VR Blowing: A Physically Plausible Interaction Method for Blowing Air in Virtual Reality.

This paper introduces an interaction method allowing virtual reality (VR) users to interact with virtual objects by blowing air. The proposed method allows users to interact with virtual objects in a physically plausible way by recognizing the intensity of the wind generated by the user's actual wind blowing activity in the physical world. This is expected to provide immersed VR experience since it enables users to interact with virtual objects in the same way they do in the real world. Three experiments were carried out to develop and improve this method. In the first experiment, we collected the user's blowing data and used it to model a formula to estimate the speed of the wind from the sound waves obtained through a microphone. In the second experiment, we investigated how much gain can be applied to the formula obtained in the first experiment. The aim is to reduce the lung capacity required to generate wind without compromising physical plausibility. In the third experiment, the advantages and disadvantages of the proposed method compared to the controller-based method were investigated in two scenarios of blowing a ball and a pinwheel. According to the experimental results and participant interview, participants felt a stronger sense of presence and found the VR experience more fun with the proposed blowing interaction method.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Multi-Strain Probiotics in Mice with High-Carbohydrate Diet-Induced Obesity and the Underlying Molecular Mechanisms.

Overconsumption of highly refined carbohydrates contributes significantly to the current obesity pandemics. Probiotic administration protects against weight gain in animals fed a high-fat diet (HFD). Nonetheless, the anti-obesity effects of probiotics in a high-carbohydrate diet (HCD)-induced obesity models are not well elucidated. Herein, C57BL/6N male mice were fed an HCD (70% kcal carbohydrate) for 12 weeks and were orally treated with multi-strain probiotics (MSPs) at 1010 CFU or saline every day for 6 weeks. MSPs contained Lactobacillus acidophilus DSM 24936, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum DSM 24937, and Limosilactobacillus reuteri DSM 25175. MSPs treatment not only ameliorated weight gain but also modulated the body fat composition altered by HCD. The MSPs also attenuated the expression of adipogenesis- and lipogenesis-related genes in HCD-fed mice. In addition, MSPs promoted the expression of lipolysis- and fatty acid oxidation-promoting factors in HCD-fed mice. Furthermore, MSPs modulated the expression of thermogenesis-related genes and the serum levels of obesity-related hormones altered by HCD. Treatment with MSPs positively reversed the Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio, which is associated with a risk of obesity. Hence, this study explores the multifaceted anti-obesity mechanisms of MSPs and highlights their potential to be used as effective weight-management products.