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

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

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)

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

Indicadores de qualidade no processo formativo de professores universitários: a docência orientada na UFSM

ResumoEste trabalho está vinculado ao PPGE/CE/UFSM, inserido na Linha de Pesquisa Formação, Saberes e Desenvolvimento Profissional. A temática de pesquisa envolve a discussão sobre a contribuição da disciplina Docência Orientada para os processos formativos de professores universitários, inferindo possíveis indicadores de qualidade para este nível de ensino. A metodologia de cunho qualitativo, desenvolvida a partir de um estudo de caso com alunos e professores do PPGE/CE/UFSM. Assim, desenha-se um panorama que define a Docência Orientada na UFSM e constrói-se categorias de análise que demonstram como a disciplina apresenta-se na instituição. Estas são: Formação de professores para o Ensino Superior, Sentimentos frente à Docência Orientada e Influência do Orientador. Portanto, a partir da temática e objetivos dessa pesquisa, as categorias encontradas podem espelhar os seguintes indicadores de qualidade: oportunidade de formação; valorização do professor como pessoa; trabalho conjunto; aprendizagem da docência universitária; carga horária da Docência Orientada; abrangência do número de alunos que realiza a disciplina; envolvimento dos docentes orientados ao longo do desenrolar da disciplina; tutoria do orientador. Palavras-chave: Docência Orientada; Processo Formativo; Indicadores de Qualidade; Docência Superior Abstract This research work is linked to the PPGE/CE/UFSM, included in the ‘Graduation, Knowledge and Professional Development’ research line. The subject of the present research involves the discussion about the contribution of the discipline called Oriented Teaching for the academic professors' graduation processes, inferring possible quality indicators for this level of education. The qualitative methodology through the case study with students and Professors of PPGE/CE/UFSM. Therefore, it is drawn a panorama that defines the Oriented Teaching in the UFSM and it is built analysis categories that demonstrate how is the status of the discipline at institution. These are: Professors' instruction in the Higher Education, Feelings according to the Oriented Teaching and Influence of the Advisor. Thus, starting from the subject and objectives of that research, the found categories can mirror the following quality indicators: education opportunity; teacher's self-valorization as person; group working; learning of the academic teaching; timetable of the Oriented Teaching; inclusion of the number of students that attends the discipline; the oriented Professors' involvement along the extent of the discipline; the advisor's tutorage. Keywords: Oriented Teaching; Education Process; Quality indexes; University Teaching 

Breeding performance in the Italian chicken breed Mericanel della Brianza

In Italy, 90 local avian breeds were described; the majority (61%) were classified as extinct and only 8.9% as still widely spread. Therefore, efforts for conservation of Italian avian breeds are urgently required. The aim of this study was to record the breeding performance of the Italian breed Mericanel della Brianza to multiply a small population, in order to develop a conservation programme. Fourteen females and eight males were available at the beginning of the reproductive season in 2009 and organised into eight families (1 male/1-2 females) kept in floor pens. Birds received a photoperiod of 14L:10D and were fed ad libitum. Breeding performance was recorded from March to June. Egg production and egg weight were recorded daily; eggs were set every two weeks and fertility, embryo mortality and hatchability were recorded. Mean egg production was 37% and mean egg weight was 34±3.49 g. High fertility values from 94% to 87% were recorded in the first three settings and the overall mean fertility value was 81.6%. Overall hatchability was only 49.6% owing to a high proportion of dead embryos. Embryo mortality occurred mainly between days 2 and 7 of incubation and during hatching. The highest hatchability values were recorded in settings 1 and 2, 69% and 60% respectively, and a large decrease was found in the subsequent settings. Marked variations in egg production, fertility, hatchability and embryo mortality were found among families. The present results represent the basic know ledge of reproductive parameters necessary to improve the reproductive efficiency of the breed within a conservation plan

Overview of Turkey Semen Storage: Focus on Cryopreservation – A Review

Abstract This review updates the current state of technologies available for turkey semen storage (hypothermic- liquid storage and cryopreservation), with special attention paid to cryopreservation. Liquid semen can be stored for up to 24 or 48 h at temperatures around 5°C, while cryopreservation allows long-term storage at -196°C. The possibility of using frozen turkey semen for artificial insemination (AI) would have practical benefits for turkey production. Reported fertility rates in response to AI using frozen/thawed semen range from 15.8 to 84.3%. Unsatisfactory fertility may be attributed to an inability of turkey spermatozoa to successfully survive the freezing/thawing process, and this, along with the high variability observed, makes this technique unacceptable for commercial breeding programs. There is therefore a need to standardize the whole freezing and thawing process to improve the post-thaw quality of turkey semen and minimize variability in results. Finding an efficient freezing protocol for turkey semen will allow for the creation of a sperm cryobank, improving current prospects for the commercial use of frozen turkey semen and also for the long-term conservation of the genetic diversity of this bird