Exploring natural language understanding in robotic interfaces

Natural Language Understanding is a major aspect of the intelligence of robotic systems. A main goal of improving their artificial intelligence is to allow a robot to ask questions, whenever the given instructions are not complete, and also by using implicit information. These enhanced communicational abilities can be based on the voids of an output data structure that corresponds to a systemic-semantic model of language communication, as grammar formalism. In addition, the enhancing process also improves the learning abilities of a robot. Accordingly, the presented herein experimental project was conducted by using a simulated (by a plain PC) robot and a simple constructed language that facilitated semantic orientation

Clinical Applications of Anterior Segment Optical Coherence Tomography:An Updated Review

Since its introduction, optical coherence tomography (OCT) has revolutionized the field of ophthalmology and has now become an indispensable, noninvasive tool in daily practice. Most ophthalmologists are familiar with its use in the assessment and monitoring of retinal and optic nerve diseases. However, it also has important applications in the assessment of anterior segment structures, including the cornea, conjunctiva, sclera, anterior chamber, and iris, and has the potential to transform the clinical examination of these structures. In this review, we aim to provide a comprehensive overview of the potential clinical utility of anterior segment OCT (AS-OCT) for a wide range of anterior segment pathologies, such as conjunctival neoplasia, pterygium, scleritis, keratoconus, corneal dystrophies, and infectious/noninfectious keratitis. In addition, the clinical applications of AS-OCT (including epithelial mapping) in preoperative planning and postoperative monitoring for corneal and refractive surgeries are discussed

Exploring natural language understanding in robotic interfaces

Natural Language Understanding is a major aspect of the intelligence of robotic systems. A main goal of improving their artificial intelligence is to allow a robot to ask questions, whenever the given instructions are not complete, and also by using implicit information. These enhanced communicational abilities can be based on the voids of an output data structure that corresponds to a systemic-semantic model of language communication, as grammar formalism. In addition, the enhancing process also improves the learning abilities of a robot. Accordingly, the presented herein experimental project was conducted by using a simulated (by a plain PC) robot and a simple constructed language that facilitated semantic orientation

Inquiring Natural Language Processing Capabilities on Robotic Systems through Virtual Assistants: A Systemic Approach

This paper attempts to approach the interface of a robot from the perspective of virtual assistants. Virtual assistants can also be characterized as the mind of a robot, since they manage communication and action with the rest of the world they exist in. Therefore, virtual assistants can also be described as the brain of a robot and they include a Natural Language Processing (NLP) module for conducting communication in their human-robot interface. This work is focused on inquiring and enhancing the capabilities of this module. The problem is that nothing much is revealed about the nature of the human-robot interface of commercial virtual assistants. Therefore, any new attempt of developing such a capability has to start from scratch. Accordingly, to include corresponding capabilities to a developing NLP system of a virtual assistant, a method of systemic semantic modelling is proposed and applied. For this purpose, the paper briefly reviews the evolution of virtual assistants from the first assistant, in the form of a game, to the latest assistant that has significantly elevated their standards. Then there is a reference to the evolution of their services and their continued offerings, as well as future expectations. The paper presents their structure and the technologies used, according to the data provided by the development companies to the public, while an attempt is made to classify virtual assistants, based on their characteristics and capabilities. Consequently, a robotic NLP interface is being developed, based on the communicative power of a proposed systemic conceptual model that may enhance the NLP capabilities of virtual assistants, being tested through a small natural language dictionary in Greek

A Natural Language Generation Algorithm for Greek by Using Hole Semantics and a Systemic Grammatical Formalism

This work is about the progress of previous related work based on an experiment to improve the intelligence of robotic systems, with the aim of achieving more linguistic communication capabilities between humans and robots. In this paper, the authors attempt an algorithmic approach to natural language generation through hole semantics and by applying the OMAS-III computational model as a grammatical formalism. In the original work, a technical language is used, while in the later works, this has been replaced by a limited Greek natural language dictionary. This particular effort was made to give the evolving system the ability to ask questions as well as the authors developed an initial dialogue system using these techniques. The results show that the use of these techniques the authors apply can give us a more sophisticated dialogue system in the future

Paramacular Acute Middle Maculopathy Associated with Glyceryl Trinitrate

An unusual case of nitroglycerin-induced Paracentral Acute Middle Maculopathy (PAMM) is presented. A 50-year-old patient with sudden vision loss and scotoma was followed up with swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), optical coherence tomography-angiography (OCT-A), and fluorescein angiography (FA). An anal fissure treated with glyceryl trinitrate (GTN) 0.2% ointment with headache and dizziness after application was reported. Fundoscopy OS revealed mild retinal venous dilatation and tortuosity with scattered blot hemorrhages and subtle, parafoveal, whitish lesions in the outer retina. SS-OCT revealed diffuse, hyperreflective lesions in the inner plexiform (IPL), inner nuclear (INL), and outer plexiform layers (OPL). OCT-A revealed focal dropout in the deep capillary plexus. FA showed masking due to blot hemorrhages and early punctuate leakage in the inner retina. This entity was identified as nitroglycerin-induced PAMM. Over the following 8 months, after discontinuation of the ointment application, the patient was symptom-free with stable visual acuity. OCT revealed INL/OPL thinning and confirmed complete lesion resolution. This first report of retinal vascular abnormalities due to nitrite ointment provides an insight into an unknown side effect of nitroglycerin ointment use. A dose-dependent correlation between GTN application and retinal vascular abnormalities remains to be confirmed

Secondary DMEK following failed primary DMEK

Purpose To report the outcomes of secondary Descemet Membrane Endothelial Keratoplasty (DMEK) performed for failed primary DMEK. Methods The medical records of all patients undergoing secondary DMEK due to failure of primary DMEK were reviewed. Reasons for failure were sought and best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), endothelial cell density (ECD) and complications of secondary DMEK were evaluated. Results A total of 10 cases undergoing secondary DMEK following failed primary DMEK were identified. Presumed reasons for failure included donor ECD <= 2300 cells/mm(2) (n = 4), difficulty during graft preparation (n = 2), graft detachment (n = 2), acute angle closure due to retroiridal air dislocation (n = 1), inverse graft positioning (n = 1) and phacoemulsification (n = 1). Eyes with low visual potential were not excluded from the study group. We should note that one patient (case no7) had both low ECD and graft detachment as reasons for failure and as a result he is counted twice. Median BCVA (decimal fraction) increased from 0.1 (range, 0.01; 0.3) to 0.5 (0.05; 1.0) at one month and remained stable thereafter. A BCVA of 0.5 or higher was achieved in 7 cases at the final follow-up. Mean ECD fell from 2628 +/- 284 cells/mm(2) to 1391 +/- 252cells/mm(2) at 6 months (47% reduction) and 959 +/- 225cells/mm(2) at 24 months (64% reduction) (P <= 0.028). Complications included the incomplete removal of the primary graft and mild iris bleeding, decompensation of a preexisting primary open-angle glaucoma and retroiridal air dislocation. Conclusions Apart from low donor ECD, surgical challenges, i.e., difficulty with graft preparation, inverse graft positioning, and retroiridal air dislocation, were main reasons for failure of primary DMEK. Secondary DMEK showed a good safety profile and reasonable visual outcomes