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Abstract Background Subtype diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) is used to determine treatment, and the potential utility of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT for investigation of PA has long been recognized. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with bilateral lesions identified by CT. Methods In total, 25 patients with PA and bilateral lesions on CT were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal vein sampling. The analysis focused on establishing the relationship between bilateral adrenal lesions SUVmax and the ratio of bilateral adrenal lesions SUVmax (CON) and clinical diagnosis, treatment outcomes, and KCNJ5 gene status. Results The concordance rate between 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal venous sampling was 65.2% (15/23). The lateralization results of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT supported the clinical decisions of 20 patients with PA, 90% of whom showed effectiveness in treatment. The SUVmax on the dominant side of the surgically treated patients was higher than that of patients treated with drugs. The SUVmax of the KCNJ5 mutant group was higher than that of the KCNJ5 wild group, and 68Ga-Pentixafor uptake was correlated with KCNJ5 gene status. Conclusions 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT proves beneficial for patients with PA with bilateral lesions on CT. The treatment is generally effective based on the results of PET lateralization. Simultaneously, a certain relationship exists between 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and KCNJ5 gene status, warranting further analysis.

Apparent bilateral adrenal suppression (ABAS), where aldosterone/cortisol ratios in both adrenal veins are lower than in the inferior vena cava, yields uninterpretable adrenal venous sampling (AVS) results and is poorly understood. A 57-year-old male with hypertension and spontaneous hypokalemia was admitted to our hospital. Confirmatory tests established a diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA). Initial AVS indicated ABAS, but unilateral PA remained possible due to elevated aldosterone, low renin, hypokalemia, and a right adrenal nodule (8 × 7 mm) on computed tomography. Subsequently, a second, super-selective AVS identified tributaries from areas of aldosterone hypersecretion, enabling accurate localization of unilateral PA. ABAS may occur due to anatomical factors such as dilution by tributaries from nonaldosterone-producing adenoma (APA) areas with suppressed aldosterone production. Super-selective AVS proves beneficial in diagnosing unilateral PA concealed within ABAS by pinpointing tributaries from APA regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) is critical for determining treatment strategies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical value of preoperative adrenal venous sampling (AVS) for determining the benefit of PA surgery. Patients diagnosed with PA at Liaocheng People's Hospital (Liaocheng, China) between January 2015 and December 2020 were selected and divided into two groups: Group A underwent adrenal computed tomography (CT) only, whereas Group B underwent adrenal CT and successful AVS. Subsequently, the improvement rate of adrenal CT and adrenal CT + AVS in the treatment of PA was compared. A total of 164 patients were included, with an average age of 46.69±13.64 years. There were 62 patients in Group A and 102 in Group B. Among the patients diagnosed with unilateral lesions on adrenal CT scan, 82.61% of patients in group A and 87.72% in group B showed improvement; however, the difference was not significant (X² =0.534, P=0.465). Among the patients diagnosed with bilateral lesions on adrenal CT images, 62.50% of patients in Group A and 91.11% of patients in Group B showed improvement (P=0.019). In conclusion, unilateral adrenal lesions detected by CT did not benefit significantly from surgical decision-making after AVS. AVS should be advised for all patients with bilateral adrenal PA who are willing to undergo adrenal surgery, which is conducive to correct lateral segmentation and improve treatment choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Subtype diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) is used to determine treatment, and the potential utility of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT for investigation of PA has long been recognized. The study aimed to evaluate the clinical value of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT in the diagnosis and prognosis of patients with bilateral lesions identified by CT. Methods: In total, 25 patients with PA and bilateral lesions on CT were retrospectively evaluated. All patients underwent 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal vein sampling. The analysis focused on establishing the relationship between bilateral adrenal lesions SUVmax and the ratio of bilateral adrenal lesions SUVmax (CON) and clinical diagnosis, treatment outcomes, and KCNJ5 gene status. Results: The concordance rate between 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and adrenal venous sampling was 65.2% (15/23). The lateralization results of 68Ga-pentixafor PET/CT supported the clinical decisions of 20 patients with PA, 90% of whom showed effectiveness in treatment. The SUVmax on the dominant side of the surgically treated patients was higher than that of patients treated with drugs. The SUVmax of the KCNJ5 mutant group was higher than that of the KCNJ5 wild group, and 68Ga-Pentixafor uptake was correlated with KCNJ5 gene status. Conclusions: 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT proves beneficial for patients with PA with bilateral lesions on CT. The treatment is generally effective based on the results of PET lateralization. Simultaneously, a certain relationship exists between 68Ga-Pentixafor PET/CT and KCNJ5 gene status, warranting further analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an existing six-storey reinforced concrete building with an asymmetric structural plan and soft storey irregularity was used as a test specimen and subjected to three-step progressive structural damages to detect the variations in its dynamic properties. Mode shapes and dominant frequencies of the undamaged building were determined by the ambient vibration survey (AVS) and it was seen that its first three modes were torsion coupled. Besides, soft storey irregularity was evident due to the lack of masonry infill walls on its ground floor. Later on, three-step progressive damages were applied to the building. The first step targeted three columns and one beam of the building, located on a corner region of its ground floor to peel off their clear covers. The second step razed two adjacent corner columns which were already moderately damaged in the first step, while the third step knocked the third moderately damaged column down. After each damage step, AVS was repeated with the same details as applied for the undamaged building. The obtained dynamic properties for the four phases of the building were evaluated with the sustained damage. Numerical analyses with the finite element model of the building representing its four different phases were also performed and the unique responses due to damage effects on the structure were investigated numerically. As a result of induced damage, the quantified amount of frequency change in modes and the new mode observed after particularly column loss scenarios can be utilized for efficient structural health-monitoring strategies of plan-asymmetric buildings and post-earthquake assessment of partially damaged buildings where timely objective assessment is important. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: The advancement in technology and the adoption of innovative developments have made our lives easier. Every industry, from agriculture to transport, has experienced this advancement. The entire transportation system is in the process of becoming intelligent. Smart mobility of autonomous vehicles is an important part of the upcoming smart cities. The autonomous vehicle provides functionalities for safety and convenience. It has been an emerging field with a lot of attention and still under advancement and requires a thorough study and solutions for potential challenges and opportunities. Despite impressive advantages, it has some security vulnerabilities which could lead to life‐threatening consequences. Though they could prevent road accidents by eliminating human errors from the driving process, they also create the possibility of cyber‐physical attacks on the vehicular controlling system. For this, many researchers have focused on the security attacks and defenses in autonomous vehicular systems. A 360‐degree research has been undertaken to understand the concept of autonomous vehicles entirely, such as history, social impacts, difficulties and challenges, current product developments, and security aspects. Also, a vehicular architecture is proposed by integrating various technologies such as 5G, SDN, cloud, and so forth, its possible security attacks are mentioned. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioavailability assessment is important for evaluating the risks to the local biota, and the combined use of several ecological risk indices in eutrophic environments allows the best analysis of the local reality for decision-making. The relationship between acid volatile sulfide (AVS) concentrations and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) allows us to infer the metal holding capacity of sediment, with the objective of evaluating the potential bioavailability of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) using ecological risk indices, such as the ΣSEM/AVS model and Adverse Effect Index (AEI), in surface sediments from Guanabara Bay and Sepetiba Bay, Brazil. AVS was determined using a colorimetric method and SEM with ICP-OES. In general, almost all sampling in Sepetiba Bay showed ΣSEM/AVS ratio values above 1. However, all results for the ΣSEM/AVS ratio found for the Guanabara Bay sediments were

The article discusses the issue of how potential users perceive automated and autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, emphasizing that its sophistication and reliability are crucial for the safety of driving vehicles with a level of automation starting from the third degree. Safety plays a significant role in determining public acceptance of autonomous vehicles. Without the acceptance of potential users and their willingness to use smart electric vehicles, it is challenging to talk about the rapid implementation of autonomous vehicles, despite their undeniable benefits. The article presents an analysis of survey results regarding public opinion in Poland on this matter. The survey utilized various methods, including CAWI surveys, Focus Group Interviews (FGI), and Individual In-depth Interviews (IDI). The CAWI survey involved 1067 respondents in Poland, with a 95% confidence level and a maximum margin of error of 3%, representing a representative sample of the Polish population aged 16 and above. The article examines issues that illustrate respondents' acceptance levels concerning perceived security and trust in AVs. The obtained results are compared with opinions from surveys conducted in other countries. Additionally, the article attempts to identify reasons for the low assessment of the technologies among respondents and proposes measures to boost confidence in automated and autonomous vehicles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose of Review: Primary aldosteronism (PA) is a leading global cause of secondary hypertension. Subtyping diagnosis of PA is the key to surgery, but accurate classification of PA is crucial but challenging in clinical diagnosis and treatment. The purpose of this review is to provide a summary of current literature and propose subtyping diagnosis flow chart to help us classify PA quickly and accurately. Recent Findings: Early diagnosis and accurate typing are essential for the timely treatment and appropriate management of PA. For most patients, adrenal venous sampling (AVS) is the central choice for typing diagnosis, but AVS is invasive and difficult to promote effectively. CT can help identify unilateral typical adenomas in select patients to avoid AVS. New radionuclide imaging has shown value in the diagnosis and classification of PA, which distinguishes adrenocortical hyperplasia from adenoma and can replace AVS in some patients. Summary: Accurately diagnosing unilateral PA is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment strategy for PA. The simple flow chart of PA subtyping diagnosis based on the current literature needs to be verified and evaluated by follow-up researches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bioavailability assessment is important for evaluating the risks to the local biota, and the combined use of several ecological risk indices in eutrophic environments allows the best analysis of the local reality for decision-making. The relationship between acid volatile sulfide (AVS) concentrations and simultaneously extracted metals (SEM) allows us to infer the metal holding capacity of sediment, with the objective of evaluating the potential bioavailability of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) using ecological risk indices, such as the ΣSEM/AVS model and Adverse Effect Index (AEI), in surface sediments from Guanabara Bay and Sepetiba Bay, Brazil. AVS was determined using a colorimetric method and SEM with ICP-OES. In general, almost all sampling in Sepetiba Bay showed ΣSEM/AVS ratio values above 1. However, all results for the ΣSEM/AVS ratio found for the Guanabara Bay sediments were <1 for both estuaries. After normalization by organic carbon content, a possible toxicity risk for biota was found in Sepetiba Bay. However, the AEI in Guanabara Bay was above 1 for all metals in most samples, also indicating a risk to the biota. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) affects 0.5–2% of the general population and constitutes the major cause of severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS) in individuals ≤70 years. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the parameters that may provide information about the risk of AVS developing in BAV patients, with particular emphasis on lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), which is a well-recognized risk factor for stenosis in the general population. We also analyzed the impact of autotaxin (ATX) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as parameters potentially related to the pathomechanism of Lp(a) action. We found that high Lp(a) levels (>50 mg/dL) occurred significantly more frequently in patients with AVS than in patients without AVS, both in the group below and above 45 years of age (p = 0.036 and p = 0.033, respectively). Elevated Lp(a) levels were also strictly associated with the need for aortic valve replacement (AVR) at a younger age (p = 0.016). However, the Lp(a) concentration did not differ significantly between patients with and without AVS. Similarly, we observed no differences in ATX between the analyzed patient groups, and both ATX activity and concentration correlated significantly with Lp(a) level (R = 0.465, p < 0.001 and R = 0.599, p < 0.001, respectively). We revealed a significantly higher concentration of IL-6 in young patients with AVS. However, this observation was not confirmed in the group of patients over 45 years of age. We also did not observe a significant correlation between IL-6 and Lp(a) or between CRP and Lp(a) in any of the analyzed groups of BAV patients. Our results demonstrate that a high level of Lp(a), greater than 50 mg/dL, may be a significant predictive factor for earlier AVR. Lp(a)-related parameters, such as ATX and IL-6, may be valuable in providing information about the additional cardiovascular risks associated with developing AVS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As more people drive vehicles, there is a corresponding increase in the number of deaths and injuries that happen due to road traffic accidents. Thus, various solutions have been proposed to reduce the impact of accidents. One of the most popular solutions is autonomous driving, which involves a series of embedded systems. These embedded systems assist drivers by providing crucial information on the traffic environment or by acting to protect the vehicle occupants in particular situations or to aid driving. Autonomous driving has the capacity to improve transportation services dramatically. Given the successful use of visual technologies and the implementation of driver assistance systems in recent decades, vehicles are prepared to eliminate accidents, congestion, collisions, and pollution. In addition, the IoT is a state-of-the-art invention that will usher in the new age of the Internet by allowing different physical objects to connect without the need for human interaction. The accuracy with which the vehicle's environment is detected from static images or videos, as well as the IoT connections and data management, is critical to the success of autonomous driving. The main aim of this review article is to encapsulate the latest advances in vision strategies and IoT technologies for autonomous driving by analysing numerous publications from well-known databases.

The head impulse-nystagmus-test of skew (+ hearing) or HINTS+ exam is a well-established clinical bedside test used in evaluating whether patients with the acute vestibular syndrome have features concerning for a central etiology (e.g., stroke). There are other components of the ocular motor exam that are helpful in the acute setting, including smooth pursuit and saccades. We discuss the anatomy and physiology of the saccade and smooth pursuit pathways from the cortex to the infratentorial region in the context of anterior and posterior circulation strokes in general but with a particular emphasis on distinct vestibular stroke syndromes. For each stroke localization, we review the vascular supply and the expected findings on the HINTS+ exam and correlate this with the expected findings on the smooth pursuit and saccade exams to aid in bedside diagnosis.

The biological deterioration of archaeological wood under oxygen-limited conditions varies due to the limited activities of microorganisms. It is essential to expand the knowledge of the degradation types and the status of archaeological monuments for selecting the proper consolidates. The physical, chemical, and anatomical properties of approximately 600–650 year old archaeological oak collected from an archaeological site in Iasi-Romania were analysed to assess the quality and to identify the degradation types. The results were compared with similar tests on recently-cut oak. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) revealed the presence of more lignin-related peaks in the archaeological oak, which likely reflected the degradation of the wood carbohydrates as evidenced by the decreased oxygen-to-carbon ratio Cox/Cnon-ox. The differences in cellulose crystallinity were not significant suggesting that any cellulose degradation occurred in the amorphous regions. This was also reflected in the dynamic water vapor sorption analysis where the differences in sorption isotherms and hysteresis of archaeological and recently-cut oaks were marginal. Microscopic analysis of the oak cells illustrated bacterial degradation patterns, while the field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) showed the presence of erosion bacteria in the archaeological oak collected from the site with low oxygen conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Dizziness and vertigo affect around 15% of adults annually and represent common reasons for contacting health services, accounting for around 3% of all emergency department visits worldwide. Vertigo is also associated with excessive use of diagnostic imaging and emergency care and decreased productivity, primarily because of work absenteeism. Vestibular rehabilitation is an evidence-based treatment for chronic dizziness and supervised group exercise therapy has recently been shown to be effective after vestibular neuritis, a common cause of acute onset vertigo. However, such interventions are not readily available and there is a need for more easily accessible tools. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects on vestibular symptoms of a 6-week online vestibular rehabilitation tool after acute onset vertigo, with the aim of aiding vestibular rehabilitation by presenting a more accessible tool that can help to reduce recovery time. Methods Three hundred twenty individuals diagnosed with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) will be recruited from multiple hospitals in Sweden and the effects of an online vestibular rehabilitation tool, YrselTräning, on vestibular symptoms after acute onset vertigo will be compared to standard care (written instructions leaflet) in a two-armed, evaluator-blinded, multicenter randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome will be the Vertigo Symptom Scale Short Form (VSS-SF) score at 6 weeks after symptom onset. Secondary outcomes include effects of the intervention on activities of daily living, mood and anxiety, vestibular function recovery, mobility measures, health economic effects, and the reliability of the Swedish VSS-SF translation. Discussion Participants using the online vestibular rehabilitation tool are expected to recover earlier and to a greater extent from their symptoms as compared to standard care. Since up to 50% of people with AVS without treatment develop persistent symptoms, effective treatment of AVS will likely lead to a higher quality of life and help reduce the societal costs associated with dizziness and vertigo. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05056324 . Registered on September 24, 2021.

Purpose of Review: Over the past decades, genetic and observational evidence has positioned lipoprotein(a) as novel important and independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and aortic valve stenosis. Recent Findings: As Lp(a) levels are determined genetically, lifestyle interventions have no effect on Lp(a)-mediated ASCVD risk. While traditional low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) can now be effectively lowered in the vast majority of patients, current lipid lowering therapies have no clinically relevant Lp(a) lowering effect. Summary: There are multiple Lp(a)-directed therapies in clinical development targeting LPA mRNA that have shown to lower Lp(a) plasma levels for up to 90%: pelacarsen, olpasiran, and SLN360. Pelacarsen is currently investigated in a phase 3 cardiovascular outcome trial expected to finish in 2024, while olpasiran is about to proceed to phase 3 and SLN360's phase 1 outcomes were recently published. If proven efficacious, Lp(a) will soon become the next pathway to target in ASCVD risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper proposes an optimal dynamic supply of parking permits under uncertainties in the mixed traffic environment of regular vehicles (RVs) and autonomous vehicles (AVs). The uncertainties from queuing delay and cruising-for-parking time, respectively, are derived from parking permit holders’ unascertainable early arrival/late departure and the randomness of vehicle speed for cruising-for-parking users. We formulate the dynamic system optimum as a stochastic optimal control problem, aiming to minimize the total time lost for all parking users. On this basis, we express the optimality condition as Hamilton-Jacobi-Bellman equation and propose an optimal control strategy for dynamic supply of parking permits (called optimal parking supply scheme). The proposed scheme is determined by two observable and measurable variables, i.e., queuing time and cruising-for-parking time. We find that the scheme can significantly reduce the total system time lost, especially when the uncertainty from parking permit holders is at a high level or the percentage of AVs is small. Finally, a case study of a selected sample area in Beijing is conducted, which verifies the efficiency of the proposed scheme numerically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

IntroductionAdrenal vein sampling (AVS) is not a routine procedure in patients with primary bilateral macronodular adrenocortical hyperplasia (PBMAH), but has been used to determine lateralization of cortisol secretion in order to guide decision of unilateral adrenalectomy. Our aim was to characterize the steroid fingerprints in AVS samples of patients with PBMAH and hypercortisolism and to identify a reference hormone for AVS interpretation.MethodRetrospectively, we included 17 patients with PBMAH from the German Cushing’s registry who underwent AVS. 15 steroids were quantified in AVS and peripheral blood samples using LC-MS/MS. We calculated lateralization indices and conversion ratios indicative of steroidogenic enzyme activity to elucidate differences between individual adrenal steroidomes and in steroidogenic pathways.ResultsAdrenal volume was negatively correlated with peripheral cortisone (r=0.62, p

Bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) affects 0.5–2% of the general population and constitutes the major cause of severe aortic valve stenosis (AVS) in individuals ≤70 years. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the parameters that may provide information about the risk of AVS developing in BAV patients, with particular emphasis on lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)), which is a well-recognized risk factor for stenosis in the general population. We also analyzed the impact of autotaxin (ATX) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) as parameters potentially related to the pathomechanism of Lp(a) action. We found that high Lp(a) levels (>50 mg/dL) occurred significantly more frequently in patients with AVS than in patients without AVS, both in the group below and above 45 years of age (p = 0.036 and p = 0.033, respectively). Elevated Lp(a) levels were also strictly associated with the need for aortic valve replacement (AVR) at a younger age (p = 0.016). However, the Lp(a) concentration did not differ significantly between patients with and without AVS. Similarly, we observed no differences in ATX between the analyzed patient groups, and both ATX activity and concentration correlated significantly with Lp(a) level (R = 0.465, p < 0.001 and R = 0.599, p < 0.001, respectively). We revealed a significantly higher concentration of IL-6 in young patients with AVS. However, this observation was not confirmed in the group of patients over 45 years of age. We also did not observe a significant correlation between IL-6 and Lp(a) or between CRP and Lp(a) in any of the analyzed groups of BAV patients. Our results demonstrate that a high level of Lp(a), greater than 50 mg/dL, may be a significant predictive factor for earlier AVR. Lp(a)-related parameters, such as ATX and IL-6, may be valuable in providing information about the additional cardiovascular risks associated with developing AVS.

Background: Dizziness and vertigo affect around 15% of adults annually and represent common reasons for contacting health services, accounting for around 3% of all emergency department visits worldwide. Vertigo is also associated with excessive use of diagnostic imaging and emergency care and decreased productivity, primarily because of work absenteeism. Vestibular rehabilitation is an evidence-based treatment for chronic dizziness and supervised group exercise therapy has recently been shown to be effective after vestibular neuritis, a common cause of acute onset vertigo. However, such interventions are not readily available and there is a need for more easily accessible tools. The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects on vestibular symptoms of a 6-week online vestibular rehabilitation tool after acute onset vertigo, with the aim of aiding vestibular rehabilitation by presenting a more accessible tool that can help to reduce recovery time.Methods: Three hundred twenty individuals diagnosed with acute vestibular syndrome (AVS) will be recruited from multiple hospitals in Sweden and the effects of an online vestibular rehabilitation tool, YrselTräning, on vestibular symptoms after acute onset vertigo will be compared to standard care (written instructions leaflet) in a two-armed, evaluator-blinded, multicenter randomized controlled trial. The primary outcome will be the Vertigo Symptom Scale Short Form (VSS-SF) score at 6 weeks after symptom onset. Secondary outcomes include effects of the intervention on activities of daily living, mood and anxiety, vestibular function recovery, mobility measures, health economic effects, and the reliability of the Swedish VSS-SF translation.Discussion: Participants using the online vestibular rehabilitation tool are expected to recover earlier and to a greater extent from their symptoms as compared to standard care. Since up to 50% of people with AVS without treatment develop persistent symptoms, effective treatment of AVS will likely lead to a higher quality of life and help reduce the societal costs associated with dizziness and vertigo.Trial Registration: Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05056324 . Registered on September 24, 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, autonomous vehicles (AVs), connected vehicles (CVs) and all relative technology have been in the spotlight, being intensively researched and developed. There is high anticipation on the benefits of automation and the overall reform it will bring to the transport sector, with some optimistic estimates considering it as a reality within the next few years. Evidently, AVs and CVs are attracting considerable attention and are developed very rapidly, cultivating great expectations for traffic safety improvements. While their potential is enormous and undeniable, benefits are not automatically guaranteed as there are parameters that currently appear unforeseen. This paper investigates the ways that monitoring and enforcement of autonomous vehicles can be improved and serious problems such as tailgating and crashes can be mitigated. This paper's result could provide useful conclusions about human factor, the effectiveness of existing monitoring and enforcing systems and possible future systems regarding enforcement and monitoring of autonomous vehicles (AVs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Adrenal vein sampling (AVS) is integral to identifying surgically remediable unilateral primary aldosteronism (PA). However, right adrenal vein (AV) cannulation can be challenging, limiting its success. Intra‐procedural cortisol assays can improve the reliability of AVS. The aim of this study was to validate the use of semi‐quantitative cortisol estimates obtained utilizing a quick cortisol assay (QCA) during AVS procedures at our institution. Methods: Retrospective review of results of AVS procedures before and after the introduction of the QCA. Twenty‐three AVS procedures were performed with the provisional success determined by intra‐procedural QCA. Successful AV cannulation was defined by an AV to peripheral vein cortisol ratio ≥ 4.0 (the selectivity index) from laboratory measurements. The control cohort consisted of 23 consecutive procedures prior to introduction of the QCA. Results: QCA correctly predicted all AV cannulation attempts. Successful bilateral AV cannulation increased from 52% to 91% of procedures when performed with the QCA (P = 0.01) and adequate cannulation of the right AV increased from 61% to 91% (P = 0.03). There was no increase in procedural time, number of AV cannulation or sampling attempts. Conclusions: Point‐of‐care, semi‐quantitative cortisol estimates can be performed accurately during AVS with QCA, facilitating improvements in AVS success rates without increasing procedural time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a two-dimensional direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation algorithm based on nested acoustic vector-sensor (AVS) array is introduced. The minimum unit interval of the used nested AVS array is integral multiple of half-wavelength of signal. Firstly, four selection matrices are used to recombine four received vectors, by which four special cross-covariance matrices are obtained to form an extended block covariance matrix. Then, a set of parameters on elevation angles are estimated by traditional estimation of signal parameter via rotational invariance technique (ESPRIT) algorithm. Using these parameters, unambiguous elevation angles can be obtained without spectral peak search and added eigenvalue decomposition. At last, using the estimated elevation angles, the azimuth angles can be estimated by array manifold matching algorithm. The proposed algorithm can distinguish more signals than some existing ESPRIT algorithms. Many simulation results can prove the performance of the proposed algorithm in improving the accuracy of DOA estimation. Simulation results also show that the unit interval of optimal nested AVS array should be larger than half-wavelength of received signal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The diagnosis of primary aldosteronism (PA) is critical for determining treatment strategies. The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical value of preoperative adrenal venous sampling (AVS) for determining the benefit of PA surgery. Patients diagnosed with PA at Liaocheng People's Hospital (Liaocheng, China) between January 2015 and December 2020 were selected and divided into two groups: Group A underwent adrenal computed tomography (CT) only, whereas Group B underwent adrenal CT and successful AVS. Subsequently, the improvement rate of adrenal CT and adrenal CT + AVS in the treatment of PA was compared. A total of 164 patients were included, with an average age of 46.69±13.64 years. There were 62 patients in Group A and 102 in Group B. Among the patients diagnosed with unilateral lesions on adrenal CT scan, 82.61% of patients in group A and 87.72% in group B showed improvement; however, the difference was not significant (χ 2 =0.534, P=0.465). Among the patients diagnosed with bilateral lesions on adrenal CT images, 62.50% of patients in Group A and 91.11% of patients in Group B showed improvement (P=0.019). In conclusion, unilateral adrenal lesions detected by CT did not benefit significantly from surgical decision-making after AVS. AVS should be advised for all patients with bilateral adrenal PA who are willing to undergo adrenal surgery, which is conducive to correct lateral segmentation and improve treatment choices., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no competing interests., (Copyright: © 2024 Qiao et al.)

Context-based binary arithmetic coding (CBAC) is an entropy coder of AVS 2.0, the latest Chinese video compression standard for 8K ultra-high-definition (UHD) video, which employs a logarithmic number system to avoid multiplication operations for range updates for binary arithmetic coding (BAE). In this paper, we propose a high-throughput CBAC hardware encoder for 8K UHD. To enhance its throughput, we introduce a bin-merging technique that converts a subsequence of bins into a merged bin without affecting the functionality of the CBAC encoder. Moreover, we also employ a 4-stage pipeline architecture for CBAC and lookup tables for context updates. Consequently, the proposed CBAC encoder can process about 3.94 bins per cycle and achieve a throughput of 2.9 Gbins per second. When synthesized in a TSMC 65nm LP process, it operates up to 735 MHz and the total gate count is 182.5 K. To the best of our knowledge, this is the highest throughput for a CBAC encoder. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The graphene-based Field Effect Transistors (GFETs), due to their multi-parameter characteristics, are growing rapidly as an important detection component for the apt detection of disease biomarkers, such as DNA, in clinical diagnostics and biomedical research laboratories. In this paper, the non-equilibrium Green function (NEGF) is used to create a compact model of GFET in the ballistic regime as an important building block for DNA detection sensors. In the proposed method, the self-consistent solutions of two-dimensional Poisson's equation and NEGF, using the nearest neighbor tight-binding approach on honeycomb lattice structure of graphene, are modeled as an efficient numerical method. Then, the eight parameters of the phenomenological ambipolar virtual source (AVS) circuit model are calibrated by a least-square curve-fitting routine optimization algorithm with NEGF transfer function data. At last, some parameters of AVS that are affected by induced charge and potential of DNA biomolecules are optimized by an experimental dataset. The new compact model response, with an acceptable computational complexity, shows a good agreement with experimental data in reaction with DNA and can effectively be used in the plan and investigation of GFET biosensors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for large-scale PV power generation is essential for reducing climate change, but land competition is a barrier. Agrivoltaic systems, which combine crop production and photovoltaic power generation, offer a potential solution by increasing the productivity and land use efficiency. Agrivoltaic systems can help in promoting sustainable agriculture and lowering greenhouse gas emissions. This review investigates the viability of agrivoltaic systems in a variety of locations, exploring into the technologies used, including panel height, interspace, configuration, and technical innovations. Agronomic practices related to crop selection and crop yield are also reported. Environmental impacts of agrivoltaic systems related to land and water use are discussed. The advantages of the agrivoltaic systems, such as increased land use efficiency, higher crop yields, and lower water use, are thoroughly examined. While the benefits of the agrivoltaic systems are discussed, the review also highlights the challenges associated, such as need for careful planning and the possibility of trade-offs between energy production and crop yields. The study offers technical, environmental and societal insights into agrivoltaic systems as a sustainable and financially viable solution for promoting sustainable agriculture and energy. The work emphasizes the significance of ongoing research and development, and provides recommendations in line with the Sustainable Development Goals. [Display omitted] • Designs, technologies and innovations in agrivoltaic systems are reviewed. • Crop selection, crop yield and power outputs are compared and analyzed. • Land and water use efficiency improvement with agrivoltaic systems are examined. • Societal aspects, benefits, challenges are discussed and recommendations suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to explore the categorization of vehicle oscillation and the relationship between individual vehicle oscillation and platoon oscillation in traffic flow, this paper conducts field experiments with both human driving vehicles(HDVs) and autonomous vehicles(AVs). The objective is to utilize experimental data to categorize and quantify traffic oscillation, delve into the impact of different degrees of vehicle oscillation on platoon oscillation, identify patterns between vehicle oscillation types and platoon oscillation evolution, and study the influence of AVs on platoon oscillation. The paper commences with car-following experiments involving HDVs and AVs, sets the platoon into three scenarios of HDV's platoon, AV's platoon, and mixed platoon experimental datasets. Subsequently, nine oscillation features reflecting the oscillation characteristics of vehicle traveling, such as volatility and trend, etc., are extracted from the experimental datasets. Then the CLS deep clustering model is constructed, trained, and outputs high-dimensional features. The model's effectiveness is assessed using both clustering error and deep learning error simultaneously. Finally, the paper analyzes the classification results of the experimental dataset and explores the relationship between vehicle oscillation type and platoon oscillation. The research finding indicates that the oscillation classification effectiveness of the CLS model is significantly superior to other algorithms. Using the CLS model, vehicle oscillations are categorized into four most suitable types: I, II, III, and IV, representing slight oscillation, general oscillation, relatively serious oscillation, and severe oscillation respectively. In HDVs' platoon, as the vehicle oscillation type increases, the following vehicle does not fully adhere to the front vehicle, the amplitude trend of the vehicle changes, leading to oscillation in the following vehicle platoon. In the AVs' platoon, AVs suppress the backward propagation of oscillations in the platoon, and the oscillation types are all type I, indicating mild oscillation. In the mixed platoon, it is observed that AVs, through swift perception of the state of preceding vehicle, promptly respond to adjust their own driving condition to alleviate platoon oscillation. The higher the proportion of AVs in the platoon, the stronger the inhibitory effect on platoon oscillation. • Field experiment provides evidence for oscillation. • The CLS model categorizes oscillation. • Avs suppress platoon oscillation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Smart roads, AV and CAV are emerging technologies that represent the new paradigm of mobility. To support the public and private road operators better prepare themselves to implement these technologies in their respective existing or planned infrastructures, there is an urgent need to develop an integrated analysis framework to evaluate the impact of these novel systems on road capacity and safety in function of different market penetration levels of AVs and CAVs. The research focuses on novel smart road geometric design and review criteria based on the performance of AVs and CAVs. The case study of one of the first planned smart roads in Italy has been analysed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Copyright of Yearbook of Swiss Administrative Sciences is the property of Ubiquity Press and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)