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 study tries to examine a model involving human resources management practices, employees’ outcomes, governmental support, and organizational performance of small businesses in Malaysia. It was hypothesized that HRM practices will be positively related to the organizational performance (financial and operational), and that employees’ outcomes would serve as a mediator in the relationship between HRM practices and performance. Also it was hypothesized that the governmental support will be positively related to organizational performance. The statistical results on data gathered from a sample of 265 small manufacturing businesses will demonstrate the nature of relationships among the study variables. Theoretical and practical
... Show MoreThe research acquires its importance by motivating the behavioural side of the employees to apply modern technology in the work, because of its great importance in increasing the efficiency of employees’ performance and excellence. The research was based on two main hypotheses to show the relationship and impact between the variables through the adoption of a questionnaire to collect data and information related to the research, which consisted of (50) people from administrators working at different levels, based on personal interviews and field visits to collect research data. The data collection process was subjected to statistical analysis using the statistical program (SPSS) (Statistical package for social science) to reach
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The problem of generated waste as a result of the implementation of construction projects, has been aggravated recently because of construction activity experienced by the world, especially Iraq, which is going through a period of reconstruction, where construction waste represents (20-40%) of the total generated waste and has a negative effect on the environment and economic side of the project. In addition, the rate of consumpted amounts of natural resources are estimated to be about 40% in the construction industry, so it became necessary to reduce waste and to be manage well. This study aims to identify the key factors affecting waste management through the various phases of the project, and this is accom
... Show MoreSami Michael and Eli Amir - two Israeli writers born in Iraq and of the same generation (Sami Makhail was born in Baghdad in 1926 and Eli Amir in 1937). They wrote in their novels, among other things, about Orientalism , love and femininity. They both lived wild, extroverted lives. They did not shy away from experiencing anything new that came their way, rebelled against conventions and acted provocatively; they enjoyed the shock and amazement that evoked around them. While trying to find their place in different family settings, they chose to present two Arab Christian heroines. The narrator in Jasmine is the speaker Noori-Eli himself. While the narrator of “Trumpet in the Wadi” is Huda the heroine herself. Both are independent and bot
... Show MoreA new Macrocyclic Schiff base ligand Bis[4-hydroxy(1,2-ethylene-dioxidebenzylidene) pheylenediamine] [H2L] and its complexes with (Co(II) , Ni(II) , Cu(II) , Zn(II) and Cd(II)) are reported . The ligand was prepared in two steps,in the first step a solution of (o-phenylene diamine) in methanol react under reflux with (2,4-dihydroxybenzylaldeyed) to give an (intermediatecompound) [Bis-1,2 (2,4-dihydroxybenzylediene)pheylinediamine] which react in the second step with (1,2- dichloro ethane) giving the mentioned ligand.Then the complexes were synthesis of adding of corresponding metal salts to the solution of the ligand in methanol under reflux with 1:1 metal to ligand ratio. On the basis of, molar conductance, I.R., UV-Vis, chloride content a
... Show Moreفي هذا البحث تم تحضير المركبات المعدنية النانوية الجديدة لأيونات البلاتين 4+و الذهب 3+ مع ليكاند قاعدة مانخ جديد مشتق من السيبروفلوكساسين بطريقة الموجات فوق الصوتية. تم تشخيص المعقدات النانوية والليكاند الجديد بأستخدام تقنيات فيزيائية و كيميائية مختلفة مثل أطياف الاشعة تحت الحمراء، حيود الاشعة السينية ، المجهر الالكتروني الماسح ، المجهر الالكتروني النافذ و مجهر القوة الذرية. تم تحديد نشاط مضادات الأك
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Today, the prediction system and survival rate became an important request. A previous paper constructed a scoring system to predict breast cancer mortality at 5 to 10 years by using age, personal history of breast cancer, grade, TNM stage and multicentricity as prognostic factors in Spain population. This paper highlights the improvement of survival prediction by using fuzzy logic, through upgrading the scoring system to make it more accurate and efficient in cases of unknown factors, age groups, and in the way of how to calculate the final score. By using Matlab as a simulator, the result shows a wide variation in the possibility of values for calculating the risk percentage instead of only 16. Additionally, the accuracy will be calculate
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