scholarly journals Towards the Automatic Generation of Virtual Presenter Agents

10.28945/3018 ◽  
2006 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anton Nijholt
Keyword(s):  
Automatic Generation ◽  
Audience Participation ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Museum Guide ◽  
Present Information ◽  
Sales Agent ◽  
Available Information ◽  
2D And 3D ◽  
Embodied Agent

There are many ways to present information to visitors and users of 2D and 3D interface environments. In these virtual environments we can provide visitors with simulations of real environments, including simulations of presenters in such environments (a lecturer, a sales agent, a receptionist, a museum guide) and including audience participation in these environments. Our research aims at generating presentations from available multimedia information. In particular, we would like to see the generation of presentations by embodied conversational agents that employ verbal and nonverbal capabilities. In the past we have seen the introduction of embodied agents and robots that take the role of a museum guide, a news presenter, a teacher, a receptionist, or someone who is trying to sell insurance, houses or tickets. In all these cases the embodied agent needs to explain and to describe. The automatic generation of presentations and presentation agents from information sources is still too ambitious a task. Therefore we look at research from the perspective of the design of tools that can support presenters or can help to provide natural access to presentations and lectures. Can we use a given collection of sheets and maybe other accessible media sources to design, create and generate an embodied presenter? Among others we discuss manual annotation of available information and the way in which presenter agents can use it. Clearly, the development of tools for these purposes is a first step towards automating the generation of presentations and presentation agents.

Employing chatbots for data collection in participatory journalism and crisis situations

2020 ◽  
Vol 00 (00) ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Andreas Veglis ◽  
Efthimis Kotenidis
Keyword(s):  
Audience Participation ◽  
Conversational Agents ◽  
Traditional Role ◽  
New Era ◽  
The Public ◽  
Participatory Journalism ◽  
Audience Interaction ◽  
Integral Role ◽  
Content Producer

The journalistic profession has long since entered an age where technology and audience participation are two of its most defining factors. Changes that were brought about by the advent of WEB 2.0 transformed journalism – among other professions – fundamentally, and opened the gates to a more connected future, one in which the lines between content producer and content consumer are far less defined than they used to be. One of the more promising technologies of this new era is that of chatbots and conversational agents. These multifaceted programs have proven to be extremely useful in many aspects of modern journalism, with some of them getting used in scenarios that go as far as trying to replace the traditional role of the journalist as we know it. As such, the influence of these programs has also spread to the field of audience interaction and participatory journalism. This article aims to underline the integral role that chatbots play within the confines of the journalistic profession, while at the same time explore the significant effects they have in the field of audience participation and communication between the journalist and the public in general. To achieve this goal a model chatbot was created in order to demonstrate the benefits of automating the process of filing and transferring a report on account of the public to the news organization.

The Role of Visual Distractors in the Simon Effect

2017 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 387-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luisa Lugli ◽  
Stefania D’Ascenzo ◽  
Roberto Nicoletti ◽  
Carlo Umiltà
Keyword(s):  
Simon Effect ◽  
Simon Task ◽  
Automatic Generation ◽  
Spatial Code ◽  
Attentional Model ◽  
Previous Evidence ◽  
Spatial Stimulus ◽  
Attentional Resources ◽  
Code Changes

Abstract. The Simon effect lies on the automatic generation of a stimulus spatial code, which, however, is not relevant for performing the task. Results typically show faster performance when stimulus and response locations correspond, rather than when they do not. Considering reaction time distributions, two types of Simon effect have been individuated, which are thought to depend on different mechanisms: visuomotor activation versus cognitive translation of spatial codes. The present study aimed to investigate whether the presence of a distractor, which affects the allocation of attentional resources and, thus, the time needed to generate the spatial code, changes the nature of the Simon effect. In four experiments, we manipulated the presence and the characteristics of the distractor. Findings extend previous evidence regarding the distinction between visuomotor activation and cognitive translation of spatial stimulus codes in a Simon task. They are discussed with reference to the attentional model of the Simon effect.

A Review on Ethnobotanical, Phytochemical, Pharmacological and Traditional Aspects of Indigenous Indian Herb Trachyspermum ammi (L)

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (3) ◽  
pp. 172-187 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nikita Saraswat ◽  
Neetu Sachan ◽  
Phool Chandra
Keyword(s):  
Chemical Constituents ◽  
Collective Data ◽  
Trachyspermum Ammi ◽  
Present Information ◽  
Gastrointestinal Problems ◽  
Vedic Literature ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
Phytochemical Studies ◽  
Near Future

Introduction and Ethnopharmacological relevance: In the Indian Vedic literature, Charakasamhita and Sushritasamhita, the Ajwain is known as Bhootika and in the charaksamhita commentaries, it is termed as Yavanika. The medicinal role of Ajwain fruit is claimed to be very important in the treatment of many ailments in humans. The plant Trachyspermum ammi Linn. is a grassy, aromatic annual plant, which falls in the family Umbelliferae. This plant is grown in India, Iran, Pakistan, Egypt, etc. for its medicinal benefits. Tribals of India use it for the treatment of diarrhea, arthritis, colic and gastrointestinal problems. In the traditional preparations, Indian Vaidya guru’s (Ayurveda Guru’s), the ajwain extract is used as “Admoda Arka”. The Ayurveda doctors, hakims and Vaidya gurus recommend ajwain for treating headaches, cold, flu and even during painful menstrual periods. Aim of the Study: The review paper has compiled the researches conducted on Trachyspermum ammi, which will help in presenting a collective data of the authentic researches conducted on the plant worldwide. It will also present information about the phytoconstituents which can be useful for building up new researches in near future. Materials and Methods: This paper has been prepared by collecting all the information available on the following platforms and the papers were searched from 1975 to 2019. The databases and electronic journals were well searched including Wiley, Springer link, Google Scholar, Science Direct, Pubmed. The key terms used for the search were Ajwain, C. copticum, Trachyspermum ammi and other synonyms of the plant. The search was also done by the names of chemical constituents present in the plant and the pharmacological effect of the plant. Results: The multiple uses of T. ammi are due to the active constituents present in it. As per the phytochemical studies on the fruits of T. ammi, the presence of various phytoconstituents has been found such as saponins, flavonoids, alkaloids, glycosides, fixed oils, thymenes, cumenes, tannins, amino acids, p-cymene, c-terpinene, steroids, etc. Conclusions: This paper is focused on presenting a detailed review on the literature, pharmacological properties, physicochemical studies and the newest researches on the plant. In this paper, we have also compiled the traditional uses of the herb used by Indian peopleon recommendations from their Hakims, Vaidya and use of the herbs by many tribes all across India and Pakistan.

Inequality of Opportunity in Mexico

2019 ◽  
pp. 134-158
Author(s):  
Roberto Vélez Grajales ◽  
Luis A. Monroy-Gómez-Franco ◽  
Gastón Yalonetzky
Keyword(s):  
Income Inequality ◽  
Lower Bound ◽  
Social Mobility ◽  
Wealth Inequality ◽  
Inequality Of Opportunity ◽  
Unequal Distribution ◽  
Variable Bias ◽  
Unequal Opportunities ◽  
Available Information

Mexico is a country with high levels of inequality and low intergenerational social-mobility rates for those located at the bottom extremes of the wealth distribution. Although such low rates suggest that at least a share of the observed income inequality may be due to an unequal distribution of opportunities, this conjecture has not been thoroughly tested in the literature. The present article fills this gap estimating the lower bound of the contribution of unequal opportunities to income and wealth inequality in Mexico, with an operationalization of the “ex-ante” approach to the measurement of inequality of opportunity. Relying on a national representative survey designed for the analysis of social mobility, namely, the ESRU Survey on Social Mobility in Mexico (2011), we are able to define a broad set of circumstance groups (“types”), encompassing the wealth of the household of origin. This available information reduces the omitted variable bias of previous estimations and allows for a better account of the role of inequality of opportunity in income inequality. Our results show that the lower bound of the contribution of unequal opportunities to total income inequality and total wealth inequality is around 30 per cent, which is substantially higher than previous estimations for Mexico and ranks among the highest values in Latin America.

scholarly journals Bidirectional asymmetry in the neurovisceral communication for the cardiovascular control: New insights

2017 ◽  
Vol 51 (3) ◽  
pp. 157-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Prieto ◽  
AB Segarra ◽  
M Martinez-Canamero ◽  
M De Gasparo ◽  
S Zorad ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Essential Role ◽  
Renin Angiotensin System ◽  
Cardiovascular Function ◽  
Cardiovascular Control ◽  
Functional Connection ◽  
Angiotensin System ◽  
Positive Correlations ◽  
Available Information ◽  
The Brain

AbstractThe cardiovascular control involves a bidirectional functional connection between the brain and heart. We hypothesize that this connection could be extended to other organs using endocrine and autonomic nervous systems (ANS) as communication pathways. This implies a neuroendocrine interaction controlling particularly the cardiovascular function where the enzymatic cascade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays an essential role. It acts not only through its classic endocrine connection but also the ANS. In addition, the brain is functionally, anatomically, and neurochemically asymmetric. Moreover, this asymmetry goes even beyond the brain and it includes both sides of the peripheral nervous and neuroendocrine systems. We revised the available information and analyze the asymmetrical neuroendocrine bidirectional interaction for the cardiovascular control. Negative and positive correlations involving the RAS have been observed between brain, heart, kidney, gut, and plasma in physiologic and pathologic conditions. The central role of the peptides and enzymes of the RAS within this neurovisceral communication, as well as the importance of the asymmetrical distribution of the various RAS components in the pathologies involving this connection, are particularly discussed. In conclusion, there are numerous evidences supporting the existence of a neurovisceral connection with multiorgan involvement that controls, among others, the cardiovascular function. This connection is asymmetrically organized.

An ultrastructural and cytochemical study of microbodies in the genus Nitella (Characeae)

1973 ◽  
Vol 51 (11) ◽  
pp. 2025-2032 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. A. Silverberg ◽  
T. Sawa
Keyword(s):  
Enzyme Assay ◽  
The Body ◽  
Cytochemical Localization ◽  
Cytochemical Study ◽  
Spherical Inclusions ◽  
Complete Digestion ◽  
Assay Methods ◽  
Granular Matrix ◽  
Available Information

Electron microscopy of the cells of the characean alga Nitella flexilis revealed the presence of numerous spherical inclusions which morphologically resemble plant microbodies. The structures have a dense granular matrix and are bounded by a single membrane. Many of the microbodies contain very electron-dense nucleoids that were shown to be alpha-amylase sensitive. In cells of the young apex, microbodies are the most abundant cellular organelle and are intimately associated with dilated cisternae of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi complexes, and with large osmiophilic lipid bodies. Although the microbody population appears reduced in mature branchlet cells and internode cells of the main axis, they exhibit a characteristic and frequent association with the chloroplasts. Turnover of microbodies involves some autolytic degradation of the body matrix until complete digestion presumably occurs. Developmental changes of microbodies were monitored with the cytochemical localization of lysosomal aryl sulfatase and acid phosphatase activities. The current study is of interest since catalase, an enzyme marker of microbodies in a variety of tissues, could not be detected using both cytochemical and enzyme assay methods. The functional role of microbodies in Nitella cells is explored in relation to presently available information.

scholarly journals A review on the distribution, abundance, residency, survival and population structure of coastal bottlenose dolphins in Argentina

10.5597/00233 ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 2-16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Els Vermeulen ◽  
Ricardo Bastida ◽  
Leonardo G. Berninsone ◽  
Pablo Bordino ◽  
Mauricio Failla ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Population Structure ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
Grey Literature ◽  
Southwest Atlantic ◽  
Sympatric Distribution ◽  
Present Information ◽  
Species Population ◽  
Region Data ◽  
Survival And Reproduction ◽  
Available Information

Although bottlenose dolphins Tursiops truncatus are among the most common delphinid species, global population trends remain poorly understood. To improve the knowledge of the species in the Southwest Atlantic Ocean, thispaper reviews all available data related to the distribution and occurrence, abundance, residency and ranging patterns, group size and composition, survival and reproduction and population structure of the coastal bottlenose dolphin in Argentina. Most information proved to be scattered in time and space. Based on the available data, total abundance of coastal bottlenose dolphins in Argentina appears to be low. Data show sightings decreased notably since the 1990s in the northern province of Buenos Aires and the province of Chubut, with the species having disappeared completely from the former region. Data also indicated that two genetically and morphologically distinct coastal populations occur in Argentinean coastal waters, with a sympatric distribution in the provinces of Río Negro and Chubut. One is an isolated ‘Evolutionary Signifcant Unit’ within the larger Southwest Atlantic, whereas the other population appears to be genetically related to the Southwest Atlantic offshore ecotype. In the absence of more substantial data, the present information is pertinent to our scientifc knowledge of the species in the country, collating all published information as well as information from grey literature and previously unpublished data. However, the available information appears to remain insufcient to explain the apparent decline in sightings and to assess the remaining abundance nationwide accurately. Therefore, we strongly recommend increased research efforts for an in-depth assessment of the species’ population status in Argentina.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document