Finnish History Writing Through Japanese Eyes : Presentation and Reception of Shifting Interpretations of the Finnish Participation in WWII

The legacies of WWI often have central position in shaping national memory and in many occasions create national myth that shapes historical understanding in certain ways. The issues often trigger heated debate on how to interpret history in national and transnational context. Such is true for Finland. The history of the historiography of Finnish participation in WWII is a process of national interpretations being challenged from outside, notably researchers from Anglophone regions. The debate surrounding such challenges made from external perspectives are still topic of debate in the current context and calls for deconstructing the national myth to incorporate national history into European context are made. While the details of the Anglophone challenges are found in previous literature, how other researchers outside of Finland explained Finnish history of WWII are not well documented. To expand the landscape of the Finnish history research in other regions, this research will focus on the history writing of Japanese historians on Finnish WWII history. The literature that will be analysed are those published in Japan between 1951 and 2017, which includes works aimed at academic and public audience. Analysis will be made using conceptual history approach to understand the text “as they were written” through comparing them with the context within which it was written. The context includes both historiography of the Finnish WWII in available literature in English by Finnish and Anglophone authors, as well as Japanese sociopolitical and historiographical context of seiyōshi (Western History). Through the analysis, several findings were identified. Key findings include the shift in the nomenclature of the wars from wartime names, Soviet Finnish War, to translation of Finnish names, shift in the “problem space” of the Finnish history in Japanese literature, both of which originates to the clarification of the niche by the contributions from early historians. Another feature was relatively quick presentation and acceptance of Anglophone interpretations regarding the origins of the wars, though with variations between historians. This is most likely due to external perspective they share with those from Anglophone regions. The central finding of this research was the very strong emphasis on the small state in virtually all Japanese literature. While the notions appear in Finnish and Anglophone literature, the genre trope of the Western History research resonates strongly in the literature, especially the notions to “learn from the Occident”

Very low likelihood that cultivated oysters are a vehicle for SARS-CoV-2: 2021–2022 seasonal survey at supermarkets in Kyoto, Japan

The pandemic caused by novel coronavirus disease of 2019 (COVID-19) is a global threat. Wastewater surveillance in Japan and abroad has led to the detection of SARS-CoV-2, causing concern that SARS-CoV-2 in the feces of infected persons may contaminate the aquatic environment. Bivalves such as oysters cultivated in coastal areas are known to filter and concentrate viruses such as norovirus present in seawater in their bodies; however, whether they do so with SARS-CoV-2 is unknown. Therefore, we examined cultivated oysters sold in Japan for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 between October 2021 and April 2022 to clarify the extent of viral contamination and evaluate the risk of food-borne transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), known as pig coronavirus, was used to spike midgut-gland samples as a whole process control. The presence of SARS-CoV-2 and PEDV was investigated using a modified polyethylene glycol precipitation method and RT-qPCR. While all samples spiked with the whole process control were positive, no SARS-CoV-2 was detected in any of the 145 raw oyster samples surveyed, despite a marked increase in infections caused by the Omicron variant from January to April 2022 in Japan. Therefore, our results suggest that with well-developed sewage treatment facilities, consumption of oysters cultivated in coastal areas may not be a risk factor for SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks

The Influence of Polyploidy and Genome Composition on Genomic Imprinting in Mice

Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic mechanism that switches the expression of imprinted genes involved in normal embryonic growth and development in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Changes inDNAmethylation statuses from polyploidization are a well characterized epigenetic modification in plants. However, how changes in ploidy affect both imprinted gene expression and methylation status in mammals remains unclear. To address this, we used quantitative real time PCR to analyze expression levels of imprinted genes in mouse tetraploid fetuses. We used bisulfite sequencing to assess the methylation statuses of differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that regulate imprinted gene expression in triploid and tetraploid fetuses. The nine imprinted genes H19, Gtl2, Dlk1, Igf2r, Grb10, Zim1, Peg3, Ndn, and Ipw were all unregulated; in particular, the expression of Zim1 was more than 10-fold higher, and the expression of Ipw was repressed in tetraploid fetuses. The methylation statuses of four DMRs H19, intergenic (IG), Igf2r, and Snrpn in tetraploid and triploid fetuses were similar to those in diploid fetuses. We also performed allele-specific RT-PCR sequencing to determine the alleles expressing the three imprinted genes Igf2, Gtl2, and Dlk1 in tetraploid fetuses. These three imprinted genes showed monoallelic expression in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Expression of non-imprinted genes regulating neural cell development significantly decreased in tetraploid fetuses, which might have been associated with unregulated imprinted gene expression. This study provides the first detailed analysis of genomic imprinting in tetraploid fetuses, suggesting that imprinted gene expression is disrupted, but DNA methylation statuses of DMRs are stable following changes in ploidy in mammals

Development and evaluation of a point‐of‐care test with a combination of EZ‐Fast DNA extraction and real‐time PCR and LAMP detection: evaluation using blood samples containing the bovine leukaemia DNA

Along with progress in globalization of society, the spread of infectious diseases has accelerated worldwide. The deployment of highly sensitive genetic tests is essential for early diagnosis and early containment of potential outbreaks and epidemics, as well as routine surveillance, although tedious and expensive nucleic acid extraction steps represent a major drawback. Here we developed a simple and rapid DNA extraction method, named as an EZ‐Fast kit, applicable to the field setting. The kit does not require advanced laboratory equipment or expensive DNA extraction kits and achieves crude DNA extraction within 10 min at extremely low cost and can easily be performed in field settings. When combined with real‐time PCR and LAMP analyses, the performance of the POCT, using 183 bovine blood samples, was similar to that of the existing DNA extraction method: 92·5% (135/146) (real‐time PCR) and 93·7% (133/142) (LAMP) diagnostic sensitivities, and 100% diagnostic specificities. The developed POCT provides a powerful tool to facilitate on‐site diagnosis in a field setting

Development of a point-of-care test to detect SARS-CoV-2 from saliva which combines a simple RNA extraction method with colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification detection

The new coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is a major public health concern, with a high burden and risk for infection among patients and healthcare workers. Saliva droplets containing SARS-COV-2 are a major vector for COVID-19 infection, making saliva a promising alternative for COVID-19 testing using nasopharyngeal swab samples. To diagnose COVID-19 patients in the field, a point-of-care test (POCT) using saliva was conceptualized. We have developed a simple method for extracting RNA from saliva samples using semi-alkaline proteinase, a sputum homogenizer typically used for preparing samples for tuberculosis testing, and a subsequent simple heating step with no need for centrifugation or RNA extraction. Further, we newly developed a triplex reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification approach (RT-LAMP) which utilizes colorimetric readout using a heat block, with results evaluated with the unaided eye. In 44 clinical patients suspected of having COVID-19 infection, the test took 45 min, and resulted in a diagnostic sensitivity of 82.6% (19/23) and diagnostic specificity of 100% (21/21), compared to the reference standard. The limit of detection was 250 copies/reaction (25, 000 copies/mL). Our newly developed POCT approach achieved simple RNA extraction and constant RT-LAMP detection. This POCT has the potential to be used for simple inspection stations in a field setting, helping reduce the risk of infection by simplifying and accelerating testing for COVID-19

Development of Supreme Super High-Density Realtime Disaster Mitigation System for Gas Supply System

With the 3,700 New SI sensors installed throughout its service area (3,100 km2), Tokyo Gas has started to develop its super high-density real-time disaster mitigation system SUPREME for gas supply systems. Immediately after an earthquake, seismic data from the New SI sensors is relayed to the main system where extremely precise estimates of the damage are made on the spot. Damage estimation consists of making an estimate of the surface distribution of seismic motion that takes account of the site amplification factor, and making an estimate of damage to the pipeline network that takes account of factors such as the types of the pipes, the topography of the area, and the liquefaction conditions

Application of an Improved Micro-amount of Virion Enrichment Technique (MiVET) for the Detection of Avian Influenza A Virus in Spiked Chicken Meat Samples

Highly sensitive detection of pathogens is effective for screening meat during quarantine inspection and export. The “micro-amount of virion enrichment technique” (MiVET) was recently developed, which is a new method combining virus concentration with immunomagnetic beads and simple RNA extraction with sodium dodecyl benzenesulfonate (SDBS) for the specific and sensitive detection of avian influenza viruses (AIVs). AIV subtypes H3N2 and H4N2 were used to spike the surface of chicken breast meat samples. The modified MiVET protocol was tested by comparing it against three different homogenate preparation conditions, as well as in samples with added α-amylase and collagenase to digest inhibitors. The performance of the modified MiVET was evaluated by real-time RT-PCR assay targeting the matrix gene. Compared with conventional RNA extraction, the modified MiVET reproducibly concentrated AIVs in chicken meat samples with 100–1000-fold improvement by 60 s-hand homogenization. The 30 s- and 60 s-stomacher homogenizations resulted 100-fold and 10–100-fold improvement, respectively. The modified MiVET required < 60 min from homogenate preparation to final RNA elution. Further, use of the modified MiVET also decreased the rate of false-negative results. The modified MiVET is effective for the rapid and highly sensitive detection of AIVs in chicken meat samples, and can be applied to quarantine and export inspection at airports and seaports

Development of a loop-mediated Isothermal amplification assay for sensitive and rapid detection of Vibrio parahaemolyticus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Vibrio parahaemolyticus </it>is a marine seafood-borne pathogen causing gastrointestinal disorders in humans. Thermostable direct hemolysin (TDH) and TDH-related hemolysin (TRH) are known as major virulence determinants of <it>V. parahaemolyticus</it>. Most <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>isolates from the environment do not produce TDH or TRH. Total <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>has been used as an indicator for control of seafood contamination toward prevention of infection. Detection of total <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>using conventional culture- and biochemical-based assays is time-consuming and laborious, requiring more than three days. Thus, we developed a novel and highly specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the sensitive and rapid detection of <it>Vibrio parahaemolyticus</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The assay provided markedly more sensitive and rapid detection of <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>strains than conventional biochemical and PCR assays. The assay correctly identified 143 <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>strains, but did not detect 33 non-<it>parahaemolyticus Vibrio </it>and 56 non-<it>Vibrio </it>strains. Sensitivity of the LAMP assay for direct detection of <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>in pure cultures and in spiked shrimp samples was 5.3 × 10²CFU per ml/g (2.0 CFU per reaction). The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was 10-fold more sensitive than that of the conventional PCR assay. The LAMP assay was markedly faster, requiring for amplification 13–22 min in a single colony on TCBS agar from each of 143 <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>strains and less than 35 min in spiked shrimp samples. The LAMP assay for detection of <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>required less than 40 min in a single colony on thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar and 60 min in spiked shrimp samples from the beginning of DNA extraction to final determination.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The LAMP assay is a sensitive, rapid and simple tool for the detection of <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>and will facilitate the surveillance for control of contamination of <it>V. parahaemolyticus </it>in seafood.</p

Sensitive and rapid detection of cholera toxin-producing Vibrio cholerae using a loop-mediated isothermal amplification

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Vibrio cholerae </it>is widely acknowledged as one of the most important waterborne pathogen causing gastrointestinal disorders. Cholera toxin (CT) is a major virulence determinant of <it>V. cholerae</it>. Detection of CT-producing <it>V. cholerae </it>using conventional culture-, biochemical- and immunological-based assays is time-consuming and laborious, requiring more than three days. Thus, we developed a novel and highly specific loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the sensitive and rapid detection of cholera toxin (CT)-producing <it>Vibrio cholerae</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The assay provided markedly more sensitive and rapid detection of CT-producing <it>V. cholerae </it>strains than conventional biochemical and PCR assays. The assay correctly identified 34 CT-producing <it>V. cholerae </it>strains, but did not detect 13 CT non-producing <it>V. cholerae </it>and 53 non-<it>V. cholerae </it>strains. Sensitivity of the LAMP assay for direct detection of CT-producing <it>V. cholerae </it>in spiked human feces was 7.8 × 10²CFU per g (1.4 CFU per reaction). The sensitivity of the LAMP assay was 10-fold more sensitive than that of the conventional PCR assay. The LAMP assay for detection of CT-producing <it>V. cholerae </it>required less than 35 min with a single colony on thiosulfate citrate bile salt sucrose (TCBS) agar and 70 min with human feces from the beginning of DNA extraction to final determination.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The LAMP assay is a sensitive, rapid and simple tool for the detection of CT-producing <it>V. cholerae </it>and will be useful in facilitating the early diagnosis of human <it>V. cholerae </it>infection.</p