In this work, PVDF homopolymer was blended with PVDF-co-HFP copolymer and studied in terms of morphology, porosity, pore size, hydrophobicity, permeability, and mechanical properties. Different solvents, namely N-Methyl-2 pyrrolidone (NMP), Tetrahydrofuran (THF), and Dimethylformamide (DMF) solvents, were used to fabricate blended PVDF flat sheet membranes without the introduction of any pore forming agent, through a non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS) technique. Furthermore, the performance of the fabricated membranes was investigated for pressure and thermal driven applications. The porosity of the membranes was slightly increased with the increase in the overall content of PVDF and by the inclusion of PVDF copolymer. Total PVDF content, copolymer content, and mixed-solvent have a positive effect on mechanical properties. The addition of copolymer increased the hydrophobicity when the total PVDF content was 20%. At 25% and with the inclusion of mixed-solvent, the hydrophobicity was adversely affected. The permeability of the membranes increased with the increase in the overall content of PVDF. Mixed-solvents significantly improved permeability.

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A pot experiment was conducted with a coarse-textured calcareous soil (pH-H 2 O 8.3) to study the effect of single and combined application of N and S fertilizers on soil pH, Fe, Mn, Zn, and P mobilization, and on growth and micronutrient uptake by com (Zea mays L.). Increasing amounts of elemental sulfur were mixed with the soil. To stimulate S oxidation, the treated soils were incubated for six weeks at field capacity. Nitrogen was applied as NH 4 NO 3 (100, 200, and 400 mg N/kg). After six weeks, dry matter yields were recorded and shoots were analyzed for Fe, Mn, Zn, and P. At the end of the experiment, soil pH and the DTPA-extractable micronutrients were determined. The results showed that: a. Soil pH was decreased by 0.2, 0.5, and 0.9 unit as a result of increasing S applications.b. Applied sulfur and N fertilizer had increased the availability of micronutrients to following crops.c. Application of N and/or S resulted in increased dry matter yields.

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The specific properties of fibre reinforced polymers give them a lot of advantages over traditional materials but the long life of polymeric composites poses serious environmental threats raising sustainability concerns. The other issue of importance concerning the innovators and environmentalists in the mass usage of this material is its health impacts on human beings. This paper thus attempts to highlight and surface out the issues related to fibre reinforced polymers’ sustainability and their health impacts on human beings, by reviewing past studies on the subject, to examine critically the extensive body of published data, prior observations and ideas on the subject in order to identify and analyse those features that are intrinsic and unique to fibre reinforced polymers. This would thus serve as a conceptual model for future research on fibre reinforced polymer composites sustainability and health concerns.

This study was carried out at Berket El-Sabaa province, Menoufia Governorate, Egypt, during the period from March to June 2014. The present study aimed to study, the efficiency of pheromone traps on population fluctuation of Tuta absoluta, to determine the most suitable insecticide and rate of some selected bio and chemical insecticides against T. absoluta larvae, and to estimate the damage area of tomato leaves and fruits infested with T. absoluta after the second spray of the tested insecticides. Data showed that the population fluctuation of T. absoluta male captured has three stages, the first stage extended from 1st week of April to 1st week of May with a peak of 477.7 male/trap/week. The second stage extended from the 1st week to the 4th week of May with a peak of 210.7 male/trap/week. The third stage began from the 4th week of May to the 4th week of July (95.7 male/trap/week). Data showed that, 200 g/100 l water for each bio-pesticides such as Biovar, Bioranza, Dipel-2x and Bitoxybacillin and the rate of 75 ml/100 l water for Tracer and Challenger were the most efficient against T. absoluta larvae. In this respect, the evaluation of damage of tomato leaves by T. absoluta larvae was done under the application of some selected insecticides at the high rate. The descending arrangement of these insecticides according to their efficiency is as follows Tracer < Bitox < Challenger < Bioranza < Dipel-2x < Biovar (17.18% < 17.8% < 21.03% < 26.44% < 64.18% < 69.4% damage). The obtained data showed that Tracer gave a promising result where it recorded 16.0% damage fruit, compared with the unsprayed plots (54.3%). In general, the values obtained after the second application recorded low infested leaf area %. This explains the importance of sustainable control of T. absoluta larvae, to suppress its population. ª 2015 Production and hosting by Elsevier B.V. on behalf

ABSTRACT. The present study describes the synthesis of 4,5-dihydro-6-(4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone derivatives. The synthesis of the first target compound, 4,5-dihydro-6-(4-methoxy-3-methylphenyl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone (1), was achieved by Friedel-Crafts acylation of o-cresyl methyl ether with succinic anhydride and subsequent cyclization of the intermediary g-keto acid with hydrazine hydrate. Condensation of compound 1 with aromatic aldehydes in the presence of sodium ethoxide affords the corresponding 4-substituted benzyl pyridazinones (3a-d). The dihydropyridazinone 1 underwent dehydrogenation upon treatment with bromine/acetic acid mixture to give (4). Pyridazine (5) has been synthesized upon the reaction of pyridazinone (1) with 1,3-diphenyl-2-propen-1-one under the Michael addition reaction. N-dialkylaminomethyl derivatives 6a-b have been obtained from the reaction of pyridazinone 1 with formaldehyde and secondary amine, whereas reaction of 1 with formaldehyde gives N-hydroxymethyl derivative (7). This study also includes the synthesis of the 3-chloropyridazine derivative 8 in excellent yield by heating pyridazinone 3b in phosphorus oxychloride. The behaviour of the chloro derivative toward sodium azide, benzyl amine and anthranilic acid was also studied. The proposed structures of the products were confirmed by elemental analysis, spectral data and chemical evidence.