Plastics in our ocean as transdisciplinary challenge.

This conference report summarizes the current challenges of researching microplastics pollution in the ocean as debated by international experts and stakeholders at a workshop held in San Sebastián, Spain, 1-2 October 2019. The transdisciplinary, co-learning approach of this report stressed the need to incorporate multiple perspective in solving the problem of microplastics and resulted in three proposed actions: (i) filtering microplastics from waste waters; (ii) mandatory ecolabels on plastic products packages; and (iii) circular economy of packaging plastics.

Multi-criteria assessment of the viability of valorising vegetable by-products from the distribution as secondary raw material for animal feed.

Approximately 33% of food produced around the world is wasted. In the distribution sector, erroneous orders or demand predictions result in products that cannot be sold before the expiration date. Despite its enormous potential, a low percentage of this food wastage is valorised causing negative social, economic and environmental impacts. Vegetable food waste has potential as raw material for animal feed. However, the profitability of its valorisation depends on several key factors and there is a risk of underestimating any of them making this valorisation technically, economically or environmentally unfeasible. Moreover, the geographical dispersion requires selecting the appropriate location for the processing plant and optimising the logistics routes to collect and transport them from the origin points to the processing plant. GISWASTE tool, which combines Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method with ArcGIS, has been used to simulate the viability of this valorisation alternative from a holistic point of view. In addition, a sensitivity analysis in the economic modelling has been carried out to determine the economic viability factors with more influence in the global profitability. The valorisation of vegetable food waste from distribution and retailing sector for animal feed has been considered feasible in the case study region: Basque Country (Spain). However, there are some economic uncertainties for the return of the investment. The variable with more influence over the profitability is by far the incomes from waste management (81.4%).

Severe 2009 A/H1N1v influenza in pregnant women in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To describe the severity of the 2009 influenza A/H1N1v illness among pregnant women admitted to Spanish intensive care units. DESIGN AND PATIENTS: Prospective, observational, multicenter study conducted in 148 Spanish intensive care units. We reviewed demographic and clinical data from the Spanish Society of Intensive Care Medicine database reported from April 23, 2009, to February 15, 2010. We included women of reproductive age (15-44 yrs) with confirmed A/H1N1v infection admitted to intensive care units. MAIN RESULTS: Two hundred thirty-four women of reproductive age were admitted to intensive care units, 50 (21.4%) of them pregnant. Seven deaths were recorded in pregnant and 22 in nonpregnant women. Among intensive care unit admissions, there were no statistically significant differences between pregnant women and nonpregnant in Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment scores, chest x-rays, inotrope requirement, or need for mechanical ventilation or steroid therapy. Mortality risk was significantly associated with Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Sequential Organ Failure Assessment, and obesity. Viral pneumonia was more frequent in pregnant women than in nonpregnant women, with an odds ratio (adjusted for asthma, time from onset influenza symptoms to hospital admission and obesity) of 4.9 (95% confidence interval: 1.4-17.2). The development of primary viral pneumonia in women of reproductive age appeared to be related to the time of commencement of antiviral treatment, the lowest rates being reported with initiation of antiviral therapy within 48 hrs of symptom onset (63.6% vs. 82.6%, p = .03). However, antiviral therapy was started within this time span in only 14% of pregnant women. CONCLUSIONS: More than 20% of women of reproductive age admitted to intensive care unit for pH1N1 infection were pregnant. Pregnancy was significantly associated with primary viral pneumonia. Pregnant women should receive prompt treatment with oseltamivir within 48 hrs of the onset of influenza symptoms.