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This study aims to enhance the amorphous formation ability and magnetic properties that are crucial for the production of high-quality nanocrystalline alloys. The structural, thermal, and magnetic characteristics of the alloy ribbons were analyzed through a systematic adjustment of Nb content, and, including Nb, significantly improved the amorphous formation ability and thermal stability of the alloy, which is vital for nanocrystalline production. By varying the Nb content within Fe85-xSi2B8P4Cu1Nbx (x = 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5), we explored finer adjustments to achieve homogeneous amorphousness during the melt spinning process. Careful control over the Nb content facilitated the production of amorphous ribbons with consistent homogeneity, which was critical for the subsequent fabrication of nanocrystalline structures through heat treatment. As a result, the amorphous ribbon of Fe85.5Si2B8P4Cu1Nb0.5 showed a low coercivity of 7 A/m. The heat treatment showed a remarkably high saturation magnetic flux density of 1.94 T. Additionally, the grain size (D) decreased as the Nb content increased, with D values ranging from 25.09 nm to 24.29 nm, as calculated by the Scherrer formula. Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the formation of nanocrystalline and residual amorphous phases. The hyperfine magnetic field values (Beff) decreased from 25.7 T to 24.7 T in the amorphous samples and reached 33.0 T in the nanocrystalline phases. This study highlights Nb’s positive impact on thermal stability and amorphous formation capacity in Fe-Si-B-P-Cu alloys, culminating in the successful fabrication of nanocrystalline ribbons with superior structural and magnetic properties.

This research investigates the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on education in Indonesia, particularly focusing on the evolving role of technology in the learning process. Standing at the crossroads of pandemic-induced disruption and Indonesia's increasing reliance on technology, this study examines how teaching and learning paradigms have shifted in response. We explore the perspectives of students and teachers, delving into their adaptations to educational challenges and the influence of technology on learning environments. Employing Design Thinking principles, the research utilizes a combination of surveys and workshops to gain a deeper understanding of these challenges and co-create solutions. This approach involves the exploration of novel solutions like AI-generated DALL-E artwork, creative TikTok lessons, and collaborative VR demonstrations. These "culturally relevant and readily accessible technologies" proved instrumental in fostering student empathy, engagement, and concentration, highlighting their critical role in the post-pandemic era. Key findings reveal changes in learning habits, an increased reliance on technology, and the importance of empathy in understanding both student and teacher experiences. Furthermore, the study demonstrates the effectiveness of Design Thinking in generating practical solutions for online learning challenges. These solutions emphasize the importance of inclusive, collaborative, and interactive approaches for enhancing educational practices, particularly during crisis situations. This research contributes valuable insights to ongoing discussions about technology integration in education, while simultaneously underscoring the potential of Design Thinking in formulating effective educational solutions for the post-pandemic landscape.

Abstract This article reports on the charge transport characteristics across the potential barrier generated by a local dual‐gate modulation at the surface of p‐doped graphene via surface contact on a fluorocarbon (CF) thin film. Owing to simple physical contact, the strong electron affinity of the fluorine atoms in CF stably increases the hole density of graphene, which leads to a massive p‐doping effect in graphene. Then, potential barrier height can be generated and modulated across the channel by forming a local dual‐gate device structure. Different gate biases in dual‐gate operation can split electrical characteristics of a single graphene into highly conductive region and region of sparse charge density, creating large chemical potential difference at the boundary between the two which determines the value of barrier height. Moreover, the device characteristics follow a simple model of the metal–semiconductor junction well in addition to the effect of charge concentration discrepancy in graphene. These results reveal that it is possible to create an ideal and controllable potential barrier composed of a single material using the highly doped graphene with the local dual‐gate structure.

These days, electric motor qualities and energy-saving problems are significant to our society. The critical component of these problems is related to magnetic materials. In this respect, here, we investigated the (FexCo1−x)72B19.2Si4.8Nb4 (0 ≤ x ≤ 1, at 0.1 intervals) ribbon alloys’ structural, thermal, and magnetic properties. Replacing Co with Fe turned out to increase saturation magnetization up to 127.7 emu/g and improve thermal stability. Additionally, we conducted heat treatment at 843, 893, and 943 K for 10 mins, and the annealing effect in the amorphous (FexCo1−x)72B19.2Si4.8Nb4 (0.4 ≤ x ≤ 0.9, at 0.1 intervals) ribbons on structural and magnetic properties are analyzed. The saturated magnetization (Ms) value has increased by about 20 to 30 emu/g by the heat treatment and tends to increase as the annealing temperature increases until the annealing temperature approaches 893 K. After annealing at 943 K for 10 mins, the highest saturation magnetization of 156.8 emu/g was achieved. In addition, all four samples show the same coercivity trend. The coercivity decreases when the initial heat treatment at 843 K is applied to the ribbons. However, after annealing at this high temperature, such as 893, 943 K, the Fe3B, and (Fe, Co)23B6 phases are also generated and cancel out the good soft magnetic properties of α-(Fe, Co) phase.

Background: X-linked hypophosphatemia (XLH) is the most frequent form of hypophosphatemic rickets and is caused by mutations in the PHEX gene. We analyzed genotype-phenotype correlations in XLH patients with proven PHEX mutations.Methods:PHEX mutations were detected in 55 out of 81 patients who clinically presented with hypophosphatemic rickets. The patients were grouped into nontruncating (n = 9) and truncating (n = 46) mutation groups; their initial presentation as well as long-term clinical findings were evaluated according to these groups.Results: Initial findings, including presenting symptoms, onset age, height standard deviation scores (SDS), and laboratory tests, including serum phosphate level and tubular resorption of phosphate, were not significantly different between the two groups (onset age: nontruncating mutation group, 2.0 years, truncating mutation group, 2.2 years; height SDS: nontruncating mutation group, −1.9, truncating mutation group, −1.7; serum phosphate: nontruncating mutation group, 2.5 mg/dL, truncating mutation group, 2.6 mg/dL). However, at their last follow-up, the serum phosphate level was significantly lower in patients with truncating mutations (nontruncating mutation group: 3.2 mg/dl, truncating mutation group: 2.3 mg/dl; P = 0.006). Additionally, 62.5% of patients with truncating mutations developed nephrocalcinosis at their last follow-up, while none of the patients with nontruncating mutations developed nephrocalcinosis (P = 0.015). Orthopedic surgery due to bony deformations was performed significantly more often in patients with truncating mutations (52.3 vs. 10.0%, P = 0.019).Conclusion: Although considerable inconsistency exists regarding the correlation of truncating mutations and their disease phenotype in several other studies, we cautiously suggest that there would be genotype-phenotype correlation in some aspects of disease manifestation after long-term follow-up. This information can be used when consulting patients with confirmed XLH regarding their disease prognosis.

Background: Ginsenoside Rh2 has been known to enhance the activity of immune cells, as well as to inhibit the growth of tumor cells. Although the repertoire of genes regulated by Rh2 is well-known in many cancer cells, the epigenetic regulation has yet to be determined, especially for comprehensive approaches to detect methylation changes. Methods: The effect of Rh2 on genome-wide DNA methylation changes in breast cancer cells was examined by treating cultured MCF-7 with Rh2. Pyrosequencing analysis was carried out to measure the methylation level of a global methylation marker, LINE1. Genome-wide methylation analysis was carried out to identify epigenetically regulated genes and to elucidate the most prominent signaling pathway affected by Rh2. Apoptosis and proliferation were monitored to examine the cellular effect of Rh2. Results: LINE1 showed induction of hypomethylation at specific CpGs by 1.6–9.1% (p

Abstract To identify dysregulated genes by abnormal methylation and expression in breast cancer, we genome-wide analyzed methylation and expression microarray data from the Gene Expression Omnibus and the Cancer Genome Atlas database. One of the genes screened in silico, FLRT2, showed hypermethylation and downregulation in the cancer dataset and the association was verified both in cultured cell lines and cancer patients’ tissue. To investigate the role of FLRT2 in breast cancer, its expression was knocked down and upregulated in mammary cell lines, and the effect was examined through three levels of approach: pathway analysis; cell activities such as proliferation, colony formation, migration, and adhesion; target gene expression. The top pathway was “Cellular growth and proliferation”, or “Cancer”-related function, with the majority of the genes deregulated in a direction pointing to FLRT2 as a potential tumor suppressor. Concordantly, downregulation of FLRT2 increased cell proliferation and cell migration, while overexpression of FLRT2 had the opposite effect. Notably, cell adhesion was significantly decreased by FLRT2 in the collagen I-coated plate. Taken together, our results provide insights into the role of FLRT2 as a novel tumor suppressor in the breast, which is inactivated by hypermethylation during tumor development.

This study examines how technological and relational factors independently and interactively predict the perceived learning success of doctoral students enrolled in online-based leadership programs offered in the United States. The 73-item Online Learning Success Scale (OLSS) was constructed, based on existing instruments, and administered online to collect self-reported data on three primary variables: student learning success (SLS), relational factors (RF), and technological factors (TF). The SLS variable focuses on the gain of knowledge and skills, persistence, and self-efficacy; the RF on the student-student relationship, the student-faculty relationship, and the student-non-teaching staff relationship; and the TF on the ease of use, flexibility, and usefulness. In total, 210 student responses from 26 online-based leadership doctoral programs in the United States were used in the final analysis. The results demonstrate that RF and TF separately and together predict SLS. A multiple regression analysis indicates that, while all dimensions of TF and RF are significant predictors of SLS, the strongest predictor of SLS is the student-faculty relationship. This study suggests that building relationships with faculty and peers is critical to leadership doctoral students’ learning success, even in online-based programs that offer effective technological support.

The Republic of Tunisia, located in northern Africa, faces various environmental challenges caused by anthropogenic practices such as overgrazing, deforestation, and desertification. The conversion of natural ecosystems is the major cause of plant biodiversity loss. Tunisia can be divided into three main climatic zones as follows: a northern Mediterranean climate zone, a central steppe climate zone, and a southern desert climate zone. Because of this great environmental diversity, there are distinctive vegetation and various genetic resources in Tunisia. This research was conducted to investigate plant biodiversity within the various bioclimatic zones and to characterize useful plant resources in Tunisia. We investigated native, medicinal and aromatic, desert, and soil erosion control plant species.

This study examined the effects of reflective practices (RP) on self-directed learning competencies (SDLC) as well as the relationship between technology-mediated collaborative learning (TMCL) as a reflective practice and SDLC in a preservice teachers' class. Regression analyses were conducted to examine the effects of RP on SDLC. In addition, a pre- and post-test survey comparison was used to compare SDLC differences before and after the class using TMCL. To investigate more details regarding the relationships between TMCL and SDLC based on participants' experiences and perceptions, qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The results indicated that RP significantly affected SDLC. Importantly, TMCL played a crucial role in improving SDLC of preservice teachers. This study implied that the ultimate goal of collaborative learning using technology was to promote preservice teachers' SDLC so that they could become self-directed learners.

Cold atmospheric plasma (plasma) has emerged as a novel tool for a cancer treatment option, having been successfully applied to a few types of cancer cells, as well as tissues. However, to date, no studies have been performed to examine the effect of plasma on epigenetic alterations, including CpG methylation. In this study, the effects of plasma on DNA methylation changes in breast cancer cells were examined by treating cultured MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells, representing estrogen-positive and estrogen-negative cancer cells, respectively, with plasma. A pyrosequencing analysis of Alu indicated that a specific CpG site was induced to be hypomethylated from 23.4 to 20.3% (p < 0.05) by plasma treatment in the estrogen-negative MDA-MB-231 cells only. A genome-wide methylation analysis identified "cellular movement, connective tissue development and function, tissue development" and "cell-to-cell signaling and interaction, cell death and survival, cellular development" as the top networks. Of the two cell types, the MDA-MB-231 cells underwent a higher rate of apoptosis and a decreased proliferation rate upon plasma treatment. Taken together, these results indicate that plasma induces epigenetic and cellular changes in a cell type-specific manner, suggesting that a careful screening of target cells and tissues is necessary for the potential application of plasma as a cancer treatment option.

This study investigated the influence of engineering design classes with peer assessment on learning outcomes and the learners' and instructor's perceptions of peer assessment. For this purpose, 39 college engineering students in the engineering design class at a university in Korea were asked to conduct peer assessments twice. As a result, engineering design classes with peer assessment significantly improved learners' computational thinking, creative problem-solving, and collective efficacy. The learners and the instructor recognized that peer assessment can help develop problem-solving skills and cultivate a mindset as an engineer in the engineering design. However, they commonly noted the problem of insufficient time for assessment activities during class. Some students also doubled their own and their peers' ability as assessors. This study contributed to expanding the understanding of the role of peer assessment in the context of engineering design education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]