American University of Iraq Sulaimani

The objective of the article is to assess the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on Nigeria, Egypt and South Africa, the three largest economies in Africa. The methodology consists of generating with wavelet analysis two sets of forecasts from 2023 to 2050 of annual GDP (current US$) growth rates: 1) using data including the pandemic from 1965 to 2022 and 2) using data not including the pandemic from 1965 to 2019. The difference in forecast averages is an indicator of the resilience of the economy during the pandemic, the greater the difference, the stronger the resilience. The findings reveal that Egypt’s economy showed greater resilience (+4.29%) than Nigeria’s (+1.78%) and South Africa’s (-0.51%). Driven by stronger growth than Nigeria’s and South Africa’s, the average estimate of the 2023-2050 annual growth rate forecasts of Egypt is expected to be +5.10% with the 1965-2022 historical data while it should be +2.62% for Nigeria and +0.18% for South Africa. Supported by higher growth, Egypt's GDP was expected to overtake Nigeria's and South Africa’s in 2023. Data released by the World Bank in 2024 confirmed this fact. However, the Egyptian economy lost momentum in 2024 and 2025, but it remained ranked second behind the South African economy, with the Algerian economy moving into third place ahead of the Nigerian economy.

This article examines the repercussions of recent changes to Canadian immigration policy on international students. It highlights how the changes disproportionately affect some of the most vulnerable student populations, including mature students and their families, students with disabilities, and students at risk of academic failure. Moreover, the new regulations significantly restrict international students’ mobility rights within Canada, further complicating their ability to access educational and professional opportunities. Finally, the cancellation of some expedited study permit programs for specific countries has disproportionately affected applicants from the Global South, especially those from the least-developed economies, hindering their educational and career prospects. In response, this paper presents policy recommendations designed to ensure that higher education frameworks respond to the voices of the most disadvantaged students. By advocating for certain reforms, this study seeks to promote equity, justice, and meritocracy in international education, with a view to an academic environment where all students can thrive.

Prangos ferulacea is a widely recognized and valuable medicinal herb known for its diverse biological characteristics. Our study was conducted to evaluate the anticancer and immunomodulatory effects of P. ferulacea. Ethyl acetate, methanol, and aqueous extracts were prepared from P. ferulacea, and the MTT assay was used to measure antiproliferation activity against 5 cancer cell lines (MDA-MB231, T47-D, HeLa, EMT6/P, and Vero). The 3 extracts underwent a qualitative LC/MS spectrometry analysis to determine each extract's composition. The MTT test was used to measure the proliferation of lymphocytes. Extracts were evaluated for their effects on macrophages phagocytic activity and pinocytosis function using the nitro blue tetrazolium assay and the neutral red method, respectively. The impact of ethyl acetate and methanol was assessed in mice inoculated with EMT6/P using the in vivo model, and the tumor size was measured. Results showed that ethyl acetate and methanol extracts had the highest activity against T47-D with IC50 values of 0.019 mg/ml. The ethyl acetate extract exhibited moderate effectiveness against the following cell lines: MDA-MB-231 and EMT6/P with IC50 values of 0.104 and 0.255 mg/ml, respectively. Meanwhile, methanol extract showed activity against MDA-MB231 and EMT6/P cell lines and had IC50 values of 0.214 and 0.31 mg/ml, respectively. Regarding immunomodulatory assays, the methanol extract, followed by the ethyl acetate extract, significantly increases lymphocyte proliferation and macrophage phagocytosis activity. Aqueous extracts increase the activity of pinocytosis. Both ethyl acetate and methanol extracts reduced tumor size by 61.46% and 34.47%, respectively. They also decreased the average weight of the tumor cells in the in vivo model. The results of P. ferulacea have valuable activity against cancer cells and stimulate the immune system. However, further molecular investigations are required to understand the mechanism of action of P. ferulacea activity.

Este artigo propõe debater o conceito de soberania digital, de forma a introduzir o tema e embasar discussões acerca de políticas relacionadas. A abordagem dá ênfase à emergência da soberania digital como resposta à concentração de poder nas mãos de poucos Estados e de atores não-estatais (as empresas conhecidas como Big Techs) e a percepção da necessidade de reafirmar a capacidade do Estado no ciberespaço, sobretudo após as Revelações de Snowden em 2013 (Polatin-Reuben; Wright, 2014). Mostra-se, contudo, que persiste a ausência de consenso na definição do conceito de Soberania Digital, levando Estados e entidades a empregarem o termo de forma discursiva, com diferentes formas de operacionalização (Fratini et al, 2024). Apresenta-se, também, a “soberania funcional” das Big Techs (Gu, 2023), que, ao controlarem software, hardware e conectividade, exercem um poder que pode desafiar a soberania tradicional, criando uma profunda situação de assimetria (Mayer; Lu, 2025). Em contrapartida, os Estados utilizam-se de quatro principais formas de exercício da soberania digital: investimento em infraestrutura digital autônoma (como cabos submarinos e sistemas de pagamento estatais), regulação e controle normativo (como leis de Localização de Dados), tecnorregulação (“tech by design”, usando o código como regulador, a exemplo do PIX ou India Stack) e ações repressivas, como bloqueios e vigilância (Lukings e Lashkari, 2023). O desafio final do cenário de disputa é, portanto, equilibrar a busca por autonomia tecnológica, a promoção da inovação e a salvaguarda de direitos para que a soberania digital se consolide como um instrumento de proteção aos cidadãos e de garantia das capacidades estatais.

Introduction: Autoimmune thyroid disease (AITD) is a T-cell mediated disorder characterized by the presence of thyroid autoantibodies, particularly thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPO-Ab), which serve as specific biomarkers of thyroid autoimmunity. The relationship between TPO-Ab and thyroid hormones is influenced by several confounding factors, potentially leading to inconsistent findings across studies. Methods: This cross-sectional study investigated 47 patients with AITD (35 women, 12 men; mean age 40 years) receiving levothyroxine (LT4) therapy, all with serum TPO-Ab ≥16 IU/mL. Anthropometric, glycemic, and lipid indices were measured alongside thyroid function tests, and correlations were assessed using zero-order and partial correlation analyses. Results: A significant positive correlation was found between TPO-Ab and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) (r = 0.510, p < 0.001). Adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), fasting glucose, HbA1c, and LDL-c reduced this correlation, while controlling for triglycerides (TG) and HDL-c increased it. Similar trends were observed between TPO-Ab and free thyroid hormones. Multivariate regression showed that 29.1 % of TPO-Ab variability was explained by the tested covariates, highlighting the interplay between metabolic and immunological factors. The influence of lipid parameters suggests that lipid metabolism may directly modulate autoimmunity and thyroid function. Moreover, the use of exogenous LT4, known to lower TG and HDL-c, further complicates the interpretation of antibody-hormone interactions. Conclusion: In conclusion, applying partial correlation analysis provides a more accurate assessment of the link between TPO-Ab and thyroid hormones compared to simple correlations, and supports the need for controlling metabolic and demographic covariates in both clinical practice and research to avoid misleading associations in autoimmune thyroid disease.

    يُعالج التفكير الطوباوي في العمارة غالبًا كفكرة مكانية واحدة، مما يقلل من تعقيده إلى تشكيلات شكلية أو مادية فقط. تتحدى هذا البحث هذا المنظور المختزل من خلال اقتراح إطار متعدد الأبعاد يفسر الطوبيا عبر أربع عدسات مترابطة — المكان، الوقت، الشخصية، والموضوع. بدلاً من العمل كفئات معزولة، تعمل هذه الأبعاد في وقت واحد وبشكل علاقاتي، مشكِّلةً الطريقة التي يتم بها تخيل الطوبيا المعمارية وتمثيلها وتجسيدها. وتطور الدراسة هذا الإطار ذو الأربع عدسات من خلال تركيب نظري لتاريخ العمارة ونظرية المدن والدراسات الطوباوية النقدية، موضحةً كيف يؤثر كل بعد على الآخر ويعتمد عليه: المكان يرسخ المعنى السياقي؛ الوقت يؤطر الاستمرارية والتغيير؛ الشخصية تفسر القيم والهوية الإنسانية؛ والموضوع يكشف عن التجليات المادية والرمزية. باستخدام هذا الإطار كأداة تشخيصية تفسيرية، يقوم البحث بتحليل رؤى معمارية مختارة لتوضيح كيف يمتد التفكير الطوباوي متعدد الأبعاد إلى ما هو أبعد من المثالية الشكلية نحو قراءات أكثر ثراءً اجتماعيًا وثقافيًا وزمنيًا. تُظهر النتائج أن المفاهيم الطوباوية في العمارة تكتسب التماسك فقط عندما يُفهم أن هذه الأبعاد الأربعة تُنتج بشكل مشترك وليس بصورة هرمية أو متسلسلة. تكمن مساهمة البحث في تقديم أداة تحليلية شاملة توسع الخطاب المعماري المعاصر بما يتجاوز الحتمية المكانية. من خلال تسليط الضوء على التفاعل العلاقاتي بين المكان والزمان والشخصية والموضوع، يدعم الإطار نهجًا أكثر أخلاقية وشمولية وتنوعًا لمعالجة التحديات الحضرية الحديثة. تدعو هذه النظرة متعددة الأبعاد المعماريين والمخططين والنظريين إلى إعادة النظر في الطوبيا، ليس كخطة ثابتة، بل كعدسة متطورة لتخيل بيئات مبنية أكثر عدلاً.

Background: Nursing activities are no longer accepted without Evidence-Based Practice (EBP). For that reason, nurses should have a positive attitude toward EBP. They should acquire good knowledge for enhancing their practices. This study aims to increase EBP knowledge and attitude among nurses in clinical practice. Materials and Methods: a quasi-experimental design was used to involve nurses in different private hospitals in Sulaimani city. A total of 37 nurses participated after giving a verbal consent, by convenient sampling. Knowledge and attitude levels were observed at baseline and after an intervention. Two EBP sessions were presented, and a modified questionnaire for assessing knowledge and attitude of EBP was used. SPSS version 25.0 was used for data analysis. Results: The mean age was (31 ± 7.7), they had administrative positions like head nurse (13.5%) and ward in charge (62.2%). The attitude levels were the same before and after the intervention as (97.3%) had a positive attitude. The proportions of the nurses with a good level of EBP knowledge were improved from 51.4% at baseline to 97.3% following the sessions. A statistically highly significant association was found between working area and level of attitude meanwhile, other variables did not represent any significant relationships p (0.02). There was a highly significant correlation between pre-and-post attitude scores at the p (0.002) meanwhile, no correlation was found between pre-and-post knowledge scores at the p (0.6).Conclusions: Evidence-Based Practice sessions can have positive impact on the nurses’ knowledge to consider in their daily practice.

Periodontal disease (PD) and cognitive disorders (CDs) are common in older people, and these variables appear to be linked. The aim of this article was to assess this association using an umbrella meta-analysis. PubMed and MEDLINE were searched for records until June 2025. The groups were compared using odds ratio (OR) and relative risk (RR). A total of 20 meta-analyses were included. Individuals with PD and its consequences had higher chances of having/developing all-type CDs: periodontitis (OR = 1.65, 95% CI: 1.37-1.97, p = < 0.0001), tooth loss (OR = 1.51, 95% CI: 1.32-1.71, p = < 0.0001). The risk was much higher for patients with severe periodontitis: (OR = 2.69, 95% CI: 2.26-3.20, p = < 0.0001). Pooled analysis for cohort studies was (RR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.20-1.32, p = < 0.0001). PD is associated with CDs with low to moderate certainty of evidence measured by GRADE.

English language teachers in rural areas often face complex challenges that impede effective teaching and learning. This study investigates the experiences of English teachers in rural schools of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, focusing on resource constraints, professional development gaps, and socio-cultural factors influencing English language teaching. Using a qualitative design, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 15 rural English teachers (8 female, 7 male) to capture their perspectives. Thematic analysis of the interviews revealed chronic shortages of teaching materials and technology, low student motivation linked to limited English exposure, inconsistent parental support due to socio-economic pressures, and insufficient teacher training and institutional support. These challenges are interrelated and worsen educational inequities between rural and urban settings. Despite these obstacles, teachers demonstrated agency and resilience in adapting to their context. The findings highlight an urgent need for policy interventions, including improved resource allocation, targeted professional development, and community engagement initiatives, to support rural English teachers. This study amplifies teacher voices from an under-researched context and contributes to broader debates on rural ELT, teacher agency, and resource equity in language education.