Tag Archives: reality

The reality of your “dessert stomach” and why there’s no need to feel guilty about it

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I’m currently sitting in a trendy pub in a small village on the outskirts of Cambridge. It’s a Thursday night in early December, so it’s dark and freezing outside. But here there is a warm and cozy fireplace, and the whole place is decorated with festive decorations. Michael Bublé is singing Christmas songs on the radio and I’m holding a big glass of Malbec. life is wonderful.

It’s been a long day (actually a long week) and let me prove to you that this is definitely the place to be. This is one of his “gastropubs” that serves lovely food and where I enjoyed a weekday date night with his wife Jane.

For dinner we both had salted trout to start, then as main courses Jane had hake and I had burger and chips. The portion sizes were healthy and we were both pretty full by the time we finished eating.

Then you know what happened next. The waiter comes over with the dessert menu and asks, “Are you tempted?” Yes, it’s definitely possible. And even though we were full, even on a weeknight, we both ordered dessert. I had sticky toffee pudding with ice cream and my wife had a slice of tarte au citron with crème fraîche. Like clockwork, the dessert stomach hits again.

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Now the question arises, why is it so specific to dessert? Would I have been better off having another burger? Would Jane have eaten more hake? Absolutely not. So what’s so special about the dessert?

To answer this question, we need to look to evolution. Flashback to the Serengeti River 50,000 years ago and your ancestors dragging an antelope into their village. Let’s just say, metabolically speaking, they spent 2,000 calories stalking, chasing, and defeating them.

It is clear that once they return to their village, they will have to burn at least 2,000 calories to recoup their expenses. Otherwise, it’s not sustainable. However, there is no guarantee that you will successfully catch an antelope next time. This means that if they only They don’t live very long if they eat to meet their metabolic needs.

At that time, the pleasurable part of the brain is activated. This dominates the sense of reward we all receive from eating, leading us to eat more than we actually need. But how do you overcome the mechanical challenge of having 2,000 calories of food stuck in your stomach?

Well, our brains can be very picky. They begin to crave more calorie-dense foods, meaning they contain more calories per gram. This allows you to fill every inch of your stomach.

So what are the foods with the most calories? Those high in free sugars and fats. So, what foods are high in sugar and fat? dessert.

In other words, your dessert tripe is actually an evolutionary holdover from your days in the Serengeti. It’s there to make sure you’re craving the right types of food even when you’re full so you can maximize your calorie intake at every meal. After all, there was no guarantee at all when the next meal would arrive.

You’ve probably noticed an obvious problem here. While this movement has kept us living in a periodic cycle of feast and famine, many people today live in cycles of feast and then more feast. I definitely wasn’t need That sticky toffee pudding (which I really enjoyed and didn’t regret for a minute!).

By the way, the “dessert belly” is not just a strange human phenomenon. Now, I completely understand that I’m not going to top my lunch of crème brûlée and a glass of chilled muscat with a freshly killed antelope by a lion. But consider a grizzly bear during a salmon run upstream in the Pacific Northwest of the United States.

Grizzlies arrive at the salmon run swimming buffet in the fall, with the aim of storing as much fat as possible for the upcoming hibernation.

The bear first eats the fish almost whole, down to the bones. However, as they become fuller and filler and store more and more fat, they will only eat the skin of the salmon and the thin layer of fat underneath. why? Because this is the most caloric part of the fish. They begin to change what they eat to maximize their energy reserves.

So, while desserts are clearly a human cultural construct, the phenomenon of maximizing the caloric density of foods that we crave when we are full has been conserved through evolution. That means it’s not your fault for finding room for dessert even after a satisfying meal.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

Unveiling the Reality of Sleep Disorders: When a Night Shift Becomes a Nightmare

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A new study investigated the relationship between shift work patterns, sociodemographic factors, and sleep disorders. They found that shift work, especially night shifts, significantly disrupted sleep, with about a third of all participants reporting at least one sleep disorder. The study also found that demographic factors such as gender, age, and education level influence sleep health.

A new study shows that working night shifts increases the incidence of sleep disorders, especially in young people with low levels of education.

Sleep is important not only for physical and mental health, but also for daytime and neurocognitive function. When people work in shifts (21% of workers in the European Union worked shifts in 2015), their circadian sleep-wake rhythms are often disrupted. Now, Dutch researchers have investigated the relationship between different shift work patterns, sociodemographic factors, and sleep disorders.

“Compared to working regular shifts during the day, working other shift types has been shown to have a higher incidence of sleep disturbances, especially those working rotational or regular night shifts,” GGZ Drenthe said Dr. Marike Lancel, a state mental health researcher.Institute and lead author of the study published in frontiers of psychiatry. “Notably, 51% of those working night shifts tested positive for at least one sleep disorder.”

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“There is a lot of evidence that shift work reduces sleep quality. However, there is little evidence of the impact that different types of shifts have on the prevalence of different sleep disorders and how this varies depending on demographic characteristics. “We know very little about whether they will,” Lancel continued.

To fill these gaps, researchers recruited more than 37,000 participants and provided demographic information indicating their shift work patterns (regular morning, evening, night, or switching between shifts).

They also completed a questionnaire screening on six common sleep disorder categories: insomnia, hypersomnia, parasomnias, sleep-related breathing disorders, sleep-related movement disorders, and circadian rhythm sleep-wake disorders.

Responses suggested that regular night shifts are the most debilitating condition when it comes to sleep. Half of night shift workers reported sleeping less than 6 hours in a 24-hour period, 51% reported one sleep disorder, and 26% reported two or more sleep disorders.

In the overall study population, approximately one-third tested positive for at least one sleep disorder and 12.6% tested positive for two or more sleep disorders.

Demographic factors and sleep health

Researchers also investigated whether demographic factors such as gender, age, and highest level of education influenced sleep health. We also considered whether participants lived alone, with a partner or children, or with others, such as friends or parents.

The results showed that although men slept less than women, sleep problems were more common in women. Age also affected sleep health. Although older participants tended to sleep less, most sleep disorders and their comorbidities were found to be more prevalent in the youngest participant group, those under 30 years of age.

Researchers found a correlation between education level and the likelihood of having disrupted sleep. “The effects of shift work on sleep are most pronounced among young people with low levels of education,” Lancel said. This group had shorter sleep duration and significantly higher prevalence of sleep disorders and their comorbidities.

Night shifts and sleep challenges

Researchers found that some people who work night shifts may have fewer sleep-related problems than others, but for the average night shift worker, this irregular work pattern can lead to less regular sleep-related problems. They said they would be more likely to struggle with healthy sleep. sleep. “People who work night shifts are unlikely to be completely immune to all the negative effects of night shifts, as they remain focused on their day jobs and out of sync with the environment in which they live,” Lancell said. explained.

The researchers also noted that their study had certain limitations. For example, people with sleep disorders may be more likely to participate in studies focused on sleep than people who sleep well. Nevertheless, the authors said their findings may provide important information for employers in occupations where shift work is common. It may also be used to educate strategies on how to best address and reduce the effects of night work and sleep days.

References: “Shift work is associated with widespread sleep disturbances, especially when working at night,” GJ Boersma, T. Mijnster, P. Vantyghem, GA Kerkhof, Marike Lancel, October 17, 2023. frontiers of psychiatry.
DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1233640

Source: scitechdaily.com

Fuzzy Door’s Viewscreen: On-set Augmented Reality Brings Computer-Generated Characters and Locations to Your Viewfinder

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Almost all TV shows and movies use computer graphics (CG) these days, but a show with fully digital characters takes it to another level. Seth MacFarlane’s “Ted” is one such show, and his production company Fuzzy Door has developed a new tool to enhance the filming process. This tool, called Viewscreen, turns the potentially messy process of working with CG characters and environments into an opportunity for collaboration and improvisation on set.

Viewscreen is an on-set augmented reality tool that allows for real-time interaction with CG assets through the camera. This has dramatically improved the creative process, making it easier to get the necessary shots faster, according to MacFarlane. Typically, the process of filming with CG assets occurs after the camera is turned off, and it involves using stand-ins like tennis balls and motion capture performers. The footage is then sent to a VFX person for adjustments, which can be a repetitive and traditional process, leaving little room for spontaneity.

Viewscreen Studio is a wireless system that can sync between multiple cameras and integrate various data streams simultaneously. This system creates a middle ground between pre and post-production, allowing for live compositing and positioning of CG assets in the viewfinder and on a monitor. It also allows for live adjustments, such as changing waypoints and lighting, and creating different shots and scenarios naturally.

This new tool enables directors and camera operators to see and interact with invisible CG elements in real time, allowing for more creative freedom and spontaneity. It has already been successfully used in the production of “Ted” to enhance over 3,000 shots in the film.

Fuzzy Door has made Viewscreen available today and is already working with several studios and productions. The company offers four specific modules, including a tracker, compositor, exporter, and motion, to assist in the filming process. This tool has the potential to revolutionize the way CG elements are integrated into live-action productions.

Source: techcrunch.com

Snap collaborates with edtech firm Inspirit to introduce augmented reality technology in 50 American schools

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Snap announced Wednesday that it is partnering with edtech company Inspirit to bring augmented reality to classrooms to help students better understand STEM lessons. The two companies are working together to create 25 AR lenses and his STEM curriculum that will be used by at least 50 people across the U.S. next year.

One of the AR lenses is designed to help students find the volume of a cylinder, and the other is designed to help users tap on a bubble to select the appropriate volume to pop it. Masu.

Image credits: snap

Snap says that since the pilot program began, 85% of students said AR helped them improve their memory and memory retention. The company also found that AR lessons increased his engagement by nearly 50%, and that 92% of his students found his AR content easy to understand.

“By incorporating custom-built lenses into an easy-to-use mobile application using a camera kit, Inspirit has designed an innovative curriculum that combines Snap’s AR technology with comprehensive learning guides to help teachers create dynamic learning. “We’ve empowered students to achieve their best, regardless of grade. They can learn in the classroom or at home,” the company said in a blog post. “This curriculum is designed to stimulate participation in class, increase confidence levels, and increase students’ sense of self-efficacy.”

Snap’s push into AR for education comes a month after the company shut down its AR Enterprise Services division less than a year after it launched. The initiative, announced in March, gives brands access to tools that allow him to perform AR try-on features, a 3D viewer to see products from multiple angles, fit and sizing recommendation technology, an enterprise manager, and more. became. their digital assets. The company said that ramping up its efforts would require “significant” investments and that it could not continue to fund the efforts.

Despite Snap’s declining revenue, the company’s stock rose nearly 12% yesterday. report revealed Snap Inc. could report better-than-expected results next year, according to an internal memo. The note reveals that Snap could reach more than 475 million daily active users in 2024, up from analysts’ prediction of 448 million, according to a report by It is said that it exceeds that. The Verge.

Snap is scheduled to announce its third quarter 2023 financial results on October 24th.

Source: techcrunch.com