Binge eating and emotional fluctuations: an ecological momentary assessment study

The objective of current master’s thesis was to investigate the associations between emotional fluctuations and emotion regulation difficulties in predicting binge eating episodes in a general population study using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). In addition, emotional experience was assessed in order to compare the differential impact of binge eating with and without loss of control. The sample consisted of 97 women and 61 men in with a mean age of 22.35 (SD = 4.82). The gender differences in eating behavior were also of interest. The results pointed, that fluctuations in negative emotion did indeed predict binge eating with loss of control among both men and women. Among women, the emotion regulation difficulties, restrained eating, as well as the interaction of negative emotion fluctuations and emotion regulation difficulties were significant predictors. Among men, impulsivity predicted binge eating episodes with loss of control. Overall, binge eating with loss of control, compared to without loss of control, was significantly more associated with emotion regulation difficulties as well as increased negative emotions indicating the significance of loss of control in the assessment of eating pathology. It also appeared that women were considerably more sensitive to binge eating with loss of control as it resulted in greater levels of negative emotions, whereas among men this tendency was not found. In addition, binge eating without loss of control resulted in higher rates in several positive emotions both among men and women.http://www.ester.ee/record=b4509834*es

Ülesöömise ja liigsöömise riskitegurid – integreeritud mudeli väljatöötamine

Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publiktsiooneKäesoleva doktoritöö eesmärgiks oli kogemuse väljavõtte meetodi abil uurida liigsöömise ja ülesöömise riskitegureid, ning laiendada teadmisi meeste söömiskäitumisest. Liigsöömine ja ülesöömine on häirunud söömiskäitumise ilmingud, mis suurendavad ülekaalulisuse ja söömishäirete riski. Liigsöömine hõlmab tavapärasest suurema toidukoguse söömist, millega kaasneb kontrollikadu söömise üle. Ülesöömine kätkeb endas tavapärasest suurema toidukoguse söömist ilma kontrollikao tundeta. Uuringus leidsime, et ülesöömist esines ligi pooltel ning liigsöömist peaaegu veerandil osalejatest uuringuperioodi jooksul. Uuringutulemustest nähtus, et nii emotsiooniregulatsiooni raskused, st piiratud oskused tugevate tunnetega toimetulekul, kui tung söömist piirata ennustavad liigsöömist. Emotsiooniregulatsiooni raskuste roll oli seejuures meeste ja naiste seas erinev. Meestel vahendasid emotsiooniregulatsiooni raskused negatiivse afekti mõju liigsöömisele. Naiste seas oli emotsiooniregulatsiooni raskustel modereeriv mõju, st emotsiooniregulatsiooni raskused koosmõjus negatiivse afektiga ennustasid liigsöömist. Lisaks ennustasid liigsöömist integreeritud mudelis negatiivne afekt, negatiivse afekti kõikumine, hõivatus välimusest ja kehakaalust ning neurootilisus. Seejuures ülesöömist antud tegurid ei ennustanud. Käesoleva doktoritöö tulemusi saab kasutada paremate ennetusprogrammide väljatöötamiseks. Emotsioonidega toimetulekuoskuste õpetamine ning söömise piiramise käsitlemine on olulised liigsöömise ennetamise võimalusedThis doctoral thesis aimed to assess risk factors of binge eating and overeating using experience sampling method, in addition to expand current knowledge about eating behavior among men. Overeating and binge eating as aspects of disordered eating behavior increase the risk of overweight and eating disorders. Binge eating comprises eating a large amount of food and experiencing loss of control during eating, while overeating comprises eating a large amount of food without the experience of loss of control. We found that nearly half of the participants experienced overeating and around quarter of participants experienced binge eating during the study period. Our research showed that emotion regulation difficulties, i.e. the inability to reduce the intensity of one’s negative emotions, and the need to restrain one’s eating are both associated with binge eating. However, the role of emotion regulation difficulties was somewhat different in men and women. Among men, difficulties in emotion regulation mediated the effect of negative affect on binge eating, meaning that the association between negative affect and binge eating is partly due to emotion regulation difficulties. While among women emotion regulation difficulties had a moderating effect, i.e. the interaction between emotion regulation difficulties and negative affect predicted binge eating. Negative affect, fluctuations in negative affect, preoccupation with one’s body image and bodyweight and neuroticism also predicted binge eating in an integrated model. However, overeating was not associated with these aspects. The results of this doctoral thesis could be used for designing better prevention strategies. For instance, teaching adaptive ways to alleviate strong negative emotions as well as addressing dietary restraint could help in preventing binge eating.https://www.ester.ee/record=b534664

Asukohapõhine energiakultuuride planeerimine: potentsiaalne maaressurss, mullastik-klimaatilised ja majanduslikud riskid

In recent decades, renewable energy production has become the focus of energy policy. For meeting the target of increasing the share of renewable energy, biomass use is claimed to be essential. Since there has been a decrease in the use of agricultural areas after the restoration of independence in Estonia, abandoned agricultural land resource may have a potential in increasing bio-energy production. However, bio-energy sustainability should be analysed. Furthermore, there is a need for site-specific assessments, i.e. the inclusion of pedo-climatic conditions in bio-energy analyses. The aims of the study were: to develop a methodology for quantifying and locating abandoned agricultural areas, to assess bio-energy potential on abandoned fields and to develop the methodology for site-specific yield analysis in Tartu County as an example; to analyse fertilisation and energy efficiency dependence on soil properties and to model reed canary grass yield dependence on soil nitrogen content and nitrogen fertilisation; to compile multi-criteria analysis, i.e. energy efficiency (net energy yield, energy use efficiency) and profitability of reed canary grass production; and to analyse fibre hemp and energy sunflower biomass production grown on different nitrogen treatments. The conclusions of the study were: 1. In 2007, abandoned agricultural land in Tartu County formed 24% of the total agricultural area. Land resource soil analysis indicated a clear tendency of soil effect on land-use decisions. The proportion of abandoned areas in Tartu County is higher on soils with low soil fertility. 2. Total abandoned areas are not equally suitable for energy crop production. Soil-crop suitability analysis indicated that reed canary grass and grey alder have the highest re-use potential for abandoned parcels of compared dedicated energy crops (i.e. reed canary grass, Caucasian goat’s rue, willow, grey alder, hybrid aspen) with each re-using more than 80% of the available abandoned land in Tartu County. In the case of a combined land-use strategy, potential bio-energy production could provide a quarter (667 GWh) of county’s annual energy demand. 3. The yield of reed canary grass varies from 0.9 to 6.9 Mg ha-1 depending on the soil total nitrogen content and the climatic conditions. Nitrogen fertilisation decreases yield variability of reed canary grass on soils with a low soil nitrogen content. By contrast, on soils with a high soil nitrogen content, reed canary grass yield variability, i.e. production risks, increases with increasing fertiliser application. Nitrogen fertilisation efficiency decreases with increasing soil nitrogen content and mineral nitrogen application. 4. Irrespective of fertiliser application rates, also nitrogen treatment influences energy crop yield. From mineral and organic fertilisers in current study, the more favourable treatment for fibre hemp biomass formation was mineral nitrogen and sewage sludge and for energy sunflower, highest yield formed on sewage sludge treatment. 5. The integration of the yield model to the Estonian large-scale soil map approves spatial variability of reed canary grass biomass production. Approximately 81% of Tartu County`s agricultural area is capable of producing an average reed canary grass yield without fertilisation below 4 Mg ha-1, and the yields of 4 to 6 Mg ha-1 are achievable in a limited number of fields. 6. The current study provides the first evidence of an energy use efficiency curve dependent on soil nitrogen content in reed canary grass production. Energy use efficiency decreases on Histosols. On humus-poor soils, a quadratic curve relationship between energy input and energy use efficiency occures, i.e. to reach the optimum energy use efficiency level, nitrogen fertiliser inputs should be 198 kg ha-1. Detailed analyses on Haplic Albeluvisol indicated that an optimum energy use efficiency could be achieved by reducing the nitrogen application norm twofold to reach a production minimum net cost. Therefore, knowledge-based bio-energy production requires the inclusion of multiple characteristics and site-specific information in analysis.Viimastel aastakümnetel on avalikes aruteludes tähtsal kohal olnud taastuvenergiaallikate osakaalu suurendamine, milles pannakse suuri ootusi biomassi kasutamisele energia tootmiseks. Alates taasiseseisvumisest on põllumajanduslik maakasutus Eestis oluliselt vähenenud. Kasutusest väljajäänud põllumajandusmaade taaskasutuselevõtu üks võimalus on nendel aladel bioenergiakultuuride kasvatamine. Teadmistepõhine energiakultuuride planeerimine eeldab võimalikult detailse asukohapõhise informatsiooni kasutamist (sh mullastik-klimaatiliste iseärasuste arvestamist) ning tootmise jätkusuutlikuse hindamist. Doktoritöö eesmärgid olid järgmised: Tartu maakonna näitel välja töötada metoodika, mille abil saaks hinnata kasutusest väljajäänud põllumajandusmaa ressurssi, selle bioenergeetilist potentsiaali ja analüüsida päideroo saagipotentsiaali lähtuvalt mullastik-klimaatilistest tingimustest; analüüsida päideroo väetamise ja energiakasutuse efektiivsuse sõltuvust mulla omadustest ja modelleerida päideroo saagikuse sõltuvust mulla lämmastikusisaldusest ja lämmastikuga väetamisest; koostada päideroo kasvatamise energiaparameetrite (energiasaagis, energiakasutuse efektiivsus) ja majandusliku tasuvuse võrdlev analüüs; ning analüüsida erinevate lämmastikväetiste mõju kiukanepi ja energiapäevalille saagi kujunemisele. Töös jõuti järgmisele tulemustele: 1. Tartu maakonnas oli 2007. aastal kasutamata põllumajandusmaade osatähtsus 24%. Põllumajanduslikus kasutuses olevate ja kasutamata maade mullastikus on olulised erinevused. Kasutamata põllumajandusmaad on kasutuses oleva maaga võrreldes üldiselt väiksema viljakusega ning piiratuma kasutussobivusega. 2. Kogu kasutamata põllumajandusmaa ei sobi võrdväärselt analüüsitud energiakultuuride kasvatamiseks. Uuritud energiakultuuridest (päideroog, ida-kitsehernes, paju, hall lepp, hübriidhaab) sobivad päideroog ja hall lepp enam kui 80%-le kasutamata maadest. Paju, halli lepa, hübriidhaava, päideroo ja ida-kitseherne kombineeritud maakasutuse bioenergeetiline potentsiaal on 667 GWh, mis moodustab veerandi maakonna aastasest energiatarbest. 3. Päideroo kuivaine maapealne biomass väetamata mullal varieerub suures ulatuses (0,9–6,9 Mg ha-1) sõltuvalt mulla lämmastikusisaldusest ja aastast. Väikese lämmastikusisaldusega muldadel päideroo saagi varieeruvus lämmastikväetiste andmisel väheneb, seevastu lämmastikurikastel turvasmuldadel saagi varieeruvus lämmastikuga väetamisel suureneb. Lämmastikväetise efektiivsus väheneb mulla lämmastikusisalduse ja väetisnormi suurenedes. 4. Peale lämmastikväetise koguse mõjutab saagikust ka väetise liik. Katses kasutatud mineraal- ja orgaanilistest väetistest saadi suurim kiukanepi biomassi saak mineraalse lämmastikväetise ja reoveesette kasutamisel ning suurim energiapäevalille saak reoveesette kasutamisel. 5. Päideroo saagimudeli rakendamine Eesti suuremõõtkavalisel mullastikukaardil tõestab saagi suurt ruumilist varieeruvust Tartu maakonnas. Mulla üldlämmastikusisaldusest sõltuvalt on ligikaudu 81%-l Tartu maakonna põllumajandusmaade väetamata mulla päideroo saagipotentsiaal alla 4 Mg ha-1 ja keskmine potentsiaalne saagikus 4–6 Mg ha-1 on saavutatav vaid üksikutel põldudel. 6. Käesolev töö esitab esmakordselt kvantitatiivse seose energiakasutuse efektiivsuse ja mulla lämmastikusisalduse vahel. Turvasmullal vähendab lämmastikuga väetamine päideroo energiakasutuse efektiivsust, kuid näivleetunud mullal suureneb see kuni annuseni 198 kg N ha-1 ning väheneb suuremate väetisannuste korral. Detailne analüüs näivleetunud mullal tõendab mitme hindamiskriteeriumi arvestamise tähtsust energiakultuuride planeerimisel: optimaalne energiakasutuse efektiivsus saadakse ligikaudu kaks korda väiksema lämmastikunormiga kui see on vajalik toodangu väikese omahinna saamiseks. Seetõttu tuleb bioenergia tootmise planeerimisel arvestada paljusid kriteeriume ja lähtuda võimalikult asukohapõhisest informatsioonist

Liis Kruus: üks video ütleb rohkem kui tuhat sõna

Eesti Arst 2022; 101(3):139–14

The representation of the sea in Jack London’s Martin Eden

The present thesis explores different instances in which the protagonist, Martin, in Jack London’s Martin Eden uses sea related expressions in his everyday life. The main purpose of this thesis is to identify and analyze these nautical expressions as echoes of Martin’s sailor identity.https://www.ester.ee/record=b5461035*es

The Hate Within

A novel in its beginning stages, The Hate Within (May 2021) is the product of discovering a way to be able to eloquently combine biomedical engineering with creative writing which will intrigue young adult readers. This thesis contains the first few chapters of the story along with an additional journal entry, the story’s outline with a list of plot events, and a disquisition exploring the motivation and methodology behind creating this thesis.The novel is about a junior in high school named Alaita. She is a super sweet, kind, and popular girl in school until one day she is diagnosed with a brain tumor. Once her tumor is surgically removed, she realizes that she has lost her ability to connect and empathize with others. She works with her therapist to try and learn techniques to help her regain her empathy to no avail. Her personality change has created rifts between her parents and between her and her best friend. She feels like she is responsible for all the negativity and conflict happening around her since she has lost her empathy. That is until she meets a kid dealing with substance abuse who helps her realize that the most important thing is for to learn to accept herself for who she has become before she can be able to move forward and improve herself

N-Asendatud nortropaani derivaatide kineetilised aspektid seondumisel dopamiini transportvalguga

Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneRavimiarenduse eesmärgiks on üha efektiivsemate ravimite loomine ning selle protsessi üheks tunnustatud suunaks on sihtmärkvalguga üha tugevamini seostuvate molekulide otsing, sest ravimi toimet seostatakse eelkõige selle kompleksi püsivusega. Üks võimalus seondumisefektiivsuse suurendamiseks on aeglaselt laguneva kompleksi tekitamine ravimaine ja sihtmärkvalgu vahel. See aeglaselt lagunev kompleks võimaldab ravimainel olla pikemalt seostunud ning mida stabiilsem see kompleks on, seda suurem on efekt. Tulemusena saab kasutada väiksemaid ravimi kontsentratsioone samaväärse raviefekti saavutamiseks. Aeglasemalt lagunevate komplekside tuvastamiseks tuleb analüüsida ühendite seondumise kiirust valgule ning seda tehakse läbi kineetilise analüüsi, mis tähendab et uuritakse ainete seondumise kiirust sihtmärkvalguga. Sõltuvalt struktuurist võivad ühendid omada erinevaid sidumistaskute täitmise kiiruseid. Käesolevas töös analüüsiti N-asendatud nortropaani derivaatide, mis on teada-tuntud psühhostimulantide analoogid, ja dopamiini transportvalgu seondumisefektiivsust ning kineetilisi parameetreid. Dopamiini transportvalk vastutab virgatsaine, dopamiini, reguleerimise eest meie ajus, on osaline mitmete neurodegeneratiivsete haiguste korral ning on sihtmärgiks paljudele narkootikumidele ja ravimitele. Mõned nortropaani derivaadid on võimelised moodustama aeglaselt laguneva kompleksi, samas kui mõnevõrra modifitseeritud ühendid ei ole. Dissertatsioonis määrati ühendite bioaktiivsused ning tuvastati aeglast kompleksi moodustavad ühendid. Aeglase kompleksi moodustumise tundlikkust uuritavate ühendite suhtes saab määrata ka teiste ravim-valk süsteemide korral. Selline lähenemine võimaldab suurendada ravimainete efektiivsusi läbi stabiilsemate komplekside moodustamiste.Drug design has focused on increasing the effectiveness of binding of small molecules to the target protein in order to yield more potent drugs. It’s important to emphasize that usually drug has its effect when it’s bound. One way to increase drug effectiveness has been to modulate how tightly a drug molecule binds to its target, which usually is a protein in our bodies. To study this, a parameter called drug residence time has been devised to represent an additional shift of equilibrium towards a more stable drug-protein complex, i.e. molecules are more tightly bound to the protein. The longer drug residence time the more stable drug-protein complexes are and, therefore, lower doses of pharmaceuticals are needed to treat various diseases. Although physically not correct, this parameter represents the duration of binding and subsequently the length of effect. These slowly dissociating complexes, that enhance the effectiveness of a drug, can only be differentiated by using a kinetic analysis. This means that the rate of occupying a binding pocket is monitored. Drugs with different structure can have different rates of binding. In this thesis, the binding effectiveness and kinetics have been determined for a series of N-substituted nortropane derivatives when binding to dopamine transporter. Dopamine transporter is a protein abundant in our brain, which responsible for the regulation of neurotransmitter dopamine. Some of these molecules under investigation bind rapidly and some slowly and, in this case, small structural features in the molecule distinguish between them. Although this sensitivity of mechanisms to ligand structure is illustrated in the case of nortropane analogs binding to dopamine transporter, a similar situation can occur in other drug-protein systems. The role of drug-target kinetics should not be underestimated in drug design

Segregatsiooni nõiaring ning vaba aja tegevuste roll selles

Väitekirja elektrooniline versioon ei sisalda publikatsiooneMigratsioon on globaalselt kasvamas ning see tõstatab teravalt küsimuse immigrantide integreerumisest sihtriigis. Sotsiaal-majanduslik ebavõrdsus kattub tihi kuuluvusega etnilisse vähemusse ning paneb aluse segregatsioonile kõigis eluvaldkondades. Käesolev väitekiri panustab paremasse arusaamisesse sellest, kuidas segregatsiooni toodetakse ja taastoodetakse erinevates eluvaldkondades keskendudes rahvuserinevustele vaba aja tegevustes. Väitekiri leiab vastused küsimusele, kuidas Nõukogude Liidust lahkumine ning sellega seosnevad sotsiaalsed muutused mõjutasid sotsiaalset ning etnilist ebavõrdsust ja segregatsiooni? Millised on erinevused eestlaste ja venelaste vaba aja tegevuste vahel? Kuidas on etnilised erinevused vaba aja tegevustes ajas muutunud? Ning kuidas on etniline eluaseme segregatsioon ja etniline segregatsioon vaba aja tegevustes omavahel seotud? Nendele küsimustele vastamiseks on kasutatud erinevaid andmeid: Euroopa riikide indeksid, Eesti rahva- ja eluruumide loendus, Aja kasutuse uuring ning süvaintervjuud. Peamised tulemused on järgnevad. Eestis tervikuna püsib etniline vaba aja segmentatsioon tugevalt, kuid ühe linna tasemel (Tallinn) on näha, et eestlased ja venelased on asunud tegema vabal ajal samu tegevusi. Samas, need tegevused leiavad endiselt aset erinevates asukohtades. Vaba aja segregatsioon ilmneb nii linnaosade lõikes, erinevate vaba aja asutuste lõikes ühes linnaosas ning ka ühe ürituse siseselt. Isegi kui leidub üritusi, kus nii eestlased kui ka venelased osalevad, kiputakse suhtlema oma rahvuskaaslastega. Sügavad ja tähenduslikud rahvusgruppide vahelised kontaktid toimuvad vaid eestlaste ning tugevalt assimileerunud venelaste vahel. Lühidalt, kuigi vaba aja segmentatsioon on kadunud, on etniline segregatsioon endiselt kõrgel tasemel ning see on seotud nii eelistustega kui ka eluaseme segregatsiooniga.Migration has been growing globally and it poses questions about integrating the immigrant population in host societies. Socio-economic inequalities often overlap with ethnic marginality and creates segregation in all life domains. This thesis contributes to a better understanding on how segregation is produced and reproduced across different life domains by focussing on ethnic differences in leisure time activities. It finds answers to questions, how did breaking up from the Soviet Union and the subsequent social transformations impact social and ethnic inequalities and segregation? What are the differences between leisure time activities of Estonians and Russians? How have the ethnic differences in leisure time segmentation and segregation evolved with time? And how are ethnic residential segregation and ethnic segregation during leisure time related to each other? Different level data is used in order to answer the research questions: European level indexes, Estonian census data, Time use survey data and in-depth interviews. The main findings are as follows. In Estonia as a whole, ethnic segmentation is strong in most leisure time activities, but when zooming in on a city level (Tallinn), Estonians and Russians have over time lost the differences in leisure activities. However, the activities still take place in different locations. Leisure segregation occurs in neighbourhoods, between different leisure venues within one neighbourhood and even within one event. But even when there are events where Estonians and Russians both participate, they tend to interact with people of their own ethnicity. When deep and meaningful interactions does occur, they happen mainly between Estonians and strongly assimilated Russians. In conclusion, although leisure segmentation has mostly disappeared, the ethnic segregation is still high and it is linked to preferences as well as to ethnic residential segregation.https://www.ester.ee/record=b522576

Developing and Characterizing a Novel TEMPO CNF Hydrogel Adjuvant and Delivery System for Aquatic Vaccines

Aquaculture is a large part of the food production sector which is greatly expanding. One of the largest losses in aquaculture is due to pathogens. Current solutions for protecting farmed finfish from pathogens can be very expensive with variable efficiency. Current disease prevention strategies include vaccination. Types of vaccines include immersion vaccines, feed vaccines, and injectable vaccines. The most popular solution is oil-based injectable vaccines due to its protection. However, the oil-based adjuvant used in most of these formulations causes adverse reactions in the fish including reduced growth. These vaccines require multiple administrations throughout the fish’s lifetime causing unwanted handling stress and additional labor costs. Preliminary trials show that cellulose nanomaterials cause minimal adverse reactions when injected into salmon and does not significantly affect their growth. The goal of this research was to create an adjuvant from cellulose nanomaterials which would increase bacterin efficacy while avoiding harmful side effects. A prolonged release formulation was also desirable, obviating the need for multiple vaccinations. Additionally, hydrogels have been used for a wide variety of applications including drug delivery, making them an attractive aquatic vaccine adjuvant. Cellulose nanomaterials were decided as the polymer to make up the hydrogel matrix due to their biocompatibility, sustainability, high tunability, high abundance, low cost. The development of the hydrogel formulation, modifying the hydrogel for easier delivery into the salmon, measuring the diffusive properties of the hydrogel, and in vivo testing of the hydrogel for analysis of delivery methods and reactions to the formulation are described in this research