Search Results (54,612)

Twelve years after the 2013 fifth edition, the American College of Radiology has released BI-RADS^® v2025, with substantial revisions across mammography, ultrasonography, MRI, and the newly independent contrast-enhanced mammography (CEM) section. This review compares the two editions and reads the main changes against the available evidence on diagnostic performance and reader agreement, rather than only cataloguing them. Examples featuring digital breast tomosynthesis, synthetic mammography, and automated whole-breast ultrasonography now appear throughout the modality sections. “Lobulated” has been added as a shape descriptor across all modalities, while “microlobulated” was dropped from the mammography margin list. Calcification terms shifted from etiology to morphology: “milk of calcium” became “layering,” “punctate” was folded into “round,” and “dystrophic” moved under “coarse.” Ultrasonography gained two new entries, “non-mass lesion” and “echogenic rind,” and on MRI, “initial phase” was renamed “early phase.” Category 6 was rewritten; therefore, surgical excision is recognized as one of several definitive local treatments, and an “uncoupled” principle now separates assessment from management. The auditing section folds Category 3 follow-up into basic auditing and adds a Method of Detection data field. Most supporting data, however, predate v2025, and reader agreement remains lower for newer descriptors such as non-mass enhancement; whether the revisions measurably improve reproducibility is still unproven. Integrating every high-sensitivity tool also brings more false positives, overdiagnosis, and cost; artificial intelligence and radiomics may help close the reproducibility gap, but resource-stratified, equitable implementation will be essential. With v2025, BI-RADS becomes a multimodality framework rather than a reporting lexicon alone. Full article

To address the major safety hazard that heat released from mining polyurethane (PU) reinforcement materials may induce spontaneous combustion of residual coal in goaf, this study selected No. 3 coal from Wangzhuang Coal Mine, Shanxi Lu’an, as the research object. A self-developed large-capacity, large-scale experimental system was used to conduct programmed heating experiments on 2.0 kg multi-particle-size coal-PU mixed samples. The effects of PU content on characteristic gas release, crossing point temperature (CPT), residue morphology, and TGA-DSC characteristic temperatures were systematically investigated, and the reaction-kinetic evolution was further analyzed using the distributed activation energy model (DAEM). The results show that coal and PU exhibit a significant synergistic enhancement effect during co-heating. As the PU content increased, the release concentrations of CO, C₂H₄, and C₂H₆ increased markedly, and their initial release temperatures decreased, whereas CH₄ generation was inhibited by hydrogen-radical competition; no C₂H₂ was produced below 400 °C. The CPT decreased linearly with an increasing PU content, with an average decrease of approximately 8.5 °C for every 10% increase in PU content. Residue morphology showed clear critical features: glassy agglomerates appeared when the PU content exceeded 16.67%, and dense bulk coking occurred when the PU/coal mass ratio was greater than 1:10. TGA-DSC analysis showed that when the PU/coal ratio was lower than 1:10, the ignition temperature of the mixed sample was higher than that of pure coal, indicating an inhibitory synergistic effect. When the ratio exceeded 1:10, the ignition temperature decreased significantly, and the synergy shifted to promotion; increasing the heating rate shifted the characteristic temperatures to higher values and increased the reaction intensity. DAEM analysis further confirmed that when the PU ratio exceeded 1:10, the apparent activation energy of the mixed samples was lower than that of pure coal. Coal powder also acted as a physical skeleton that effectively dispersed molten PU, eliminated the activation-energy peaks of pure PU in the conversion ranges of 30–50% and 70–90%, and substantially improved combustion stability. Mechanistically, low-temperature PU melting and coating optimized heat and mass transfer, medium-temperature pyrolysis released active radicals and combustible gases that altered coal pyrolysis pathways and the radical reaction environment, and high-temperature hydrogen-radical competition reshaped the gas-product distribution. Together, these processes form a complete chain of synergistic spontaneous combustion. This study identifies key safety threshold parameters for PU reinforcement materials, recommends a PU content of ≤9.10%, and identifies CO and C₂H₄ as priority early-warning gases, providing direct experimental evidence for characteristic-gas-based early warning and mine fire prevention. Full article

The common bed bug (Cimex lectularius L.) is an obligate blood-feeding insect that spreads easily through human activity. Catnip (Nepeta cataria L.) oil has emerged as a promising natural repellent for bed bugs, but previous studies have been limited to laboratory conditions. In this study, we assessed the effectiveness of a catnip-based formulation (20% catnip CCC oil: 10% catnip oil cultivar CR9, 5% carvacrol, 5% citronellol) applied to fabric against bed bugs using simulated field tests, a human finger stimulus test, and field trials. N-Diethyl-meta-toluamide (DEET) was included as a benchmark in the simulated field test. In these tests, both 20% catnip CCC oil and 20% DEET achieved > 94% repellency within 24 h, with comparable performance after 2–3 d of aging. After 5 d, 20% catnip CCC oil showed significantly reduced repellency compared to DEET. In the human finger stimulus test, 20% catnip CCC oil remained effective for up to 6 d, whereas in infested apartments, significant repellency lasted only one day. These findings suggest that 20% catnip CCC oil applied to fabric can provide short-term protection against bed bug introductions under natural conditions. Future work should explore optimized barrier dimensions and slow-release formulations to extend efficacy. Full article

We introduce the String Ensemble Chords Dataset (SECD), a large-scale controlled compositional audio dataset comprising 287,088 harmonic-interval and chord instances constructed through additive superposition of professionally recorded isolated string notes from the Philharmonia Orchestra into duo-, trio-, and quartet-like four-voice mixtures. Each mixture includes exact per-voice metadata for absolute pitch, dynamic marking, and playing technique, and the corpus is organised into six dataset groups covering harmonic intervals, triads, and seventh chords under loose and strict metadata-consistency conditions. To demonstrate dataset utility, we define four representative and reproducible reference benchmarks: ensemble size recognition, triad chord quality identification, per-instrument dynamics classification, and playing technique-family recognition. Baseline Audio Spectrogram Transformer (AST) models achieve test accuracies of 98.67%, 93.73%, 98.19%, and 99.39%, with corresponding macro-F1 scores of 98.64%, 93.73%, 98.01%, and 97.29%, under a complete-instance-disjoint, in-domain evaluation protocol. These results provide reproducible reference performance for the selected SECD tasks and demonstrate the corpus’s utility for controlled analysis of harmonic, timbral, dynamic, and textural attributes in classical string audio. The full SECD corpus is released through Zenodo as constructed audio mixtures with accompanying metadata, while the project GitHub repository provides the EXP1–EXP4 benchmark code, saved split definitions, and the mini-SECD demonstration package for lightweight reproducibility. Full article

Road tunnel fires can produce rapid heat accumulation and severe thermal loading, particularly when fixed firefighting systems are not activated during the early stages of fire development. Although previous tunnel fire studies have examined ventilation effects and individual fire scenarios, only a limited number have quantitatively evaluated the performance of water-mist fixed firefighting systems under substantially different fire intensities using identical tunnel geometry and operating conditions. This gap restricts the ability to assess suppression efficiency across both moderate and severe tunnel fire scenarios. Computational fluid dynamics modelling, particularly the FDS–LES framework, enables controlled comparison of such scenarios that would be difficult, costly, or unsafe to reproduce in full-scale tunnel experiments, while providing detailed information on temperature field development and heat propagation. This study evaluates the influence of a water-mist fixed firefighting system on temperature development and the spatial extent of high-temperature zones in a road tunnel. Numerical simulations were performed in PyroSim using the Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) and the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) approach. Four scenarios were analyzed under identical tunnel geometry, ventilation conditions, and operational settings, combining two heat release rates (30 MW and 200 MW) with suppressed and unsuppressed fire conditions. The 30 MW case represented a passenger vehicle or light commercial vehicle fire, whereas the 200 MW case represented a severe heavy goods vehicle fire. The results showed that, in the 200 MW scenario, activation of the fixed firefighting system reduced the maximum temperature from 950 °C to 700 °C (−26%), while in the 30 MW scenario the maximum temperature decreased from 310 °C to 160 °C (−48%). Minimum temperatures were reduced from 550 °C to 200 °C in the 200 MW scenario and from 290 °C to 110 °C in the 30 MW scenario. The water-mist system also limited the propagation of the high-temperature layer beneath the tunnel ceiling, with a more pronounced relative effect under the lower heat release rate. Although complete suppression of the 200 MW fire was not achieved, the system reduced peak temperatures and limited the extent of critical high-temperature zones. The main contribution of this study is the quantitative comparison of water-mist suppression performance under moderate and severe tunnel fire conditions using the same tunnel configuration, which provides practical evidence for assessing peak-temperature reduction, high-temperature zone limitation, and thermal loading mitigation in road tunnel fire safety design. Full article

The skin is the largest organ of the human body and, due to its direct contact with the external environment, is one of the most vulnerable tissues. Traditional medical bandages and gauze exhibit limited efficacy in wound management, often neglecting the control of wound inflammation and the promotion of skin regeneration. Hydrogels, as an emerging material, possess appropriate swelling capacity, oxygen permeability, and the ability to absorb wound exudates, thereby facilitating wound healing, making them an ideal choice for functional applications in skin tissue engineering. In this study, dual-treated balsa wood (BWSM) was used as the hydrogel substrate, with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), chitosan (CS), and zinc gluconate (ZnG) used as the primary raw materials. The BWSM/PVA/CS/ZnG hydrogel was prepared via gamma-ray irradiation. Balsa wood treated with alkaline solutions, hydrogen peroxide solutions, and microwave treatment processing exhibited enhanced transparency, increased porosity, improved thermal stability and swelling rates, while retaining adequate mechanical strength. Gamma-ray irradiation of the BWSM/PVA/CS/ZnG hydrogel wound dressing demonstrated sustained drug release and antibacterial efficacy through release and antimicrobial tests. Animal experiments showed that the BWSM/PVA/CS/ZnG composite hydrogel promoted wound healing in mice and effectively prevented scar formation. The aforementioned results demonstrate that the PVA/CS/ZnG composite hydrogel loaded with balsa wood exhibits durable antibacterial properties and high mechanical strength and promotes wound healing, making it suitable for applications in biomedical materials such as wound dressings. Full article

Glass-transition-driven shape memory polymers are promising materials for 4D printing because their thermally activated transition enables programmed deformation and recovery without relying on melting or crystallization-driven switching. In this study, PDMS-MMA-modified photocurable networks were designed for vat photopolymerization-based 4D printing by varying PDMS-MMA content and switching monomer structure while maintaining a fixed TMPTMA crosslinker content. The resin formulations were prepared using tert-butyl acrylate (tBA) or isobornyl acrylate (IBOA) as switching monomers, PDMS-MMA as a flexible mobility-regulating segment, and TMPTMA as a multifunctional crosslinker. The effects of formulation composition on printability, network formation, thermal stability, thermomechanical transition, mechanical properties, and shape memory behavior were systematically investigated. FT-IR analysis confirmed effective photocuring of the acrylate/methacrylate networks, while rheological evaluation showed that resin viscosity depended on monomer structure and PDMS-MMA content. DMA results revealed thermomechanical transition, although some formulations exhibited broad tan δ responses due to network heterogeneity and distributed segmental relaxation. Based on resin printability, printed-part resolution, and relatively well-defined tan δ transitions, T-15 and I-15 were selected as representative formulations for quantitative shape memory evaluation. Shape memory testing was conducted under force-control mode because stable strain-controlled programming was not achievable for the printed specimens. Both T-15 and I-15 exhibited high shape fixity over two programming–recovery cycles. I-15 showed stable recovery behavior with recovery ratios of 91.51% and 95.87%, whereas T-15 showed apparent over-recovery with recovery ratios exceeding 100%, likely due to residual stress release during reheating. Overall, these results demonstrate that thermally activated shape-memory performance is governed not only by the nominal transition temperature but also by the coupled effects of PDMS-mediated segmental mobility, switching monomer structure, mechanical integrity, and elastic energy storage within a fixed crosslinked network framework. Full article

The increasing demand for clean-label meat products has accelerated interest in natural bioactive compounds, including essential oils, plant polyphenols, and bacteriocins, as alternatives to synthetic preservatives. These compounds have the potential to enhance product safety and shelf life while meeting consumer expectations. Many natural bioactives exhibit antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, enabling them to reduce lipid oxidation and inhibit the growth of spoilage and pathogenic microorganisms in meat systems. Despite these benefits, their practical application remains limited by instability, volatility, poor solubility, and undesirable sensory effects. Encapsulation technologies have emerged as effective approaches to overcome these limitations by enhancing stability, controlling release behavior, and improving compatibility with complex meat matrices. This review synthesizes evidence from 154 studies published between 2010 and 2026 on the application of encapsulation technologies, including microencapsulation, nanoemulsions, liposomes, and cyclodextrin-based systems, for natural bioactives in meat systems. Encapsulated bioactive delivery systems are evaluated by integrating spoilage mechanisms, delivery system design, and application strategies. Encapsulation approaches are discussed in terms of structure–function relationships, release behavior, and interactions with meat components. Application strategies, including direct incorporation, edible coatings, and active packaging, are comparatively analyzed based on their functional performance in meat systems. Overall, nanoscale delivery systems are particularly effective in improving the dispersion, stability, and functional performance of hydrophobic bioactives, while controlled-release systems offer prolonged protection but often exhibit reduced predictability when translated from model systems to real meat matrices. Current challenges related to scalability, cost, regulatory constraints, sensory impact, industrial implementation, and the safe design of sustained-release antimicrobial systems are also addressed, thereby providing a framework for the rational development and implementation of effective clean-label preservation strategies in meat systems. Full article

Background: Conventional ophthalmic eye drops have low bioavailability (<5%) and poor patient adherence, driving the development of sustained-release ophthalmic drug delivery systems. The lacrimal drainage system represents a unique anatomical site for minimally invasive depot formulations. Objective: To summarize and critically appraise punctal and intracanalicular drug delivery systems, occlusive devices, and in situ-forming hydrogels with respect to composition, release mechanisms, clinical efficacy, safety, and critical quality attributes (CQAs). Methods: A narrative literature review was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, ClinicalTrials.gov, and patent/regulatory sources, including FDA materials and Google Patents, covering 2001–2026. Anatomical features, materials, active pharmaceutical ingredients, release profiles, and adverse events were analyzed. Results: Seventy-one sources were included. Occlusive plugs without an active pharmaceutical ingredient demonstrate premature expulsion in up to 57.4% of cases and bacterial colonization in 44%. Drug delivery systems provide release from 7 days (PEGDA hydrogels) to 3 months (Eximore, Ocular Therapeutix™). DEXTENZA^® (dexamethasone) is FDA-approved for postoperative inflammation, whereas pivotal trials of travoprost (OTX-TP) and latanoprost systems (L-PPDS, EXP-LP) did not demonstrate superiority over placebo or eye drops. In situ systems eliminate size-fitting requirements but face challenges related to gelation control and biodegradation. Conclusions: We propose the following candidate CQAs: retention (>80% over 4 weeks), swelling degree (30–60%), controlled burst release (<40% within 24 h), and mechanical compatibility. The proposed QTPP matrices for punctal, intracanalicular, and in situ systems may guide the development of ophthalmic drug delivery platforms. Full article

Methane (CH₄) is the second most significant greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO₂). Due to its high short-term global warming potential and the feasibility of emission abatement, monitoring methane point-source emissions has become a critical strategy for mitigating climate change. To address existing technical bottlenecks associated with spatial coverage limitations and surface-induced signal interference in satellite-based monitoring, this study proposes an integrated methane monitoring framework termed Multi-Band Multi-Constraint (MBMC) using Sentinel-2 MSI imagery. The MBMC framework combines a Low-Reflectance Artifact Detection (LRAD) algorithm, a Multi-Band Multi-Pass (MBMP) differential absorption retrieval model, and Integrated Mass Enhancement (IME)-based emission quantification. The LRAD module effectively suppresses artifacts caused by low-reflectance surfaces and heterogeneous backgrounds, thereby improving the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and retrieval accuracy of methane column enhancements. In addition, a semi-automatic plume segmentation workflow integrating morphological operations with a spatial database is developed to improve methane plume extraction and source localization. The framework was validated using data from single-blind controlled methane release experiments conducted in Arizona, USA. Results show that the proposed method achieved a mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) of 21.6% for emission rates ranging from 0.5 to 3.0 t/h, demonstrating promising performance for Sentinel-2-based screening and quantification of methane point sources, particularly for emissions above approximately 0.5 t/h under favorable observation conditions. The framework was further applied to Sentinel-2 observations over a natural gas field in Northwest China, where multiple methane point sources associated with gas gathering stations were successfully identified and quantified. The proposed framework provides a practical approach for high-resolution and high-frequency satellite monitoring of methane point sources and supports the refinement of methane emission inventories and mitigation strategies in the oil and gas sector. Full article

Given the prevalence of chronic wounds and soft tissue defects, which are associated with major complications such as persistent inflammation, poor vascularization, infection risk, and delayed tissue remodeling, there is a need for new materials that can overcome these limitations. Fibrin-based materials have attracted researchers’ attention for their roles in hemostasis and wound healing, as well as their biocompatibility, biodegradability, and ability to mimic the extracellular matrix. Regarding the clinical applicability of fibrin-based materials, they are currently available on the market as fibrin sealants. However, efforts are underway to improve their properties by developing hydrogels, platelet-derived fibrin matrices, and composite scaffolds that enhance mechanical stability, bioactivity, and the controlled release of cells or therapeutic agents. In addition, the number of clinical studies and registered clinical trials reflects interest in the potential applicability of fibrin-based materials in medical applications. However, the available clinical evidence remains limited for many emerging systems, and further validation is required. Although significant limitations remain, including rapid degradation, variable mechanical strength, and the need for standardized manufacturing processes, recent advances in hybrid systems and biofabrication technologies suggest promising future potential for personalized regenerative therapies. Full article

Figs are prone to postharvest senescence and decay, causing substantial economic losses. Conventional modified atmosphere packaging is ineffective at elevating the CO₂ concentration within the package, as the gas exchange rate through the packaging film is insufficient to compensate for the high respiration rate of figs. To explore the effectiveness of packaging in indirectly reducing ethylene accumulation during E-commerce logistics, this study optimized parameters of laser microporous-modified atmosphere packaging (LMMAP) and investigated the effects of LMMAP on the shelf life of figs. Results showed that LMMAP (20 micropores, 300–314 μm in diameter; 30 micropores, 260–270 μm in diameter) effectively regulated the rate of gas exchange across the packaging film under high temperature and vibration stress during transportation. Four days after storage, LMMAP significantly reduced the respiration rate and decay incidence, delayed ethylene release, and maintained the firmness, color and sensory qualities in figs under the same stress conditions. Moreover, LMMAP significantly inhibited the decrease in total soluble solids and titratable acidity content in figs. It also maintains a high antioxidant capacity and reduces the damage to the cell membrane caused by reactive oxygen species. In summary, LMMAP maintains the quality and extends the shelf life of figs during E-commerce logistics. Full article

Tea tree essential oil (TTO), extracted from Melaleuca alternifolia, is a terpene-rich botanical antimicrobial with demonstrated broad-spectrum activity against foodborne pathogens and spoilage microorganisms. Its bioactivity is principally attributed to oxygenated monoterpenes, most notably including terpinen-4-ol, γ-terpinene, and α-terpinene, whose structure–activity relationships govern interactions with microbial membranes and intracellular targets. This review provides a comprehensive, mechanistically grounded analysis of TTO as a sustainable antimicrobial platform for food preservation applications. The physicochemical determinants of TTO performance are critically assessed, encompassing chemotype-dependent compositional variability, hydrophobicity, limited aqueous solubility, and oxidative instability, with emphasis on how these properties constrain efficacy in complex food matrices. Antimicrobial mechanisms are systematically examined, including membrane permeabilization, disruption of cellular homeostasis, oxidative stress induction, and quorum-sensing interference. Focus is placed on nanostructured delivery systems, including nanoemulsions, biopolymer-based encapsulants, and hybrid nanocomposites, that improve physicochemical stability, modulate release kinetics, and potentiate antimicrobial activity. The integration of these engineered formulations into edible coatings, active packaging, and sanitation protocols across fresh produce, meat, and dairy systems is evaluated in the context of practical food safety applications. Translational limitations are addressed, including volatility, sensory incompatibility, regulatory constraints, and concentration-dependent cytotoxicity considerations. Collectively, this review positions TTO-based nanoformulations as a scientifically promising and technologically scalable approach to next-generation food preservation, while identifying critical gaps that must be resolved to support regulatory acceptance and commercial implementation. Full article

Brain–computer interface (BCI) technology has shown potential for future rehabilitation-related and assistive control applications. Nevertheless, single-modality electroencephalography-based motor imagery (EEG-MI) signals are susceptible to interference, whereas existing algorithmic models suffer from limited classification accuracy and insufficient actionable control commands for interactive devices, thereby impeding their practical deployment. To tackle these limitations, this study presents a multimodal human–computer interaction control scheme that integrates eye-movement command encoding with EEG motor imagery decoding. Self-collected EEG-MI and eye-movement datasets were established to support the proposed multimodal control framework. In this framework, eye movements are not used merely as auxiliary inputs, but are encoded as discrete commands for start, stop, grasp, and release, thereby reducing the command burden of EEG-MI decoding. The EEG-TransNet model is enhanced by integrating a time–frequency feature branch and replacing the original convolutional encoder with an adaptive multi-branch EEG feature gating module, strengthening the representation and fusion of multi-domain features. The model yields average classification accuracies of 86.96% and 88.73% on the BCI IV-2a dataset and the self-collected EEG dataset, respectively. Four independent SVM binary classifiers are adopted to identify four eye movement patterns. The EEG and eye movement classification results are binary-encoded to generate hardware-compatible control commands. Robotic-arm grasping experiments with healthy trained participants showed an average task completion time of 17 s, and the repeated grasping success-rate results further provide preliminary evidence for the real-time feasibility of the multimodal control framework under controlled laboratory conditions. Full article

Breast cancer remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality among women worldwide, highlighting the need for safer and more effective chemopreventive strategies. Although many phytochemicals can modulate key molecular processes involved in breast carcinogenesis, their chemopreventive potential largely depends on delivery strategies that preserve their biological activity and enable efficient accumulation at the target site. Protein-based nanocarriers have emerged as promising delivery systems capable of improving the protection, solubility, cellular uptake, targeted delivery, and controlled release of bioactive compounds in tumor tissues. This review summarizes recent advances in selected animal- and plant-derived protein nanocarriers used for the encapsulation and delivery of natural compounds in breast cancer chemoprevention. Particular attention is given to their physicochemical properties, encapsulation performance, release behavior, biological activity, targeting potential, and translational limitations. Furthermore, the mechanisms underlying the enhanced anticancer activity of encapsulated phytochemicals, including improved stability, receptor-mediated uptake, pH-responsive release, apoptosis induction, oxidative stress modulation, and inhibition of tumor growth and metastasis, are highlighted. Current challenges, including enzymatic degradation, formulation instability, immunogenicity concerns, manufacturing scalability, and limited clinical evidence, remain important barriers to translation. Overall, selected protein-based nanocarriers represent promising multifunctional platforms for improving the chemopreventive potential of natural compounds in breast cancer. Full article