Analysis of fluoxetine-induced plasticity mechanisms as a strategy for understanding plasticity related neural disorders

Fluoxetine hydrochloride,better known for its commercial name Prozac,is one of the most widely prescribed antidepressant drugs all over the world.This drug was considered a＂breakthrough drug＂for the treatment of depression because of its very high selectivity as a serotonin reuptake inhibitor and because it presented a lower side-effectprofile than previous drugs （Wong et al., 2005）.

Using the endocannabinoid system as a neuroprotective strategy in perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury

One of the most important causes of brain injury in the neonatal period is a perinatal hypoxicischemic event.This devastating condition can lead to long-term neurological deficits or even death.After hypoxic-ischemic brain injury,a variety of specific cellular mechanisms are set in motion,triggering cell damage and finally producing cell death.Effective therapeutic treatments against this phenomenon are still unavailable because of complex molecular mechanisms underlying hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.After a thorough understanding of the mechanism underlying neural plasticity following hypoxic-ischemic brain injury,various neuroprotective therapies have been developed for alleviating brain injury and improving long-term outcomes.Among them,the endocannabinoid system emerges as a natural system of neuroprotection.The endocannabinoid system modulates a wide range of physiological processes in mammals and has demonstrated neuroprotective effects in different paradigms of acute brain injury,acting as a natural neuroprotectant.The aim of this review is to study the use of different therapies to induce long-term therapeutic effects after hypoxic-ischemic brain injury,and analyze the important role of the endocannabinoid system as a new neuroprotective strategy against perinatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury.

Achievements and policy trends of extended producer responsibility for plastic packaging waste in Europe

The vastly increasing generation of plastic packaging waste has outgrown the infrastructure capacity to manage this waste effectively,resulting in critical aquatic and terrestrial pollution.In 1994,the European Commission implemented the Packaging and Packaging Waste Directive 94/62/EC,responding to growing concerns regarding the environmental impact of packaging and safe waste management.This study analyses how Germany,Spain,France,Italy,and Poland—the five most populous countries in the EU(European Union)—manage their plastic packaging waste,and evaluates their established Extended Producer Responsibility(EPR)schemes,which are mandatory for all EU Member States by the end of 2024.This research shows that EPR schemes improve the financial and operational viability of plastic waste management in the scope countries,resulting in higher collection and recycling rates.Take-back requirements can incentivise producers to put less plastic packaging on the market,and advanced disposal fees can encourage eco-design.The Producer Responsibility Organisation plays a crucial role in both producer and consumer awareness,and in ensuring that plastic waste is safely managed.However,the local recycling infrastructure of 6.5 Mt in 2018 is a major barrier to reaching 50%recycling of plastic packaging in the EU by 2025.The European recycling capacity only covered about 23%of the cumulative post-consumer plastic waste generation,delaying the transition to the EU circular plastic economy.The recycling capacity has increased by 3 Mt between 2018 and 2020 and needs to continue its rapid expansion to become autonomous in reaching the recycling targets.