The potential of unmanned aerial systems for sea turtle research and conservation: A review and future directions

This is the final version. Available on open access from Inter Research via the DOI in this recordThe use of satellite systems and manned aircraft surveys for remote data collection has been shown to be transformative for sea turtle conservation and research by enabling the collection of data on turtles and their habitats over larger areas than can be achieved by surveys on foot or by boat. Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) or drones are increasingly being adopted to gather data, at previously unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions in diverse geographic locations. This easily accessible, low-cost tool is improving existing research methods and enabling novel approaches in marine turtle ecology and conservation. Here we review the diverse ways in which incorporating inexpensive UAVs may reduce costs and field time while improving safety and data quality and quantity over existing methods for studies on turtle nesting, at-sea distribution and behaviour surveys, as well as expanding into new avenues such as surveillance against illegal take. Furthermore, we highlight the impact that high-quality aerial imagery captured by UAVs can have for public outreach and engagement. This technology does not come without challenges. We discuss the potential constraints of these systems within the ethical and legal frameworks which researchers must operate and the difficulties that can result with regard to storage and analysis of large amounts of imagery. We then suggest areas where technological development could further expand the utility of UAVs as data-gathering tools; for example, functioning as downloading nodes for data collected by sensors placed on turtles. Development of methods for the use of UAVs in sea turtle research will serve as case studies for use with other marine and terrestrial taxa

Vitamin D in health and disease: Current perspectives

Despite the numerous reports of the association of vitamin D with a spectrum of development, disease treatment and health maintenance, vitamin D deficiency is common. Originating in part from the diet but with a key source resulting from transformation by exposure to sunshine, a great deal of the population suffers from vitamin D deficiency especially during winter months. It is linked to the treatment and pathogenesis and/or progression of several disorders including cancer, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, muscle weakness and diabetes. This widespread deficiency of Vitamin D merits consideration of widespread policies including increasing awareness among the public and healthcare professionals

Does sympathetic overactivation feature all hypertensives? Differences of sympathovagal balance according to night/day blood pressure ratio in patients with essential hypertension

When evaluating the 'night/day BP ratio', both hypertensives and normotensives can be arbitrarily classified into four groups: extreme dippers (ratio \u2a7d0.8), dippers (0.8<ratio \u2a7d0.9), mild dippers (0.9<ratio\u2a7d1.0) and reverse dippers (ratio \u2a7e1.0). Reverse and mild dipper hypertensives have poorer prognoses compared with the physiological dipper profile, but the prognostic relevance of the extreme dipper profile remains uncertain. The evaluation of heart rate variability (HRV), obtained by 24-h Holter ECG monitoring, is the most frequently used noninvasive form of assessment of the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Reverse and mild dipper hypertensives have reduced HRV, indicating an overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS); however, the HRV behavior in extreme dippers is still controversial. The goal of this study was to compare HRV indexes of extreme vs. reverse dipper essential hypertensives measured on the basis of time domains. We enrolled 125 hypertensive subjects, divided in 4 quartiles according to day/night blood pressure (BP) ratios. The upper and lower quartiles (31 subjects per quartile) were compared; 30 normotensive subjects were enrolled as a control group. Time domain HRV parameters of the three groups revealed a higher degree of sympathetic activation in the lower quartile (reverse dipper) vs. the upper quartile (extreme) and normotensive controls. HRV parameters related to parasympathetic tone did not show any significant variations among the three groups. Contrary to common belief, not all hypertensives have SNS overactivation.When evaluating the 'night/day BP ratio', both hypertensives and normotensives can be arbitrarily classified into four groups: extreme dippers (ratio 640.8), dippers (0.8<ratio 640.9), mild dippers (0.9<ratio 641.0) and reverse dippers (ratio 651.0). Reverse and mild dipper hypertensives have poorer prognoses compared with the physiological dipper profile, but the prognostic relevance of the extreme dipper profile remains uncertain. The evaluation of heart rate variability (HRV), obtained by 24-h Holter ECG monitoring, is the most frequently used noninvasive form of assessment of the activity of the autonomic nervous system. Reverse and mild dipper hypertensives have reduced HRV, indicating an overactivation of the sympathetic nervous system (SNS); however, the HRV behavior in extreme dippers is still controversial. The goal of this study was to compare HRV indexes of extreme vs. reverse dipper essential hypertensives measured on the basis of time domains. We enrolled 125 hypertensive subjects, divided in 4 quartiles according to day/night blood pressure (BP) ratios. The upper and lower quartiles (31 subjects per quartile) were compared; 30 normotensive subjects were enrolled as a control group. Time domain HRV parameters of the three groups revealed a higher degree of sympathetic activation in the lower quartile (reverse dipper) vs. the upper quartile (extreme) and normotensive controls. HRV parameters related to parasympathetic tone did not show any significant variations among the three groups. Contrary to common belief, not all hypertensives have SNS overactivation