Eschatology in the Teachings of Jesus

A study of biblical language about kingdom and life reveals that both terms are eschatological and that both emphasize the quality of Christian living rather than presenting a timetable for the advent of the Parousia. Jesus brings both and calls men to decision. Kingdom and life are present possessions of believers, and the day of judgment will bring their culmination. When Jesus spoke of the signs of His Parousia, He was speaking of the signs that point to the coming of the Son of Man rather than to the actual coming itself. Eschatological hope characterizes all that the Christian does

The Return of the Rachel- A Critique of Melville\u27s Moby-Dick

This critique is to clarify the relation of the ship Rachel to the rest of the story. The Rachel carries with it certain symbolical implications that have been neglected in in interpretations and criticisms of Moby-Dick. In chapter CXXVIII, “The Pequod Meets the Rachel,” the symbolic meaning suggest Jacob’s wife Rachel crying in the wilderness because her sons are not, Jeremiah 31:15. The continuation of this symbolism in the epilogue would include a more definite recognition of the influence of Christianity on Melville then some critics would admit, namely, that Ishmael’s rescue by the Rachel symbolically is Christian brotherly love effecting it universal significance in answer to Melville’s problem

Molecular Studies on the Ecology of Listeria monocytogenes in the Smoked Fish Processing Industry

We have applied molecular approaches, including PCR-based detection strategies and DNA fingerprinting methods, to study the ecology of Listeria monocytogenes in food processing environments. A total of 531 samples, including raw fish, fish during the cold-smoking process, finished product, and environmental samples, were collected from three smoked fish processing facilities during five visits to each facility. A total of 95 (17.9%) of the samples tested positive for L. monocytogenes using a commercial PCR system (BAX for Screening/Listeria monocytogenes), including 57 (27.7%) environmental samples (n = 206), 8 (7.8%) raw material samples (n = 102), 23 (18.1%) samples from fish in various stages of processing(n = 127), and 7 (7.3%) finished product samples (n = 96). L. monocytogenes was isolated from 85 samples (16.0%) using culture methods. Used in conjunction with a 48-h enrichment in Listeria Enrichment Broth, the PCR system had a sensitivity of 91.8% and a specificity of 96.2%. To track the origin and spread of L. monocytogenes, isolates were fingerprinted by automated ribotyping. Fifteen different ribotypes were identified among 85 isolates tested. Ribotyping data established possible contamination patterns, implicating raw materials and the processing environment as potential sources of finished product contamination. Analysis of the distribution of ribotypes revealed that each processing facility had a unique contamination pattern and that specific ribotypes persisted in the environments of two facilities over time (P ≤ 0.0006). We conclude that application of molecular approaches can provide critical information on the ecology of different L. monocytogenes strains in food processing environments. This information can be used to develop practical recommendations for improved control of this important food-borne pathogen in the food industry