본 연구의 목적은 사용자가 경험하는 정체성의 변화와 감각경험의 특이성을 고찰하는 것이며, 이를 통해 예 술치료 공간으로서 메타버스의 가능성을 점검하는 것이다. 최근 메타버스는 오락과 교육, 경제, 정치와 같은 사회문화적 체계를 모방할 뿐 아니라 직접 구성하고 실현하는 플랫폼으로 자리잡고 있다. 메타버스의 정서 소통의 내용이 세밀해지고 범위가 넓어진 만큼 예술표현과 치료도 다양한 형태로 구현될 수 있다. 메타버스 의 ‘정서적 소통’과 ‘감각적 표현’의 특이성은 원격현전의 존재감, 그리고 상호작용의 소통에서 비롯된다. 원격 경험이란 물리적 자아와 현전적 자아의 일치와 분리의 정서를 동시에 느끼는 것이기 때문에 감정 경험에서 도 분리와 일치가 일어날 수 있다. 사용자는 스스로 만들어내고 맥락화한 세계를 경험하며 가상공간에서 미 학적 내용은 물질적 경험은 감소한 채 총체감각의 몰입을 추구하는 유희적 상호작용 행위의 반복에 의해 창 조된다. 가상공간은 양가적 개념을 동시에 수용하는 공간이기도 하지만 그것을 사용하는 사람의 정서도 양가 적으로 발현되는 특징이 있으며. 사용자 본인의 정서 상태, 심리적 안정성의 상황에 따라 증상이 다르게 나 타난다. 메타버스는 양가성의 수용, 현실과의 연계성, 가상 및 물리적 감각경험의 혼합을 통해 분열되고 변형 되는 자아상의 재통합을 가져오는 치료실로 활용될 수 있다.

In this study, microstructural characteristics and constituent elements of fiberglass splint and cast are examined using a scanning electron microscope and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer. As observed by the scanning electron microscope, fiberglass splint and cast had a porous structure with many bundles of fiberglass textures well assembled. Spaces between bundles of the fiberglass splint are triangular or elliptical shaped and the long-axis diameter is measured at about 1 mm. The thickness of fiber bundles covered with plaster is measured at 600 μm and the diameter of a single strand of fiberglass is up to 10 μm. The thickness of the fiberglass bundle of the fiberglass splint is measured at about 700 μm. Spaces between bundles are formed in the shape of triangles with gentle edges and long-axis diameter of up to 1.4 mm, which is larger than that of the splint. The thickness of a single strand of fiberglass of the plaster-coated cast is 11.5 μm, which is thicker than that of fiberglass of the splint. As a result of analyzing constituent elements of the fiberglass cast and the splint with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer, Ca, Si, and Al components are identically detected. This result shows that the fiberglass cast has a smoother surface with hardened plaster than the fiberglass splint. The thickness of the fiberglass bundle and the thickness of a single strand of the fiberglass are also larger than those of the fiberglass splint.

It has long been speculated that the visual system should use a coding strategy that takes advantage of statistical redundancies in images. But how such a coding strategy should manifest in neural responses has been less clear. Low-level image structure related to the power spectrum of natural images appears to be captured by a hard-wired efficient code in the retina of the fly and precortical structures like the LGN of cats that maximizes information content through the limited capacity channel of the optic nerve. But visual images are typically filled with higher-order structure beyond that captured by the power spectrum and visual cortex is not constrained by the same capacity limits as the optic nerve. Whether and how visual cortex can flexibly code for higher order redundancies is unknown. Here we show using psychophysical techniques that the neural response in early human visual cortex may be modulated by orientation redundancies in images such that a visual feature that is contained within a predictive pattern results in slower reaction times than a feature that deviates from a pattern, suggesting lower neural responses to predictable stimuli in the visual cortex. Our results point to a neural response in early visual cortex that is sensitive to global patterns and redundancies in visual images and is in marked contrast to standard models of cortical visual processing.

자기공명영상은 고해상도의 연부조직에 대한 영상정보를 제공하며, 뇌종양 등 연부조직 진단에 활용된다. 본 연구는 합성곱신경망 인공지능을 통해 뇌종양 자기공명영상 분류성능을 확인해 보고자 한다. 4개 종류로 구분된 3264 장의 MRI 데이터 세트(data set)를 이용하였으며, 인공지능 학습을 위해 훈련용 데이터와 시험용 데이터를 9 : 1, 훈련용 데이터의 10%를 검증용 데이터로 구분하였다. 합성곱신경망은 기본 CNN과 VGG16으로 구성하였으며, 학습 평가는 정확도와 손실율로 확인하였으며, 생성된 모델을 통해 분류성능 정확도를 확인하였다. 실험 결과 과적합은 없었으며, 분류성능은 기본 CNN과 VGG16 각각 67%와 80%의 분류성능을 보였다. 도출된 뇌종양 자기공명영상 분류 결과를 통해 자기공명영상과 인공지능 접목에 관한 기초 자료로 사용될 수 있을 것이라 사료된다.

MRI는 연부조직에 대한 고해상도의 영상을 제공하며 진단적 가치가 매우 높은 영상 검사이며, 디지털 데이터를 이용하여 딥러닝 기술을 통해 컴퓨터 보조 진단 역할을 수행할 수 있다. 본 연구는 딥러닝 기반 YOLOv3를 이용하여 뇌종양 분류 성능을 확인해 보고자 한다. 253장의 오픈 MRI 영상을 이용하여 딥러닝 학습을 진행하고 학습 평가지표는 평균손실(average loss)와 region 82와 region 94를 사용하였으며, 뇌종양 분류 모델 검증을 위해 학습에 사용되지 않은 영상을 이용하여 검출 성능을 평가하였다. 평균손실은 2248 epochs 시 0.1107, region 82와 region 94의 24079 반복학습 시 average IoU, class, .5R, .75R은 각각 0.89와 0.81, 1.00과 1.00, 1.00과 1.00, 1.00과 1.00의 결과값을 도출하였다. 뇌종양 분류 모델 검증 결과 정상 뇌와 뇌종양 각각 95.00%, 75.36%의 정확도로 분류할 수 있었다. 본 연구 결과를 통해 MRI 영상을 활용한 딥러닝 연구 및 임상에 기초자료로 사용될 것이라 사료된다.

Methods for predicting the ultimate/buckling strength of ship structures have been extensively improved in terms of design formulas and analytical solutions. In recent years, the design strategy of ships and offshore structures has tended to emphasize lighter builds and improve operational safety. Therefore, the corresponding geometrical changes in design necessitate the use of high-tensile steel and thin plates. However, the existing design formulas were mainly developed for thick plates and mild steels. Therefore, the calculation methods require appropriate modification for new designs beased on high-tensile steel and thin plates. In this study, a modified formula was developed to predict the ultimate strength of thin steel plates subjected to compressive and shear loads. Based on the numerical results, the effects of the yield stress, slenderness ratio, and loading condition on the buckling/ultimate strength of steel plates were examined, and a newly modified double-beta parameter formula was developed. The results were used to derive and modify existing closed-form expressions and empirical formulas to predict the ultimate strength of thin-walled steel structures.

Fenbendazole (FBZ) is one of the safest anthelmintic drugs. FBZ has been found to have anti-cancer effects by destabilizing microtubules. In this study, a synergistic effect of paclitaxel (PA), a microtubule-stabilizing anti-cancer agent, and FBZ was investigated on HL-60 cells, a human leukemia cell line. The metabolic activity of cells significantly decreased and the nucleus morphology upon the treatment of FBZ and PA based on 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide assay and Hoechst 33342 staining, respectively. To investigate the involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS), the metabolic activity of the cells after treatment of N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) was measured. Indeed, NAC significantly increased the metabolic activity of the cells treated with FBZ and PA, suggesting that both drugs affect at least in part via ROS. Furthermore, FBZ and PA increased cell death in an annexin V- fluorescein isothiocyanate/propidium iodide staining assay. Taken together, FBZ and PA have a synergistic anti-cancer activity on HL-60 cells at a certain concentration. These results may provide researchers and clinicians in cancer-related fields with some valuable information to broaden the use of FBZ.

It is well known that the world population is increasing at an incredible pace; subsequently, worldwide food production without compromising the ecosystem is an enormous challenge for the global community. From the beginning of human civilization, meat plays a vital role in acquiring proteins and other nutrients. Despite the indispensable part of the meat in the human diet, it is also considered a critical factor in environmental alterations, greenhouse gas emissions, animal welfare, and land water usage. The excessive use of natural resources and extensive animal production causes greenhouse gas emissions, which triggered reduced meat consumption and the need for more novel meat alternatives. To overcome the extraordinary demand for red meat, the phenomena of meat alternatives or meat substitutes evolved. Subsequently, meat analogs express a higher trend with low cost, safe consumption, and meaty structure and texture. Meat substitutes are predominantly vegetable centered food products that comprise proteins from pulses, cereal, microorganisms, and other fillers and flavorings mediators. Moreover, Meat products with texturized vegetable protein, mushroom, wheat gluten, pulses are considered an excellent source of as a substitute for animal protein. Additionally, mycoprotein had an impressive profile, including higher protein, low fat, health-promoting agents, with good taste and texture. However, there remains a gap in research articles focusing on the regular consumption of meat substitutes. In the current review, an attempt has been made to summarize various types of meat substitutes, different protein sources, production preparation methods, nutritional, functional properties, including current and future perspectives of meat alternatives.

Excessive intake of sodium caused by high salt diet promotes the expression of inflammatory cytokines and differentiation of helper T cells resulting in inflammatory responses. High-glucose diet also contributes to the pathogenesis of periodontitis by inducing changes in the oral microbiome and reducing salivation. However, the effect of a high-salt and glucose diet (HSGD) on the prognosis of periodontitis remains unclear. In this study, a rat model of experimental periodontitis was established by periodic insertion of absorbable sutures containing Porphyromonas gingivalis and Fusobacterium nucleatum strains into the right gingival sulcus to analyze the effect of HSGD on the incidence and progression of periodontitis. The alveolar bone heights (ABH) was measured with microcomputed tomography imaging of the HSGD- and general diet (GD)-treated groups. The right ABH was significantly decreased compared to the left in both groups at 4 weeks after induction of inflammation; however, no significant difference was noted between the groups. Notably, the ABH in the HSGD-treated group was significantly decreased at 8 weeks after induction of inflammation, whereas in the GD-treated group, an increase in the ABH was observed; a significant difference of the ABH was noted between the two groups (p < 0.05). At 12 weeks, recovery of the alveolar bone was observed in both groups, with no significant differences in ABH between the two groups. These findings indicate that the intake of excessive sodium attenuates the recovery rate of the alveolar bone even after the local infectant is removed. In addition, this study demonstrates the use of HSGD in establishing a new animal model of periodontitis.

Biosilica is a material extracted from the shell (cell wall) of Melosira nummuloides, a type of sea diatom, and is one of the widely distributed biominerals. Recently, some studies have revealed that biosilica has a characteristic bio-modulatory activity compared to synthetic silica. However, there has been little research on the effects and action mechanisms of biosilica in immune cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of biosilica water on mouse dendritic cells (DCs), the most potent antigen-presenting cells in immunity, and whether it may alter the function of DCs. Biosilica water decreased the metabolic activity of DCs at 20% concentration (v/v) and the production of IL-1 beta in a concentration-dependent manner. And also, more cells with fragmented nuclei were observed in the DCs treated with 20% biosilica water compared to other treatment groups. The mixed leukocyte response experiment showed the biosilica water-treated DCs significantly modulated the metabolic activity and proliferation of allogeneic spleen cells compared to control DCs. This result suggests that biosilica water may modulate the antigen-presenting capability of DCs. Taken together, this study shows the immunomodulatory activity of biosilica on DCs and may affect immune responses. Further research is needed to investigate the immunological activity of biosilica water.