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Leather dyeing is a critical step in leather manufacturing, as it is responsible for providing leather products with an eye-catching visual aspect and adequate quality properties to meet customers' expectations. This step is becoming more and more challenging as the leather industry advances hand in hand with new environmentally friendly policies and regulations to achieve a safer and healthier planet by replacing the highly polluting Cr-based leather tanning technology with greener alternatives. As a result, achieving high-performance dyeing of organic chrome-free leather is one of the bottlenecks for the sustainable development of the leather industry. Herein, we propose a novel strategy to fabricate an isocyanate-based oligomeric dye (IBD) with high coloring capabilities (component content higher than 62.8%) based on toluene 2,4-diisocyanate and reactive red dye 180. This material has been tested for the dyeing of biomass-derived aldehyde (BDA)-tanned leather with excellent outcomes. The experimental results showed that the crust leather dyed with our novel IBD dyeing agent had higher color fastness and better fullness than the leather dyed with conventional anionic (CAD) or reactive red 180 (RRD-180) dyes. These excellent and promising results open new avenues in manufacturing high-performance organic Cr-free leather products and help to ensure the sustainable transition of the leather industry from Cr-based leather tanning to more sustainable alternatives, maintaining the final quality of the leather products.

With the rapid growth in the global population and the accelerating pace of urbanization, researching and developing novel strategies for biomass utilization is significant due to its potential for use in renewable energy, climate change mitigation, waste management, and sustainable agriculture. In this environmental context, this review discusses the recent advances in biomass conversion technologies for biochar production, including the first carbonization process and the subsequent activation methods of the biochar derived from lignocellulosic biomass (LBC). Parallel to this, this review deals with other essential parameters in biochar production, such as feedstock types, reaction environments, and operating conditions in the pyrolysis process, to determine the production and composition of LBC. Moreover, the wide-ranging applications of LBC in areas such as adsorption, catalysts, and energy storage are discussed, offering sustainable and environmentally friendly alternatives while reducing reliance on traditional energy sources and mineral resources, thereby providing practical solutions to environmental and energy challenges. Overall, this review not only provides a comprehensive comparative analysis of different LBC preparation methods, but also facilitates a deeper understanding of the advantages and limitations of these methodologies when it comes to developing high-value materials for sustainable applications.

Lignocellulose based nanomaterials are emerging green biosolids commonly obtained from wood pulp. Alternative feedstocks, such as as unavoidable food waste, are interesting resources for nano/microfibers. This research reports the production and characterization of microfibrillated lignocellulose (MFLC) from cassava peel (CP) and almond hull (AH) via acid-free microwave-assisted hydrothermal treatment (MHT) at different temperatures (120–220 °C). During processing, the structural changes were tracked by ATR-IR, TGA, XRD, 13C CPMAS NMR, zeta potential, HPLC, elemental analysis (CHN; carbon, hydrogen and nitrogen), TEM and SEM analyses. The microwave processing temperature and nature of feedstock exerted a significant influence on the yields and properties of the MFLCs produced. The MFLC yields from CP and AH shifted by 15–49% and 31–73%, respectively. Increasing the MHT temperature substantially affected the crystallinity index (13–66% for CP and 36–62% for AH) and thermal stability (300–374 °C for CP and 300–364 °C for AH) of the MFLCs produced. This suggested that the MFLC from CP is more fragile and brittle than that produced from AH. These phenomena influenced the gelation capabilities of the fibers. AH MFLC pretreated with ethanol at low temperature gave better film-forming capabilities, while untreated and heptane pretreated materials formed stable hydrogels at solid concentration (2% w/v). At high processing temperatures, the microfibrils were separated into elementary fibers, regardless of pretreatment or feedstock type. Given these data, this work demonstrates that the acid-free MHT processing of CP and AH is a facile method for producing MFLC with potential applications, including adsorption, packaging and the production of nanocomposites and personal care rheology modifiers.Graphic abstract

High-performance chrome-free leather production is currently one of the most concerning needs to warrant the sustainable development of the leather industry due to the serious chrome pollution. Driven by these research challenges, this work explores using biobased polymeric dyes (BPDs) based on dialdehyde starch and reactive small-molecule dye (reactive red 180, RD-180) as novel dyeing agents for leather tanned using a chrome-free, biomass-derived aldehyde tanning agent (BAT). FTIR, 1H NMR, XPS, and UV-visible spectrometry analyses indicated that a Schiff base structure was generated between the aldehyde group of dialdehyde starch (DST) and the amino group of RD-180, resulting in the successful load of RD-180 on DST to produce BPD. The BPD could first penetrate the BAT-tanned leather efficiently and then be deposited on the leather matrix, thus exhibiting a high uptake ratio. Compared with the crust leathers prepared using a conventional anionic dye (CAD), dyeing, and RD-180 dyeing, the BPD-dyed crust leather not only had better coloring uniformity and fastness but it also showed a higher tensile strength, elongation at break, and fullness. These data suggest that BPD has the potential to be used as a novel sustainable polymeric dye for the high-performance dyeing of organically tanned chrome-free leather, which is paramount to ensuring and promoting the sustainable development of the leather industry.

This work addresses a microwave-assisted, NaCl–H 2 O/γ-valerolactone (GVL) solvent system for the co-production of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and saccharides from cellulose, examining the effects of the solvent system (H 2 O/GVL), NaCl concentration and reaction time. Oligosaccharides and glucose were completely recovered in the aqueous phase and their yields varied between 4–67 and 0–16 wt%, respectively, while HMF was largely recovered in the organic phase, in a yield between 0 and 13 wt%. Increasing the proportion of H 2 O in the system promoted cellulose depolymerisation and increased the production of oligosaccharides and glucose. This latter underwent a further decomposition to yield HMF and carboxylic acids when long times were used. An increase in NaCl not only kinetically promoted cellulose decomposition, but also modified the solubility of cellulose decomposition products in the aqueous phase, thus playing a very important role on the products distribution within both phases. With a solvent system consisting of 67/33 vol% H 2 O/GVL, with 30 wt% NaCl at 220 °C for 18 min, it is possible to selectively convert 76% of the cellulose into a sugar-rich aqueous solution and a rich HMF organic phase. The former was made up of glucose (25%) and oligosaccharides (64%), while the later mainly comprised HMF (75%). This might help the development of new biomass pre-processing technologies, allowing the co-production of precursors for the chemical and biological industries. Graphical abstract

Background. Infections by multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) are a global threat and are particularly common in hospitals. This study was performed to assess the impact of hospital-acquired infections caused by MDROs on morbidity, mortality, and length of hospital stay. Methods. This was a retrospective cohort study. A sample of adults aged ≥18 years with a respiratory, urinary, bloodstream, or surgical site infection caused by a multidrug-resistant (cases) or -sensitive (controls) microorganism was selected. Measurements included hospital mortality from all causes (total and 30 days after infection), length of stay (LOS), and 5 indicators of morbidity: intensive care or surgery admissions, number of diagnostic tests after infection, and hospital readmissions or visits to the emergency department within 30 days of discharge. Results. The sample was composed of 324 cases and 676 control patients. Risk of hospital mortality from all causes (hazard ratio [HR], 1.7; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.25–2.32) and 30 day-mortality after infection (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.29–2.44) were higher in patients with an MDRO infection. Probability of readmission was also higher (odds ratio [OR], 2.17; 95% CI, 1.36–3.46) in the case group. Emergency department visits were only significantly higher in methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (OR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.65–4.74) and in Escherichia coli–resistant infections (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.32–3.96). Infections by MDRO were not associated with any other outcome. Conclusions. Hospital infections caused by MDROs increase mortality, readmissions, and in some cases, visits to the emergency department compared with those produced by susceptible strains. They do not appear to influence LOS nor the need for hospital admission, intensive care, surgery, or diagnostic tests.

To compare the survival among patients with chronic kidney disease who had optimal starts of renal replacement therapy, dialysis or hemodialysis, with patients who had suboptimal starts. A retrospective cohort consisting of >18 year-old patients who started renal replacement therapy, using peritoneal dialysis or hemodialysis, in any public hospital or associated center of the Andalusian Public Health System, between the 1st of January of 2006 and the 15th of March of 2017. The optimal start was defined when all the following criteria were met: a planned dialysis start, a minimum of six-month follow-up by a nephrologist, and a first dialysis method coinciding with the one registered at 90 days. The information was obtained from the registry of the Information System of the Transplant Autonomic Coordination of Andalusia. A total of 10,692 patients were studied. 4,377 (40.9%) of these patients died. A total of 4,937 patients (46.17%) achieved optimal starts of renal replacement therapy and showed higher survival rates (HR 0.669; 95% CI 0.628-0.712) in the multivariate analysis of Cox regression model. Patients with an optimal start of renal replacement therapy have a greater survival than those who had a non-optimal start. Therefore, the necessary measures should be encouraged to increase the optimal start of the patient in dialysis.

(1) Background: This study compares the effective lens position (ELP) and intraocular lens power (IOLP) derived from SRK/T, Hoffer Q, Holladay I, and Haigis formulas with the actual lens position (ALP) and the implanted IOLP after cataract surgery. Additionally, it aims to optimize ALP using a ray-tracing-based simulated optical model to achieve emmetropia. (2) Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted on 43 eyes implanted with the same monofocal intraocular lens (IOL). Preoperative and postoperative biometric data were collected using the Lenstar LS900. Postoperative measurements included ALP, subjective refraction, and refraction error (RE). Optical simulations (OSLO EDU 6.6.0) were utilized to optimize ALP for emmetropia (ALPIDEAL). (3) Results: Paired t-test results between REOSLO-REOBJ (p-value = 0.660) and REOSLO-RESUB (p-value = 0.789) indicated no significant statistical differences. However, statistically significant differences were found between ALP and ALPIDEAL (p < 0.05), with a difference of −0.04 ± 0.45 mm [ranging from −1.00 to 1.20 mm]. A significant correlation was observed between ΔALP (ΔALP = ALP − ALPIDEAL) and RESUBJ. (4) Conclusions: This customized ray-tracing eye model effectively achieves refractive outcomes similar to those obtained both subjectively and objectively post-surgery. Additionally, it has enabled optical simulations to optimize the IOL position and achieve emmetropia.

Objective To describe the characteristics of the patients, as well as the treatment outcomes for the people treated in an Endocrinology and Nutrition unit with a diagnosis of SE-ED (> 7 years evolution despite evidence-based conventional treatment). Methods A descriptive observational study was conducted. Patients with a diagnosis of SE-ED (anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa) treated in the Endocrinology and Nutrition service of the Virgen del Rocío University Hospital between 2014 and 2019 were included. Results 67 patients were contacted and accepted to participate in the study. 95.5% were women. 67.2% were diagnosed with AN (anorexia nervosa) and 32.8% with BN (bulimia nervosa). Their median ages (years) at the onset of symptoms, beginning of follow-up and at present were 17, 32 and 42.5 respectively. Their median time of follow-up was 9 years. 73.1% had mental comorbitidy and AN patients had more osteoporosis (48.9% vs 22.7%, p  = 0.04) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (31.1% vs. 4.5%, p  = 0.014). Discussion The SE-ED patients in our sample began treatment years after the onset of symptoms, which may have led to their chronification. This emphasizes the importance of an early diagnosis in eating disorders. They presented with a high rate of physical complications and mental comorbidity. In the current sample, it was determined that patients with AN presented with higher rates of osteoporosis and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism than patients with BN. Level of evidence Level III: Evidence obtained from well-designed cohort or case–control analytic studies. Plain English summary At present, the criteria for severe and enduring eating disorders (SE-ED) are not sufficiently clearly defined. It has been calculated that approximately 20% of patients with anorexia nervosa (AN) and 10% of patients with bulimia nervosa (BN) suffer a chronification. We evaluated the characteristics of the patients, as well as the treatment outcomes for the people treated in an Endocrinology and Nutrition unit with a diagnosis of SE-ED (which was made based on an evolution greater than 7 years despite conventional treatment). The SE-ED patients in our sample began treatment years after the onset of symptoms, which may have led to their chronification. They presented with a high rate of physical complications and mental comorbidity. In the current sample, it was determined that patients with AN presented with higher rates of osteoporosis (health condition that weakens bones, making them fragile and more likely to break) and hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (illness in which testes or ovaries produce little or no sex hormones due to a problem in the pituitary gland) than patients with BN.