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.

To identify genes that commonly respond to the treatment of different insecticides and are responsible for the toleranceenhancement, transcriptomic profiles of larvae treated with sublethal doses of the five insecticides were compared withthat of untreated control. A total of 117,181 transcripts with a mean length of 662 bp were generated by de novo assembly,of which 35,329 transcripts were annotated. Among them, 125, 143, 182, 215 and 149 transcripts were determined tobe up-regulated whereas 67, 45, 60, 60 and 38 genes were down-regulated following treatments with these five insecticides.The most notable examples of commonly responding over-transcribed genes were two cytochrome P450 genes and ninecuticular protein genes. In contrast, several genes composing the mitochondrial energy generation system were significantlydown-regulated in all treated larvae. Considering the distinct structure and mode of action of the five insecticides tested,the differentially expressed genes identified in this study appear to be involved in general chemical defense at the initialstage of intoxication. Their possible roles in the tolerance/resistance development were discussed.

Augmentative biological control, which refers to frequent releases of mass produced natural enemies, is well developedin the greenhouse cropping systems and many successful cases have been reported worldwide. The most robust biocontrolsystems are based on the principle of established populations of natural enemies before invasions of pests occur. However,the natural enemies that are commercially available do not establish well in all crops, which can be caused by a lackof food sources, a lack of oviposition sites or shelter, or because of an unsuitable microclimate. These problems can besolved by selecting new species of natural enemies that are better adapted to the crop and/or by providing the resourcesthat natural enemies need to survive and reproduce in the crop. Here we present some results of studies that may contributeto this “standing army approach” in biocontrol, based on the use of banker plants, nectar plants, rearing sachets, foodsprays and alternative prey applications.in the greenhouse cropping systems and many successful cases have been reported worldwide. The most robust biocontrolsystems are based on the principle of established populations of natural enemies before invasions of pests occur. However,the natural enemies that are commercially available do not establish well in all crops, which can be caused by a lackof food sources, a lack of oviposition sites or shelter, or because of an unsuitable microclimate. These problems can besolved by selecting new species of natural enemies that are better adapted to the crop and/or by providing the resourcesthat natural enemies need to survive and reproduce in the crop. Here we present some results of studies that may contributeto this “standing army approach” in biocontrol, based on the use of banker plants, nectar plants, rearing sachets, foodsprays and alternative prey applications.

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.