Explore the vast range of titles available.

In-situ hybrid metal matrix composites were prepared by reinforcing AA6061 aluminium alloy with 10 wt.% of boron carbide (B4C) and 0 wt.% to 6 wt.% of mica. Machinability of the hybrid aluminium metal matrix composite was assessed by conducting drilling with varying input parameters. Surface texture of the hybrid composites and morphology of drill holes were examined through scanning electron microscope images. The influence of rotational speed, feed rate and % of mica reinforcement on thrust force and torque were studied and analysed. Statistical analysis and regression analysis were conducted to understand the significance of each input parameter. Reinforcement of mica is the key performance indicator in reducing the thrust force and torque in drilling of the selected material, irrespective of other parameter settings. Thrust force is minimum at mid-speed (2000 rpm) with the lowest feed rate (25 mm/min), but torque is minimum at highest speed (3000 rpm) with lowest feed rate (25 mm/min). Multi-objective optimization through a non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm has indicated that 1840 rpm of rotational speed, 25.3 mm/min of feed rate and 5.83% of mica reinforcement are the best parameters for obtaining the lowest thrust force of 339.68 N and torque of 68.98 N.m. Validation through experimental results confirms the predicted results with a negligible error (less than 0.1%). From the analysis and investigations, it is concluded that use of Al/10 wt.% B4C/5.83 wt.% mica composite is a good choice of material that comply with European Environmental Protection Directives: 2000/53/CE-ELV for the automotive sector. The energy and production cost of the components can be very much reduced if the found optimum drill parameters are adopted in the production.

In this work, effects of thickness towards volume proportion of TiO 2 nanofilms were deposited on a glass substrate at 500 °C by using ANSP method. The optical profilometer shows the coated films thicknesses were increased (186, 234, 311, 397 and 433 nm) by increasing the volume proportion. Based on the thickness, The XRD reveals a polycrystalline tetragonal anatase phase with decreased particle sizes. The topographical study (AFM) of 3D surface view shows the incremented average roughness (R a ) values. The surface morphological variations with decremented particle size were examined by FESEM. The maximum transmittance ~78.5% (λ = 612.8 nm) is obtained to 186 nm thickness and further increment of thickness shows the decremented value of transmittance with an absorption edge shifted from lower to higher wavelength (blue shift) and the calculated band gap value Eg = 3.65–3.26 eV. The gas sensing performances of films was studied by using a various sensing parameters, obviously C 2 H 6 O gas shows highest response (S m  = 13% as 397 nm) at 300 °C for 150 ppm gas concentration against other gasses (NH 3 , CH 4 O, C 3 H 8 O and C 3 H 6 O).

TiO 2 nanofilms were deposited on a glass substrate at 500 °C using automated nebulizer spray pyrolysis. The anatase polycrystalline structure with increased grain size and variations of surfactant planes ( T c ) were influenced by molar concentration on XRD study. AFM study shows the average roughness values were increased with increase in molar concentration. A granular domain like microstructure with crack and void-free particle was examined by FESEM. The maximum transmittance ~95.5% (529.6 nm) for x  = 0.05 M/L, further increment of molar concentration showed the decremented transmittance with red shift absorption edge and the calculated band gap values ( E g  = 3.53–3.20 eV) also noted. The gas sensing performances of films were studied with respect to various gas sensing parameters and the ammonia (NH 3 ) gas showed better sensing response ( S max  = 89%) at 150 °C for 300 ppm gas concentration against other gases (C 2 H 6 O, CH 4 O, C 3 H 8 O and C 3 H 6 O).

Y x Ti 1−x O 2 nanofilms were deposited on glass substrate at 500 °C by automated nebulizer spray pyrolysis route. The influence of yttrium concentration on XRD shows the stabilized anatase tetragonal polycrystalline nature and * (222), * (400) plane orientation of Y 2 O 3 were revealed by Y = 10%. An XPS spectrum reveals the primary elements such as O 1s, Ti 2p, Y 3d, Ti 3p and C 1s with a binding energy respectively. The morphological study of FESEM shows the modification from granular spherical to honeycomb structure based on yttrium concentration. Optical study shows the blue shift of sharp absorption edge with increased band gap values ( E g  = 3.20 eV–3.78 eV) is depends upon Y concentration. Notably, gas sensing performance of Y x Ti 1−x O 2 shows the highest sensitivity response to Y = 10% (Y 0.10 Ti 9.90 O 2 ) of NH 3 at 150 °C with 300 ppm gas concentration and all the films exhibits better sensitivity response in order to NH 3  > C 2 H 6 O > C 3 H 6 O> CH 4 O > C 3 H 8 O.

Similar to other antiretroviral medications, atazanavir, is a protease inhibitor (PI) that is used to treat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. This work aimed to adopt a solid dispersion approach with β-cyclodextrin as the carrier to increase the atazanavir sulfate's water solubility. Different batches of atazanavir sulfate solid dispersions and physical mixes were produced, and the effects of carrier type and concentration on the solubility and dissolution of atazanavir sulfate were systematically examined. Various analytical techniques such as Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), were utilized to study the compatibility between the carrier and drug, and the degree of crystallinity and surface morphology of the solid dispersion to assess the increase in the solubility and dissolution rate. Studies on compatibility using FTIR and DSC revealed that there was no interaction between drug with carrier. The batch formulated employing a 1:5 ratio of drug to polymer by kneading method showed good in vitro dissolution properties over the other batches and pure drug. The drug release from the formulation was found to obey first-order kinetics and diffusion as their main mechanism of release.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic was characterized by rapid evolution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants, affecting viral transmissibility, virulence, and response to vaccines/therapeutics. EMPATHY (NCT04828161), a phase 2 study, investigated the safety/efficacy of ensovibep, a multispecific designed ankyrin repeat protein (DARPin) with multivariant in vitro activity, in ambulatory patients with mild to moderate COVID-19. Nonhospitalized, symptomatic patients (N = 407) with COVID-19 were randomized to receive single-dose intravenous ensovibep (75, 225, or 600 mg) or placebo and followed until day 91. The primary endpoint was time-weighted change from baseline in log SARS-CoV-2 viral load through day 8. Secondary endpoints included proportion of patients with COVID-19-related hospitalizations, emergency room (ER) visits, and/or all-cause mortality to day 29; time to sustained clinical recovery to day 29; and safety to day 91. Ensovibep showed superiority versus placebo in reducing log SARS-CoV-2 viral load; treatment differences versus placebo in time-weighted change from baseline were -0.42 ( = .002), -0.33 ( = .014), and -0.59 ( < .001) for 75, 225, and 600 mg, respectively. Ensovibep-treated patients had fewer COVID-19-related hospitalizations, ER visits, and all-cause mortality (relative risk reduction: 78% [95% confidence interval, 16%-95%]) and a shorter median time to sustained clinical recovery than placebo. Treatment-emergent adverse events occurred in 44.3% versus 54.0% of patients in the ensovibep and placebo arms; grade 3 events were consistent with COVID-19 morbidity. Two deaths were reported with placebo and none with ensovibep. All 3 doses of ensovibep showed antiviral efficacy and clinical benefits versus placebo and an acceptable safety profile in nonhospitalized patients with COVID-19.

The spatially distributed sand samples of the Cauvery River sediments in Tamil Nadu were investigated with respect to their surface microtextural features in north-east (NE) and south-west (SW) monsoon rainfall seasons. The quartz grains show distinct surface microtextures with unique mechanical, chemical and morphological features with respect to the sedimentation process. The mechanical features like conchoidal fractures with arcuate steps indicate that the sand grains were derived from crystalline rocks. The abundance of angular grains supports that the grains were transported long distance by fluvial process. The silica globule, overgrowth and precipitation marks on the grain surfaces decipher the chemical process in silica saturated environment. Similarly, the solution pits in sand grains near Poombugar indicate the influence of sea water. The chatter mark trails suggest the wet tropical climate. The abundance of mechanical features and smooth surface microtextures suggest that the grains were transported in high-energy conditions. The NE monsoon sediments are coarse grained to medium grained and SW monsoon sediments are medium to fine sand size, which are attributed to the high and moderate energy conditions, respectively.

The aim of the present study was to assess the larvicidal property of marine actinobacterial compound 5-(2,4-dimethylbenzyl) pyrrolidin-2-one (DMBPO) extracted and isolated from Streptomyces VITSVK5 sp. tested against the larvae of Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus Canestrini (Acari: Ixodidae), Anopheles stephensi Liston, and Culex tritaeniorhynchus Giles (Diptera: Culicidae). The isolate bacteria was taxonomically characterized, identified, and designated as Streptomyces VITSVK5 sp. The crude extract was loaded on silica gel column and eluted with chloroform:methanol. The isolated pure compound was analyzed by thin layer chromatography using chloroform and methanol as the solvent system and confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The structure of the purified compound was established from infrared, ultraviolet, 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), 13C-NMR, and mass spectral data. The chemical shift assignments obtained for the aliphatic compound from 1H-NMR corresponding to the molecular formula C13H17NO. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to the isolation of compound which was identified as DMBPO. In the present study, Streptomyces VITSVK5 sp. crude extract and different fractions were tested against the larvae of parasites at the concentration of 1,000 ppm. Those fractions showing 100% mortality in 24 h alone was selected for further column chromatographic separation. The purified compound, C13H17NO, was tested in the concentrations of 500, 250, 125, 62.5, and 31.25 ppm and observed the percent larval mortality of 100, 70, 64, 40, and 28 against R. microplus; 100, 79, 63, 36, and 22 against A. stephensi; and 100, 84, 67, 42, and 27 against C. tritaeniorhynchus, respectively. The crude extract showed parasitic effects after 24 h of exposure at 1,000 ppm, and parasite mortality was observed against the larvae of R. microplus (LC50 = 210.39 ppm, r2 = 0.873); A. stephensi (LC50 = 169.38 ppm, r2 = 0.840); and C. tritaeniorhynchus (LC50 = 198.75 ppm, r2 = 0.887). The maximum efficacy was observed in purified marine actinobacterial compound DMBPO with LC50 and r2 values against the larvae of R. microplus (84.31 ppm, 0.889); A. stephensi (88.97 ppm, 0.817), and C. tritaeniorhynchus (74.95 ppm, 0.781), respectively. The control (distilled water) showed nil mortality in the concurrent assay.