Evaluation and Renovation Strategy of Buildings in Mountainous Towns from the Perspectives of Nature and Culture

In recent years,as a new growth point of China's economic development,small towns are under construction in full swing[1].But with the rapid expansion,many problems that the city scholars and builders think about have emerged.The problems in the construction of small towns are mainly reflected in the over development of capital,insufficient understanding on culture,deviation of construction strategies,etc.In many small towns,there is an imbalance between the volume and color of buildings,the architectural form is single[2],and the expression of local culture is insufficient.From the perspectives of nature and culture,the architecture of Ciping Town,a mountainous town,is evaluated.In view of the problems found,this paper puts forward its thinking on the buildings in this type of small towns,so as to provide some reference for the development of architecture in this type of small towns.

Combination of Local Culture and Landscape in Urban Plaza Design——A Case Study of Yingmeng Plaza Design in Zitong County, Mianyang City of China

Taking the design of Yingmeng Plaza in Zitong County, Mianyang City for example, location feature and overall design objective were analyzed on the basis of design background. By analyzing the theme of Yingmeng Plaza, design principles were proposed as "based on overall functions, fully considering users' needs, showing characteristics of a tourist city and cultural city". Guided by the overall planar layout, the whole plaza was classified into 5 functional areas to highlight its landscape structure of "four centers, four axes, two districts and two belts". By following the concept of "Beginning of a dream- Expectations of the dream-Transition of the dream-Dream coming true", and considering theme and design principles of Yingmeng Plaza, design concepts of its major scenic spots were elaborated.

Strategy for Protection of Cultural Heritage Exposed to the Natural and Man-Made Activity Disasters in Serbia

Natural disasters and the adverse human activities are the key events in the history of mankind that form our history and shape our collective memory to this day.People on the planet Earth are not obsessed only with natural hazards,caused by earthquakes,floods and volcanic eruptions,and troubles unlikely come solely from the action of nature.Disasters threatening the human race can be caused also by people themselves.Both types of disasters cause vast human suffering,at the same time destroying cultural heritage as well,that has the function of determining the identity of social communities.These sufferings should be added to those that can be determined only by in-depth analyses which are derived from the synergy of natural forces and mistaken choices made by the humans,when it comes to their habitat.The proposed strategic plan for protection of built heritage in emergency situations may become the powerful catalyst for the process of revitalization by which the social tissue of community is maintained and restored,creating the symbol of resistance by which it endures each and every natural element and evil men behaviour.

A Study of the People’s Nature in Woodcuts During the Anti-Japanese War in Shanxi

The anti-Japanese woodcuts focus on the red revolutionary culture and describe the connotation of the Anti-Japanese War era,which is self-evident in the commemorative value of China’s revolutionary struggle history.For example,in Shanxi,China,woodcut art activities and social practice promotion activities organized around the theme of the Anti-Japanese War are also everywhere,which all show the people’s nature of the Chinese people during the revolutionary struggle from the two aspects of the red culture of the Anti-Japanese War and traditional art and culture,and its humanistic connotation is quite profound.In this paper,we first introduce the historical origin of woodcut during the Anti-Japanese War,and then show the people’s value connotation of woodcut art activities in Shanxi.This paper mainly discusses the image narration,language and picture narration and construction significance of woodcuts in Shanxi’s War of Resistance,fully reveals the narrative nature of image media,strives to arouse people’s recognition of this period of Shanxi’s War of Resistance culture and history,and reflects the realistic value and significance of Shanxi’s War of Resistance Woodcuts art activities.

Therapeutic potential of thymoquinone in combination therapy against cancer and cancer stem cells

The long-term success of standard anticancer monotherapeutic strategies has been hampered by intolerable side effects,resistance to treatment and cancer relapse.These monotherapeutic strategies shrink the tumor bulk but do not effectively eliminate the population of self-renewing cancer stem cells(CSCs)that are normally present within the tumor.These surviving CSCs develop mechanisms of resistance to treatment and refuel the tumor,thus causing cancer relapse.To ensure durable tumor control,research has moved away from adopting the monotreatment paradigm towards developing and using combination therapy.Combining different therapeutic modalities has demonstrated significant therapeutic outcomes by strengthening the anti-tumor potential of monotreatment against cancer and cancer stem cells,mitigating their toxic adverse effects,and ultimately overcoming resistance.Recently,there has been growing interest in combining natural products from different sources or with clinically used chemotherapeutics to further improve treatment efficacy and tolerability.Thymoquinone(TQ),the main bioactive constituent of Nigella sativa,has gained great attention in combination therapy research after demonstrating its low toxicity to normal cells and remarkable anticancer efficacy in extensive preclinical studies in addition to its ability to target chemoresistant CSCs.Here,we provide an overview of the therapeutic responses resulting from combining TQ with conventional therapeutic agents such as alkylating agents,antimetabolites and antimicrotubules as well as with topoisomerase inhibitors and non-coding RNA.We also review data on anticancer effects of TQ when combined with ionizing radiation and several natural products such as vitamin D3,melatonin and other compounds derived from Chinese medicinal plants.The focus of this review is on two outcomes of TQ combination therapy,namely eradicating CSCs and treating various types of cancers.In conclusion,the ability of TQ to potentiate the anticancer activity of many chemotherapeutic agents and sensitize cancer cells to radiotherapy makes it a promising molecule that could be used in combination therapy to overcome resistance to standard chemotherapeutic agents and reduce their associated toxicities.

A comparative study on the contents of vitamins in the natural and the cultured prawn

A systematically comparative study on the contents of vitamins in the natural and the cultured prawn, Penaeus chinensis, was made by using High-efficiency Liquid Phase Chromatography in 1989. The results show that the vitamin C (Vc) content in the natural prawn was 8. 19% higher than that of the cultured prawn.As the natural prawn's body length increasing, the Vc content in cephalothorax increased continuously, but after August 10, the Vc content in the cultured prawn fell down rapidly. No significant differences in vitamin B1, B2,B6, nicotinic acid (NAc), nicotinamide (NAm) and folio acid (FAc) were found between the natural and the cultured prawn. Therefore, Vc probably is one of major factors limiting the growth and development of Chinese prawn.

Yinchuan: The Nature, Culture, Planning Policies and Urban Development

While Yinchuan is not a typical city in China,the process by which its environment,culture and policies have affected its development is typical.The process of urban expansion in Yinchuan reflects the urban development of China in general (or a mirror can reflect China’s development history and policies evolution).Industrial development,local policy orientation,the natural environment,and other factors have both accelerated and restrained the direction and rate of expansion experienced by Yinchuan.The future urban development of Yinchuan can be conducted from three perspectives,including its city planning,and from regional and international perspectives.These perspectives should be applied to encourage city betterment and ecological restoration,new-type urbanization and rural revitalization,regional coordination and cooperation,healthy,livable,intelligent development,and a culturally inclusive atmosphere.

Traditional Food Culture (Local Cuisines, Japanese Sake) That Has Been Nurtured by the Rich Nature of the Prefecture, Japan

In Chiba Prefecture, Japan, during the Edo period (1603-1867), the development of waterway traffic by ships and the management of ports, highways and post towns around the ports progressed with the prosperity of the Edo (present-day Tokyo), which became heavily populated and the center of politics. We estimated that the demand of Japanese sake, which is luxury grocery item, was high. The freshwater layer that is abundant in mineral water to a depth of approximately 10 m is formed in coastal sand dunes. The fresh water layer is hard water, in which the concentrations of minerals such as calcium and magnesium are high. When the fresh water layer is used as the preparation water, the working rice malt and yeast in the sake brewing process become active. Japanese sake trends to be dry with a full-bodied taste. In addition, the main ingredients of local cuisines are fish and shellfish;many local cuisines are seasoned using soy sauce, miso and salt, and these local cuisines pair well with the type of Japanese sake described above. The local cuisines have been nurtured in harmony with the region’s rich nature and heritage. In the future, we need to conserve the rich natural environment of the tidal flat, coast, seaweed beds, and marine, which have been producing the main local cuisine in Chiba Prefecture, and the water source area (a successive environment on the plateau from the coast, which was previously called the coastal dune area) of the preparation water for making Japanese sake. We also need to proactively develop local production for local consumption activities. Thus, we hypothesize that if the Japanese food life is secured and the traditional food culture is continued, the region will become revitalized by the development of the exchanges in the region.

Nature and Culture Dualism： Genesis of an Obsolete Dichotomy

This paper will discuss the relation between the concepts of nature and culture and their intricate interdependency, focusing on modernity. Moreover, it will analyze the dichotomy that has historically emerged and its implications. Human beings have had different conceptions about what is natural and what is non-natural throughout their history. Before Modernity we did not conceive nature as being a different ontological reality, we did not perceive it as being separated from us. After modernity everything changed, and we began to see nature as a mere object. Nature became, then, a representation, like a painting on a wall. Our contemporary world vision, Weltanschauung, was formed mainly during the 16th and 17th centuries. There was, at that time, a considerable change in the way we perceived and described the world. This new mentality and this new form of representing the cosmos provided the basis for our new way of thinking. They were the substrate upon which our modern paradigm was erected. The world＇s conversion in an image only became a reality thanks to technology. But this change happened only because of the paradigm shift originated in the 17th century. Technique always has been a way to articulate how （and what） we think. With the Greek, technique （technd） was, at first, an extension of the physis. Thus, the technique was a way of being instead of a way of thinking. After the paradigm shift in the 17th century （a metaphysical change, in the very way we connected to the world）, the human being left his former place. Perhaps would be even better if we talked about nature and culture as being as a hybrid. What, at the source, was natural, through the flows of production and consumption, undergoes transformations and becomes something that is not natural anymore but, at the same time, not completely artificial either. Our world, once divided between the social and the natural, becomes a space where a constant process, a continuous flow, is constantly happening. From that dichotomy between something good and something bad arises a dialectic, in which we no longer can see any division whatsoever.

The Natural Beauty in English and Chinese Season Lyrics from the Perspective of Ecological Culture

The ecological and cultural awareness in seasonal lyrics can be seen in the comparison and analysis of the practical aspects of ecological culture construction.The importance of songs in disseminating ecological culture is self-evident.The English and Chinese lyrics about the four seasons are rich in content and the exploration space of ecological cultural factors is very large.

Research on Red Culture Merging into Ideological Work in Colleges and Universities Under the Background of Integration of Culture and Tourism-Taking Red Culture Resources in Wuhan as an Example

The aim is how to integrate the Red Music Culture into the ideological and political work of colleges and universities and the sustainable development under the background of the integration of culture and tourism.The main content is the development of local red cultural resources,red cultural education around me,the development of local red cultural resources as the theme of cultural and creative products.The enlightenment is that the ideological and political work of colleges and universities should make full use of the red cultural resources around them to bring the ideological and political education of students into effect.

The Skin Whitening Effect of Co-Cultured Conditioned Medium: Involvement of Synergy between Stem Cells and Immune Cells

Many researchers have described that mesenchymal stem cells conditioned medium and immune cells conditioned medium have a clear whitening effect when they are used as cosmetic ingredients. In this study, we confirmed the whitening efficacy of various concentrations of immune cells and stem cell conditioned media. The author tried to study a conditioned medium that has a strong whitening effect even with a composition of less than 20% (the most used concentration in cosmetics). Because of the fact that the conditioned medium contains various cytokines and growth factors secreted by stem cells or immune cells, it is known to have effects such as wound healing, antioxidant, and whitening effect. Recently, stem cells have been used not only in the development of cosmetic raw materials but also in skincare procedures, and there are reports being released of cosmetics using immune cells conditioned medium. The concentration-dependent whitening effect equivalently increased as the concentration of the mono-cultured conditioned medium was obtained through the stem cells or immune cells culture. In the case of co-culture, whitening results are like the effect of positive control such as arbutin in the medium carrying only 10% of the co-cultured conditioned medium. It is possible that enhanced whitening efficiency in co-cultured conditioned medium leads to a major innovation in the global cosmetic market.

Methionine-dependence and combination chemotherapy on human gastric cancer cells in vitro

AIM: To elucidate whether human primary gastric cancer and gastric mucosa epithelial cells in vitro can grow normally in a methionine (Met) depleted environment, i.e. Met-dependence, and whether Met-depleting status can enhance the killing effect of chemotherapy on gastric cancer cells. METHODS: Fresh human gastric cancer and mucosal tissues were managed to form monocellular suspensions, which were then cultured in the Met-free but homocysteine-containing (Met(-)Hcy(+)) medium, with different chemotherapeutic drugs. The proliferation of the cells was examined by cell counter, flow cytometry (FCM) and microcytotoxicity assay (MTT). RESULTS: The growth of human primary gastric cancer cells in Met(-)Hcy(+) was suppressed, manifested by the decrease of total cell counts [1.46 +/- 0.42 (x 10(9).L(-1)) in Met(-)Hcy(+) vs 1.64 +/-0.44(x 10(9).L(-1)) in Met(+)Hcy(-), P【0.01], the decline in the percentage of G(0)G(1) phase cells (0.69 +/- 0.24 in Met(-)Hcy(+) vs 0.80 +/- 0.18 in Met(+)Hcy(-), P【0.01) and the increase of S cells (0.24 +/- 0.20 in Met(-)Hcy(+) vs 0.17 +/- 0.16 in Met(+)Hcy(-), P【0.01); however, gastric mucosal cells grew normally. If Met(-)Hcy(+) medium was used in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs, the number of surviving gastric cancer cells dropped significantly. CONCLUSION: Human primary gastric cancer cells in vitro are Met-dependent; however, gastric mucosal cells have not shown the same characteristics. Met(-)Hcy(+) environment may strengthen the killing effect of chemotherapy on human primary gastric cancer cells.

Numerical Investigation of Combined Production of Natural Gas Hydrate and Conventional Gas

Natural gas hydrate(NGH)is generally produced and accumulated together with the underlying conventional gas.Therefore,optimizing the production technology of these two gases should be seen as a relevant way to effectively reduce the exploitation cost of the gas hydrate.In this study,three types of models accounting for the coexistence of these gases are considered.Type A considers the upper hydrate-bearing layer(HBL)adjacent to the lower conventional gas layer(CGL);with the Type B a permeable interlayer exists between the upper HBL and the lower CGL;with the type C there is an impermeable interlayer between the upper HBL and the lower CGL.The production performances associated with the above three models are calculated under different conditions,including only a depressurized HBL(only HBL DP);only a depressurized CGL(only CGL DP);and both the HBL and the CGL being depressurized(HBL+CGL DP).The results show that for Type A and Type B coexistence accumulation models,when only HBL or CGL is depressurized,the gas from the other layer will flow into the production layer due to the pressure difference between the two layers.In the coexistence accumulation model of type C,the cumulative gas production is much lower than that of Type A and Type B,regardless of whether only HBL DP,only CGL DP,or HBL+CGL DP are considered.This indicates that the impermeable interlayer restricts the cross-flow of gas between HBL and CGL.For three different coexistence accumulation models,CGL DP has the largest gas-to-water ratio.

Genetic variation of natural and cultured stocks of Paralichthys olivaceus by allozyme and RAPD

Population genetics of the left-eyed flounder, Paralichthys olivaceus, including natural and cultured stocks distributed in the coastal waters near Qingdao of eastern maritime China, was analyzed in allozyme and RAPD. The results showed that among total 29 gene loci of 15 isozymes, 9 and 7 were po- lymorphic in natural and cultured stocks, respectively. The status of genetic diversity in P. olivaceus is low in terms of polymorphic loci in chi-square test and genetic departure index of Hardy-Weinberg equi- librium. More alleles in IDHP, CAT, GDH and Ldh-C allozymes were found in the fish, which could be used as markers in assortive breeding and distinguishing stock, population or species evolution. Total 88 and 86 RAPD bands ranging from 200 to 2 500 bp were recognized individually in average of 7.8–8.0 bands per primer. The genetic diversity in cultured stock is lower than that in natural ones showing an ob- viously decreasing genetic divergence. Therefore, effective countermeasures must be taken to protect ge- netic resources of marine cultured fishes. The 2 markers have their own pros and cons. Combining the 2 markers to investigate the genetic variation of populations is suggested. The results provide basic data of this flounder and they are useful for studying genetic improvement and genetic resources of the fish.

Natural product-induced oxidative stress-synergistic anti-tumor effects of chemotherapeutic agents

Reactive oxygen species are closely related to tumor development.In recent years,reactive oxygen species has become a hot spot in tumor therapy,and many natural substances in nature contain compound components with anti-tumor effects.However,there is a lack of discussion on the synergistic anti-tumor effects of natural products in combination with chemotherapeutic drugs through reactive oxygen species.The terms“natural products”,“reactive oxygen species”,“anti-tumor”,and“chemotherapy”were used to identify the synergistic effects of natural products.We conducted a systematic literature search in PubMed and Web of Science databases for relevant research articles and reviews published in recent years.We systematically summarized the studies related to anti-tumor active ingredients in natural compounds in the field of reactive oxygen species in recent years.A total of 77 relevant literatures were included.Among them,45 literatures containing various natural products such as terpenoids,flavonoids,alkaloids,etc.exert anti-tumor effects by regulating reactive oxygen species levels,and 32 literatures regarding adjunctive role of natural products in anti-tumor therapy.In this study,we found that natural products exert anti-tumor effects by elevating reactive oxygen species levels.It provides strong theoretical support for future clinical studies.

Inorganic phosphate in the development and treatment of cancer:A Janus Bifrons?

Inorganic phosphate(Pi) is an essential nutrient to living organisms. It is required as a component of the energy metabolism,kinase/phosphatase signaling and in the formation and function of lipids,carbohydrates and nucleic acids and,at systemic level,it plays a key role for normal skeletal and dentin mineralization. Pi represents an abundant dietary element and its intestinal absorption is efficient,minimally regulated and typically extends to approximately 70%. Maintenance of proper Pi homeostasis is a critical event and serum Pi level is maintained within a narrow range through an elaborate network of humoral interactions and feedback loops involving intestine,kidney,parathyroid gland and bone,and depends on the activity of a number of hormones,including parathyroid hormone,1,25-dihydroxy vitamin D,and fibroblast growth factor 23 as major regulators of Pi homeostasis. Notably,Pi intake seemingly continues to increase as a consequence of chronic high-phosphorus(P) diets deriving from the growing consumption of highly processed foods,especially restaurant meals,fast foods,and convenience foods. Several recent reports have generated significant associations between high-P intake or high-serum Pi concentration and morbidity and mortality. Many chronic diseases,including cardiovascular diseases,obesity and even cancer have been proposed to be associated with high-P intakes and high-serum Pi concentrations. On the other hand,there is also evidence that Pi can have antiproliferative effects on some cancer cell types,depending on cell status and genetic background and achieve additive cytotoxic effects when combined with doxorubicin,illustrating its potential for clinical applications and suggesting that up-regulating Pi levels at local sites for brief times,might contribute to the development of novel and cheap modalities for therapeutic intervention in some tumours. Overall,the influence of Pi on cell function and the possible relationship to cancer have to be fully understood and investigated further.

Impact of Characteristic Culture on the Optimization of Rural Tourism Industry

Based on current rural tourism development of China and its typical modes,this paper on the basis of studying significance and impact of characteristic culture on rural tourism proposes the concept of"integrating characteristic culture and rural tourism,elaborates significance of attractive force of folk cultures,expressive power of vernacular cultures,appeal of characteristic cultures for the optimization of rural tourism industry.

Formation conditions and exploration direction of large and medium gas reservoirs in the Junggar Basin, NW China

The Junggar Basin is rich in oil but lacks natural gas, which is inconsistent with its geological background of natural gas. Based on the analysis of main source kitchens, and the evaluation of geological setting and controlling factors of gas accumulation, it is proposed that three significant fields for gas exploration should be emphasized. The first field is the Carboniferous volcanic rocks. The Carboniferous residual sags and large-scale reservoirs were developed in three active continental margins, i.e., the southeastern, northeastern and northwestern active continental margins. Gas accumulation is controlled by the favorable reservoir-caprock combinations composed of volcanic rocks and their superimposed lacustrine mudstones in the Upper Wuerhe Formation. Dinan, Eastern and Zhongguai uplifts are three favorable directions for natural gas exploration. The second field is the Lower combinations in the southern margin of Junggar Basin. Rows of structural traps were developed in this area with ideal preservation conditions and space-time configuration for trap-source combinations. Sets of clastic reservoirs and overpressured mudstones formed perfect reservoir-caprock combinations which are the main exploration direction for Jurassic coal-type gas reservoirs in this area. The seven large structural traps in the middle-east section are recently the most significant targets. The last field is the Central Depression. Large hydrocarbon generating centers, i.e., Mahu, Fukang and Shawan sags, were developed in this area, their source rocks were deeply buried and at highly-mature stage. Thus the Central Depression is a favorable exploration direction for Permian high-over mature gas fields(reservoirs). Great attentions should be paid to two types of targets, the deeply–buried structures and structural-lithologic traps. Based on three main gas systems, gas exploration is suggested be strengthened within three fields and on three levels.

Effects of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia on anxiety,labor analgesia and motor blocks in women during natural delivery

BACKGROUND The background of this study was analgesia in natural delivery.The combined spinal-epidural anesthesia has obvious analgesic effect on the parturients in natural labor,and combined spinal-epidural anesthesia has been widely used in anesthesia for various diseases.AIM To study the effects of combined spinal-epidural anesthesia on anxiety,labor analgesia,and motor blocks in parturients during natural delivery.METHODS A total of 120 women who gave birth at Changning District Maternal and Child Health Hospital between December 2021 to December 2022 were included;a random number table approach was employed to divide the women into a control group and a joint group,with each group consisting of 60 women.The control group was given epidural anesthesia,while the joint group was given combined spinal-epidural anesthesia.The visual analog scale(VAS)was used to evaluate the degree of maternal pain.Comparisons were made between the two groups’conditions of childbirth and the duration of labor.Apgar scores were used to evaluate the status of the newborns at birth;Self-rating Anxiety Scale(SAS)and General Self-Efficacy Scale(GSES)scores,umbilical artery blood gas analysis indices and stress indices were compared between the two groups;and the frequencies of motor block and postpartum complications were analyzed.RESULTS In comparison to the control group,in the joint group,the VAS scores for the first,second,and third stages of labor were lower(P<0.05).The rates of conversion to cesarean section and postpartum blood loss in the joint group were lower than those in the control group(P<0.05).No significant differences were observed in the Apgar score,the duration of the first stage of labor,or the total duration of labor between the two groups(P>0.05).The second and third stages of labor in the joint group were shorter than those in the control group(P<0.05).When compared to the control group,the postpartum SAS score of the joint group was lower,while the GSES score was greater(P<0.05).Between the control group and the joint group,the differences observed in pH,arterial carbon dioxide partial pressure,arterial oxygen partial pressure,or arterial hydrogen ion concentration were not significant(P>0.05).Nitric oxide,cortisol,and adrenaline levels were lower in the joint group than in the control group(P<0.05).There were no substantial differences in Bromage grade or rate of complications between the two groups(P>0.05).CONCLUSION For parturients during natural delivery,combined spinal-epidural anesthesia can reduce anxiety,provide labor analgesia,shorten labor time,and reduce postoperative stress levels but did not result in a motor block.