Sustainable seedling pots: Development and characterisation of banana waste and natural fibre-reinforced composites for horticultural applications.

Plastic pots used in horticultural nurseries generate substantial waste, causing environmental pollution. This study aimed to develop biodegradable composites from banana pseudo-stem reinforced with agricultural residues like pineapple leaves, taro and water hyacinth as eco-friendly substitutes. The aim of this study is to develop optimised banana biocomposite formulations with suitable reinforcements that balance mechanical durability, biodegradation, and seedling growth promotion properties to serve as viable eco-friendly alternatives to plastic seedling pots. This study was carried out by fabricating banana fibre mats through pulping, drying and hot pressing. Composite sheets were reinforced with 50 % pineapple, taro or water hyacinth fibres. The mechanical properties (tensile, yield strength, elongation, bursting strength), hydrophilicity (contact angle, water absorption), biodegradability (soil burial test), and seedling growth promotion were evaluated through appropriate testing methods. The results show that banana-taro composites exhibited suitable tensile strength (25 MPa), elongation (27 %), water uptake (41 %) and 82 % biodegradation in 60 days. It was observed that biodegradable seedling trays fabricated from banana-taro composite showed 95 % tomato seed germination and a 125 cm plant height increase in 30 days, superior to plastic trays. The finding shows that the study demonstrates the potential of banana-taro biocomposites as alternatives to plastic nursery pots, enabling healthy seedling growth while eliminating plastic waste pollution through biodegradation.

The main cause of instability after unconstrained shoulder prosthesis is soft tissue deficiency.

BACKGROUND: Instability is one of the major causes of failures in unconstrained anatomic total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA). This study reviewed the instabilities that may occur in an anatomic shoulder platform system to identify its potential predictors. We hypothesized that soft tissue deficiency was the main cause of instability and that the best treatment option would be conversion to a reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2003 and 2013, we reviewed 27 patients who experienced postoperative instability, and the overall incidence was 5.07%. There were 8 hemiarthroplasties (HAs), 14 TSAs with metal-backed glenoid components, and 5 TSAs with cemented glenoid components. RESULTS: We reported 10 isolated subscapularis tears, 6 massive rotator cuff tears, 8 component malpositions, 2 component dissociations or loosening, and 1 humeral shortening. These dislocations occurred early, within the first 6 months postoperatively, in 20 patients and later in 7. Specific procedures were performed in 8 patients, 17 were converted successfully to a RSA, and no surgery was done in 2 patients. At the last follow-up (mean, 36.96 months) Constant scores, Subjective Shoulder Value, and Simple Shoulder Test scores improved significantly to 49.9, 56.4%, and 6.9 of 12, respectively (P < .05). None of the 25 patients who were revised were categorized as failures. Patients who underwent conversion had a better outcome than those who had other specific procedures (P = .001). CONCLUSION: The major cause of instability in our series was soft tissue deficiency. Most of the patients required conversion, and the platform system we used made conversions easier.