The Selection, Promotion, and Reception of Translated Fiction in Wellington

<p>This is the first systematic study of the selection, promotion, and reception of translated fiction anywhere in New Zealand. The study has two phases. The first draws on the responses of 277 adult readers in Wellington to a questionnaire about their perceptions of translated fiction. The findings reveal that most Wellington readers say they enjoy reading books set in other cultures, but their actual reading is largely English-language oriented. While some respondents expressed a specific interest in reading translated fiction, most prioritised genre and content. Age and ethnicity correlate only weakly with perceptions of translated fiction, but knowledge of one or more second languages is a strong predictor of positive perceptions of translated fiction. The second phase of the study draws on seven semi-structured interviews with representatives from three major book-related entities in Wellington: New Zealand Festival’s Writers Week, Wellington City Libraries (WCL), and Unity Books. The interviews provided first-hand insights into each entity’s policies and practices for selecting and promoting translated fiction. Although its past and current coordinators speak highly of translated literature, Wellington’s Writers Week has seen a significant decline in the number of non-English-speaking writers in the last two decades. Similarly, Unity Books claims to treat all categories of books, including translated fiction, equally, but its commercial practice in fact prioritises certain other categories. Wellington City Libraries, on the other hand, has taken a proactive approach to the promotion of translated fiction, for example through blogs and physical displays. Combined with the survey data, the interview findings demonstrate both the complex nature of reading choices and the challenges of advocating for the enhanced visibility of translated fiction in a largely monolingual context. However, many signs also point to a growing recognition of translated fiction as an important element of eclectic reading. This recognition can lead to positive changes in the future.</p>

The Selection, Promotion, and Reception of Translated Fiction in Wellington

<p>This is the first systematic study of the selection, promotion, and reception of translated fiction anywhere in New Zealand. The study has two phases. The first draws on the responses of 277 adult readers in Wellington to a questionnaire about their perceptions of translated fiction. The findings reveal that most Wellington readers say they enjoy reading books set in other cultures, but their actual reading is largely English-language oriented. While some respondents expressed a specific interest in reading translated fiction, most prioritised genre and content. Age and ethnicity correlate only weakly with perceptions of translated fiction, but knowledge of one or more second languages is a strong predictor of positive perceptions of translated fiction. The second phase of the study draws on seven semi-structured interviews with representatives from three major book-related entities in Wellington: New Zealand Festival’s Writers Week, Wellington City Libraries (WCL), and Unity Books. The interviews provided first-hand insights into each entity’s policies and practices for selecting and promoting translated fiction. Although its past and current coordinators speak highly of translated literature, Wellington’s Writers Week has seen a significant decline in the number of non-English-speaking writers in the last two decades. Similarly, Unity Books claims to treat all categories of books, including translated fiction, equally, but its commercial practice in fact prioritises certain other categories. Wellington City Libraries, on the other hand, has taken a proactive approach to the promotion of translated fiction, for example through blogs and physical displays. Combined with the survey data, the interview findings demonstrate both the complex nature of reading choices and the challenges of advocating for the enhanced visibility of translated fiction in a largely monolingual context. However, many signs also point to a growing recognition of translated fiction as an important element of eclectic reading. This recognition can lead to positive changes in the future.</p>

Molecular Network Analysis Reveals Transmission of HIV-1 Drug-Resistant Strains Among Newly Diagnosed HIV-1 Infections in a Moderately HIV Endemic City in China

Since the implementation of the “treat all” policy in China in 2016, there have been few data on the prevalence of transmitted drug resistance (TDR) in China. In this study, we describe TDR in patients newly diagnosed with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection between 2016 and 2019 in Shenyang city, China. Demographic information and plasma samples from all newly reported HIV-infected individuals in Shenyang from 2016 to 2019 were collected. The HIV pol gene was amplified and sequenced for subtyping and TDR. The spread of TDR was analyzed by inferring an HIV molecular network based on pairwise genetic distance. In total, 2,882 sequences including CRF01_AE (2019/2,882, 70.0%), CRF07_BC (526/2,882, 18.3%), subtype B (132/2,882, 4.6%), and other subtypes (205/2,882, 7.1%) were obtained. The overall prevalence of TDR was 9.1% [95% confidence interval (CI): 8.1–10.2%]; the prevalence of TDR in each subtype in descending order was CRF07_BC [14.6% (95% CI: 11.7–18.0%)], subtype B [9.1% (95% CI: 4.8–15.3%)], CRF01_AE [7.9% (95% CI: 6.7–9.1%)], and other sequences [7.3% (95% CI: 4.2–11.8%)]. TDR mutations detected in more than 10 cases were Q58E (n = 51), M46ILV (n = 46), K103N (n = 26), E138AGKQ (n = 25), K103R/V179D (n = 20), and A98G (n = 12). Molecular network analysis revealed three CRF07_BC clusters with TDR [two with Q58E (29/29) and one with K103N (10/19)]; and five CRF01_AE clusters with TDR [two with M46L (6/6), one with A98G (4/4), one with E138A (3/3), and one with K103R/V179D (3/3)]. In the TDR clusters, 96.4% (53/55) of individuals were men who have sex with men (MSM). These results indicate that TDR is moderately prevalent in Shenyang (5–15%) and that TDR strains are mainly transmitted among MSM, providing precise targets for interventions in China.

Form Factors of the Heisenberg Spin Chain in the Thermodynamic Limit: Dealing with Complex Bethe Roots

In this article we study the thermodynamic limit of the form factors of the XXX Heisenberg spin chain using the algebraic Bethe ansatz approach. Our main goal is to express the form factors for the low-lying excited states as determinants of matrices that remain finite dimensional in the thermodynamic limit. We show how to treat all types of the complex roots of the Bethe equations within this framework. In particular we demonstrate that the Gaudin determinant for the higher level Bethe equations arises naturally from the algebraic Bethe ansatz.

Perceived Effect of COVID-19 on the Health of Charcoal Producers in the Guinea Savannah Agro-Ecological Zone of Nigeria

Charcoal producers ignored the health implications of the activity especially during the COVID-19 pandemic resulting in several health disorders. Thus, the study examined perceived effect of COVID-19 on the health of charcoal producers in the derived savannah agro-ecological zone of Nigeria. Data were collected through the use of structured interview scheduled. A total of 178 respondents were selected using multistage sampling technique. Data were analysed through the use of frequency, mean, standard deviation and inferential statistics: chi-square and Analysis of Variance (ANOVA). The study reveals that most of the respondents strongly agreed that they usually use local herbs to treat all ailments during COVID-19. More than 50% of them always experienced difficult breathing during COVID-19, and that high death were recorded than before COVID-19 pandemic, while 88.2% of the respondents perceived low level of the effect of COVID-19 on their health. In addition, more than 50% of them strongly agreed that COVID-19 does not exist at all, that it is a taboo, while shaking hands with customers/friends is a symbol of love and that they cannot do without touching both face and nose during COVID-19 pandemic respectively. However, 93.3% of the respondents did not comply with the COVID-19 preventive measures. The study concludes that charcoal producers did not believe in the existence of COVID-19 and this may be dangerous to their health. Hence, education awareness on the hazard of COVID-19 to the health of charcoal producers should be encouraged.

Impact of COVID-19 on rehabilitation experiences of physiotherapists

BACKGROUND: As the COVID-19 pandemic progressed, pressures on almost all health sectors in many countries increased, and physiotherapy interventions were canceled for various reasons. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to determine the status of physiotherapists who interrupted their services due to the pandemic and investigate procedures adopted by physiotherapists during face-to-face practice. METHOD: The measuring tool was an online survey administered via Google Forms between January 27 and February 27, 2021. In this descriptive cross-sectional study, the sample consisted of 558 physiotherapists, questions about their clinical experience during the pandemic were answered, and descriptive statistics were examined. RESULTS: Of the physiotherapists, 351 (62.9%) suspended their services due to pandemic, while 207 (37%) of all participants worked without suspending their services since the beginning of the process. Among participants, 303 (54.3%) needed education to use telerehabilitation methods, and 315 (56.5%) monitored their patients with remote communication methods. Hand washing (86.6%), disinfectant (85.3%), gloves (76.5%) and masks (86.6%) were the most common protective measures. CONCLUSIONS: Most physiotherapists had their face-to-face practice interrupted for a short time due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but they continue to treat all disease conditions in spite of inherent physical intimacy and increased risk of infection.

Multistage Acid Stimulation for ICD Screens Completion Using Straddle Packer and Real-Time Telemetry Coil Tubing

Inflow Control Devices (ICD) (Fig. 1) is a part of the well completion to help optimizing the production by equalizing the reservoir inflow. Multiple ICD can be installed in the completion at a long section, as each ICD going to partially choke the flow. Completing wells with ICD is one of the most common techniques that is used to maintain uniform production across multi-layer reservoirs. One of the challenges in such completions is to achieve a uniform matrix acid stimulation across these screens due to well deviation and length of the screens. In most cases an effective diversion method is required during acid treatment to ensure all the screens are treated uniformly for maintaining homogeneous production across the reservoir. Over the time, wells with ICD screens show decline in production due to plugged screens which necessitates immediate action. In most cases remedy is to acid treat all ICD screens on individual basis using straddle packer System and real-time telemetry coil system due to requirements of diversion method, criticality of the packer setting depth and downhole pressure monitoring. Multistage acid stimulation for ICD screens is achieved using straddle packer's system with real-time telemetry coiled tubing (CT). The real-time telemetry coil system ensures depth accuracy – as each ICD port length is not more than couple of inches – and monitoring of pressures and straddle packer system's integrity during multistage acid stimulation across the horizontal screens. This operation involves challenges of properly setting the packer to selectively treat each ICD screen by mechanically diverting the acid treatment while maintaining seal integrity in each stage and re-using it multiple times. After drifting and wellbore conditioning run, the multi-set straddle packer system is deployed on real-time telemetry coil (fiber-optic enabled) for multistage acid treatment. Starting from total depth, the real-time CCL readings are utilized successfully to identify the first screens joint allowing the packer system to be stationed across the required screen. The packer elements are then energized to divert the acid treatment fluid into the targeted screen Thru the coil and exiting from per adjusted nozzles between the Packers; this diversion is confirmed by monitoring bottom hole pressure inside and outside the coil tubing string. Upon completion of the acid treatment of the ICD screens the tension-compression sub of telemetry coil system confirmed the elements is de-energized to make safe to move the packer without damaging the elements. The treatment is then successfully repeated across the remaining ICD screens with positive indication of diversion across each ICD screen. This study illustrates how the combination of the straddle packer System and downhole real-time telemetry system was utilized to successfully acid stimulate up to 38 stages and monitor the behavior of straddle packer continuously during diversion of multistage acid treatment of screens while maintaining packers seal integrity and downhole pressures. In addition, the study also provides lessons learned from implementation of multi-stages packers with real-time telemetry for successful diversion of acid treatment uniformly across the screens in horizontal well.

Improving Chemotherapy Infusion Operations through the Simulation of Scheduling Heuristics: a case study

Over the last decade, chemotherapy treatments have dramatically shifted to outpatient services such that nearly 90% of all infusions are now administered outpatient. This shift has challenged oncology clinics to make chemotherapy treatment as widely available as possible while attempting to treat all patients within a fixed period of time. Historical data from a Veterans Affairs chemotherapy clinic in the United States and staff input informed a discrete event simulation model of the clinic. The case study examines the impact of altering the current schedule, where all patients arrive at 8:00 AM, to a schedule that assigns patients to two or three different appointment times based on the expected length of their chemotherapy infusion. The results identify multiple scheduling policies that could be easily implemented with the best solutions reducing both average patient waiting time and average nurse overtime requirements.

Quadruple and Truncated MEK3 Mutants Identified from Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Promote Degradation and Enhance Proliferation

Compared to other ethnicities, Hispanic children incur the highest rates of leukemia, and most cases are diagnosed as Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). Despite improved treatment and survival for ALL, disproportionate health outcomes in Hispanics persist. Thus, it is essential to identify oncogenic mutations within this demographic to aid in the development of new strategies to diagnose and treat ALL. Using whole-exome sequencing, five single nucleotide polymorphisms within mitogen-activated protein kinase 3 (MAP2K3) were identified in an ALL cancer patient library from the U.S./Mexico border. MAP2K3 R26T and P11T are located near the substrate-binding site, while R65L and R67W localized to the kinase domain. Truncated-MAP2K3 mutant Q73* was also identified. Transfection in HEK293 cells showed that the quadruple-MEK3 mutant (4M-MEK3) impacted protein stability, inducing degradation and reducing expression. The expression of 4M-MEK3 could be rescued by cysteine/serine protease inhibition, and proteasomal degradation of truncated-MEK3 occurred in a ubiquitin-independent manner. MEK3 mutants displayed reduced auto-phosphorylation and enzymatic activity, as seen by decreases in p38 phosphorylation. Furthermore, uncoupling of the MEK3/p38 signaling pathway resulted in less suppressive activity on HEK293 cell viability. Thus, disruption of MEK3 activation may promote proliferative signals in ALL. These findings suggest that MEK3 represents a potential therapeutic target for treating ALL.