Book review: Essays on urban nature

Arts & Culture, Books

As seasons change and the days become shorter, I often find myself reaching for books about the natural world. While I’m not an avid nonfiction reader, short books about someone’s love for the outside are among my favorites.“This is How a Robin Drinks: Essays on Urban Nature” by Joanna Brichetto is just that. Brichetto, a naturalist and writer from Tennessee, has written a collection of 52 seasonal essays that blend her life experience with chronic illness with observations of nature in urban areas and the human relationship with it.Ashley Love, a librarian at Denver Public Library’s Central branchFrom the beginning, I could sense that Brichetto and I were kindred spirits. While I am not a naturalist by training, I can certainly talk about native bee populations and the beauty of a cottonwood tree (a keystone species!) with anyone willing to listen.Her essays about the importance of hackberry trees, the function of dandelion clocks, and the beauty of samaras were a balm to my soul. I saw the reflection of my own tendency to engage with the outside world and the seemingly commonplace.In one particularly poignant essay, Brichetto details her astonishment at the imprints left by fallen leaves on the sidewalk after a rainshower. A man working nearby notices her looking at them and offers to power wash them away. She writes “We speak at the same time while looking at the same thing, though we do not see it the same way. I want to capture the art. He wants to wash it away.”As humans, we interact with nature in a multitude of ways each day–whether by watering our house plants, walking the dog, or driving past color-changing trees. In this collection, Brichetto invites readers to see beauty in the often ignored and mundane, to slow down and realize the miraculous ways that nature moves and adapts around us. She stated, “Nature is under our feet, over our heads, and beside us—the very places we need to know first.” An ode to the virtues of our everyday lives and the nature that exists all around us, “This is How a Robin Drinks” is a moving, funny, and approachable book that urges us to take care of our world and the creatures we share it with.“This is How a Robin Drinks” can be found at your closest Denver Public Library location or as an eBook at denverlibrary.org. Already read it? Check out these read-alikes: “The Book of Delights” by Ross Gay, “World of Wonders” by Aimee Nezhukumatathil, “Earth Keeper” by Scott Momaday or “The Comfort of Crows” by Margaret Renkl.Ashley Love is a librarian at Denver Public Library’s Central branch. She spends her free time gardening, hiking, and reading long fantasy books.

Q&A with Skanska USA’s Scott Cannon on construction’s skills shortage

Technology

Scott Cannon, executive vice president and general manager for Skanska Building operations in Atlanta, Georgia, US, discussed the value of internship programmes.

Scott Cannon (Image: Skanska)

More construction workers are needed every day in the US, but there are legitimate concerns in the industry that the recruiting and retention ecosystems are falling short of the country’s needs. 
As a result, more firms are implementing and revamping apprenticeship and internship programmes to better engage the country’s young professionals. 
Cannon shared his thoughts on Skanska’s intern programme with Construction Briefing as well as reflecting on his own time as a Skanska intern more than two decades ago.
Can you explain your relationship with the Skanska internship programme? 
I’m Scott Cannon, general manager for Skanska USA Building’s Georgia operations, based in Atlanta.
I started my career in construction as a Skanska intern in the early ‘90s when we were known as Beers Construction. Since I went through the internship experience, I can appreciate the impact of our program. I’m really engaged with our internship program and still join our recruiters at career fairs when my schedule permits and often share with potential and current interns how what we do at Skanska can shape the future of their careers in construction.
This year, we had 195 interns across all Skanska business units in the US. [Of those], 155 interns are from USA Building, making it the largest cohort ever for Skanska USA Building.
What’s the single most important part of the internship programme? What makes it so vital?
Students learn a lot in their classroom curriculum, but nothing really compares to the in-depth, hands-on experience of a construction site. Being onsite and putting the theoretical knowledge from the classroom into practice allows our interns to understand the complexities and challenges of construction firsthand. We strive to give our interns a real perspective of what a career in construction will be like after college.
With that in mind, we’ve made a concerted effort to connect our interns across business units, nationally and internationally, over the last couple of years. We hold a virtual Fika call with our Swedish interns and a networking and project highlight call with our US and United Kingdom interns.
Our goal is to give our interns a feel for what it’s like to work at Skanska and knowing you can reach out to your colleagues across the country or across the world is part of that experience.
What’s different about today’s internship programmes?
A construction worker uses virtual/augmented reality in a remote location. (Image: Adobe Stock)

The advancement and adaptability of technology is a big difference from 20 years ago.
The virtual connection we offer our interns with our teams in the Nordics and Europe wasn’t a possibility on the scale that we can provide today. When it comes to the day-to-day job, when I was an intern, we didn’t have technology like Procore to aid in solving things quickly. We had to call someone and go to the construction site to find them if they didn’t answer.
I remember in my first bid room, project executives were discussing if we could afford to have a fax machine on the project.
With the evolution of technology and how we work in the industry, today’s interns can seek out and receive information much easier and faster. Although, this convenience can come at the cost of critical face-to-face communication, which we had more of 10-20 years ago.

Another assessment of our current interns is their ability to multitask — it far exceeds the interns of 10 and 20 years ago. We have an intern who will work remotely in a project engineering capacity for six to ten hours a week when he returns to college this fall. The advancement of technology makes it possible for our teams to adapt to this option for work and allows our interns to continue to get that real-world experience in a way that wasn’t available in the past.
What future innovations to intern programmes would be valuable? 
We continue to see the need to recruit employees who have non-traditional degrees such as business, data, technology, marketing and others. Just this past year, we hired our first data scientist.
Training these employees to serve their specific role is important, but they also have a general understanding of our business and the construction industry. I can see future innovations helping to bridge that gap in knowledge and understanding.
Any final thoughts and comments?
The Kendeda Building at Georgia Institute of Technology in the US. It’s said to be the 28th “Living Building” constructed in the world. (Image: Kendeda Building)

I don’t think people outside of our industry make the connection between construction and STEM [science, technology, engineering, mathematics].
Yes, engineering is the ‘E’, but exposing more students to how engineering applies to construction is key. There has been a big push to get more people interested in STEM degrees, but we need more awareness of construction as a STEM career path.
There aren’t many other careers where you can see and experience a tangible product from all your hard work. I built the hospital where my daughter was born as a preemie, and the NICU [neonatal intensive care unit] where she was treated until she was strong enough to come home.
I built the first ‘Living Building’ in the Southeast, the 28th in the world, for my alma mater, Georgia Institute of Technology. To play a part in building this living laboratory means so much to me, professionally and personally.
It makes Skanska’s core value of building for a better society come alive.

Young Thug’s girlfriend Mariah the Scientist shares emotional statement on rapper’s release after plea deal U-turn

Science and Health

YOUNG Thug’s girlfriend has said she is “so grateful” for the rapper’s release after he was allowed to walk free from prison on Thursday. The 33-year-old Grammy winner, born Jeffery Lamar Williams, was behind bars for more than 900 days after his arrest on racketeering and gang-related charges.4Rapper Young Thug entered his plea deal on Thursday, sentenced to time already servedCredit: Reuters4His girlfriend and singer Mariah The Scientist pictured performing on October 13, 2024 in South Fulton, GeorgiaCredit: GettyIn May 2022, prosecutors alleged the rap label he founded was a front for an organized crime syndicate responsible for “75 to 80% of violent crime” in Atlanta.He was sentenced on Thursday to time served and 15 years of probation. He was released later on Thursday night. In a statement, Young Thug’s girlfriend and singer Mariah the Scientist – real name Mariah Amani Buckles – said she was “so grateful” for the ruling. “This is more than what we prayed for,” she told reporter Michael Seiden. Read More News”We are so grateful, this is the greatest opportunity we’ve ever been presented with.”“I cannot say it enough, I cannot repay you for this. You have changed our lives, Jeffery’s life and mine.” The couple recently celebrated their third anniversary, and were joined by rappers Travis Scott, Kid Cudi, and T.I in celebrating the news. It came after Young Thug told the court on Thursday that he takes “full responsibility” for his crimes and the charges against him. “To really everybody that has got something to do with this situation, I want to say sorry,” he said. He went on to describe himself as “a good guy with a good heart” who found himself “in a lot of stuff because I was just nice or cool,” BBC News reports. “And I understand that you can’t be that way when you reach a certain height because it could end bad… and it could fall on you.”Prosecutors had planned to recommend a sentence of 45 years for the rapepr, with 25 of those spent in custody and 20 on probation.Negotiations, however, were unsuccessful, and Superior Court Judge Paige Whitaker instead chose his punishment as the time he has already served. As part of the deal, Young Thug pleaded guilty to one gang charge, three drug charges and two gun charges.He also entered a no-contest plea to leading a gang and violating the state’s Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (Rico) Act.“I want you to try to be more of the solution and less of the problem,” Judge Whitaker told him.She went on to hand the rapper 100 hours of community service and a ban on contact with gang members and former co-defendants.Read More on The US SunHe is also banned from the metropolitan Atlanta area for the first 10 years of his 15-year probation. This can be broken only in exceptional circumstances – for example a funeral or wedding in the area. 4Young Thug, whose real name is Jeffery Lamar Williams, and his lawyer, Brian Steel, pictured in the Fulton County Superior Court in Atlanta on June 10, 2024Credit: AP4Young Thug performs at halftime during the Boston Celtics v Atlanta Hawks game at State Farm Arena on November 17, 2021Credit: Getty

Hawaiʻi scientists plan for landing in Kona for annual AstroDay event

Science and Health

On Saturday, learners of all ages can explore Hawaiʻi’s new contributions and discoveries in astronomy from working astronomers, engineers, researchers and educators during AstroDay at Kona Commons.

Keiki make Rice Krispies pop from static electricity during an activity with University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

The event organized by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee will feature 20 institutions, including Maunakea Observatories, Maui observatories, and other local and national institutions. They will engage with the community through demonstrations and activities that will dive into the many aspects of astronomy.

Carolyn Kaichi, an education and outreach specialist for the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, has been organizing the annual AstroDay events in Hilo and Kona for about 10 years.

“I think that there is a need for connection between scientists, kids, families and the community in general,” Kaichi said. “A lot of times, there seems to be a misconception that science doesn’t apply to everyone, but people working in science are like anybody else living in the community. We just like to share our love, especially astronomy.”

During AstroDay in Hilo last year, representatives from Subaru Telescope brought a television that portrayed different information an astronomer could get from the telescope on Maunakea. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo brought a static electricity sphere for fun experiments. Hilo High Robotics brought robots for keiki to learn and use. And, the NASA Solar System Ambassadors brought maps, photographs and other tangible information from the Artemis mission.

A representative from Subaru Telescope shows keiki what they can see through a telescope during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADParticipants from Maunakea Observatories coming to Konaʻs event this year include the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, Subaru Telescope, W.M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the Sublimeter Array project from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Thirty-Meter Telescope International Observatory and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, which is operated by East Asian Observatory.

As an addition to the annual AstroDay event, the Institute for Astronomy will be bringing a solar telescope for the first time for anyone interested in safely viewing the surface of the sun.

Participating Maui observatories include Las Cumbres Observatory and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy Maui, which both operate on Haleakalā. 

A keiki looks at 3D images at the NASA Space Ambassadors booth during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

Other Hawaiʻi Island institutions and programs participating include the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Astrophysics Club, Project PANOPTES, Onizuka Space Science Program,  NASA Solar System Ambassadors, National Weather Service, International Lunar Observatory Association, Thelma Parker Memorial and School Library, Hawaiʻi Keiki Museum and PISCES.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADAlthough they were late registering, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will be joining for the first time in a few years and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering will also be represented as they share more information about the “Space Sciences Initiative.”

The Space Sciences Initiative is a collaboration between the College of Engineering, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy and is the first step in establishing a space engineering and instrument development center for students in Hilo.

Construction of the high-tech center is still years away and tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2030, which is dependent on securing funding for the construction phase. However, the academic programming started this semester and will be offered as the center is developed.

“Prior to this initiative there was no direct avenue for local kids on the Big Island to major in engineering,” Kaichi said. “The College of Engineering will be at AstroDay to talk about new program, which will raise whole new generation of homegrown engineers who will, hopefully, stay and work here on their home island.”

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADIn a 2019 report on astronomy in Hawaiʻi, the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization found that the industry supported the employment of 1,313 residents and that there are approximately 500 jobs at observatories on Maunakea and Haleakalā that are held by engineers and technicians who specialize in optics, software, data science, materials, mechanics, systems and cryogenics.

Keiki learn how to operate robots from the Hilo High robotics team during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

“There is a great need for engineers in the science community on Hawaiʻi Island and a big desire to hire more local engineers for specialized positions,” Kaichi said. “The initiative hopes to make an engineering career as easy and accessible to local students as possible.

“I think there is an engineer in all of us, all it takes is lighting the spark and growing the flame,” she continued.

AstroDay is free and will be outside the Kona Commons from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Free giveaways will be available while supplies last and there will be two drawings at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for four special grand prizes––two beginning-level telescopes and two NASA-themed skateboards.

Hawaiʻi scientists plan for landing in Kona for annual AstroDay event

Science and Health

On Saturday, learners of all ages can explore Hawaiʻi’s new contributions and discoveries in astronomy from working astronomers, engineers, researchers and educators during AstroDay at Kona Commons.

Keiki make Rice Krispies pop from static electricity during an activity with University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo students during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

The event organized by the Maunakea Astronomy Outreach Committee will feature 20 institutions, including Maunakea Observatories, Maui observatories, and other local and national institutions. They will engage with the community through demonstrations and activities that will dive into the many aspects of astronomy.

Carolyn Kaichi, an education and outreach specialist for the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, has been organizing the annual AstroDay events in Hilo and Kona for about 10 years.

“I think that there is a need for connection between scientists, kids, families and the community in general,” Kaichi said. “A lot of times, there seems to be a misconception that science doesn’t apply to everyone, but people working in science are like anybody else living in the community. We just like to share our love, especially astronomy.”

During AstroDay in Hilo last year, representatives from Subaru Telescope brought a television that portrayed different information an astronomer could get from the telescope on Maunakea. The University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo brought a static electricity sphere for fun experiments. Hilo High Robotics brought robots for keiki to learn and use. And, the NASA Solar System Ambassadors brought maps, photographs and other tangible information from the Artemis mission.

A representative from Subaru Telescope shows keiki what they can see through a telescope during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADParticipants from Maunakea Observatories coming to Konaʻs event this year include the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy, Subaru Telescope, W.M. Keck Observatory, Gemini Observatory, Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, the Sublimeter Array project from the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Thirty-Meter Telescope International Observatory and the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope, which is operated by East Asian Observatory.

As an addition to the annual AstroDay event, the Institute for Astronomy will be bringing a solar telescope for the first time for anyone interested in safely viewing the surface of the sun.

Participating Maui observatories include Las Cumbres Observatory and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy Maui, which both operate on Haleakalā. 

A keiki looks at 3D images at the NASA Space Ambassadors booth during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

Other Hawaiʻi Island institutions and programs participating include the Maunakea Visitor Information Station, University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo Astrophysics Club, Project PANOPTES, Onizuka Space Science Program,  NASA Solar System Ambassadors, National Weather Service, International Lunar Observatory Association, Thelma Parker Memorial and School Library, Hawaiʻi Keiki Museum and PISCES.

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADAlthough they were late registering, Hawaiian Volcano Observatory will be joining for the first time in a few years and the University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering will also be represented as they share more information about the “Space Sciences Initiative.”

The Space Sciences Initiative is a collaboration between the College of Engineering, the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo and the University of Hawaiʻi Institute for Astronomy and is the first step in establishing a space engineering and instrument development center for students in Hilo.

Construction of the high-tech center is still years away and tentatively scheduled to be completed by 2030, which is dependent on securing funding for the construction phase. However, the academic programming started this semester and will be offered as the center is developed.

“Prior to this initiative there was no direct avenue for local kids on the Big Island to major in engineering,” Kaichi said. “The College of Engineering will be at AstroDay to talk about new program, which will raise whole new generation of homegrown engineers who will, hopefully, stay and work here on their home island.”

ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ADIn a 2019 report on astronomy in Hawaiʻi, the University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization found that the industry supported the employment of 1,313 residents and that there are approximately 500 jobs at observatories on Maunakea and Haleakalā that are held by engineers and technicians who specialize in optics, software, data science, materials, mechanics, systems and cryogenics.

Keiki learn how to operate robots from the Hilo High robotics team during AstroDay at Prince Kuhio Plaza in Hilo on May 6, 2023. (Kelsey Walling)

“There is a great need for engineers in the science community on Hawaiʻi Island and a big desire to hire more local engineers for specialized positions,” Kaichi said. “The initiative hopes to make an engineering career as easy and accessible to local students as possible.

“I think there is an engineer in all of us, all it takes is lighting the spark and growing the flame,” she continued.

AstroDay is free and will be outside the Kona Commons from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday. Free giveaways will be available while supplies last and there will be two drawings at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. for four special grand prizes––two beginning-level telescopes and two NASA-themed skateboards.

Interview: The state of South Korean tourism in Cambodia post-Covid-19

Travel

A large group of South Korean tourists arrived at Siem Reap International Airport (REP) in October 2023. Siem Reap provincial information department

Similar to other tourism markets, the number of South Korean tourists in Cambodia remains below pre-Covid-19 levels due to various factors.
According to data from the Ministry of Tourism, the country received 132,286 Korean tourists between January and August, a 14.6% increase compared to the same period last year. In 2019, there were 254,847 Korean tourists, placing Korea as the fourth largest source market after China, Vietnam, Thailand and Laos.
The Post’s reporter Niem Chheng sat down with Seam Sokkheng, president of the Korean Language Tourist Guide Association in Cambodia, to gain insights into the market, especially with recent coverage in Korean media about reports of detention and coercion involving Korean nationals.
What has been the situation of Korean tourists in Cambodia since the country reopened post-Covid-19 in November 2021 and how does it compare to 2019 levels?
After COVID-19, there was a significant influx of Korean tourists until the end of February 2022, after which the numbers gradually declined. At that time, direct flights from Korea to Siem Reap helped drive these numbers. 
However, with the discontinuation of direct flights, fewer Korean tourists are coming. Now, they must arrive in Phnom Penh before continuing to Siem Reap or travel to Siem Reap directly from neighbouring countries, but their numbers are limited.
Currently, I estimate that Korean tourist numbers are only about 30 per cent of what they were before Covid-19. As I mentioned, the main issue is the lack of direct flights. If they were available, I believe the numbers would be much closer to previous levels.
Have South Korean tourists raised any concerns when visiting Cambodia, especially given recent reports of South Korean nationals claiming to have been detained and coerced by criminals?
As a Korean-speaking tour guide, I personally have not encountered Korean tourists expressing concerns about their trips to Cambodia. The main complaint I hear from them is the absence of direct flights, which makes travel more difficult. Aside from that, they don’t bring up other issues. They enjoy their time in Siem Reap and find it safe.
Regarding the recent Korean news reports about South Koreans allegedly being detained and coerced, this is relatively new. Even with these reports circulating, I continue to guide Korean tourists around the temples, but they showed no reaction or concern about these issues. 
From my experience with them directly, they don’t bring up such matters. Upon arriving in Siem Reap, they see the real situation, which is different from the reports, and they seem to enjoy their trip without any issues.
As the president of the Korean Language Tourist Guide Association, what would you like to tell South Korean citizens about the situation in Cambodia?
I encourage Koreans to continue visiting Cambodia, especially Siem Reap, as the actual situation in Siem Reap and throughout Cambodia is not as portrayed in some news reports. I encourage them to come explore Khmer culture as Siem Reap is safe and offers unique attractions where they can learn and experience new things. 
Concerns like scams are part of the black market and don’t relate to tourism. We can assure them that in Cambodia and in Siem Reap, there is no such issue at all.
What has your association done to help boost the Korean tourism market in Cambodia?
First, we have strengthened our members’ knowledge to enhance their ability to provide accurate information to tourists and to offer a smooth travel experience. We focus on meeting the needs and requests of our tourists. Additionally, we have promoted Cambodia in Korean media through bloggers, YouTubers and other social platforms.
Do you have any recommendations to encourage the return of Korean tourists to Cambodia?
I urge relevant ministries, especially Cambodia’s Ministry of Tourism and Korea’s Ministry of Tourism, to collaborate on promoting Cambodia’s tourism more widely. I also encourage collaboration with airlines to establish direct flights from Korea to Siem Reap.
If we increase promotion and restore direct flights, I believe Korean tourists will visit Siem Reap on their own without difficulty. As Korean-speaking guides, we are fully prepared to meet the needs of tourists and provide a quality travel experience.

10 books to add to your reading list in November

Arts & Culture, Books

Critic Bethanne Patrick recommends 10 promising titles — fiction and nonfiction — to consider for your November reading list.“I have come to regard November as the older, harder man’s October,” wrote Henry Rollins, that longtime punk Californian. This month’s books, which include titles on vanishing wildlife, a devastating plane crash and murder, might echo that perspective. But there is always hope: a ballerina’s redemption, a marvelous oceanic recovery and … a little Ted Lasso.FictionA Case of Matricide: A NovelBy Graeme Macrae BurnetBiblioasis: 256 pages, $18.95(Nov. 12) (Biblioasis) Beginning with “The Disappearance of Adèle Bedeau” and continuing with “The Accident on the A35,” Burnet’s trilogy concludes with a mystery about what we put up with in mystery narratives. Yes, it’s metafiction again, and fans of this Booker-nominated author will have a grand time following Inspector George Gorski’s careful (read: slow) investigations into the latest murder threats in the tiny town of Saint-Louis, France. It’s smart, quirky and fun.Every Arc Bends Its Radian: A NovelBy Sergio de la PavaSimon & Schuster: 288 pages, $27.99(Nov. 12) (Simon & Schuster) Riv del Río, a New York City detective, returns to his native Colombia for respite after a terrible event, only to find himself wrapped up in investigating the disappearance of a brilliant MIT PhD candidate, Angelica, which involves a super-villainous crime lord named Exeter Mondragon. Between unctuous descriptions of Cali and its region, hilarious send-ups of noir tropes and more than a dash of speculative horror, de la Pava sticks a highly unlikely landing.Munichs: A NovelBy David PeaceW.W. Norton: 480 pages, $30(Nov. 12) (W.W. Norton) The 1958 plane crash that killed 23 people en route from Munich to Manchester affected that city’s Man United soccer team deeply; eight players and three officials died. Peace’s novel digs into the trauma to show how individuals, families and a city regained faith in their community and its ability to knit back together. If the book carries too much nostalgia and seems detached from today’s world of commercial “footie,” perhaps that’s deliberate.The Magnificent Ruins: A NovelBy Nayantara RoyAlgonquin: 448 pages, $29(Nov. 12) (Algonquin) Television executive, playwright and now novelist Roy turns to India for this debut novel about an unexpected inheritance. Protagonist Lila De lives in Manhattan and works in book publishing; she’s on her way up in her American life and has no intention of returning to South Asia until she learns she’s the new owner of her extended family’s estate. Will hijinks ensue? Indubitably. But so will complications, and tragedy, as Lila learns to live with honesty.City of Night Birds: A NovelBy Juhea KimEcco: 320 pages, $30(Nov. 26) Natalia Leonova, once a prima ballerina, returns to St. Petersburg as a broken woman whose accident two years in the past has led to her substance abuse. As people from her former life reappear, she endures more pain, this time emotional — but is also offered an unusual, maybe even dangerous, chance at stardom again. Kim (“Beasts of a Little Land”) delves into Natalia’s past to show both how hard she has worked and how important that work is to her psyche.NonfictionBelieve: The Untold Story Behind Ted Lasso, the Show That Kicked Its Way Into Our HeartsBy Jeremy EgnerDutton: 368 pages, $32(Nov. 12) In 2020, a TV show about an American football coach brought in from Kansas to lead a British soccer team debuted — and took off. Jason Sudeikis, in the title role of Ted Lasso, turned a fish-out-of-water character into a folk hero, an Everyman who could inspire sulky young athletes one moment and bake superlative shortbread the next. New York Times TV editor Egner takes his material and makes it shine with accuracy and admiration.Treekeepers: The Race for a Forested FutureBy Lauren E. OakesBasic Books: 336 pages, $30(Nov. 12) (Basic Books) Planting trees to replace trees sounds like a simple positive step, but as author and scientist Oakes, a Stanford professor, explains in this book, it takes more than placing a sapling somewhere to maintain the planet’s forests. Whether it’s a tropical jungle or a northern woodland, forests, like all ecosystems, require different kinds of growth, geology and climate interacting — and their establishment and maintenance is crucial.Vanishing Treasures: A Bestiary of Extraordinary Endangered CreaturesBy Katherine RundellDoubleday: 224 pages, $26(Nov. 12) (Doubleday) Step right up to see scholar Rundell’s parade of oddities — no mere sideshow but a catalog of 22 endangered species, including sharks, raccoons, lemurs, seahorses, pangolins and frogs. While the author argues for wildlife conservation, she retains an enthusiast’s passion for details, be they mating rituals, community politics or anatomical quirks. And when it comes to saving animals, she shows that we can do it, as with the wood stork, once nearly vanished, now flourishing.Endurance: The Discovery of Shackleton’s Legendary ShipBy John Shears and Nico VincentNational Geographic: 256 pages, $50(Nov. 5) (National Geographic) Other books soon will be released about the extraordinary March 2022 discovery of the Endurance, Sir Ernest Shackleton’s ship that, as of 1915, was considered lost in the Antarctic’s Weddell Sea. Shackleton’s survival and rescue of his 27 crewmen is the stuff of legend, and now, in this photographic chronicle written by the expedition’s leaders, we can all view the find from their perspective.Citizen: My Life After the White HouseBy Bill ClintonKnopf: 464 pages, $38(Nov. 19) Walking out of the White House as an ex-president cannot be easy — but for some, like Bill Clinton, it is also the end of long years of public service. After three decades in office and still just 54 years old, Clinton knew he wanted to continue to use his expertise, and in this memoir, he details his projects, volunteerism and advocacy around the world — as well as his attention to his family in recent decades. This sequel to “My Life” will inspire as well as inform. More to Read

Scientists Successfully Reverse Liver Fibrosis in Mice

Science and Health

Key TakeawaysIn mice at least, scientists have found a way to stop and even reverse a deadly scarring of liver tissue called fibrosisIf proven to work in people, it would be a major advance for patients battling cirrhosis, hepatitis disease and other ailmentsThe therapy works by blocking proteins produced by certain genesFRIDAY, Nov. 1, 2024 (HealthDay News) — Cirrhosis, hepatitis infection and other causes can trigger liver fibrosis — a potentially lethal stiffening of tissue that, once begun, is irreversible.For many patients, a liver transplant is their only hope.However, research at Cedars-Sinai in Los Angeles may offer patients a glimmer of hope. Scientists there say they’ve successfully reversed liver fibrosis in mice.Reporting recently in the journal Nature Communications, the team say they’ve discovered a genetic pathway that, if blocked, might bring fibrosis to a halt.The three genes involved in this fibrotic process are called FOXM1, MAT2A and MAT2B.“What we achieved was to unveil the axis of FOXM1, MAT2A and MAT2B as a potential target for developing drugs to treat liver fibrosis,” said study senior author Dr. Shelly Lu, who directs gastroenterology and hepatology at Cedars-Sinai. “Our findings suggest that blocking any of these [gene-produced] proteins might be useful in treating this condition.”The research is still in its early stages, of course, and results in animal don’t always pan out in humans.But Dr. Peter Chen, chair of the Cedars-Sinai Department of Medicine, said insights from the study hold real promise.“This highly original study significantly advances our understanding of an insidious condition that too often leaves patients and doctors with few treatment options,” he said in a Cedars Sinai news release. Chen wasn’t involved in the study.The research team set their sights on the three genes.One, FOXM1, is present in liver cells called hepatocytes and can trigger liver cancer, inflammation and fibrosis if it becomes overactive.The two other genes, MAT2A and MAT2B, are active within a second kind of liver cell called stellate cells, which also play a role in fibrosis.All three genes “code” for different proteins necessary for the fibrotic process, the scientists explained.“We discovered that these proteins ‘talk’ with each other inside liver cells,” Lu said in the Cedars news release. “They even influence nearby cells through extracellular vesicles — fat molecules filled with genetic fragments, proteins and other biological materials that act as messengers between cells. Working together, that is how these proteins stimulate each other, driving liver inflammation and fibrosis.”What if production of even one of the proteins produced by the genetic trio was interrupted?To find out, Lu’s group first induced liver inflammation and fibrosis in lab mice.They then treated those mice with a substance known as FDI-6 that blocks the protein produced by the FOXM1 gene.The result was impressive: Not only did this therapy put a halt to further fibrosis, it seemed to reverse some of the stiff fibrotic scarring of the mouse liver tissue that had already taken place.It’s a hopeful start, and the team noted that mice and humans share all three of the genes that are the focus of this research. Still, Lu and colleagues stressed that only further research can determine if treatments like FDI-6 might help people.More informationFind out more about liver fibrosis at the American Liver Foundation.SOURCE: Cedars-Sinai, news release, Oct. 29, 2024What This Means For YouScientists may have made a breakthrough in treating liver fibrosis, a potentially deadly scarring of liver tissue.FOX41 Yakima©FOX11 TriCities©