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Cellulose-based fibers are desirable materials for nonwoven wipes for their good absorbency, strength, cleaning, and biodegradable properties. However, quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), being cationic in nature, show electrostatic interactions with anionic cellulosic fibers, reducing the available QACs to efficiently clean surfaces. This research presents sustainable alternative fibers that show better controlled exhaustion than commercial wipes and textile fibers. Textile and lignocellulosic fibers were prepared, soaked in QAC, and a UV–vis spectrophotometer was used to measure their exhaustion percentages. Factors such as immersion time and concentration of the disinfectant were also investigated, which affect the rate of exhaustion of the disinfectant from the fibers. A higher immersion time resulted in better exhaustion, whereas the total exhaustion decreased with an increase in the initial concentration of the disinfectant. The exhaustion of benzalkonium chloride (BAC) from the commercial wipes was also investigated at different immersion times and BAC concentrations. It was found that the wood and non-wood fibers showed more controlled exhaustion than the textile fibers and commercial wipes, and could be considered an alternative option for renewable and sustainable wipes and hygiene products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Our aim was to evaluate the renal manifestations in patients with beta-thalassemia. Method: The study comprises a total of 65 subjects including patients with beta- thalassemia (n=35) and healthy volunteer (n=30) matched by age and sex. Hemoglobin (Hb) analysis was done using HPLC. Serum creatinine and uric acid were estimated by ELISA based methods. Analysis for Na+, K+ and Cl- was performed by the Biolyte 2000 automatic electrolyte analyzer. Results: The creatinine and uric acid levels were significantly (p<0.01, p<0.05 respectively) increased in beta-thalassemia patients compared to the controls. On the other hand, the Na level was significantly decreased (p<0.001) in patients with beta-thalassemia. There was a negative correlation (r = -0.4; p<0.01) of Hb level with creatinine while a positive correlation ((r = 0.4; p<0.01)) with Na level was found. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that renal dysfunction exists in patients with β-thalassemia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The production of micro- and nano-fibrillated cellulose (MNFC) from paper mill sludge (PS) using simple enzymatic and mechanical treatments has been evaluated for their performance as value-added materials in packaging and other applications. Sludge from a US paper mill was analyzed for the viability of this conversion process. The enzymatic treatment was conducted at variable concentrations using an enzyme cocktail of exoglucanase and endoglucanase, followed by mechanical dual asymmetric centrifugation (DAC) treatment. The presence of inorganics and lignin facilitated the mechanical defibrillation of the fibers, making the MNFC production more energy-efficient. The prepared MNFC was characterized for fibrillation, charge, crystallinity, and surface morphology. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images show the highly fibrillated MNFC and the distribution of inorganic nanoparticles on the fiber surface. The X-ray diffractometric (XRD) analysis shows 44-65 % crystallinity. Furthermore, MNFC-based films derived from PS demonstrated excellent strength and flexibility, making them suitable for packaging and other applications. Overall, this conversion approach can save the paper industry millions of dollars in disposal costs while upcycling waste and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions associated with waste streams., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)