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Addressing the challenges of scalable and cost-effective energy performance analysis in mid to high-rise office buildings, this paper introduces a novel approach utilizing an inverse-based artificial neural network (ANN). This ANN was trained on synthetically generated heating and cooling load parameters – derived from simulations conducted in EnergyPlus – to predict characterization parameters, including the building envelope, internal heat gains, and HVAC operational parameters. Diverging from traditional forward surrogate models, this inverse surrogate model fills a critical gap in current building energy modeling approaches that are hindered by data and resource limitations. Its effectiveness is verified with a testing dataset of 3000 buildings and is further demonstrated through a case study in Ottawa, Ontario. Proving to be an efficient, cost-effective tool for energy retrofit screening, the model is enhanced by a user-friendly web-based application (Ferreira and Gunay), marking a significant advancement in accessible building energy analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective : Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is a condition characterized by bleeding in the subarachnoid space, often resulting from the rupture of a cerebral aneurysm. Delayed cerebral ischemia caused by vasospasm is a significant cause of mortality and morbidity in SAH patients, and inflammatory markers such as systemic inflammatory response index (SIRI), systemic inflammatory index (SII), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), and derived NLR (dNLR) have shown potential in predicting clinical vasospasm and outcomes in SAH patients. This article aims to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmatic SAH (aSAH) and evaluate the predictive value of various indices, including SIRI, SII, NLR, and dNLR, in predicting clinical vasospasm. Methods : A retrospective analysis was performed on a cohort of 96 patients who met the inclusion criteria out of a total of 139 patients admitted Trakya University Hospital with a confirmed diagnosis of aSAH between January 2013 and December 2021. Diagnostic procedures, neurological examinations, and laboratory tests were performed to assess the patients' condition. The Student's t-test compared age variables, while the chi-square test compared categorical variables between the non-vasospasm (NVS) and vasospasm (VS) groups. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were used to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of laboratory parameters, calculating the area under the ROC curve, cut-off values, sensitivity, and specificity. A significance level of p<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results : The study included 96 patients divided into two groups : NVS and VS. Various laboratory parameters, such as NLR, SII, and dNLR, were measured daily for 15 days, and statistically significant differences were found in NLR on 7 days, with specific cut-off values identified for each day. SII showed a significant difference on day 9, while dNLR had significant differences on days 2, 4, and 9. Graphs depicting the values of these markers for each day are provided. Conclusion : Neuroinflammatory biomarkers, when used alongside radiology and scoring scales, can aid in predicting prognosis, determining severity and treatment decisions for aSAH, and further studies with larger patient groups are needed to gain more insights. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Adrenal incidentalomas are typically discovered as an incidental finding during routine computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans conducted for unrelated purposes. Our objective was to examine the frequency of adrenal incidentaloma, in individuals who underwent thoracic CT scan as a result of Covid-19 infection. Material and Methods: In the retrospective descriptive study, 808 patients who applied to the emergency radiology department with the suspicion of covid 19 and underwent thoracic CT between March 2020 and July 2020 were included. The presence of incidentaloma in the CT images of the patients was evaluated. Results: Adrenal incidentaloma was detected in 78 (9.7%) of the 808 patients, and of those 78 adrenal incidentalomas, 70 (8.7%) were unilateral and 8 (1%) were bilateral. The mean diameter of the adrenal incidentaloma was 20 mm, and it was 18.5 mm in females and 21.5 mm in males. A total of 808 patients, 351 (43.4%) females and 457 (56.6%) males, were included in the study. Conclusion: Adrenal incidentaloma have become more common radiological findings with the recent COVID-19 pandemic due to the increased frequency of CT scans, and it is important to appropriately manage these patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]