Thermal comfort optimization is a fundamental phase of sustainable building design, which is mostly in high-rise residential buildings where environmental performance and occupant well-being are intently connect. Building orientation plays a critical role in controlling solar exposure and natural ventilation, which together outline the indoor thermal condition. Rapid urban expansion in Sulaymaniyah, combined with limited climate-responsive design practice, which led to thermally ineffective high-rise building. This study discovers how variations in building orientation affects thermal comfort level under the climatic conditions of Sulaymaniyah. A theoretical framework and simulation-based approach were employed to evaluate multiple building orientation scenarios under the climatic conditions of Sulaymaniyah and to assess the effects of solar radiation and prevailing wind direction on indoor thermal comfort. The research hypothesizes that optimized orientations will significantly reduce discomfort hours annually with improve thermal comfort level. The simulation results identified 75° as the optimum orientation, reducing annual discomfort hours by up to 1.16% at the building level compared with the existing orientation while achieving improved predicted mean vote (PMV) and predicted percentage of dissatisfied performance and a more balanced daylight distribution. At the apartment level, the selected 75° orientation reduced PMV variation among apartments by approximately 41%, indicating a substantially more balanced thermal comfort distribution throughout the building. These findings demonstrate that orientation optimization can improve both overall building performance and the uniformity of thermal comfort conditions across residential units rather than benefiting a single apartment.
Entamoeba spp. is the most important intestinal protozoan among human parasites due to their high global infection rate. This study is aimed to determine the prevalence of Entamoeba spp. in Zakho Pediatric Hospital and Hevi Pediatric Hospital in Duhok from October 2025 to February 2026 and to evaluate its risk factors that affecting infection rates. Atotal of 280 stool samples were collected from patients with diarrhea and other abdominal symptoms in these hospitals in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Samples were examined macroscopically and using the direct wet mount for microscopic technique. The results showed an overall infection rate of 15.71% (44/280). Females had a slightly higher infection rate (16.51%) than males (15.20%). The highest prevalence was observed in the 8–9-year age group, while the lowest rate (9.43%) was found in children aged 2–3 years. Seasonally, the highest infection rate occurred in November 2025 (23.50%),while the lowest was recorded in December 2025 (9.67%). According to the study’s findings, reducing the prevalence of Entamoeba spp. infection in the population requires health education, access to clean water, and improved living conditions.
Citation-based bibliometrics is one of the common methods of evaluating researcher productivity and scientific influence. However, there is not enough evidence available regarding the comparison of research performance among researchers working in the public and private universities, especially in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. This paper aimed at assessing differences in Google Scholar Citations (GSCs), h-index, and i10-index among researchers from public and private universities and investigate the effect of the type of university on these bibliometrics indicators. A cross-sectional bibliometric analysis was performed using data from 962 researchers, of whom 498 belonged to public universities, and 464 worked in private universities. Five different bibliometric indicators, including total GSC, GSC 2021, GSC 2022, h-index, and i10-index, were studied. Descriptive and statistical analyses using Poisson and Negative Binomial regressions were performed to assess the relationship between the type of university and research performance. Higher mean values were seen for all the bibliometric indicators among researchers working in the public universities. The negative binomial regression showed that researchers who are from public universities have 35.1% more expected h-index (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 1.351, P < 0.001) and 21.8% more expected i10-index (IRR = 1.218, P = 0.004) than researchers from private universities. However, there was no statistically significant difference for total GSC, GSC 2021, and GSC 2022. These results imply that the university sector has a significant relationship with researchers’ h-index and i10-index, but not with citation numbers. The results are very useful for researchers, university officials, and policymakers to understand institutional differences in research performance and improve their research output.
The need for contaminant-free water in agriculture, industry, and medicine makes the removal of heavy metals from water a priority because of their high potential for toxicity and bioaccumulation. This study aimed to examine the effect of readily available and inexpensive, yet promising, natural zeolite, clinoptilolite, on removing heavy metals, specifically nickel (Ni) and chromium (Cr), from prepared water samples. Zeolite was used as an adsorbent. A two-level full factorial design was used to determine the main and interaction effects of three factors (amount of zeolite, pH, and metal concentration) on the removal percentage of Cr and Ni ions from the prepared samples. Batch processes were conducted using aqueous solutions under specific laboratory conditions. The results showed that the clinoptilolite zeolite can remove heavy metals from water samples. Highest removal percentages were 43% and 41% for Cr and Ni ions, respectively. The results show an interaction effect between zeolite amount and pH for Cr ion removal, and between metal concentration and pH for Ni ion removal. There was no main effect of pH on Cr ion removal. However, there was no main effect of zeolite amount on Ni removal.
Helicobacter pylori is one of the most common pathogens in the world, and its presence has been linked to numerous diseases both within and outside the digestive system. The association of H. pylori with pregnancy-related complications has received much attention in recent years. This study aimed to investigate this association in the Erbil–Kurdistan region to take measures to reduce the burden of these complications. This cross-sectional study included 149 pregnant women who were examined by the fecal H. pylori antigen enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test for H. pylori infection. Data about the age, gestational age, gravidity, pruritus, hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), and blood pressure were recorded for each participant. Blood samples were collected for hemoglobin tests, fasting plasma glucose tests, and oral glucose tolerance tests. H. pylori infection, anemia, and HG were detected in 36.2%, 38.9%, and 8.7% of pregnant women, respectively. The finding showed H. pylori infection is an independent risk factor for anemia and HG (crude odds ratio [COR] = 2.4, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.9–6.3; adjusted odds ratios [AOR] = 2.6, 95% CI: 0.9–7.3; P < 0.05) and (COR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.5–3.2; AOR = 1.5, 95% CI: 0.4–3.5; P < 0.05), respectively. There was no statistically significant association between H. pylori infection and pruritus, pregnancy-induced hypertension, or gestational diabetes mellitus (P > 0.05). H. pylori infection has a role in anemia and HG among pregnant women. Therefore, screening for H. pylori infection and treating positive cases is recommended to reduce the consequences of these complications and improve maternal and fetal health.
With increasing coastal development, construction on weak and soft soils has become more prevalent. Stone columns are a common technique for improving ground; their effectiveness in very soft clay is often limited because of the insufficient lateral support. To overcome this limitation, geotextile reinforcement is frequently employed to enhance the strength and stability of stone columns. This study investigates the effects of various geotextile reinforcement layouts, including vertical encasement, horizontal layering, and a combination of both, on the stone columns’ effectiveness in soft soil beds. Small-scale laboratory experiments were conducted in a model tank, with all stone columns designed to maintain a ratio of 4 for length-to-diameter to prevent bulging failure. The results indicated that woven geotextile significantly increases load-bearing capacity and reduces settlement. Among the tested configurations, the combined vertical and horizontal reinforcement yielded the best performance, whereas partial vertical encasement combined with moderately spaced horizontal layers provided an effective balance between performance and material efficiency. These findings offer valuable guidance for the cost-effective design of ground improvement solutions in soft soils.
This paper suggests a novel method for robust estimation in linear regression models by fusing the Andrews weighted function with Symlet wavelet analysis. The result is a new weighted function that includes the Symlet Andrews Weighted Function. These functions try to reduce the effect of outliers in regression analysis by giving data points with high residuals lower weights. The effectiveness of these new weighted functions was evaluated using simulated experiments, using the root mean square error (RMSE) as the standard. The results show that, in terms of RMSE values, the recommended weighted function consistently performs better than the traditional weighted function. This improvement suggests that because the new function can handle outlier data, they are more reliable for linear regression analysis, including problematic data.
The objective of this study was to use the CIE L*a*b* color system and spectrophotometric analysis to assess the color stability of three light-polymerizing resin composites: Clearfil AP-X Esthetics (Kuraray), ELS Xetra (Saremco), and Neo Spectra™ ST (Dentsply Sirona) following exposure to common beverages (coffee, tea, and water). Ninety specimens (n = 30/composite) were prepared and cured according to the manufacturers’ instructions. Each composite group was divided into three subgroups (n = 10) and immersed in coffee, tea, or distilled water. Color measurements were taken at baseline, 10 days, and 20 days using the VITA Easyshade® spectrophotometer. The ΔE (color difference) values were calculated, and results were statistically analyzed using the Wilcoxon signed-rank test, one-way Analysis of Variance, and Tukey’s post hoc tests. ΔE values were converted to National Bureau of Standards (NBS) units to assess clinical perceptibility. The result shows that coffee was the most effective staining agent, with all composites showing substantial color change over time (P < 0.05). Clearfil had the highest ΔE values (5.70 during 20 days in coffee), followed by ELS Xetra (6.20), while Neo Spectra had the least discoloration (5.10). Tea generated substantial discoloration, whereas distilled water produced negligible changes. NBS conversion showed that coffee immersion caused “very much perceptible” alterations in all composites. The color stability of composite restorations is greatly impacted by the staining potential of liquids, especially coffee. Clearfil and ELS Xetra were more prone to discoloration, whilst Neo Spectra showed better resilience. These results highlight how crucial dietary advice and composite selection are to attaining long-term esthetic results.
Unreliable grid electricity in rapidly developing cities such as Erbil, Iraq, has led to heavy reliance on diesel power generators. However, the occupational health risks of chronic heavy metal exposure for workers at these facilities remain poorly quantified. This study, therefore, assessed contamination levels and human uptake of lead (Pb), mercury, arsenic, nickel, zinc, copper, and cobalt using an integrated environmental–biological monitoring approach. Dust, scalp hair, and blood samples were collected from 60 workers at 20 local power plants and from 15 rural residents (controls). Metal concentrations were measured by an X-ray fluorescence device, and pollution was evaluated using the Geo‑accumulation Index (Igeo) and Pollution Load Index (PLI). Power plant dust showed extreme Zn contamination (Igeo = 5.20) and heavy Cu contamination (Igeo = 3.70), with a PLI of 5.03 versus 0.65 in controls. Workers had significantly higher metal levels in hair and blood than controls (P ≤ 0.001). Strong positive correlations between dust and biological samples (e.g., Pb hair–dust: r = 0.878) confirmed that airborne dust is a major exposure pathway. Workers with >11 years of service accumulated substantially higher metal burdens than those with 1–5 years. These findings demonstrate that occupational exposure to power generators poses a serious, cumulative health risk. We recommend installing dust suppression and ventilation systems, providing personal protective equipment, and implementing routine biomonitoring of blood and hair to detect early bioaccumulation and prevent long‑term toxicity.
Caffeinated energy drinks are rich in sugar and caffeine, which can disrupt the normal glycemic metabolism, elevate insulin resistance, and increase the risk of diabetes and other metabolic disorders, among habitual consumers. The current case–control study examined the effect of long-term caffeinated energy drink consumption on glucose regulation and insulin sensitivity. It involved 110 participants (60 cases and 50 controls) recruited from young college students; chronic energy drink consumers were considered cases. After informed consent, whole blood and serum samples were analyzed for hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c), fasting glucose, insulin, and later homeostatic model assessment for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was calculated. There were no significant differences in sex, age, fasting blood sugar (FBS), or HbA1c between groups (P > 0.005). However, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR levels were significantly higher in cases, indicating greater insulin resistance (P < 0.001). There was a significant positive correlation between HOMA-IR and fasting insulin, FBS, and HbA1c. These associations show that insulin resistance is linked to elevated glucose parameters (P < 0.001). This study concludes that chronic energy drink consumption is associated with increased insulin resistance. Future studies should explore long-term effects on pancreatic function, glucose tolerance, and diabetic risk in larger, diverse populations, with particular emphasis on longitudinal assessments to delineate the trajectory from insulin resistance to beta-cell dysfunction and the potential for synergistic effects with other dietary and lifestyle factors.
Pesticide use is widespread in agricultural systems in Iraq, raising concerns about their potential impact on the gut mycobiome. This study investigated how residues of a fungicide containing metalaxyl-M and azoxystrobin affect the gut fungal microbiome using a mouse model. Thirty 12-week-old male Swiss albino mice (Mus musculus) weighing 30–40 g were divided into two groups: a control group (n=15) fed a regular diet and a treatment group (n=15) fed the same diet supplemented with 10 ppm of fungicide. Due to high inter-individual variation observed in preliminary analysis and cost constraints, fecal samples from mice within each group were pooled (5 pools per group, 3 mice per pool) prior to DNA extraction, effectively resulting in n=5 biological replicates per group for sequencing. Metagenetic libraries of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) gene were generated and analyzed using QIIME2, DESeq2, DECIPHER, and Phangorn. A total of 191 amplicon sequence variants of fungal taxa were identified across all samples. The bioinformatic analysis revealed that the gut fungal community was significantly altered by fungicide treatment. Some species were enriched, including uncultured Nakazawaea and Neosartorya hiratsukae, and others were reduced, including Trichomonascus ciferrii, Alternaria conjuncta, and Ophiostoma canum. This study reveals that fungicides used in Iraq have profound effects on gut microbiome communities in mice, and it is recommended to pursue these aspects towards the further development of a research agenda focused on the health implications of dietary fungicide exposure and also on the methods of minimization.
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a clinically significant pathogen due to the serious complications that infection with this virus can cause. The chronicity rate following initial infection ranges between 50% and 70%, potentially progressing to liver cirrhosis or hepatocellular carcinoma, both of which are fatal. As a blood-borne virus, there is a risk of transmission to medical students during clinical training or laboratory work. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the prevalence rate of anti-HCV among medical department undergraduate students at Cihan University in Erbil, Iraq’s Kurdistan region. Out of the 700 tested students, 2 showed positive results for HCV antibodies, indicating a total prevalence of 0.28%. Positive tested students for HCV antibodies were male, which indicates 0.55% (2/361), while 0 (0.00%) of the 339 female students tested positive. This study showed a relatively low prevalence of HCV antibodies among students at Cihan University-Erbil. However, even this low prevalence indicates the incidence of HCV infection among university students, who represent a broad part of society. The presence of HCV-antibodies in students of medical colleges and departments may indicate that these students acquired hepatitis C infection during practical training in hospitals or medical laboratories.
Effective isolation and accurate identification are two critical steps in diagnosing the causes of microbial infections. The ability to effectively analyze and identify isolates using manual isolation and automated instruments in identification is vital to the process. This study investigated the prevalence and distribution of bacterial and fungal isolates from various clinical samples. Laboratory experiments and surveys were conducted among patients who attended Zanko Medical Lab in Kalar City from August 2022 to March 2024. A total of 691 bacterial strains were isolated, with a high identification rate of 94.9%, using the automated VITEK 2 Compact system for microbial identification. Gram-negative bacteria constituted the majority (59.04%), followed by Gram-positive bacteria (34.15%) and yeasts (1.75%). Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were the most common gram-negative isolates from urine, with Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae being more frequent in females and Pseudomonas aeruginosa more frequent in males, particularly those undergoing endoscopic surgery. Among gram-positive isolates, Staphylococcus hemolyticus, Enterococcus faecalis, Streptococcus agalactiae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Staphylococcus saprophyticus were commonly identified, primarily from urine specimens. Urine samples constitute (84.2 %) of the isolates, high vaginal swabs (7.9 %), sputum samples (2.9 %) and other samples. The VITEK 2 Compact system is crucial for accurately identifying most isolates of gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. Some are too difficult to identify using other methods, such as semi-automated approaches.
This study aims to estimate insulin resistance (IR) in single females with polycystic ovarian syndrome. A cross-sectional study was designed to assess the insulin hormone, blood glucose level, IR biomarker, triglyceride-glucose index, serum high-density lipoprotein, and triglyceride. The present included 45 single female participants whom a specialist gynecologist had previously diagnosed. Statistically, Females following a healthy diet showed a non-significant decrease in homeostatic model assessment for IR (HOMA-IR) and a fasting glucose-to-insulin ratio when compared with non-dieters. Regarding the menstrual cycle, the triglyceride-glucose index (a measure of IR) was considerably higher in females with irregular menstrual cycles (P ≤ 0.05) than in those with regular cycles. A significant positive (direct) correlation was observed between HOMA-IR and the triglyceride-Glucose (TyG) index among single females. This study indicated a strong positive correlation between HOMA-IR and the Triglyceride-Glucose Index among single female patients. In conclusion, a balanced diet is crucial for mitigating IR in this condition. Unusual menstruation was closely linked to poor metabolic profiles, such as increased IR and dyslipidemia.
Research gaps exist in the area of forecasting since there has been no comparison between different algorithms for training the Feed Forward Neural Network (FFNN) model. One of the main reasons for this existing gap is that it’s hard to decide which training algorithm to choose. This study proposes to fill that gap by identifying the best method to train the FFNN (both shallow and deep learning), a technique for a univariate monthly time series forecast. A total of seven widely known techniques have been studied to compare their efficiency: Quick Propagation Algorithm, Conjugate Gradient Descent Algorithm, Quasi-Newton Algorithm, Limited Memory Quasi-Newton Algorithm, Levenberg Marquardt Algorithm, Online Back Propagation Algorithm (Stochastic Gradient Descent), and lastly the Batch Back Propagation Algorithm. The study was carried out using Alyuda NeuroIntelligence 2.2. Additionally, four statistical measurements (MAPE, RMSE, MAE, and R²) were used for comparison. The results indicate that Conjugate Gradient Descent outperforms the other algorithms, yielding the highest R² and the lowest values for RMSE, MAPE, and MAE, proving its superior effectiveness in training the FFNN for forecasting monthly time series. Whereas, Batch Back-propagation was shown to be the least effective algorithm, with the lowest R² value and highest values for RMSE, MAPE, and MAE.
Platelet-rich plasma (PRP), an autologous blood concentrate rich in platelets and growth factors, has gained popularity in oral surgery due to its potential to enhance healing and reduce post-operative complications. However, its efficacy remains debated due to variations in preparation and application protocols. This retrospective comparative clinical study aimed to evaluate the healing enhancement and safety of PRP in various oral surgical procedures, such as tooth extractions, sinus lifts, periapical surgeries, and cyst enucleations, compared to a control group treated without PRP. A total of 84 adult patients (mean age 42.9 years) were included: 42 received PRP (study group) and 42 underwent standard surgery without PRP (control group). Healing was evaluated clinically and radiographically based on soft tissue closure, post-operative pain (Visual Analog Scale), infection, and bone regeneration. By day 30, complete soft tissue healing was achieved in 94.1% of PRP-treated cases versus 76.4% in controls (P < 0.05). Mean pain score on day 10 was 2.1 in PRP versus 3.8 in control (P < 0.01). Radiographic bone density increased in 6 months by 28.5% in PRP-treated sites and 14.2% in controls (P < 0.01). Patient satisfaction was higher in the PRP group (8.4 vs. 7.1). PRP appears to significantly improve both soft tissue and bone healing in oral surgical procedures compared with standard care, with high patient satisfaction and a favorable safety profile. Further prospective controlled trials are recommended for standardized protocol validation.
Iron deficiency (ID) and thalassemia are the main causes of hypochromic microcytic anemia (HMA), a common nutritional disorder affecting school-age children. This study compared Group A, hypochromic microcytic children with ID, Group B, hypochromic microcytic children with normal ferritin levels, and control groups to investigate the additional effect of lead exposure on the severity of HMA in children aged 9–12 years. Blood analyses showed that Group A had higher blood lead levels (BLLs) (7.764 μg/dL) and significantly lower iron parameters (serum iron 47.82 ± 3.15 μg/dL and ferritin 14.41 ± 1.329 ng/mL) than controls (86.86 ± 3.003 μg/dL iron, 72.9 ± 5.847 ng/mL ferritin, and 3.175 ± 0.5347 μg/dL BLL; all P < 0.0001). Group B exhibited moderate in comparison to Group A lead exposure (7.54 ± 1.15 μg/dL) and iron-replete but elevated ferritin (118.6 ± 60.75 ng/mL). Lead interferes with iron metabolism, as evidenced by the negative correlation between lead levels and iron status (serum iron r = −0.2281, transferrin saturation r = −0.3141) and the positive correlation with total iron binding capacity (r = 0.32). While Group B children maintain different iron profiles despite similar lead exposure, the results show that environmental lead exposure exacerbates ID in Group A through disrupted absorption and utilization. These findings highlight the importance of concurrent lead screening and iron status evaluation in pediatric HMA management, especially in areas with environmental lead contamination.
The main issue discussed in this review is the following: Although the number of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven design systems is growing exponentially, there is no single conceptual framework that could explain how these systems correspond and/or do not correspond to the principles of creative, communicative, and contextual nature that mark the practice of a professional graphic designer. To fill this void, the article conducts a systematic review of AI use in three areas, including automation in professional design software, non-expert template systems, and experimental AI systems created by science. The review is conducted with the help of a systematic approach that includes database searches (2019–2024), specific search inclusion and exclusion factors, and thematic synthesis of the studies devoted to layout generation, visual analysis, sentiment model, and generative image systems. The results demonstrate that AI can achieve success in automated processes, e.g., segmentation, layout refinement, typographic correction, and quick generation of stylistic variations, but technical systems often turn design into an operational process, and template-driven tools may tend to standardize the visual result and de-professionalize authorship. A synthesis of these three fields of knowledge makes the paper add a single conceptual framework, which explains in what circumstances AI can aid the hybrid intelligence of humans and AI and in what circumstances the existing models do not address the creative nature of the graphic design. This model offers a backbone to the future study of co-creative systems which maintain agency by designers and increase the computational opportunities of visual communication.
Benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) is a non-cancerous proliferation of the prostate tissue, predominantly impacting the transitional zone and periurethral area, resulting in lower urinary tract symptoms in elderly males. Chronic inflammation plays a widely acknowledged significant role in the etiology of BPH. Current pharmacological interventions comprise 5-alpha-reductase inhibitors and alphaadrenergic antagonists, both of which are linked to considerable adverse effects. Thus, there is an increasing demand for alternate therapy modalities with reduced adverse effects. Sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitors were initially developed for glycemic regulation in type 2 diabetes mellitus while also providing benefits in diminishing significant cardiovascular incidents, enhancing heart failure results, and decelerating the advancement of chronic renal disease. Recent research indicates that SGLT2 inhibitors have antiinflammatory and antiproliferative properties. This study examines the impact of ertugliflozin and empagliflozin on testosterone-induced BPH in rats. BPH was induced in rats with the administration of testosterone enanthate. The treatment groups were administered ertugliflozin, empagliflozin, and finasteride. Prostate mass, prostate index, serum testosterone concentrations, and histological alterations were assessed. Ertugliflozin, empagliflozin, and finasteride significantly (P < 0.05) decreased mean prostate weight, prostate index, and blood testosterone levels. Histological investigation revealed a reduction of testosterone-induced BPH to mild prostatic hyperplasia in the ertugliflozin and finasteride groups. However, mild-to-moderate prostatic hyperplasia was observed in the empagliflozin group. Both SGLT2 inhibitors, ertugliflozin and empagliflozin, exhibited efficacy in alleviating BPH development, indicating a possible role in BPH therapy. Additional research is necessary to clarify their specific processes in BPH and clinical relevance.
This paper presents a novel project that aims to transform pharmacy operations by creating a unified advanced information system that is specifically customized to meet the demands of pharmacies in the northern region of Iraq. The suggested system offers a wide range of comprehensive features. Enabling smooth information exchange between various parts of the healthcare system is its main objective. We achieve this seamless exchange. The main aim of this paper is effectively integrated pharmaceutical management platform. The system is precisely engineered and consists of 28 classes, each carefully designed to meet particular operational needs, with intuitive relationships and clearly defined responsibilities distributed among them as illustrated in our comprehensive UML diagrams. By utilizing a SQL XAMPP database and the Java programming language, it combines a strong architecture with an easy-to-use interface that was developed through multiple rounds of user testing with actual pharmacists and staff members from various pharmacy settings across Northern Iraq. Its diverse range of functions includes but is not limited to, managing medicine sales, optimizing obtaining, monitoring expiration dates, managing personnel data, and supervising financial transactions. With built role-based access controls, and full compliance with relevant data protection regulations to safeguard sensitive patient and prescription information. To ensure the system truly meets the needs of pharmacy operations clearly defined success metrics that measure tangible improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and patient care.
