Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research

In this paper, we use the radial basis functions (RBF) and Bernstein polynomials to solve the linear fractional partial differential equations (FPDEs). First, we combine the RBF and the Bernstein polynomials to obtain the radial basis functions based on Bernstein polynomials with two variables. Then, we approximate the functions in the FPDEs by discretizing the Caputo fractional derivative. Therefore, the fractional partial differential equations convert into a linear system of algebraic equations. Finally, some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the efficiency and accuracy of our method.

Diffusive coupling plays a crucial role in numerous applications by facilitating the diffusion of energy or information among systems. Typically, this type of coupling is defined by the same variables in coupled systems. However, this paper demonstrates that in circulant systems, diffusive coupling can be applied to cross-variables with cyclical symmetry. This approach results in a unique form of synchronization known as circulant synchronization, occurring among the cross-variables. Furthermore, a dynamic analysis reveals that these systems can exhibit various synchronization manifolds, including periodic, quasiperiodic, and chaotic attractors.

This paper explores the use of the Fiber Laser Scribed Technique (FLST) for economically applying protective coatings to PZT energy meters. The suggested PZT energy meter focuses on protecting against excessive reflectivity, which could cause the energy meter to become overheated and damaged. The pulse power output from various lasers with samples of the same size with a diameter of 20 mm. PZT crystal samples made of lead zirconate have been extensively studied in order to gain information and comprehension of pulsed laser energy. The study seeks to develop a laser pulse energy meter that is cost-effective by enhancing the optical properties through protective coatings. The FLST employs Nd (1064 nm), second harmonic generation green (532 nm), and diode (802 nm) lasers to apply protective coatings on PZT energy meters. The optimal FLST parameters, with a speed/frequency ratio of 40/40 mm, achieved an absorbance of 94.48% and reflectivity reduction to 1.5%. A speed/frequency ratio of 80/40 mm using the 802 nm diode laser demonstrated a protective coating efficiency of 95.2%. Increased speed/frequency ratios in FLST resulted in higher reflectivity and lower absorption, which are suboptimal for PZT energy meter production. FLST is precise, durable and cheaper to manufacture and what makes it even better is that the material can be replaced quickly in case of any damage during exposure to lasers. As compared to the regular energy meters which would need to be maintained in case of damages, this design is fast and safe. As observed and analyzed in this study, the non-contact method of FLST is an effective protective strategy for PZT energy meters.

Terahertz Whispering Gallery Mode Resonators (WGMRs) have granted great interest in the photonic regime. They are characterized by their high-quality factor, providing an excellent chance for integrated photonic systems. The geometry of the WGMR plays a crucial role in optimizing spectral properties for specific applications. In the presented study, first, the mode analysis is done using the Finite Element Method (FEM) to investigate the spatial field distribution of a microsphere WGMR of a selected radius of 40 μm. A theoretical investigation is also performed to study the impact of microsphere radius on key spectral properties, including free spectral range (FSR), quality factor, model number, and resonance frequency. The radius of delivery fiber is fixed to 1 μm, while the radius of the microsphere is varied between 25 and 100 μm. According to this study, a small microsphere radius results in a large FSR and high-quality factor ($\:{Q}_{F})$ 1012, enabling enhanced sensitivity, considered an essential requirement of THz WGMR sensors.

In recent years, the study of neuronal models has provided significant insights into brain dynamics and neurological disorders. Map-based neuronal models, such as the Rulkov map, have gained considerable popularity due to their computational efficiency and ability to replicate complex neuronal dynamics. We thus here study the collective dynamics of an unidirectional ring network composed of three memristive Rulkov maps, with particular emphasis on synchronization patterns and their dependence on coupling types. By employing electrical and memristive/field couplings, we analyze the emergence of complete synchronization, lag synchronization, and phase synchronization under varying coupling strengths. Our findings highlight how diffusive-based synaptic pathways modulate synchronization and collective behavior in the network. The presented results also offer new perspectives on the role of coupling functions in shaping neuronal synchronization, and they reveal their deeper implications for understanding pathological brain states and for designing neuromorphic systems.

In this work, the study gives attention for improvement of the Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT) using the Perturb and Observe (P&O) algorithm based MPPT applied to solar power generation system (SPGS). The algorithm components are refined, outcomes of the resultant optimized values are compared to address challenges in optimizing power, voltage and efficiency with the research. Further to improve this performance, Fractional Order Proportional Integral Derivative (FOPID) criteria are tuned using optimization techniques such as Black Hole (BH) Optimization, Jaya Optimization Algorithm (JOA), and Sunflower Optimization (SFO). Selection of optimal power and voltage values was aided by these methods. Limitations of the study include the exclusion of dynamic environmental changes in the analysis, and the potential non specificity of optimization algorithms for all SPGS scenarios considered. SPGS offers an opportunity to explore more dynamic models, as well as alternative algorithms, to improve the power and voltage management done in SPGS.

A thermal‐energy‐storage (TES) system is investigated in this work. The charging process uses hot air passed through a fixed bed, transferring thermal energy to solid particles, while discharging occurs with cold air flowing in the opposite direction. A novel automated dynamic simulation model of the TES is developed and validated using data from the literature. This study uniquely operates with a heat‐transfer‐fluid (HTF) temperature of up to 1200 °C during charging, with discharge temperatures regulated via a bypass controller. Simulations explore the fixed‐bed storage behaviour during charging/discharging cycles, with 64 parameter variations tested. In addition to air, CO2 is evaluated as an HTF to enhance performance due to its higher density. Results show that Case C14 (using air) achieves a maximum thermal capacity of 3.237 MWh and utilization of 55.4%. When CO2 is substituted for air under the same parameters, a thermal capacity and utilization increase of 4.5% is observed, along with reduced compressor work, highlighting CO2's advantages for improved efficiency.

Iraq is one of the five countries most affected by high temperatures, low precipitation, drought, and desertification hazards. In this research, Landsat 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager/Thermal Infrared Sensor (OLI/TIRS) images of Basra, southern Iraq, were used from 1986 to 2021. The relationships between Land Surface Temperature (LST), Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, and Normalized Difference Built-up Index were examined to determine the impacts of LST on Land Use/Land Cover (LULC) changes and to estimate future changes under projected temperature and precipitation scenarios for Representative Concentration Pathways (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5) scenarios from 2010 to 2091. The results indicated significant changes in different LULC categories in Basra from 1986 to 2021. Orchards and swampy areas (especially in Hawiza, Msahab, and Salal marshes) decreased by 45%, mostly converting to built-up or barren areas. The sand area increased by 15.6%. The built-up area increased rapidly from 1217 to 1371 km2, a 12.7% increase. Most of the built-up and barren areas in the north, center, and south of Basra province recorded LST values less than 50 °C, especially in gas-flaring areas in petroleum locations. The overall accuracy of LULC was 90% in 1986 and 88% in 2021, while the kappa coefficients were 0.797 in 1986 and 0.848 in 2021. Based on RCP4.5 and RCP8.5 scenarios, the values of the temperature increase in both scenarios by 1.7 °C in 2050 and 2.2 °C in 2091 in Basra. Due to Basra's significance to Iraq’s economy, society, and politics, the findings of this study will be helpful to city planners and decision-makers in future development of Basra province.

ECG steganography technique used ECG signals as a carrier to provide a secure transmission channel. Achieving trade-offs among the steganography performance aspects, namely capacity, quality, robustness, and security, is still a challenging task. In this paper, an ECG steganography method is proposed to enhance the robustness and security of ECG steganography while maintaining the capacity and the transparency. Moreover, the method uncovers the embedding factors to tune the performance towards any aspect. This paper proposes an ECG steganography method based on multi-chaotic functions for randomly selecting the secret bits and cover samples and sample modulation for embedding in the time domain, which will be called ESMS. The dataset MIT-BIH arrhythmia and measurements, PSNR, NC, and PRD are used for the assessment of the performance of the proposed ESMS method. The results show enhancing the hiding capacity by about 40% that can be reached 100% with 44 dB, 0.9998, and 1.69 of PSNR, NC, and PRD, respectively. The stego ECG signals of the ESMS method withstand an AWGN attack at 5 dB with a hiding capacity of 100%, and PSNR, NC, and BER of 39.99, 0.9996, and 0.03, respectively, resist against the brute force attack and are sensitive to any slight changes in the secret key. The performance results reveal that the ESMS method achieves a trade-off in terms of hiding capacity, robustness, and security while still managing to achieve acceptable ECG quality.

Background : surgical urgency is a significant factor influencing outcomes of coronary artery bypass grafting. This study aims to assess the impact of urgency on postoperative complications and patient outcomes. Methods : a retrospective cohort analysis was conducted. out of 205 patients, 38 patients were selected, who underwent coronary artery bypass graft at the Dr. Hemn foundation, Erbil, Iraq, from February 2021 to December 2023. Patients were divided equally into urgent and elective groups, matched for age, gender, chronic disease presence, and type of surgery. Results : no significant difference was observed in age (p-value = 1.000), gender (p-value = 1.000), and body mass index (p-value = 0.748). the prevalence of posterior descending artery stenosis in the elective group was observed (p-value = 0.039). The urgent group experienced longer total hospital stay and intensive care unit. Postoperatively the urgent group experienced more blood loss compared to the elective group (p-value = 0.019) and had higher serum creatinine levels (p-value = 0.021). Conclusions : urgent coronary artery bypass grafting was associated with increased postoperative challenges, particularly in terms of renal function, blood loss, and extended hospital stay. Trial registration: retrospectively registered

Users can use online data computing services and computational resources from a distance in cloud computing environments. Task scheduling is a crucial part of cloud computing since it necessitates the creation of dependable and effective techniques for allocating tasks to resources. To achieve optimal performance, it requires accurate task allocation to resources. By optimizing task scheduling, cloud computing solutions can decrease processing times, boost efficiency, and improve overall system performance. To address these challenges, this paper proposes an improved version of Henry gas solubility optimization, which is presented as the Henry Gas-Harris Hawks-Comprehensive Opposition (HGHHC) method. This method is based on two elements: comprehensive opposition-based learning (COBL) and Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO). The HHO algorithm was employed as a local search strategy in this suggested algorithm to improve the quality of authorized solutions. Through meticulous analysis of their opposites and selecting an efficient option, COBL improves the less effective options. This method made it easier to improve insufficient solutions, which increased the overall effectiveness of the chosen strategies. The suggested technique was tested using CloudSim on the NASA, HPC2N, and Synthetic datasets. For makespan (MKS), it achieved performance of 34.30, 72.95, and 28.67, respectively. Regarding resource utilization (RU), the corresponding values were 16.92, 28.72, and 25.58. Therefore, the simulated makespan and resource usage of the proposed HGHHC algorithm were better than those of previous approaches. This highlights the effectiveness of hybrid meta-heuristic algorithms in achieving a balance between exploration and exploitation, preventing them from getting stuck in local optima.

In harsh or corrosive environments, waterproofing is essential for ground-contact structures. Protecting underground structures against groundwater contamination and moisture by waterproofing the base material, usually solid concrete, is beneficial. Long-term insulation system performance depends on component integrity and base material interaction. This study uses a hydraulically modified binder and finely ground construction waste fillers. Optimizing sealant and restoration is the goal. Additionally, this study will explore the characteristics and establish a systematic approach for determining the appropriate waterproofing system composition. The study measures the physical force required to remove the insulating layer in order to assess the adhesive strength of the sealant coating. This paper explains the theoretical conditions that improve the adhesion of the base- sealant sealing layer. A conceptual framework explains the relationship between sealant material adhesive strength, modified binder composition, and base surface moisture content. Empirical testing has proven this model works. A comprehensive study examined how base surface roughness and cracks affect sealant coating performance. We know the ideal strength factors. This study uses global optimization to examine optimized parameters' roles. This study analyzed experimental data statistically and analytically. According to computational analysis and experimental validation, the sealant material has an adhesive strength of 3.8 MPa and a sealant layer strength of 36–37 MPa. This product requires 3.9% acrylic resin, 80 kg/m3 finely broken concrete debris, and 0.38–0.39% plasticizer. For these components, a base surface with 9.7% to 9.8% moisture is ideal.

This study investigates the adoption of performance-based budgeting (PBB) in Iraq’s Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research (MOHE), addressing challenges in aligning budgeting practices with performance outcomes. Motivated by gaps in the literature on public sector budget reforms, particularly in Iraq and other developing countries, the study surveys 317 MOHE employees. It employs partial least squares structural equation modelling to analyze internal and external factors and the moderating roles of transactional and servant leadership styles. The findings reveal that transactional leadership significantly enhances PBB facilitation, while servant leadership has an indirect effect, emphasizing the need for a balanced leadership approach. By contributing to contingency theory, the study highlights the critical role of facilitators in PBB implementation and aligns with global public sector budgeting reforms. These results provide strategic insights for higher education administrators and policymakers, particularly in contexts with centralized governance and limited financial autonomy. Despite focusing on Iraq’s higher education sector, the insights may have implications for other developing nations facing similar challenges and suggest avenues for future research, including qualitative studies to explore these dynamics further.

As the world edges closer to perovskite solar cell (PSC) commercialization, state‐of‐the‐art materials and processes become publicized to a much lesser degree. From current insights into perovskite industry standards, slot‐die coating is the number one method for fabricating the perovskite layer. Other significant layers can be done using varying techniques. Hence, in this review article, all 115 existing slot‐die‐based PSC publications to date together with related literature are crystallized to set stages for future scalable perovskite research. Through investigation of the effects of materials, processes, and structures on performance, stability, and cost of slot‐die coating is presented. In the end, power output x operating lifetime per cost is the most influential factor for market consideration. The roll‐to‐roll compatibility of the slot‐die coating together with low‐cost materials and lean processes present a cost‐effective strategy for successful commercialization.

To identify the genetic determinants of domestication and productivity of Asian water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis), 470 genomes of domesticated river and swamp buffaloes along with their putative ancestors, the wild water buffaloes (Bubalus arnee) are sequenced and integrated. The swamp buffaloes inherit the morphology of the wild buffaloes. In contrast, most river buffaloes are unique in their morphology, but their genomes cluster with the wild buffaloes. The levels of genomic diversity in Italian river and Indonesian swamp buffaloes decrease at opposite extremes of their distribution range. Purifying selection prevented the accumulation of harmful loss‐of‐function variants in the Indonesian buffaloes. Genes that evolved rapidly (e.g., GKAP1) following differential selections in the river and swamp buffaloes are involved in their reproduction. Genes related to milk production (e.g., CSN2) and coat color (e.g., MC1R) underwent strong selections in the dairy river buffaloes via soft and hard selective sweeps, respectively. The selective sweeps and single‐cell RNA‐seq data revealed the luminal cells as the key cell type in response to artificial selection for milk production of the dairy buffaloes. These findings show how artificial selection has been driving the evolutionary divergence and genetic differentiation in morphology and productivity of Asian water buffaloes.

This study introduces a Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) refractive index sensor based on a D-shaped Polarization Maintaining Photonic Crystal Fiber (PM-PCF). The D-shaped sensor surface is coated with gold nanolayers approximately 40 nm thick. The effect of the structure of the gold nanolayers on the sensor’s performance is analyzed. First, a rectangular-shaped layer is introduced. Then, two different shapes (saw-tooth and bow-tie) are selected for further study. The sensor is designed using the Finite Element Method (FEM). The results showed that a single resonant peak in the infrared (IR) region is observed when a rectangular layer shape is used. When the metallic layer shape is changed, two resonant peaks are observed. One is in the visible part of the spectrum, and the second is in the infrared region. The higher sensitivity is achieved from the sensor coated with saw teeth nanolayer structure for the resonant peak located in the IR region equal to 26,000 nm/RIU. While, the spectral resolution for all designs is in the range of 10–5–0–6 RIU for the refractive index range (1.34–1.36). The designed D-shaped SPR sensor, featuring unique gold nanolayer structures, offers a wide range of potential applications across various fields due to its enhanced sensitivity and tunability in visible and IR spectra. Some of these applications are the detection of biomolecules, disease diagnostics, and environmental pollution detection.

Background with Aim of the Study Assessment is crucial to the success of any educational program. In the dental school, students need to provide treatment for patients early in their clinical study. In Iraqi dental schools, this task is undertaken from the third year on. They must acquire both knowledge and skills to be capable, efficient practitioners. Materials and Methods The study was done during the academic year’s second semester of fifth-stage students. One hundred and eighteen students participated in this study. Each student was provided with the same questionnaire’s form. The form consists of 5 domains, and each domain consists of 2 items, answered by choosing one of the available options. Both descriptive as well as inferential statistics were applied to the data using SPSS version 11.5. Chi-square and Pearson tests for correlation analysis. Results A significant relationship between each of the cavity preparation, pulp capping, cavity lining, filling, and overall performance with the time. The vast majority of the responses reflected a “good” and “very good” level of evaluation. However, pulp capping and cavity lining did not reflect the same level of satisfaction in general. The result of this study indicates that the criteria adopted in the academic evaluation and patient-based outcome move in parallel directions. Academic staff evaluation includes that students are more challenging when they perform delicate procedures, and this is reflected by their evaluation toward such procedures (pulp capping and lining). Conclusion The students’ self-evaluation of their performance in the Operative Department seems logical. They seem to have reasonable level of satisfaction toward their performance. However, additional efforts are needed to assess students’ views on management of any procedural challenges.

Concrete is a construction material that is widely used in structural engineering due to its reasonable cost and strong compressive strength, making it a traditional material of choice. Aging, steel corrosion, and unexpected heavy loads can cause damage to concrete structures. Repairing concrete involves removing the damaged layer and replacing it with new material. In this study, ultra-high-performance steel fiber concrete UHPSFC is employed as the repair material. Investigating different concrete grades, including high-strength concrete substrate, still represents a gap in the literature. This study applied three different grades of concrete: normal, medium, and high-strength concrete. The aim is to investigate the interfacial bonding between the concrete substrate and the new UHPSFC under pure shear loads. Bi-shear tests were conducted on nine specimens in their original cast state and thirty-six composite specimens with various surface treatments. The results indicate that substrate’s compressive strength and roughness method significantly affect the bond strength. In high-strength substrate, shear strength increases by at least 56% compared to normal concrete substrate. In addition, it was observed that among the different surface treatments, chiseling surface specimens produced the highest interfacial shear strength. For high-strength concrete substrate, although the chiseling method reached 88.8% of the shear strength of the corresponding control specimens, the straight groove surface specimens achieved the highest strength (93.8%). Eventually, different failure modes were observed, including adhesive, cohesive, and mixed failure modes.