Introduction: Methadone hydrochloride (MDN) is an effective pharmacological substitution treatment for opioids dependence, adopted in different countries as methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) programmes. However, MDN can exacerbate the addiction problem if it is abused and injected intravenously, and the frequent visits to the MMT centres can reduce patient compliance. The overall aim of this study is to develop a novel extended-release capsule of MDN using the sol-gel silica (SGS) technique that has the potential to counteract medication-tampering techniques and associated health risks and reduce the frequent visits to MMT centres. Methods: For MDN recrystallisation, a closed container method (CCM) and hot-stage method (HSM) were conducted, and MDN crystals were characterised using the polarised light microscope (PLM). MDN crystal thickness was determined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and confocal microscopy (CM) to establish a relationship between MDN crystals thickness and their birefringence colours using the Michel-Levy Birefringence Colour Chart. The experimental series was continued to produce novel silica-based MDN formulations A and B capsules by adding MDN powder at the end and beginning of the SGS process, respectively. The silica-based MDN formulations were characterised by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), SEM, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), PLM and mean grey value (MGV) analyses. The in vitro release studies (n=3) for the silica-based MDN formulations and pure MDN capsules were conducted in a phosphate buffer solution (pH= 7.2) for 7 days. Stability studies were conducted for 1 month by keeping the silica-based MDN capsules under 25°C and 57% RH. Results: The optimal method to produce large numbers of MDN crystals was the CCM, and MDN crystals were characterised as diamond shaped with an intrinsic angle of 62o. The SEM surpassed the CM in measuring MDN crystal thickness, and Mann-Whitney U Test showed statistically significant differences between SEM and confocal thickness measurements (U= 1283, p < 0.05) as the SEM exhibited thinner diamond crystals (6.62 ± 2.9 µm) than the CM measurements (9.6 ± 4.6µm). According to the Michel-Levey birefringence colour chart (using the SEM mean thickness of MDN crystals and their retardation value of 428 nm), most of MDN crystals demonstrated a yellow colour. The FT-IR, SEM, DSC, MGV and PLM analyses of both silica-based MDN formulations revealed that MDN was successfully incorporated inside the silica network producing amorphous material (with no appearance of the melting peak of pure MDN at 233.4°C) with evidence of no physical or chemical interaction between sol-gel silica and MDN. However, the TGA analysis revealed a significantly greater amount of MDN was loaded inside the silica-based MDN formulation B compared to A (t = 2.80, p = 0.009, n=6), as 28.3 ± 0.6 mg of MDN was loaded in the former while 25.6 ± 0.7 mg in the latter. In addition, the silica-based MDN formulation B released 10% more MDN after 7 days than formulation A, and both formulations were stable when stored for 1 month under 57% RH and 25°C. Conclusion: The novel combined use of SEM and PLM techniques shows a potential for the identification of MDN in forensic science as it established a range of birefringence colours of MDN crystals. Moreover, the new silica-based MDN formulation B can help to deter MDN abuse and increase patient adherence to MMT due to its potential to sustain MDN release and reduce the frequent visits to MDN treatment centres.
This in vitro study evaluated the influence of chemomechanical caries removal solution on the surface topography of metal-ceramic feldspar porcelain (MAJOR ceramic) and All-ceramic feldspar porcelain (Vita Alpha) using light polarizing microscope. Forty specimens of MAJOR ceramic and forty specimens of Vita Alpha ceramic of (12mm diameter & 3mm height) were prepared .All specimens were polished with silicon polishing burs, cleaned, autoglazed and stored in 37°C before exposure to Carisolv. Thirty specimens of each material randomly exposed to Carisolv gel for 5, 10 and 20 minutes respectively, other ten specimens were not, to act as control group. All specimens were subjected to surface roughness test by profilometer and evalua
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The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of human resource diversity management practices on achieving entrepreneurship in Jordanian public universities. To achieve the aims of the study, a well-designed questionnaire was used for collecting data. The population of the study was (7433) faculty members (including different ranks such as professors, associate professors, assistant professors and lecturers) in Jordanian public universities. The study sample was selected through the use of a random sample, the questionnaire is distributed to a sample (of 400 with the percentage of 5%) selected by using a random sampling (350) copies of the questionnaire were collected, reaching about (87.5%) out of the sum total of the dist
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The research deals with Environmental Management and how to develop its programs with the use of Knowledge Management, the environmental programs that integrate with processes can add strategic value to business through improving rates of resource utilization , efficiencies , reduce waste, use risk management, cut costs, avoid fines and reduce insurance. All these activities and processes can improve it through knowledge management, the optimal usage for all organizations information , employ it in high value and share it among all organizations members who involves in modify its strategy . Choosing suitable environmental management information system, develop it and modify it with organization processes, can greatly serve the en
... Show MoreAfter studying the reality of application to occupational safety in new Iraqi building projects and sampling the situation wilt that in developed and neighboring countries, researcher found that there is a big gap in the level of safety application conditions, this indicates the need fora quick and clear reference for local engineers to use it on site for safety conditions in their projects . As a case study the monitors work the researcher studied a huge project in the United Arab Emirates.This project considered for safety requirements to highest grades. This case study may be far away from the projects in Iraq, but we hope to rise the Iraqi work level in the near future. After seeing the way of administration work and how they were ra
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The purpose of this study is to identify the extent of the EFL teachers’ implementationoftotal quality management (TQM)principles through teaching English as a foreign language in Iraqi secondary schools.A total of 180 EFL teachers fromsecondary schools in Baghdad during the academic year 2010/ 2011 participated in the study. Data was collected using a scale to identify the extent of implementation of total quality management principles by 140 EFL teachers in their classroom. To support the data collected from the scale,40 teachers were observed by EFL educational supervisors during their lessons. The collected data was analyzed using frequency, means and standard deviation to identify the extent of implementation of (TQM) principles.
... Show MoreThe objective of this research is to study the effect of human capital dimensions (knowledge, skills, abilities, value) and his management dimensions (leadership practices, employess engagement, access knowledge, workforce optimization, learning capacity) with the Office of the Inspector General's staff - the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, has depended questionnaire as a tool in data and information related to research collection, as distributed to a sample of (63) individuals were distributed in positions (director, director of the Division of employees) the search data analysis using ready-statistical program (spss) the researcher used hypothesis testing and correlation c
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E-learning seeks to create an interactive learning environment between the teacher and the learner through electronic media conveying in more than one direction, regardless of how the environment and its variables are identified. It also develops skills necessary to deal with technology in order to be able to take into account the individual differences between them and helps e-learning teacher and learner to achieve the goals set in advance and identify educational objectives in a clear manner. The research aims to identify e-learning in its benefits and management systems. It has three sections dealt with in the current research. Chapter II concentrates on the research Methodology, which consisted of three sections: The first s
... Show MoreThe last ten years observed a shift enormous scientific in the method and way that it deals professional with the cost accounting and reflected the result those shift enormous scientific of increase the competitive environmental that accompanied the emergence of a modern manufacturing environmental on surface the long roductive life and emergence advanced information technology that give a central focus of his important on client with growing global markets growth on a large scale.
The research aim to define the concept of cost awareness, the concept and methods of strategic cost management and the role of cost awareness for managers of industrial units in strategic of cost managem
... Show MoreThe study aims to know the nature of the expected relationship between market share management strategies and the variation in the performance of the shares of a number of Iraqi industrial companies listed in the Iraqi Stock Exchange. For the period (2005-2018) in the light of both the monthly closing prices and sales volume during the research period, the (Panel Data) method was relied on through a stylistic test (fixed effects model and random effects model), and the results determined the need to adopt the fixed effects model method for sample data and test Assumptions, the results showed the positive impact of market share according to its strategies on the performance of stocks according to its studied indicators (Treynor index
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In the present study, magnet silica-coated Ag2WO4/Ag2S nanocomposites (FOSOAWAS) were fabricated via a multistep method to address the drawbacks related to single photocatalysts (pure Ag2WO4 and pure Ag2S) and to clarify the significant influence of semiconductor heterojunction on the enhancement of visible-light-driven organic degradation. Different techniques were performed to investigate the elemental composition, morphology, magnetic and photoelectrochemical properties of the fabricated FOSOAWAS photocatalyst. The FOSOAWAS photocatalyst (1 g/L) exhibited excellent photodegradation efficiency (99.5%) against Congo red dye (CR = 20 ppm) after 140 min of visible-light illumination. This result confirmed the ability of the heterojunction be
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