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The accumulation of impurities in the recycling of steel impacts the quality of secondary steel. Understanding impurity levels is crucial in the context of the proliferation of circular economy policies, expected high recycling rates, and growth of scrap consumption. By assuming the accumulation of impurities to be equal worldwide, the understanding of the extent and variation of the mixing and accumulation was limited in previous studies, and the factors influencing those variations were not considered. This is a first cross-national comparison of impurity accumulation in recycled steel. In this study, the copper, tin, nickel, chromium, and molybdenum content was analyzed in over 500 samples of electric arc furnace rebars from China, Japan, Vietnam, Ukraine, and the Netherlands (representing northwestern Europe) with an optical emission spectrometer. The impurity content in rebars represents the content of impurities accumulated in steel scrap in the countries studied. The measured content of impurities was then used to determine the factors influencing the accumulation of those impurities. It was revealed that the recycling technology, the presence of a market for recovered metals, the quality of the material input, steelmaking practices, and the management of byproducts derived from a legislative or economic context played a role in the impurities content. By communicating on scrap chemical content, the collaboration between the recycling and steel industries could be enhanced in terms of matching the demand and supply and facilitating an increase in the scrap share in steelmaking.

Meroterpenoid compounds chrodrimanins produced by Talaromyces sp. YO-2 have been shown to act as competitive antagonists of silkworm larval GABA

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate symbionts that depend on living host plants to complete their life cycle1,2. This feature, which leads to their unculturability in the absence of plants, strongly hinders basic research and agricultural application of AM fungi. However, at least one AM fungus can grow and develop fertile spores independently of a host plant in co-culture with the bacterium Paenibacillus validus3. The bacteria-derived substances are thought to act as stimulants or nutrients for fungal sporulation, but these molecules have not been identified. Here, we show that (S)-12-methyltetradecanoic acid4,5, a methyl branched-chain fatty acid isolated from bacterial cultures, stimulates the branching of hyphae germinated from mother spores and the formation of secondary spores in axenic culture of the AM fungus Rhizophagus irregularis. Extensive testing of fatty acids revealed that palmitoleic acid induces more secondary spores than the bacterial fatty acid in R. irregularis. These induced spores have the ability to infect host plant roots and to generate daughter spores. Our work shows that, in addition to a major source of organic carbon6–9, fatty acids act as stimulants to induce infection-competent secondary spores in the asymbiotic stage and could provide the key to developing the axenic production of AM inoculum. Palmitoleic acid as well as fatty acids isolated from bacterial cultures can be used in axenic culture of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis to stimulate the formation of secondary spores that are able to colonize host plant roots.

Three peptaibols, trichorzins HA II (1), HA V (2), and HA VI (3), were isolated from okara fermented with Trichoderma harzianum HK-61 as anti-plant viral agents. Their structures were confirmed by spectroscopic and chemical methods. At micro molar concentrations, the trichorzins inhibited infections by Cucumber mosaic virus in the cowpea plant Vigna sesquipedalis.

Okaramines produced by Penicillium simplicissimum AK-40 activate l-glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls) and thus paralyze insects. However, the okaramine binding site on insect GluCls is poorly understood. Sequence alignment shows that the equivalent of residue Leucine319 of the okaramine B sensitive Bombyx mori (B. mori) GluCl is a phenylalanine in the okaramine B insensitive B. mori γ-aminobutyric acid-gated chloride channel of the same species. This residue is located in the third transmembrane (TM3) region, a location which in a nematode GluCl is close to the ivermectin binding site. The B. mori GluCl containing the L319F mutation retained its sensitivity to l-glutamate, but responses to ivermectin were reduced and those to okaramine B were completely blocked.

N-type argyrodite Ag8SnSe6 shows great potential as a novel thermoelectric material from room to middle temperatures. However, its thermoelectric properties cannot be manipulated because of the difficulty in controlling the carrier concentration by electron doping. In this study, to discover a suitable dopant for controlling the carrier concentration, we used Ta5+, Mo6+, and W6+ as dopants for Sn4+ in n-type Ag8SnSe6. Only Ta-doped Ag8SnSe6 was obtained as a single phase, and the thermoelectric properties relevant to the carrier concentration of n-type Ag8Sn1−xTaxSe6 (0.0 ≤ x ≤ 0.05) were experimentally investigated. The lattice thermal conductivities were ultralow (around 0.5 W m−1 K−1) and showed glass-like behavior independent of the temperature. The carrier concentration monotonically increased with increasing x. The power factor and dimensionless figure of merit ZT were related to the value of x, and they showed dome-like behavior as a function of x. The power factors of Ag8Sn1−xTaxSe6 in the orthorhombic phase at 300 K and superionic phase at 390 K reached ∼5.3 µW cm−1 K−2 for x = 0.0375 and ∼4.6 µW cm−1 K−2 for x = 0.05, respectively. The ZT values of ∼0.28 for x = 0.025 in the orthorhombic phase at 300 K and ∼0.51 for x = 0.0375 in the superionic phase at 390 K were ∼40% and ∼220% higher than those of non-doped Ag8SnSe6. Therefore, Ta doping of Ag8SnSe6 can control the carrier concentration and result in enhancement and manipulation of the thermoelectric properties.

Bae, Daekweon, Green, Randy & Hayashi, Hideo. “Roles of Perceived Needs for English of Adult EFL Learners and Differences in Social Contexts between Korea and Japan.” Studies in English Language & Literature. 42.4 (2016): 163-187. Motivation plays a key role in learning a foreign language but learners in EFL settings generally show low levels of motivational factors which are influenced by their perceived needs depending on their social contexts. The purpose of this study is to examine and compare the perceptions of adult English learners in both Japan and Korea regarding the need to learn English as a Foreign Language. In order to achieve this objective, a total of 225 university students in Japan and 602 university students in Korea completed a Perceived Needs for English (PNE) questionnaire. The study tested the hypothesis that the PNE levels in each social context are different, investigated the effect that the overall PNE had on motivation to learn English, and explored what subtypes of PNE had the strongest effects on motivation. In comparing the results between the Japanese and Korean participants, it was found that students in both countries showed a general lack of confidence or interest in English classroom experiences; however, the Japanese students were less motivated by career-oriented purposes than their Korean counterparts. The results of this study not only have implications for English language educators and those interested in the role that motivation plays in the learning process but also provide insight into how similarities and differences in social and cultural contexts might affect the motivation to learn English. (Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology, Kumamoto Gakuen University)

The genus Aglaia is a a rich source of different compounds with interesting biological activities. A part of our continuing search for novel biologically active compounds from Indonesia Aglaia plants, the ethyl acetate extract of bark of Aglaia eximia showed significant antioxidant activity. Four antioxidant compounds, kaempferol ( 1 ), kaempferol-3- O- α-L-rhamnoside (2), kaempferol-3- O- β-D-glucoside (3) and kaempferol-3- O -β-D-glucosyl-(1→4)-α-L-rhamnoside (4) were isolated from the bark of Aglaia eximia (Meliaceae). The chemical structures of compounds 1 - 4 were identified on the basis of spectroscopic datas including UV, IR, NMR and MS along with by comparison with those spectra datas previously reported. All compounds showed DPPH radical-scavenging activity with IC 50 values of 1.18, 6.34, 8.17, 10.63 m g/mL, respectively.

Didodecyldimethylammonium bromide (DDAB)-modified montmorillonite (MT) organoclay was used for the sorption and degradation of an organophosphate pesticide, fenitrothion, in water. The degree of sorption increased by the modification of MT with DDAB, because of the formation of hydrophobic DDAB assemblies for the sorption of hydrophobic fenitrothion. Fenitrothion ([M + 1] = 278) sorbed on the organoclay rapidly converted to the degraded product anion ([M] = 262) followed by the further degradation into 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol ([M-1] = 152). The activation energy for the first-order reaction of the primary degradation of fenitrothion (79.9 kJ mol-1) in the organoclay was lower than the value (94.1 kJ mol-1) in water. Organoclay-mediated catalytic activity expressed over a wide pH region (pH 5-9), being advantageous for the application to different wastewaters and environmental waters. Continuous sorption and degradation of fenitrothion in contaminated water was examined by using a laboratory-scale organoclay-packed column. Fenitrothion-free effluent containing its degraded product, 3-methyl-4-nitrophenol, having lower toxicity to aquatic organisms outflowed from the bottom of the column. These results strongly suggests the usefulness of DDAB-MT organoclay as a barrier material for diffusion control of organophosphate pesticides.

Prenylated indole alkaloid okaramines selectively target insect glutamate-gated chloride channels (GluCls). Because of their highly complex structures, including azocine and azetidine rings, total synthesis of okaramine A or B has not been achieved, preventing evaluation of the biological activities of okaramines. Biosynthetic approaches provide alternatives to accessing structurally diverse derivatives and enabling the elucidation of structure-activity relationships. To explore the biosynthetic potential of okaramines, gene knockout experiments of an okaramine-producer fungus were performed. The deletion mutants of the oxygenase genes okaB, okaD, okaE, and okaG provided analogues that were unlikely to be accumulated in the normal biosynthetic process of the wild-type strain. Analysis of the structure-activity relationships of okaramines collected from the fungal cultures revealed that 1,4-dihydroazocine and N-aliphatic group attached to the indole were crucial for GluCl-activating activity. This provided insights into further derivatization of the complex structure of okaramines in order to facilitate the development of new insecticides.

Flavonoids compounds such as kaempferol (1), kaempferol-3-O-β-D-glucopyranoside or astragalin (2) and kaempferol-3-O-α-L-rhamnoside or afzelin (3) have been isolated from the fresh leaves of Kalanchoe tomentosa (Crassulaceae). The chemical structure of isolated compounds 1-3 were identified by spectroscopic evidences and comparison with those compound previously reported. Compounds 1-3 showed cytotoxic activity against P-388 murine leukimia cells with IC50 values of 51.8, > 100 and 3.32 µg/mL, respectively.

Two new bisamide compounds, eximiamide A ( 1 ) and eximiamide B ( 2 ) were isolated from the bark of Aglaia eximia (Meliaceae). The chemical structures of the new compound were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. All of the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against P-388 murine leukemia cells. Compounds 1 and 2 exhibited cytotoxic activity against P-388 murine leukemia cells with IC 50 values of 7.6 and 8.5 μg/mL, respectively.

Fungal metabolites active for insects were obtained from fermentation products using okara media. The mechanisms of action of these compounds against insects were clarified using voltage clamp electrophysiology. The branching factor inducing hyphal branching in arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi was isolated from the root exudates of Lotus japonicus and identified as 5-deoxystrigol. Strigolactones were originally identified as seed germination stimulants of parasitic weeds; therefore, synthetic strigolactones were developed to exhibit the inducing activity of hyphal branching in AM fungi and diminish the stimulating activity of seed germination of parasitic weeds. Signaling molecules, acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs), in quorum sensing were identified in the fungal strain Mortierella alpina A-178, and the true producer of AHLs was clarified as symbiotic bacteria in the fungus. Since acyl-(S)-adenosylmethionine analogs may be good candidates for competitive inhibitors of AHL synthases, intermediate mimics in the biosynthesis of AHLs have been synthesized.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate symbionts that depend on living host plants to complete their life cycle

The financial market is very fickle and investors have the difficult task of following and trying to predict the swings of the market so that their strategies result in better financial returns. With the use of Big Data and Bayesian mathematical statistics based on prior knowledge and examples of training to determine the likelihood of a hypothesis, financial news can be tracked continuously and affecting key financial indicators, Actions and assisting the investor. The objective of this work is to propose a stock price prediction process of a company listed on the Ibovespa to support decisions in the financial market, helping an investor to better buy and sell stocks using a predictive system with Big Data and Natural Processing Language (LPN) to collect real-time information from news sites that may influence stock prices.

Salivary hemoglobin (Hb) for screening of periodontitis is approved under the pharmaceutical affairs law of Japan. Two reagents are commercially available for the modified fecal occult blood test: Saliva Hemo Plus and OC-AUTO S Latex Reagent. We simultaneously measured split specimens from 561 samples by using these two methods and compared the differences and agreement between both methods. Moreover, saliva samples were collected from 10 subjects at five time points during the day for analysis of circadian variations and fluctuation. The Pearson's correlation coefficient for these two reagents was 0.794. The Bland-Altman plot of differences in salivary Hb levels measured by the two reagents indicated that the difference included fixed errors (0.55 μg/mL). On analysis of circadian variations, no statistically significant differences were observed using the Friedman test. However, fixed errors were observed between wake-up time and before dinner and before lunch and before dinner, and no random errors were observed by Bland-Altman analysis. In conclusion, the salivary Hb levels measured using OC-AUTO S Latex Reagent were lower than those measured using Saliva Hemo Plus, along with a tendency for higher levels in the morning. Thus, when performing salivary tests these observations must be considered.

Pseudomonas cichorii s train SPC9018 was found to produce the siderophore pyoverdine. Application of the phytosiderophore mugineic acid (MA) led to a decrease in the in vitro growth of SPC9018. MA application resulted in increased expression of fecA, which is involved in citrate-mediated iron uptake and in pyoverdine production-related pvdL and pvdR, suggesting that the MA addition may lead to iron-limited conditions in SPC9018. MA application also reduced SPC9018 growth in eggplant leaves, leading to loss of its virulence on eggplant. MA also reduced adhesion of SPC9018. Considering these results together, iron acquisition may play a specific role in SPC9018 virulence on eggplant.

The new stigmastane steroid, 3,4-epoxy-(22R,25)-tetrahydrofuran-stigmast-5-en (1), along with two known triterpenoids (2–3) and two known steroids (4–5) were isolated from the stem bark of Aglaia eximia. The chemical structures of the new compound were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. All of the compounds were tested for their cytotoxic effects against P-388 murine leukemia cells. Compounds 1–5 showed cytotoxicity against P-388 murine leukemia cells with IC50 values of 11.42, 4.26, 29.10, 45.96, and 52.09 μg/mL, respectively.

(+)-Strigone was described earlier in a paper on isolation of strigol and then recently examined for hyphal branching activity in arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi as a strigolactone. Herein, it was isolated from root exudates of Houttuynia cordata, and its structure was confirmed by direct comparison with synthetic standards in LC-MS/MS, GC-MS, and (1)H and (13)C NMR analyses. The stereochemistry of strigone was determined by comparing the CD spectra and RR(t) in chiral LC-MS/MS with those of synthetic (+)-strigone and (-)-strigone. Four stereoisomers of strigone exhibited clearly different levels of stimulation activity on the seeds of three root parasitic plants, Orobanche minor, Phelipanche ramosa, and Striga hermonthica. (+)-Strigone was a highly potent germination stimulant on S. hermonthica and also on P. ramosa, but less active than ent-2'-epi-strigone on O. minor. In addition to strigone, H. cordata was found to produce strigol, sorgomol, and 5-deoxystrigol, indicating that this plant produces mainly strigol-type strigolactones derived from 5-deoxystrigol.

Summary Major strigolactones produced by rice (Oryza sativa L.) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) were purified and their stereochemical structures were determined definitely by comparing with optically pure synthetic standards for spectroscopic data., Major strigolactones (SLs) produced by rice (Oryza sativa L. cv. Nipponbare) and tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L. cv. Michinoku No. 1) were purified and their stereochemical structures were determined by comparing with optically pure synthetic standards for their NMR and CD data and retention times and mass fragmentations in ESI–LC/MS and GC–MS. SLs purified from root exudates of rice plants were orobanchol, orobanchyl acetate, and ent-2’-epi-5-deoxystrigol. In addition to these SLs, 7-oxoorobanchyl acetate and the putative three methoxy-5-deoxystrigol isomers were detected by LC–MS/MS. The production of 7-oxoorobanchyl acetate seemed to occur in the early growth stage, as it was detected only in the root exudates collected during the first week of incubation. The root exudates of tobacco contained at least 11 SLs, including solanacol, solanacyl acetate, orobanchol, ent-2’-epi-orobanchol, orobanchyl acetate, ent-2’-epi-orobanchyl acetate, 5-deoxystrigol, ent-2’-epi-5-deoxystrigol, and three isomers of putative didehydro-orobanchol whose structures remain to be clarified. Furthermore, two sorgolactone isomers but not sorgolactone were detected as minor SLs by LC–MS/MS analysis. It is intriguing to note that rice plants produced only orobanchol-type SLs, derived from ent-2’-epi-5-deoxystrigol, but both orobanchol-type and strigol-type SLs, derived from 5-deoxystrigol were detected in tobacco plants.

Okaramine G (1), a new okaramine congener, was isolated from Penicillium simplicissimum ATCC 90288. The structure of 1 was determined by a spectroscopic investigation. Okaramine G exhibited insecticidal activity against silkworms.

(-)-Indolactam-V (1) has the fundamental structure of potent tumor-promoting teleocidins. A new teleocidin-related metabolite, (-)-14-O-malonylindolactam-V (2), was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces blastmyceticum NA34-17 which produced a large quantity of 1 along with a small amount of (-)-14-O-acetylindolactam-V (3). Heat treatment of 2 in methanol readily produced 1 and 3, suggesting that S. blastmyceticum NA34-17 excreted 1 as a malonic acid conjugate to accumulate 1 and 3 in the culture broth during cultivation.

A new lanostane-type triterpenoid, 3β-hydroxy-25-ethyl-lanost-9(11),24(24′)-diene (1), along with 3β-hydroxy-lanost-7-ene (2) and β-sitosterol-3-O-acetate (3) was isolated from the stem bark of C. cumingianus. The chemical structure of the new compound was elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data. All of the compounds were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against P-388 murine leukemia cells. Compounds 1-3 showed cytotoxicity against P-388 murine leukemia cells with IC50 values of 28.8 ± 0.10, 4.29 ± 0.03, and 100.18 ± 0.16 μg/ml, respectively.

The okaramine indole alkaloids were recently shown to be more selective than ivermectin in activating the glutamate-gated chloride channels of the silkworm larvae of Bombyx mori (BmGluCls). Those studies were carried out using the exon 3b variant as a representative of BmGluCls. However, it remains unknown whether okaramines are similarly effective on other silkworm GluCl variants and whether they share the same binding site as ivermectin on GluCls. To begin to address these questions, we examined the potency of four okaramines on the exon 3c variant of BmGluCls by two-electrode voltage clamp voltage recordings of glutamate-induced chloride currents. The potency of okaramines in activating the exon 3c BmGluCl agreed well with findings on the exon 3b BmGluCl and insecticidal potency. Okaramine B (10μM) reduced the maximum binding (Bmax) but not the dissociation constant (KD) of [3H]ivermectin in studies on plasma membrane fractions of HEK293 cells expressing the exon 3c variant. These findings indicate that activation of GluCls is important in the insecticidal actions of okaramines.

N -Acylhomoserine lactones (AHLs) are the conserved quorum-sensing signal molecules in Gram-negative bacteria. ( Z )- N -(4-Decenoyl)homoserine lactone ( 1 ), a new AHL, was isolated from the culture broth of the fungus Mortierella alpina A-178 harboring bacterial endosymbionts, called endobacteria. The structure and absolute configuration of 1 were elucidated by EI-MS, chemical synthesis, and chiral GC analysis. The compound induced the expression of a QS-regulated reporter gene in Agrobacterium tumefaciens NTL4, although its activity was lower than that of N -decanoylhomoserine lactone ( 6 ).

Arbuscular mycorrhiza (AM) represents an ancient endosymbiosis between plant roots and Glomeromycota fungi. Strigolactones (SLs), plant-derived terpenoid lactones, activate hyphal branching of AM fungi before physical contact. Lack of SL biosynthesis results in lower colonization of AM fungi. The F-box protein, DWARF3 (D3), and the hydrolase family protein DWARF14 (D14) are crucial for SL responses in rice. Here we conducted AM fungal colonization assays with the SL-insensitive d3 and d14 mutants. The d3 mutant exhibited strong defects in AM fungal colonization, whereas the d14 mutant showed higher AM fungal colonization. As D14 has a homologous protein, D14-LIKE, we generated D14-LIKE knockdown lines by RNA interference in the wildtype and d14 background. D14 and D14-LIKE double knockdown lines exhibited similar colonization rates as those of the d14-1 mutant. D3 is crucial for establishing AM symbiosis in rice, whereas D14 and D14-LIKE are not. Our results suggest distinct roles for these SL-related components in AM symbiosis.

Two new dammarane triterpenoids, aglinone (1) and aglinin E (20S,24S-epoxy-25-hydroxy-1-en-dammarene) (2) along with three known compounds, 3-epiocotillol (3), aglinin A (4), and eichlerianic acid (5), were isolated from the bark of Aglaia smithii. The chemical structures of the new compound were elucidated on the basis of spectroscopic data interpretation. All the compounds isolated were evaluated for their cytotoxic effects against P-388 murine leukemia cells. Compounds 1, 2, 4 and 5 showed cytotoxicity against P-388 murine leukemia cells with IC50 values of 21, 42, 34, and 11 μg/mL, respectively.

Erythrina plants, locally known as “dadap ayam”, are higher plant species and have been used as a folk medicine for treatment of cancer. To prove the effectiveness of the leaves and stem bark of E. variegata as an anti-cancer agent, the assay in this research was focused on in vitro test towards breast cancer cell T47D . In the course of our continuing search for novel anti-cancer agent from Erythrina plants, the methanol extract of the leaves and stem bark of E. variegata showed significant anti-cancer activity against breast cancer cell T47D in vitro using the Sulphorhodamine B (SRB) assay. By using the anti-cancer activity to follow the separations, the methanol extract was separated by combination of column chromatography. The chemical structure of an anti-cancer compounds were determined on the basis of spectroscopic evidence and comparison with the previously reported and identified as an erythrina alkaloid ( 1 ) and isoflavonoid ( 2 ). Compounds ( 1 - 2 ) showed anti-cancer activity against breast cancer cell T47D used with IC 50 of 1.0 and 3.3 µg/mL, respectively. This results strongly suggested that E. variegata is promising sources for anti-cancer agents. Keywords : Anti-cancer, Erythrina variegata, Leguminoseae