Search Results (95)

Understanding how elevation influences forest structure and species composition is crucial for effective conservation in mountainous regions like Nepal, where ecosystems change dramatically over short distances. This study assessed forest dynamics along an elevational gradient (600–3200 m) in Nepal’s mid-hills, incorporating elevational zonation (Tropical, Subtropical, Lower Temperate, and Upper Temperate) and aspect-driven variations. We established 27 square plots (20 × 20 m) at 100 m elevation intervals along a trekking route from Tallo Dungeshwor near the Karnali River to Mahabu Lek, recording all tree species with a diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥ 5 cm. Tree density across the elevational gradient ranged from 250 to 800 trees/ha. Basal area varied between 7.46 and 82.43 m²/ha, while mean tree height ranged from 6.89 to 16.62 m. Species diversity was assessed using the Shannon diversity index, and species dominance was evaluated through the Importance Value Index (IVI). Diversity peaked at mid-elevations, with Shorea robusta and Quercus semicarpifolia identified as dominant species. While minor variations occurred across topographic aspects, statistical analysis confirmed elevation as the dominant driver of forest structure and composition. Correlation analysis revealed a significant positive relationship between elevation and Simpson’s diversity index (r = 0.45, p < 0.05), indicating increased dominance diversity at higher elevations. These findings highlight the critical role of elevation and aspect in shaping forest ecosystems and offer valuable baseline data for climate-resilient management. We recommend conservation planning that is sensitive to topographic gradients, integrates long-term, climate-adaptive monitoring, and engages local communities to anticipate ecological shifts and address mounting anthropogenic pressures in vulnerable montane zones. Full article

The problem of protecting 7075 Al alloy trekking poles from corrosion in complex outdoor environments was addressed using a composite conversion coating system. This system comprised Na₂MoO₄, NaF, CoSO₄·7H₂O, ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid-2Na, and H₂(TiF₆). The influences of this system on the properties of the coating layer were systematically studied by adjusting the pH of the coating solution. The conversion temperature and pH were the pivotal parameters influencing the formation of the conversion coating. The pH substantially influenced the compactness of the coating layer, acting as a regulatory agent of the coating kinetics. When the conversion temperature and pH were set to 40 °C and 3.8, respectively, the prepared coating layer displayed optimal performance in terms of compactness and protective properties. Therefore, this parameter combination favours the synthesis of high-performance conversion coatings. Microscopy confirmed the formation of a continuous, dense composite oxide film structure under these conditions, effectively blocking erosion in corrosive media. Furthermore, the optimised process led to substantial enhancements in the environmental adaptabilities and service lives of the components of trekking poles, thus establishing a theoretical foundation and technical reference for use in the surface protection of outdoor equipment. Full article

Visual object tracking is one of the core techniques in human-centered artificial intelligence, which is very useful for human–machine interaction. State-of-the-art tracking methods have shown their robustness and accuracy on many challenges. However, a large amount of videos with precisely dense annotations are required for fully supervised training of their models. Considering that annotating videos frame-by-frame is a labor- and time-consuming workload, reducing the reliance on manual annotations during the tracking models’ training is an important problem to be resolved. To make a trade-off between the annotating costs and the tracking performance, we propose a weakly supervised tracking method based on co-saliency learning, which can be flexibly integrated into various tracking frameworks to reduce annotation costs and further enhance the target representation in current search images. Since our method enables the model to explore valuable visual information from unlabeled frames, and calculate co-salient attention maps based on multiple frames, our weakly supervised methods can obtain competitive performance compared to fully supervised baseline trackers, using only 3.33% of manual annotations. We integrate our method into two CNN-based trackers and a Transformer-based tracker; extensive experiments on four general tracking benchmarks demonstrate the effectiveness of our method. Furthermore, we also demonstrate the advantages of our method on egocentric tracking task; our weakly supervised method obtains 0.538 success on TREK-150, which is superior to prior state-of-the-art fully supervised tracker by 7.7%. Full article

This study aimed to re-evaluate a historical war supply route within the context of cultural tourism, to revitalize its natural, historical, and cultural values, and to integrate it with existing hiking and trekking routes. Remote sensing (RS) and geographic information system (GIS) technologies were utilized, and land surveys were conducted to support the analysis and validate the existing data. Data for slope, one of the most critical factors for hiking route selection, were generated, and the optimal route between the starting and destination points was identified using least cost path analysis (LCPA). Historical, touristic, and recreational rest stops along the route were mapped with precise coordinates, and both the existing and the newly generated routes were assessed in terms of their accessibility to these points. Field validation was carried out based on the experiences of expert hikers. According to the results, the length of the existing hiking route was determined to be 15.72 km, while the newly developed trekking route measured 17.36 km. These two routes overlap for 7.75 km, with 9.78 km following separate paths in a round-trip scenario. It was concluded that the existing route is more suitable for hiking, whereas the newly developed route is better suited for trekking. Full article

Introduction: Rapid ascent to altitudes of over 5000 m above sea level are associated with dramatic changes in adaptive physiology. The effects of a gradual ascent on symptoms, oximetry, and heart rate are described and compared with the effects of a rapid ascent to the same altitude by a comparable cohort. Methods: A group of 13 individuals (six females) representing 10 countries from five continents ascended gradually from Lukla (2300 m) to Everest Base Camp (5300 m) in Nepal over an 8-day period, then descended over a further 4 days. All symptoms and medication were recorded, along with pulse oximetry (SpO₂) and heart rate (HR) every 500 m of ascent. The results were then compared with those obtained at equivalent altitudes using similar methodology from a fast ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro to an equivalent altitude by a comparable cohort over 4 days. Results: The gradual ascent group had a median age of 33 years (range 25–66), and all successfully completed the trek. No severe headache, vomiting, orthopnoea, or productive cough occurred, although minor nausea and mild headache were common. Baseline oximetry fell from a median of 96% (93–97%) to a median of 78% (53–86%) at 8 days but recovered to 94% (89–99%) inside 4 days. Corresponding HR rose from a baseline median of 72 bpm (57–85) to a median of 103 bpm (78–115) at 8 days, then recovered to 80 bpm (54–94) after 4 days. Neither age nor gender correlated with outcomes. Individually, HR correlated inversely with oximetry, but there was no group correlation between these two variables. By contrast, a more rapid 4-day ascent from the same starting height, with similar baseline values for HR and oximetry, to the same final altitude was associated with more severe headache, breathlessness, and vomiting. Fast ascent was associated with a significantly more marked reduction in oximetry to a median of 71% (52–76) and an increase in HR to a median of 110 bpm (88–140). The fast ascent group also required significantly more medication, rated their experience as less enjoyable, and had a 100% incidence of acute mountain sickness compared to 0% in the slow ascent group. Discussion: Oxygen desaturation and tachycardia are inevitable consequences of ascending above 5000 m, but the degree to which this occurs can be reduced by slowing ascent times and taking rest days every 1000 m of ascent. This practice is associated with fewer symptoms and greater safety, with less need for either prophylactic or therapeutic medication. Careful consideration should be given to rates of ascent when climbing to altitudes at or above 5000 m. Full article

Grounded in information processing theory, this study explores how ecotourism decisions were formed within the rural district of Akdağmadeni (Türkiye), integrating both heuristic and systematic decision-making processes. The research adopts a two-phase mixed-methods design: First, it employs a survey-based factorial analysis involving 383 participants to examine preferences for nature-based activities such as trekking, cycling, and cultural tourism. Second, it uses in-depth interviews to investigate participants’ strategic evaluations of local landscape and heritage assets. The results reveal that individuals flexibly switch between intuitive and analytical judgments based on contextual factors. Key decision drivers identified include alignment with local development, ecological integrity, and socioeconomic contribution. This dual-process insight is operationalized through a novel “feature-based evaluation model” that synthesizes landscape identity values with cognitive-perceptual cues, providing a new lens for assessing geoheritage-based tourism behavior. It was determined that participants used both intuitive and systematic information processing strategies in their decision-making processes, and factors such as harmony with nature, economic contribution, and local identity were found to affect preferences. The study draws attention to the need to develop sustainable tourism policies, raise public awareness, and support infrastructure investments, and provides a road map for the effective use of the region’s ecotourism potential. Full article

Anesthesia is a cornerstone of modern medicine, enabling surgery, pain management, and critical care. Despite its widespread use, the precise molecular mechanisms of anesthetic action remain incompletely understood. Recent advancements in structural biology, including cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), X-ray crystallography, and computational modeling, have provided high-resolution insights into anesthetic–target interactions. This review examines key molecular targets, including GABA_A receptors, NMDA receptors, two-pore-domain potassium (K2P) channels (e.g., TREK-1), and voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels. General anesthetics modulate GABA_A and NMDA receptors, affecting inhibitory and excitatory neurotransmission, while local anesthetics primarily block Nav channels, preventing action potential propagation. Structural studies have elucidated anesthetic binding sites and gating mechanisms, providing a foundation for drug optimization. Advances in computational drug design and AI-assisted modeling have accelerated the development of safer, more selective anesthetics, paving the way for precision anesthesia. Future research aims to develop receptor-subtype-specific anesthetics, Nav1.7-selective local anesthetics, and investigate the neural mechanisms of anesthesia-induced unconsciousness and postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD). By integrating structural biology, AI-driven drug discovery, and neuroscience, anesthesia research is evolving toward safer, more effective, and personalized strategies, enhancing clinical outcomes and patient safety. Full article

TWIK-related K+ (TREK-1) channels are involved in pain perception and their pharmacological activation has potential for pain relief. The development of new pharmacological tools to study these channels and enrich our knowledge of structure–activity relationships is therefore important. We optimized a high throughput screening method based on thallium flux monitoring for the detection of TREK-1 activators in chemical libraries. We screened 1040 compounds from the French National Essential Chemical Library and identified LPS2336 as a potent TREK-1 activator with an EC₅₀ of 11.76 µM. Thirty-three LPS2336 analogs were subsequently tested but none of them retained activity on TREK-1. In vivo, LPS2336 produces antinociceptive activity when administered systemically and, to a lesser extent, intracerebroventricularly, but not intrathecally, showing that targeting peripheral TREK-1 channels may be important to produce pain relief, with the interest of reducing potential central adverse effects. LPS2336 was shown to produce sedation and hypothermia with a narrow therapeutic window. As these adverse effects are also observed in TREK-1 knock-out mice, they are likely mediated by off-targets. Our work provides key optimization steps for thallium-based assays and a new pharmacological tool for the study of TREK-1 channels. It also raises the importance of investigating adverse effects in vivo at early stages of drug discovery. Full article

(1) Background: Immersive virtual reality (IVR) has emerged as a promising non-pharmacological intervention to promote relaxation and improve emotional well-being in this population. (2) Methods: This crossover study evaluated the effects of IVR on anxiety and psychological well-being in a sample of eight participants with mild dementia attending a day-care center. Participants underwent two conditions: an experimental condition involving relaxing nature-based VR scenarios (Nature Treks VR) and a control condition using personalized YouTube videos on a tablet. Each condition lasted 12 sessions. Assessments included heart rate (HR), the I-PANAS-SF, the reduced State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-r), behavioral observations, and a subjective response questionnaire. (3) Results: A significant reduction in HR over time was found during IVR exposure, suggesting a calming physiological effect not observed in the control condition. While changes in PANAS and STAI-r scores were not statistically significant, the PANAS score improvement in the experimental condition approached statistical significance (p = 0.054) and was just below the minimal clinically important difference (MCID), suggesting a potentially meaningful trend. Behavioral responses were higher during YouTube sessions, likely due to personalized content. All participants rated the IVR experience positively on the subjective questionnaire, indicating high acceptability, though social desirability bias cannot be excluded. (4) Conclusions: IVR appears to be a feasible and acceptable intervention for individuals with dementia, warranting further investigation. Full article

This study aims to determine the potential of the area for diversifying ecologically based tourism and recreation activities, with a focus on balancing conservation and use to reduce the pressures on natural and cultural landscape values. Data related to the area were examined according to sustainable tourism principles, resulting in the identification of five feasible ecologically based tourism and recreation activities. In the subsequent phase, to analyze the compatibility of these activities with the area’s natural and cultural landscape values, suitability class values were mapped using GIS, based on evaluation criteria and indicators. The analysis identified suitable and highly suitable areas for camping, hiking, trekking, landscape, and nature photography, which were marked on the maps. By overlaying the activities, optimal land use was determined to cover 16.25% of the total area. Finally, the activities were assessed within the optimal land use framework using one-way analysis of variance, and relationships between different groups were identified. As a result, the most suitable activities for the study area were landscape and nature photography, while caravan camping was identified as a suitable activity. Full article

Often considered the most pristine natural areas, mountains are the third most important tourist destination in the world after coasts and islands, contributing significantly to the tourism sector (15–20%). Tourism is economically important for many mountain communities and is among the key drivers of economic growth in mountain regions worldwide. However, these high-altitude places are under increasing pressure from activities such as expeditions and trekking, which can contribute to the degradation of mountain ecosystems. In this study, we focused on the Italian expedition to K2 in July 2024, which celebrated the 70th anniversary of the first ascent in 1954. In particular, we assessed its environmental impact by estimating the expedition’s carbon footprint. We also discussed the different impact compared to the previous Italian expeditions. Overall, the 2024 Italian expedition to K2 had a carbon footprint of 27,654 kg CO_2-eq, or 1383 kg CO_2-eq per team member that flew from Italy. Air transport (i.e., the flight from Italy to Pakistan via Islamabad) was the largest source of emissions (91.7%, divided into 66.4% for passengers and 25.4% for cargo). Waste incineration was the smallest contributor (1.1%). Instead of using traditional diesel generators, the 2024 expedition used photovoltaic panels to generate electricity, eliminating further local greenhouse gas emissions. At the carbon credit price of 61.30 USD/ton of CO₂ or 57.02 EUR/ton of CO₂, offsetting the expedition’s emissions would cost 1695 USD or EUR 1577. This approach seems feasible and effective for mitigating the environmental impact of expeditions such as the one performed in 2024 by Italians. Full article

New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) is known to alter exercise-induced physiological and metabolic responses with chronic (i.e., 7 days) dosing. We examined the effects of acute intake of New Zealand blackcurrant (NZBC) extract on 4 h indoor cycling-induced physiological and metabolic responses in a male amateur Ironman athlete (age: 49 years; BMI: 24.3 kg·m⁻²; $\dot{V}$O_2max: 58.6 mL·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; maximal aerobic power: 400 W; history: 14 Ironman events in 16 years) three weeks before competition. Indirect calorimetry was used and heart rate was recorded at 30 min intervals during 4 h indoor (~22.4 °C, relative humidity: ~55%) constant power (165 W) cycling on a Trek Bontrager connected to a Kickr smart trainer. Blood lactate and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were taken at 60 min intervals. Study was a single-blind placebo-controlled study with capsules (4 × 105 mg anthocyanins) taken 2 h before starting the 4 h of cycling. Water was allowed ad libitum with personalised consumption of gels [a total of eight with three with caffeine (100 mg)], two bananas and 8 × electrolyte capsules (each 250 mg sodium and 125 mg potassium) at personalised time-points. With NZBC extract (CurraNZ), during 4 h of cycling (mean of 8 measurements), minute ventilation was 8% lower than placebo. In addition, there was no difference for oxygen uptake, with carbon dioxide production found to be 4% lower with NZBC extract. With the NZBC extract, the ventilatory equivalents were lower for oxygen and carbon dioxide by 5.5% and 3.7%; heart rate was lower by 10 beats·min⁻¹; lactate was 40% different with lower lactate at 2, 3 and 4 h; RPE was lower at 2, 3 and 4 h; and carbohydrate oxidation was 11% lower. With NZBC extract, there was a trend for fat oxidation to be higher by 13% (p = 0.096), with the respiratory exchange ratio being lower by 0.02 units. Acute intake of New Zealand blackcurrant extract (420 mg anthocyanins) provided beneficial physiological and metabolic responses during 4 h of indoor constant power cycling in a male amateur Ironman athlete 3 weeks before a competition. Future work is required to address whether acute and chronic dosing strategies with New Zealand blackcurrant provide a nutritional ergogenic effect for Ironman athletes to enhance swimming, cycling and running performance. Full article

Ticks transmit a variety of pathogens, including rickettsia and viruses, when they feed on blood, afflicting humans and other animals. Bioactive components acting on inflammation, coagulation, and the immune system were reported to facilitate ticks’ ability to suck blood and transmit tick-borne diseases. In this study, a novel peptide, IstTx, from an Ixodes scapularis cDNA library was analyzed. The peptide IstTx, obtained by recombinant expression and purification, selectively inhibited a potassium channel, TREK-1, in a dose-dependent manner, with an IC₅₀ of 23.46 ± 0.22 μM. The peptide IstTx exhibited different characteristics from fluoxetine, and the possible interaction of the peptide IstTx binding to the channel was explored by molecular docking. Notably, extracellular acidification raised its inhibitory efficacy on the TREK-1 channel. Our results found that the tick-derived peptide IstTx blocked the TREK-1 channel and provided a novel tool acting on the potassium channel. Full article

Articular chondrocytes are the primary cells responsible for maintaining the integrity and functionality of articular cartilage, which is essential for smooth joint movement. A key aspect of their role involves mechanosensitive ion channels, which allow chondrocytes to detect and respond to mechanical forces encountered during joint activity; nonetheless, the variety of mechanosensitive ion channels involved in this process has not been fully resolved so far. Because some members of the two-pore domain potassium (K2P) channel family have been described as mechanosensors in other cell types, in this study, we investigate whether articular chondrocytes express such channels. RT-PCR analysis reveals the presence of TREK-1 and TREK-2 channels in these cells. Subsequent protein expression assessments, including Western blotting and immunohistochemistry, confirm the presence of TREK-1 in articular cartilage samples. Furthermore, whole-cell patch clamp assays demonstrate that freshly isolated chondrocytes exhibit currents attributable to TREK-1 channels, as evidenced by activation by arachidonic acid (AA) and ml335 and further inhibition by spadin. Additionally, exposure to hypo-osmolar shock activates currents, which can be attributed to the presence of TREK-1 channels, as indicated by their inhibition with spadin. Therefore, these findings highlight the expression of TREK channels in rat articular chondrocytes and suggest their potential involvement in regulating the integrity of cartilage extracellular matrix. Full article

Botanical areas under international protection are important for preserving plant and animal ecosystems. Forest ecosystems within Important Plant Areas (IPAs) are essential for preserving biological and species diversity. In AP Vojvodina (Northern Serbia), there are 27 IPAs, totaling 328,208 ha. Fruška Gora National Park (FGNP) territory is under international protection as an IPA. A large part of this park is covered by a forest ecosystem comprising various deciduous and evergreen trees, shrubs, and grasses. The forest ecosystem in FGNP is rich with natural attractions that are important for hiking, mountaineering, trekking, scientific tourism, wildlife, bird and animal watching, and community tourism. In this article, the authors used a quantitative method of collecting and processing data obtained through survey research. For this research, 610 respondents (325 residents and 285 visitors) were surveyed. Using questionnaires, the respondents expressed their opinions about the tourism potential of FGNP, as well as the satisfaction of tourists with current tourism development. The research results indicate that the forest ecosystem within the FGNP and IPA area has an important potential for the development of nature-based tourism (NbT) and that this tourism form significantly affects not only the satisfaction of the respondents but also increased awareness of the preservation and protection of these areas. Full article