Insomnia and emotion regulation. Recent findings and suggestions for treatment

Recent findings suggest that insomnia and emotion regulation are closely connected. Insomnia is widely associated with medical and psychiatric conditions as well as with impaired quality of life and emotional functioning. Additionally empirical evidence suggests that emotional dysregulation plays a crucial role in the onset and maintenance of psychopathological disorders. Although these seem to interact, very few studies investigated the relationship between disturbed sleep and problems in emotion regulation. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) has been demonstrated to be effective in comorbid insomnia. However, emotion regulation skills are not included in this intervention. After reviewing the recent findings of the literature, we aim to discuss future directions for the inclusion of emotion regulation training in the treatment of insomnia disorde

Effects of sleep deprivation on eating behaviour in a sample of individuals reporting binge eating symptoms: a quasi-experimental study

Epidemiological studies reported an association between poor sleep and increased food intake and obesity at different ages. Emerging evidence (both cross-sectional and longitudinal) have shown that sleep quantity/quality and eating behaviour are strictly linked, and different underlying mechanisms may mediate or moderate this relationship (e.g. cognitive and emotional mechanisms). Moreover, experimental studies found that partial and acute sleep deprivation may increase food intake and may impair executive and emotional functioning. The quasi-experimental study presented in this PhD dissertation aimed to evaluate the effect of a night of partial sleep deprivation (5 hours of sleep allowed) on food intake, executive functions and food craving compared to a night of habitual sleep. The potential mediating effect of executive functions (backward inhibition) and food craving (lack of control) and the potential moderating effect of emotional eating and depression were also taken into account. The sample consisted of participants reporting binge eating symptoms (Binge Eating Group) and self-defined healthy control participants (Control Group). After an initial screening, both groups were invited to the laboratory after a night of habitual sleep and after a night of partial sleep deprivation, in a counterbalanced order. At their arrival in the lab, after both nights, they completed different computer tasks to assess executive functions and craving, valence and arousal for high palatable food images. They were then invited to have breakfast in the lab, in which food intake was unobtrusively measured. Participants were also asked to monitor their sleep through an electronic portable device and sleep diaries. Food intake over the course of the day was also assessed using food diaries. This complex study provides novel empirical evidence on the relationship between poor sleep and eating behaviour and the underlying mechanisms that could mediate or moderate this relationship. Indeed, it took into account many aspects of eating related behaviours, emotions and cognitions. The present dissertation includes two parts. The first part presents the theoretical background on which is based the empirical contribution presented in the second part. The literature addressed in the first part aims to support the choice of the variables (independent, dependent, mediators and moderators) that were considered in the study and the hypotheses advanced. First, it presents the state of art on the link between poor sleep and obesity at different ages; then, the link between poor sleep and diet pattern and the results of experimental studies on the effect of sleep deprivation on food intake are discussed. Furthermore, it discusses the role of potential factors influencing this relationship such as biological (e.g. appetitive hormone disruption), cognitive (e.g. impaired executive functions), and emotional processes (e.g. emotional eating, negative affectivity). The first part also addresses the relation between poor sleep and eating disorders in order to explain why a sample of people reporting binge eating was selected for studying the link between poor sleep and eating behavior. The second part presents a study conducted for testing different hypotheses related to the relationship between sleep and eating behavior. Although the study is one, for sake of clarity it is split into different chapters according to the specific hypotheses tested and the specific outcomes addressed. The first chapter presents the design and the general aims of the study, explains the methodology applied (self-report instruments and objective measures employed in the selection, screening phase and sleep assessment) and describes the procedure of the study and the statistical analyses plan.. It also includes the descriptive results on groups characteristics and results of the sleep manipulation check, as well as a brief discussion of these results. All the following chapters have a similar organization: they briefly summarize the relevant theoretical background on which the specific hypotheses tested were based, then they describe the specific methodology and instruments employed for measuring the variables and the relationships tested, the statistical analyses, the results and the discussion. Thus, the second chapter focuses on food intake taking into account the potential moderating role of emotional eating; the third discusses the results on executive functions and its potential mediating role in affecting food intake. The fourth focuses on food craving and its potential role as mediator in increasing food intake. Finally, taking together the results presented in the empirical chapters, a general discussion and a conclusion are formulated, highlighting the clinical implication and the possible future directions

Single Nucleotide Polymorphism discovery and genotyping within the chicken Tapasin gene

Tapasin is one of the specific accessory molecules for the assembly of MHC class I molecules inside the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) (Antoniou et al., 2003). Mammalian tapasin is a 48 kDa transmembrane chaperone-protein (Sadasivan et al., 1996), and is member of the immunoglobulin superfamily (Ortmann et al., 1997)

Moisture condensation on building envelopes in differential ventilated spaces in the tropics: quantitative assessment of influencing factors

Ventilation systems play a significant role in maintaining the indoor thermal and hygric balance. Nevertheless, the systems had been implicated to result in many problems. In the tropical climate, especially for energy efficiency purposes, building spaces are operated with differential ventilation. Such spaces operate on 24-hrs basis, some on 8-hrs while others are either naturally ventilated or served with mechanical supply-exhaust fan systems with non-conditioned outdoor air. This practice had been found to result in condensation problems. This study involves a quantitative appraisal of the effect of operative conditions and hygrothermal quality of building envelopes on condensation risk. The in-situ experiment is combined with an analytical approach to assessing the hygrothermal quality of building envelopes in a tropical climate building under differential ventilation between adjacent spaces. The case-studied building is with a known history of condensation and associated damages including mould growth. The microclimate measurement and hygrothermal performance of the wall and floor against condensation and mould growth risks had been previously reported elsewhere. As a step further, the present study evaluates the effects of various envelope insulation types and configurations together with the HVAC cooling set-points on envelope hygrothermal performance. The results revealed that overcooling the air-conditioned side increases condensation risk on the non-air-conditioned side of the envelopes. The envelopes failed criteria for surface condensation at existing operative conditions irrespective of envelope hygrothermal quality improvements. However, the envelope performed well at improved cooling operative conditions even at existing envelope hygrothermal quality. It is, therefore, important to ascertain the envelope hygrothermal quality as well the cooling operative conditions while embarking on energy efficiency operations in mechanical ventilation systems under differential ventilation

The effects of one night of partial sleep deprivation on executive functions in individuals reporting chronic insomnia and good sleepers

Background and objectives The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a partial sleep deprivation night on executive functions in participants reporting chronic insomnia and good sleepers using a Task Switching paradigm. Methods Sixteen participants reporting symptoms of chronic insomnia and sixteen good sleepers were tested after a night of habitual sleep and after a night of partial sleep deprivation (5\u202fh of sleep allowed). The Switch Cost (SC) and the Backward Inhibition (BI) were computed as measures of switching attention and response inhibition, respectively. Results We observed a marginally significant interaction Night\u202f 7\u202fGroup on SC (F(1,29)\u202f=\u202f4.06, p\u202f=\u202f0.053, \u3b72\u202f=\u202f0.123. Fisher's least significant difference (LSD) post-hoc revealed a smaller SC after the sleep deprived night relative to the habitual night for the good sleepers (p\u202f=\u202f0.027;M\u202f=\u202f192.23\u202f\ub1\u202f201.81 vs M\u202f=\u202f98.99\u202f\ub1\u202f141.16). Differently, participants with insomnia did not show any change after the two nights. Limitations Several limitations must be acknowledged including the use of a convenient sample of university students and the use of a single task of cognitive performance. Conclusions We found that SC was smaller in the good sleepers after a night of partial sleep deprivation compared to a habitual night, indicating a better switching performance. The insomnia group showed no differences in performance after the two experimental nights. Several factors may account for these results, including increased levels of arousal and cognitive effort during task execution

effect of dimethylacetamide and n methylacetamide on the quality and fertility of frozen thawed chicken semen

ABSTRACT The aim was to compare the effect of dimethylacetamide (DMA) and N-methylacetamide (NMA) concentrations on the quality and fertility of post-thaw chicken semen. Ejaculates were obtained from 30 Hi-Line White roosters and processed according to the following treatments: lake pre-freezing extender + 0.1M trehalose (LPF-T) + 6% DMA (control treatment), LPF-T + 9% DMA, LPF-T + 6% NMA, and LPF-T + 9% NMA. Sperm quality (viability, motility, and kinetic traits) was assessed before and after cryopreservation. A total of 15 laying hens per treatment were inseminated to assess fertility and embryo viability. Sperm cryopreserved in presence of DMA had significantly better in vitro quality compared to NMA, showing the highest proportion of viable and progressive motile sperm recovered after thawing. Furthermore, proportion of progressive motile sperm and the VCL, LIN, ALH, and WOB mean values were significantly improved in semen samples frozen/thawed with 6% compared to 9% cryoprotectant concentration. However, the best cryoprotective action on sperm quality played by DMA and the lowest cryoprotectant concentration did not translate into a concomitant advantage in in vivo semen fertility that showed no differences between cryoprotectant and cryoprotectant concentration treatments. Finally, the cryoprotectant DMA and NMA showed an opposite effect on embryo viability in comparison with the effect played on in vitro semen quality, being NMA more efficient than DMA on preserving viable embryos. The present results suggest the urgency to further decrease the cryoprotectant concentration in poultry semen freezing procedures and to assess the specific toxic effect of cryoprotectant on sperm integrity, fertility, and embryo development

Slaughter performance and meat quality of Milanino chickens reared according to a specific free-range program

ABSTRACT The study aimed to characterize meat quality traits of Milanino chickens reared according to a specific free-range farming program. A total of 120 birds was reared straight-run in outdoor pens (8 m2/bird) from 35 d of life and fed ad libitum a low (16%) protein diet. At 180 d of age, 20 birds (10 birds/sex) were slaughtered, and carcass weight data were recorded. After processing, carcasses were refrigerated at 4°C for 24 hours. Then, the right breast and thigh with skin were collected and color parameters, pH, water-holding capacity (WHC), and chemical composition were determined. The left breast and thigh were stored at −20°C until cooking loss and tenderness evaluation. Milanino was confirmed to be a heavy breed with a sexual dimorphism in relation to adult body weight. A high general carcass yield was recorded. Milanino meat was characterized by high protein and low fat contents compared with the standard broiler meat. Differences in meat composition were recorded according to the sex: females presented higher values of dry matter (breast and thigh), protein (breast), and fat (breast and thigh) contents. The meat with skin presented an intense luminosity, and this trait was higher in the females. The muscle color was characterized by high redness and yellowness indices with differences according to the sex: Higher yellowness index was observed in female carcasses, while higher redness index was detected in male breast samples. The pH muscle values were similar to those reported in other autochthonous breeds. WHC values did not show variation between sexes. In contrast, cooking loss values recorded in thigh samples were lower in males compared to females. The degree of tenderness of Milanino meat was not affected by the sex. However, the potential loss of water and the toughness in Milanino meat were low compared to other local chicken breed meat. The present results support the breeding of Milanino chickens for meat production according to its specific straight-run free-range system