Background: Gallstone disease (GSD) is a significant global health burden with variable prevalence influenced by metabolic, genetic, and infectious factors. Increasing evidence suggests that Gram-positive bacteria, particularly Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus species, contribute to gallstone pathogenesis through enzymatic activity and biofilm formation. Objectives: To characterize Gram-positive bacteria within gallstones from Iraqi patients, evaluate their biofilm-forming capacity, and analyze the relationship between bacterial colonization, gallstone type, and cholesterol levels. Methods: A total of 100 gallstones were obtained from patients undergoing elective cholecystectomy between October 2024 and March 2025. Stones were aseptically processed for bacterial isolation and identification using selective culture media and the VITEK® 2 Compact System. Serum cholesterol levels were determined by enzymatic colorimetric assay. Biofilm formation was quantified via the 96-well microtiter plate method, and statistical correlations between gallstone type, cholesterol level, and bacterial presence were analyzed. Results: Cholesterol stones (57%) were more prevalent than pigment (40%) and mixed stones (3%). Bacterial growth was observed in 43% of gallstones, with Enterococcus species (31 isolates) predominating over S. aureus (12 isolates). Species-level identification revealed E. faecalis (n= 16), E. faecium (n= 9), and E. gallinarum (n= 6), marking the first reported isolation of E. gallinarum from gallstones. Cholesterol concentrations were significantly higher in sterile stones (median 235 mg/dL) compared to bacteria-positive stones (173-186 mg/dL) (P < 0.0001). Biofilm analysis showed all S. aureus isolates as strong producers, whereas E. faecalis exhibited predominantly moderate-to-strong formation, while E. faecium and E. gallinarum displayed weaker capacities. Conclusion: A significant interplay between microbial colonization and gallstone composition. Strong biofilm-producing Gram-positive bacteria, particularly S. aureus and E. faecalis, may facilitate stone maturation and persistence. The novel isolation of E. gallinarum expands the spectrum of biliary microbiota.
Writing in English language demands both mental skills and a suitable level of language proficiency. Some studies showed that writing anxiety has an impact on the acquisition of language learning. This study; however, teaches the cognitive strategies (PLAY & WRITE) as a writing strategy, so as to decrease students’ use of it when experiencing writing anxiety at the academic writing level. The sample has been (100) second-stage Department of English learners at the College of Education (Ibn –Rushd), in the University of Baghdad-Iraq. They have been randomly selected and divided into experimental and control groups; (50) students in each group. To achieve the objective of the study, SLWAI questionnaire has been distributed to
... Show MoreThis research aims to identify the means and forms of interactive communication concerning Iraqi topics on the websites of global radio stations, namely Sawa and Monte Carlo. It also seeks to uncover the editorial and artistic interactions related to Iraqi topics on the selected websites chosen as the research sample, comparing them with the editorial interaction within the Iraqi context between the Radio Monte Carlo and Sawa websites.
The research yields several conclusions, including the following:
Iraqis focus their interaction with topics related to Iraq on Facebook for both Radio Monte Carlo and Sawa; Arabs show higher levels of interaction on Twitter with Radio Monte Carlo; Participants on the webs
An idiom is a group of words whose meaning put together is different from the meaning of
individual words. English is a rich language when it comes to idioms, they represent variety. For
foreign learners, idioms are problematic because even if they know the meaning of individual
words that compose an idiom the meaning of it might be something completely different.
The present study investigates Iraqi third year college students’ recognition of idioms. To
achieve this, the researchers have conducted a test which comprises three questions. Certain
conclusions are reached here along with some suggestions and recommendations.
Reading roles as the third skill in the range of English as a Foreign Language (EFL) learning. Although the capability of reading in both academic and non-academic texts is assessed on standardized tests, few of oral interpretation of written language excludes images from estimating literary knowledge. This paper highlights strategies of reading comprehension and visual literacy. It aims to investigate either textual or visual reading in EFL can make an impact on students' comprehension. The effective use of visuals changes instructing reading comprehension recently.The imagery-text model can affect developing reading comprehension and enhancing intellectual thinking. The study hypothesizes that there is no relationship between reading and
... Show MoreThis research delves into the role of satirical television programs in shaping the image of Iraqi politicians. The research problem is summarized in the main question: How does satire featured in television programs influence the portrayal of Iraqi politicians? This research adopts a descriptive approach and employs a survey methodology. The primary data collection tool is a questionnaire, complemented by observation and measurement techniques. The study draws upon the framework of cultural cultivation theory as a guiding theoretical foundation. A total of 430 questionnaires were disseminated among respondents who regularly watch satirical programs, selected through a multi-stage random sampling procedure.
Th
Over the past few decades, the global usage and applications of different kinds of complementary and alternative medicine are greatly exaggerated among the general population, this requires improving the knowledge of all health care provider including pharmacists toward proper and safe use of different complementary and alternative medicine modalities. The current study aims to assess the Iraqi pharmacists' knowledge, use, and recommendation toward complementary and alternative medicine A cross-sectional pilot survey was done on a convenient sample of Iraqi pharmacists. Data were collected using a pretested
In this study, the upgrading of Iraqi heavy crude oil was achieved utilizing the solvent deasphalting approach (SDA) and enhanced solvent deasphalting (e-SDA) by adding Nanosilica (NS). The NS was synthesized from local sand. The XRD result, referred to as the amorphous phase, has a wide peak at 2Θ= (22 - 23º) The inclusion of hydrogen-bonded silanol groups (Si–O–H) and siloxane groups (Si–O–Si) in the FTIR spectra. The SDA process was handled using n-pentane solvent at various solvent to oil ratios (SOR) (4-16/1ml/g), room and reflux temperature, and 0.5 h mixing time. In the e-SDA process, various fractions of the NS (1–7 wt.%) have been utilized with 61 nm particle size and 560.86 m²/g surface area in the presence of 12 m
... Show MoreAutomatic license plate recognition (ALPR) used for many applications especially in security applications, including border control. However, more accurate and language-independent techniques are still needed. This work provides a new approach to identifying Arabic license plates in different formats, colors, and even including English characters. Numbers, characters, and layouts with either 1-line or 2-line layouts are presented. For the test, we intend to use Iraqi license plates as there is a wide range of license plate styles written in Arabic, Kurdish, and English/Arabic languages, each different in style and color. This variety makes it difficult for recent traditional license plate recognition systems and algorithms to recogn
... Show Moreأن السياسة النقدية في العراق لم تشهد تحسناً كبيراً في دورها المطلوب
منها، وهذا يعود الى جملة من التغيرات على أدائها ودورها في التأثير على المتغيرات الأقتصادية المهمة، اذ حصلت ظروف صعبة على المستوى السياسي والأقتصادي اسهمت في أضعاف دورها في العراق. فالحروب العسكرية الثلاثة في وقت قياسي دمرت البنى التحتية للأقتصاد العراقي، وأخرت عملية التنمية الأقتصادية والبشرية لعدة عقود بسبب الأستنزاف الكبير للمو
Reliability is an essential measure and important component of all power system planning and operation procedures. It is one of the key design factors when designing complex, critical and expensive systems. This paper presents a fuzzy logic approach for reliability improvement planning purposes. Evaluating the reliability of the complex and large planned Iraqi super grid ;as Al- Khairat generating station with its tie set is intended to be compact to that grid; and determination of the given reliability improvement project are the major goals of the paper. Results show that the Iraqi super grid reliability is improved by 9.64%. In the proposed technique, fuzzy set theory is used to include imprecise indices of different components in normal
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