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One of the major advantages of metal matrix composites (MMCs) is that their tailorable properties meet the specific requirements of a particular application. This paper deals with the experimental investigations done on the effects of the reinforcement particulate size and content on the Al7075/SiC composite. The composites were manufactured using stir casting technique. The effect of SiC particle size (25, 50, and 75 μm) and particulate content (5, 10, and 15 wt %) on the microstructural, mechanical properties, and wear rate of the composites was studied and the results were analyzed for varied conditions of reinforcement. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) examinations were used to assess the dispersion of SiC particles reinforced into the matrix alloy and was found with reasonably uniform with minimal particle agglomerations and with good interfacial bonding between the particles and matrix material. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis confirmed the presence of Al and SiC with the composite. The results of mechanical tests showed that the increasing SiC particle size and content considerably enhanced the ultimate tensile strength and hardness of the composites while the ductility at this condition was decreased. The highest ultimate tensile strength of 310 MPa and hardness of 126 BHN were observed for the composites containing 15 wt %. SiC at 75 μm. Lesser the wear resistance of the reference alloy while it was enhanced up to 40% with the composites. The wear resistance was increased up to 1200 m of sliding distance for all the composites, whereas for the composite containing 75 μm SiC particles, it was extended up to 1800 m.

Mosquitoes are exceptionally efficient in detecting their hosts for blood meal using odorant binding proteins, viz. 3N7H and 3Q8I and spread several dreadful diseases. DEET is a synthetic mosquito repellent widely used all over world for protection against mosquito bite. Reports reveal that, synthetic mosquito repellents may pose health problems in considerably large population. In view of the above fact, we made an attempt to discover efficient and novel natural mosquito repellent compounds with least impact on human health. Methanolic leaf extracts of Ocimum basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (willd.)-Benth and Ocimum tenuiflorum var. CIM-AYU were subjected to GC–MS analysis and obtained 35 phytochemical constituents. Repellent potentiality of the Ocimum compounds was assessed against 3Q8I and 3N7H of Anopheles gambiae. PDB structures of mosquito odorant binding proteins were downloaded, processed and docking studies were performed along with reference ligand DEET using Schrodinger MAESTRO 9.2 software. Molecular docking results reveal that phenol, 2-methoxy-3-(2-propenyl)-, licopersin, gamma sitosterol and benzene, 1,2-dimethoxy-4-(2-propenyl)- from O. tenuiflorum var. CIM-AYU are strongly bound with 3N7H. Whereas, 4h-1-benzopyran-4-one, 5-hydroxy-6,7-dimethoxy-2-(4-methoxyphenyl)-, catechol and monoacetin from O. basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (willd.)-Benth. show high binding affinity with odorant binding protein 3Q8I. All natural compounds tested in the present study display better docking scores than DEET. The results further substantiate that the 12 out of 35 compounds of the two Ocimum species found to be ideal candidates for design and development of potential mosquito repellents. ADME properties of the tested compounds further confirm that bioactive compounds of Ocimum species were found to be in acceptable range. Synchronized application of at least two different natural compounds (with best docking scores) which target 3N7H and 3Q8I (Odorant Binding Proteins of mosquito) proteins may provide enhanced protection against mosquitoes bite. Based on the ADME properties, natural compounds of Ocimum species can be considered for design and development of safe mosquito repellents.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s13205-015-0346-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The time-reversal operator (TRO) for a cylindrical rod with circular cross section illuminated by an array of line antennas is investigated in order to locate the target and determine its electromagnetic property. In the two-dimensional settings, the number of eigenvalues of the time-reversal operator is determined by the polarization of the incident wave, as well as the composing material of the rod. This statement is proved mathematically and its physical meaning is explained in terms of the induced line current and twodimensional dipolar current. Numerical simulations show that the eigenvector of the TRO allows one to focus the time-reversed wave on the target.

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The compliance of an integrated approach, principal component analysis (PCA), coupled with Taguchi's robust theory for simultaneous optimization of correlated multiple responses of wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) process for machining SiC P reinforced ZC63 metal matrix composites (MMCs) is investigated in this work. The WEDM is proven better for its efficiency to machine MMCs among others, while the particulate size and volume percentage of SiC p with the composite are the utmost important factors. These improve the mechanical properties enormously, however reduce the machining performance. Hence the WEDM experiments are conducted by varying the particulate size, volume fraction, pulse-on time, pulse-off time and wire tension. In the view of quality cut, the most important performance indicators of WEDM as surface roughness (R a), metal removal rate (MRR), wire wear ratio (WWR), kerf (K w) and white layer thickness (WLT) are measured as responses. PCA is used as multi-response optimization technique to derive the composite principal component (CPC) which acts as the overall quality index in the process. Consequently, Taguchi's S/N ratio analysis is applied to optimize the CPC. The derived optimal process responses are confirmed by the experimental validation tests results. The analysis of variance is conducted to find the effects of choosing process variables on the overall quality of the machined component. The practical possibility of the derived optimal process conditions is also presented using SEM. Keywords ZC63/SiC P metal matrix composites Á Wire electrical discharge machining (WEDM) Á Principal component analysis (PCA)-Taguchi method (TM) Á Analysis of variance (ANOVA)

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