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The investigation related to the serviceability analysis, particularly in terms of crack spacing prediction, has remarkably increased recently. In addition, the prediction of serviceability analysis is highly dependent and influenced by different physical and material factors that contribute to the crack spacing of reinforced concrete (RC) structures. As a result, the cracking phenomenon has not been fully grasped due to these factors’ wide variety and complexity. Recently, soft computing techniques have gained considerable popularity due to their capability of learning and producing generalized solutions and exhibiting desirable performance in terms of time, effort, and cost. However, the literature on crack spacing prediction using various machine learning approaches is limited and insufficient. Therefore, this article is dedicated to estimating the primary crack spacing of RC structures using different machine learning methods. As a part of the study, the findings of these approaches will be computed and compared to the benchmark experimental results. Besides, the results of the developed models will be compared against that of available approaches in the literature to highlight their reliability. Furthermore, a parametric assessment will be conducted to emphasize the most influencing input parameter on the primary crack spacing of RC structures.

In the theory of line graphs of undirected graphs, there exists an important theorem linking the incidence matrix of the root graph to the adjacency matrix of its line graph. For directed or mixed graphs, however, there exists no analogous result. The goal of this article is to present aligned definitions of the adjacency matrix, the incidence matrix, and line graph of a mixed graph such that the mentioned theorem is valid for mixed graphs.

Background: Recent years have seen the emergence of disease-modifying therapies in multiple sclerosis (MS), such as anti-cluster of differentiation 20 (anti-CD20) monoclonal antibodies, aiming to modulate the immune response and effectively manage MS. However, the relationship between anti-CD20 treatments and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels, particularly the development of hypogammaglobulinemia and subsequent infection risks, remains a subject of scientific interest and variability. We aimed to investigate the intricate connection between anti-CD20 MS treatments, changes in IgG levels, and the associated risk of hypogammaglobulinemia and subsequent infections. Method: PubMed, Scopus, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases have been searched for relevant studies. The "R" software utilized to analyze the occurrence of hypogammaglobulinemia, infections and mean differences in IgG levels pre- and post-treatment. The subgrouping analyses were done based on drug type and treatment duration. The assessment of heterogeneity utilized the I² and chi-squared tests, applying the random effect model. Results: Thirty-nine articles fulfilled our inclusion criteria and were included in our review which included a total of 20,501 MS patients. The overall prevalence rate of hypogammaglobulinemia was found to be 11% (95% CI: 0.08 to 0.15). Subgroup analysis based on drug type revealed varying prevalence rates, with rituximab showing the highest at 18%. Subgroup analysis based on drug usage duration revealed that the highest proportion of hypogammaglobulinemia occurred in individuals taking the drugs for 1 year or less (19%). The prevalence of infections in MS patients with a focus on different infection types stratified by the MS drug used revealed that pulmonary infections were the most prevalent (9%) followed by urinary tract infections (6%), gastrointestinal infections (2%), and skin and mucous membrane infections (2%). Additionally, a significant decrease in mean IgG levels after treatment compared to before treatment, with a mean difference of 0.57 (95% CI: 0.22 to 0.93). Conclusion: This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the impact of anti-CD20 drugs on serum IgG levels in MS patients, exploring the prevalence of hypogammaglobulinemia, based on different drug types, treatment durations, and infection patterns. The identified rates and patterns offer a foundation for clinicians to consider in their risk-benefit. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_ record.php?RecordID=518239, CRD42024518239. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given any digraph D, its non-negative spectrum (or N-spectrum, shortly) consists of the eigenvalues of the matrix AA T, where A is the adjacency matrix of D. In this study, we relate the classical spectrum of undirected graphs to the N-spectrum of their oriented counterparts, permitting us to derive spectral bounds. Moreover, we study the spectral effects caused by certain modifications of a given digraph.

Given the adjacency matrix A of a digraph, the eigenvalues of the matrix AAT constitute the so-called non-negative spectrum of this digraph. We investigate the relation between the structure of digraphs and their non-negative spectra and associated eigenvectors. In particular, it turns out that the non-negative spectrum of a digraph can be derived from the traditional (adjacency) spectrum of certain undirected bipartite graphs.

Astronauts undergoing long-duration space flights (LDSF) often experience a unique set of neuro-ocular findings known as Spaceflight Associated Neuro-ocular Syndrome (SANS). However, the exact mechanisms and the true incidence of SANS remain unclear. This paper aims to review the existing literature on SANS, focusing on its incidence and sequence of findings, and to provide a comprehensive understanding of this condition. Studies reporting SANS and optic disc edema in astronauts from PubMed, Scopus, and WOS have been collected. Eligible studies were selected based on stringent inclusion criteria. Statistical analysis utilized R software with random effect models for them, and heterogeneity was assessed using I2 and chi-squared tests. Our study includes 19 studies that met the inclusion criteria, which encompassed 294 participants. Included studies revealed that optic disc edema and choroidal folds were highly prevalent, with proportions of 75% and 71%, respectively. Hyperopic shifts (95%CI 0.51, 0.76, I2 = 0%) were also statistically significant, appearing gradually and persisting even after astronauts returned to Earth. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of SANS in astronauts. The study suggests that the current clinical definition of SANS may underestimate its true incidence and proposes the inclusion of quantitative metrics to enhance sensitivity and accuracy in diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review assesses the antiviral potential of melatonin through comprehensive analysis of studies across human subjects, animal models, cell cultures, and in‐silico simulations. The search strategy targeted relevant research until 22 June 2023, resulting in 20 primary studies after screening and deduplication. The findings highlight strong evidence supporting antiviral properties of melatonin. In silico studies identify melatonin as a candidate against SARS‐CoV‐2, reducing cytokine storm‐related respiratory responses. Cell culture experiments reveal its multifaceted effects on different viruses including respiratory syncytial virus, anti‐dengue virus, transmissible gastroenteritis virus, and encephalomyocarditis virus. Animal studies show melatonin reduces mortality and viral replication in various infections such as Venezuelan equine encephalomyelitis and COVID‐19. Clinical trials show how it could be evaluated, but with no conclusive evidence of efficacy and safety so far from large, double‐blind placebo‐controlled trials. These insights showcase the potential of melatonin as a versatile antiviral agent with immunomodulatory, antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and antiviral properties. In summary, our review highlights melatonin's promising antiviral properties across diverse settings. Melatonin's immunomodulatory and antiviral potential makes it a compelling candidate for further investigation, emphasising the need for rigorous clinical trials to establish its safety and efficacy against viral infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A free-form Sudoku puzzle is a square arrangement of m ×m cells such that the cells are partitioned into m subsets (called blocks) of equal cardinality. The goal of the puzzle is to place integers 1, . . , m in the cells such that the numbers in every row, column and block are distinct. Represent each cell by a vertex and add edges between two vertices exactly when the corresponding cells, according to the rules, must contain different numbers. This yields the associated free-form Sudoku graph. This article studies the eigenvalues of free-form Sudoku graphs, most notably integrality. Further, we analyze the evolution of eigenvalues and eigenspaces of such graphs when the associated puzzle is subjected to a ‘blow up’ operation, which scales the cell grid including its block partition.

OBJECTIVE This study investigates the increasing use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) among oncology patients, surpassing conventional medical treatments. Factors driving this trend go beyond medical intervention. The study aims to shed light on patients' awareness and knowledge of CAM practices during and after treatment. METHODS 161 cancer patients voluntarily participated, providing demographic information, gender, age, marital status, and cancer type. Data on CAM use and knowledge were collected and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences 22.0 program. P<0.05 was considered statistically significant, with approval from the ethics committee. RESULTS 53.4% were over 60 years old, and 57.8% were women. 86.3% were familiar with at least one CAM method, and 29.2% actively used CAM. Women used CAM significantly more than men. Usage was higher in individuals under 60 years and single patient. CAM was more popular among breast cancer patients. Black cumin and turmeric were the most frequently used herbal methods. Patients mainly acquired CAM knowledge from friends and online sources. CONCLUSION The study revealed a lower CAM usage rate compared to similar international studies in different settings, likely due to the focus on patients seeking treatment at the radiation oncology department. As physicians, it is crucial to expand our knowledge and educate oncology patients about CAM applications. Bridging the information gap will cater to the growing interest in CAM among patients and ensure informed decisions regarding treatment options. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The baculovirus expression vector systems (BEVS) have been widely used for the recombinant production of proteins in insect cells and with high insert capacity. However, baculovirus does not replicate in mammalian cells; thus, the BacMam system, a heterogenous expression system that can infect certain mammalian cells, was developed. Since then, the BacMam system has enabled transgene expression via mammalian-specific promoters in human cells, and later, the MultiBacMam system enabled multi-protein expression in mammalian cells. In this review, we will cover the continual development of the BEVS in combination with CRPISPR-Cas technologies to drive genome-editing in mammalian cells. Additionally, we highlight the use of CRISPR-Cas in glycoengineering to potentially produce a new class of glycoprotein medicines in insect cells. Moreover, we anticipate CRISPR-Cas9 to play a crucial role in the development of protein expression systems, gene therapy, and advancing genome engineering applications in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]