Tailoring Au–Ag–S Composite Microstructures in One-Pot for Both SERS Detection and Photocatalytic Degradation of Plasticizers DEHA and DEHP

We report a facile single-step one-pot solvothermal process for tailoring the Au–Ag–S microstructures as bifunctional substrates for both surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection and photocatalytic degradation of plasticizers diethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and diethylhexyl adipate (DEHA). Typically, two different microstructures, the Ag₂S particles inlaid Au microflowers (Ag₂S–Au MFs) and Au particles decorated AgAuS microsheets (Au–AgAuS MSs) were obtained. The Ag₂S–Au MF substrates finally turned out to provide 0.9 × 10^–9 and 0.9 × 10^–7 M of the limits of detection (LODs) for DEHP and DEHA in orange juice. And on the other hand, the Au–AgAuS MSs achieved complete degradation of DEHP and DEHA (1 × 10^–5 M) after 20 and 25 min of UV light irradiation, respectively. It is believed that the facile preparation and appreciable SERS and catalytic activities of these Au–Ag–S microstructures would make much sense to develop novel multifunctional sensing and monitoring devices

Prediction of Chemical Biodegradability Using Support Vector Classifier Optimized with Differential Evolution

Reliable computer models for the prediction of chemical biodegradability from molecular descriptors and fingerprints are very important for making health and environmental decisions. Coupling of the differential evolution (DE) algorithm with the support vector classifier (SVC) in order to optimize the main parameters of the classifier resulted in an improved classifier called the DE-SVC, which is introduced in this paper for use in chemical biodegradability studies. The DE-SVC was applied to predict the biodegradation of chemicals on the basis of extensive sample data sets and known structural features of molecules. Our optimization experiments showed that DE can efficiently find the proper parameters of the SVC. The resulting classifier possesses strong robustness and reliability compared with grid search, genetic algorithm, and particle swarm optimization methods. The classification experiments conducted here showed that the DE-SVC exhibits better classification performance than models previously used for such studies. It is a more effective and efficient prediction model for chemical biodegradability

Integration of Computational Thinking into Undergraduate Engineering Education: A Case Study on Design of a Hydraulic Coursework

Computing techniques have been an essential component of engineering education. Rapid development of computing techniques has provided a powerful means of modelling real-world physical systems through computer simulations, data processing, data analytics, and data visualisations. This indicates that students must be prepared to use these methods and applications as a part of their fundamental education. It is the responsibility of colleges and universities to investigate how to equip engineering students with competency in computational thinking (CT) (Wing, 2006) and incorporate contemporary computing fundamental knowledge into their academic curriculum (Gerber et al., 2015). It is argued that computational thinking skills are best trained in the domain-specific and personal relevant contexts (Magana & Silva Coutinho, 2017). By explicitly integrating computing concepts into classroom teaching and problem solving of the respective disciplines, the engineering graduates will enter the workforce with improved and practice-ready computational thinking, which will enhance their problem-solving skills. Majority of studies on the discipline-based computing have been focused on the use of computer simulations to improve the concept learning. In most of the cases, the simulation software is used as "black box" in classroom teaching, which is merely used to generate outputs based on the inputs provided by the students (Brophy et al, 2015). However, students may need to have more access to the software they are using, in order to understand the detailed underlying mechanism. It can be effectively achieved by building simulation models instead of just using them. Furthermore, through building a simulation model, computational thinking components, e.g., algorithmic design and pattern recognition are also incorporated via the programming process. In this way, students are well-motivated to learn programming through a coursework. In this paper, we will present a case study on design of a hydraulic coursework, which effectively combines the assessment of programming skills, modelling and simulations and disciplinary knowledge for a real-world hydraulic problem. The specific objectives of this study are to investigate if it can help enhance the students' computational thinking skills, acquisitions of fundamental computing concepts, as well as procedures, and the major challenges student encounter. This piece of coursework requires students to use Python programming language to develop a simple numerical solver. In the freshman year, in a programming subject, i.e. CVE1113 - Civil Engineering Skills, Python Programming has been taught. In Year 2, the Civil Engineering core module, CVE2141 - Hydraulics and Hydrology is given on the fundamentals of open channel flow and surface hydrology. The coursework is designed to solve the gradually-varied open channel flow by direct step method, with the objectives from multiple perspectives as follows. 1) Disciplinary objective: apply direct step method to gradually-varied open channel flow. 2) Objective on programming: apply object-oriented programming style to solve fundamental engineering problems. 3) Objective on modelling and simulations: explain the verification and validation process for a numerical solver, and understand its limitation. This newly designed coursework is being implemented in AY2021/22 to SIT-UoG Joint Degree on Civil Engineering. Both qualitative and quantitative methods will be used to examine its effectiveness, which include student evaluation and survey, observation and sampling of student questions during consultation. The sampling of student questions can indicate major challenges student encounter when working on the coursework. Through this case study, we hope to provide some insights into design of such coursework as alternative assessment in engineering modules, and students’ attitude towards it

MOESM1 of Factors associated with the uptake of newly introduced childhood vaccinations in Ethiopia: the cases of rotavirus and pneumococcal conjugate vaccines

Additional file 1: Figure S1. Percentage* of children aged 12–23 months who are fully vaccinated with RVV and PCV in Ethiopia, by a source of information (Vaccination card‡ seen at home, Vaccination record at health facility†, Mother’s report and Any source), Ethiopia DHS 2016

Image_1_Pregnancy Outcomes in Thyroid Cancer Survivors: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.tif

BackgroundSome female thyroid cancer survivors wish to become pregnant following their cancer treatment. Current studies have shown inconsistent results on pregnancy outcomes in these survivors; however, detailed information on the pathological type, treatment, and gestational thyroid function of these patients are not yet well documented, making the refined assessment of the influence of a history of thyroid cancer and related treatments on pregnancy outcomes challenging.ObjectiveTo investigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study. We included all women aged between 19 and 45 years old who delivered between January 2019 and June 2020 in West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University. Women with tumors other than thyroid cancer or other thyroid diseases were excluded. The included women were divided into survivors of thyroid cancer (survivors) and women without any history of thyroid disease (controls). Propensity score matching and logistic regression were used to control confounding variables.ResultsAll 18,332 women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study (96 survivors of papillary thyroid cancer and 18,236 controls). After propensity score matching, 96 survivors and 192 controls were included. The survivors had higher levels of free thyroxine (15.47 [13.61–17.67] vs. 14.38 [13.20–15.81] pmol/mL; PConclusionA history of treated papillary thyroid cancer was not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.</p

Image_3_Pregnancy Outcomes in Thyroid Cancer Survivors: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.tif

BackgroundSome female thyroid cancer survivors wish to become pregnant following their cancer treatment. Current studies have shown inconsistent results on pregnancy outcomes in these survivors; however, detailed information on the pathological type, treatment, and gestational thyroid function of these patients are not yet well documented, making the refined assessment of the influence of a history of thyroid cancer and related treatments on pregnancy outcomes challenging.ObjectiveTo investigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study. We included all women aged between 19 and 45 years old who delivered between January 2019 and June 2020 in West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University. Women with tumors other than thyroid cancer or other thyroid diseases were excluded. The included women were divided into survivors of thyroid cancer (survivors) and women without any history of thyroid disease (controls). Propensity score matching and logistic regression were used to control confounding variables.ResultsAll 18,332 women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study (96 survivors of papillary thyroid cancer and 18,236 controls). After propensity score matching, 96 survivors and 192 controls were included. The survivors had higher levels of free thyroxine (15.47 [13.61–17.67] vs. 14.38 [13.20–15.81] pmol/mL; PConclusionA history of treated papillary thyroid cancer was not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.</p

Table_1_Pregnancy Outcomes in Thyroid Cancer Survivors: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.docx

BackgroundSome female thyroid cancer survivors wish to become pregnant following their cancer treatment. Current studies have shown inconsistent results on pregnancy outcomes in these survivors; however, detailed information on the pathological type, treatment, and gestational thyroid function of these patients are not yet well documented, making the refined assessment of the influence of a history of thyroid cancer and related treatments on pregnancy outcomes challenging.ObjectiveTo investigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study. We included all women aged between 19 and 45 years old who delivered between January 2019 and June 2020 in West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University. Women with tumors other than thyroid cancer or other thyroid diseases were excluded. The included women were divided into survivors of thyroid cancer (survivors) and women without any history of thyroid disease (controls). Propensity score matching and logistic regression were used to control confounding variables.ResultsAll 18,332 women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study (96 survivors of papillary thyroid cancer and 18,236 controls). After propensity score matching, 96 survivors and 192 controls were included. The survivors had higher levels of free thyroxine (15.47 [13.61–17.67] vs. 14.38 [13.20–15.81] pmol/mL; PConclusionA history of treated papillary thyroid cancer was not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.</p

Image_2_Pregnancy Outcomes in Thyroid Cancer Survivors: A Propensity Score-Matched Cohort Study.tif

BackgroundSome female thyroid cancer survivors wish to become pregnant following their cancer treatment. Current studies have shown inconsistent results on pregnancy outcomes in these survivors; however, detailed information on the pathological type, treatment, and gestational thyroid function of these patients are not yet well documented, making the refined assessment of the influence of a history of thyroid cancer and related treatments on pregnancy outcomes challenging.ObjectiveTo investigate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes in thyroid cancer survivors.MethodsThis was a retrospective cohort study. We included all women aged between 19 and 45 years old who delivered between January 2019 and June 2020 in West China Second University Hospital of Sichuan University. Women with tumors other than thyroid cancer or other thyroid diseases were excluded. The included women were divided into survivors of thyroid cancer (survivors) and women without any history of thyroid disease (controls). Propensity score matching and logistic regression were used to control confounding variables.ResultsAll 18,332 women who met the inclusion criteria were included in the study (96 survivors of papillary thyroid cancer and 18,236 controls). After propensity score matching, 96 survivors and 192 controls were included. The survivors had higher levels of free thyroxine (15.47 [13.61–17.67] vs. 14.38 [13.20–15.81] pmol/mL; PConclusionA history of treated papillary thyroid cancer was not associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes.</p

Diminished ovarian reserve induced by chronic unpredictable stress in C57BL/6 mice

Chronic psychological stress has been considered to be a remarkable contributor to diminished ovarian reserve (DOR). However, there is a lack of a psychological stress-induced DOR animal model. We aim to validate the effects of an 8-week chronic unpredictable stress (CUS) paradigm on the ovarian reserve and reproductive hormone secretion of C57BL/6 mice. We found that after an 8-week CUS exposure, the numbers of primordial and preantral follicles and corpus luteum were significantly decreased in CUS model mice. Model mice also presented higher serum follicle-stimulating hormone, corticosterone levels and lower luteinizing hormone, estradiol, testosterone, anti-Müllerian hormone levels compared to those of control mice. Furthermore, we found that FSH receptor and AMH proteins were downregulated in model mouse ovaries. Although a significant litter size difference between the two groups was not found, the ovarian reserve remained significantly lower in the model group 6 weeks after CUS exposure. These results validated the hypothesis that the 8-week CUS paradigm that we adopted could induce the DOR phenotype in C57BL/6 mice and probably had a long-term adverse effect on ovarian reserve. Therefore, our results indicate that we have successfully established an animal model of psychological stress-induced DOR that can be used for further study.</p

Designed Fabrication and Characterization of Three-Dimensionally Ordered Arrays of Core–Shell Magnetic Mesoporous Carbon Microspheres

A confined interface coassembly coating strategy based on three-dimensional (3-D) ordered macroporous silica as the nanoreactor was demonstrated for the designed fabrication of novel 3-D ordered arrays of core–shell microspheres consisting of Fe₃O₄ cores and ordered mesoporous carbon shells. The obtained 3-D ordered arrays of Fe₃O₄@mesoporous carbon materials possess two sets of periodic structures at both mesoscale and submicrometer scale, high surface area of 326 m²/g, and large mesopore size of 19 nm. Microwave absorption test reveals that the obtained materials have excellent microwave absorption performances with maximum reflection loss of up to −57 dB at 8 GHz, and large absorption bandwidth (7.3–13.7 GHz, < −10 dB), due to the combination of the large magnetic loss from iron oxides, the strong dielectric loss from carbonaceous shell, and the strong reflection and scattering of electromagnetic waves of the ordered structures of the mesopores and 3-D arrays of core–shell microspheres