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A 34-year-old female presented to us with complaints of decreased vision in her left eye for 1 month. Best-corrected visual acuity was 20/20 in the right eye and 20/60 in the left eye. Anterior segment examination was normal in both the eyes. Fundus examination showed angioid streaks and comet tail lesions in both eyes. The left eye in addition showed a choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) at the macula. Systemic examination revealed skin lesions on the neck with a plucked chicken appearance and multiple papules. Biopsy from the lesions provided histopathological confirmation of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE). CNVM in the left eye was treated successfully with a single dose of intravitreal bevacizumab injection with no further recurrence. No cardiovascular association was found in our case. This case report describes the pathognomonic fundus lesions seen in PXE. This case also emphasizes the need for thorough systemic evaluation, including biopsy from skin lesions for histopathological confirmation of the diagnosis in all cases with ocular features of PXE.

The textile industry is responsible for a large amount of production to cater to the clothing needs of the world. Products have been manufactured with great scope for marketability and function that range from basic needs to luxury demands. In an effort to improve the human standard of living and style, these efforts have been undertaken but ironically the wastewater serves as pollutants and hazards to the environment that in turn will invalidate the wanted standard of living. Many industries have been emptying the process and product effluent into landfills and water bodies causing severe effects on the environment and safety of all living organisms. During the last few decades, environmental problems have become a major issue and environmental and health legislations have come into vogue all around the globe. Market forces have seriously impacted the environmental policies and sustainable textile manufacture and fashion have created a growing awareness among all—raw material cultivator to the end personnel of the supply chain. As part of the sustainable effort, this chapter deals with the impact caused by textile manufacture, sustainable methods, and case studies of textile processes and production that have brought about a change in the amount of wastewater produced or treatment of textile wastewater for reuse through recycling methods. The reducing freshwater resource and its increasing demand call for responsible water management by the adoption of clean technologies, waste minimization initiatives, and effective water reuse treatment with optimum operating costs.

The production and manufacture of the textile and fashion industries are known for high utilization of natural resources and the impact on environment and community. The economy that was linear (take-make-waste system) has shifted to a circular economy where product designs are created to reduce waste and the waste generated is converted into new products (upcycling) or resources (down cycling) which go into the second generation of the raw material cycle either in full or as a percentage of the whole. Over the years, the global textile industry has grown to higher levels in terms of production and consumption, but has created a whole set of issues due to the linearity in production and economy. Now efforts are being directed to reduce the waste and close the loop for zero wastage creating a whole lot of challenges and opportunities that is translating itself not only in the manufacture and production techniques and standards but also in the marketing and advertising campaigns. Leading global brands like NIKE, Patagonia, Speedo, BASF are announcing their pledges and statements toward their contribution to circular economy and targets to be achieved in the near future. The new journey of the textile industry is to explore the methods of incorporating the principles of the circular economy in all levels of product development and stake holder consciousness. Some critical points of consideration are the creation of new business models that increase the utility of clothing, inclusion of safe and renewable inputs and smart solutions that convert used clothes into new ones. Similarly many solutions may be available or may be developed, but manufacturing and industry must aim at zero waste production and circular economy.

Purpose To report a cluster of postoperative Acanthamoeba endophthalmitis after routine cataract surgeries. Methods A brief summary of sentinel events leading to the referral of 4 patients of postoperative endophthalmitis to our hospital is followed by clinical descriptions and the various diagnostic approaches and interventions used. Genotyping and phylogenetic analysis are also discussed. Results Four cases of postoperative cluster endophthalmitis, presumed to be bacterial and treated as such, were referred to our hospital. The presence of an atypical ring infiltrate in the first case facilitated the diagnosis of Acanthamoeba endophthalmitis. All patients had vitritis, corneal involvement, and scleral inflammation. Multiple diagnostic methods, such as corneal scrapings, confocal microscopy, aqueous and vitreous taps, scleral abscess drainage, histopathological studies, polymerase chain reaction, and genotyping and phylogenetic analyses of isolated Acanthamoeba, were used to confirm the diagnosis of endophthalmitis and to establish the extent of ocular involvement. Various medical and therapeutic interventions used to control the infections were also documented. The isolated Acanthamoeba were confirmed as belonging to the T10 genotype, an environmentally and clinically rare variety. Conclusions This is the first report of a cluster of postoperative T10 genotype Acanthamoeba endophthalmitis, occurring after routine cataract surgery in immunocompetent individuals. Contrary to current perceptions, a rapidly evolving infection can occur with Acanthamoeba.

Fashion calls for constant change which urges consumers to indulge in purchasing garments to keep track with the latest trends. These practices result in large consumption patterns of clothing while the nonuse of fashion apparels is hidden truth. Clothes that are purchased with intense interest lie idle either in the wardrobe or in the landfill. The textile and apparel industry invest huge resources for the manufacture of garments to meet the demand of the consumers. Labels of top brands, retail houses, marketing divisions and advertising sectors add glamor to fashion to draw the attention of the consumer and manufacturers involved in fabric production and apparel development work towards high targets at the cost of environmental and social implications. The fashion industry is the backbone of textile and apparel production as all endeavors start with the design phase. Designers today have a different motto, and they work for long-lasting sustainable designs which in turn will promote sustainable consumption and production patterns among end users. This chapter will analyze the role of sustainable design development, the awareness of slow fashion and change in mind-set of the consumer to attain the 12th goal (Responsible Consumption and Production) of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Retinoblastoma is the first genetic cancer of the eye, where the inheritance of the disease is directly demonstrated. This prototype cancer has served as a model for studying multiple other cancers. Retinoblastoma affects the vision, eye, and even life of young children up to the age of 5 years. Developing countries like India harbor the large number of retinoblastoma patients, and most of the patients present at advanced stage of the disease that makes the treatment difficult. It is hence proposed that early detection is necessary for the appropriate treatment and management of the disease. Basic research had largely helped the clinic to identify the patients with genetic predisposition to develop retinoblastoma. Effective use of genetic methods including next-generation sequencing had largely improved the patient care through high-throughput, large gene panel analysis and faster turnaround time. The newly adopted sequential genetic analysis method had considerably reduced the cost and provided an affordable method of genetic screening.

Denim is associated with the history of success and has endured economic challenges and changes in fashion. Due to its versatility, the connotation it makes as a social statement and acceptance in business meetings and other formal occasions, jeans is considered the top selling ‘bottom’ in the retail market. According to BernadetteKissane, Euromonitor Apparel and Footwear Analyst, jeans are expected to show a global rate of 3 percent CAGR (compound annual growth rate) by 2020. The manufacturing of jeans involves cutting and sewing the raw material which may be made of cotton, polyester/cotton blend or cotton with elastane. In apparel production, the marker efficiency ranges from 90 to 95% and a high efficiency leads to low wastage to increase profit margins. Whatever be the marker efficiency fabric wastage results as cut part remains which are usually sold in the market for wiping soils and machines. The world today is moving towards zero wastage and sustainable production with the onus on all members in the supply chain, to take responsibility for their business initiatives and consumption. The policy is to use the waste material as a secondary raw material which may be included in the regular production thereby clearing all grounds of wastage. In an effort to help the industry to move towards zero wastage this study was undertaken to utilize the denim cut waste from the apparel industry and convert them into yarn and fabric in conjunction with virgin material. After many efforts recycled cotton fiber was extracted from the denim cut waste by mechanical means and blended with virgin cotton to produce recycled cotton yarns using different blend ratios. As the fiber was colored the dyeing process was eliminated and fabric was produced using recycled blended yarns as weft and 100% cotton white yarn in the warp to resemble the denim fabric. The fabric was tested for physical, mechanical and comfort tests for recommendation as raw material for apparel manufacture. Thus this method of recycling denim cut waste is sustainable and effective in apparel manufacture.

Sustainability is an objective that refers to the environment and economic and social issues of any culture. Cotton farming systems are diverse and the issues associated with cotton cultivation vary owing to environmental, agro-ecological, climatic, socioeconomic and political situations. The role of biotechnology in cotton farming is important in producing durable hybrids and reducing the amount of insecticides and fertilizers. Global standards have been instituted to cultivate organic crops and voluntary sustainability initiatives assess many sustainability issues in cotton production. The cotton industry reaches out to all involved, from small poverty-stricken farmers to chic fashion stores in different parts of the globe. There is a call for a mass-market transformation in which sustainable cotton is the norm and for a change in global perspectives and the emergence of sustainable strategies to improve the livelihood of 250 million families involved in producing this valuable crop.

A major issue confronting the community and government is waste disposal. A considerable amount of waste is generated when consumers procure and use products. The disposal of waste has become a serious problem due to the increase in the number of consumers and high waste generation. According to the Manual on Municipal Solid Waste Management, Ministry of Urban Development, Government of India (2000), approximately 0.1 million tons of municipal solid waste was generated in India every day leading to almost 36.5 million tons/y. Many manufacturers and retailers are earnest in promoting their brands by the use of excessive packaging without regard to real human needs or environmental concerns. This has resulted in an enormous amount of waste, which calls for numerous waste-management policies. Reduce, reuse, and recycle are tools to minimize the negative implications of manufacturing and retailing on the environment. Design experts today create packaging solutions that consider the optimum use of raw materials and techniques as well as the use of recycled materials in inventory, which can in turn be reused, recycled, composted, or become a source of energy recovery. This chapter presents an overview of the impact of the industrial packaging supply chain on environment, the challenges facing environmentally conscious manufacturing, concepts underlying reuse and recycling of packaging, and the trends in green packaging. The environmental implications of the reuse and recycling of packaging were shown to be beneficial in case studies in terms of raw material, resources, cost, and reduction in landfills. Challenges regarding waste may be different in different countries, but the path to addressing the problems of the waste sector may be common. Evidence from case studies proves that ecologically sustainable concepts lead to savings in resources and have a positive effect on the environment giving a competitive advantage to firms. Prevention and reduction of waste at the source and circular global economy will be of primary importance for all countries to bring about radical changes toward greening the waste sector.

The Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) seeks to lead the apparel industry toward a shared vision of sustainability built upon a common approach for evaluating sustainability performance. By developing a common tool—the Sustainable Apparel Index—the SAC enables apparel industry companies to measure the environmental and social impact of apparel production throughout the product lifecycle, from design to end of use or recycling of the product. The potential impact of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition is enormous. SAC member companies (including brands, retailers and manufacturers) are estimated to be responsible for more than one third of the apparel and footwear produced globally. The SAC has built a strong foundation and made significant progress since its launch in 2010. As the coalition looks forward, there are a few key challenges that members must be prepared to overcome in order to reach shared sustainability goals. The Higg Index, announced by the SAC, is primarily an indicator-based assessment tool for apparel and footwear products that was launched in 2012. The Higg Index has a suite of self-assessment tools dealing with facility, brand, and product and asks practice-based, qualitative questions to gauge environmental sustainability performance and drive behavior for improvement. It is a learning tool for both small and large companies to identify challenges and capture ongoing improvement. It targets a spectrum of performance that allows beginners and leaders in environmental sustainability, regardless of company size, to identify opportunities. The SAC has established a strong foundation of organizational culture and progress, faces both opportunities and challenges, opens membership to any interested company in the apparel sector and drives the Index tool through further iterations and industry adoption. As the organization grows and evolves, it must retain its unique culture and speed at the same time that it balances membership growth, which may bring evolving expectations around sustainability aspirations and engagement to the coalition. The SAC must look forward in order to achieve its long-term vision of transforming apparel industry such that it produces no unnecessary environmental harm and has a positive impact on the people and communities associated with its activities. The organization is poised to build on its success with strong momentum and member commitment. Translating the coalition’s accomplishments and lessons learned across the apparel industry (and to other industries) will be the true measure of SAC’s success.

Biotechnology, a new impetus in the last few years, has seen rapid developments in genetic manipulation techniques (genetic engineering) which introduces the possibility of producing organisms in order to optimize the production of established or novel metabolites of commercial importance and of transferring genetic material (genes) from one organism to another. Industrial biotechnology is the application of technical advances in life sciences to develop commercial products or to incorporate in industrial processes. Enzymes are being used in numerous new applications in the food, feed, agriculture, paper, leather, and textile industries which results in enhanced product quality along with significant reductions in cost and environmental pollution. The potential to harness biotechnology and produce new or modified fibers as well as improving the production yields of existing fibers is being studied. Novel fiber-forming biopolymers with biocompatibility and biodegradability are now being manufactured using large-scale fermentation equipment for medical applications. Natural biological fibers from natural raw materials possessing properties of synthetic fibers have entered the textile field. Enzymatic processes have replaced chemical methodologies in textile manufacturing to obtain a sustainable biobased economy. Biological processes play a major role in the removal of contaminants. The elimination of a wide range of waste materials and polluting substances from the environment is an absolute requirement to promote a sustainable development of our society with low environmental impact. Without such advances in science and technology, the move to a more biobased economy would result in rapid depletion of renewable resources and environmental degradation. The natural protein molecules, enzymes, have paved the way for interdisciplinary partnerships with various textile applications for exploring new avenues in the textile industry. Further research is required for the implementation of commercial enzyme-based processes for the biomodification of synthetic and natural fibers.