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Home Food Why Sourdough Bread is the Better Bread
Why Sourdough Bread is the Better Bread
source:bbc.co.uk
The Sourdough Grilled Chicken Club in the Jack in the Box menu stands out mainly because it's the only one with a sourdough bun. With the usual burger bun used in most burgers and chicken sandwiches, it's something that brings more variety to your fast-food diet. Plus, it makes your indulgence more justified because sourdough bread is actually healthy for you!
It's a Type of Fermented Bread
Did you know that sourdough bread is considered as among the oldest forms of grain fermentation? Historians say that it may have started at around 1,500 B.C. in Egypt and, in fact, it's still the traditional form of leavening bread used in some countries. This is true even when baker's yeast was introduced a few centuries ago.
Take note that leavened bread refers to bread with a dough that rises due to the gas being produced during the grain's fermentation period. While we now use baker's yeast, the traditional method still uses "wild yeast" combined with lactic acid bacteria in leavening the bread.
Lactic acid bacteria is already present in flour and it's also present in fermented foods like pickles, kimchi and yogurt. Wild yeast has higher acid resistance than baker's yeast, thus, it works so well with lactic acid bacteria in making the dough rise.
The combination of flour and water with wild yeast and lactic acid bacteria is known as the starter. The starter then ferments the dough's sugars and aids in making it rise, as well as giving the sourdough bread its characteristic taste.
Just as its name implies, sourdough bread has a more sour taste than breads made with baker's yeast. But don't worry about the sour taste being overpowering because it isn't! Instead, it's a subtle sourness that complements the fresh flavors of lettuce and tomato as well as the crispy, crunchy and juicy flavors of chicken fillet.
Sourdough bread also keeps for longer periods than regular breads. Just don't mistake its slightly sour taste as being a sign of spoilage and it's a great bread for savory sandwiches.
It's More Nutritious
source:thepioneerwoman.com
Of course, sourdough bread's composition depends on its type of flour, which can either be refined flour or whole grain flour. Sourdough bread made with whole grain flour has higher amounts of fiber so it's easier to digest; refined flour has a significant portion of its fiber removed during the refining process.
But when it comes to its overall nutrition profile, sourdough bread and regular bread have similar profiles. A medium slice (about 56 grams) of sourdough bread contains:
32 grams of carbs
2-4 grams of fiber
6 grams of protein
2 grams of fat
It also contains minerals like selenium (22% RDI), folate (20% RDI), iron (12% RDI), thiamin (16% RDI), niacin (14% RDI), and sodium (16% RDI). This is particularly true for sourdough bread made from whole grain flour.
Studies have also shown that the lactobacilli, or the lactic acid bacteria, in sourdough bread release antioxidants that fight free radical damage. The fermentation process also increases its folate levels and decreases phytate levels, which means better nutrient absorption.
Sourdough bread also has a longer fermentation time that aids in enhancing the texture and taste of whole grain bread. The bottom line: It's more delicious so people are more likely to eat more sourdough bread that, in turn, increases their consumption of nutrient- and fiber-rich bread.
It's Easier on the Stomach
Sourdough bread can be easier to digest than other breads made with brewer's yeast. This may be partly due to its prebiotic content, particularly its lactobacilli, which feed your gut's beneficial bacteria. This may also be due to sourdough bread's probiotic-like quality; probiotics are also good bacteria naturally present in certain food like yogurt and added to supplements.
The regular consumption of prebiotics and probiotics can aid in boosting your gut's overall health. In turn, your digestive system will be better for it.
Sourdough bread also has lower gluten content. Gluten is a type of protein that can cause digestive issues in gluten-sensitive people. While moderation is well-advised, sourdough bread may well be a good alternative for gluten-sensitive persons who still want to get their bread and eat it, too.
Again, moderation is the key here. While sourdough bread has its health benefits in comparison to regular breads, it isn't a green light to indulge in two or more Sourdough Grilled Chicken Clubs in a single session. You should still consider the calories, fats and carbs that come with each serving and determine their effects on your overall health.
Since you can have the Sourdoughs Grilled Chicken Club at Jack in the Box for roughly the same price (as shown here) as their Spicy Chicken sandwich, it might be a good option to consider next time.
In the end, even healthy foods can become toxic when these are eaten in large quantities! Sourdough bread may have its merits but it can become sour, so to speak, when it's the same food you eat every day. Boredom can set in and you may well binge on the less healthy bread options.
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What an interesting collection! It's great that they have the information boards in different languages too – that always makes for a better experience!
I was very happy about the trilingual information boards, Marcella, as one can now read about some fact regarding the particular exhibit.
I think the artefacts would be well worth a look but it's a shame that the museum seems a bit unorganized? And what's that photography permit about?!
Van, I think it is currently much better presented than it used to be. With regard to the photography permit, most heritage sites here require a photography permit (irrespective of whether you are a local or a non-resident) to take photos of interiors, for personal and non-commercial use. So, I had to pay for a photography permit to take the photos of exhibits I have shared here. The permit fee at this museum is relatively lower than at most other sites.
While there are still some missing pieces/ historical periods at the museum, it does provide a better introduction to Sri Lankan history than previously and sure is a great way to start a trip here.
Yes, Clare, it is the 'Nataraja' form (dancing form) of Siva. I am glad that they re-organized and renovated the museum, as the exhibits are now better presented.
It's always wonderful to revisit a place and find things improved – the museum looks so fresh on the outside and good to see the exhibits better presented.
Yes, Trish, I was pleasantly surprised by the visit.
I think the main reason why the local fee is quite low is that the government wants heritage sites to be accessible to all Sri Lankans, and that no-one should feel excluded due to the pricing. However, I feel it might be better to have a sliding fee, where Sri Lankans who wish to and can pay more could do so, as it is currently the non-resident ticket revenues that contribute more to the maintenance.
What an interesting post, Ahila! Loved the collection!
Ayurvedic medicine was what was practiced back then, hence the grinding stone etc. I thought it fascinating that they had preserved those scissors and scalpel.
I am sure you will enjoy your visit to the national museum in Colombo, when you visit Sri Lanka.


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Preparing for 'The Seahawk' (1924)
Here's some info on tonight's screening of 'The Seahawk' at the historic Palace Theatre in Manchester, N.H. The program will include two short silent films recently reissued on DVD by my colleague Dave Stevenson.
First up, in honor of everyone's favorite looming April 15 deadline, is a short animated cartoon from 1920 called 'A Tax From The Rear,' directed by Walter Lantz, who later went on to create Woody Woodpecker. This short was among about two dozen animated films from the silent era that Dave collected in reissued on a DVD called 'The Animators,' for which I had the pleasure of improvising musical scores.
Next, in honor of our seafaring theme, is 'Shanghaied Lovers,' a Harry Langdon two-reeler from 1924 which Dave included on another recent DVD, this one focusing on hard-to-find films from the baby-faced comedian. (I also got the chance to do music for this one.)
'Shanghaied Lovers' is interesting because until now, all circulated prints were incomplete, consisting of only the film's second reel. But Dave came across the long-missing first reel in, of all places, a kinescope recording of an early Howdy Doody television broadcast. Like many early kids' shows, liberal use of old comedy films was used to fill time, and on broadcast the film happened to be Langdon's 'Shanghaied Lovers.' The image quality leaves a bit to be desired, I think, but we're fortunate to have the complete film in any form after all these years. Congratulations to Dave for bringing this together. If you'd like to see more, visit his Web site at www.looserthanloose.com.
And for the main attraction, we have 'The Sea Hawk' (1924), one of the great adventure films of the 1920s. I've been reading about this film for years but never had a chance to see it complete until preparing the music for this screening. It's a fun picture—one that lends itself to a dramatic approach for the score, so I've concocted a couple of "on the high seas" melodies to use in weaving it together during the performance. It also has exotic locales that range from Elizabethan England to Algiers, and I hope to bring out this atmosphere as well. In my opinion, it doesn't have quite the 'snap' of Douglas Fairbanks' 'The Black Pirate,' which came out a few years later and seems to be the quintessential silent-era pirate film, at least in terms of having all the cliches. We screened the Fairbanks film last January in Wilton, N.H. as part of a double-bill and it got a thunderous reaction, so I'm interested to see how 'The Seahawk' fares with an audience.
Hope to see you at 'The Seahawk.' Screening is Monday, April 5 at 7 p.m. at the Palace Theatre, 80 Hanover St., Manchester, N.H. (603) 668-5588.
Report on 'Grandma's Boy' (1922)
'Greed' (1924) coming on Monday, May 10
Report on 'When Lincoln Paid' (1913)
'Grandma's Boy' (1922) on Sunday, April 25
'When Lincoln Paid' (1913) at Keene State
'Steamboat Bill, Jr.' on Sunday, April 11
Report on 'The Sea Hawk' (1924)
Some photos from 'King of Kings' screening

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Global Borderlands
Fantasy, Violence, and Empire in Subic Bay, Philippines
Victoria Reyes
Excerpt from Introduction
"On Women's Day, we seek not only to end all violence perpetrated against women but also to address the primordial roots of violence in our country—the continued and intensifying foreign exploitation of our sovereignty and environment," proclaims Terry Ridon, president of the Kabataan Partylist, a youth-based political party in the Philippines. "Why do we say that violence emanates from foreign intervention and exploitation? Throughout history, violence has been perpetrated by invaders upon conquest of new lands. From the Spaniards to the continuing domination of the Americans, our nation has continuously been beaten and persecuted to the point of subjugation."1 His words echo through the crowd gathered in Manila, the country's capital.
Bai Ali Indayla, a Muslim Filipina activist and Kabataan Partylist nominee, concurs, saying, "Where foreign troops go, lives are lost, women are abused, and our sovereignty is raped."2
Just a few hours away, on that very same day, a group of women stand in the middle of Magsaysay Drive, part of a thickening crowd. One shows her support by wearing a heart-shaped sign around her neck that says, "US Troops Out Now!" Speaking into a microphone, she calls for the U.S. military to leave the Philippines. Behind her, someone holds two signs that read, "Philippine Territory Off Limits to GI Joe!" and "We've Suffered Enough."3
This protest is held outside the gates of the Subic Bay Freeport Zone (SBFZ), a place dedicated to attracting foreign direct investment, or economic transactions through the partial or full foreign ownership of businesses located in host countries. Freeport Zones (FZs) like Subic Bay attract these businesses by being physical places where domestic economic laws are relaxed.4 Protests like these, against foreign investment and intervention, are written into the fabric and history of the Philippines—from revolutionaries fighting against Spanish and U.S. colonialism, to the popular and nonviolent overthrow of a dictator who was seen as a puppet of the U.S. government, to demonstrations against the U.S. military in the Philippines.5 Home to the former U.S. Subic Bay Naval Base, Subic Bay has long been a lightning rod for what it means to host a foreign power.
Yet, as these women chant and hold signs decrying the U.S. military presence in the Philippines, hundreds of people mill about. They go about their daily routines, paying no attention to what is occurring just a few feet away. Everyday life continues on. Informal food vendors still gather around the FZ's entrance, selling pina (pineapple), pandasal (bread), mani (peanuts), suman (a form of sticky rice), saging (bananas), buko (coconut) juice, gum, candies, and cigarettes. Workers and visitors continue to enter the FZ, and others pass by its entrance as they make their way to the rest of the day.
This protest and the mundane of everyday life occurring alongside it are emblematic of what it means to live within a global borderland,6 a place controlled by foreigners and one where the rules that govern socioeconomic life differ from those that are outside its walls.7 These places—whether an overseas military base, a special economic zone (SEZ),8 an all-inclusive tourist resort, an embassy, a cruise ship, a port city, or a colonial trading fort—mean different things to different people. They elicit multiple meanings. For some, these places are symbols of imperialism, unequal power, and foreign penetration into domestic society, something to be protested and lobbied against so that their very presence is destroyed. For others, they represent the "good life" and are rooted in utopian imaginaries that provide status and something in which to belong and partake, whether through work or leisure. Both things are true, depending on who you ask and where you look.
This book is a cultural sociology of globalization, development, and inequality. It focuses on these seemingly contradictory claims by examining everyday experiences of people living in, working at, and visiting Subic Bay and the accompanying love, crimes, statuses, and meanings that they (re)create within it. Subic Bay is just one of many global borderlands around the world, like Acapulco, New York University Abu Dhabi, Cayman Enterprise City Special Economic Zone, and any of the 307 U.S. embassies, consulates, or diplomatic missions abroad.9
Global borderlands represent a new analytic, spatialized unit of globalization, whose activities have consequences far beyond their borders. They are not global centers of finance, although, like global cities,10 they are places where the rich depend on relatively low-wage work. Instead, they are global centers of foreign-local encounters, whether for work and/or pleasure, that lay within, rather than alongside, geopolitical borders.11 They are not "flat" spaces where global exchanges take place. Rather global borderlands are particular, spatialized configurations of inequalities that are based on differences in nationality and class. As such, inequalities are written into their very fabric. They are, by definition, spaces of high inequalities, and their physical location remains important.12 Every time you step into a place that has different sets of rules governing it, is semiautonomous from domestic laws, and is based on the interaction between the foreign and the local, you enter a global borderland. So, too, do you enter one if you are a foreigner abroad who visits a place because of its familiarity to your home land.
Global borderlands are legally plural, places where two or more legal systems coexist.13 That is, they are places where there are competing and intersecting jurisdictions over people, rules, norms, and expectations and where the rule of law increasingly depends on the context of the crime and the identities of individuals and governments.14 In this respect, global borderlands are "unsettled"15 places where sociocultural and legal strategies of action are continually negotiated and contested.
Here I use a law and society perspective that sees laws as cultural meaning-making systems16 and recognize the difference between "law on the books" and "law in action," where the former are written laws and the latter are laws as they are understood, experienced, and enacted on the ground in everyday life.17 These legally plural systems may be formal, informal, or somewhere in between. For example, if outside of these places, being gay, having uncovered hair, or wearing shorts are illegal, prohibited, or frowned upon, within them, these things may be accepted, welcomed, and/or pass unremarked on. In a similar way, international agreements governing U.S. military bases or visiting forces stipulate the when, where, why, and over whom U.S. versus domestic laws apply. So, too, are domestic economic laws relaxed in order to attract foreign businesses within SEZs like the Panama Pacifico Special Economic Area, South Korea's Yellow Sea Free Economic Zone, Egypt's North West Suez Special Economic Zone (SEZONE), or Poland's SEZ EURO-PARK MIELEC (SSE Euro-Park Mielec).
Global borderlands provide a window into broader economic and political relations and the accompanying demonstrations of power they entail. Where the foreign and the local meet, inequalities serve as their foundation. As such, whether defined in the Weberian sense of the ability to assert your will despite resistance,18 as state's infrastructural19 or despotic20 forms, as having relational, discursive, and performative dimensions,21 or as stemming from ideology, economy, military, or politics,22 differences in power shape the content and form of these global interactions. This is true if we regard global borderlands as sites where empire, "expansive, militarized, and multiethnic political organizations that significantly limit the sovereignty of the peoples and polities they conquer," and imperialism, "a strategy of political control over foreign lands that does not necessarily involve conquest, occupation, and durable rule by outside invaders,"23 thrive and take hold,24 such as when the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, or the United States flex their muscles and demand that countries meet particular conditions before being granted aid,25 or when the overt or subtle threat of military power and taking away military aid lies in the shadow of socioeconomic and political negotiations. Yet, even if you see global borderlands not as arms of empire but as the result of diplomacy, soft power, and/or hegemony in action,26 power's influence seeps into these exchanges, shaping dynamics and underlying the actions and inactions taken within and about them.
Global borderlands can be examples of what Carl Schmitt calls a "state of exception,"27 where norms are suspended and who is sovereign is the one who decides what is exceptional and what is not. They can also be representative of how Aihwa Ong describes "neoliberalism as exception"—where neoliberalism, as a political, economic, and ideological platform, has reconfigured definitions and experiences of citizenship and sovereignty around the world and where SEZs' autonomy "creates conditions of total market freedom but without . . . democratic rights."28 Foreigners and accompanying socioeconomic and political policies enact undue influence within these places precisely because domestic actors are using these policies as a way to lure foreigners and their investments into their country. As such, domestic actors do not solely decide on who and what is "exceptional."
However, within these boundaries, I've also found that power is not a one-way demonstration of domination of the foreign over the domestic29 or the rich over the poor. Rather, within the gates of these spaces, we can witness the inner workings of power as something that is relational and situational, even within places of stark structural inequality. For example, power shapes and is shaped by legal agreements: their writing and their use in resolving disputes. As Carruthers and Halliday note, "countries which appear relatively powerless over enactment nevertheless have some power to shape implementation. Groups within countries, which may be unable to block enactment, can (as in weapons of the weak) undermine or frustrate implementation" and locals have the ability to translate and adapt global laws.30
Power can also differ in degree or type and can be exercised using leverage, persuasion, and reciprocity and through social structures and arenas.31 It is wielded by the elite and the nonelite, as well as foreign and domestic actors, alike. As such, and contrary to popular understanding, we can think of global borderlands not as sites where domestic actors fully cede sovereignty to foreigners. Rather, we need to see them as places where sovereignty is contingent. It is continually negotiated and contested, long after they've been created. When seen as arms of empires, global borderlands highlight their informal forms, which is when "international control is exercised through military, economic, and other means, but there is no conquest or permanent seizure of political sovereignty and therefore no possibility of systematically enforcing a rule of difference. Informal empire is more coercive than hegemony."32 Informal empire is not about absolute control nor only about the appearance or facade of domestic sovereignty as a mask for foreign sovereignty, power, or control. Rather, I show how within these places, control is contingent; it is continually negotiated and contested by both the foreign and the local.
The notion that politics involve negotiations where the powerful may give some concessions to the less powerful is not new. Indeed, international politics, political sociology, and international law are just a few of the fields where these negotiations take center stage. Alexander Cooley,33 for example, suggests that what he calls "base politics" over U.S. overseas military bases depends on the relative bargaining positions of host country leaders and the agreement's legitimacy. Similarly, Amy Austin Holmes34 suggests that overseas military bases spark social unrest depending on two factors: whether outside threats to the host nation are high and whether they commit harm to the people they are supposed to protect. Depending on these factors, overseas U.S. military bases can provide "legitimate protection," "pernicious protection," "precautionary protection," or a "protection racket," and these roles can change across time. Given these analyses that highlight the political negotiations between powerful and less powerful countries, what is new about the approach laid out in this book? By extending and connecting this analysis of negotiations to multiple facets of life, this examination goes beyond international politics or economic laws. Second, and following Julian Go's work,35 I highlight the role of culture and meaning-making in international politics and laws, and bridge together insights from a wide array of fields that often are not in conversation with one another: from international politics and international law to scholarship on empire, economic sociology, urban sociology, and cultural sociology. Place and space are foregrounded as central aspects of these negotiations because they often revolve around global borderlands. To paint a nuanced picture of global borderlands, I offer different mechanisms—that of law, power, meaning-making, and stakes—for understanding them.
Global borderlands are sites where meanings and identities are continually reimagined and recreated.36 Whether seen as a symbol of empire or as a facet of the "good life," these places attract attention and demand explanations for their existence. Here, people draw on imaginaries of the past and present to work out their own understanding of how these sites fit into daily life.37 These understandings touch upon global, national, community, place, family, and personal issues, where legacies of the past, whether "good" or "bad," continue to reverberate and shape contemporary social life.38 Within Subic Bay, I've discovered how sovereignty, status, meanings, and place are experiential, contingent, and remade. They are not things that are taken for granted; rather, they are enacted in, around, and concerning global borderlands in everyday interactions. Uniting people's imaginations and their behavior, alongside the broader social structures that shape their lives,39 this book shows how in these spaces, power, culture, and agency do not negate one another. Rather, they are entwined and come together to reinforce existing inequalities. Focusing on how power, law, and meanings interact and operate across a wide array of contexts is one purpose of the book. Yet they are not the only mechanisms shaping the terms and outcomes of negotiations. So, too, do we have to pay attention to the role of stakes.40 That is, the relative importance of a situation to government officials is a key determinate of understanding when, where, and how negotiations play out within and around global borderlands.
One important device used to shape the stakes of a situation is the media. Traditional media (newspapers), social media (like Twitter and Facebook), and their coverage are important to study because they frame our understanding of events and the world around us.41 However, we also know that newspaper coverage is not absolute and depends on conflict, intensity of the conflict, geography, audience, day of the week, and organizational sponsors, among other factors,42 and that newspaper organizations and journalists themselves play a role in what Marilyn Lester calls "generating newsworthiness."43 Organizers use cultural artifacts (such as documentaries) to shape public debates,44 and we know that similar social problems are framed and discussed differently across countries.45 Yet not all framing efforts by social movement organizations are successful, as their relative effectiveness depends on the larger political and cultural context in which they occur,46 and whether their events are covered in the news depends on organizations' geographic proximity to news outlets, organizational capacity, and their use of demonstrations.47 Christopher Bail,48 for example, has shown how "fringe" organizations can use appeals to negative emotions—in the case he examines, fear and anger—to enter into national media dialogue and cultivate cultural change.
However, social movement organizations are not the only ones to rely on and use media attention strategically. Research in international law shows that not only do court actions shape, and are shaped by, their political environment49 but that court systems around the world use the media to selectively promote cases and also use public oral hearings as a way to increase awareness about particular cases, about legitimacy and public awareness of the court, and about transparency in the judicial branch.50 Drawing on a rational-actor model, for example, Guzman51 also argues that international law has the most influence "when stakes are relatively modest" rather than those that "receive the most attention." Here, we see that scholars define stakes, or importance, a priori.52 Yet, by definition, this approach presumes that we can hypothesize when something will be high or low stakes before it occurs. It does not account for fluidity in importance and how matters may become important from the ground up. As we'll see in the following pages, this fluidity of stakes is most visible in global borderlands. Uniting the sociology of media with work in international law, we can see how the stakes of a situation can be identified a priori as well as from the ground up, and we can interrogate the role it plays in global borderlands.
1. http://kabataanpartylist.ph/blog/2013/03/08/on-international-womens-day-youth-groups-march-against-the-rape-of-our-sovereignty-environment/ (accessed January 12, 2009).
3. I have field notes about this protest.
4. For a discussion of how social relations shape foreign direct investment at the macro level, see Bandelj (2008).
5. Calls for a Philippine nation free from foreign intervention have a long history. In 1896 Spanish colonial officials discovered the existence of Katipunan, a secret society aimed at Philippine independence from Spain through armed revolution, and in doing so, sparked the 1896–98 Philippine Revolution. Born to parents who were Chinese mestizos (of mixed ancestry), Emilio Aguinaldo was one of the key figures in the revolution and a military leader who led Philippine forces against Spain. In the fight against continued Spanish occupation, Aguinaldo allied with the United States. However, when he did so, he erroneously assumed that U.S. officials were helping the Philippine Revolutionary Army defeat Spain in Manila, and afterward, they would support and recognize an independent Philippines (Agoncillo 2012 [1990]:199; Karnow 1989:114–15). In June 1898, Aguinaldo copenned the Philippine Declaration of Independence, declaring Philippine sovereignty and the Philippines as a nation-state. However, neither Spanish nor U.S. officials recognized this declaration and proceeded to collude to end the Spanish-American War through a mock battle at Manila in an effort to transfer the Philippines from Spain to the United States and keep it out of the hands of the Filipino revolutionary government (Agoncillo 2012 [1990], chap. 11; Karnow 1989:123–25). Officials from the United States and Spain signed the 1898 Treaty of Paris, which transferred the Philippines to the United States for $20 million (for a copy of the 1898 Treaty of Paris, see http://avalon.law.yale.edu/19th_century/sp1898.asp [accessed April 24, 2017]). A month after its signing, in January 1899, Filipino revolutionaries signed the Malolos Constitution (for a copy, see http://www.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1899-malolos-constitution/ [accessed April 24, 2017]) creating the First Philippine Republic and declaring Aguinaldo its first leader. Just a few weeks later, the Philippine-American War erupted between the First Philippine Republic and the United States. It lasted for over three years and culminated in a U.S. victory over its colony. These fights against the United States and for Philippine independence continued even after the Philippines was recognized as a sovereign nation in 1946. After independence, however, the protests revolved around the continued role of the U.S. military and their power and influence in the Philippines. The protest I witnessed in Olongapo in 2013 was just one of many that have filled the streets in recent decades. For example, in 1986, anti–U.S. base protests and rhetoric helped topple the dictator Ferdinand Marcos through the nonviolent People Power Revolution and chart the rise of Corazon "Cory" Aquino. The wife of the slain Philippine senator and outspoken Marcos critic Benigno Aquino Jr., she would become the eleventh Philippine president and first female president of an Asian country. Additional anti–U.S. base protests erupted during the 1992 negotiations over renewing the Military Bases Agreement, which gave the U.S. rights to bases in the Philippines. These negotiations failed when the Philippine Senate rejected the new treaty that renewed it and ousted the U.S. military bases from the country. Yet the U.S. military never really left the Philippines. They continued to return vis-à-vis other military-related treaties. However, this time, they returned on a "visiting," nonpermanent basis, as we will see in the following chapters.
6. A more formal definition of a global borderland is a foreign-controlled, semiautonomous place of international exchange.
7. I use the term foreign-controlled or controlled by foreigners to refer to either foreign ownership or heavy foreign influence, where this influence is one of the defining characteristics of a space. For example, special economic zones are not foreign-owned per se but are created to cultivate foreign direct investment, or businesses partially or fully owned by foreigners. The Subic Bay Freeport Zone, for example, is locally governed despite the foreign businesses located within it.
8. Special economic zone is a generic term that encapsulates a "geographically delimited area administered by a single body, offering certain incentives (generally duty-free importing and streamlined customs procedures) to businesses which physically locate within the zone" (Foreign Investment Advisory Service, the Multi-Donor Investment Climate Advisory Service of the World Bank Group, Special Economic Zones: Performance, Lessons Learned and Implications for Zone Development (Washington, DC: World Bank Group, 2008), 2, http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/343901468330977533/pdf/458690
WP0Box331s0April200801PUBLIC1.pdf (accessed January 15, 2019). This includes free-trade zones, export processing zones, enterprise zones, freeports, single-factory export processing zones, and specialized zones (e.g., science parks), each with functions varying from the processing of imports that are then exported out from the country to duty-free shopping. Because they take different forms, names, and sizes in countries and these types differ by region, there is no overarching international governing body.
9. Roberts 2013.
10. Sassen 1991.
11. Although sometimes the words "frontiers" and "borderlands" are used interchangeably, because they both represent the meeting between different types of groups and acknowledge the existence of "internal" (within a specified territory) and "external" (across two territories) spaces (D'Argemir and Pujadas 1999; Donnan and Wilson 2010), frontier scholarship tends to have a one-sided, imperial focus on powers expanding into "borderless" lands (such as colonial expansion into the American Southwest) and is "outward-oriented" (for differences between frontiers and borders, see also Stoddard [1991]). In contrast, borderland researchers tend to analyze how national ideologies and understandings of "belonging" are shaped by changing political and transportation boundaries; how individuals and states are culturally, socially, and financially linked; how borderlands are sites of informal and formal consumption, and cross-national organizational cooperation; how borderland or transnational identities and cosmopolitanism are created; and how borderlands are sites of contestation, negotiation, and meaning-making (Adelman and Aron 1999; Pisani 2013; Rippl et al. 2010; Rutherford 2011; Tirres 2008–10; Widdis 2010). Baud and van Schendel (1997) call for the need to examine the historical and comparative development of borderlands. They divide borderlands spatially (the border heartland, intermediate borderland, and the outer borderland) and temporally (infant, adolescent, adult, declining, and defunct borderlands), and call for the need to more clearly examine the overlapping political, economic, and cultural networks within and around borderlands. Other scholars take a less optimistic view, suggesting that both border patrols and residents on either side of the border can place people into wanted and unwanted categories based on nationality, race/ethnicity, and class (Casas-Cortes, Cobarrubias, and Pickles 2012; Helleiner 2012; Heyman 2009; Sundberg 2008). To these scholars, geopolitical borderlands are sites of institutionalized inequality, are rooted in national boundaries, or form the symbolic identities of people living in two cultures (Alvarez 1995; Anzaldua 1999). Still others focus on the legal ambiguity of, and forces that shape, borderlands (Dudziak and Volpp 2005; Fahmy 2013, Tirres 2008–10). However, precisely because these researchers focus on geopolitical borders or cities along these borders, they tend to ignore bounded sites within the state that share similar characteristics. I extend this research by documenting the very similar borderland dynamics occur within the confines of a nation-state. In analyzing global borderlands, I draw on literatures that emphasize how these borderlands act as sites where people of groups interact and how they maintain and reproduce inequalities through social and economic relations as well as cultural meanings.
12. In defining global borderlands as semiautonomous, foreign-controlled geographic locations geared toward international exchange, I also draw on Sassen's (2000, 2003 [2000], 2006) work on "analytic borderlands," which are a "formation of particular types of territoriality assembled out of 'national' and 'global' elements, each individual or aggregate instance evincing distinct spatio-temporal features" (Sassen 2006:386). Analytic borderlands are "assemblages" of both the national and the local. I similarly emphasize the need to identify places, to understand how they are rooted in historical localized processes, to examine their "social thickness," and to understand the interconnected (that is, not mutually exclusive) and partial nature of the global and the national, and the transformation of states' and people's territory, authority, and rights. However, my work deviates from Sassen's in important ways. First, I focus on foreign-controlled spaces within a sovereign nation-state. Global borderlands are specific places of semi-autonomy based on nationality. Second, my emphasis on place is rooted in specific geographic locations and their ties to local context. Although the analytic borderlands of digitized finance are "inserted in the physical space of national territory, they may have little to do with the surrounding context" (Sassen 2006:394). Within global borderlands, the country, city, and immediate community in which they are located, the local history, and the historic and contemporary relationship between the host nation-state and foreign visitors' countries of origin are all important. This grounding in history is necessary to understand the complex interactions that occur within these spaces and to understand the implications these interactions have for broader state-to-state relationships. For example, it is important that the SBFZ's buildings are former U.S. naval structures and that it is located in Olongapo City rather than in another Philippine city. The relationship between the U.S. Navy and Olongapo is distinct from the relationship between Subic Bay Naval Base's sister base, Clark Air Force Base, and its surrounding community, Angeles City. I argue that this is, in part, because of the greater integration of the U.S. Navy with Olongapo. The Subic Bay Naval Base employed almost four times as many people as did Clark, and the navy was integrated into the Olongapo City political dynasty of the Gordons—the first mayor of Olongapo City was the son of an American Marine (Bowen 1986). Finally, whereas Sassen (2006) emphasizes analytic borderlands' cross-national connections, the networked nature of global borderlands is an empirical question. In analyzing the spaces of "global borderlands," I follow previous work on how place, culture, and economy interact with global and national processes. However, I extend this literature by examining how these interactions and processes occur within foreign-controlled spaces that are geared toward international exchange.
13. Berman 2009; Griffiths 1986; Merry 1988; Michaels 2009; Tamanaha 2007.
14. See Auyero (2007) for a different understanding of what he calls the "gray zone of state power, . . . where the obscure and obscured actions of local politicos, grassroots brokers, and cops meet and mesh in seemingly coordinated ways," and how "the National Guard took special care when it came to protecting stores like the French-owned Carrefour or the American-owned Norte" (81)—likely because of how the businesses' foreign ownership relate to politics, the "geography of policing" (85), and the "size of markets, police (under) protection and community and political relations" (144).
15. See Swidler (1986) for settled versus unsettled lives and the role that culture plays in determining what she calls peoples' "strategies of action."
16. For examples of how this plays out in human rights laws, see Bunting (2005) and Merry (2003). For work on legal pluralism, jurisdictional politics, culture, and empire, see Benton (2002) and Benton and Ross (2013).
17. For example, see Stinchcombe (2005).
18. Weber 1978 [1922].
19. According to Mann (1984), infrastructural power of the state is "the capacity of the state to actually penetrate civil society, and to implement logistically political decisions throughout the realm" (189) or "the power of the state to penetrate and centrally co-ordinate the activities of civil society through its own infrastructure" (190).
20. According to Mann (1984), despotic power of the state is "the range of actions which the elite is empowered to undertake without routine, institutionalized negotiation with civil society groups" (188) or "the power by the state elite itself over civil society" (190).
21. Reed 2013.
22. For example, see Mann (2012 [1986]):1–33; see Nye (2004) for differences between hard and soft power; see Gramsci (1989 [1971]) and Lears (1985) on cultural hegemony; and see Gaventa (1982) and Lukes (2005 [1974]) on the three faces or dimensions of power.
23. Steinmetz 2014:79.
24. For example, see Go (2011), Johnson (2004), and Lutz (2005, 2006, 2009) for overseas U.S. military bases as arms of U.S. empire.
25. For example, see Babb and Carruthers (2008).
26. See Cooley (2008) for one example of why he thinks traditional understandings of U.S. bases as part of a U.S. empire miss key negotiations; instead, he refers to these negotiations as "base politics."
27. Schmitt's (1988 [1922]) work is on states of exception, where norms are suspended and who is sovereign is the one who decides what is exceptional and what is not; Subic is not a state of exception, per se. It is a site where a set of different norms and laws are enforced, though government officials did designate it as a place that is subject to different (not no) regulations. See also Agamben (2005).
28. Ong 2006:108–9; see Chen (1995) and Cross (2010), who contend that workers experience these zones as a continuation of the informal labor processes that occur outside them.
29. Similar to McMahon (1999), who discusses how "influence moved in a multi-directional rather than a unidirectional manner" in Southeast Asia between Western powers and indigenous, Southeast Asian ones (5).
30. Carruthers and Halliday 2006:573.
31. For example, see Halliday (2009).
32. Steinmetz 2014:84–85. In showing how sovereignty is contingent and a process, I draw on Adams and Steinmetz (2015), who examine sovereignty as a cultural process and focus on the complexity of agency.
33. Cooley 2008.
34. Holmes 2014.
35. Following, for example, Go (2008).
36. Ralph (2014) shows how dreams and aspirations similarly shape meaning in a Chicago neighborhood. Global borderlands are based on these competing images and are places where these negotiations and contested symbolism are most visible; see Benedicto (2008) for his description of Manila as a city of contradictions and sites where "dreams of being elsewhere come to life in myriad ways and are set against the intense differences that mark and cut the urban landscape" (47)—that is, as "desired elsewhere" or "dreaming of elsewhere" (58–59), where Manila (and people within it) is "determined to reconstitute itself as a 'global city' within the third-world city, sequestered from the city but open to the world" (55). See Tadiar (2004) on how "imagination, as culturally organized social practice, is an intrinsic, constitutive part of political economy" (4). See Burawoy et al. (2000) and Gille and Ó Riain (2002) for the call to conduct global ethnography, which consists of analyzing "global forces, connections, and imaginations" (28). See Tsing (2010) for what she describes as the "friction" that propels globalization forward.
37. See Freeman (2000), Mills (2001 [1999]), Ong (2010), Salzinger (2003), and Wolfe (1992) on gendered imaginations and labor.
38. See Aneesh (2015) as an example of how working in call centers in India that cater to people in the United States and the United Kingdom shapes the social lives of their employees.
39. Similar to Brennan (2004), Frye (2012), and Salzinger (2003), among others.
40. See Norton (2014) on his argument that social situations should be the unit of analysis when studying culture.
41. For example, see Gamson and Wolfsfeld (1993); Lester (1980).
42. Myers and Caniglia 2004; Oliver and Myers 1999.
43. Lester 1980.
44. Vasi et al. 2015.
45. Benson and Saguy 2005.
46. For example, see McCammon et al. (2007).
47. Andrews and Caren 2010.
48. Bail 2012.
49. Vanberg 2001.
50. Krehbiel 2016; Staton 2006.
51. Guzman 2002:1822.
52. For example, see Staton (2006).


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Maine swim coach on pool deck despite medical setbacks
BANGOR, Maine (AP) � A college swimming coach has endured a quadruple bypass after a heart attack, removal of cancerous tumors from his colon and wrists, and the amputation of part of his leg.
But Husson University's Butch Babin is still on the pool deck.
Babin, 57, returned to coaching at the Maine college part time in October and then resumed full-time coaching after Thanksgiving, the Bangor Daily News reported.
Using a wheelchair while his leg heals doesn't affect his coaching, he said.
�I need to be here for the kids and myself,� Babin said. �It�s very important to let the kids know I wasn�t going to let this beat me."
Swimmers are inspired by his dedication and spirit.
Sophomore Kayla Redman, of Waterville, called him �amazing� and �awesome.� Senior Kelsey Poland, of Levant, called him an �inspiration.�
�He�s dedicated. To be here means a lot to us,� said sophomore Erin Aucoin, of Brewer.
Babin acknowledged that there have been times when he was discouraged by the challenges during several nightmarish years of health problems, which were capped by arterial stents last spring to improve blood flow to his heart and flesh-eating bacteria that led to the amputation last fall.
�But here I am, thanks to the good people around me and my positive attitude. All the support has helped me stay positive,� Babin said.
Assistant coach Robby MacDonald said Babin is invested in the success of the team and the development of the team members.
�Unquestionably, coach Babin has displayed great courage and great resiliency,� MacDonald said. �He has been very inspirational. He always comes in with a healthy, positive frame of mind."


Home→Uncategorized→This is a well written and food for thought!
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This is a well written and food for thought!
Use an iPad. I use it a lot. I have a red icon with a N and three lines on it. It's the Apple News ap. It gives me news from a wide variety of sources from ABC, Bloomberg, CNN, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal, just to name a few. I've become acquainted with Vox, which I'd never heard of before. I can add in my own electronic subscriptions and I subscribe to The Morning Call and The New York Times. Headlines show up for all of these and I click to get to the entire article from there.
I've been canvassing for our local democratic candidates lately. I've gotten aquatinted with some neighborhoods close to me. I had no idea the mobile home had become so popular or that it had become the home of choice for so many.
As I canvas, of course I'm talking to people. Surprisingly, I find out I'm missing news. I'm missing the news that trump opponents are behaving badly all across the nation. They are angry mobs. I'm missing the news about manufacturing jobs that have returned to America. I'm missing news that the economy has suddenly and dramatically improved, just since trump took office.
Company, the only auto company we didn't bail out, may be about to go under because of trump's tariffs.
We live in an era of dueling realities. I urge you to turn off cable news and use that little red button with the N. That cable subscription may be your highest bill! Cut the cord. Add your own subscriptions. Cast a wide net.
One of us is being duped but it's destroying the country for all of us.


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Uncensored & Faster Gaming Experience with the Ultimate VPN
The popularity and relevance of online gaming is undoubtedly on the rise. The gaming industry, according to a new report, is producing addicts at a faster rate than any other industry in 2016. It's easy to see why. It's not just competitive, but also profitable. However, there is one hack that puts gamer over the edge that not all of them are aware of. It is the Virtual Private Network. This is your ultimate guide to why and how to use VPN for an enhanced gaming experience.
Why VPN provides the ultimate gaming experience?
"All the German versions of popular games like Counter Strike and Left 4 Dead censor out the violence", says Johannes Kjems, a German e-sports journalist and event organizer. "The crucial zombie's blood in Left 4 Dead is replaced with black oily substance. Can you believe it? And, in Counter Strike the characters never die. They just peacefully surrender when they have been pummeled with enough bullets. It absolutely ruins the gaming experience." These are not solitary events. Gaming experience, depending on region and geographical boundaries, can be dangerously altered from each other. This is where a technology like VPN comes in. VPN can break free from these restrictions by selecting a different country location where the game is available without alterations. In most cases, changing the location to USA works best as these games are native to the region.
Buy New Games First
Besides having access to uncensored gaming experience, you can also enjoy the latest versions of the game that might not be available in you region. If a new title of the game has released in, say the UK, and you are surfing in India, you can simply use a VPN with an IP address in the UK and purchase the game online. Lime VPN has 6000+ IP addresses all around the globe which makes choosing suitable, fast networks easy.
Ping Time Reduced
As the seasoned gamer slowly find out, ping time is a real burden. "Ping time is the time it takes to send as well as receive a packet of data between two network devices, such as computers on a network." For detailed process of reducing it to have uninterrupted and faster gaming experience, Visit here
Private Servers can improve lag issues
As a gamer, you must be acutely aware of two things. First, people don't appreciate being called a nerd. Second, in-game lagging is just the worst thing ever. The patience runs low, and the competitiveness can be compromised. To avoid that completely, a personal VPN works wonders. There are multiple ways a VPN protects the sanctity of the game. For example LimeVPN provides with the fastest VPN by rerouting the gamers' link to a network well designed for speed. In addition to this, the VPN also prevents the Internet Service Provider from restricting gamers on sending or receiving large amounts of data by citing the usual reason of "you are exceeding your bandwidth limits".
Personal information and credentials secured
Gamers are all too familiar with cyber crime, may it be in in-game purchases or in form of identity thefts. Personal VPN like LimeVPN has a committed system of preventing financial and personal details of gamer. LimeVPN encrypts and privatizes the data that is provided online by the user and safeguards it.
How does VPN enhance gaming experience?
There are a plenty pragmatic ways in which VPN enhances the gaming experience, some of which are listed above. How does a VPN achieve this? Some of the ways in which LimeVPN has been known to add value by clients is via unblocking DLC content and geo-restricted MMORPG & MMO games. It is also known to provide the user with access to Xbox live and allow them to play timely game titles. Along with providing 6000+ IP addresses at the user's disposal, LimeVPN is also known for linking the gamers to eight gaming server locations in the world. One of the most exclusive ways in which LimeVPN ensures safety and competitive climate is by securing the gamers against DDoS attacks.
"VPN is absolutely the most pragmatic way for gamers to focus on the essentials. A number of professional CS and Hearth Stone players whom I have worked with in the past are known to swear by it", concludes Johannes Kjems.


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Favolaschia aurantiaca är en svampart som beskrevs av Singer 1974. Favolaschia aurantiaca ingår i släktet Favolaschia och familjen Mycenaceae.   Inga underarter finns listade i Catalogue of Life.

Källor

Basidiesvampar
aurantiaca

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


There is no happy ending here and I doubt there ever will be if we do not live up to our responsibilities to make the world a better place for everyone. I suspect that there is a lot of the author's own life here but even if there is not, I believe we can all agree that we do not yet live in a world that is free of racism and homophobia. It is surprising that we have to be reminded of that. If we do have to be reminded, I am glad that it is Craig Gidney's powerful and beautiful prose.


In this study, we evaluated the effect of Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 on skin hydration in human dermal fibroblasts and in hairless mice. In Hs68 cells, L. plantarum HY7714 not only increased the serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT) mRNA level, but also decreased the ceramidase mRNA level. In order to confirm the hydrating effects of L. plantarum HY7714 in vivo , we orally administered vehicle or L. plantarum HY7714 at a dose of 1 × 10 9 CFU/day to hairless mice for 8 weeks. In hairless mice, L. plantarum HY7714 decreased UVB-induced epidermal thickness. In addition, we found that L. plantarum HY7714 administration suppressed the increase in transepidermal water loss and decrease in skin hydration, which reflects barrier function fluctuations following UV irradiation. In particular, L. plantarum HY7714 administration increased the ceramide level compared with that in the UVB group. In the experiment on SPT and ceramidase mRNA expressions, L. plantarum HY7714 administration improved the reduction in SPT mRNA levels and suppressed the increase in ceramidase mRNA levels caused by UVB in the hairless mice skins. Collectively, these results suggest that L. plantarum HY7714 can be a potential candidate for preserving skin hydration levels against UV irradiation.
Exposure to ultraviolet radiation (UVR) cannot be avoided on Earth. Prolonged exposure to UVR is dangerous for human health. Photodamage, caused by single or repeated exposure to UVR, is recognized as the initial step of photocarcinogenesis  . Skin damage by UV irradiation can be subdivided into acute and chronic photodamage: (i) Acute exposure is dangerous to the skin, causing DNA damage and connective tissue degradation; and (ii) accumulated damage by chronic exposure causes premature skin aging (photoaging) [10 , 12] . UVR causes direct damage to cellular DNA, tissue inflammation, immune response suppression, and free radical formation with the consequent oxidation of proteins, lipids, and DNA [28 , 33] . UV light is divided into UVA, UVB, and UVC depending on the wavelength range. UVC is absorbed by the ozone layer, whereas UVA and UVB pass through the ozone layer and can affect the skin [22 , 31 , 35] . UV exposure causes several skin diseases, including skin cancer and premature aging. UVA and UVB are believed to initiate these processes. In particular, UVB irradiation is closely related with photoaging, which is characterized by coarse and fine wrinkles, dryness, laxity, pigmentation, and increased skin thickness  . UVB is mostly absorbed by the cellular components in the epidermis, causing dermal remodeling mediators such as cytokines or bacterial components to diffuse from the epidermis to the dermis and stimulate the production of elastin and glycosaminoglycans  .
Probiotics are defined as "living microorganisms that, when administered in adequate amounts, confer health benefits on the host"  . Most studies on probiotics focus on Lactobacillus spp. Lactobacilli, lactic acid bacteria associated with fermented foods, contribute mainly to raw food preservation via acidification, along with contributing to product characteristics such as flavor and texture  . The intake of probiotics gives us preventive-curative effects against diseases, including intestinal dysfunctions, gastrointestinal infections, inflammatory bowel disease, and, possibly, colon cancer  . Recently, photoprotective effects by specific nutrients have been demonstrated to be successful in preventing certain damages caused by UVR [6 , 26] . Specifically, probiotics consumption has been considered as a new strategy in systemic photoprotection. Dietary supplements containing a specific probiotic with several natural plant components protected against the early damage induced by UV exposure, by regulating immune cells and inflammatory cytokines in humans  . In addition, the positive effects of probiotic consumption on atopic eczema and the re-establishment of skin homeostasis after UV irradiation suggest a gut-skin axis that can be sensitively modulated by therapeutic means [1 , 36] .
A specific strain of lactic acid bacteria has been shown to have anti-aging effects on wrinkle formation and to improve skin elasticity in hairless mice  . However, only a few studies have been designed to determine the effects and mechanisms of probiotics on epidermal hydration of the UVB-irradiated skin. Thus, the present study was designed to investigate the protective effects of lactic acid bacteria on epidermal hydration, both in vitro and in vivo .
The four strains of lactic acid bacteria (HY7714, L. plantarum HY7714 (Stock No. HY7714); N27, L. plantarum 27 (Stock No. N27); L51, L. gasseri 51 (Stock No. L51); and L82, L. gasseri 82 (Stock No. L82)) used in the present study were isolated from the feces of healthy infants or from breast milk. For the in vitro assay, these strains were inoculated in de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (BD, USA) broth, cultured at 37℃ for 20 h, harvested using centrifugation (1,500 × g , 10 min), washed twice with sterile phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), and resuspended to a final concentration of 1 × 10 10 CFU/ml. The bacteria were then heat-treated (100℃, 15 min) and stored at -20℃ until further use. For the in vivo assay, L. plantarum HY7714 was harvested as described above and resuspended at a final concentration of 1 × 10 9 CFU/ml in sterile PBS.
Hs68 human dermal fibroblasts were purchased from the American Type Culture Collection (Manassas, USA) and were cultured as monolayers in Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing 10% fetal bovine serum at 37℃ in a 5% CO 2 incubator. Hs68 cells were cultured in a 24-well plate (5 × 10 4 cells/well) for 24 h. The cells were then treated with several lactic acid bacteria at a density of 5 × 10 7 CFU/ml for 24 h. The cell culture medium was collected, and hyaluronic acid was quantified using an enzyme immunoassay kit. For mRNA assay, Hs68 cells were cultured in a 6-well plate (2 × 10 5 cells/well) for 24 h. The levels of mRNA were measured after the cells were treated with HY7714 at 2 × 10 9 CFU/well for 24 h.
Five-week-old female hairless mice were purchased from Central Lab Animal Inc. (Seoul, Korea). The mice were maintained in climate-controlled quarters (at 24℃, 55% relative humidity) with a 12 h light/12 h dark cycle. The animal protocol used in this study was reviewed and approved based on ethical procedures and scientific care by the Ethics Committee at the R&BD Center of the Korea Yakult Company Ltd. (KYIACUC-2014-00024-Y). The mice were divided into control group ( n = 8), Con; UVB-only treatment group ( n = 8), UVB; and UVB plus L. plantarum HY7714 treatment group ( n = 8), HY7714. The mice in the control and UVB-only treatment groups were orally administered 100 µl of PBS. The mice in the UVB plus L. plantarum HY7714 treatment group were orally administered 100 µl of PBS containing 1 × 10 9 CFU of L. plantarum HY7714/mouse daily, 1 h prior to UVB irradiation.
The UVB radiation source emitted wavelengths with a peak emission at 302 nm using Ultraviolet Crosslinkers (Upland, USA). The backs of the mice were exposed to UVB radiation three times per week for 8 weeks. The starting dose of UVB radiation was 25 mJ/cm 2 (1 minimal erythematous dose (MED)) and was increased weekly by 1 MED (25 mJ/cm 2 ) until it reached 4 MED (100 mJ/cm 2 ), which was maintained for 8 weeks. Body weights were recorded weekly. Replica preparation was performed on the 8th week of radiation exposure.
The dorsal skin samples (1 × 0.4 cm 2 ) removed at week 10 were fixed in 10% buffered formalin for at least 24 h, progressively dehydrated in solutions containing an increasing percentage of ethanol (70%, 80%, 95%, and 100% (v/v)), embedded in paraffin under vacuum, and sectioned at 4 µm thickness. Hematoxylin and Eosin (H&E) staining was used for routine examination of the tissues and quantification of epidermal hyperplasia. The thickness of the epidermis was measured at three randomly selected locations per slide by using an optical microscope (Leica DMLB, USA) with a magnification of 200×.
Skin hydration and TEWL were measured after irradiation. Skin hydration was measured using a CM 820 corneometer (Courage & Khazaka Electronic GmbH, Germany) and was automatically calculated and expressed in arbitrary units (AU), following the method described by Blichmann  . TEWL was measured quantitatively using a Tewameter (TM300; Courage & Khazaka) and was automatically calculated and expressed in g/h/m 2  . Skin hydration and TEWL were measured on the back of the mice in a room with standardized temperature and humidity conditions (24℃ and 55% relative humidity).
After 6 weeks, all mice were sacrificed by cervical dislocation. For separation of the epidermis and dermis, whole skin samples (1 × 2 cm 2 ) were incubated at 4℃ overnight in dispase II prepared in PBS. The epidermis sheet was then isolated by scraping with forceps.
Total RNA was extracted from the dorsal skin tissues and isolated using the Qiagen RNA Prep Kit (Qiagen, USA), according to the manufacturer's instructions. From each sample, 2 µg of RNA was reverse-transcribed using MuLV reverse transcriptase, 1 mM dNTP, and 0.5 µg/µl oligo (dT12-18).
Real-time quantitative PCR was performed in 96-well plates by using the Applied Biosystems (Foster City, USA) Prism 7500 Sequence Detection System; each 20 µl reaction mixture consisted of 10 µl of SYBR Green Master Mix (Applied Biosystems) and 0.8 µl of 10 pmol/l forward and reverse primers specific for mouse SPT, ceramidase, and GAPDH. The primer sequences were as follows: mouse SPT, 5'-TACGACAGCCTCTTGCTGGT-3' (forward), 5'-GGAGAATTGGCCTTTGGAAG-3' (reverse), gene accession number NM011479; mouse ceramidase, 5'-TCCGTGATGGCTAAGGACAC-3' (forward), 5'-ACAGAAGTCCCGGAGGAA-3' (reverse), gene accession number NM175731; and mouse glyceraldehyde 3'-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), 5'-TTGTCAAGCTCATTTCCTGGTATG-3' (forward), 5'-GCCAT GTAGGCCATGAGGTC-3' (reverse). Human PCR primers used in this study were purchased from Applied Biosystems Corp.: SPT: Hs00370543_m1; ACER1 (alkaline ceramidase 1): Hs00370322_m1; and keratin 5: Hs00361185_m1. Thermal cycling was initiated by denaturation at 95℃ for 10 min, followed by 40 cycles of 95℃ for 30 sec, 60℃ for 30 sec, and 72℃ for 30 sec. For assessment of relative quantities, the gene amounts for SPT and ceramidase were normalized first to that of a housekeeping gene, GAPDH or keratin 5, and then to that in the normal control group (Con).
The epidermis samples were rinsed in ice-cold PBS (0.02 mol/l, pH 7.0-7.2) to remove the excess dispase II thoroughly and homogenized on ice in 600 µl of PBS by using a bead homogenizer. The samples were then subjected to two freeze-thaw cycles for further degradation of cell membranes, and centrifuged for 5 min at 5,000 × g . The supernatants were collected and assayed immediately, or stored at -20℃.
The concentrations of the homogenates were determined using a protein assay kit (Bio-Rad Corp. USA). A 96-well plate was coated with 10 µg/well homogenates and incubated overnight at 4℃. After washing, the wells were blocked with 200 µl/well assay diluent (BD Biosciences, Pharmingen, CA, USA) and incubated with monoclonal anti-ceramide antibody for 2 h at room temperature. Ceramide levels were visualized using 3,3',5,5'-tetramethylbenzidine solution after hybridization with a horseradish-peroxidase-conjugated secondary antibody.
The contents of hyaluronic acid and filaggrin in the skin samples were measured with a hyaluronic acid ELISA kit (Echelon Bioscience Inc, USA) and filaggrin ELISA kit (DLdevelop, Wuxi, China), according to the manufacturer's instructions by using epidermis homogenates.
Where appropriate, data are expressed as the mean ± SEM, and the Student's t -test was used for multiple statistical comparisons. A probability value of p < 0.05 was used as the criterion for statistical significance.
We first examined the effect of different lactic acid bacteria, isolated from feces of healthy infants or from breast milk, on hyaluronic acid production in Hs68 cells. In the hyaluronic acid production assay, none of the strains of lactic acid bacteria showed significant effect on hyaluronic acid production in Hs68 cells when compared with that in the Con group (68.0 ± 2.0 ng/ml) ( Fig. 1 A). Next, we investigated the effects of the different lactic acid bacteria on SPT and ceramidase mRNA levels in Hs68 cells. L. plantarum HY7714 administration increased STP mRNA levels by 2.74-fold ( p < 0.05, Fig. 1 B) and decreased ceramidase mRNA levels by 0.47-fold ( p < 0.05, Fig. 1 C) compared with that in the Con group, whereas the other lactic acid bacteria had no effects on both STP and ceramidase mRNA levels.
Effects of probiotics on hyaluronic acid, SPT, and ceramidase mRNA levels in Hs68 cells.	The cells were treated with several probiotics for 24 h. (A) Culture supernatants were harvested, and the content of hyaluronic acid was determined by ELISA. (B) Human SPT and (C) ceramidase mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. Data are representative of two independent experiments. HY7714, L. plantarum HY7714; N27, L. plantarum 27; L51, L. gasseri 51; L82, L. gasseri 82. * indicates significant differences (p < 0.05) between the control group and the probiotic-treated group.
In order to confirm the hydrating effects of L. plantarum HY7714 in vivo , we orally administered either L. plantarum HY7714 at a dose of 1 × 10 9 CFU/day or the vehicle alone to hairless mice for 8 weeks. The effects of oral L. plantarum HY7714 administration on histological alterations produced in the epidermis by UV exposure were studied in skin sections of hairless mice. An increase in epidermal thickness was observed in the UVB group (78.9 ± 6.9 µm) compared with that in the Con group (29.3 ± 1.3 µm) ( p < 0.001). However, the epidermal thickness induced by UVB was decreased (50.3 ± 4.5 µm) in the L. plantarum HY7714 group ( p < 0.01, Fig. 2 ).
Effect of oral administration of L. plantarum HY7714 on epidermal thickness in UVB-irradiated hairless mice skin.	(A) Hematoxylin and eosin stained skin tissue sections. Images are representative of results from eight tissue samples (magnification, 200×). (B) Bars represent the mean of epidermal thickness (µm), as calculated from eight animals (three measurements/section). Results are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 8). Con, the control group; UVB, the group treated with UVB alone; HY7714, the group treated with UVB and L. plantarum HY7714. # indicates significant difference (p < 0.001) between the control group and the group treated with UVB alone. ** indicates significant difference (p < 0.01) between the group treated with UVB alone and the group treated with L. plantarum HY7714.
Since oral L. plantarum HY7714 administration reduced UVB-induced epidermal thickness, we further evaluated the effects of oral L. plantarum HY7714 administration on skin hydration and TEWL in hairless mice. UVB irradiation induced a decrease in skin hydration (19.5 ± 3.5 AU) and an increase in TEWL (11.6 ± 1.0 g/h/m 2 ), compared with that in the Con group (43.3 ± 9.2 AU and 4.04 ± 0.42 g/h/m 2 , respectively). The L. plantarum HY7714 group improved reduced skin hydration by UVB (31.1 ± 1.3 AU, p < 0.001, Fig. 3 A) and suppressed UVB-induced TEWL (7.72 ± 0.40 g/h/m 2 , p < 0.01, Fig. 3 B).
Effect of oral administration of L. plantarum HY7714 on skin hydration and TEWL in UVB-irradiated hairless mice skin.	(A) Skin hydration and (B) TEWL. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 8). Con, the control group; UVB, the group treated with UVB alone; HY7714, the group treated with UVB and L. plantarum HY7714. # indicates significant difference (p < 0.001) between the control group and the group treated with UVB alone. *** and ** indicate significant differences (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) between the group treated with UVB alone and the group treated with L. plantarum HY7714.
The effects of UVB irradiation on ceramide, hyaluronic acid, and filaggrin levels were investigated in the back of hairless mice. UVB reduced the level of ceramide (0.84 ± 0.10 OD) compared with that in the Con group (1.00 ± 0.02 OD, Fig. 4 A), but did not have any effect on the levels of hyaluronic acid and filaggrin. The L. plantarum HY7714 group showed an increased level of ceramide (1.15 ± 0.03 OD) compared with that in the UVB group, but showed no difference in other indices ( Figs. 4 B and 4 C).
Effect of oral administration of L. plantarum HY7714 on ceramide, hyaluronic acid, and filaggrin expression in UVB-irradiated hairless mice skin.	(A) Ceramide, (B) hyaluronic acid, and (C) filaggrin. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 8). The epidermis was homogenized, and the expression of ceramide, hyaluronic acid, and filaggrin in the homogenates was determined by ELISA. Con, control group; UVB, group treated with UVB alone; HY7714, group treated with UVB and L. plantarum HY7714. # indicates significant difference (p < 0.001) between the control group and the group treated with UVB alone. *** and ** indicate significant differences (p < 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively) between the group treated with UVB alone and the group treated with L. plantarum HY7714.
We confirmed the effects of oral L. plantarum HY7714 administration on the SPT and ceramidase mRNA levels in hairless mice. UVB irradiation decreased the STP mRNA level by 0.23 ± 0.02 times and increased the ceramidase mRNA level by 1.64 ± 0.19 times, compared with that in the Con group ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively). Interestingly, oral administration of L. plantarum HY7714 rescued the STP mRNA level by 0.57 ± 0.10 times ( Fig. 5 A) and suppressed the ceramidase mRNA level by 0.99 ± 0.14 times, compared with the Con group ( p < 0.05 and p < 0.05, respectively) ( Fig. 5 B).
Effect of oral administration of L. plantarum HY7714 on SPT and ceramidase mRNA levels in UVB-irradiated hairless mice skin.	(A) SPT and (B) ceramidase. Mouse SPT and ceramidase mRNA levels were determined by real-time PCR. Total RNA was prepared from the epidermis of hairless mice. Data are presented as the mean ± SEM (n = 8). Con, the control group; UVB, the group treated with UVB alone; HY7714, the group treated with UVB and L. plantarum HY7714. # indicates significant difference (p < 0.05) between the control group and the group treated with UVB alone. * indicates significant difference (p < 0.05) between the group treated with UVB alone and the group treated with L. plantarum HY7714.
Probiotics can provide benefits to the human skin by modulating immune and inflammatory responses as well as by having a positive influence on the human gut or dermal fibroblasts [13 , 21 , 38] . In animal studies, oral administration of probiotics can modulate inflammatory immune responses to alleviate allergic and inflammatory diseases  . A study on the gut–skin relationship reported that phenols produced by the gut bacteria accumulate in other organs, including the skin, in hairless mice and induce a skin disorder  . Thus, we hypothesized that oral administration of strain HY7714 may provide benefits to skin by having a positive influence on the intestinal microflora.
Based on the preliminary screening experiments for determining the levels of hyaluronic acid, SPT mRNA, and ceramidase mRNA in Hs68 cells, as shown in Fig. 1 , L. plantarum HY7714 was selected as a candidate for consecutive studies among the various probiotics isolated from the feces of healthy infants or from breast milk. In a sequential UVB-irradiated hairless mice study, we investigated the dietary effects of L. plantarum HY7714 on epidermal hydration in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. In hairless mice, oral intake of L. helveticus -fermented milk whey decreased the TEWL and prevented the onset of sodium dodecyl sulfate-induced dermatitis  . It is also reported that oral intake of L. rhamnosus decreased the TEWL and skin inflammation  . These findings were consistent with our results.
Next, we investigated possible mechanisms underlying the effects of L. plantarum HY7714 on ceramide, hyaluronic acid, and filaggrin expression-properties intimately related to skin hydration. L. plantarum HY7714 administration induced ceramide expression as compared with that in the UVB group. Ceramides play a key role in maintaining the structural integrity of the epidermal barrier and epidermal hydration [8 , 14 , 34] . Epidermal ceramides are essential not only for protection against desiccation, but also for protection against microbial infections  . The higher susceptibility to pathogenic infections and various skin disorders like atopic dermatitis or harlequin ichthyosis can be explained by reduced ceramide levels [2 , 39] . In chronic UV-irradiated skin of hairless rat, decreased ceramide levels were observed and attributed to abnormal sphingomyelinase  . It is also reported that high ceramidase expression causes a decrease in ceramide levels in the epidermis  . These findings were consistent with our results. Ceramide levels are modulated by a balance between the activity and expression of generating enzymes and degrading enzymes such as SPT in the de novo synthesis pathway and ceramidase, respectively [11 , 23] . We investigated the effects of L. plantarum HY7714 on SPT and ceramidase mRNA expression in the epidermis. The mRNA expression level does not represent the production amount of specific proteins from mRNA. However, reported studies showed that the mRNA expression level of SPT and ceramidase correlated consistently with their protein level [19 , 27] . Thus, we investigated SPT and ceramidase mRNA expression in hairless mice. L. plantarum HY7714 administration suppressed the decrease in STP mRNA expression and the increase in ceramidase mRNA expression induced by UVB irradiation. Therefore, our results indicate that L. plantarum HY7714 can alleviate the damage of skin barrier function by regulating ceramide-metabolizing enzymes.
Collectively, we determined the UV-protective effects of L. plantarum HY7714, which decreases UVB-induced epidermal thickness, skin hydration loss, and TEWL, as observed in the UVB-irradiated hairless mice model. This could be mediated by an increased de novo synthesis of ceramides due to higher SPT mRNA expression, as well as a decreased degradation due to lower ceramidase mRNA expression. Further studies revealing the molecular mechanisms of the HY7714 effects on skin protection are needed.
 J Ra , DE Lee , SH Kim , JW Jeong , HK Ku , TY Kim , ID Choi , W Jeung , JH Sim , and YT Ahn , "Effect of Oral Administration of Lactobacillus plantarum HY7714 on Epidermal Hydration in Ultraviolet B-Irradiated Hairless Mice", Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology, vol. 12, no. 12, Dec 2014.


text:
Q: Скрипт для Windows Как сделать так, чтобы при нажимании какой-либо клавиши открывался конкретный файл на компе?

A: Вы можете сделать "Быстрый вызов" из ярлыка на любой файл. Главное чтоб это был "Ярлык")
А скрипт, смотря на каком языке) там нужно ещё отслеживать событие нажатия клавищ)

A: *

*Создаете к файлу ярлык.

*На ярлыке щелкаете правой клавишей, выбираете "Свойства".

*В "свойствах" есть поле "Быстрый вызов".

*Ставите курсор на белом поле справа от слов "Быстрый вызов".

*Нажимаете сочетание клавиш. Например, Alt + Shift + 0.

*Теперь, кода вы нажмете Alt + Shift + 0, ваш файл откроется.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
require 'chef/knife/digital_ocean_base'

class Chef
  class Knife
    class DigitalOceanDropletCreate < Knife
      include Knife::DigitalOceanBase

      deps do
        require 'socket'
        require 'chef/knife/bootstrap'
        Chef::Knife::Bootstrap.load_deps
        Chef::Knife::DigitalOceanBase.load_deps
        # Knife loads subcommands automatically, so we can just check if the
        # class exists.
        Chef::Knife::SoloBootstrap.load_deps if defined? Chef::Knife::SoloBootstrap
      end

      banner 'knife digital_ocean droplet create (options)'

      option :server_name,
        :short       => '-N NAME',
        :long        => '--server-name NAME',
        :description => 'The server name',
        :proc        => Proc.new { |server_name| Chef::Config[:knife][:server_name] = server_name }

      option :image,
        :short       => '-I IMAGE',
        :long        => '--image IMAGE',
        :description => 'Your DigitalOcean Image',
        :proc        => Proc.new { |image| Chef::Config[:knife][:image] = image }

      option :size,
        :short       => '-S SIZE',
        :long        => '--size SIZE',
        :description => 'Your DigitalOcean Size',
        :proc        => Proc.new { |size| Chef::Config[:knife][:size] = size }

      option :location,
        :short       => '-L REGION',
        :long        => '--location REGION',
        :description => 'DigitalOcean Location (Region)',
        :proc        => Proc.new { |location| Chef::Config[:knife][:location] = location }

      option :ssh_key_ids,
        :short       => '-K KEYID',
        :long        => '--ssh-keys KEY_ID',
        :description => 'Comma spearated list of your SSH key ids',
        :proc        => lambda { |o| o.split(/[\s,]+/) }

      option :identity_file,
        :short       => '-i IDENTITY_FILE',
        :long        => '--identity-file IDENTITY_FILE',
        :description => 'The SSH identity file used for authentication',
        :proc        => Proc.new { |identity| Chef::Config[:knife][:identity_file] = identity }

      option :bootstrap,
        :short       => '-B',
        :long        => '--bootstrap',
        :description => 'Do a chef-client bootstrap on the created droplet (for use with chef-server)'

      option :solo,
        :long        => '--[no-]solo',
        :description => 'Do a chef-solo bootstrap on the droplet using knife-solo',
        :proc        => Proc.new { |s| Chef::Config[:knife][:solo] = s }

      option :ssh_user,
        :short       => '-x USERNAME',
        :long        => '--ssh-user USERNAME',
        :description => 'The ssh username; default is "root"',
        :default     => 'root'

      option :distro,
        :short       => '-d DISTRO',
        :long        => '--distro DISTRO',
        :description => 'Chef-Bootstrap a distro using a template; default is "chef-full"',
        :proc        => Proc.new { |d| Chef::Config[:knife][:distro] = d },
        :default     => 'chef-full'

      option :run_list,
        :short       => '-r RUN_LIST',
        :long        => '--run-list RUN_LIST',
        :description => 'Comma separated list of roles/recipes to apply',
        :proc        => lambda { |o| o.split(/[\s,]+/) },
        :default     => []

      option :template_file,
        :long        => "--template-file TEMPLATE",
        :description => "Full path to location of template to use",
        :proc        => Proc.new { |t| Chef::Config[:knife][:template_file] = t },
        :default     => false

      option :host_key_verify,
        :long        => "--[no-]host-key-verify",
        :description => "Verify host key, enabled by default",
        :default     => true

      option :prerelease,
        :long        => "--prerelease",
        :description => "Install the pre-release chef gems"

      option :bootstrap_version,
        :long        => "--bootstrap-version VERSION",
        :description => "The version of Chef to install",
        :proc        => Proc.new { |v| Chef::Config[:knife][:bootstrap_version] = v }

      option :environment,
        :short       => "-E ENVIRONMENT",
        :long        => "--environment ENVIRONMENT",
        :description => "The name of the chef environment to use",
        :proc        => Proc.new { |e| Chef::Config[:knife][:environment] = e },
        :default     => '_default'

      def run
        $stdout.sync = true

        validate!

        unless locate_config_value(:server_name)
          ui.error('Server Name cannot be empty: -N <servername>')
          exit 1
        end

        unless locate_config_value(:image)
          ui.error('Image cannot be empty: -I <image>')
          exit 1
        end

        unless locate_config_value(:size)
          ui.error('Size cannot be empty: -S <size>')
          exit 1
        end

        unless locate_config_value(:location)
          ui.error('Location cannot be empty: -L <region>')
          exit 1
        end

        unless locate_config_value(:ssh_key_ids)
          ui.error('One or more DigitalOcean SSH key ids missing: -K <KEY1>, <KEY2> ...')
          exit 1
        end

        if solo_bootstrap? && !defined?(Chef::Knife::SoloBootstrap)
          ui.error [
            'Knife plugin knife-solo was not found.',
            'Please add the knife-solo gem to your Gemfile or',
            'install it manually with `gem install knife-solo`.'
          ].join(" ")
          exit 1
        end

        response = client.droplets.create(:name        => locate_config_value(:server_name),
                                          :size_id     => locate_config_value(:size),
                                          :image_id    => locate_config_value(:image),
                                          :region_id   => locate_config_value(:location),
                                          :ssh_key_ids => locate_config_value(:ssh_key_ids).join(','))

        if response.status != 'OK'
          ui.error("Droplet could not be started #{response.inspect}")
          exit 1
        end

        puts "Droplet creation for #{locate_config_value(:server_name)} started. Droplet-ID is #{response.droplet.id}"

        print ui.color("Waiting for IPv4-Address", :magenta)
        print(".") until ip_address = ip_address_available(response.droplet.id) {
          puts 'done'
        }

        puts ui.color("IPv4 address is: #{ip_address}", :green)

        print ui.color('Waiting for sshd:', :magenta)
        print('.') until tcp_test_ssh(ip_address, 22) {
          sleep 2
          puts 'done'
        }

        if locate_config_value(:bootstrap) || solo_bootstrap?
          bootstrap_for_node(ip_address).run
        else
          puts ip_address
          exit 0
        end

      end

      def ip_address_available(droplet_id)
        response = client.droplets.show(droplet_id)
        if response.droplet.ip_address
          yield
          response.droplet.ip_address
        else
          sleep @initial_sleep_delay ||= 10
          false
        end
      end

      def tcp_test_ssh(hostname, port)
        tcp_socket = TCPSocket.new(hostname, port)
        readable = IO.select([tcp_socket], nil, nil, 5)
        if readable
          Chef::Log.debug("sshd accepting connections on #{hostname}, banner is #{tcp_socket.gets}")
          yield
          true
        else
          false
        end
      rescue Errno::ETIMEDOUT
        false
      rescue Errno::EPERM
        false
      rescue Errno::ECONNREFUSED
        sleep 2
        false
      rescue Errno::EHOSTUNREACH
        sleep 2
        false
      ensure
        tcp_socket && tcp_socket.close
      end

      def bootstrap_for_node(ip_address)
        bootstrap = bootstrap_class.new
        bootstrap.name_args = [ ip_address ]
        bootstrap.config.merge! config
        bootstrap.config[:chef_node_name] = locate_config_value(:server_name)
        bootstrap.config[:bootstrap_version] = locate_config_value(:bootstrap_version)
        bootstrap.config[:distro] = locate_config_value(:distro)
        bootstrap.config[:use_sudo] = true unless config[:ssh_user] == 'root'
        bootstrap.config[:template_file] = locate_config_value(:template_file)
        bootstrap.config[:environment] = locate_config_value(:environment)
        bootstrap
      end

      def bootstrap_class
        solo_bootstrap? ? Chef::Knife::SoloBootstrap : Chef::Knife::Bootstrap
      end

      def solo_bootstrap?
        config[:solo] || (config[:solo].nil? && Chef::Config[:knife][:solo])
      end
    end
  end
end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Trebuchet News|	31/03/2014| News
Continuity Glitches : Why We Miss Them
The brain mechanism that can blind us to subtle changes in movies and in the real world
Continuity errors test the human mind's ability to substitute what is sees with what it should see.
If the human mind didn't have some sort of mechanism for processing fluctuations in visual data, you wouldn't be reading this text – but would be looking at a single pixel racing across the screen. A fascinating process by which the brain filters out the noise from the signal.
Still doesn't explain why we spend so much time staring at the inside of the fridge, wondering what it was we were looking for.
Ever notice how Harry Potter's T-shirt abruptly changes from a crewneck to a Henley shirt in The Order of the Phoenix, or how in Pretty Woman, Julia Roberts' croissant inexplicably morphs into a pancake? Don't worry if you missed those continuity bloopers. Vision scientists at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology have discovered an upside to the brain mechanism that can blind us to subtle changes in movies and in the real world.
Continuity field
They've discovered a "continuity field" in which the brain visually merges similar objects seen within a 15-second time frame, hence the previously mentioned jump from crewneck to henley goes largely unnoticed. Unlike in the movies, objects in the real world don't spontaneously change from, say, a croissant to a pancake in a matter of seconds, so the continuity field stabilizes what we see over time.
"The continuity field smoothes what would otherwise be a jittery perception of object features over time," said David Whitney, associate professor of psychology at UC Berkeley and senior author of the study, published in the journal Nature Neuroscience.
"Essentially, it pulls together physically but not radically different objects to appear more similar to each other," Whitney added. "This is surprising because it means the visual system sacrifices accuracy for the sake of the continuous, stable perception of objects."
Hallucinogenic drugs
Conversely, without a continuity field, we may be hypersensitive to every visual fluctuation triggered by shadows, movement and myriad other factors. For example, faces and objects would appear to morph from moment to moment in an effect similar to being on hallucinogenic drugs, researchers said.
"The brain has learned that the real world usually doesn't change suddenly, and it applies that knowledge to make our visual experience more consistent from one moment to the next," said Jason Fischer, a postdoctoral fellow at MIT and lead author of the study, which he conducted while he was a Ph.D. student in Whitney's lab at UC Berkeley.
To establish the existence of a continuity field, the researchers had study participants view a series of bars, or gratings, on a computer screen. The gratings appeared at random angles once every five seconds.
Participants were instructed to adjust the angle of a white bar so that it matched the angle of each grating they just viewed. They repeated this task with hundreds of gratings positioned at different angles. The researchers found that instead of precisely matching the orientation of the grating, participants averaged out the angle of the three most recently viewed gratings.
Perceptual serial dependence
"Even though the sequence of images was random, participants' perception of any given image was biased strongly toward the past several images that came before it," said Fischer, who called this phenomenon "perceptual serial dependence."
In another experiment, researchers set the gratings far apart on the computer screen, and found that the participants did not merge together the angles when the objects were far apart. This suggests that the objects must be close together for the continuity effect to work.
Source: University of California – BerkeleyImage: Film still from Matt Wolf's Teenage
Trebuchet News
Some of the news that we find inspiring, diverting, wrong or so very right.
www.trebuchet-magazine.com
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