The problem of the synthesis of new type nanomaterials in the form of nano-coatings with sub-nanometric heterogeneity has been formulated. It has been presented an analysis of influences of physical vapor deposition in ultrahigh vacuum on the process of intermixing a film with a substrate, including the results, which has been obtained under the formation of transition metal – silicon interface. The generalization of the obtained experimental results develops an approach to the development of new nano-coatings with low-dimensional heterogeneity. The principles of constructing such low-dimensional nano-coatings, their properties and possible applications are considered. 

This study was carried out at the Teaching and Research Farm of Landmark University, Omu-Aran. Treatments consisted of 3 levels of cocoa pod husk ash (0, 2 and 4 tonnes CPHA ha^-1), 3 levels of cocoa pod husk powder (0, 2 and 4 tonnes CPHP ha^-1), NPK and the control. The experiment was laid out in a Randomized Complete Block Design (RCBD) replicated four times. The following parameters were taken plant height, number of leaves (at 2, 3, and 4 weeks after sowing), total plant weight, root weight, leaf weight, roots girth and roots length. Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) Using S.A.S, 2000. Treatment means were compared using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at 0.05 level of probability. Results showed that chemical analysis of cocoa pod ash and powder contained plant nutrients as N, P, K, Ca, Mg and some other micronutrients in varying proportions. Application of CPHA 4 + CPHP 2 gave higher values for all the vegetative parameters. The implication of this study is that high level of cocoa pod husk powder in combination with high level of cocoa pod husk ash is detrimental to radish cultivation. In the same vein, the nutrition of radish was incomplete when NPK fertilizer was applied. It can therefore be recommended that the use of combined application of cocoa pod ash and cocoa pod powder at CPHA4 + CPHP2 was sufficient for the cultivation of radish (Raphanus sativus) in the study area as it compete favorably with application of NPK fertilizer.

In order to explore the application of the new integrated intelligent spore capture system developed in China in the prediction of cucumber downy mildew and cucumber powdery mildew, the main working parameters of the integrated intelligent spore capture system, such as the presence or absence of air cutting head, the height of air collection port and the time of air collection, were optimized by identifying the morphology of captured spores in the case of natural disease in the field. The relationship between the disease index of cucumber downy mildew and cucumber powdery mildew in greenhouse and the amount of spores captured was analyzed through the dynamic monitoring of disease and spores. The results show that when the air cutting head is not installed, the height of the air collection port is 70 cm, and the period of 10: 00–10: 30 was beneficial to the capture of spores. The disease index of cucumber downy mildew and cucumber powdery mildew had a strong positive correlation with the total amount of spores captured for 7 consecutive days. Continuous monitoring of cucumber downy mildew sporangia and rapid increase in the number is a predictor of the occurrence or rapid increase of cucumber downy mildew. The conidia of cucumber powdery mildew were not detected before the disease onset, and the number of conidia captured was still small at the peak of the disease. The research shows that the integrated intelligent spore capture system is suitable for the prediction of cucumber downy mildew, but there are still some problems in the prediction of cucumber powdery mildew.

Attempts were made in the present study to design and develop skeletally modified ether linked tetraglycidyl epoxy resin (TGBAPSB), which is subsequently reinforced with different weight percentages of amine functionalized mullite fiber (F-MF). The F-MF was synthesized by reacting mullite fiber with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) as coupling agent and the F-MF structure was confirmed by FT-IR. TGBAPSB reinforced with F-MF formulation was cured with 4,4’-diamino diphenyl methane (DDM) to obtain nanocomposite. The surface morphology of TGBAPSB-F-MF epoxy nanocomposites was investigated by XRD, SEM and AFM studies. From the study, it follows that these nanocomposite materials offer enhancement in mechanical, thermal, thermo-mechanical, dielectric properties compared to neat (TGBAPSB) epoxy matrix. Hence we recommend these nanocomposites for a possible use in advanced engineering applications that require both toughness and stiffness.

Humic substances are used in agriculture as promoters of plant growth, especially of the root system. The objective of the work was to evaluate the effect of the application of different doses of fulvic acid on the growth and productivity of American lettuce, Raider Plus cultivar. The experimental design used was entirely randomized, with five treatments of fulvic acid 0, 1, 2, 4, 8 mL·L^-1 and four repetitions, applied at the time of transplanting. Two experiments were conducted simultaneously: one in the greenhouse, where fresh and dry mass of the aboveground and root parts, length and volume of the roots were evaluated; and the other in the field, where, at the end of the cycle, fresh and dry mass of the aboveground parts, number of leaves, stem length and average head circumference were evaluated. The application of different doses of fulvic acid promoted the growth of lettuce plants, especially the root system. The emission of roots, with predominance, of those of smaller diameter, was found in the higher concentrations of fulvic acid. The number of leaves and the average circumference of the head expressed responses in the concentrations of fulvic acid.