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Spherical AlPO4 supported WO3 catalysts were synthesized and characterized by XRD, N2 sorption isotherm, SEM, TEM and NH3-TPD, and used as a catalyst for the production of Euro 95 standard gasoline fuel additives from biomass-derived furfural via reductive etherification. Compared with the AlPO4 catalyst, the surface acidity increased after the impregnation of tungsten oxide. The activity and stability of the catalysts also improved with the impregnation of tungsten oxide on AlPO4. However, the existing catalytic system cannot provide high conversion to furfural and selectivity to ether due to the formation of side reactions. To optimize the reaction conditions, the effect of temperature, catalyst amount, furfural/isopropanol molar ratio, and choice of hydrogen donor were studied. Under these optimized conditions, a high conversion of furfural (92%) and a yield of isopropyl furfuryl ether (IPFE) (83%) were obtained with the byproducts of furfuryl alcohol and acetal. The WO3/AlPO4 catalyst also achieved a high yield of ether with various aldehydes and alcohols via reductive etherification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to observe the increased effectiveness of Higher Educational Institutions in India and its competitiveness. It proposes to develop the interest in enhancing the quality in Educational Institutions. It is monitored and evaluated through rapid growth of information technology, which makes sophisticated data collection possible. This study aims to create an awareness or self competitiveness among educational institutions to implement the quality of standard education and needs of the society and to recognize the scale of height, which shows where we are in these globalised standards.

The article provides information on an experiment which evaluated the influence of organic and fertilizer nitrogen on grain yield, agronomic and economic efficiency of traditional rice varieties under Cauvery delta zone of Tamil Nadu. Topics discussed include calculation of agronomic efficiency, effect of integrated nutrient management (INM) practices on productivity and nitrogen use efficiency in traditional rice varieties, and economics of traditional rice varieties cultivation.

BACKGROUND: This study aims to assess the impact of sotatercept on exercise tolerance, exercise capacity, and right ventricular function in pulmonary arterial hypertension. METHODS: SPECTRA (Sotatercept Phase 2 Exploratory Clinical Trial in PAH) was a phase 2a, single-arm, open-label, multicenter exploratory study that evaluated the effects of sotatercept by invasive cardiopulmonary exercise testing in participants with pulmonary arterial hypertension and World Health Organization functional class III on combination background therapy. The primary end point was the change in peak oxygen uptake from baseline to week 24. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess right ventricular function. RESULTS: Among the 21 participants completing 24 weeks of treatment, there was a significant improvement from baseline in peak oxygen uptake, with a mean change of 102.74 mL/min ([95% CIs, 27.72-177.76]; P=0.0097). Sotatercept demonstrated improvements in secondary end points, including resting and peak exercise hemodynamics, and 6-minute walk distance versus baseline measures. Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging showed improvements from baseline at week 24 in right ventricular function. CONCLUSIONS: The clinical efficacy and safety of sotatercept demonstrated in the SPECTRA study emphasize the potential of this therapy as a new treatment option for patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension. Improvements in right ventricular structure and function underscore the potential for sotatercept as a disease-modifying agent with reverse-remodeling capabilities. REGISTRATION: URL: https://www.clinicaltrials.gov; Unique identifier: NCT03738150. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality standards are evaluated by the Higher Educational Institutions by self evaluation at different levels and are also assessed by external agencies. Application of quality standards in administrative practices have been associated with the quality of higher education. To improve the quality of administrative practices, evaluation scales are applied and the outcomes in terms of Quality perceived by the students and the higher level of satisfaction is evaluated. It is observed that the quality of implementation of standards and administrative practices adopted in various institutions needs care and consideration. There is lack of quality because all the policies and standards are adopted to the maximum in terms of mission and vision and the process of quality achieved is not adequate and permanent. Even-though accreditation provides quality assurance that the academic aims and objectives of the institution are honestly pursued and effectively achieved by the resources available, and the institutions may demonstrate the capabilities of ensuring effectiveness of the educational standards during the validity period, the lack of quality in terms of satisfactory level of students is observed in appropriate scales. In this paper findings of quality are evaluated using the same common factors used by accreditation.

The hot and semi-arid region is prone to meteorological droughts; the lack of rain is frequently accompanied by hot temperatures, strong winds, and low humidity, which has the impact of limiting nutrient uptake and agricultural yields. To overcome this problem a field study conducted during June, 2020 kharif season at farmers field, Chinna Dudyala village, Muddanur, Kadapa district, Andhra Pradesh aimed to determine the effect of organic mulches and foliar spray of kaolin on NPK uptake in enhancing yield and economics of dry land maize (Zea mays). One of the most important techniques for preserving soil moisture was mulching, which also reduces evapotranspiration when anti-transpirants are used. The experiment comprised nine treatments (T1 to T9) with four types of organic mulches viz., Paddy straw, Ground-nut haulm, Coir-pith, and Sugarcane trash, with foliar spray of kaolin intervals on 40 DAS, 20 & 40 DAS and farmers practice to minimize water stress and improve the nutrient uptake by plant. Among the application of the treatments, coir-pith mulch + foliar spray of kaolin @ 3.0% (T6) on 20 DAS & 40 DAS had significant effect on NPK uptake with N (187.15 kg ha-1), P (69.60 kg ha-1) and K (156.22 kg ha-1) and enhanced grain yield (6976 kg ha-1) and stover yield (10980 kg ha-1), highest gross returns (138034 ₹. ha-1) and BCR (2.63) and was superior to all the other treatments. The present study would help to effectively utilise the available resources, enhance growth and productivity in maize crop and to make economically viable to the farmers of semi-arid regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Byline: T. Praveen, S. Dharmaraj, Jitendra. Bajaj, S. Dhanabal, S. Manimaran, M. Nanjan, Rema. Razdan Objectives: The present study was aimed at assessing the hepatoprotective activity of 1:1:1 petroleum ether, [...]

The field experiment was conducted, during Kharif season (June to Sep, 2018), to find out the suitable combination of organic manure for higher and sustainable maize production. The experiment was laid out in Randomized Block Design consists of ten treatments, T1 - Farm yard manure @ 12.5 t ha-1 + Empower @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T2 - Farm yard manure @ 12.5 t ha-1 + Tagzyme @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T3 - Pressmud @ 10 t ha-1 + Empower @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T4 - Pressmud @ 10 t ha-1 + Tagzyme @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T5 - Composted coir pith @ 12 t ha-1 + Empower @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T6 - Composted coir pith @ 12 t ha-1 + Tagzyme @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T7 - Poultry manure @ 6 t ha-1 + Empower @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T8 - Poultry manure @ 6 t ha-1 + Tagzyme @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T9 - Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Empower @ 12.5 kg ha-1, T10 - Vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Tagzyme @ 12.5 kg ha-1 with three replication. The plot size was 5m×4m and seeds of maize variety Co-1 were sown with a spacing of 60×20 cm. The growth attributes and yield of maize viz., plant height, leaf area index, dry matter production, grain yield, were favourably influenced with vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Empower @ 12.5 kg ha-1 (T9). The results clearly proved that vermicompost @ 5 t ha-1 + Empower @ 12.5 kg ha-1 (T9) in maize will be a suitable nutrient management practice for achieve higher maize yield with due care on the soil physical condition, productivity and profitability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combined experimental and theoretical studies have been conducted on the molecular structure and vibrational, spectra of 3, 4-dimethyl anisole (DMA). The FT-IR and FT-Raman spectra of DMA have been recorded in the solid phase. The molecular geometry and vibrational frequencies of DMA in the ground state have been calculated by using the ab-initio Hartree-Fock (HF) and density functional methods (B3LYP) invoking 6-31+G (d,p) basis set. The optimized geometric bond lengths and bond angles obtained by HF method shows best agreement with the experimental values. Comparison of the observed fundamental vibrational frequencies of DMA with calculated results by HF and density functional methods indicates that B3LYP is superior to the scaled HF approach for molecular vibrational problems. The difference between the observed and scaled wave number values of most of the fundamental is very small. The thermodynamic functions and atomic change of the title compound has also been performed at HF/B3LYP/6-31+G(d,p) level of theories. A detailed interpretation of the FT-IR, FT-Raman, NMR spectra of DMA has also been reported. The theoretical spectrograms for infrared and Raman spectra of the title molecule have been constructed. The thermodynamic function of the title compound has also been performed at HF/6-31+G (d,p) and B3LYP/6-31+G (d,p) level of theories. Natural bond orbital analysis has been carried out to explain the change transfer or delocalization of change due to the intra-molecular interactions. Energy of the highest occupied molecular (HOMO) orbital and lowest unoccupied (LUMO) molecular orbital have been predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]