5 research outputs found
Quantitative reevaluation of the function of Karez using remote sensing technology
The water delivery capacity of Karez is gradually declining, and it is possible that such a traditional water supply systems might be completely replaced by modern water conservancy projects. To determine whether these ancient water conservancy projects have a future, we conducted a study in a typical research area of Xinjiang Province, China. Using remote sensing technology, in situ surveying, and the analytic hierarchy process, we evaluated Karez in terms of water delivery capacity, water intake convenience, and capability to maintaining the ecological stability of the surrounding area. The derived results are as follows. (1) During 2005–2020, the length of 14 Karez systems in the study area decreased; however, the calculated water access convenience degree (C) indicated that Karez are more convenient for water intake compared with modern transmission channels, i.e., Ckarez = 0.68 and Cchannel = 0.51. (2) The mean annual runoff of the Karez system was 69.38 × 106 m3, similar to that of the modern water transmission channels in the area (73.49 × 106 m3). (3) Change in ecological sensitivity occurred mostly in regions where Karez systems have disappeared, with increase of 70.69 % and 14.51 % in high and medium sensitivity areas, respectively, and decline of 21.53 % and 9.74 % in low-sensitivity and non-sensitivity areas. Our research shows that Karez have considerable water delivery capacity, and that their existence is beneficial to maintaining the stability of the surrounding ecology. The Karez system can be considered a template for harmonious coexistence between humans and nature
Calcium Carbonate/Polydopamine Composite Nanoplatform Based on TGF‑β Blockade for Comfortable Cancer Immunotherapy
Cancer pain seriously reduces the quality of life of
cancer patients.
However, most research about cancer focuses solely on inhibiting tumor
growth, neglecting the issue of cancer pain. Therefore, the development
of therapeutic agents with both tumor suppression and cancer pain
relief is crucial to achieve human-centered treatment. Here, the work
reports curcumin (CUR) and ropivacaine (Ropi) coincorporating CaCO3/PDA nanoparticles (CaPNMCUR+Ropi) that realized
efficient tumor immunotherapy and cancer pain suppression. The therapeutic
efficiency and mechanism are revealed in vitro and in vivo. The results
indicate that CaPNMCUR+Ropi underwent tumor microenvironment-responsive
degradation and realized rapid release of calcium ions, Ropi, and
CUR. The excessive intracellular calcium triggered the apoptosis of
tumor cells, and the transient pain caused by the tumor injection
was relieved by Ropi. Simultaneously, CUR reduced the levels of immunosuppressive
factor (TGF-β) and inflammatory factor (IL-6, IL-1β, and
TNF-α) in the tumor microenvironment, thereby continuously augmenting
the immune response and alleviating inflammatory pain of cancer animals.
Meanwhile, the decrease of TGF-β leads to the reduction of transient
receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1) expression, thereby alleviating
hyperalgesia and achieving long-lasting analgesic effects. The design
of the nanosystem provides a novel idea for human-centered tumor treatment
in the future