanism of the basaltic flows and pyroclastic scoria deposits, to highly explosive sub-Plinian to Plinian rhyolitic pyroclastic eruptions forming pyroclastic density currents (PDC) and high grade rheomorphic ignimbrites. During this field trip we will examine key exposures illustrating this spectrum of eruptive and emplacement processes, and their diagnostic characteristics, along with evidence for the interaction between mafic and felsic magmas and a variety of peperitic breccias formed as a result of emplacement of flows on wet peritidal sediments. The constraints the depositional setting and voluminous bimodal volcanism places on tectonic models will also be considered.Cette sortie sur le terrain est une excursion à travers les magnifiques affleurements pratiquement non altérés d'une séquence volcanique et sédimentaire bimodale silurienne à dominance felsique exposée dans la région de la baie de Passamaquoddy, au sud-ouest du Nouveau-Brunswick (Formation d'Eastport). Ces roches forment le prolongement nord-ouest de la Ceinture volcanique côtière qui s'étend du sud-ouest du Nouveau-Brunswick à la côte sud du Maine. La séquence est importante car elle fait partie d'une grande province ignée bimodale comprenant des preuves de super éruptions volcaniques qui ont commencé à se former à la fin de l'orogenèse salinique (environ 424 Ma) et se sont poursuivies pendant l'orogenèse acadienne (421–400 Ma). La caractéristique géochimique des roches peut être expliquée par le volcanisme lié à l'extension, mais les facteurs spécifiques de l'extension sont incertains. La séquence de la baie de Passamaquoddy a une épaisseur de 4 km et comprend quatre cycles de volcanisme basaltique-rhyolitique. Le volcanisme basaltique précède généralement le volcanisme rhyolitique dans les cycles 1–3. Le cycle 4 représente les stades décroissants du volcanisme et est dominé par des sédiments péritidaux et des roches volcaniques basaltiques. Une variété de mécanismes éruptifs et de mises en place est représentée, allant du volcanisme de type hawaïen et strombolien des coulées basaltiques et des dépôts de scories pyroclastiques, aux éruptions pyroclastiques rhyolitiques hautement explosives sous-pliniennes à pliniennes formant des courants de densité pyroclastiques et des ignimbrites rhéomorphes à haute teneur. Au cours de cette visite sur le terrain, nous examinerons les affleurements clés illustrant cette gamme de processus éruptifs et de mises en place, et leurs caractéristiques diagnostiques, ainsi que les preuves de l'interaction entre les magmas mafiques et felsiques et une variété de brèches pépéritiques formées à la suite de la mise en place de coulées sur des sédiments péritidaux humides. Les contraintes que le contexte de dépôt et le vaste volcanisme bimodal imposent aux modèles tectoniques seront également examinées

The Ursinus Weekly, June 3, 1973

Commentator Rod MacLeish will deliver commencement address • Successes of the USGA reviewed for this year • Dean\u27s Office names top UC graduates • Chapter scholars selected • Editorial: Left, right, or in-between; That wonderful time of the year - for the seniors • Focus: Senior class president, Ed Podolak • Reflections: As the curtain comes down on class of \u2773 • Nietzsche\u27s fried nirvana nuts; The skipped diploma\u27s epitaph: Framed by a sister on training wheels • Letter to the editor: Reply to Shrew review • Spring sports end on encouraging note • Bears complete 9-10 baseball season • Ursinus golf season is year of underclassmen • Volleyball intramuralshttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1106/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, March 22, 1973

U.S.G.A. takes action on several matters • C.C.C. slots filled for coming autumn • Fifteen Japanese students to arrive at Ursinus for Summer session • Physical Education Department expands freshman course to fit facilities • Dean R.J. Whatley institutes new property damage procedure • Moore\u27s military miniatures march into class • Editorial: The tax game • Focus: Tom Sturgeon • Follow the bouncing ball • Right before your eyes we have Loot, an obscure comedy by Joe Orton • A meeting of Eastern and Western cultures; U.C. students offer international perspectives • A night on Broadway with Elmer • Songfest reviewed; or Campus notes • Former Kilt Klad columnist stirred by athletic changes • Sports book review: The Athletic revolution by Jack Scott • Sports buffs cornerhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1101/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, February 22, 1973

USGA finally elects 1973-4 officers • Ursinus College Union opens quietly but successfully • S.F.A.R.C. discusses computer use, transcript cost, HH use, & Olevian stove • Tuition increase slated by Ursinus Board • Editorial: The Prisoners return; Looking back • Faculty portrait: Dr. John Wickersham • Afloat in the celluloid sea: The Getaway • Music review: Eric nemeyer\u27s 19 piece jazz band makes debut • ProTheatre plans several productions and a workshop for Spring semester • Wismer\u27s Mother Hubbard left with bare cupboard • 18 year old drinking age to be decided by courts • Letter to the editor: Praise for Chambers • Pi Nu notes active campus musicians • The Wyeth-McCoy-Hurds make painting a family affair • 1973 Bulletin has some adjustments, changes • New introductory religion course slated for Fall semester • Profile: Roger Blind • Matmen win two • Splish, splash! • Swarthmore nets Boydies • Two for three: Not badhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1097/thumbnail.jp

The Ursinus Weekly, May 3, 1973

Meisters sing praise about Spring tour • CCC\u27s squad leaders program will have more work, closer contact with Frosh • USGA selects new J-Board members • IF weekend starts today • Convocation to honor U.C. basketball team • Phi Psi, ZX, entertain 30 area orphans • Travelin\u27 6 concert to be held tonight • Summer School announcement • Editorials: Watergate opens wider; A call to arms • Dr. Visser outlines service project which needs helpers • Dr. Hiroshi Obayashi speaks at Socratic Club meeting • P-VAC art show is a successful one • Gerard Piel speaks on science and humanities • Seniors dying out; Frosh add new spark to Spring sports • Baseball team journeys to Maryland; Loses two • Thinclads rebound after streak stopped at 17 by Widener Collegehttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/weekly/1103/thumbnail.jp

Large-scale analyses of common and rare variants identify 12 new loci associated with atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation affects more than 33 million people worldwide and increases the risk of stroke, heart failure, and death. Fourteen genetic loci have been associated with atrial fibrillation in European and Asian ancestry groups. To further define the genetic basis of atrial fibrillation, we performed large-scale, trans-ancestry meta-analyses of common and rare variant association studies. The genome-wide association studies (GWAS) included 17,931 individuals with atrial fibrillation and 115,142 referents; the exome-wide association studies (ExWAS) and rare variant association studies (RVAS) involved 22,346 cases and 132,086 referents. We identified 12 new genetic loci that exceeded genome-wide significance, implicating genes involved in cardiac electrical and structural remodeling. Our results nearly double the number of known genetic loci for atrial fibrillation, provide insights into the molecular basis of atrial fibrillation, and may facilitate the identification of new potential targets for drug discovery

Multi-ethnic genome-wide association study for atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation (AF) affects more than 33 million individuals worldwide and has a complex heritability. We conducted the largest meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for AF to date, consisting of more than half a million individuals, including 65,446 with AF. In total, we identified 97 loci significantly associated with AF, including 67 that were novel in a combined-ancestry analysis, and 3 that were novel in a European-specific analysis. We sought to identify AF-associated genes at the GWAS loci by performing RNA-sequencing and expression quantitative trait locus analyses in 101 left atrial samples, the most relevant tissue for AF. We also performed transcriptome-wide analyses that identified 57 AF-associated genes, 42 of which overlap with GWAS loci. The identified loci implicate genes enriched within cardiac developmental, electrophysiological, contractile and structural pathways. These results extend our understanding of the biological pathways underlying AF and may facilitate the development of therapeutics for AF

Atrial fibrillation genetic risk differentiates cardioembolic stroke from other stroke subtypes

AbstractObjectiveWe sought to assess whether genetic risk factors for atrial fibrillation can explain cardioembolic stroke risk.MethodsWe evaluated genetic correlations between a prior genetic study of AF and AF in the presence of cardioembolic stroke using genome-wide genotypes from the Stroke Genetics Network (N = 3,190 AF cases, 3,000 cardioembolic stroke cases, and 28,026 referents). We tested whether a previously-validated AF polygenic risk score (PRS) associated with cardioembolic and other stroke subtypes after accounting for AF clinical risk factors.ResultsWe observed strong correlation between previously reported genetic risk for AF, AF in the presence of stroke, and cardioembolic stroke (Pearson’s r=0.77 and 0.76, respectively, across SNPs with p &lt; 4.4 × 10−4 in the prior AF meta-analysis). An AF PRS, adjusted for clinical AF risk factors, was associated with cardioembolic stroke (odds ratio (OR) per standard deviation (sd) = 1.40, p = 1.45×10−48), explaining ∼20% of the heritable component of cardioembolic stroke risk. The AF PRS was also associated with stroke of undetermined cause (OR per sd = 1.07, p = 0.004), but no other primary stroke subtypes (all p &gt; 0.1).ConclusionsGenetic risk for AF is associated with cardioembolic stroke, independent of clinical risk factors. Studies are warranted to determine whether AF genetic risk can serve as a biomarker for strokes caused by AF.</jats:sec

THE EXPERIENCE OF ENSURING QUALITY OF DISTANCE EDUCATION IN CANADA

It refers to the Distance Learning Tradition in the Acadia University, Accreditation and Quality Assurance of Distance Education: Two critical factors impacting higher education: the global economy and the advances in information and communication technology. Also it refers to the Accreditation of Distance Education and Canadian Approach, AUCC Requirements for Institutional Membership: Internal Structures of Quality Assurance and External Accreditation. Finally, it mentions Distance Education: Another Layer of Assessment, Tools to Assist with Assessment and Structure/Bureaucracy and Quality Assurance