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.

Infrastructure investment has long been held as an accelerator or a driver of the economy. Internationally, the UK ranks poorly with the performance of infrastructure and ranks in the lower percentile for both infrastructure investment and GDP growth rate amongst comparative nations. Faced with the uncertainty of Brexit and the likely negative economic impact this will bring, infrastructure investment may be used to strengthen the UK economy. This study aims to examine how infrastructure funding impacts economic growth and how best the UK can maximize this potential by building on existing work.
The research method is based on interviews carried out with respondents involved in infrastructure operating across various sectors. The findings show that investment in infrastructure is vital in the UK as it stimulates economic growth through employment creation due to factor productivity. However, it is critical for investment to be directed to regional opportunity areas with the potential to unlock economic growth and maximize returns whilst stimulating further growth to benefit other regions. There is also a need for policy consistency and to review UK infrastructure policy to streamline the process and to reduce cost and time overrun, with Brexit likely to impact negatively on infrastructure investment.

This work investigates epoxy composites reinforced by randomly oriented, short glass fibres and silica microparticles. A full-factorial experiment evaluates the effects of glass fibre mass fraction (15 wt% and 20 wt%) and length (5 mm and 10 mm), and the mass fraction of silica microparticles (5 wt% and 10 wt%) on the apparent density and porosity, as well as the compressive and tensile strength and modulus of the hybrid composites. Hybrid epoxy composites present significantly higher tensile strength (9%) and modulus (57%), as well as compressive strength (up to 15%) relative to pure epoxy.

Heat recovery is one of the measures proposed for the appropriate use of ammonia in tropical countries. This article analyzes a heat recovery system installed in an industrial refrigeration plant. Based on comparative readings of operating parameters of the installation, determined the effectiveness of the heat exchange, the increase in the efficiency of the refrigeration system, as well as the fuel saved by heating water in the industry. The results obtained reported that the thermal design based on heat exchange in annular spaces allows a significant saving of resources and a high rate of thermal utilization.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the growth of four lettuce cultivars in Southern Piauí to recommend the best ones for the region. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse with randomized blocks, with evaluation in subdivided time plots, evaluated in six seasons (20, 24, 28, 32, 36, 40 days after sowing—DAS) and with treatments corresponding to four cultivars (Americana Rafaela^®, Grand Rapids TBR^®, Crespa Repolhuda^® and Repolhuda Todo ano^®) with five repetitions. Leaf area, number of leaves, collar diameter, aboveground fresh mass, aboveground dry mass, root dry mass and total and the physiological indices of growth analysis were evaluated. The lettuce cultivars interfered significantly in the studied parameters, being that Americana Rafaela^® and Repolhuda todo ano^®, in the conditions that they were submitted, presented better performances and bigger morphophysiological indexes, cultivated in pot. The cultivars Americana Rafaela^® and Repolhuda todo ano^® can be produced under the conditions of the south of Piauí.

To investigate the possible role of arbuscular mycrrhizal fungi (AMF) in alleviating the negative effects of salinity on Stevia rebaudiana (Bert.), the regenerated plantlets in tissue culture was transferred to pots in greenhouse and inoculated with Glomus intraradices. Salinity caused a significant decrease in chlorophyll content, photosynthesis efficiency and enhanced the electrolyte leakage. The use of AMF in salt –affected plants resulted in improved all above mentioned characteristics. Hydrogen peroxide and malondialdehyde (MDA) contents increased in salt stressed plants while a reduction was observed due to AMF inoculation. CAT activity showed a significant increase up to 2 g/l and then followed by decline at 5 g/l NaCl in both AMF and non-AMF treated stevia, however, AMF inoculated plants maintained lower CAT activity at all salinity levels (2 and 5 g/l). Enhanced POX activities in salt- treated stevia plants were decreased by inoculation of plants with AMF. The addition of NaCl to stevia plants also resulted in an enhanced activity of SOD whilst, AMF plants maintained higher SOD activity at all salinity levels than those of non-AMF inoculated plants. AMF inoculation was capable of alleviating the damage caused by salinity on stevia plants by reducing oxidative stress and improving photosynthesis efficiency.