Preana: Game Theory Based Prediction with Reinforcement Learning

In this article, we have developed a game theory based prediction tool, named Preana, based on a promising model developed by Professor Bruce Beuno de Mesquita. The first part of this work is dedicated to exploration of the specifics of Mesquita’s algorithm and reproduction of the factors and features that have not been revealed in literature. In addition, we have developed a learning mechanism to model the players’ reasoning ability when it comes to taking risks. Preana can predict the outcome of any issue with multiple steak-holders who have conflicting interests in economic, business, and political sciences. We have utilized game theory, expected utility theory, Median voter theory, probability distribution and reinforcement learning. We were able to reproduce Mesquita’s reported results and have included two case studies from his publications and compared his results to that of Preana. We have also applied Preana on Irans 2013 presidential election to verify the accuracy of the prediction made by Preana

Biodecolorization of azo dye Acid Blue 92 (AB92) by Ceratophyllum de-mersum L.: process optimization using Taguchi method and toxicity as-sessment

This study evaluated the ability of the submerged aquatic plant Ceratophyllum demersum to remove the Acid Blue 92 (AB92) dye. The effect of some operational parameters such as the reaction time, initial dye concentration, initial plant biomass, and pH, on dye removal efficiency was studied. Based on Taguchi’s results, the optimized conditions for dye removal were time 7 days, dye concentration 20 mg l-1, initial plant biomass 4 g, and initial pH 5. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) results confirmed the interaction between dye molecules and plants. Based on the results of this study, C. demersum had a reusability to remove the dye, this fact confirming the mechanism of biodegradation in the dye removal process. Also, the effect of AB92 on the physiological responses of C. demersum was investigated. Minimum relative growth rate, tolerance index, chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, and total carotenoids at a concentration of 20 mg l-1 of AB92 were observed. The concentration of cyanidin glycoside, lipid peroxidation, and antioxidant activity increased in both concentrations of 10 and 20 mg l-1. It can be concluded that both concentrations of AB92 induced antioxidant activity and the risk of oxidative stress for Ceratophyllum

The effect of descriptive evaluation of elementary school third grade subjects on academic achievement of students

The goal of this research was the effect of descriptive evaluation of elementary school third grade subjects on academic achievement of students and its comparison with traditional evaluation. The statistical population of the research included all female third grade students of elementary schools in ZarrinShahr in academic year of 2012-2013 who were a total number of 742 students as well as the elementary school third grade teachers who were a number of 34 teachers. Among them a number of 147 students and 28 teachers were selected via cluster sampling. Research methodology in this study was of survey-descriptive type. The research tools were checklists and a questionnaire of opinion toll, made by the researcher. To assess the validity of the tools used, the face validity and content validity were used and the validity of the questionnaire was estimated as a=0.93. Chi square test was used to analyze the research questions. The results of the research showed that using different methods of descriptive evaluation has been effective in improving the students’ performances in such subjects as the Holy Quran, social sciences, arts, science & Persian, while it has not been effective in improving their performances in such subjects as heavenly gifts (the Holy Quran for elementary students) and mathematics. Finally, the results of opinion toll showed that the teachers found descriptive evaluation more suitable than traditional evaluation in evaluating all the third grade subjects of elementary school. Keywords: Evaluation, Descriptive evaluation, Traditional evaluation, Students’ performances

Dictation errors among students of primary schools in Iranian populations

Introduction: Dictation as an important academic ability involves divers cortical processes so that any problem in one of them may lead to a dictation error. Identifying current dictation errors helps specialists to understand its causes more comprehensively and to use the most effective interventional approaches. The aim of this study was to compare the most common dictation errors between primary students of Semnan and Babol cities in Iran. Material and Methods: In this descriptive-analytical study, dictation samples of 2215 Semnan’s primary students and 1664 Babol’s primary students were collected. All of participants had normal I.Q, hearing skills and cranial nerves functions. Dictation materials were chosen from their books and dictated by their teachers. All of errors were categorized according to error kinds. Results: There were significant differences between Semnan’s and Babol’s primary students according to the frequency of dictation errors and their grades. Some of errors such as visual memory, educational and dysgraphia errors were significantly common between groups and all grades. Semnan’s primary students had more dictation errors in first and second grades than Babol’s primary students, although this condition reversed in other grades. Conclusion: Dialect may influence dictation and its errors so there should be various therapeutic and educational focuses for different dialects. The highest levels of visual memory, educational and accuracy errors mean that it is necessary to pay more attention on their prerequisites developmental skills to prevent and to treat them

Effect of Protein Supplementation on Serum Electrolytes in Hemodialysis Patients

Background: Controlling malnutrition in hemodialysis (HD) patients is of great concern. On the other hand, managing serum electrolytes including calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium at the same time is critical to improve patients’ survival. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of whey protein supplementation on serum electrolytes in HD patients. Methods: Ninety two 17 to 65 years old HD patients were randomly assigned to four groups of (i) receiving whey beverage fortified with vitamin E, (ii) receiving whey beverage, (iii) receiving vitamin E, and (iv) as the control group receiving no intervention (for 8 weeks). At the beginning and at the end of the study phase, serum electrolytes including serum calcium, phosphorus, potassium, and sodium were measured using the automated techniques. Results: After comparing all groups, it was demonstrated that there were significant decreases in serum phosphorus in group 1 and group 2, that both were significantly different from the control group. On the other hand, in group 3, serum potassium reduced after intervention, which was significantly different form the control group. Serum sodium significantly decreased in group 2 in comparison to control group. Conclusion: Whey beverage fortified with vitamin E did not disturb HD patients’ serum electrolytes and helped HD patients to improve and control serum electrolytes. This warrants more investigations to find the exact mechanisms of the effects of whey or vitamin E on serum electrolytes

HLA-B*1502 in Iranian Children with Anticonvulsant Drugs-Induced Skin Reactions

How to Cite This Article: Tonekaboni SH, Jafari N, Mansouri M, Jabbehdari S, Eftekhari R, Chavoshzadeh Z, Abdollah Gorji F, Mesdaghi M. HLA-B*1502 in Iranian Children with Anticonvulsant Drugs-Induced Skin Reactions. Iran J Child Neurol. Spring 2017; 11(2):26-30. AbstractObjectiveAnticonvulsant drugs can cause various forms of skin drug reactions, ranging from exanthema to severe blistering reactions. An association between HLA-B*1502 allele and severe skin reactions have been reported.Materials & Methods Fifteen patients with severe skin reactions following treatment with anticonvulsant drugs (Carbamazepine, lamotrigine, phenobarbital, primidone) and 15 controls (age-matched epileptic patients taking similar anticonvulsants without drug eruption) were included. They were referred to Mofid Children’s Hospital in Tehran, Iran, between Jan 2012 to Jan 2014. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood of all patients and HLA- B*1502 genotype was detected by real-time PCR.Results None of the patients was positive for HLA- B*1502, but two patients in control group had positive HLA- B*1502.Conclusion The HLA- B*1502 is not correlated with severe anticonvulsant drugs -induced skin reactions in Iranian children. References 1.Roujeau JC. Clinical heterogeneity of drug hypersensitivity. Toxicology 2005; 209: 123 –9.2.McCormack M, Alfirevic A, Bourgeois S, Farrell JJ, Kasperavičiūtė D, Carrington M, et al. HLA-A*3101 and carbamazepine-induced hypersensitivity reactions in Europeans. N Engl J Med 2011; 364(12):1134-43.3.Daly AK, Donaldson PT, Bhatnagar P, Shen Y, Pe’er I, Floratos A, et al. HLA-B*5701 genotype is a major determinant of drug-induced liver injury due to flucloxacillin. Nat Genetic 2009; 41:816–9.4.Amstutz U, Ross CJ, Castro-Pastrana LI, Rieder MJ, Shear NH, Hayden MR, Carleton BC. CPNDS Consortium; HLA-A 31:01 and HLA-B 15:02 as genetic markers for carbamazepine hypersensitivity in children. Clin Pharmacol Ther 2013; 94(1):142-9.5.Man CB, Kwan P, Baum L, Yu E, Lau KM, Cheng AS, Ng MH. Association between HLA-B*1502 allele and antiepileptic drug-induced cutaneous reactions in Han Chinese. Epilepsia 2007; 48(5):1015-8.6.Zeng T, Long YS, Min FL, Liao WP, Shi YW. Association of HLA-B*1502 allele with lamotrigine-induced Stevens– Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis in Han Chinese subjects: a meta-analysis. Int J Dermatol 2015; 54(4):488-93.7.Bastuji-Garin S, Rzany B, Stern RS, Shear NH, Naldi L, Roujeau JC. Clinical classification of cases of toxic epidermal necrolysis, Stevens-Johnson syndrome, and erythema multiforme. Arch Dermatol 1993; 129(1):92-6.8. Hung SI, Chung WH, Jee SH, Chen WC, Chang YT, Lee WR, et al. Genetic susceptibility to carbamazepine-induced cutaneous adverse drug reactions. Pharmacogenet Genomics 2006; 16(4):297-306.9. Wang Q, Zhou JQ, Zhou LM, Chen ZY, Fang ZY, Chen SD, et al. Association between HLA-B*1502 allele and carbamazepine-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions in Han people of southern China mainlan. Seizure 2011; 20 (6):446-8.10. Li LJ, Hu FY, Wu XT, An DM, Yan B, Zhou D. Predictive markers for carbamazepine and lamotrigine-induced maculopapular exanthema in Han Chinese. Epilepsy Res 2013; 106 (1-2):296-300.11. Kim SH, Lee KW, Song WJ, Kim SH, Jee YK, Lee SM, et al; Adverse Drug Reaction Research Group in Korea. Carbamazepine-induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions and HLA genotypes in Koreans. Epilepsy Res 2011; 97 (1-2):190-7.12. Criado PR, Criado RFJ, Avancini JM, Santi CG. Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS)/drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS): a review of current concepts. An Bras Dermatol 2012; 87(3):435–49.13. Chung WH, Hung SI, Hong HS, Hsih MS, Yang LC, Ho HC, et al. Medical genetics: a marker for Stevens– Johnson syndrome. Nature 2004; 428: 486.14. Man CB, Kwan P, Baum L, Yu E, Lau KM, Cheng AS, Ng MH. Association between HLA-B*1502 allele and antiepileptic drug induced cutaneous reactions in Han Chinese. Epilepsia 2007; 48: 1015–8.15. Locharernkul C, Loplumlert J, Limotai C, Korkij W, Desudchit T, Tongkobpetch S, et al. Carbamazepine and phenytoin induced Stevens–Johnson syndrome is associated with HLA-B*1502 allele in Thai population. Epilepsia 2008; 49:2087–91.16. Kaniwa N, Saito Y, Aihara M, Matsunaga K, Tohkin M, Kurose K, et al. HLA-B locus in Japanese patients with anti-epileptics and allopurinol-related Stevens– Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis. Pharmacogenomics 2008; 9: 1617–22.17. Alfirevic A, Jorgensen AL, Williamson PR, Chadwick DW, Park BK, Pirmohamed M. HLA-B locus in Caucasian patients with carbamazepine hypersensitivity. Pharmacogenomics 2006; 7: 813–8.18. Tangamornsuksan W, Chaiyakunapruk N, Somkrua R, Lohitnavy M, Tassaneeyakul W. Relationship between the HLA-B*1502 allele and carbamazepine-induced Stevens- Johnson syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis: a systematic review and meta-analysis. JAMA Dermatol 2013; 149(9):1025-32