Explaining the impact of mutations on quantification of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater.

Wastewater surveillance is an effective tool for monitoring community spread of COVID-19 and other diseases. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis for wastewater surveillance is more susceptible to mutations in target genome regions than binary PCR analysis for clinical surveillance. The SARS-CoV-2 concentrations in wastewater estimated by N1 and N2 qPCR assays started to diverge around July 2022 in data from different sampling sites, analytical methods, and analytical laboratories in Japan.

Tracking community infection dynamics of COVID-19 by monitoring SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater, counting positive reactions by qPCR.

Wastewater-based epidemiology has proved useful for monitoring the COVID-19 infection dynamics in communities. However, in regions of low prevalence, low concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater make this difficult. Here, we used real-time reverse-transcription PCR (RT-qPCR) to monitor SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater from October 2020 to December 2022 during the third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, and eighth waves of the COVID-19 outbreak in Japan.

Three embryonic myosin heavy chain genes encoding different motor domain structures from common carp show distinct expression patterns in cranial muscles.

Three embryonic myosin heavy chain (MYH) genes >> (MYHs) including MYH(emb1), MYH(emb2) and MYH(emb3) and encoding a C-terminal part of MYH were previously cloned and demonstrated to be expressed transiently in this order during development of common carp Cyprinus carpio embryos. The present study determined the full-length cDNA nucleotide sequences encoding the motor domain of the three MYHs, suggesting the implication of loop 1 and loop 2 sequences for the differences in the motor functions. Phylogenetic analysis based on the full-length amino acid sequences showed that MYH(emb1) and MYH(emb2) both belong to the fast types, though clearly differ from fast-type MYHs expressed in adult fast muscle previously reported.

Sex differences in beliefs about cues to deception.

Sex differences in beliefs among Japanese students about cues to deception were explored. 171 participants (91 women, 80 men) read a scenario in which a protagonist caused a fatal traffic accident and told a lie to avoid responsibility. Then participants rated how the protagonist's behaviors would change when lying.

Understanding the concept of a 'good death' in Japan: differences in the views of doctors, palliative and non-palliative ward nurses.

Aim: Achieving a 'good death' is the ultimate goal for medical staff caring for terminally ill cancer patients, but the exact definition of a 'good death' is subject to interpretation. This exploratory study investigates the differences in how Japanese cancer care staff perceive a 'good death' by using factor analysis.

Method: Participants included doctors, palliative and non-palliative ward nurses working in Miyagi Cancer Center, Natori, Japan.

[Retelling harsh days as being happy: its effects on autobiographical memories].

This study examined the effects of biased retelling by having participants retell negative experiences as positive autobiographical memories. Undergraduates in the biased-retelling condition (N = 21) retold their experiences preparing for university entrance examinations as "happy", while undergraduates in the recalling (control) condition (N = 23) again narrated their actual experiences. Then both groups were asked to recall their initial experience.

Identification and characterization of mouse type II platelet-derived growth factor receptor alpha transcript.

Recently, we identified a novel human platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor alpha mRNA (type II) that differs from the known human PDGF receptor alpha mRNA (type I) only in its 5'-untranslated region and is regulated by E2F-1. In this study, we determined the nucleotide sequence of the mouse type II PDGF receptor alpha mRNA and found that the expression of this transcript was regulated by E2F-1 through an E2F-1-responsive sequence located +711/+718 downstream of the transcription start site of the type I transcript. Furthermore, we observed embryo-predominant expression of the type II transcript.

Molecular cloning and mRNA expression analysis of carp embryonic, slow and cardiac myosin heavy chain isoforms.

Three embryonic class II myosin heavy chains (MYHs) were cloned from the common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.), MYHemb1, MYHemb2 and MYHemb3. MYH DNA clones were also isolated from the slow muscle of adult carp acclimated to 10 degrees C (MYHS10) and 30 degrees C (MYHS30).

[Roles of reader's feelings in understanding narratives: forefeel, empathy, and a sense of strangeness].

This study examined the cross-domain, anticipatory, and self-referential roles of affect (Miall, 1989) in reading short mystery novels. In Experiment 1, undergraduate students either read an entire story once or read the same story twice. During the first reading, these participants read only the first part of the story, and during the second reading, they read the entire story.

Temperature and the expression of myogenic regulatory factors (MRFs) and myosin heavy chain isoforms during embryogenesis in the common carp Cyprinus carpio L.

Embryos of the common carp, Cyprinus carpio L., were reared from fertilization of the eggs to inflation of the swim bladder in the larval stage at 18 and 25 degrees C. cRNA probes were used to detect transcripts of the myogenic regulatory factors MyoD, Myf-5 and myogenin, and five myosin heavy chain (MyHC) isoforms during development.

Empathy, spatial and verbal abilities characterize one who can best describe a route.

We investigated the characteristics of people who provided the most intelligible description of a route. 18 participants were asked to describe the route on their own campus. Then, participants completed the Japanese Wechsler Adults Intelligence Scale-Revised and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index.