Koya University

Background The assessment of undergraduate medical students consists of a written component and an advanced clinical competency test that evaluates the students’ skills. The Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (OSCE) were only implemented in most medical schools in the last ten years, similar in many developing countries. It was first used with other clinical assessment methods. This study was designed to investigate how medical students in the fourth and sixth grades and examiners perceived the unique format, features, and quality of the Grand Objective Structured Clinical Examinations (GOSCE), a novel method for assessing students. The aim was to understand how this innovative method, distinct from traditional assessment methods, prepares students for real-world scenarios where they encounter different specialty cases. Additionally, the study aimed to understand the significant role and challenges faced by the Faculty of General Medicine at Koya University in implementing this type of OSCE and to identify potential improvements to enhance the quality of the assessment process. Methods Following the administration of two distinct GOSCE examinations for the fourth and sixth stages, feedback forms were created using Google Forms and distributed to students and examiners. The feedback forms covered all aspects of the examination process. The responses were then rigorously analyzed using the scientific tool SPSS, allowing for a comparison between students from both stages and the faculty and external examiners. Results In the survey of 104 undergraduate students (78% of attendants), the majority (84n,80%) rated the fairness of the assessment as good, which is the primary goal of GOSCE. A large percentage (89n,85.6%) agreed that the examination covered a wide range of clinical skills. Eighty students (76.85%) believed the patients cooperated and found the findings precise; on the other hand, The obtained responses from 24 out of 33 faculty staff members (75%) and 29 out of 35 external examiners (82%) strongly agreed that the examination adequately covered a wide variety of clinical abilities. Only two of 68 examiners (2.9%) believed the examination needed more to provide a learning opportunity. Conclusion With the insightful suggestions for improvement provided by the participants, GOSCE has a promising potential to evolve into a fair, objective clinical tool for assessing medical students, instilling a sense of optimism for its future development.

This study aims to investigate the improvement of ionic conductivity and other electrical parameters of a polyethylene oxide/ sodium bromide (PEO:NaBr) complex electrolyte with the use of glycerol as a plasticizer. The PEO:NaBr electrolyte was modified by insertion of various concentrations (0, 8, 16, 24, and 32 wt.%) of glycerol to boost the ionic conductivity. The structural and electrical properties of the prepared electrolyte films were examined by x-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The results showed that the highest ionic conductivity 2.3 × 10 −4 was attained in the sample containing 24 wt.% glycerol synthesized at room temperature. This increased conductivity may be attributed to the plasticizing effect of glycerol, which made the PEO matrix less crystalline, as evidenced by the broader and less defined XRD peaks. The dielectric constant was enhanced relative to the dielectric loss by increasing the glycerol content in the low-frequency applied electric field. Also, the maximum loss tangent shifted to higher frequencies, indicating that the addition of glycerol shortened the dipole relaxation time. The dissociation of the NaBr in the PEO was confirmed by the FTIR spectra. In addition, a shift in the absorption band showed the interaction between the PEO, NaBr, and glycerol, which contributed to the enhanced amorphous nature and ion transport properties. These findings suggest that glycerol can play a crucial role in modifying the structural and electrical properties of PEO-based electrolytes, paving the way for more efficient solid-state electrolytes for future energy storage applications.

The effects of incorporating lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3) into a polyvinyl alcohol/polyvinyl pyrrolidone/polyethylene glycol (PVA/PVP/PEG) blend polymer electrolyte were investigated. Electrolytes were prepared via solution casting method, with Li 2 CO 3 added at 10, 20, and 30 wt.% to the PVA/PVP/PEG blend (50/30/20 ratio). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed interactions between the added salt and the polymer blend. The addition of both PEG and Li 2 CO 3 resulted in increased ionic conductivity, reaching a maximum of 4.51 × 10 − 5 S/cm at 30°C with 20 wt.% Li 2 CO 3. Ionic conductivity also exhibited a positive temperature dependence. Optical analysis showed a decrease in the optical energy gap with the addition of PEG and Li 2 CO 3. Differential thermal analysis indicated improved thermal stability with increasing Li 2 CO 3 content, as evidenced by higher onset, endset, and midset temperatures. The enhanced properties of the modified electrolyte suggest its potential applicability in lithium-based electrochemical devices.

Heavy metals are toxic, non-biodegradable pollutants that pose serious risks to human health and the environment, even at trace concentrations. The contamination of drinking water and groundwater by heavy metals requires urgent attention. Nanotechnology has advanced significantly over the past decade, offering innovative solutions for water purification, particularly through the adsorption of heavy metal ions using nanomaterials. This study focuses on the synthesis of magnetic nanoparticles, their adsorption capacity, and the desorption process. Additionally, the effects of key experimental parameters – such as contact time, ion concentration, pH, temperature, ionic strength, and adsorbent dose – on the removal efficiency of metal ions are examined. The findings underscore the potential of magnetic nanoparticles for effective heavy metal remediation in water.

Evaluation of Anchusa species of the family Boraginaceae during previous investigations determined numerous therapeutic potentials against inflammatory‐related diseases. The present study evaluates the phytochemical, acute toxicity, and hepatoprotective effects of methanolic extracts of Anchusa limbata (MEAL) against thioacetamide (TAA)‐induced liver injury in rats. The phytochemical profiling of MEAL followed a Folin–Ciocalteu and 10% AlCl3 procedure using a spectrophotometer. Thirty rats were divided into 5 groups: Normal (A) and TAA control rats (B) treated orally with daily 10% tween 20; reference rats (C) received daily oral dose of 50 mg/kg silymarin; (D and E) rats received daily doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg MEAL, respectively. In addition, group B‐E received 3 injections of 200 mg/kg TAA weekly for 60 days. The phytochemical profiling showed increased polyphenolic (129.2 mg gallic acid equivalent/g) and flavonoid (105.3 mg quercetin equivalent/g extract) contents in MEAL. The TAA intraperitoneal injection caused significant hepatic dysfunctionality (lowered total protein, 54.7 g/L; albumin levels, 7.8 g/L), hepatotoxicity, and necrotized cell proliferation. TAA hepatotoxicity resulted in an increased expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), TGF‐β1 tissue expression, liver enzymatic leakage, and oxidative stress biomarkers, while it reduced pro‐apoptotic Bcl‐2–associated X protein (Bax) proteins and inflammatory mediators (TNF‐α and IL‐6) and increased IL‐10. Conversely, MEAL treatment ameliorated the TAA‐induced hepatotoxicity and restored liver functions. The present hepatoprotectives of MEAL could be attributed to its increased polyphenolic and flavonoid contents, which require further isolation and identification of molecules underlying such therapeutic actions.

In this paper, a numerical investigation of a class of parabolic Volterra integro-differential equations (parabolic-VIDEs) is conducted. The approach focuses on semi-discretizing parabolic-VIDEs by utilizing a second-order compact finite difference method O(δt2) for the time variable and approximating the integral term using the trapezoidal rule. Further, the spatial derivative is approximated by Haar wavelet method. This hybrid methodology leverages the strengths of both techniques to solve the equations more efficiently and accurately. The error analysis, using L2 and L∞-norms, shows low computational costs. Numerical experiments show that second-order accuracy in both time and space, respectively. Stability and convergence of the proposed method are given through Sobolve space. Some numerical examples are tested for the effectiveness and accuracy of the proposed method. Furthermore, the presented numerical approach is compared with standard finite difference numerical methods and the results are reported in a table.

Premarital screening programs are essential for identifying and providing counseling to couples at risk of transmitting genetic diseases or sexually transmitted infections. Despite their importance, university students’ awareness and knowledge of premarital screening programs remain inadequate. This study aimed to evaluate the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes of university students in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq regarding premarital screening programs. A cross-sectional survey involving 960 students was conducted from December 2023 to February 2024. The survey assessed participants’ demographics, knowledge, perception, and attitudes toward PMSP using a structured questionnaire. Findings revealed that a significant portion of participants (39.4%) had poor knowledge of premarital screening programs, 35.9% had fair knowledge, and only 24.7% had good knowledge. Despite limited knowledge, there was strong support for premarital screening programs, with 83.1% agreeing on its importance and 78.8% recognizing the need for premarital awareness. Most participants (65.8%) believed premarital screening programs could reduce genetic diseases, and 65.6% thought it could lower sexually transmitted diseases’ prevalence. Cultural acceptance of marrying relatives was notable, with 59.7% disagreeing with the preference for not marrying relatives. Married participants showed significantly higher knowledge and attitude scores compared to single participants. Gender differences were observed, with males having higher knowledge scores. There were no significant differences in perception and attitude scores based on gender or residential area. The study underscores the need for enhanced educational campaigns to improve premarital screening programs awareness and positively influence attitudes, especially targeting cultural aspects like accepting relative marriages. Comprehensive education and fostering positive attitudes toward premarital screening programs are vital for their broader acceptance and implementation.

Solar cell substrates made from high-temperature polymer bases can be applied to various types of thin-film devices. Studying how different substrates impact the properties of semiconductor films is crucial. In this research, chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP) was utilized to coat thin layers of cadmium sulfide (CdS) on polyimide (PI) plastic bases. The coating process involved using distinct precursor solutions with molar concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, and 0.4 M. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis was applied to assess the crystal structural characteristics. The XRD findings demonstrated the correct phase development in the CdS structure. The outcomes revealed that the crystallite size was directly related to the molarity concentration, with larger crystals forming at higher concentrations. Larger crystallites can lower grain boundary density, which can affect the film’s electrical and mechanical properties. Furthermore, a hexagonal structure was observed in the CdS layers. The optical band gap values of the CdS thin films increased from 2.16 to 2.21 eV as the molarity concentrations were elevated.

Affordable housing design should respond to the socio-cultural context using adequate housing types. This study develops a theoretical framework for designing sustainable, affordable housing in Iraq based on learning from traditional architecture. It examines this framework by exploring famous traditional and modern types of affordable housing: type1 courtyard housing and type2 apartment buildings. Different values of sustainability are discussed, and three are elected: social qualities (safety and privacy), environmental qualities , and economic qualities (Compactness and Densification). An empirical study was conducted on the said types of affordable housing in Koya City to examine the proposed framework. The study results show that courtyard houses achieve sustainability values more than apartments. Traditional housing types can provide a sustainable environment with limited resources and simple manners. The paper's main finding is that distributing inner outdoor spaces all over the housing area is critical to designing affordable housing for sustainability. for full text: https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/FJGYIZRWWHTCGVQSWWCH/full?target=10.1080/26883597.2024.2425693

Waste glass (WG) and steel slag (SS) are industrial by-products with properties that benefit sustainable concrete production. This research aims to produce concrete with the highest compressive strength and lowest thermal conductivity for green buildings by using WG and SS as the cement and coarse aggregates, respectively. Such a combination is remarkable; furthermore, modeling and optimizing their effects on the thermal conductivity of concrete are an original contribution to this field. A response surface method (RSM) was used in the mix design by considering the most influencing factors (SS, WG, and w/b). The method assessed eighteen mixtures of multiple binders to examine the performance of SS and WG and their complementary roles in improving the desired properties. Substituting SS at high levels (up to 100%) significantly improved both desired properties. However, increasing WG and w/b positively influenced the thermal conductivity and negatively influenced the compressive strength, which decreased by more than 28% compared with the control sample. The implemented linear thermal conductivity effectively correlated the responses and considered factors with a high R-value of 88%. The multi-objective optimization approach determined that the combination of SS = 100%, WG = 30%, and w/b = 0.42 provides the highest compressive strength (71 MPa) and the lowest thermal conductivity (0.7 W/ m. K). Incorporating SS and WG into concrete improved its mechanical and thermal insulation properties and supported the green life strategies.

A simple, specific, sensitive, rapid, and cost‐effective spectrofluorometric method for quantifying folic acid has been developed using basic fuchsin as a fluorescence quenching agent. This method relies on the quenching effect of folic acid on the inherent fluorescence of basic fuchsin, facilitated by their interaction in Britton–Robinson buffer solution at pH 9, leading to the formation of an ion‐associated complex. The decrease in fluorescence intensity of basic fuchsin was measured at 730 nm, with excitation at 365 nm. The method demonstrated a linear relationship ( R ² = 0.9977) between the quenching fluorescence intensity (ΔF) and folic acid concentration over the range of 4–20 μg/mL, with a detection limit of 0.17 μg/mL. The method showed no significant interference from common excipients found in pharmaceutical tablets. The results obtained were in good agreement with those from high‐performance liquid chromatography, with no significant differences in precision or accuracy. This spectrofluorimetric method was successfully applied to determine the folic acid content in various commercial pharmaceutical tablets.

In the evolving field of seismo-ionospheric studies, understanding the variations in the Total Electron Content (TEC) and their implications for seismic forecasting stands paramount. This investigation presents an exhaustive scrutiny of TEC deviations and their prospective role as leading indicators for seismic activities, with a concentrated focus on the tectonically significant East Anatolian Fault Zone. Through the methodical analysis of a 26-day temporal window encapsulating the advent of a notable seismic event, we harnessed advanced statistical approaches to discern and typify TEC aberrations. One of the standout revelations from our research was the unambiguous identification of marked ionospheric TEC irregularities preceding the seismic event. Remarkably, these deviations manifest discernible configurations that, when juxtaposed with geomagnetic storm indices and solar dynamics, suggest their potential utility as seismic harbingers, particularly during epochs typified by serene geomagnetic ambiances. By penetrating these configurations, our inquiry illuminates the complex dynamism intertwining TEC modulations, seismic episodes, and geomagnetic perturbations. Consequently, this exploration augments the contemporary discourse on earthquake-ionosphere dynamics , offering pivotal perspectives that could shape future research trajectories in the domain.

Fuzzy logic is an excellent way to deal with the inherent unpredictability and ambiguity in making judgments, and the idea of spherical fuzzy sets is one of the most recent advancements in this field. Since the squared total of membership, non-membership, and hesitation degrees should be between 0 and 1 and each degree should be defined in [0, 1], the hesitation of the decision-maker(s) about an attribute can be conveyed more thoroughly. In this study, we suggest a spherical fuzzy knowledge measurement and demonstrate its capacity to satisfy the axiomatic requirements. We compared it with all the existing spherical fuzzy information metrics through various aspects such as ambiguity computation, linguistic hedges, and attribute weight computation. Based on the proposed knowledge metric, we introduce the Complex Proportional Assessment (COPRAS) method for spherical fuzzy sets and illustrate it with a numerical example concerning the selection of the best hazardous waste transportation firm.

This study aimed to examine the mental health issues and trauma faced by Iraqi IDPs post-2014. Adhering to PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a literature search in PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar, identifying 208 articles. After excluding 190 articles for duplication and ineligibility, we ultimately included 18 studies. The Joanna Briggs Institute critical evaluation checklist was used for quality assessment. Studies involved 5,764 participants from diverse ethno-religious groups including Arabs, Kurds, Christians, and Yazidis. Participants were mostly female (55.5%), male (38.4%), and the smallest and largest study samples were 29 and 1,256, respectively. Ages ranged from 12.18 to 43.34 years. The results revealed a high prevalence of PTSD at 61.9%, with depression and anxiety rates at 49% and 51%, respectively, and suicidal behaviours at 67.5%. Among IDP subgroups, PTSD and suicidal behaviours were particularly high among Yazidi-enslaved girls and women, at 90.6% and 67.55% respectively. Major trauma exposures included forced displacement, encounters with combat and violence, enslavement, and witnessing the death or abuse of relatives. Critical contributing factors to mental health problems were gender (being female), economic instability, prolonged displacement, exposure to combat, experiences of rape and torture, and limited access to services. The mental health support of this vulnerable population is critical.

Schiff bases are a class of synthetic compounds that form when primary amines combine with aldehydes or ketones. These compounds are incredibly important across various fields, such as biology, catalysis, and optics, due to their diverse features. One notable aspect is their ability to form complexes with transition metals, which opens up a wide range of potential uses, particularly in human systems. In the human body, Schiff base metal complexes display a range of biological actions, including antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and antimalarial properties. The versatility of Schiff bases in reacting with different transition metals gives these complexes intriguing potential for addressing biological issues and treating diseases. This article explores various examples of Schiff bases, metal complexes, and their associated ligands, highlighting their usefulness in a variety of biological applications. The potential of Schiff base metal complexes as valuable agents in resolving medical difficulties and advancing biomedical research is emphasized.

Organometallic complexes, which include ligands such as carbon monoxide (CO), carbenes, alkyls, phenyls, p-bound alkynes, alkenes, cyclopentadienyls, and arenes, have been extensively utilized in fields like materials chemistry and catalysis. These complexes also offer opportunities for the development of new medications with unique modes of action. Specifically, we are interested in anticancer drugs that can enhance the effectiveness of platinum treatments, broaden their range of action, reduce adverse effects, and prevent resistance. The distinct physiochemical properties of organometallic complexes have made them valuable in homogeneous catalysis, including the production of lead compounds and therapeutic possibilities. Over the past 20 years, a small group of researchers worldwide has explored the medical applications of these compounds’ unique characteristics, such as their structural diversity, potential for ligand exchange, and redox and catalytic properties. The results have been remarkable, and it is anticipated that numerous other organometallic compounds will undergo clinical trials in the coming years in addition to those already underway. In this brief study, we outline the advantages that organometallic metal complexes have over coordination compounds and pure organic molecules.

This work reports the effects of potassium bromide (KBr) on the electrodeposition of manganese on copper from a DES consisting of a stoichiometric 1:2 mix of choline chloride and ethylene glycol (Ethaline 200). The speciation of MnCl2.4H2O in Ethaline 200 has been investigated using UV–vis spectroscopy, in particular with regard to the addition of KBr to the plating bath, for which no apparent change in the Mn species was noted. This said, the physical properties of the manganese deposits themselves were found to have been considerably improved in comparison to when KBr was omitted from the bath; indeed, the actual adhesion of Mn was achieved for the first time on a copper substrate, somewhat remarkably producing a coating of some considerable thickness. Given its clear electrochemical behavior of the Mn liquid were subsequently determined via cyclic voltammetry method. A reduction in the peak current of Mn was noted on addition of KBr. The mechanism of Mn deposition has been examined via chronocoulometry and chronoamperometry. Surface analyses of Mn deposits have been conducted via SEM/EDX, AFM, and XRD, from which improvements to the Mn surface coatings in depositions performed from an electrolyte containing 0.1 M KBr were noted.