Multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) with two different (L/D) aspect ratios (7±2 μm/140±30 nm and 0.5–2 μm/8–15 nm) were surface treated using nitric acid (HNO3) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) prior to their deposition on carbon fibers (CF). Before the hierarchical reinforcement with CF-MWCNT, the CFs were treated with 3-glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane, a coupling agent (Z6040) and with poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) a dendrimer containing an ethylenediamine core and amine surface groups. The MWCNT were deposited on the CF using two methods, by electrostatic attraction and by chemical reactions. The changes in the CF surface morphology after the MWCNT deposition were analyzed using SEM, which revealed a higher density and uniform coverage for the PAMAM-treated CF and the short MWCNTs. The interfacial adhesion of the composite materials was evaluated using the single fiber fragmentation technique. The results indicated an improvement in the interfacial shear strength with the addition of the short-MWCNTs treated with acid solutions and grafted onto the surface of the CF fiber using electrostatic attraction.

The genus Diadegma is a well known parasitoid group in various lepidopteran insect such as Plutella xylostella andsome are known to have symbiotic virus. Previously we reported a novel ichnovirus as named Diadegma fenestrale Ichnovirus(DfIV, 62 segments, 247,238bp) from D. fenestrale which parasitized in the P. xylostella. Here we report another ichnovirus,DsIV from Taiwan strain of D. semiclausum which parasitized in the P. xylostella. Total 64 genomic segments were sequenced,185,053bp from DsIV. Two Ichnovirus showed high similarity in 99 regions in most of segments. We already confirmedintegration of DfIV genome segments into the chromosome from the P. xylostella via genome sequencing of the lepidopteranhost. Therefore some of recombination could be passible inside of the lepidopteran genome.

Nueva Ecija is a landlocked province in Central Luzon region that is composed of 27 municipalities and 5 cities. It is a province that is rich with biodiversity on its north and east borders, which exhibit a shared ecosystem with the Caraballo mountain range in the north and the Sierra Madre mountain range in the east. Its main economic activity is farming where rice is the main crop. Part of the Sierra Madre mountain range traverses its towns of Bongabon, Laur, Rizal and Pantabangan where most of the locals perform agro – forestry activities as a means of generating income for their families. Due to the accumulation of farm residues as a result of intensive agro-forestry activities, mushroom pharming becomes a very viable agribusiness undertaking in the area. Our research team initiated the establishment of database by tracking the mushroom production activities in the province. Similarly, the prevailing climatic condition in the geographical area and the type of agro-forestry wastes have been tracked. Wastes as a result of intensive agro – forestry activities are being generated which the locals oftentimes burned in the field that posed hazard to the environment. In order to discourage this practice, our research team generated technologies on mushroom pharming using rice straw as the main substrate. The promotion of mushroom pharming is based on the suitability of mushroom species to grow in climatic conditions that prevail in the specific geographical area in the province. As a result of its collaborative research undertakings, the Center for Tropical Mushroom Research and Development of the Central Luzon State University in collaboration with the Laboratory of Forest Products Chemistry of Tokyo University of Agriculture and the Nikken Sohonsha Corporation encouraged the adoption of medicinal mushroom production technologies on rice straw – based formulation. With oyster mushroom (Pleurotus spp) as the most widely cultivated mushroom among the mushroom growers in the province, other ligninolytic mushrooms such as lacquered mushroom (Ganoderma) and wood ear mushroom (Auricularia spp.) are grown by the locals. Similarly, leaf – litter degrading mushrooms such as paddy straw mushroom (Volvariella volvacea) are also being cultivated in the province. However, some mushroom growers in the province adopt sawdust – based mushroom production technology which is not economically appropriate in the province due to the scarcity of its availability compared to rice straw. Majority of the mushroom growers in the province adopt the rice straw – based mushroom technology. Moreover, high value mushroom – based products other than the fresh mushrooms are already in the local market.

Food fortification is defined as the addition of nutrients at levels higher than those found in the original food to improve nutritional quality. Oyster mushrooms generally contain low calcium. This present study focused on the Ca absorption efficacy of Pleurotus florida using eggshell powder, oyster shell powder and agricultural lime. Various concentrations (0%, 2%, 4%, 6%, 8% and 10%) of different calcium sources were added to the rice straw – based formulation. Duration of days from inoculation to mycelial colonization, primordial formation, fruiting body development were evaluated. Furthermore, the effect of Ca sources on the total yield and biological efficiency were also noted. Results revealed that addition of Ca sources on the formulated substrates generally lengthens time of mycelial ramification, primordial formation and fruiting body development. ESP-supplemented substrate generally increased the size of the cap but not greatly affected the stipe length and diameter of the fruiting bodies. On the other hand, the influence of addition of OSP increases cap size but decreases stipe length and diameter. Finally, for the incorporation of AGL, it was observed that size of cap of the fruiting bodies generally decreased in size, shortened the stipe and influence of AGL to the stipe diameter may vary depending on the concentration. Moreover, Ca supplementation increases the yield, biological efficiency and Ca content of P. florida. The highest yield from the substrate supplemented with eggshell powder was recorded at 8% concentration with 194.80g and biological efficiency of 36.26%. Substrate with 8% oyster shell powder resulted with the highest yield of 176.80g with biological efficiency of 33.92%. For agricultural lime supplemented substrate, the highest yield was observed in 6% concentration with 186.40g and biological efficiency of 35.51%. Optimum Ca content absorbed by P. florida was recorded in 6% ESP (140mg/100g dried sample), 10% OSP (105mg/100g dried sample) and 8% AGL (170mg/100g dried sample). These findings imply that addition of Ca on rice straw-based substrate can significantly improve yield, biological efficiency, and Ca content of the fruiting bodies.

Research on the useful mushroom was done at Aurora Memorial National Park (AMNP). The Park is situated in Central Luzon Region with a total land area of 5,676 hectares. AMNP has no distinct wet and dry season thus provides a favorable climate, which promotes the growth of useful mushrooms. The photo-documentation and collections were performed to assess diversity. Five Transect Lines (TL) were laid out in five areas, with 20m x 30m quadrat and interval of 100 meters between quadrats. The study resulted in the identification of 36 families, 53 genera, and 104 species of which 97 are basidiomycetes and 6 are ascomycetes. Simpson’s and Shannon diversity indexes resulted in 0.7254 and 1.4295, respectively. In both indexes, useful mushrooms at AMNP showed moderately diverse. While the evenness revealed 0.1565 indicating low species evenness in each TL. Among the significant findings revealed two new possible new species of Microporus and Cymatoderma.

Collybia reinakeana (P.) Henn used to be a wild endemic edible mushroom not until it was discovered in the mountainous area of Puncan, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines after the great earthquake that jolted Central Luzon in 1990. It is characterized to having big fruiting bodies (about 1 foot tall) that grow in cluster. Its mycelia were rescued from the wild and the first domestication studies were conducted which lead to the generation of its production technology. It is a nutraceutical mushroom that exhibits antibacterial and anti-hypertensive properties aside from its appreciable content of both standard as well as non- standard amino acids. It also exhibits mycoparasitic habit against species of Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Fusarium. Recently, emergence of this mushroom in the different areas in the Philippines have been reported which prompted our research team to conduct geo - tracking in order to rescue its secondary mycelia in our desire to conserve this endemic species of mushroom. With our conservation efforts, we have tracked the areas where it was found growing and subsequently isolated the secondary mycelia. At present, our research team were able to collect 9 different strains from the different areas namely Bataan (1), Science City of Munoz (2), Urdaneta City (1), San Manuel, Pangasinan (1), Rosales, Pangasinan (1), Bicos, Rizal, Nueva Ecija (1), Dipaculao, Aurora (1) and Bamban, Tarlac(1).

Collybia reinakeana (P.) Henn used to be a wild endemic edible mushroom not until it was discovered in the mountainous area of Puncan, Carranglan, Nueva Ecija, Philippines after the great earthquake that jolted Central Luzon in 1990. It is characterized to having big fruiting bodies (about 1 foot tall) that grow in cluster. Its mycelia were rescued from the wild and the first domestication studies were conducted which lead to the generation of its production technology. It is a nutraceutical mushroom that exhibits antibacterial and anti-hypertensive properties aside from its appreciable content of both standard as well as non- standard amino acids. It also exhibits mycoparasitic habit against species of Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Fusarium. Recently, emergence of this mushroom in the different areas in the Philippines have been reported which prompted our research team to conduct geo – tracking in order to rescue its secondary mycelia in our desire to conserve this endemic species of mushroom. With our conservation efforts, we have tracked the areas where it was found growing and subsequently isolated the secondary mycelia. At present, our research team were able to collect 9 different strains from the different areas namely Bataan (1), Science City of Munoz (2), Urdaneta City (1), San Manuel, Pangasinan (1), Rosales, Pangasinan (1), Bicos, Rizal, Nueva Ecija (1), Dipaculao, Aurora (1) and Bamban, Tarlac(1).

This paper describes Philippine farmers’ perception on farm mechanization and land reformation. For a survey, 280 farmers were interviewed. According to the survey, Philippine farmerrespondents seem to recognize the many advantages of using farm machines over manual, even if these are expensive and will certainly displace laborers. Although land reformation is known to only one third of the farmers, they understand it as a way of re-structuring roads and fields, and will ease farm management. Philippine farmers’ awareness of farm mechanization and land reformation appears to be very low and they also have financial problems when they consider to adopt farm mechanization and land reformation. Therefor, it is very essential to raise farmer’s awareness and also provide financial subsidy to farmers who have willingness to adopt mechanization and land reformation. Also introduction of farm land bank system like korean experience is recommended as one of alternatives.

This research investigates luxury consumption preferences for different types of luxury goods (quiet vs loud) and shopping environments (online vs offline), as a function of individual motivation (bandwagon vs snob) and self-construal (independent vs interdependent), using a quantitative approach (online survey). Bandwagon-motivated consumers, as well as those with higher levels of interdependent self-construals show significant preferences for conspicuously branded luxury goods. Conversely, snobmotivated consumers show significant preferences for inconspicuously branded luxury goods. Finally, consumers displaying preferences for conspicuously branded luxury goods engage in both webrooming and showrooming behaviours, highlighting the complementary nature of online and in-store shopping. Results are discussed in the light of luxury consumption in the 21st century.

Omni-channel strategy is an innovative paradigm for integrated information distribution of inventory, sales, operations, marketing, delivery, pickups and returns in supply chain management. Recently the distribution strategy faces new challenges with the advent of mobile distribution channels. Social media with countless apps imposes additional stress on supply chain operations. Due to these changes, distribution network in supply chain is changing naturally and rapidly from multi-channel to omnni-channel platform. Recently numerous domestic distributors establish and adapt this new supply chain optimization tool as a part of seamless flow of movements of goods from one channel to other channels. The objective of this paper is to present a preliminary findings on how omnni-channel affects the supply chain management. A survey is used to ascertain in the degree of omnni-channel implementation and statistical evidence is provided to test sets of hypothesis. The results of the questionnaire showed that consumers' purchasing styles differed by gender, age, purchase purpose, and product type. In particular, women consider purchasing experience in omni-channel to be important. As food and household goods can be conveniently shipped, consumers prefer online purchasing it. Conversely, consumers tend to favor omni-channel strategy in connection with offline experience in IT products.

The cotton bollworm, Helicoverpa armigera (Hübner) is a serious agricultural pest which has evolved resistance against many chemical classes of insecticides. This species has evolved resistance to the synthetic pyrethroids across its native range and is becoming a truly global pest, after establishing in Brazil and having been recently recorded in North America. A chimeric cytochrome P450 gene, CYP337B3, has been shown to detoxify to fenvalerate and cypermethrin. The CYP337B3 gene has now been detected in different populations around the world, and is even found in South America. This gene is likely to have arisen independently in different geographic locations, probably through selection on pre-existing diversity, and there is ongoing movement of these alleles around the world. The alleles found in Brazil are those most commonly found in Asia, suggesting a potential origin for the incursion into the Americas. This information should be taken into account when devising control strategies for this invasive pest, both in its native range and in the Americas

Insecticidal crystal toxins from the bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) kill insects via a complex mode of action resulting in the creation of cytolytic pores in the membrane of midgut epithelial cells. These toxins are expressed in transgenic cotton and maize which have been adopted worldwide to control lepidopteran pests while reducing dependence on chemical insecticides. However, insect resistance to Bt toxins is increasing in certain key pest species. Beginning with Heliothis virescens, genetic studies in Bt-resistant Lepidoptera and Coleoptera have found mutations in ABC transporters. Cry1A, Cry1C, Cry2A, and Cry3B toxins each appear to target a different member of the ABC superfamily. These studies confirm the essential role of ABC proteins in Bt toxin mode of action. It is proposed that ABC proteins assist in the insertion of the toxin into the midgut epithelial membrane, a crucial step for which the mechanism has not been known in detail. Properties of ABC transporters suggest strategies to increase efficacy of Bt toxins and to delay the evolution of Bt toxin resistance in target insect pests.

We report a spatial uctuation analysis of the sky brightness in the near-infrared from observations towards the north ecliptic pole (NEP) by AKARI at 2.4 and 3.2 μm. As a follow up study of our previous work on the Monitor eld of AKARI, we used NEP deep survey data, which covered a circular area of about 0.4 square degrees, in order to extend uctuation analysis at angular scales up to 1000". After pre-processing, additional correction procedures were done to correct time varying components and instrumental effects such as MUXbleed. To remove resolved objects, we applied 2α clipping and point spread function (PSF) subtraction. We finally obtained mosaicked images which can be used for the study of various diffuse emissions in the near-infrared sky and found that there are spatial structures in the mosaicked images using a power spectrum analysis.