The thermo-physiological and tactile properties of socks were analysed by using hybrid yarns which were made by Polyethylene (PE) fibre with different fibres in variable ratios, using full-factorial experimental design. Socks samples were designed using hybrid yarns made with three blend ratios of polyethylene filament with cotton (Co), polyester (PET), polypropylene (PP), modal (Mo) and viscose (Vis) spun yarns. Statistical analysis was carried out according to response surface regression analysis (RSM). Among various analytical tools, RSM is adopted for prediction of multiple responses and response optimizer (RO) was used to optimize the thermo-physiological and tactile comfort i.e. softness and smoothness properties of socks by using the desirability function approach. It was inferred that the combination of cotton with polyethylene was most influencing for thermal conductivity and softness properties. Experimental validation confirmed that predicted variables can be used to design knitted socks fabric with desired thermo-physiological and tactile comfort properties.

• Klíčová slova
• Comfort, Hybrid yarn, Polyethylene (PE), Socks, Summer, Thermal conductivity,
• MeSH
• hmat * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• odívání * MeSH
• polyethylen chemie   MeSH
• polypropyleny chemie   MeSH
• sporty * MeSH
• statistické modely * MeSH
• tepelná vodivost MeSH
• textilie * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polyethylen MeSH
• polypropyleny MeSH

In this experiment Artocarpus hirsutus (AH) fiber was utilized as the filler material for bamboo fiber (NF)/polyethylene (PE) biocomposites. This was a waste to wealth approach by utilising biomaterial and also can reduce the use of PE plastics. The crystallinity index (Crl) of 45.1%, 56.4%, 67% was observed in AH, alkali treated (NaOH) and cellulose AH fiber respectively. The combination with 20 wt% NF/3 wt% cellulose AH filler observed better tensile and flexural strength. Agglomeration at 4, 5 wt% affects the flexural properties by lesser interfacial adhesion with filler/matrix phase, having properties reducing up to 20.3 MPa. Comparing to cellulose AH filler, both alkali treated and untreated AH filler combinations possess lesser flexural strength. The addition of natural fibers increases the tensile and flexural modulus property with better properties at 30 wt% NF/5 wt% cellulose AH filler combination. The Impact strength doesn't observe high influence with filler incorporation. This AH fiber hasn't been explored in detail for mechanical and hydrophilic properties with incorporation with PE matrix. This fabricated composite is suited for bioengineering applications.

• Klíčová slova
• Biocomposites, Cellulosic filler, Mechanical properties, Natural fibers,
• MeSH
• Artocarpus * chemie   MeSH
• biokompatibilní materiály * chemie   MeSH
• celulosa * chemie   MeSH
• pevnost v tahu MeSH
• polyethylen chemie   MeSH
• testování materiálů MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• biokompatibilní materiály * MeSH
• celulosa * MeSH
• polyethylen MeSH

Microplastics (MPs) are increasingly entering agricultural soils, often from the breakdown of agricultural plastics (e.g., mulching films). This study investigates the effects of realistic MPs from different mulching films: two conventional polyethylene (PE-1 and PE-2) and two biodegradable (starch-blended polybutylene adipate co-terephthalate; PBAT-BD-1 and PBAT-BD-2). MPs were mixed into Lufa 2.2 soil at a concentration range from 0.005 % to 5 % (w/w dry soil), wide enough to reflect both realistic environmental levels and "worst-case scenarios". Effects on Enchytraeus crypticus reproduction over two generations and six important soil properties were studied. PBAT MPs notably reduced enchytraeid reproduction in the F0 generation, with a maximum decrease of 35.5 ± 9.6 % at 0.5 % concentration. F1 generation was unaffected by PBAT contamination. PE MPs had a more substantial reproductive impact, with up to a 55.3 ± 9.7 % decrease at 5 % PE-1 concentration compared to the control, showing a dose-related effect except for 1 %. Both MP types also significantly affected soil water holding capacity, pH, and total carbon. Other soil properties remained unaffected. Our results highlight the potential negative impacts of MPs originating from real agricultural plastics on soil health and raise concerns about the role of agricultural plastics in sustainable agriculture and food safety.

• Klíčová slova
• Agricultural plastics, Realistic soil pollution, Soil ecotoxicology, Soil invertebrates, Soil pH, water holding capacity, total carbon,
• MeSH
• látky znečišťující půdu * analýza   chemie   MeSH
• mikroplasty * toxicita   MeSH
• Oligochaeta účinky léků   MeSH
• plastické hmoty chemie   MeSH
• polyestery chemie   MeSH
• polyethylen chemie   MeSH
• půda * chemie   MeSH
• rozmnožování * účinky léků   MeSH
• škrob chemie   MeSH
• zemědělství * MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• látky znečišťující půdu * MeSH
• mikroplasty * MeSH
• plastické hmoty MeSH
• poly(butylene adipate-co-butylene terephthalate) MeSH Prohlížeč
• polyestery MeSH
• polyethylen MeSH
• půda * MeSH
• škrob MeSH

The determination of metal-containing additives in plastic materials via acid digestion protocols has attracted growing interest to address potential environmental implications. However, the lack of protocol harmonization hinders data comparability within the literature. Here, six acid digestion protocols were employed to determine the metal(loid) content in plastics: these included three different acid mixtures (HNO3 combined with H2SO4, HCl or H2O2) for microwave-assisted digestion, with or without an additional room-temperature digestion step with H2O2. Each protocol was first validated for seven metal(loid)s (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Sb, Sn and Zn) using a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) certified reference material (ERM®-EC681m). Then, validated protocols were applied on end-use materials, including conventional (i.e., LDPE) and compostable (i.e., PBAT/TPS) plastics. The combination of H2SO4 and HNO3 with a further digestion step with H2O2 was the most suitable protocol: it successfully passed validation thresholds for all metal(loid)s (recoveries in the range 98.6-101.0 %) and yielded the highest concentrations in end-use materials. All other protocols resulted in a less efficient digestion of the sample matrix, leading to lower recoveries and the formation of solid residues. Notably, end-use plastics showed a great variability in metal(loid) concentrations, likely due to their additive-rich composition, in contrast to the minimal content of acid-soluble additives of the reference material. This study represents an initial step towards the harmonization of acid digestion protocols and highlights new challenges in accurately analyzing end-use plastic materials, due to their complex additive composition.

• Klíčová slova
• Acid digestion, Additives, Metalloids, Metals, Microplastics, Polymers,
• MeSH
• antimon analýza   MeSH
• arsen analýza   MeSH
• kovy * analýza   chemie   MeSH
• mikrovlny MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• olovo analýza   MeSH
• peroxid vodíku chemie   MeSH
• plastické hmoty * chemie   MeSH
• polyethylen * chemie   MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• antimon MeSH
• arsen MeSH
• kovy * MeSH
• olovo MeSH
• peroxid vodíku MeSH
• plastické hmoty * MeSH
• polyethylen * MeSH

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is the most consistently reported complication of cranioplasty. No material showed a categorical superiority in the incidence of infection. Porous polyethylene (PE) is considered a low risk material regarding SSI. However, the literature data are very limited. Thus, our objective was to verify the assumed low incidence of SSI after PE cranioplasty in patients at high risk of SSI. The primary objective was the infection rate, while secondary objectives were implant exposure, revision and cosmetic results. METHOD: Patients who underwent three-dimensional (3D) personalized PE cranioplasty in the period 2014-2023 were evaluated prospectively. Only patients with an increased risk of SSI, and a satisfactory clinical conditions were included in the study. RESULTS: Thirty procedures were performed in 30 patients. Cranioplasty was performed 23 times after hemispheric decompressive craniectomy, five times after limited size craniotomy and two times after bifrontal decompressive craniectomy. Risk factors for the development of infection were 18 previous SSIs, 16 previous repeated revision surgeries, four intraoperatively opened frontal sinuses and two times radiotherapy. Neither infection nor implant exposure was detected in any patient. All patients were satisfied with the aesthetic result. In two cases, a revision was performed due to postoperative epidural hematoma. CONCLUSIONS: Three-dimensional personalized PE cranioplasty is associated with an extremely low incidence of SSI even in high-risk patients. However, our conclusions can only be confirmed in larger studies.

• Klíčová slova
• Cranioplasty, High-risk patients, Infection, Personalized, Porous polyethylene,
• MeSH
• dekompresní kraniektomie škodlivé účinky   metody   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• infekce chirurgické rány * epidemiologie   etiologie   MeSH
• kraniotomie škodlivé účinky   metody   MeSH
• lebka chirurgie   MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polyethylen MeSH
• poréznost MeSH
• prospektivní studie MeSH
• rizikové faktory MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• zákroky plastické chirurgie * metody   škodlivé účinky   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polyethylen MeSH

The quality of chemical analysis is an important aspect of passive sampling-based environmental assessments. The present study reports on a proficiency testing program for the chemical analysis of hydrophobic organic compounds in silicone and low-density polyethylene (LDPE) passive samplers and hydrophilic compounds in polar organic chemical integrative samplers. The median between-laboratory coefficients of variation (CVs) of hydrophobic compound concentrations in the polymer phase were 33% (silicone) and 38% (LDPE), similar to the CVs obtained in four earlier rounds of this program. The median CV over all rounds was 32%. Much higher variabilities were observed for hydrophilic compound concentrations in the sorbent: 50% for the untransformed data and a factor of 1.6 after log transformation. Limiting the data to the best performing laboratories did not result in less variability. Data quality for hydrophilic compounds was only weakly related to the use of structurally identical internal standards and was unrelated to the choice of extraction solvent and extraction time. Standard deviations of the aqueous concentration estimates for hydrophobic compound sampling by the best performing laboratories were 0.21 log units for silicone and 0.27 log units for LDPE (factors of 1.6 to 1.9). The implications are that proficiency testing programs may give more realistic estimates of uncertainties in chemical analysis than within-laboratory quality control programs and that these high uncertainties should be taken into account in environmental assessments.

• Klíčová slova
• POCIS, interlaboratory comparison, passive sampling, polyethylene, proficiency testing, quality control, silicone,
• MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * analýza   MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí metody   MeSH
• organické látky MeSH
• polyethylen * analýza   MeSH
• silikony MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * MeSH
• organické látky MeSH
• polyethylen * MeSH
• silikony MeSH

It is generally acknowledged that microplastic pollutants are prevalent in ocean waters and sediments across a range of tropical, temperate, subpolar, and polar regions. The waters surrounding King George Island are significantly impacted by human activities, particularly those related to scientific stations, fishing, and tourism. Organisms, such as Laternula elliptica, can be used as environmental monitors due to the likelihood that they will bioaccumulate pollutants. The goal of this study was to quantify and identify plastic and cellulosic micro-fragments and microfibers present in the soft body of clams (n = 21), collected from Fildes Bay near sewage and wastewater discharges. Plastic and cellulose microfragments and microfibers were counted, and their compositions were determined using FT-IR. All 21 individuals sampled contained fragments and fibers, with a total of 900 items detected (42.86 ± 25.36 mean ± SD items per individual), or 1.82 items g.wet mass-1. 58 % of items were cellulose and 22 % plastic. Considering the plastic polymer compositions, 28.57 % were polyethylene terephthalate (PET), 21.43 % acrylic, 14.29 % high-density polyethylene (HDPE), 14.29 % Polypropylene (PP), 7.14 % ultra-high drawn polyethylene filament (UHMWPE), 7.14 % polyester and 7.14 % Polyethylene. The quantities and prevalence of MP in L. elliptica were higher than those found in other Antarctic marine species, and even in bivalves from populated regions of the world. Our work assessed the pollution status of L. elliptica near an effluent of wastewater plants and found that 95 % of individuals displayed MP and 100 % microfibers that could impact their population.

• Klíčová slova
• Contaminant of emerging concern, Microplastics, Mollusk, Pollution, Western Antarctic Peninsula,
• MeSH
• celulosa MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * analýza   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mlži * MeSH
• monitorování životního prostředí MeSH
• odpadní voda MeSH
• plastické hmoty MeSH
• polyethylen MeSH
• spektroskopie infračervená s Fourierovou transformací MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Geografické názvy
• Antarktida MeSH
• Názvy látek
• celulosa MeSH
• chemické látky znečišťující vodu * MeSH
• odpadní voda MeSH
• plastické hmoty MeSH
• polyethylen MeSH

BACKGROUND: Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with all-polyethylene tibial (APT) components has shown comparable survivorship and clinical outcomes to that with metal-backed tibial (MBT). Although MBT is more frequently implanted, APT equivalents are considered a low-cost variant for elderly patients. A biomechanical analysis was assumed to be suitable to compare the response of the periprosthetic tibia after implantation of TKA NexGen APT and MBT equivalent. METHODS: A standardised load model was used representing the highest load achieved during level walking. The geometry and material models were created using computed tomography data. In the analysis, a material model was created that represents a patient with osteopenia. RESULTS: The equivalent strain distribution in the models of cancellous bone with an APT component showed values above 1000 με in the area below the medial tibial section, with MBT component were primarily localised in the stem tip area. For APT variants, the microstrain values in more than 80% of the volume were in the range from 300 to 1500 με, MBT only in less than 64% of the volume. CONCLUSION: The effect of APT implantation on the periprosthetic tibia was shown as equal or even superior to that of MBT despite maximum strain values occurring in different locations. On the basis of the strain distribution, the state of the bone tissue was analysed to determine whether bone tissue remodelling or remodelling would occur. Following clinical validation, outcomes could eventually modify the implant selection criteria and lead to more frequent implantation of APT components.

• Klíčová slova
• All-polyethylene tibial component, Computational modeling, FEA, Finite element method, Knee replacement, Metal-backed tibial component, TKR, Total knee arthroplasty,
• MeSH
• analýza metodou konečných prvků MeSH
• kovy MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• polyethylen MeSH
• protézy - design MeSH
• protézy kolene * MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• tibie diagnostické zobrazování   chirurgie   MeSH
• totální endoprotéza kolene * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• kovy MeSH
• polyethylen MeSH

Anthropogenic polymeric particles pollute even the most remote ecosystems and may compromise organisms' behaviour and movement skills. It is expected that invasive species cope better with pollutants than native species (i.e., pollution resistance hypothesis). In this study, invasive gibel carp (Carassius gibelio) and native crucian carp (Carassius carassius) were used as model organisms. Specimens were fed daily with food pellets (1 % body weight) added with 0.1 % polyethylene (PE), tire wear particles (TWPs) and control. Their behavioural parameters were compared before and after 14 and 60 days of exposure. Additionally, we evaluated burst swimming capacity after 60 days of exposure to the treatments. The fishes exposed to the PE and TWPs treatments showed significant trends toward increased boldness scores and, in the PE treatment, higher utilization of the open field, and both behavioural changes are associated with higher risk-taking. Invasive gibel carp had substantially better swimming performance than crucian carp, but the expected trend in relation to the treatments was not found. Fish exposed to sublethal doses of PE and TWPs showed signs of behavioural changes after two months of exposure that may affect risk-taking behaviour, which might impact species interactions with predators.

• Klíčová slova
• Behavioural changes, Habitat degradation, Invasion ecology, Invasive species, Pollution,
• MeSH
• Cyprinidae * MeSH
• ekosystém MeSH
• kapři * MeSH
• polyethylen toxicita   MeSH
• riskování MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• polyethylen MeSH

Pyrolysis is a promising way of waste transformation into new valuable products. Pyrolytic oil is a mixture of hundreds of compounds and it requires detailed and accurate characterization for future applications. One of the most widely used techniques is mass spectrometry in combination with electron ionization. Tuneable ionization provides benefits including additional structural information and validation of molecular ion due to limited fragmentation at lower energies compared to conventional 70 eV, which provides spectral matches towards libraries. This approach was applied to the compounds identification and group characterization of virgin plastics polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polypropylene (PP), polystyrene (PS), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and their mixture. The use of lower ionization energy was beneficial for distinction of alkanes, iso-alkanes and aromatics. On the contrary to 70 eV, significantly higher fragmentation in branching of iso-alkanes at 12 eV was observed with higher yield of molecular ion also for n-alkane. More than 50 % of detected peaks were identified up to the retention time of icosane. The main analytes of produced pyrolysis oil were monoaromatic (from PVC and PS), alkene/cycloalkane (from PP and mixture). In the case of HDPE and LDPE the main compounds were 1-n-alkenes and n-alkanes. The applied methodology reveals compound group, carbon chain length and degree of unsaturation with higher confidence and success rate compared to traditional nominal mass 70 eV datasets.

• Klíčová slova
• Compound identification, GC-HRMS, Group characterization, Low energy electron ionization, Pyrolysis oil, Virgin plastic (PVC, PP, PS, HDPE, LDPE),
• MeSH
• alkany MeSH
• elektrony MeSH
• hmotnostní spektrometrie MeSH
• oleje MeSH
• plastické hmoty * chemie   MeSH
• polyethylen * chemie   MeSH
• polypropyleny MeSH
• polystyreny chemie   MeSH
• pyrolýza MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• alkany MeSH
• oleje MeSH
• plastické hmoty * MeSH
• polyethylen * MeSH
• polypropyleny MeSH
• polystyreny MeSH