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THE EFFECT OF THE NOISE STRESS AND MUSIC ON THE BEHAVIOUR OF FEMALE ALBINO RATS
Noise is considered an important environmental factor that can affect animal behaviour and productivity. Its impact varies depending on the noise intensity, pattern, duration, and frequency. This research was undertaken to determine the effect of noise stress and playing music on improving the behaviour of female rats. Seventy-five female albino rats were divided into 3 groups, with 25 rats per group. The research groups were Control (no sound exposure), classical music, and noise stress. The sound level for the classic was 80 dB with a frequency of 1 kHz using an MP3 player. The sound level of stress exceeded 150 dB. The results revealed that using classical music led to a significant reduction in the frequency of aggressive behaviours (P<0.01) and an increase in vocalisations (P<0.01). In addition, music and noise stress significantly increased grooming (P<0.05) and climbing behaviour (P<0.05). Furthermore, exposure to the use of music caused increased drinking and feeding behaviours significantly (P<0.01), whereas lying and standing behaviours were decreased (P<0.01). In conclusion, playing music, especially classical music, benefits rats’ welfare by improving their behaviour, as evidenced of decreased vocalization and increased feeding and drinking.
Copyright (c) 2026 Nizar J. Hussein, Ronak A. Meshabaz, Aqsa Sarwar, Rukayat A. Oyegoke, Fatah M. Khalaf, Rekesh S. Habib, Nawroz A. Kakarash, Samara Saad Faraj, and Samia Mohsen El-Mahdy https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
Growth, Antioxidant Defense, and Immune Response in Labeo rohita Fingerlings with the Dietary Vitamin C Supplementation
The study was designed to investigate the vitamin C supplementation effect on growth, oxidative stress, and immune response of Labeo rohita. Four diets 0, 200, 400, and 800 mg/kg was designed, 480 fingerlings with the initial weight 6.11 ± 0.08 g in triplicate groups were randomly distributed into 12 fiberglass tanks for 60 days. Growth results showed that final weight (13.87 ± 0.23–19.83 ± 0.34 g), weight gain (152.6 ± 2.7–251.1 ± 3.5%), and specific growth rate (1.91 ± 0.06–2.52 ± 0.03%/day) increased significantly (p < 0.05) with increasing dietary vitamin C levels, while feed conversion ratio (1.81 ± 0.04–1.29 ± 0.04) decreased (p = 0.006), indicating improved feed utilization. Survival rates were 91.1 ± 2.4% in the control, whereas they reached 98.4 ± 1.4% in the 800 mg/kg group. Antioxidant enzyme showed a significant (p < 0.01) enhancement. Superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities increased from 25.6 ± 1.3 to 36.1 ± 1.3 U/mg protein and 12.4 ± 0.7 to 20.1 ± 0.5 U/mg protein. The malondialdehyde (MDA) levels reduced significantly (p = 0.005), while glutathione (GSH) concentration increased significantly (p = 0.007) from 3.10 ± 0.13 to 4.41 ± 0.13 µmol/g tissue. Immune response parameters were also positively affected by dietary vitamin C. Lysozyme activity increased significantly (p = 0.008) from 15.4 ± 0.3 to 23.4 ± 0.6 U/mL, respiratory burst activity improved from 0.178 ± 0.006 to 0.261 ± 0.006 OD₆₃₀ nm, and phagocytic activity rose from 28.3 ± 1.4 to 41.4 ± 1.4%. Similarly, nitric oxide production increased from 4.13 ± 0.28 to 6.86 ± 0.26 µmol/L. Total protein, albumin, and globulin were also significantly raised (p < 0.05). The study concluded that dietary vitamin C can be used to increase growth, support antioxidant defense, and improve immune responses in L. rohita
Copyright (c) 2026 Zainab Asghar, Nuha Hameed Albasssam, Milat Hussain Mustafa, Hifza Afzaal, Zeliha Selamoglu, Arooj Fatima, Danish kamal, Rashid Hussain. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
EFFECTS OF DIETARY PHYTASE AND ORGANIC ACIDS ON NUTRIENT UTILIZATION AND ANTIOXIDANT STATUS IN Clarias gariepinus
The present study was conducted to examine the effect of phytase and organic acids (OA) on growth parameters such as final body weight(g), weight gain (%) Specific growth rate (%/day), FCR, Survival (%), nutrient digestibility, body composition, and oxidative stress biomarkers in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). The six dietary treatments for 60 days were designed: control (0% OA, 0 phytase), 2% OA, 4% OA, 0% OA + phytase, 2% OA + phytase, and 4% OA + phytase, each with three replicates. The significant (p < 0.05) results were found on the inclusion of phytase and OA on growth and nutrient utilization. The highest final body weight (7.4 ± 0.3 g), weight gain (460.6 ± 31%), specific growth rate (3.3 ± 0.3%/day), and the lowest feed conversion ratio (1.5 ± 0.2) were found in the 2% OA + phytase group. Apparent digestibility coefficients for dry matter, protein, and phosphorus were maximized at 46.7 ± 1.3%, 77.2 ± 1.4%, and 48.0 ± 1.4%, respectively (p = 0.007), while fecal phosphorus significantly decreased (0.8 ± 0.04 g/kg). Vertebral phosphorus and calcium contents were enhanced significantly (p < 0.05) in the combined supplement group. Oxidative stress markers revealed lower ROS (66.5 ± 1.8), SOD (144 ± 2.6 U/mL), and MDA (5.25 ± 0.14 nmol/mg) levels in the 2% OA + phytase group, indicating enhanced antioxidant defense (p = 0.005). These outcomes indicate that 2 OA inclusion with phytase improves growth, nutrient digestibility, mineral retention, and antioxidant balance in C. gariepinus
Copyright (c) 2026 Asma Batool; Neelam Arshad; Ayesha Shahid, Ali Hassan, Bisma Younas, Kainat Shabbir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FATE OF SILVER NANOPARTICLES IN SOIL AND IN THE WATER ECOSYSTEM: A REVIEW
Silver nanoparticles, which are appreciated due to their increased antibacterial, catalytic and conductive functions, are commonly employed in medical kits, cloths, cosmetics, and water filters, but their release through wastewater, biosolids, and runoff is highly dangerous as there is no regulation of their emission and transformation, such as sulfidation, aggregation, and dissolution. In soil ecosystems, AgNPs react with pH, redox conditions, organic matter, and clay, and sulfidation to Ag2S causes short-term bioavailability to decrease but increases persistence; they disrupt microbial communities, inhibit nitrogen-fixing bacteria (e.g., Rhizobium), mycorrhizal fungi, and enzyme activities, decrease soil fertility, nutrient cycling, and plant-microbe symbiosis and cause oxidative stress in earthworms. Aquatic systems facilitate AgNP disaggregation, sedimentation, and ion release driven by organic matter and ions and cause toxicity at all trophic levels: algae experience the inhibition of photosynthesis and ROS damage, zooplankton feeding problems, and fish experience bioaccumulation, neurotoxicity and reproductive problems. Ag+ ion release leading to protein/DNA damage, Oxidative stress due to ROS, membrane peroxidation, quorum sensing disruption and systemic changes in stress, detoxification and metabolism pathways confirmed by omics is a subset of the toxicity mechanisms. Though the water body information is plentiful, soil research is still very limited; gaps still exist in long-term low dose field effects and co-contamination. The research in the future recommends mesocosm/field testing, model dynamic transformation, and the safer design of nanoparticles to guide the risk analysis and sustainable management
Copyright (c) 2026 Asma Umer, Basim. S. A. Al Sulivany, Riffat Yasin, Muhammad Jamshed, Maqbool Ahmad, Inayat Ullah Malik, Muhammad Tauqeer Riaz, Muhammad Shoaib Akhtar, Muhammad Luqman Tauhid, Muhammad Owais, Khizar Samiullah, Rana Mehroz Fazal https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
OPTIMIZATION OF WATER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM USING SIMPLEX ALGORITHM ON MICROSOFT EXCEL
This study applies the Simplex linear programming (LP) algorithm—implemented using Microsoft Excel Solver to optimize a simulated water distribution system (WDS) through an accessible and fully reproducible spreadsheet workflow. The model represents a hypothetical urban network of 3,650 buildings arranged in a 10 × 10 grid (100 junctions, 180 pipes), and seeks to minimize installation and operational costs while satisfying hydraulic and design constraints. Hydraulic behavior was computed using the Hazen–Williams equation (C = 150), with optimization performed in Excel Solver’s Simplex LP engine and independently cross-validated using the HiGHS optimizer in Python. The optimized configuration, consisting of a 15 m reservoir elevation and 150 mm pipe diameter, reduced the total system cost from USD 375,000 in the baseline design to USD 195,000, achieving a 48% improvement while maintaining acceptable head-loss (5.59 m ≤ 20 m) and velocity (0.85 m/s within the 0.3–2.5 m/s recommended range). Although the model is limited to steady-state hydraulics, uniform pipe diameters, and simplified friction assumptions, its transparency, low computational requirements, and ease of implementation make it well suited for academic instruction, rapid preliminary design, and resource-constrained municipal environments. Sensitivity analysis (±10–15% demand; ±10% Hazen–Williams roughness coefficient C) indicates that the optimal design is robust under moderate parameter uncertainty. Future research will integrate EPANET for nonlinear hydraulic verification and extend the approach to larger networks and multi-objective optimization.
Linear Programming in Hydraulic Modeling
Copyright (c) 2026 Stephen E. Iheagwara, Ndubisi D. Ayebamieprete, Eniola P. Apalowo https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
APPLICATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE FOR MONITORING DARK WEB ACTIVITIES
The Dark Web is a hidden part of the internet that attracts perpetrators due to its anonymity. It is used for cybercrime, illegal trading, and by terrorist groups to exchange stolen data and personal information. Current techniques for combating and identifying these concerns are weak. The primary focus of this study is on the application of artificial intelligence to monitor the Dark Web. The solution mitigates monitoring deficiencies to facilitate the timely identification of prospective threats, including data breaches and cybercrimes. The six forms of activities prioritised include cyberterrorism, terrorist activities, weapons trading, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and regular activities. The tasks carried out in this study include crawling relevant data, training machine learning models using an ensemble voting approach, and implementing a JavaScript-powered crawling engine. The AI model is tested and evaluated using data collected from various Onion sites that include both legal and illegal content. The approach used in this study gives 97% accuracy and a macro average precision of 98%. The macro average for recall and f1-score is 97%. The precision, recall and F1-Score all have the same weighted average of 97%.
Computer Science Data Science Artificial Intelligence Information Science Statistics Social Sciences
Copyright (c) 2026 Abimbola G. Akintola1 , Yusuf O. Olatunde2, ∗ , Kolawole Y. Obiwusi3 , Ganiyat K. Afolabi-Yusuf3 , Muhammed A. Adebisi3 , Ayobami A. Tewogbade2 , Lawrence O. Omotosho4 , Olajide Y. Adebayo4 and Aminat A. Oladipo-Tanimowo4 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0
SOLVOTHERMAL SYNTHESIS OF HIGHLY LUMINESCENT GRAPHENE QUANTUM DOTS FROM GRAPHENE OXIDE FOR DUAL APPLICATIONS IN COPPER ION SENSING AND NANOTHERMOMETRY
This research effectively produced graphene quantum dots (GQDs) utilizing a solvothermal method from graphene oxide (GO) with N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) as the solvent. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) analyses revealed that the produced GQDs primarily exhibited a spherical morphology, with uniformly distributed nanoparticles and a mean diameter of 4.12 nm. Photoluminescence (PL) studies show excitation-dependent green emission characteristics, with an emission wavelength of 551 nm under 500 nm excitation. This is associated with a high PL intensity and a quantum yield (QY) of 51.56%. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed that the GQDs have a graphitic structure. Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) confirmed the presence of oxygen functional groups, with carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen as the primary elemental components, verifying the nitrogen doping of the GQDs. The absence of other metals shows that the synthesized GQDs have a high level of purity. The synthesized GQDs were successfully utilized as an ion sensor for detecting Cu2+ ions, highlighting their exceptional sensitivity and selectivity with a limit of detection of 0.55 µm. The GQDs also exhibit potential nanothermometric behavior, as they display a photoluminescence response that depends on temperature with a sensitivity of 1.81% °C-1 between 20 °C and 70 °C. By combining nitrogen doping with a simple solvothermal synthesis, this research produces dual-function GQDs that enable both highly sensitive detection of Cu2+ ions and reliable temperature sensing.
Copyright (c) 2026 Sitya Hishyar Ali and Diyar Sadiq https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
COAGULATION-FLOCCULATION POTENTIAL OF Achatina achatina SHELL IN THE REMOVAL OF SUSPENDED SOLIDS FROM PAINT EFFLUENT
The sewage from paint is quite turbid and contains a lot of suspended and scattered particles. Achatina achatina (AA) shell’s ability to coagulate and flocculate and remove suspended particles from paint effluent was considered. The analyses included Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) and X-ray Diffraction (XRD). Surface area 64.6 m2/g; ash content 8.2 %; moisture content 11.964 %; bulk density 0.962 g/cm-3; tapped density 1.389 gcm-3; true density 1.667 gcm-3; porosity 42.29 %; pH 7.9; and pHzpc 6.9 are the results of the samples’ delineation. Optimum values obtained from varying the operating parameters are: 500mg/L AA, settling time 30 minutes and pH 8. FTIR result indicates that AA has some functional groups. XRD result indicates that AA consists of aragonite, and SEM shows different surface morphologies before and after coag-flocculation, suggesting effective coagulation. Suspended fragments in the paint effluent sample consistently declined with time, pursuant to time evolution of cluster size allotment. Coagulation period (τ1/2) lowest values of 0.05565 seconds and 0.01209 seconds were recorded at 500 mg/L and pH of 8 respectively. This study provided information on animal based coag-flocculation potential which is beneficial for environmental quality management and environmental disputation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Edith C. Unoka , Peter M. Eguvbe, Augustine C. Ogonegbu, Jude O. Otedo, Joel Okpoghono , Uduenevwo F. Evuen, Ochuko J. Abeokut, Augustine Uwague, and Anthony A. Ogbuta https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
A MORPHOLOGICAL STUDY OF SOME SPECIES OF THE GENUS Medicago L. (Fabaceae) IN KURDISTAN /IRAQ
This study provides a thorough morphological analysis of Medicago L. species in Iraq's Kurdistan Region, with the aim of discriminating taxa using a range of vegetative and reproductive traits. Variations in petiole size, leaflet morphology, floral attributes, and pod characteristics were highlighted in morphological examinations of the collected specimens. All the characteristics that were looked at showed distinct interspecific differences. Medicago polymorpha's petiole length ranged from 3.8–5.3 mm, while M. rigidula's ranged from 19–39 mm. with length-to-width ratios of 1.22 for M. radiata and 1.80 for M. noeana, there were notable variation in leaflet proportions, indicating significant shape variation. Peduncle length, in example, differed significantly between M. radiata and M. noeana, measuring 3–8 mm and 10–30 mm, respectively. As pod sizes ranged from 2.5–5.5 mm in M. minima to 13–18 mm in M. radiata, pod shape proved highly diagnostic. Additionally, species identification was made easier by variations in coil number (5–7 coils in M. minima). The identification of M. rigidula subsp. sinskiae as a new distributional record for the Kurdistan Region of Iraq is a significant result of our research. Note that the taxon formerly known as M. sinskiae now has a recognized scientific designation, M. rigidula subsp. sinskiae. All things considered, the observed morphological variety highlights the genus Medicago's ecological difference and offers crucial baseline information for further taxonomic, ecological, and conservation research.
Copyright (c) 2026 Kazheen Jomaa Abdulrazaq, Shamiran Salih Abdulrahman and Jotyar Jassim Muhammed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
ASSOCIATION OF EDN1 rs10478694 POLYMORPHISM AND SERUM LEVELS OF ET-1 WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IN THE DUHOK POPULATION
This study investigated the association of the Endothelin-1 (EDN1) rs10478694 polymorphism and serum ET-1 levels with coronary artery disease (CAD) and hypertension in the Duhok Province population. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) represent a significant global health burden, and understanding their genetic predispositions is critical for targeted interventions. The endothelin system, particularly ET-1, is integral in vascular tone regulation and frequently implicated in various cardiovascular conditions. We conducted a case-control study involving 202 individuals, categorized into control, CAD, hypertension, and combined CAD/hypertension groups. Genotyping for EDN1 rs10478694 was performed via PCR-RFLP, and serum ET-1 levels were quantified by ELISA. Our findings revealed statistically significant associations: the 'rr' genotype and 'r' allele exhibited higher prevalence in all patient groups compared to controls (CAD: genotype p=0.021, allele p=0.022; Hypertension: genotype p=0.022, allele p=0.015; CAD with Hypertension: genotype p=0.021, allele p=0.012). This outcome suggests an elevated genetic susceptibility associated with the 'r' allele. Furthermore, a weak positive correlation between the 'r' allele/rr genotype and serum ET-1 levels substantiated a plausible biological mechanism affecting ET-1 expression and subsequent CVD risk. These results significantly enhance our understanding of CVD genetic architecture in this distinct population, thereby facilitating improved risk stratification and personalized prevention strategies.
Copyright (c) 2026 Omer A Mohammed Ameen and Awat Mustafa Abbas https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
CHROMIUM AND WHEAT STRAW EFFECTS ON GROWTH AND PHYSIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SWISS CHARD (Beta vulgaris L.)
Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L.) is a widely spread promising leafy crop in Iraq, where majority of farmers utilized sewage water for irrigating chard, resulting in health hazards, particularly from heavy metal contaminants including chromium (Cr). This study employed a factorial experimental design to examine the effects of Cr concentrations (0, 5, 10, or 15mg.kg-1 soil) using potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) as a source of the Cr, combined with different concentrations of wheat straw (WS) (0, 1, and 2% w/w) on the growth and certain physiological and biochemical traits of the plant. The results showed that the administration of Cr at 10mg.kg-1 concentration significantly increased the percent of seed germination (83.33%), while the use of WS reduced the germination rate. Most vegetative growth characteristics responded inversely to increasing wheat straw percentage, but root performance was enhanced with Cr application of Cr. A high straw percent of 2% diminishes the performance of both roots and shoots in comparison to plants without additional WS, with the exception of leaf thickness. Shoot and root dry matter was higher in Cr15mg.kg-1. Photosynthetic pigments non-significantly affected by application of Cr and significantly decreased by added straw. Applications of Cr and WS reduced the activity of peroxidase enzyme, ascorbic acid, and the percent of total carbohydrate significantly relative to no Cr and WS-treated plants, with the exception of proline levels. This study has indicated that Cr and the phytotoxic effects of wheat straw on chard can be further utilized for sustainable chard cultivation.
Copyright (c) 2026 Bekhal E. Azeez and lkbal M. Albarzinji https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
EFFECT OF REDUCED FOLATE CARRIER GENE POLYMORPHISM (G80A) ON THE METHOTREXATE LEVEL IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS AND ITS RELATION TO THE DISEASE ACTIVITY
Methotrexate (MTX) is the primary conventional synthetic disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drug (csDMARD) used to treat rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Interindividual variability in its efficacy and toxicity has been partially attributed to genetic polymorphisms affecting folate metabolism and transport. The reduced folate carrier-1 (RFC1), encoded by the SLC19A1 gene, is a key transporter responsible for MTX cellular uptake. The RFC1 G80A (rs1051266) polymorphism may alter transporter function, influencing MTX plasma levels and therapeutic outcomes. This study attempted to evaluate the impact of RFC1 G80A polymorphism on MTX plasma concentration and its association with the activity of RA disease. This cross-sectional study was carried out at the Rheumatology Center in Duhok, Iraq, from September 2024 to June 2025. Ninety RA patients receiving oral MTX therapy were recruited. MTX levels were quantified by ELISA, and genotyping of the RFC1 G80A polymorphism was performed by PCR-RFLP. Statistical analyses were conducted to evaluate genotype associations with MTX levels, DAS-28 activity score, and laboratory parameters. The study cohort (mean age: 50.1 ± 11.9 years) was predominantly female (91.1%). Genotype frequencies were GG (53.3%), GA (35.6%), and AA (11.1%). Although MTX levels were numerically highest in AA individuals (330.1 ± 70.5 ng/mL), the difference was not significant in statistical terms (p=0.82). However, AA carriers had significantly higher DAS-28 scores (4.3 ± 1.5) than GG carriers (3.8 ± 1.2; p=0.009), suggesting poorer disease control. No substantial variation has been noticed in inflammatory or hematological parameters between genotype groups. The RFC1 G80A polymorphism may influence MTX pharmacokinetics and RA disease activity. The AA genotype appears to be associated with non-significantly higher MTX levels and worse disease control. Pharmacogenetic profiling could help optimize MTX therapy in RA.
Copyright (c) 2026 Rozheen Ghiath Jaafar and Adil Abozaid Eissa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
EFFECT OF DIFFERENT LIGHT TYPES AND EXPOSURE DURATIONS ON STOMATAL CHARACTERISTICS IN TWO CULTIVARS OF CARNATION (Dianthus caryophyllus L.)
A study was conducted to examine the effects of different light types, colors, and exposure durations on the morphological and stomatal characteristics of two carnation (Dianthus caryophyllus) cultivars, Ormea and Moonlight, cultivated under controlled greenhouse conditions, during the period of (2024 - 2025) at the College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences, University of Duhok, to understanding how Light quality and photoperiod play a crucial role in regulating stomatal density, size, and function, which are vital for key physiological processes such as transpiration and photosynthesis. The results indicate that specific light treatments significantly influence both morphological traits and stomatal parameters. The highest leaf number, leaf length, and leaf area per plant, were measured under 14-hour incandescent lighting (42.872 leaves/plant, 13.050 cm, and 25.801 cm2), respectively, followed by 14h LED-mix (39.37leaves/plant, 12.020 cm and 24.218cm2), respectively. Similarly, the longest leaf observed on the Ormea cultivar (12.336 cm) when exposed to 14 hours of incandescent light significantly outperformed other treatments. While the results of the interaction between cultivar and light on stomatal density and number showed that the Moonlight cultivar could achieve higher stomatal densities and stomatal numbers when exposed to 14 hours of incandescent. On the other hand, the Ormea and Moonlight cultivars showed the highest significant increase in stomatal densities (96.482 and 95.587) in the lower epidermis when exposed to 14 hours of incandescent lights. In the Ormea cultivar, growing under incandescent light for 14h caused a notable increase in both stomatal length and width (24.978 and 13.389 µm), followed by stomatal length and width (24.533 and 13.067 µm), respectively, under LED-mix for 14h
Copyright (c) 2025 Layla Shaaban Mohammed, Nashwan Yousif Edo, Sajid Ali https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
IMPACT OF VARYING AMOUNTS OF PEANUT (Arachis hypogaea) MEAL ON RAINBOW TROUT (Oncorhynchus mykiss) DIETS INSTEAD OF SOYBEAN MEAL ON THE ELEMENTAL COMPOSITION AND BIOMAGNIFICATION FACTORS IN FILLETS
In this study, the effects of using different ratios of peanut meal (PNM) instead of soybean meal in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) diet on elemental composition and biomagnification factor (BMF) were evaluated for 12 weeks. Three experimental diets containing 50% (PNM50), 75% (PNM75), and 100% (PNM100) peanut meal were prepared. In the study, two control groups were fed a commercial feed (CF) and a diet containing 0% PNM (C), respectively. The CF had the greatest Ca/P ratio and the highest Se, Ca, and P levels, and these values were also significantly different from the other experimental diets. The PNM75 diet had significantly higher Mn and Cu values (p<0.05). Fe, Mg, and Na levels increased with the increasing level of PNM ratios. The PNM100 group had the highest values of these elements. At the end of the study, the CF group had high BMF of K, Mg, Mn, and Cu elements. Compared with the C group, rainbow trout fillets in the CF group had high BMFs of Ca, Fe, Na, and Se. The BMF of the P element was high in PNM75 group. In summary, the element values of rainbow trout fillets did not have an adverse effect when using PNM instead of soybean meal in their diets
Copyright (c) 2025 Dilara Kaya Öztürk, İsmihan Karayücel, Seval Dernekbaşi, Keriman yürüten özdemir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
HONEY BEE FORAGERS AND SOME BEE PRODUCTS AS POTENTIAL BIOINDICATORS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL CONTAMINATION WITH HEAVY METALS
Heavy metals are persistent pollutants traveling through the environment-from their industrial source into the atmosphere, soil, and water-and finally into the food chain. They pose the greatest danger to human and animals. Honey bees (Apis mellifera) are good bioindicators of environmental pollution because they accumulate heavy metals in their bodies and products, although showing no immediate effect. Bee-related samples (foragers, honey, and pollen) collected from five sites in Duhok Province in May 2025 were investigated. The assessment confirmed the presence of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), copper (Cu), cadmium (Cd), and chromium (Cr) in varying concentrations. Pb levels varied between 0.0003 and 0.0024 mg/kg, while the greatest amount of Pb was detected in pollen. One pollen sample contained Zn levels as high as 20.365 mg/kg. Cu levels fluctuated but didn’t show significantly either across locations or sample types. Cr levels were determined to be within WHO-recommended levels, while traces of Cd and Fe were well below the safety limits. Some pollen and honey samples from L2 and L3 showed higher amounts than safety standards, but most were below the limits. The results indicate that pollen and honey are more prone to metal accumulation, confirming contamination at a much lower level
Copyright (c) 2025 Nora Mohammed Salih, Zahra Naeef Ayoub https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ENHANCING GROWTH PERFORMANCE, ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE, AND IMMUNE RESPONSE IN STRIPED CATFISH (Pangasius hypophthalmus) THROUGH DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH Aloe vera: A SUSTAINABLE AQUACULTURE APPROACH
A 60-day feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effects of dietary Aloe vera leaf powder supplementation on growth performance, hematological parameters, antioxidant status, and immune responses in Pangasius hypophthalmus. A total of 300 juvenile striped catfish with an initial weight of 14.2±0.13 g was randomly allocated to five dietary treatments containing 0% (control), 0.5%, 1%, 2%, and 4% Aloe vera leaf powder, with three replicates per group. Results reveal significant dose-dependent enhancements in growth parameters, with the 2% Aloe vera group exhibiting the highest final weight 72.21±1.54 g, weight gain 371.1±4.5%, and specific growth rate (3.21 ± 0.03%/day), alongside the lowest feed conversion ratio (1.54 ± 0.01) (p<0.05). Hematological analysis revealed enhanced red blood cell count (2.32±0.06 ×10⁶/μL), hemoglobin levels (9.0±0.3 g/dL), and white blood cell count (66.5±2.1 ×10³/μL) in the 2% group. Antioxidant enzyme activities (Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), and Glutathione peroxidase (GPx)) increased by 52.1%, 36.2%, and 27.8%, respectively, while malondialdehyde levels decreased by 31.8% related to the (control; p<0.05). Immune parameters were also significantly elevated, including lysozyme activity (14.3±0.5 U/mL) and phagocytic index (33.87±1.3%). These findings indicate that 2% Aloe vera supplementation optimally enhances growth, physiological resilience, and disease resistance in P. hypophthalmus, offering a sustainable alternative to synthetic additives in aquaculture
Copyright (c) 2025 Rana Mehroz Fazal, Arooj Fatima, Basim. S. A. Al Sulivany, Rashid Hussain, Ali Hassan, Ayesha Shahid, Kiran Ashiq, Muhammad Owais https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
FACE DETECTION USING REFINED-RETINAFACE MODEL
RetinaFace is a multi-task and single-stage face detection model that detects faces and landmarks. However, it has limitations in detecting non-face content in output bounding boxes and mislocalizes facial landmarks for profile faces. To address these issues, Refined-RetinaFace (R-RetinaFace) is proposed. R-RetinaFace adds a post-optimization module that resizes bounding boxes and ensures all landmarks are within them. R-RetinaFace outperforms RetinaFace on SDUMLA-HMT and CASIA-3D-FaceV1 databases. On SDUMLA-HMT, R-RetinaFace achieves an ideal detection rate of 98.02%, a moderate detection rate of 1.32%, and a poor detection rate of 0.66%. On CASIA-3D-FaceV1, R-RetinaFace achieves ideal detection rates of 92.2%, moderate detection rates of 7%, and poor detection rates of 0.8%. In contrast, RetinaFace did not achieve ideal detection on both databases. It achieved only moderate and poor detection rates. On SDUMLA-HMT, RetinaFace achieves a moderate detection rate of 96.32% and a poor detection rate of 3.68%. On CASIA-3D-FaceV1, RetinaFace achieves a moderate detection rate of 83.9% and a poor detection rate of 16.1%. These results put R-RetinaFace a state-of-the-art method for face detection
Copyright (c) 2026 Sagvan J. M. Ameen, Ahmed AK. Tahir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EVALUATION OF THE EFFECTIVENESS FOLIAR APPLICATION OF HUMIC ACID IN ENHANCING GROWTH AND YIELD OF SUGARCANE (Saccharum officinarum L.) VARIETIE
Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is a crop of significant agro-industrial value. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of foliar application of humic acid at different concentrations (0, 10, and 15 g per 4 L water) on the growth and yield performances of three sugarcane varieties (CP72-2086, CP89-2143, and CP81-325), additionally it was to ensure of growing sugarcane because for the first time it has been tested in the Erbil environment. The experiment was done in 15 April 2024, at Grdarasha Field, College of Agricultural Engineering Sciences. The results indicated that CP81-325 var. superior to other varieties for all parameters. Also, growth and yield were significantly improved in the interaction treatment (S3H1), so the maximum values of plant height, internode length and total fresh yield were (3.79m, 35.00cm and 0.88 kg cane-1), respectively. Similar result of total fresh yield (0.88 kg cane-1), was recorded by the CP89-2143 var. when humic acid at the concentration of (15 g 4L-1 water) added to the plants, while in the control treatment (S2H0) just about (0.69 kg cane-1). Mostly, humic acid 10 g 4L-1 water showed the significant role in response for all varieties. Applying humic acid is necessary, it is not only for enhancing productivity but also for soil improvement and environment protection
Copyright (c) 2025 Rabar Fatah Salih, Shizar Dara Abdullah https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
PREVALENCE AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF BLATEM, BLASHV, AND BLACTX-M GENES IN ESBL-PRODUCING Escherichia coli AND Klebsiella pneumoniae ISOLATED FROM INTENSIVE CARE UNIT PATIENTS
The rise and spread of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) not only significantly hinder the effective treatment of infectious diseases, but also lead to prolonged illness, treatment failures, and increased mortality. In intensive care units (ICUs), extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing bacteria, such as Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae), are among the most concerning multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs. This research was conducted to find out the causative agents of ICU infections, identify their profiles of antimicrobial resistance, and assess associated virulence factors. Discrepancies were found in bacterial identification by molecular analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing compared to the Vitek2 system. More than half (50%) carried all three ESBL genes, while the prevalence of blaSHV + blaCTX-M carriers were the lowest. Isolates of E. coli from the study were not found to be salmon single ESBL genes (blaSHV, blaCTX, or blaTEM), only 5.26% of K. pneumoniae isolates carried blaTEM among them. Most of the strains had moderate to high biofilm-forming ability, which is the key to their MDR. In other words, ICU patients are vulnerable to colonization and infection with MDR pathogens, and still, E. coli and K. pneumoniae are the major threats that are linked to the resistance mechanisms and virulence factors of these pathogens.
Copyright (c) 2026 Alla Shamsaldin Abdullah and Pishtiwan Ahmad Hamad https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
POLLEN MICROMORPHOLOGY OF FOUR Onobrychis SPECIES (Fabaceae) FROM THE KURDISTAN REGION OF IRAQ
Polleniferous materials of four Onobrychis species were used in this study. Two different microscopes and one-way ANOVA analysis were applied. The pollen grains were tricolpate, isopolar, and consistently radially symmetrical. The value of the polar axis/equatorial diameter ranged from prolate to perprolate, which were categorized as tiny or medium in size. Exine sculpture patterns varied significantly when scanning electron microscopy was used: Onobrychis megataphora, O. crista-galli, and O. caput-galli have reticulate patterns; O. galegifolia has micro-reticulate perforates. The pollen morphology of O. caput-galli was noticeably perprolate due to its maximum polar axis/equatorial diameter value (2.02 µm). The O. crista-galli had the lowest polar axis/equatorial diameter value (1.37 µm), showing its prolate pollen morphology. A one-way ANOVA analysis revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in the morphological features of polar length and equatorial diameter. The O. megataphros was primarily circular to ovoid-triangular in form, and O. caput-galli had a triangular outline. The two remaining species had circular shapes in polar view. In equatorial view, two species had elliptic-elongated shapes, while others had rectangular-obtuse outlines. Thus, these micromorphological dissimilarities indicate variations among taxa, and they can be used as taxonomic characters to identify and delimit Onobrychis species
Copyright (c) 2025 Chareen Mohammed Darweesh , Shamiran Salih Abdulrahman, Jotyar Jassim Muhammed https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
DIETARY TURMERIC (Curcuma longa) ENHANCES GROWTH, ANTIOXIDANT DEFENSE, AND IMMUNITY IN Cirrhinus mrigala
Aquaculture is pivotal in addressing global food security, yet intensive practices compromise fish health and productivity. This study investigated the efficacy of dietary turmeric (Curcuma longa) supplementation as a natural alternative in Cirrhinus mrigala, a species critical to South Asian aquaculture. A 60-day feeding trial evaluated four diets: control (0% turmeric), 0.5%, 1.0%, and 1.5% turmeric inclusion. Results demonstrated that 1.0% turmeric significantly enhanced growth performance, with a 28% increase in final body weight (19.6 ± 1.4 g vs. 15.7 ± 1.1 g in control; p< 0.01) and improved feed conversion ratio (1.4 ± 0.2 vs. 1.7 ± 0.2; p= 0.004). Antioxidant enzyme activities (SOD, CAT, GPx) increased by 34–53%, while lipid peroxidation (MDA) decreased by 29% (p = 0.001), indicating robust oxidative stress mitigation. Immunological assays revealed a 65% rise in lysozyme activity and 70% higher phagocytic capacity (p< 0.01), underscoring turmeric’s immunostimulatory potential. The hepatosomatic index decreased by (1.3 ± 0.2% vs. 1.4 ± 0.2%; p = 0.038), suggesting increased metabolic efficiency. These findings highlight 1.0% turmeric as the optimal dosage, offering a sustainable strategy to augment aquaculture productivity while reducing reliance on antibiotics
Copyright (c) 2025 Ali Hassan, Kajeen hassan jasim, Nizar J. Hussein, Ayesha Shahid, Muhammad Owais https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
ASSOCIATION OF INTERLEUKIN-6, INTERLEUKIN-4, AND TUMOR NECROSIS FACTOR-ALPHA GENE POLYMORPHISMS WITH SERUM CYTOKINE PROFILES IN BETA-THALASSEMIA MAJOR PATIENTS
Beta Thalassemia is an inherited condition results from mutation in β globin gene which leads to several complication including, severe anemia and iron overload among others, in which the signs appear in early childhood. This study investigated the possible role of cytokine gene polymorphism on thalassemia patients. Our research involved 72 patients diagnosed with beta thalassemia major and a control group of 40 cases. Both groups' ages ranged from 1 to 30 years. Serum cytokines IL-6, IL-4, and TNF-α level were measured using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as well as analyzing the genetic profile for the same genes. Blood samples were subjected to DNA isolation and molecular detection for gene polymorphism (interleukin 6 polymorphism at position 174, interleukin 4 polymorphisms at position 589, and tumor necrosis factor alpha polymorphism at position 308) using ARMS-PCR. Results showed significant increase in IL-6 and TNF-α (p<0.05), whereas the difference in IL-4 was not significant. High-producing genotypes (GG for IL-6, and GG for TNF-α) showed the highest serum cytokine levels, while low-producing genotypes (CC, and AA respectively) showed the lowest. Serum IL-6 levels were significantly higher in patients across all IL-6 genotypes (GG, GC, CC) compared to their respective genotype-matched healthy controls. IL-4 decreased in CC and slightly increased in CT (not significantly). TNF-α levels significantly increased in GG and GA, but not in AA. For the IL-6 (-174G>C) polymorphism, the odds ratio for the GC genotype was 0.66 (95% CI: 0.27–1.61), whereas the odds ratio for the CC genotype was 1.42 (95% CI: 0.22–15.52). The CC, CT, and TT genotypes displayed varying frequencies among groups in the IL-4 gene polymorphism. In relation to the TNF-α gene polymorphism, the AA genotype displayed an odds ratio of 1.7 (95% CI: 0.13–91.27), while the large confidence interval suggests poor statistical precision, whereas the GG genotype was not substantially linked to thalassemia.
Copyright (c) 2026 Karzan Fadhil Mohamad and Sarhang Hasan Azeez https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
EXPRESSION LEVELS OF ENDOSOMAL TOLL-LIKE RECEPTORS (TLRs) IN RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS: A LINK BETWEEN TLR7, TLR9, AND INFLAMMATORY BIOMARKERS WITH DISEASE ACTIVITY SCORE
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by synovial inflammation, joint damage, and functional impairment. Recent studies highlighted the role of Toll-like receptors (TLRs), particularly TLR7 and TLR9, in RA pathogenesis through innate immune activation and interferon-alpha (IFN-α) production. This case-control study assessed TLR7 and TLR9 expression in 60 RA patients and 30 healthy controls, alongside serum IFN-α levels and disease activity (DAS28). Blood samples were processed for RNA extraction and cDNA synthesis. Gene expression was quantified via RT-qPCR, and IFN-α levels measured by ELISA. RA patients showed significantly increased TLR7 (1.99-fold, p = 0.005) and TLR9 (1.42-fold, p = 0.024) expression compared to healthy controls, as determined by the Mann–Whitney U test. A strong positive correlation was observed between their expression levels (ρ = 0.893, p ≤ 0.001), indicating shared co-regulatory mechanisms. IFN-α levels were also significantly elevated in RA patients (p ≤ 0.001). However, correlations between TLR7 expression and IFN-α (ρ = –0.047, p = 0.804) or DAS28 (ρ = 0.148, p = 0.435) were weak and not statistically significant. Similarly, TLR9 expression showed weak, non-significant correlations with IFN-α (ρ = 0.007, p = 0.969) and DAS28 (ρ = 0.161, p = 0.396). Likewise, no significant link was found between age and disease activity. These results suggest that while TLR7, TLR9, and IFN-α are elevated in RA, their direct association with disease activity may be limited, highlighting the complexity of immune regulatory networks in RA progression.
Copyright (c) 2026 Dilzheen Muslih Salih and Amir Hani Raziq https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
PREVALENCE OF Theileria annulata AND THE FIRST REPORT OF Theileria sinensis IN CATTLE FROM ERBIL PROVINCE, IRAQ
Bovine theileriosis is a significant tick-borne protozoan disease of cattle, primarily caused by species of the genus Theileria. This study investigated the prevalence of bovine theileriosis in cattle using both microscopic examination and conventional PCR (c-PCR). Microscopic analysis of Giemsa-stained blood smears identified an infection rate of 51/236 (21.6%), while c-PCR revealed a significantly higher prevalence of 106/236 (44.9%). Theileria species were characterized morphologically and confirmed via molecular methods. PCR analysis identified Theileria annulata and Theileria sinensis as the causative agents, with T. annulata showing the highest rate of single infections 89/106 (84%) compared to T. sinensis 17/106 (16%). Mixed infections were detected in 13/106 (12.3%) of cases. Age, sex, breed, housing conditions, acaricide use, and tick infestation were identified as key risk factors influencing infection rates. Management and tick-related factors significantly influenced Theileria prevalence, with higher infection rates observed in cattle with tick infestation 54/102 (52.9%), irregular or no acaricide use 58/115 (50.4%) and 27/47 (58.7%) respectively, non-cemented floors 72/125 (57.6%), and tick presence in barns 64/127 (50.4%). Phylogenetic analysis demonstrated genetic similarities between the identified T. annulata and T. sinensis sequences and strains reported from other geographical regions. Notably, this study provides the first report of T. sinensis in Iraq, highlighting its emergence and underscoring the need for enhanced surveillance and control measures against Theileria infections in the country. The high prevalence of the disease underscores the urgent need for enhanced surveillance, effective tick control measures, and the implementation of integrated strategies to mitigate the impact of bovine theileriosis on cattle health and productivity.
Copyright (c) 2026 Musa Adil Wahab & Khalid Jabar Aziz https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
ENHANCING NONLINEAR EQUATION SOLUTIONS THROUGH THE COMBINATION OF VARIANT NEWTON’S AND HALLEY’S METHODS
This work presents a new iterative method for solving single-variable nonlinear equations. The method achieves ninth-order convergence with just three derivative evaluations per step, offering both accuracy and lower computational cost. Unlike slower bracketing methods, it builds on faster open methods, though these may sometimes fail to converge. By blending ideas from Newton's and Halley's methods, the new approach provides strong performance, as shown by a detailed convergence analysis and MATLAB tests. Compared to existing techniques, it finds solutions in fewer steps and less time, making it especially effective for difficult nonlinear problems
MSC2020 Classification: 65A05 (Tables in numerical analysis),65B99(Acceleration of convergence in numerical analysis),65H05(Nonlinear algebraic or transcendental equations).
Copyright (c) 2025 Kazhal Mohammed Ali, Bayda Gh. Fathi https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
GREEN-SYNTHESIZED ZINC OXIDE NANOPARTICLES FROM VERJUICE (Vitis vinifera) EXHIBIT HEPATOPROTECTIVE AND ANTIOXIDANT EFFECTS AGAINST CARBON TETRACHLORIDE -INDUCED TOXICITY IN MALE RATS
Drug-induced liver injury, particularly that caused by carbon tetrachloride (CCl₄), poses significant clinical challenges due to oxidative stress and limited therapeutic options. This study investigated the hepatoprotective and antioxidant potential of green-synthesized zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) using verjuice extract from unripe grapes in a CCl₄–induced rat model. The ZnO-NPs were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, fourier transform infrared (FTIR) scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analyses. Twenty male Wistar rats were assigned to four groups: control, CCl₄ toxicity (1 mL/kg twice weekly for 4 weeks), co-treatment (CCl₄ + ZnO-NPs 50 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks), and ZnO-NP post-treatment (CCl₄ for 4 weeks followed by ZnO-NPs 50 mg/kg daily for 4 weeks). ZnO-NPs significantly restored superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and decreased malondialdehyde (MDA) levels to near control values, while normalizing alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activities. Histopathological evaluation confirmed near-complete recovery of hepatic and renal architectures. These results demonstrate that verjuice-synthesized ZnO-NPs exert potent antioxidant and regenerative effects through the preservation of endogenous defenses and promotion of tissue repair, and the green synthesis approach offers an eco-friendly, biocompatible nanotherapeutic strategy with promising applications for drug-induced liver injury
Copyright (c) 2025 Pola Z. Aziz , Treefa F. Ismail https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
AN EXPLAINABLE DEEP LEARNING FRAMEWORK FOR BREAST CANCER CLASSIFICATION USING EFFICIENTNETV2B0 AND GRAD-CAM
Breast cancer remains one of the most serious health challenges worldwide, withearly and accurate diagnosis can significantly improve patient outcomes. Traditional diagnostic methods often rely heavily on expert interpretation, which may lead to inconsistencies or delays in decision-making. To address this issue, this research provides a deep-learning framework that uses the EfficientNetV2B0 model in combination with Grad-CAM (Gradient-weighted Class Activation Mapping) to provide illustrated explanations to detect breast cancer using ultrasound and MRI datasets. Our method addresses serious challenges such as class imbalance and irrelevant image characteristics by employing SMOTE (Synthetic Minority Over-sampling Technique) oversampling and Region of Interest (ROI) extraction for BUSI (Breast Ultrasound Images) datasets. The Grad-CAM approach improves reliability and transparency by providing visual proof that support’s each decision, allowing healthcare professionals to better understand the AI's prediction. Trained and assessed on two different medical imaging datasets, the framework obtained extraordinarily high accuracy (98.97% on BUSI and 99.55% on MRI), along with low prediction error and high reliability. The model is both accurate and understandable, making it ideal for clinical usage. It is also faster and more dependable than current approaches, making it highly beneficial.
Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI)
Copyright (c) 2026 Jane M. Haj Ali and Diman Hassan https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/4.0/
FORMULATION AND OPTIMIZATION OF DOMPERIDONE-LOADED LIQUID SNEDDS: CHARACTERIZATION AND IN-VITRO EVALUATION
This research concentrated on developing and optimizing domperidone-loaded Self- nanoemulsifying drug delivery system (SNEDDS) to enhance solubility, stability, and availability. Domperidone (DOM), a lipophilic drug characterized by its limited solubility in water, was integrated into SNEDDS formulations utilizing a range of oils, surfactants, and cosurfactants. Solubility studies indicated that orange oil exhibited the highest solubility for DOM at (47.94 mg/mL ± 0.085) against oils, Cremophor EL among surfactants, and Transcutol HP against cosurfactants. The solubility enhancement can be attributed to the formation of nanoemulsions, which effectively diminish particle size and enhances surface area, leading to improved dissolution and accelerated absorption. The optimization of the formulation was conducted utilizing a pseudo-ternary phase diagram, twelve successful formulations were evaluated and characterized for self-emulsification, stability, and drug release. In-vitro characterization demonstrated that F1 formula (Orange oil+ Cremophor EL+ Transcutol HP) using (2:8, oil: S.mix ratio) released DOM at rates up to 3.7 times greater than those of commercial products. The rapid emulsification times, ranging from (13.75 ± 0.528 to 32.17 ± 1.193 seconds), consistent droplet sizes, and a low PDI (0.28 ± 0.03 to 0.68 ± 0.2) have significantly improved bioavailability
Self-Nanoemulsifying Drug Delivery System
HMU- collage of pharmacy- Pharmacutic department
Copyright (c) 2025 Sara Taha Rasool , and Adnan Burhan Qader https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
EFFECT OF SLC19A1 GENE POLYMORPHISM AND HAPLOTYPES ON IDIOPATHIC RECURRENT PREGNANCY LOSS AMONG WOMEN IN DUHOK CITY
Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) affects 1-2% of women of reproductive age and is defined as two or more consecutive losses before 20 weeks of gestation. Idiopathic RPL, which has no known etiology, is increasingly linked to genetic factors, particularly genes involved in folate metabolism. The SLC19A1 gene encodes the reduced folate carrier (RFC1), which is necessary for cellular folate transport. Polymorphisms in this gene may impair folate absorption and homocysteine regulation, potentially leading to poor pregnancy outcomes. This study investigated the relationship between SLC19A1 gene polymorphisms (rs1131596, rs1051266, rs12659) and haplotypes with idiopathic RPL in women from Duhok, Iraq. A case-control study included 70 women with idiopathic RPL and 70 age-matched healthy controls. Genotyping was performed using ARMS-PCR and RFLP-PCR, and statistical analysis was carried out using chi-square, t-tests, and logistic regression. There was no significant association between RPL and the -43T>C or 80G>A polymorphisms. The 696C>T variant showed a marginal association (p = 0.041), with the TT genotype more frequent among RPL cases. Although this suggests a potential link, the result should be interpreted cautiously. Haplotype analysis revealed minimal linkage disequilibrium and no significant associations
Copyright (c) 2025 Hozheen Abdulrahman Darweesh, Adil Abozaid Eissa https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
A PRUNED VGG16 WITH HYBRID PREPROCESSING AND DATA BALANCING FOR ROBUST AND INTERPRETABLE LUNG CANCER CLASSIFICATION
Lung cancer is the most common and deadliest type of cancer globally, creating a critical need for diagnostic tools that are not only accurate but also practical for clinical integration. This study introduces a robust, computationally efficient, and interpretable deep learning framework using Computed Tomography (CT) images to address limitations in existing models, such as high computational costs, poor data quality, and a lack of transparency. Our approach utilizes a VGG16 architecture, streamlined through structured pruning, which reduced the parameter count from 138.3M to 26.6M without compromising performance. We developed a hybrid pipeline with dual filtering and adaptive CLAHE to enhance image quality, while data diversity and imbalance were mitigated using hybrid augmentation and SMOTE. The model was trained with a rigorous strategy, including four-fold cross-validation and dual-phase fine-tuning with a dynamic learning rate, ensuring stable convergence. On a primary single-source dataset, the model achieved a test accuracy of 0.9910 and a Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.9845. To validate real-world applicability, the framework was tested on a large multi-source dataset, demonstrating strong generalization with a balanced accuracy of 0.9693 and an MCC of 0.9427. Model interpretability was confirmed using Grad-CAM visualizations to highlight clinically relevant regions. This framework provides a highly accurate, computationally efficient, and generalizable solution with significant potential for clinical deployment as a reliable diagnostic aid
Synthetic Minority Oversampling Technique (SMOTE)
Copyright (c) 2025 Marwa Salih Ramadhan, Mohammed Ahmed Shakir https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0