The state of the respiratory system of students in conditions of high-altitude hypoxia

The article presents the results of studies on the influence of mountain hypoxia on the state of the students’ respiratory system. When exposed to oxygen deficiency, only the respiratory capacity of the lungs undergoes significant changes. For instance, the RC level in female students under the influence of hypoxia gradually increased in conditions of medium altitude, reaching the maximum value of 0.64 liters (P ˂ 0.05), and on the plain - 0.44 liters. The RC value in young men reached the highest value of 0.74 liters in mid-altitude conditions, and on the plains, it constitutes 0.56 liters. The highest respiration rate for young men of 18.2 movements per minute was noted at an altitude of 600 meters, and the lowest - 17.4 at an altitude of 170 m. The maximum level of respiratory capacity while inhaling in girls is 1.24 liters, detected at an altitude of 600 meters, and the minimum level of 1.18 liters is noted at 170 m. The value of respiratory capacity while exhaling among young men living in the Sharoi region increased to 2.32 liters, and for those from Grozny - 2.24 liters. The highest VC level in girls - 3.87 liters - was found in the middle mountains, and on the plains, it was 3.58 liters. The VC value in young men, gradually increasing, reaches the highest value under the conditions of the Sharoi region - 4.57 liters, and in Grozny it was 4.28.

The fifth stage of the research оn the project «Saumal-tour»: results and prospects

The purpose of the article is to determine the impact of the combination of saumal consumption, physical exertion and staying in the middle mountains on the human body. Saumal or fresh mare's milk is an excellent alternative to cow's milk when feeding children or the elderly. The therapeutic properties of mare's milk were used by the ancestors of the Kazakh people 5 thousand years ago. The article provides data on the dosed use of saumal in combination with physical exertion and staying in the middle mountains for 5 years in order to improve the health of older athletes. The research methodology is based on the analysis of tourist and medical literature, system analysis, and also includes a stating experiment. The project is based on a combination of the therapeutic and health-improving potential of the climate of the Middle mountains, technologies of sports and health tourism and ancient traditions of the peoples of Central Asia on the use of saumal. The accumulated experience allows us to draw the following conclusions: 1) as a person stays in mid-mountain conditions, the body's resistance to a lack of oxygen increases, people's well-being improves, body functions stabilize, and efficiency increases; 2) all participants in the collection significantly reduced their weight, blood pressure and heart rate leveled off to the age norm; 3) the working capacity has significantly increased; 4) the prophylactic efficacy of Saumal and the restorative potential for aged athletes who had suffered a stroke and heart attack were revealed; 5) in the process of using saumal, the intellectual activity of the participants increases.

ASSESSMENT OF THE MODERN GEOECOLOGICAL STATE OF THE LANDSCAPES OF MIDDLE MOUNTAINS OF THE SOUTHERN URALS: METHODS AND RESEARCH RESULTS

The medium-altitude mountains of the Southern Urals began to experience a strong anthropogenic impact since the 18th century in connection with the construction of mining plants. Subsequently, a long economic development of the territory formed anthropogenic transformed landscapes. The assessment of the modern geoecological state of landscapes of the middle regions of the Southern Urals was carried out by superimposing thematic maps based on the processing of indicators, including the influence of climatic factors, the stability of natural complexes to external influences, the anthropogenic transformation of natural complexes, the modern state of landscape components. As a result, landscapes with a favorable, satisfactory and stressed geoecological state were identified.

Paleogeographical Researches in Pacific Geographical Institute

Представлены результаты работы лаборатории палеогеографии и геоморфологии ТИГ ДВО РАН в 2017–2020 гг. Приведены новые данные по изучению развития материковых и островных геосистем юга Дальнего Востока и реакции их компонентов на короткопериодные климатические изменения позднего плейстоцена–голоцена. Палеоэкологические изменения с высоким временным разрешением восстановлены в среднегорье Восточного Сихотэ-Алиня. Новые данные получены по развитию геосистем побережья Японского моря, определена роль зональных и азональных природных факторов в их развитии. Выделены этапы развития ландшафтов платобазальтового рода. Реконструированы обстановки осадконакопления и формирования пойменных ландшафтов Приханкайской равнины. Сделаны детальные реконструкции хода развития островных ландшафтов для юга Приморья. Для юга Дальнего Востока проведен синтез изменений ландшафтов в последнее интенсивное потепление – малый оптимум голоцена (VII–XIII вв.). Проанализировано проявление природных катастроф и их пространственно-временной масштаб. Продолжены работы, направленные на оценку цунамиопасности на побережье восточного Приморья. Для Курильских островов выделены наиболее сильные цунами, которые могут быть рассмотрены как кандидаты в мегацунами. Внимание уделено трансформации ландшафтов при освоении территории юга Дальнего Востока древним человеком. Геоархеологические исследования проводились также во внутриконтинентальных районах (Западное Забайкалье, Восточная Монголия). The authors present the results of the researches of the laboratory of paleogeography and geomorphology of PGI FEB RAS in 2017–2020. New data include the study of the development of continental and island geosystems of the South Far East and the response of their components to short-term climate changes in the Late Pleistocene-Holocene. Paleoecological changes with a high temporal resolution have been restored in the middle mountains of the Eastern Sikhote-Alin. New data were obtained on the development of geosystems of the coast of the Sea of Japan, the role of zonal and azonal natural factors in their development was determined. The stages of development of landscapes of the platobasalt genus are highlighted. The conditions of sedimentation and formation of floodplain landscapes of the Khanka Lake plain were reconstructed. Detailed reconstructions of the island landscapes development for the south of Primorye have been made. For the south of the Far East, a synthesis of landscape changes in the last intense warming – Medieval Warm Period of the Holocene (VII-XIII centuries) was made. The manifestation of natural disasters and their space-time scale were analyzed. The investigations aimed at assessment of the tsunami hazard on the coast of eastern Primorye were continued. For the Kuril Islands, the most powerful tsunamis have been identified, which can be considered as candidates for megatsunami. Transformation of landscapes and a human impact on landscapes were also discussed. Geoarchaeological studies were also carried out in the intra-continental regions (Western Transbaikalia, Eastern Mongolia).

Peculiarities of location of population and settlements on height zones in Sheki administrative region

The article analyzes the distribution characteristics of the population and settlements in the Sheki administrative region by altitude zones. The features and directions of the location of the population and settlements in the Sheki region by altitude are analyzed on the basis of the 1999-2019 population census data of the State Statistics Committee. It was determined that, depending on the ecological and geographical conditions, the total number of population and settlements in the plains and middle mountains is higher than in the highlands. During the study, statistical materials, satellite images taken from a distance of 30 meters were used. Key words: population settlement, settlements, altitude zones, intensity of distribution of settlements in the area, altitude-spatial differentiation

Factors that influence the plant use knowledge in the middle mountains of Nepal

An account of total of 58 plant species including 57 genera and 43 families was reported as useful in ethnomedicine from semi-structured questionnaire survey to the 76 participants of Kaski and Baitadi districts, Nepal. Fieldwork and participatory meetings were carried out between September 2017 and January 2018. A total of 419 emic use reports including 150 from Kaski and 269 from Baitadi were reported from 58 ethnomedicinal plant species. Each species was reported for 2–43 use reports and each participant recorded 1–12 use reports. About 25% (n = 104) use reports were associated with the treatment of digestive system disorders followed by 83 for general complaints. Of the species assessed, 53 species had IASc value < 0.25 and only five species had > 0.25. Species Swertia chirayita, Paris polyphylla, Bergenia ciliata, Valeriana jatamansi and Centella asiatica with > 0.25 IASc were found to be highly consented; however they were incongruent between the sample groups and sites. Divergent plant use knowledge specific to each sample district and group was corresponding to the heterogeneity of socio-economy and culture of the sites. Gender, ethnicity, household economy and food availability of the respondents were leading factors affecting the plant use knowledge. Despite the sites were relatively homogenous in eco-physiography, they possessed the distinct plant use knowledge, hinted that the socio-economic factors are more explanatory in plant use knowledge.

Xerodrymionorientale mediterraneum gorges of the Karatag river

The Karatag gorge is one of the natural areas where valuable genetic resources (wild, fruit and many valuable species) are preserved. A characteristic feature of the region is the richness of the diversity of flora and vegetation, where the main formations of Tajik vegetation are noted (maple, hazel, almond, frame, juniper). The article summarizes the results of the authors’ field research on the study of the state of xerophilic forests in the Karatag gorge. For the first time, the authors cite original materials on the phytocenology of all formations of this type of composition. According to the results of our research, the Shibleak communities in the study area are distributed in high-altitude belts from low-hilly 600–800 m to middle mountains 800–1800, 2000 m. The main formations of this type in the study area are: Acer regelii, Crataegus pontica, Celtis caucasic, Pistacia vera, Amygdalis bucharica, Ampelopsis vitifolia, Atraphaxis pyrifolia. As a result of the study, 340 plant species, 6 formations and more than 25 vegetation associations were identified in the composition of the flora of this type of the study area.

Development of Solontsovskie Lakes as indicator of humidity within Central Sikhote-Alin in the Late Holocene

The stages of development of small Solontsovskie (Shanduyskie) Lakes located in the middle mountains of the Central Sikhote-Alin within large landslides, formed on the slopes of the paleovolcano, are identified on the basis of complex study of the sediment section of the Nizhnee Lake. The ecological-taxonomic composition of the diatom flora, the botanical composition of peat have been analyzed, and the tendencies of lacustrine sedimentation depending on the different scale of hydroclimatic changes in the Late Holocene have been established. The age model is based on 6 radiocarbon dates. The temporary resolution for the reconstructions is 30–60 years. A comparison of the development of Nizhnee and Izyubrinye Solontsi Lakes was carried out, the stages of watering and shallowing of lakes were identified on the basis of their dynamics, which made it possible to restore the change in moisture in the middle mountains. Organogenic deposits in lacustrine basins accumulated at high rates (up to 1.7–1.9 mm/ year). The most detailed data were obtained for the last 2.6 thousand cal. yr BP based on the study of the sediment section of the Nizhnee Lake, which responded more sensitively to changing climatic conditions. Frequent changes in diatom assemblages and peat-forming plants indicate unstable hydroclimatic conditions with varying degrees of watering and drainage up to complete overgrowth of water bodies. According to the data of diatom analysis, a successive change in the trophicity of the lake was traced. A frequent change of sphagnum mosses of different sections with different trophic preferences was established. The main reason for the change in the hydrological regime of the lakes was variations in precipitation during the short-term climatic changes. The correlation of the identified paleoclimatic events with global data has been carried out. Cooling periods, as a rule, were accompanied by a decrease in moisture, but the Little Ice Age was wet due to an increase in precipitation.

ANTHROPOGENIC TRANSFORMATION OF MOUNTAIN-FOREST SOILS IN THE NORTH-EAST PART OF THE LESSER CAUCASUS (IN THE BASIN OF BABADJAN RIVER)

Our planet needs the rational use of forest resources and forest soils in order to combat erosion and preserve the biosenosis. Soils provide the basis for the growth of trees and woodlands, and are an essential component of forests and forest ecosystems, as they are involved in the regulation of such important processes as the absorption of nutrients, their decomposition and maintenance of water balance. By reducing the risk of soil erosion and the threat of landslides and avalanches, the sustainable use of forest resources greatly contributes to the functioning of the systems responsible for maintaining the planet’s clean water supply, as well as a balanced water cycle. In the soil environment, trees develop root systems and in turn, forest trees and vegetation in general are an important factor in protecting the soil cover. The authors have examined the natural and anthropogenic degradation of brown mountain-forest soils under a beech forest, brown mountain-forest soils under hornbeam and oak forests in the north-eastern part of the Lesser Caucasus in the Babadjan river basin. The erosional relief of the studied region is represented by highly dissected low mountains, middle mountains and mountain basins, which are rather densely indented by mountain rivers. In conditions of such a relief, soils are well developed in dry low mountains and in the humid part of the middle mountains. To clarify the effect of soil properties on the growth and development of tree species in forest communities of the study area, soil sections were laid. The influence at altitudes of 950-1800 m above sea level, the slope of the relief, the exposure of slopes, the composition of the forest cover, the lithological composition of the parent rocks, the physic-chemical composition of the soil and other factors on the intensity of the degradation process in different ecosystems have been studied