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Background: Microarray technology enables the examination of gene expression in thousands of genes and can be highly effective in identifying various types of cancers, including leukemia. However, many genes in microarray data are redundant and lack useful information for cancer diagnosis. The main objective of this study is to identify relevant and effective genes in classification of leukemia microarray data using a spline regressionbased method, taking into account the correlation between genes. Materials and Methods: In this analytical study, leukemia microarray data are used to identify relevant genes in classification of leukemia into Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) using a spline regression-based gene selection method, called SRS3FS based on l2, p-norm (0 < p = 1). Subsequently, the support vector machine (SVM) algorithm is employed to classify leukemia data into AML and ALL. Results: In this study, the classification results of SVM algorithm for 5, 10, 15, and 20 genes reveal that the SRS3FS method, employing l2,1/4-norm, l2,1/2-norm and l2,3/4-norm, exhibited the highest accuracy of 97.06% when identifying 10 genes for distinguishing between AML and ALL. Moreover, the leukemia data was classified into AML and ALL with an accuracy of 100%, using a gene identified by the SRS3FS method based on l2,3/4-norm and l2,1-norm. The gene labeled as number 3252, annotated as GLUTATHIONE STRANSFERASE, MICROSOMAL, is recognized as the most important gene. Conclusion: The experimental results on leukemia microarray data demonstrate that the spline regression-based gene selection method can effectively identify relevant genes in classification and prediction of leukemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of primary malignant bone tumor. The onset of OS is associated with local pain and swelling as well as joint dysfunction, occasionally. The most common location for OS is around the knee joint. These patients often tend to receive medical attention following physical exercise and trauma. The affected population is mainly teenagers, children, and young adults with age range of 10-30 years. OS can be diagnosed via different approaches. The main serum markers for pediatric OS are insulin-like growth factor (IGF-1 and IGFBP-3), anti-ki57 antibody, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-β and sTNF-R, T3, CD44, vascular endothelial growth factor, serum amyloid A, CXC chemokines, bone alkalin phosphatase, Interleukin (IL-2, IL-4, IL-8), interferon gamma (IFN-γ), TNF-α, and free polyamines. Given that there is no comprehensive review literature regarding OS management in our country, this study aimed to assess a survey on the management and approach of OS in children. In this regard, we have discussed the epidemiology, etiology, type, clinical feature, diagnosis, and OS therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and objectives: The role of sustainable development in society is widely acknowledged, emphasizing the importance of proper investment, particularly in social capital, which thrives on trust and collaboration. This study employs social network analysis to assess the impact of an empowerment project on local communities in Ghaleganj County, analyzing social effectiveness before and after project implementation. Methodology: The study utilizes social network analysis to assess the performance of the local community empowerment project in Ghaleganj County. Social network positions were analyzed before the establishment of rural microcredit funds and after the project's implementation. Key social network indicators such as Density, Reciprocity, Transitivity, and Geodesic Distance were examined. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 164 members of local microcredit funds in Azadshahr, Aliabad, and Zirabad villages, employing a full network method. Results: The density index increased in all studied villages for both trust and collaboration ties after the empowerment project, with the highest density observed in Zirabad village (95.08%). Reciprocity index also increased post-project implementation, indicating enhanced bilateral and mutual relations in trust and collaboration bonds, leading to increased social capital and participation in rural development funds. The study revealed a medium level of social capital before the project, which increased significantly with the establishment of microcredit funds. Conclusion: The study concludes that increased social capital enhances adherence to norms, fosters a sense of belonging, and encourages responsibility among villagers. The formation of a microcredit fund and associated social structures in the village have positively impacted trust, collaboration, and empowerment. Membership in a social network enhances communication, influences trust in knowledge sources, and ultimately contributes to the empowerment of villagers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The failure and inefficiency of past water resources management policies have led to a movement to review, pathologize, and find ways to increase the efficiency of water resources management and subsequently increase water security. Since many factors affect water security, recognizing these factors can improve the performance of sustainable water resources management. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to determine the water security index (WSI) with the help of the watershed security assessment framework at the watershed scale to comprehensively analyze the water crisis and the consequences of this water shortage in the Neyshabour Plain. The statistical population of the study is 125 farmers in the area the sample size was determined using Cochran's formula and people were interviewed by random sampling method. Also, institutional factor questionnaires were completed by snowball sampling method from experts of water-related organizations. The results show that among the 5 main dimensions identified to assess water security, the water economy dimension has had an increasing trend during the 3 statistical periods studied (2012-2013, 2016-2017 and 2019-2020) and in 2019-2020, it has had the highest amount. But in general, the water security situation in the watershed of Neyshabour Plain has been decreasing over the past 10 years and is in a weak status. In this regard, if stakeholders in water resources management pay attention to the factors affecting the concept of water security, by using and implementing the framework presented in this study, it is possible to improve the compatibility capacity and develop effective operational plans with correct and timely pathology and achieve more stable and comprehensive management of water resources in the country's watersheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Migraine is one of the most common etiologies for headache. This very common neurological disorder has a significant impact on patients' quality of life. The aim of the current study is to evaluate the prevalence of migraine among medical students in the Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences (HUMS). Methods: A total of 350 medical students were enrolled in our descriptive study. Data were collected using the standard questionnaire of the International Headache Association. The data were analyzed by SPSS 20.0 software using descriptive statistics, Chi-Square, and Independent Samples T-Test. A P-value of ⩾0.05 was considered statistically significant, since most public health professionals use this value as a standard. Results: Among the medical students in our study, 24.6% had experienced frequent, severe headaches. The underlying causes of the headaches were diagnosed in 19.8% of the students. The prevalence of migraine in our study was 16.3% (mean age=21.28±2.71years). The prevalence varied by gender, and it was greater among male students. Conclusion: Our findings indicated that there was a high prevalence of migraine among the medical students in our study, and these findings were consistent with those of previous studies in Iran and other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cutis laxa is a connective tissue disorder caused by deficiency of fibro elastic plexus, which can involve multiple organs. It is inherited in autosomal dominant, autosomal recessive, and X-linked. Autosomal recessive cutis laxa type 2, which appears to compromise a spectrum of disorders, starts with severe wrinkly skin syndrome and leads to more severe diseases related to growth and developmental delays and skeletal anomalies. The clinical manifestations in some of cases of Cutis laxa consist of redundant loose skin, pre-and post-natal growth deficiency, mental retardation, large fontanels, and dislocation of the hips. The authors present the case of a female patient with involved internal organ disorder and delay in growth in addition to skin laxity in which gene sequence analysis of PYCR1 indicated C.797G>A mutation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]