D. Portnova. The dotted line of distant joys

The review deals with a book of reminiscences by Dalila Portnova, a niece of the writer Yury Dombrovsky (1909–1978), a preeminent master of prison camp prose who wrote extensively about Stalin-era repressions. The chapters devoted to the author’s family include Portnova’s memories of her late uncle that were first printed in the Noviy Mir journal in 2017; a sensation at the time, they also provoked a mixed reaction of surviving family members and people who knew Dombrovsky well. Yet no coherent attempts were made to disprove the publication (other than comments on Facebook), even though Portnova’s account is not without flaws and inaccuracies. In his review, Igor Duardovich points out the valid new facts recounted in Portnova’s memoir as well as its discrepancies and explains why the book is relevant for a complete reconstruction of Dombrovsky’s biography: a project as yet unaccomplished, either in the form of separate publications or as a monograph.

Validation of Next Generation Sequencing-Based Clonality Assays for Diagnosis and Minimal Residual Disease Tracking in Lymphoid Malignancies

Introduction: B or T cell receptor (BCR/TCR) clonal rearrangements have served as important diagnostic markers and minimal residual disease (MRD) tracking markers to guide treatment decisions in lymphoid malignancies. Next generation sequencing (NGS)-based BCR/TCR clonality assessment allows easier sample preparation, higher sensitivity and simpler standardization than flow cytometry and polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based assays. Here, we developed NGS-based BCR/TCR clonality assays to identify and track disease-associated clonotypes of IGH, IGK, IGL, TCRB and TCRG rearrangements and BCL1/2-IGH translocations in lymphoid malignant cells. Our studies validated the analytical performance of the assays using genomic DNA (gDNA) from cell lines and patient samples diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), multiple myeloma (MM), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), lymphoma and lymphoid blast phase chronic myeloid leukemia (BP-CML), as well as peripheral blood gDNA and circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) from lymphoma patients. Methods: Our BCR/TCR clonality assays were based on two rounds of multiplex PCR followed by NGS. In the first-round PCR, the sequences of complementary determining region 3 (CDR3) in rearranged immune receptor genes were amplified by multiplex primers, and sample-specific index and NGS adapters were then added in the second-round PCR. Sequencing was performed on NovaSeq 6000 System and processed with customized bioinformatics pipelines. BCR clonality assays could identify IGH (V H-D H-J H or D H-J H), IGK (V κ-J κ, V κ-Kde and intronRSS-Kde) and IGL (V λ-J λ) rearrangements, as well as BCL1-IGH and BCL2-IGH translocations. TCR clonality assays could detect TCRB (V β-D β-J β) and TCRG (V γ-J γ) rearrangements. To evaluate the performance of our assays, we detected BCR or TCR clonality in gDNA from 4 cell lines and 40 clinical samples with ALL, MM, CLL and lymphoma, as well as paired chronic- and blast-phase samples of CML. Limit-of-detection (LOD) was estimated by clinical samples and cell lines with a background of peripheral blood gDNA from healthy donors. Linearity of detection was established with gDNA of cell lines spiked into normal gDNA to generate across orders of magnitude of clonal frequencies. To ensure consistent performance of the assays, we tested separate reactions and a single mixed reaction for IGH VDJ, IGH DJ, IGK and IGL. In addition, peripheral blood gDNA matching aforementioned lymphoma cases and ctDNA samples were also tested by our assays. Results: Both BCR clonality of B-cell lymphoid malignancies (B-ALL, MM, CLL and lymphoma) and TCR clonality of T-cell lymphoid malignancies (T-ALL and lymphoma) showed above 90% positive detection rate and mostly positive in more than one receptor gene. Chronic and blast phase samples from the same CML patient showed an identical dominant clonotype. The assays had high sensitivity, with LoD defined between 1 to 2 malignant cells in both BCR and TCR clonality assessment. Linearity was observed with clonal frequencies from 1 to 10 -6, which indicated consistence between observed and expected frequencies. The sequencing results with a single adjusted mixed reaction for IGH VDJ, IGH DJ, IGK and IGL were comparable to that with separate reactions, suitable for both diagnosed samples and MRD samples, suggesting the robustness of the assays. Our testing results also showed that peripheral blood gDNA of lymphoma patients carried identical clonotypes found in malignant tissues and ctDNA. Conclusion: We characterized and validated the performance of our NGS -based BCR/TCR clonality assays. We also demonstrated its potential application as a highly sensitive tool for diagnosis and MRD tracking for lymphoid malignancies, including ALL, MM, CLL, lymphoma and even CML at risk of lymphoid blast transformation. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.

Metrics, metrics, metrics: the emergence of technological universities in Ireland

Purpose This paper aims to explore the experiences, attitudes and expectations of higher education managers in relation to the increased use of metrics. Specifically, the authors examine a system of metrics which was introduced as part of the process for establishing Technological Universities in Ireland. Design/methodology/approach A total of 12 managers were interviewed. The authors present data from the interviews in which the authors explore: the previous use of metrics; the impacts of the introduction of metrics; and the future use of metrics. A mix of narrative structuring and thematic analysis is used. Findings The introduction of metrics evokes a mixed reaction from the managers. The metrics allow performance in a range of activities to be measured, assessed and benchmarked. However, there are both direct and indirect impacts of the transition to a metric-based system, which the authors explore using six themes. Originality/value The authors apply the Academics Responding to Change model proposed by Trowler (1998) as the theoretical lens. This helps to capture the complex mix of direct and indirect effects that metrics can have on activities both at an individual and institutional level.

DEVELOPING A RESORT DESTINATION THROUGH THE EYES OF THE TOURIST

One of the fundamental ways of enhancing destination development and sustainability is through the satisfaction of the tourists, as it provides ripple effects for the destination. The purpose of this paper was to assess the value of integrating views of the tourists in the development of a resort destination - Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. The study followed a quantitative research design in testing seven critical elements of the tourism product drawn from literature which include accommodation, activities and tours, accessibility, attractions, facilities, image and price from the tourist visiting Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe. Data from 377 respondents were collected using systematic sampling and analysed using IBM23 Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The results of this study underscore the importance of integrating the views of tourists as a fundamental element in the growth and development of a sustainable tourist destination. The tourists’ evaluation of the seven elements of the tourism product further revealed the price of the offering as deeming too high, while attractions, image, accommodation and activities and tours were the outstanding elements of the resort destination’s tourism product. A mixed reaction (mainly neutral), were noted on the accessibility and the facilities of the resort destination tourism product.

Going Beyond Position Statements: One Hospital’s Successful Initiative to Implement Napping for Night Shift Nurses

Background: Sleepiness during the night shift is associated with errors, accidents, injuries, and drowsy driving. Despite scientific evidence that supports brief naps to reduce sleepiness, and guidance documents from policy organizations, napping has not been widely implemented. Methods: An initiative to translate scientific evidence about napping was implemented in one hospital over one year. The initiative included garnering leadership support and resources, building a translation team, evaluating the evidence, responding to operational concerns, developing an implementation strategy, and then implementing and evaluating the results. Night shift nurses were surveyed pre and post nap implementation for drowsy driving, sleepiness, and work and coworker relationships. Qualitative data documented the nurses’ perceptions about napping. Findings: Three-fourths of the units that were eligible to nap successfully implemented and sustained napping. Most nurses felt refreshed by a brief nap and felt safer on the drive home, but one-fourth worried about or had sleep inertia symptoms. Drowsy driving remained unacceptably high. Conclusion: The initiative was successfully implemented on most nursing units. The mixed reaction to napping, and the unfavorable drowsy driving outcome point to the need for additional interventions to reduce sleepiness.

Calculus and Digital Natives in Rendezvous: wxMaxima Impact

This article covers how a computer algebra system (CAS) wxMaxima can be explored for teaching single-variable and multivariable calculus to Korean digital natives. We present several examples where wxMaxima can handle calculus problems easily, not straightforwardly but still successfully with some human intervention, and unsuccessfully. By soliciting qualitative feedback on students’ experience in exploiting the CAS, we gathered a mixed reaction. Although some students commented positively, the majority seemed to be resistant to embracing a new technological tool.

AN ANALYTICAL STUDY OF AMRITSAR RELATED WITH ISSUES OF TAX RATES, FILING OF RETURN AND USAGE OF SOFTWARE OF GOODS AND SERVICE TAX (GST)

The main purpose of the paper is to analyse the problems of GST specifically in Amritsar city. The data is based on questionnaires which were distributors to 200 businessmen i.e. manufacturers, traders and service providers of Amritsar to collect their responses. For the purpose of analysing the data, Descriptive statistics and Chi-square test have been used. The result of the study revealed that majority of the taxpayers are satisfied with the implementation of GST and they have no difficulty in filing the return. Surprisingly, the results also found mixed reaction of respondents for usage of GST software. 57.5% of the respondents reported that their system have been equipped to handle GST software. With regard to usage of GST software, there is myth that GST software is not much user friendly and can be handle by expert only.

The Orthodox Church, Elections and Protests in Belarus

The article analyzes the attitudes of the Belarussian Orthodox Church towards the election and the protest movement in Belarus. The 2020 presidential election, where A. Lukashenko's victory was declared with more than 80% of the popular vote, caused a mixed reaction in the Belarussian society. The mass protests occurred in the country; during the suppression of these protests, the facts of violence and cruelty on the part of the national security forces were recorded. The Belarusian Orthodox Church, being the most numerous religious organisation in Belarus, preferred in general to stay away from the political turmoil. None the less, some priests publicly expressed their political preferences; they also spoke about the need for fair elections and the inadmissibility of cruelty and violence. In the first weeks after the election, the Church chose the path of peacemaking, calling for an end to the violence, as well as providing active help to the victims. It is outlined that the actions and words of the representatives of the Belarusian Orthodox Church proceeded from the understanding that the mission of the Church is of a spiritual and social nature, while the political and ideological component cannot and should not have a priority character in this mission

Divided loyalties: St Joseph’s Nudgee College, the Great War and Anzac Day, 1915–39

St Joseph’s Nudgee College is an Irish Christian Brothers boys’ boarding school in Brisbane. It was established in 1891 to provide the children of Irish Catholics living in regional and remote Queensland and northern New South Wales with access to an education that would act as a vehicle for socio-economic advancement. The first decades of the college’s existence were nevertheless defined by two competing, sometimes contradictory imperatives. An often-belligerent determination to retain an Irish identity existed side by side with an awareness that a ‘ghetto mentality’ would hinder the socio-economic advancement of Queensland’s Catholics. The balancing act that this necessitated was particularly evident in the College’s mixed reaction to the outbreak of war in 1914 and the subsequent reticence to celebrate Anzac Day between 1916 and 1939. This article explores the College’s response through its Annuals (Year Books) and places it in the context of the Australian Irish Catholic experience of war and commemoration.

COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy model: The impact of vaccine education on controlling the outbreak in the United States

The coronavirus outbreak continues to pose a significant challenge to human lives globally. Many efforts have been made to develop vaccines to combat this virus. However, with the arrival of the COVID-19 vaccine, there is hesitancy and a mixed reaction toward getting the vaccine. We develop a mathematical model to analyze and investigate the impacts of education on individuals hesitant to get vaccinated. The findings indicate that vaccine education can substantially minimize the daily cumulative cases and deaths of COVID-19 in the United States. The results also show that vaccine education significantly increases the number of willing susceptible individuals, and with a high vaccination rate and vaccine effectiveness, the outbreak can be controlled in the US.