Design and simulation of a cross-regional collaborative recycling system for secondary resources: A case of lead-acid batteries.

In emerging economies, a significant amount of secondary resources are recycled by the informal sector, which can seriously harm the environment. However, some previous studies of industry management policy design ignored geographical factors. This paper introduces Geographic Information Systems into an agent-based cross-regional recycling model, and employs lead-acid batteries as an example. The model quantitatively displays the evolution of recycling markets in 31 provinces in Mainland China. Results show that: (1) High subsidies can significantly increase the number of formal enterprises in the short term, but their effectiveness decreases when the proportion of government funds in subsidies is above 80% in the long run; (2) The number of illegal recycling enterprises increases by 294% in eight inland provinces (e.g., Ningxia, Xinjiang) when all funds are invested in supervision, but this number is quite small in subsidy policy scenarios; (3) In four eastern regions, including Beijing and Tianjin, the number of illegal recycling enterprises decreases by 84% if supervision is more favored than subsidy; (4) In the optimal case where spatiotemporal factors are considered in all 31 regions, illegal recycling enterprises and waste lead emissions can be reduced by 95.59% and 45.85% nationwide. Our proposed recycling model offers a detailed simulation of multiple regions and diverse stakeholders, and serves as a useful reference for targeted recovery policies. Governments in inland regions like Ningxia and Xinjiang should implement subsidy policies, while supervision policies should be implemented in developed regions like Beijing and Tianjin.

Green illusions in self-reporting? Reassessing the intention-behavior gap in waste recycling behaviors.

Improving residents' waste recycling behavior is crucial for enhancing resource efficiency and reducing carbon emissions. Previous questionnaire-based studies have reported that individuals exhibit a high willingness to recycle, yet often fail to convert this intention into action. Analyzing 180,417 Internet of Things (IoT) behavior data points, we discovered that the intention-behavior gap might be larger than anticipated. Our findings indicate that: 1) Intentions to recycle alone can predict self-reported recycling behavior (p < 0.01, t = 2.841), but not actual recycling behavior in the absence of other possible moderators (p > 0.1, t = 0.777); 2) Self-reported behavior predicts real behavior, but with limited explanatory power; and 3) The intention-behavior gap primarily results from forgetting or habituation (p < 0.01, t = 2.653), while social desirability plays an insignificant role (p > 0.1, t = 0.246). This study contributes to our understanding of the intention-behavior gap and provides direction for future pro-environmental behavior research.

Effect of Controlled Atmosphere Packaging on the Physiology and Quality of Fresh-Cut Dictyophora rubrovolvata.

Dictyophora rubrovolvata is a typical edible fungus of Guizhou Province and is very popular due to its unique taste and texture. In this study, the effect of a controlled atmosphere (CA) on fresh-cut D. rubrovolvata shelf life was investigated. Firstly, this study addresses the influence of different O2 concentrations (5%, 20%, 35%, 50%, 65%, 80%, or 95%) with N2 balance on fresh-cut D. rubrovolvata quality while stored at 4 ± 1 °C for 7 d. Then, on the basis of the determined O2 concentration (5%), CO2 (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, or 20%) was involved and stored for 8 d at 4 ± 1 °C. Evaluations of physiology parameters, texture, browning degree, nutritional, umami, volatile components, and total colony numbers were determined in fresh-cut D. rubrovolvata. From the results of water migration, the sample of 5% O2/5% CO2/90% N2 was closer to 0 d than other groups at 8 days. Meanwhile, the polyphenol oxidase (2.26 ± 0.07 U/(g·min)), and catalase activity (4.66 ± 0.08 U/(g·min·FW)) were superior to the samples of other treatment groups on the eighth day (3.04 ± 0.06 to 3.84 ± 0.10 U/(g·min), 4.02 ± 0.07 to 4.07 ± 0.07 U/(g·min·FW)). Therefore, we found that a gas environment with 5% O2/5% CO2/90% N2 could ensure the membrane integrity, oxidation, and prevent the browning of fresh-cut D. rubrovolvata, thus better maintaining the physiological parameters. Meanwhile, it also maintained the samples' texture, color, nutritional value, and umami taste. Furthermore, it inhibited the increase in total colony numbers. The volatile components were closer to the initial level compared with other groups. The results indicate that fresh-cut D. rubrovolvata could maintain its shelf life and quality when stored in 5% O2/5% CO2/90% N2 at 4 ± 1 °C.

Wumei Wan attenuates angiogenesis and inflammation by modulating RAGE signaling pathway in IBD: Network pharmacology analysis and experimental evidence.

BACKGROUND: Wumei Wan (WMW) has been used to address digestive disorder for centuries in traditional Chinese medicine. Previous studies have demonstrated its anti-colitis efficacy, but the underlying mechanism of its action remains to be further clarified. PURPOSE: To investigate the underlying mechanisms of WMW in the treatment of chronic ulcerative colitis (UC) through network pharmacology and experimental validation. METHODS: Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) platform were used to identify the ingredients and potential targets of WMW. The microarray gene data GSE75214 datasets from GEO database was used to define UC-associated targets. Cytoscape3.7.2 was employed to construct the protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and compounds-disease targets network. GO enrichment analysis and KEGG pathway analysis were performed by R software for functional annotation. UPLC-TOF-MS/MS method was used to quantitatively analyze the active ingredients of WMW. For experimental validation, three cycles of 2% dextran sulfate sodium salt (DSS) were used to construct chronic colitis model. The hub targets and signal pathway were detected by qPCR, ELISA, western blotting , immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence. RESULTS: Through network analysis, 104 active ingredients were obtained from WMW, and 47 of these ingredients had potential targets for UC. A total of 41 potential targets of WMW and 13 hub targets were identified. KEGG analysis showed that WMW involved in advanced glycation end products-receptor of advanced glycation end products (AGE-RAGE) signaling pathway. Taxifolin, rutaecarpine, kaempferol, quercetin, and luteolin of WMW were the more highly predictive components related to the AGE-RAGE signaling pathway. In vivo validation, WMW improved DSS-induced colitis, reduced the expression of inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. Notably, it significantly decreased the mRNA expression of Spp1, Serpine1, Mmp2, Mmp9, Ptgs2, Nos2, Kdr and Icam1, which were associated with angiogenesis. In addition, we confirmed WMW inhibited RAGE expression and diminished DSS-induced epithelial barrier alterations CONCLUSION: Our results initially demonstrated the effective components and the strong anti-angiogenic activity of WMW in experimental chronic colitis. Sufficient evidence of the satisfactory anti-colitis action of WMW was verified in this study, suggesting its potential as a quite prospective agent for the therapy of UC.

Depression and anxiety in patients with active ulcerative colitis: crosstalk of gut microbiota, metabolomics and proteomics.

Patients with ulcerative colitis (UC) have a high prevalence of mental disorders, such as depression and anxiety. Gut microbiota imbalance and disturbed metabolism have been suggested to play an important role in either UC or mental disorders. However, little is known about their detailed multi-omics characteristics in patients with UC and depression/anxiety. In this prospective observational study, 240 Chinese patients were enrolled, including 129 patients with active UC (69 in Phase 1 and 60 in Phase 2; divided into depression/non-depression or anxiety/non-anxiety groups), 49 patients with depression and anxiety (non-UC), and 62 healthy people. The gut microbiota of all subjects was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing. The serum metabolome and proteome of patients with UC in Phase 2 were analyzed using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry. Associations between multi-omics were evaluated by correlation analysis. The prophylactic effect of candidate metabolites on the depressive-like behavior of mice with colitis was investigated. In total, 58% of patients with active UC had depression, while 50% had anxiety. Compared to patients with UC without depression/anxiety, patients with UC and depression/anxiety had lower fecal microbial community richness and diversity, with more Lactobacillales, Sellimonas, Streptococcus, and Enterococcus but less Prevotella_9 and Lachnospira. Most metabolites (e.g., glycochenodeoxycholate) were increased in the serum, while few metabolites, including 2'-deoxy-D-ribose and L-pipecolic acid, were decreased, accompanied by a general reduction in immunoglobulin proteins. These related bacteria, metabolites, and proteins were highly connected. A prophylactic administration of 2'-deoxy-D-ribose and L-pipecolic acid significantly reduced the depressive-like behaviors in mice with colitis and alleviated the inflammatory cytokine levels in their colon, blood and brain. This study has identified a comprehensive multi-omics network related to depression and anxiety in active UC. It is composed of a certain set of gut microbiota, metabolites, and proteins, which are potential targets for clinical intervention for patients with UC and depression/anxiety.