Review and statistical analysis of activity values reported for coastal sands worldwide.

The activity of natural radionuclides is unevenly distributed across the Earth's crust, with certain areas exhibiting significantly higher levels than others, known as High Background Radiation Areas (HBRAs). This study presents a statistical analysis of reported activity values for coastal sands globally. Through this statistical analysis, costal sands were classified into four categories based on their activity levels, providing a standardized framework to compare the natural radioactivity of these sands.

Prognostic value of myocardial deformation parameters for outcome prediction in tetralogy of Fallot.

Background: The prognostic value of myocardial deformation parameters in adults with repaired tetralogy of Fallot (rTOF) has not been well-elucidated. We therefore aimed to explore myocardial deformation parameters for outcome prediction in adults with rTOF using cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (CMR).

Methods: Adults with rTOF and at least moderate pulmonary regurgitation were identified from an institutional prospective CMR registry.

Measurement of gravitational and thermal effects in a liquid-actuated torsion pendulum.

We describe a proof-of-principle experiment aiming to investigate the inverse-square law of gravitation at the centimeter scale. The sensor is a two-stage torsion pendulum, while actuation is accomplished by a variable liquid mass. The time-varying gravitational force is related to the level of the circulating fluid in one or two containers at a short distance from the test mass, with all moving mechanical parts positioned at a large distance.