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This paper contributes to understanding the international trade of plastic scrap. This is done by structuring trade data in networks, and calculating network centrality indexes for countries engaged in plastic scrap trade, as well as for sub-types of plastic polymers (Ethylene, PVC, and Styrene). Network measurements allow insights on plastic scrap flows, as they identify important countries which concentrate material flows at scale, useful for technology dissemination, recycling infrastructure deployment, as well for standard-setting and negotiations. Network measurements based on 2018 data show the key role of EU and North American countries in the global plastic scrap trade network, with strong links to a few Asian countries. Developing regions such as South America, Africa, and Eurasia displayed discreet roles in the networks analyzed, indicating the need for more research on underreporting or other factors behind this apparent underrepresentation.

Balanced reciprocal translocation carriers are at increased risk of producing gametes with unbalanced forms of the translocation leading to miscarriage, fetal anomalies, and birth defects. We sought to determine if genome-wide cell-free DNA based noninvasive prenatal screening (gw-NIPS) could provide an alternative to prenatal diagnosis for carriers of these chromosomal rearrangements. This pilot series comprises a retrospective analysis of gw-NIPS and clinical outcome data from 42 singleton pregnancies where one parent carried a balanced reciprocal translocation. Gw-NIPS was performed between August 2015 and March 2018. Inclusion criteria required at least one translocation segment to be ≥15 Mb in size. Forty samples (95%) returned an informative result; 7 pregnancies (17.5%) were high risk for an unbalanced translocation and confirmed after diagnostic testing. The remaining 33 informative samples were low risk and confirmed after diagnostic testing or normal newborn physical exam. Test sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64.6–100%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI: 89.6–100%) were observed for this pilot series. We demonstrate that gw-NIPS is a potential option for a majority of reciprocal translocation carriers. Further confirmation of this methodology could lead to adoption of this noninvasive alternative.

Balanced reciprocal translocation carriers are at increased risk of producing gametes with unbalanced forms of the translocation leading to miscarriage, fetal anomalies, and birth defects. We sought to determine if genome-wide cell-free DNA based noninvasive prenatal screening (gw-NIPS) could provide an alternative to prenatal diagnosis for carriers of these chromosomal rearrangements.This pilot series comprises a retrospective analysis of gw-NIPS and clinical outcome data from 42 singleton pregnancies where one parent carried a balanced reciprocal translocation. Gw-NIPS was performed between August 2015 and March 2018. Inclusion criteria required at least one translocation segment to be ≥15 Mb in size.Forty samples (95%) returned an informative result; 7 pregnancies (17.5%) were high risk for an unbalanced translocation and confirmed after diagnostic testing. The remaining 33 informative samples were low risk and confirmed after diagnostic testing or normal newborn physical exam. Test sensitivity of 100% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 64.6-100%) and specificity of 100% (95% CI: 89.6-100%) were observed for this pilot series.We demonstrate that gw-NIPS is a potential option for a majority of reciprocal translocation carriers. Further confirmation of this methodology could lead to adoption of this noninvasive alternative.