Boosting the mechanical performance and fire resistivity of white ordinary portland cement pastes via biogenic mesoporous silica nanoparticles.

This study investigates how biogenic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MS-NPs) extracted from rice straw residues, a sustainable and economical bio-source, affect White Ordinary Portland Cement (WOPC) paste performance. A comprehensive investigation using varied fractions of 0.25, 0.

Three-dimensional complementary breast ultrasound (3D CBUS): Improving 3D spatial resolution uniformity with orthogonal images.

Background: With increasing evidence supporting three-dimensional (3D) automated breast (AB) ultrasound (US) for supplemental screening of breast cancer in increased-risk populations, including those with dense breasts and in limited-resource settings, there is an interest in developing more robust, cost-effective, and high-resolution 3DUS imaging techniques. Compared with specialized ABUS systems, our previously developed point-of-care 3D ABUS system addresses these needs and is compatible with any conventional US transducer, which offers a cost-effective solution and improved availability in clinical practice. While conventional US transducers have high in-plane resolution (axial and lateral), their out-of-plane resolution is constrained by the poor intrinsic elevational US resolution.

Visual activity enhances neuronal excitability in thalamic relay neurons.

Amblyopia, a highly prevalent loss of visual acuity, is classically thought to result from cortical plasticity. The dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus (dLGN) has long been held to act as a passive relay for visual information, but recent findings suggest a largely underestimated functional plasticity in the dLGN. However, the cellular mechanisms supporting this plasticity have not yet been explored.

A fuzzy logic-based risk evaluation and precaution level estimation of explosive, flammable, and toxic chemicals for preventing damages.

Chemical industries are highly vulnerable to accidental events or terrorist attacks due to their processing, storage, and transportation of explosive, flammable, and toxic materials. Major industrial risks include fire, explosion, and toxic chemical release. An effective risk evaluation system is essential to prevent accidents or terrorist attacks.

Gastric Accommodation Testing Using Hybrid Nuclear Imaging Volumetry and Combined High-Resolution Manometry-Nutrient Drink Test: A Pilot Study in Healthy Individuals.

Background: Gastric accommodation (GA) testing is gaining clinical recognition as novel and minimally invasive modalities emerge. We investigated the feasibility of hybrid nuclear imaging volumetry (SPECT/CT) and combined high-resolution manometry-nutrient drink test (HRM-NDT) to assess GA.

Methods: In this non-randomized pilot study, [Tc]NaTcO gastric SPECT/CT (250 mL protocol) and proximal gastric HRM-NDT (~60 mL/min protocol) were performed separately within 30 days using Ensure Gold test meal (1.