Voices in the Wilderness: Catholic NGOs and the Challenge of Human Rights

For over fifty years, Catholic nongovernmental organizations have been actively engaged in the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. From grassroots training programs to targeted advocacy work in Geneva, these organizations are helping to shape both scholarly discourse and political policy. Given the growing role played by civil society actors, this paper will critically consider the ethical and theological significance of human rights NGOs, in particular Catholic organizations, in three parts. It will begin with a brief sketch of the present reality and historical relationship of Catholic NGOs to the human rights movements. Following Vatican II and John XXIII’s Pacem in Terris, many Catholic organizations pushed aside earlier hostility to rights language in favor of a rights-based approach to their educational programs and activism. Today, these organizations are active voices in the UN Human Rights Council and related treaty bodies. After taking stock of the experience and reality of Catholic NGOs, the second part of the paper will consider the role of NGOs theologically by addressing two questions. First, do these organizations participate in the mission of the church in their efforts to promote human rights? Second, can these organizations be seen as “structures of grace?” Finally, this paper will outline several ethical implications that surface from the theological analysis. These implications address concerns that are relevant to many NGOs, including participation, transparency, and accountability

Structures of Grace: Catholic Nongovernmental Organizations and the Mission of the Church

Thesis advisor: David HollenbachTransnational Catholic nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) are among the most active agents in the promotion of the global common good as they seek to overcome the structures of sin that divide the human family. This dissertation investigates the theological and ethical significance of Catholic NGOs by developing a critical framework that uncovers the relationship between these organizations and the church's mission. Part One considers the global context and theoretical foundations of Catholic NGO action by examining social scientific literature (Chapter One) and modern Catholic teaching on the relationship between mission and justice (Chapter Two). Part Two places the theoretical foundations into dialogue with two case studies--the International Movement of Catholic Students-Pax Romana (Chapter Three) and the Jesuit Refugee Service (Chapter Four). This critical investigation of both theory and praxis illuminates several missiological, pneumatological, and ethical conclusions that are addressed in the final part (Chapter Five). This dissertation asserts three conclusions regarding the theological signifigance of Catholic NGOs. First, in contrast to some interpretations of the role of the church in the world, the actions of Catholic NGOs for the global common good are an integral part of the church's mission. Second, these organizations can be described as structures of grace as they embody charity and charism in their efforts to overcome the divisive effects of structural sin. Finally, a more robust awareness of the theological dimensions of their work can aid these and other organizations respond more effectively and ethically to the demands of the global common good today.Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2013.Submitted to: Boston College. Graduate School of Arts and Sciences.Discipline: Theology

Separation and Characterization of Retinoids in Chick Bile

Biochemistr

Adenovirus replication in trans : a new replication pathway

Replication of plasmid molecules containing either a left-end or a right-end adenovirus origin was investigated. When the plasmids were linearized to expose their respective adenovirus termini, mixed, and transfected with helper adenovirus DNA into the human 293 cell line, a new molecule was detected. The new molecule was the size predicted for a recombinant between the two input plasmids. The recombinational event, however, was not due to simple homologous recombination and was totally dependent upon adenovirus replication. No molecules of the same size were detected in the absence of helper adenovirus DNA, indicating that detection of the new molecule was enabled by a function provided by the adenovirus DNA, most likely replication. The molecules appeared to be replicating by an adenovirus-driven mechanism as indicated by their covalent attachment to protein and their accumulation from 35-72 hours in a time course experiment. The available evidence indicates that the molecules were produced by replication followed by recombination rather than vice-versa. A mechanism, called trans replication, is postulated whereby the displaced complementary strands produced during replication interact via base pairing to form a duplex. Kinetic data of adenovirus replication previously obtained by other workers is consistent with the process functioning in the normal adenovirus replication cycle. Such a process is a hitherto unknown means for adenovirus to finish complementary replication. As such, it represents the first clear violation of the Meselson-Stahl principle of semi-conservative replication that has been observed in any biological system

Understanding immune–microbiota interactions in the intestine

The past two decades have seen an explosion in research that aims to understand how the dynamic interplay with the gut microbiota impacts host health and disease, establishing a role for the gut microbiota in a plethora of pathologies. Understanding how health‐promoting microbiota are established and how beneficial host–microbiota interactions are maintained is of immense biomedical importance. Despite the enormous progress that has been made, our knowledge of the specific microbiota members that mediate these effects and the mechanisms underlying these interactions is rudimentary. The dearth of information regarding the nature of advantageous host–microbiota interactions, and the factors that cause these relationships to go awry, has hampered our ability to realize the therapeutic potential of the microbiota. Here we discuss key issues that limit current knowledge and describe a path forwards to improving our understanding of the contributions of the microbiota to host health

The study design and rationale of the randomized controlled trial: translating COPD guidelines into primary care practice

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a progressive, debilitating disease associated with significant clinical burden and is estimated to affect 15 million individuals in the US. Although a large number of individuals are diagnosed with COPD, many individuals still remain undiagnosed due to the slow progression of the disorder and lack of recognition of early symptoms. Not only is there under-diagnosis but there is also evidence of sub-optimal evidence-based treatment of those who have COPD. Despite the development of international COPD guidelines, many primary care physicians who care for the majority of patients with COPD are not translating this evidence into effective clinical practice. Method/Design This paper describes the design and rationale for a randomized, cluster design trial (RCT) aimed at translating the COPD evidence-based guidelines into clinical care in primary care practices. During Phase 1, a needs assessment evaluated barriers and facilitators to implementation of COPD guidelines into clinical practice through focus groups of primary care patients and providers. Using formative evaluation and feedback from focus groups, three tools were developed. These include a computerized patient activation tool (an interactive iPad with wireless data transfer to the spirometer); a web-based COPD guideline tool to be used by primary care providers as a decision support tool; and a COPD patient education toolkit to be used by the practice team. During phase II, an RCT will be performed with one year of intervention within 30 primary care practices. The effectiveness of the materials developed in Phase I are being tested in Phase II regarding physician performance of COPD guideline implementation and the improvement in the clinically relevant outcomes (appropriate diagnosis and management of COPD) compared to usual care. We will also examine the use of a patient activation tool - ‘MyLungAge’ - to prompt patients at risk for or who have COPD to request spirometry confirmation and to request support for smoking cessation if a smoker. Discussion Using a multi-modal intervention of patient activation and a technology-supported health care provider team, we are testing the effectiveness of this intervention in activating patients and improving physician performance around COPD guideline implementation. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT0123756

Identification of the Pr1 Gene Product Completes the Anthocyanin Biosynthesis Pathway of Maize

In maize, mutations in the pr1 locus lead to the accumulation of pelargonidin (red) rather than cyanidin (purple) pigments in aleurone cells where the anthocyanin biosynthetic pathway is active. We characterized pr1 mutation and isolated a putative F3′H encoding gene (Zmf3′h1) and showed by segregation analysis that the red kernel phenotype is linked to this gene. Genetic mapping using SNP markers confirms its position on chromosome 5L. Furthermore, genetic complementation experiments using a CaMV 35S::ZmF3′H1 promoter–gene construct established that the encoded protein product was sufficient to perform a 3′-hydroxylation reaction. The Zmf3′h1-specific transcripts were detected in floral and vegetative tissues of Pr1 plants and were absent in pr1. Four pr1 alleles were characterized: two carry a 24 TA dinucleotide repeat insertion in the 5′-upstream promoter region, a third has a 17-bp deletion near the TATA box, and a fourth contains a Ds insertion in exon1. Genetic and transcription assays demonstrated that the pr1 gene is under the regulatory control of anthocyanin transcription factors red1 and colorless1. The cloning and characterization of pr1 completes the molecular identification of all genes encoding structural enzymes of the anthocyanin pathway of maize