Environmental and economic assessment of biodegradable and compostable alternatives for plastic materials in greenhouses.

Plastics and other materials commonly used in horticulture for plant support (e.g. raffia) and soil protection (e.g. mulching film) pose a challenge to achieving a circular economy. These materials contaminate plant residues, hampering their direct reuse due to the need for separation and cleaning. As a result, contaminated plant residues is often landfilled or incinerated. This study investigates the replacement of conventional plastic raffia and mulching film with biodegradable and compostable alternatives. Polypropylene raffia is compared with a biodegradable viscose polymer and compostable jute fibre, while polyethylene mulching film is compared with a biodegradable polylactic acid film. Conventional and novel alternatives are compared economically using Life-Cycle Costing and environmentally using Life-Cycle Assessment. The economic assessment is based on case studies with two horticultural companies in Almeria (south-eastern Spain), while the environmental analysis uses data from the Ecoinvent database. The use of biodegradable and compostable alternatives for raffia and mulching film proved to be 49% more expensive than conventional options. However, when conventional plastic waste is incinerated rather than landfilled, biodegradable and compostable alternatives have a lower carbon footprint. Although biodegradable and compostable options can be more expensive and have higher impacts in certain situations, proper waste management can lead to environmental benefits. With optimisation and incentives, these alternative options support the transition of horticulture to a sustainable circular economy.

Enhancing the Effects of Neurofeedback Training: The Motivational Value of the Reinforcers.

The brain activity that is measured by electroencephalography (EEG) can be modified through operant conditioning, specifically using neurofeedback (NF). NF has been applied to several disorders claiming that a change in the erratic brain activity would be accompanied by a reduction of the symptoms. However, the expected results are not always achieved. Some authors have suggested that the lack of an adequate response may be due to an incorrect application of the operant conditioning principles. A key factor in operant conditioning is the use of reinforcers and their value in modifying behavior, something that is not always sufficiently taken into account. This work aims to clarify the relevance of the motivational value versus the purely informational value of the reinforcer. In this study, 113 subjects were randomly assigned two different reinforcer conditions: a selected reinforcer-the subjects subjectively selected the reinforcers-or an imposed reinforcer-the reinforcers were assigned by the experimenter-and both groups undertook NF sessions to enhance the sensorimotor rhythm (SMR). In addition, the selected reinforcer group was divided into two subgroups: one receiving real NF and the other one sham NF. There were no significant differences between the groups at baseline in terms of SMR amplitude. After the intervention, only those subjects belonging to the selected reinforcer group and receiving real NF increased their SMR. Our results provide evidence for the importance of the motivational value of the reinforcer in Neurofeedback success.

Six Collective Challenges for Sustainability of Almería Greenhouse Horticulture.

Globally, current food consumption and trade are placing unprecedented demand on agricultural systems and increasing pressure on natural resources, requiring tradeoffs between food security and environmental impacts especially given the tension between market-driven agriculture and agro-ecological goals. In order to illustrate the wicked social, economic and environmental challenges and processes to find transformative solutions, we focus on the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world located in the semi-arid coastal plain of South-east Spain. Almería family farming, predominantly cooperative, greenhouse intensive production, commenced after the 1960s and has resulted in very significant social and economic benefits for the region, while also having important negative environmental and biodiversity impacts, as well as creating new social challenges. The system currently finds itself in a crisis of diminishing economic benefits and increasing environmental and social dilemmas. Here, we present the outcomes of multi-actor, transdisciplinary research to review and provide collective insights for solutions-oriented research on the sustainability of Almeria's agricultural sector. The multi-actor, transdisciplinary process implemented collectively, and supported by scientific literature, identified six fundamental challenges to transitioning to an agricultural model that aims to ameliorate risks and avoid a systemic collapse, whilst balancing a concern for profitability with sustainability: (1) Governance based on a culture of shared responsibility for sustainability, (2) Sustainable and efficient use of water, (3) Biodiversity conservation, (4) Implementing a circular economy plan, (5) Technology and knowledge transfer, and (6) Image and identity. We conclude that the multi-actor transdisciplinary approach successfully facilitated the creation of a culture of shared responsibility among public, private, academic, and civil society actors. Notwithstanding plural values, challenges and solutions identified by consensus point to a nascent acknowledgement of the strategic necessity to locate agricultural economic activity within social and environmental spheres.This paper demonstrates the need to establish transdisciplinary multi-actor work-schemes to continue collaboration and research for the transition to an agro-ecological model as a means to remain competitive and to create value.

Screening for eating disorders in a psychiatric outpatient population.

BACKGROUND: Some studies have found "hidden" eating disorders in psychiatric patients. However, eating behaviour, weight, and body image concerns are usually weakly assessed among psychiatric patients. OBJECTIVES: a) To analyse the prevalence of eating disorders (ED) in patients referred from primary care for psychiatric assessment; and b) to analyse the psychopathological variables associated with these disorders. Methods. Ninety-three patients underwent psychometric assessment using Derogatis' Symptom Checklist-90-R, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, the Perceived Stress Questionnaire, the Eating Attitudes Test-40 (EAT-40), the Bulimic Investigatory Test, Edinburgh (BITE), and the Body Dissatisfaction Scale of the Eating Disorders Inventory-2. The subsequent clinical assessment, applying DSM-IV-R criteria for ED, was conducted by means of interview with those patients whose scores on the EAT-40 and BITE were above the cut-off points. RESULTS: The assessments confirmed one case of bulimia nervosa and three of unspecified eating disorder, these accounting for 1.07% and 3.22%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The existence of hidden ED in psychiatric patients, especially as regards bulimic behaviour, and the correlation between eating disorder symptoms and different psychopathological variables make it important for clinicians to conduct a proper assessment when faced with "anxiety and depressive syndromes", which are a common feature of primary care referrals for psychiatric assessment.