The study evaluated the aseptic establishment of Monstera acuminata Koch and Monstera deliciosa Liebm (Araceae) from leaves and the induction of in vitro organogenesis of M. acuminata K. from stem discs of young shoots. For this purpose, different disinfection protocols were applied to mature leaves and young shoots, from which leaf explants of approximately 1 cm² and stem discs of approximately 1 mm thickness were extracted. The explants were established in semi-solid media with different hormone treatments during the aseptic establishment stage and induction of organogenesis. Disinfection with 3% sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) for 20 min and 50% Murashige and Skoog^[1] medium with plant tissue culture preservative (PPM) favored less oxidation in leaf explants of both species. All explants of M. deliciosa in both treatments grown in PPM-added medium and at different disinfection protocols survived, showed no contamination and more than 80% retained cellular activity up to 49 days of culture age. At 35 days of culture, with disinfection in Tween-20 + 20% ethanol + 2.5% NaClO, and seeding of explants in MS medium added with 1 mg/L of BAP, 0.5 mg/L of AIA and 0.1 mg/L of ANA, seven new shoots of stem discs were induced. Monstera deliciosa was more adaptable to in vitro conditions. Advances in aseptic establishment and induction of organogenesis in native Araceae for wicker production are the basis for ex situ conservation of local populations.

This research investigates the effects of drying on some selected vegetables, which are Telfaria occidentalis, Amaranthu scruentus, Talinum triangulare, and Crussocephalum biafrae. These vegetables were collected fresh, sliced into smaller sizes of 0.5 cm, and dried in a convective dryer at varying temperatures of 60.0 °C, 70.0 °C and 80.0 °C respectively, for a regulated fan speed of 1.50 ms‒1, 3.00 ms‒1 and 6.00 ms‒1, and for a drying period of 6 hours. It was discovered that the drying rate for fresh samples was 4.560 gmin‒1 for Talinum triangulare, 4.390 gmin‒1for Amaranthu scruentus, 4.580 gmin‒1 for Talinum triangulare, and 4.640 gmin‒1 for Crussocephalum biafrae at different controlled fan speeds and regulated temperatures when the mass of the vegetable samples at each drying time was compared to the mass of the final samples dried for 6 hours. The samples are considered completely dried when the drying time reaches a certain point, as indicated by the drying rate and moisture contents tending to zero. According to drying kinetics, the rate of moisture loss was extremely high during the first two hours of drying and then steadily decreased during the remaining drying duration. The rate at which moisture was removed from the vegetable samples after the drying process at varying regulated temperatures was noted to be in this trend: 80.0 °C > 70.0 °C > 60.0 °C and 6.0 ms‒1 > 3.0 ms‒1 > 1.5 ms‒1 for regulated fan speed. It can be stated here that the moisture contents has significant effects on the drying rate of the samples of vegetables investigated because the drying rate decreases as the regulated temperatures increase and the moisture contents decrease. The present investigation is useful in the agricultural engineering and food engineering industries.

A failsafe network design recovering from the stressed condition against a massive supply disruption is generally useful for various applications. Water flow in plants under a tension is inherently vulnerable to an embolism, a water supply cut off, causing a death. However, the function of the network structures of leaf veins and xylem stems effectively reduces the embolism-induced failure. In this study, water transport in plants under the pressurized conditions compared to the normal physiological conditions is observed by X-ray imaing. By examining embolism-induced water supply limits in the architecturally diverse leaf and stem networks, a progressive hydraulic rule has been found: the limited flows in the selected parts of the network structures against a total fail. For a scientific explanation on nanoscale water flow dynamics occurring in plants, temporal meniscus development in the nanomembrane model system is investigated. The pressure-driven hydrodynamic transport phenomena can be explained to follow network dynamics of the modified imbibition typically occuring in nanostrutcures. This study contributes to a variety of design technologies of networked materials against the spread of flow damages under the stressed conditions.

Buru Regency is the primary hub for producing eucalyptus oil, a highly valued commodity in the region. The oil extracted from the eucalyptus epidemic plant possesses antiseptic, antibacterial, and antifungal characteristics. Amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, numerous industries require it as a fundamental component of pharmaceuticals. An essential factor in the eucalyptus oil production process is the presence of eucalyptus leaves. Therefore, leaf-sorting workers, including women, are required to ensure this availability. However, in reality, the daily lives of eucalyptus leaf massagers are characterized by challenging economic conditions and a socio-economic environment that lags behind workers in other sectors. This study aims to examine and investigate the roles and work patterns of employed women and the strategies they employ to ensure the consistent flow of household income. The research employed a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological approach. A total of 24 informants were purposefully selected based on their involvement in achieving the research objectives. The results indicate that the COVID-19 pandemic has altered the circumstances of women who collect leaves and rely heavily on eucalyptus trees as a natural resource. Physical adaptation strategies are the preferred methods used to fulfill household requirements. Implementing physical adaptations does not deter women leaf-sorters from continuing their work. Their commitment to meeting their basic needs significantly motivates them to persist in their role as leaf sorters. The income of women engaged in sorting eucalyptus leaves in their households during the COVID-19 pandemic.