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In the present research, zeolite is used for the removal of toxic Congo red dye from water solution. The effects of different operating conditions such as hydrogen potential (pH), contact time (time), zeolite dose (D), initial dye concentration (C0), and ionic strength (I) are investigated for Congo red adsorption under batch mode. It was found that the adsorption process was greatly affected by the initial pH of the dye solution. The removal efficiency decreased from 97.68 to 5.22% when the pH varied from 3 to 5; thus, acidic conditions clearly improve Congo red adsorption on zeolite. At pH 3, an increase in C0 and I and decrease in D resulted in an increase in the adsorption capacity qe. The effects of these three parameters and their interactions were also investigated using the 23 full factorial design experiments approach where qe was chosen as the response. The results obtained from this method followed by the analysis of variance and the Student’s t-test show that, the influence of these parameters on dye adsorption process are in the order I < C0 < D. The kinetic studies revealed that adsorption follows a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The adsorption isotherms experimental data were analyzed using the Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin isotherms models. The Freundlich isotherm was the best-fit model to the experimental data. The fitting of kinetics and isotherm models was evaluated by using non-linear modeling, R2, MSE, and RMSE.

With the increasing demand for lighter, more environmentally friendly, and affordable solutions in the mobility sector, designers and engineers are actively promoting the use of innovative integral dissimilar structures. In this field, friction stir-based technologies offer unique advantages compared with conventional joining technologies, such as mechanical fastening and adhesive bonding, which recently demonstrated promising results. In this study, an aluminum alloy and a glass fiber-reinforced polymer were friction stir joined in an overlap configuration. To assess the main effects, interactions, and influence of processing parameters on the mechanical strength and processing temperature of the fabricated joints, a full factorial design study with three factors and two levels was carried out. The design of experiments resulted in statistical models with excellent fit to the experimental data, enabling a thorough understanding of the influence of rotational speed, travel speed, and tool tilt angle on dissimilar metal-to-polymer friction stir composite joints. The mechanical strength of the composite joints ranged from 1708.1 ± 45.5 N to 3414.2 ± 317.1, while the processing temperature was between 203.6 ± 10.7 °C and 251.5 ± 9.7.

Traditional eye drops used for topically administering drugs have poor ocular bioavailability due to the biological barriers of the eye. There is an interest to design and develop novel drug delivery systems that would extend the precorneal residence time, reduce the frequency of administration and decrease dose-related toxicity. This study aimed to prepare Nanoparticles of Gemifloxacin Mesylate and incorporate them into an in situ gel. The nanoparticles were prepared by ionic gelation technique, using 3 2 factorial design. Sodium tripolyphosphate (STPP) was used to crosslink Chitosan. The optimized formulation of the nanoparticles (GF4) contained 0.15% Gemifloxacin Mesylate, 0.15% Chitosan and 0.20% STPP, producing 71 nm particle size and 81.11% entrapment efficiency. The prepared nanoparticles showed biphasic release, with an initial burst release of 15% in 1.0 hr and a cumulative drug release of 90.53% at the end of 24 hrs. After that, the prepared nanoparticles were incorporated into an in situ gel, using Poloxamer 407, producing a sustained drug release with efficient antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria as confirmed by the cup plate method.

Mixed cropping has been suggested as a resource-efficient approach to meet high produce demands while maintaining biodiversity and minimizing environmental impact. Current breeding programs do not select for enhanced general mixing ability (GMA) and neglect biological interactions within species mixtures. Clear concepts and efficient experimental designs, adapted to breeding for mixed cropping and encoded into appropriate statistical models, are lacking. Thus, a model framework for GMA and SMA (specific mixing ability) was established. Results of a simulation study showed that an incomplete factorial design combines advantages of two commonly used full factorials, and enables to estimate GMA, SMA, and their variances in a resource-efficient way. This model was extended to the Producer (Pr) and Associate (As) concept to exploit additional information based on fraction yields. It was shown that the Pr/As concept allows to characterize genotypes for their contribution to total mixture yield, and, when relating to plant traits, allows to describe biological interaction functions (BIF) in a mixed crop. Incomplete factorial designs show the potential to drastically improve genetic gain by testing an increased number of genotypes using the same amount of resources. The Pr/As concept can further be employed to maximize GMA in an informed and efficient way. The BIF of a trait can be used to optimize species ratios at harvest as well as to extend our understanding of competitive and facilitative interactions in a mixed plant community. This study provides an integrative methodological framework to promote breeding for mixed cropping.

Purpose One of the critical reasons for the nonacceptance of additive manufacturing (AM) processes is the lack of understanding and structured knowledge of design for additive manufacturing (DfAM). This paper aims to assist designers to select the appropriate AM technology for product development or redesign. Using the suggestion provided by the design assist tool, the user’s design alterations depend on their ability to interpret the suggestion into the design without affecting the design’s primary objective. Design/methodology/approach This research reports the development of a tool that evaluates the efficacy values for all seven major standard AM processes by considering design parameters, benchmark standards within the processes and their material efficacies. In this research, the tool provides analytical and visual approaches to suggestion and assistance. Seventeen design parameters and seven benchmarking standards are used to evaluate the proposed product and design quality value. The full factorial design approach has been used to evaluate the DfAM aspects, design quality and design complexity. Findings The outcome is evaluated by the product and design quality value, material suit and material-product-design (MPD) value proposed in this work for a comparative assessment of the AM processes for a design. The higher the MPD value, the better the process. The visual aspect of the evaluation uses spider diagrams, which are evaluated analytically to confirm the results’ appropriateness with the proposed methodology. Originality/value The data used in the database is assumed to make the study comprehensive. The output aims to help opt for the best process out of the seven AM techniques for better and optimized manufacturing. This, as per the authors’ knowledge, is not available yet.

Mizolastine (MZL) is a dual-action nonsedating topical antihistamine anti-inflammatory agent that is used to relieve allergic conditions, such as rhinitis and conjunctivitis. Solid lipid nanoparticles (SLNs) are advanced delivery system in ophthalmology, with the merits of increasing the corneal drug absorption and hence improved bioavailability with the objective of ocular drug targeting. First, MZL was formulated as MZL-SLNs by hot homogenization/ultrasonication adopting a 3 full factorial design. Solid-state characterization, in vitro release, and stability studies have been performed. Then, the optimized MZL-SLNs formula has been incorporated into ocular hydrogels using 1.5% w/v Na alginate and 5% w/v polyvinylpyrrolidone K . The gels were evaluated via in vitro release as well as in vivo studies by applying allergic conjunctivitis congestion in a rabbit-eye model. The optimized formula (F4) was characterized by the highest entrapment efficiency (86.5±1.47%), the smallest mean particle size (202.3±13.59 nm), and reasonable zeta potential (-22.03±3.65 mV). Solid-state characterization of the encapsulation of MZL in SLNs was undertaken. In vitro results showed a sustained release profile from MZL-SLNs up to 30 hours with a non-Fickian Higuchi kinetic model. Stability studies confirmed immutability of freeze-dried MZL-SLNs (F4) upon storage for 6 months. Finally, hydrogel formulations containing MZL-SLNs, proved ocular congestion disappearance with completely repaired conjunctiva after 24 hours. Moreover, pretreatment with MZL-SLNs-loaded hydrogel imparted markedly decreased TNF-α and VEGF-expression levels in rabbits conjunctivae compared with post-treatment with the same formula. MZL-SLNs could be considered a promising stable sustained-release nanoparticulate system for preparing ocular hydrogel as effective antiallergy ocular delivery systems.

In the sand casting process, molten metal needs to reach all parts of the mold cavity uniformly and smoothly. This requires the use of multi-gate systems with an optimal design to ensure balanced flow through all gates. For this purpose, a novel experimental design presented by the authors in earlier studies was modified to accommodate the geometric variation of gating elements, realized through a robust design approach. Water was used to perform experiments on flow through the horizontal multi-gate system using a standard orthogonal array. The analysis of the results of each parameter on the influence of flow balancing was studied using Taguchi’s analysis of mean (ANOM) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The most important factors and their best combination of settings influencing flow balancing were predicted for the water model experiments. Using a full factorial design, an interaction study was performed and compared with the main factor effects. Although there was a slight interaction between one set of factors, no change in dominant factors was found. Further validation experiments were performed using cast iron. The comparison of water and metal flow demonstrated that the two fluids have different dominant factors influencing multi-gate flow balancing.

Microplastics (MP) are a global environmental problem because they persist in the environment for long periods of time and negatively impact aquatic organisms. Possible solutions for removing MP from the environment include biological processes such as bioremediation, which uses microorganisms to remove contaminants. This study investigated the biodegradation of polystyrene (PS) by two bacteria, Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas alcaligenes, isolated from environmental samples in which MPs particles were present. First, determining significant factors affecting the biodegradation of MP-PS was conducted using the Taguchi design. Then, according to preliminary experiments, the optimal conditions for biodegradation were determined by a full factorial design (main experiments). The RSM methodology was applied, and statistical analysis of the obtained models was performed to analyze the influence of the studied factors. The most important factors for MP-PS biodegradation by Bacillus cereus were agitation speed, concentration, and size of PS, while agitation speed, size of PS, and optical density influenced the process by Pseudomonas alcaligenes. However, the optimal conditions for biodegradation of MP-PS by Bacillus cereus were achieved at γMP = 66.20, MP size = 413.29, and agitation speed = 100.45. The best conditions for MP-PS biodegradation by Pseudomonas alcaligenes were 161.08, 334.73, and 0.35, as agitation speed, MP size, and OD, respectively. In order to get a better insight into the process, the following analyzes were carried out. Changes in CFU, TOC, and TIC concentrations were observed during the biodegradation process. The increase in TOC values was explained by the detection of released additives from PS particles by LC-MS analysis. At the end of the process, the toxicity of the filtrate was determined, and the surface area of the particles was characterized by FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. Ecotoxicity results showed that the filtrate was toxic, indicating the presence of decomposition by-products. In both FTIR spectra, a characteristic weak peak at 1715 cm−1 was detected, indicating the formation of carbonyl groups (−C=O), confirming that a biodegradation process had taken place.

To move society toward an AIDS-free generation, behavioral interventions for prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS must be not only effective, but also cost-effective, efficient, and readily scalable. The purpose of this article is to introduce to the HIV/AIDS research community the multiphase optimization strategy (MOST), a new methodological framework inspired by engineering principles and designed to develop behavioral interventions that have these important characteristics. Many behavioral interventions comprise multiple components. In MOST, randomized experimentation is conducted to assess the individual performance of each intervention component, and whether its presence/absence/setting has an impact on the performance of other components. This information is used to engineer an intervention that meets a specific optimization criterion, defined a priori in terms of effectiveness, cost, cost-effectiveness, and/or scalability. MOST will enable intervention science to develop a coherent knowledge base about what works and does not work. Ultimately this will improve behavioral interventions systematically and incrementally.

In general factorial designs where no homoscedasticity or a particular error distribution is assumed, the well‐known Wald‐type statistic is a simple asymptotically valid procedure. However, it is well known that it suffers from a poor finite sample approximation since the convergence to its χ²limit distribution is quite slow. This becomes even worse with an increasing number of factor levels. The aim of the paper is to improve the small sample behaviour of the Wald‐type statistic, maintaining its applicability to general settings as crossed or hierarchically nested designs by applying a modified permutation approach. In particular, it is shown that this approach approximates the null distribution of the Wald‐type statistic not only under the null hypothesis but also under the alternative yielding an asymptotically valid permutation test which is even finitely exact under exchangeability. Finally, its small sample behaviour is compared with competing procedures in an extensive simulation study.