I am really excited about the recent interest in virtual reality (VR), since I have been a fan of this technology for quite some time. As the majority of readers of this journal probably know, the term ‘‘virtual reality’’ was introduced by Jaron Lanier in 1989 (although the concept emerged long before that time), referring to a computer-generated three-dimensional world that allows a user to in...

BACKGROUND The flowers of Inula japonica (Inulae Flos) have long been used in traditional medicine for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. In the present study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of Inulae Flos Extract (IFE). METHODS The anti-inflammatory effects of IFE against nitric oxide (NO), PGE(2), TNF-α, and IL-6 release, as well as NF-κB and MAP kinase activation wer...

We have identified through bioassay guided isolation an allelochemical, eudesmane-type sesquiterpeniod, 3beta-caffeoxyl-beta1,8alpha-dihydroxyeudesm-4(15)-ene (1), from an endemic plant species growing in the Himalayas. In our search for the bioactive subfraction, the hexane one was highly significant, showing 100% inhibition of lettuce seed growth at 100 ppm while other subfractions (chlorofor...

This paper compares the influence a video self-avatar and a lack of a visual representation of a body have on height estimation when standing at a virtual visual cliff. A height estimation experiment was conducted using a custom augmented reality Oculus Rift hardware and software prototype also described in this paper. The results show a consistency with previous research demonstrating that the...

Purpose: To study the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP), posture, and central corneal thickness (CCT) among healthy Malays. Method: Thirty-four young adults had their IOPs measured using a handheld tonometer (Accutome, Pennsylvania, USA) after maintaining 5 min at four different postures; sitting upright, supine, supine & 45° inclination, prone positions. The sequences of post...