Improving Stress Management and Sleep Hygiene in Intelligent Homes

Acute 2-phenyl-3-(phenylselanyl)benzofuran treatment reverses the neurobehavioral alterations induced by sleep deprivation in mice

Sleep is a fundamental state for maintaining the organism homeostasis. Disruptions in sleep patterns predispose to the appearance of memory impairments and mental disorders, including depression. Recent pre-clinical studies have highlighted the antidepressant-like properties of the synthetic compound 2-phenyl-3-(phenylselanyl)benzofuran (SeBZF1). To further investigate the neuromodulatory effects of SeBZF1, this study aimed to assess its therapeutic efficacy in ameliorating neurobehavioral impairments induced by sleep deprivation (SD) in mice. For this purpose, a method known as multiple platforms over water was used to induce rapid eye movement (REM) SD. Two hours after acute SD (24 h), male Swiss mice received a single treatment of SeBZF1 (5 mg/kg, intragastric route) or fluoxetine (a positive control, 20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal route). Subsequently, behavioral tests were conducted to assess spontaneous motor function (open-field test), depressive-like behavior (tail suspension test), and memory deficits (Y-maze test). Brain structures were utilized to evaluate oxidative stress markers, monoamine oxidase (MAO) and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activities. Our findings revealed that SD animals displayed depressive-like behavior and memory impairments, which were reverted by SeBZF1 and fluoxetine treatments. SeBZF1 also reverted the increase in lipoperoxidation levels and glutathione peroxidase activity in the pre-frontal cortex in mice exposed to SD. Besides, the increase in hippocampal AChE activity induced by SD was overturned by SeBZF1. Lastly, cortical MAO-B activity was reestablished by SeBZF1 in mice that underwent SD. Based on the main findings of this study, it can be inferred that the compound SeBZF1 reverses the neurobehavioral alterations induced by sleep deprivation in male Swiss mice.

Factors Affecting Sleep Quality among University Medical and Nursing Students: A Study in Two Countries in the Mediterranean Region

Poor sleep quality, a global public health concern, poses a significant burden on individuals, particularly health care university students facing intense academic stress. A three-center cross-sectional study was conducted at the Higher Institute of Nursing and Health Sciences in Tetouan (Morocco), Faculty of Medicine in Tangier (Morocco) and Faculty of Nursing in Valencia (Spain). We collected various data using a sociodemographic questionnaire, the Pittsburgh sleep quality questionnaire, the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ) and the smartphone addiction questionnaire short-version (SAS-SV). A total of 1210 students were included in our study (mean age 20.4 years, 67.2% female, nursing students (66.2%) and medical students (33.8%), 76.1% students from Morocco and 33.9% from Spain). Analysis revealed a higher prevalence of poor sleep quality among Moroccans students compared to Spanish ones (p < 0.001), that nursing students showed less favorable sleep quality than medical students (p < 0.011) and that living with a chronic disease was linked to less favorable sleep quality (p < 0.001). Lastly, intense or weak physical activity and smartphone addiction were correlated with poor sleep quality (p < 0.001). In the multivariate analysis, an association persisted between poor sleep quality and factors such as the country of study (Odds ratio (OR): 6.25 [95% Confidence Interval (CI): 4.34-9.09]), involvement in nursing studies (OR: 3.50 [95% CI: 2.36-5.27]), and the presence of chronic diseases (OR: 2.70 [95% CI: 1.72-4.16]), (p < 0.01 each). Our findings highlight the multifaceted factors affecting sleep quality in young university students. The implications underscore the imperative of interventions tailored to this demographic group.

Development of a Framework for the Communication System Based on KNX for an Interactive Space for UX Evaluation

Domotics (Home Automation) aims to improve the quality of life of people by integrating intelligent systems within inhabitable spaces. While traditionally associated with smart home systems, these technologies have potential for User Experience (UX) research. By emulating environments to test products and services, and integrating non-invasive user monitoring tools for emotion recognition, an objective UX evaluation can be performed. To achieve this objective, a testing booth was built and instrumented with devices based on KNX, an international standard for home automation, to conduct experiments and ensure replicability. A framework was designed based on Python to synchronize KNX systems with emotion recognition tools; the synchronization of these data allows finding patterns during the interaction process. To evaluate this framework, an experiment was conducted in a simulated laundry room within the testing booth to analyze the emotional responses of participants while interacting with prototypes of new detergent bottles. Emotional responses were contrasted with traditional questionnaires to determine the viability of using non-invasive methods. Using emulated environments alongside non-invasive monitoring tools allowed an immersive experience for participants. These results indicated that the testing booth can be implemented for a robust UX evaluation methodology.

The Menstrual Cycle's Influence on Sleep Duration and Cardiovascular Health: A Comprehensive Review

The menstrual cycle, a fundamental biological process in women, extends its influence beyond reproduction, impacting sleep duration and cardiovascular health. This comprehensive review delves into the intricate connections that bind these three vital aspects of women's health. Beginning with thoroughly exploring the menstrual cycle, we uncover its phases and the dynamic hormonal fluctuations that underlie each stage. We pay special attention to estrogen and progesterone, the primary sex hormones orchestrating the menstrual cycle. With their rhythmic rise and fall, these hormones orchestrate events, affecting sleep duration, sleep patterns, and various indicators of cardiovascular well-being. The review examines how the menstrual cycle influences sleep patterns, exploring the nuanced changes in sleep duration observed throughout menstrual phases. We elucidate the contributing factors, encompassing hormonal fluctuations, the impact of pain and discomfort, and the significance of emotional and psychological factors. All of these elements collectively contribute to variations in sleep quality. Shifting our focus to the cardiovascular system, we investigate the bidirectional relationships between sleep disturbances and cardiovascular conditions, emphasizing the need to address sleep-related issues in the context of cardiovascular risk. The menstrual cycle is analyzed as a pivotal mediator in these intricate connections, exploring how hormonal fluctuations across menstrual phases can influence sleep patterns and cardiovascular health. This analysis provides valuable insights into the complex causality web. As clinical implications emerge, we emphasize the importance of tailoring healthcare strategies for individuals with irregular menstrual cycles. We explore potential interventions, from personalized care and hormone management to lifestyle adjustments, to improve sleep and cardiovascular well-being. In conclusion, this comprehensive review sheds light on the interplay between the menstrual cycle, sleep duration, and cardiovascular health. It underscores the urgent necessity for personalized healthcare approaches and preventive strategies, empowering women to navigate these intricate relationships. Ultimately, through a nuanced understanding of these interactions, we can work towards enhancing women's overall well-being and reducing cardiovascular risk within the context of menstrual cycle-related influences.

Seeing Is Believing: Making Wellbeing More Tangible

Positive Psychology has been instrumental in promoting wellbeing science in the modern era. However, there are still ways in which positive psychology interventions and positive education programmes can be improved to achieve more robust and sustained effects. One suggested method is to make wellbeing more salient and tangible through the use of objective tools that assess the relationship between psychological and physiological wellbeing, and enable wellbeing status and change to be seen. With the addition of an interdisciplinary team, as well as technology-enabled and pedagogically sound learning tools and approaches, the potential for positive outcomes and impact increases exponentially. Monitoring wellbeing progress in this way can provide evidence, motivation and belief in positive psychology and wellbeing interventions. This can lead to engaged learning, sustained benefits and systemic impact. Positive psychology needs to strategically extend on the emerging work in this field to help everyone, including policy makers, notice and value wellbeing.

Digital Health and Care Study on Elderly Monitoring

Sustainable technologies are being increasingly used in various areas of human life. While they have a multitude of benefits, they are especially useful in health monitoring, especially for certain groups of people, such as the elderly. However, there are still several issues that need to be addressed before its use becomes widespread. This work aims to clarify the aspects that are of great importance for increasing the acceptance of the use of this type of technology in the elderly. In addition, we aim to clarify whether the technologies that are already available are able to ensure acceptable accuracy and whether they could replace some of the manual approaches that are currently being used. A two-week study with people 65 years of age and over was conducted to address the questions posed here, and the results were evaluated. It was demonstrated that simplicity of use and automatic functioning play a crucial role. It was also concluded that technology cannot yet completely replace traditional methods such as questionnaires in some areas. Although the technologies that were tested were classified as being “easy to use”, the elderly population in the current study indicated that they were not sure that they would use these technologies regularly in the long term because the added value is not always clear, among other issues. Therefore, awareness-raising must take place in parallel with the development of technologies and services.