def _load_lsid_authority(self):
        """
        Load (or reload) the LSID authority file and set class attributes
        """
        authority_file = open(self.authority, 'r')
        authority_json = json.load(authority_file)
        authority_file.close()
        self.base_lsid = authority_json['base_lsid']
        self.module_count = int(authority_json['module_count'])
        self.registered_modules = authority_json['registered_modules']