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13 August 2026

Drivers and Socio-Ecological Consequences of Human-Wildlife Conflict in Uttarakhand, India

This paper examines the factors that affect human–wildlife conflict and its socio-ecological consequences, including impacts on the daily lives of rural people, farming activities, children’s schooling, and livestock rearing. Both qualitative and quantitative approaches were employed. Data were collected from secondary sources, primarily the Uttarakhand State Forest Department and the Forest Survey of India, covering 25 years (2000–2025). Information on wildlife species, their populations, and the number of people killed or injured by wildlife was obtained. The author visited some affected areas of human–wildlife conflict in July 2024 and January 2025. A perception study was conducted in which 212 people from five villages were interviewed. A map of human–wildlife conflict hotspots was also prepared. Three districts of Uttarakhand—Pauri, Almora, and Tehri—were identified as human-wildlife conflict hotspots. This study reveals that elephants dominate the plains—namely the Doon Valley and the Tarai region—whereas leopards and bears dominate the middle Himalayan region in terms of human–wildlife conflict. Wild boars and langurs are also found in the same region. Snow leopards are confined to the Greater Himalayan region. Every day, one or more people are killed by wildlife, and the number of injured people is considerably high. Fatalities from leopard attacks are highest, followed by bear attacks, mainly in the middle Himalayan region. The study suggests that both the Forest Department and local communities can play significant roles in managing wildlife through awareness programmes and improved forest management.

Ecol. Divers.
2026,
3
(3), 10012; 
Open Access

Review

10 August 2026

Progress in Research on Abiotic Stress in Apple Trees in China

As the leading global producer of apples, China’s apple industry faces substantial challenges posed by abiotic stresses. Consequently, it is imperative to carry out an in-depth synthesis and refinement of the unique physiological and molecular mechanisms underlying apple stress resistance, as well as to comprehensively and precisely uncover their response patterns under diverse abiotic stress conditions. Such endeavors are crucial for fostering the sustainable development of the apple industry. Presently, research on abiotic stresses in Chinese apples is intricately linked to industrial issues prevalent in major apple-producing regions, with a primary emphasis on improving drought, cold, and salt-alkali tolerance. This review synthesizes studies on Chinese apples, spanning tree growth, physiological biochemistry, and molecular regulation. Key questions and future directions are outlined to inform research on stress resistance and precision breeding strategies.

Open Access

Editorial

07 August 2026
Open Access

Perspective

07 August 2026

Etomidate Analogs: State of Development

As an anesthetic agent, etomidate provides profound hemodynamic stability, superior to propofol even when it is dose reduced. However, its use has been curtailed due to concerns regarding adrenal cortical suppression demonstrated clinically in the setting of prolonged infusion for sedation in the intensive care unit. In addition, etomidate reproducibly results in significant myoclonus when employed in the absence of other pharmacology. Recently, utilizing both pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic considerations, a number of etomidate analogs have been developed that retain the favorable properties of their parent agent, including rapid onset of hypnosis and rapid recovery, amnesia, and cardiovascular stability, but do not result in inhibition of steroidogenesis. A few of these analogs have now entered clinical trials and are poised to transform acute care and anesthesia for critically ill patients.

Cardiovasc. Sci.
2026,
3
(3), 10012; 
Open Access

Perspective

06 August 2026

The Relevance of Neurocircuitry-Based TMS EEG Biomarkers and EVs in Next Generation Versatile Therapeutic Approaches of the Human Glymphatic System: A Hypothesis-Driven Perspective

This Perspective paper is motivated by a novel understanding of the human glymphatic system (GS) functional anatomy, its critical role in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and other neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders, as well as by novel therapeutic possibilities critically relevant in enhancing the GS function and its healing. Non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technology and administration of cell-free extracellular vesicles (EVs) in clinical conditions may well constitute potentially synergistic, versatile, and effective next generation neurotherapeutic approaches to treat human GS dysfunctions. Brain stimulation approaches, such as TMS, act upon brain circuits, which have been strongly considered candidate endophenotypes and factual targets in neuromodulation interventions using multimodal neuroimaging. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) has been proposed as a potential target for neuromodulating the GS, a fluid-compartment mechanism involved in waste disposal that is not entirely elucidated in humans, yet considered of critical importance for the normal functioning of the brain and a key factor for its dysfunction in such neurodegenerative conditions as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Likewise, EVs have been proposed as potential GS therapeutic agents, given their capability to traverse the blood-brain barrier (BBB), reduce neuroinflammation, increase cellular communication and central nervous system (CNS) homeostasis, and promote healing. The combined effect of TMS-EEG (TMS-Electroencephalography), and EV approach is putatively complementary, and thus we envision their combined use as a promising, versatile, and potentially effective next generation neurotherapeutic strategy to treat human GS dysfunctions and to become a powerful asset in the treatment of neurodegenerative and autoimmune disorders. Furthermore, anatomically accurate neuroimaging-based navigation of TMS and the assessment of GS functionality via diffusion tensor imaging analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) enable precision-medicine personalized interventions in these disorders. On these grounds, we formulate a hypothesis-driven conceptual framework connecting neurocircuitry-based neuromodulation, EV-mediated neuroimmune effects, and DTI-ALPS assessable glymphatic function to identify directions for future experimental and translational clinical research.

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