School of Computing Science

Do People and Neural Nets Pay Attention to the Same Words? Studying Eye-tracking Data for Non-factoid QA Evaluation

Group: Information Retrieval (IR)
Speaker: Baranova Valeriia, RMIT University
Date: 26 April, 2021
Time: 11:00 - 12:00
Location: https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/99150712088?pwd=RVJFVzh1MVFsUFlCcjRrZk54Z2xQQT09

Abstract:

We investigated how users evaluate passage-length answers for non-factoid questions. We conduct a study where answers were presented to users, sometimes shown with automatic word highlighting. Users were tasked with evaluating answer quality, correctness, completeness, and conciseness. Words in the answer were also annotated, both explicitly through user mark up and implicitly through user gaze data obtained from eye-tracking. Our results show that the correctness of an answer strongly depends on its completeness, conciseness is less important. Analysis of the annotated words showed correct and incorrect answers were assessed differently. Automatic highlighting helped users to evaluate answers quicker while maintaining accuracy, particularly when highlighting was similar to annotation. We fine-tuned a BERT model on a non-factoid QA task to examine if the model attends to words similar to those annotated. Similarity was found, consequently, we propose a method to exploit the BERT attention map to generate suggestions that simulate eye gaze during user evaluation.

Bio:

Baranova Valeriia, PhD candidate at RMIT University (supervised by Mark Sanderson, Falk Scholer and Bruce Croft). The former head of research and development NLP department at Tinkoff Bank.

Systems Seminar: Optimized Contextual Data Offloading in Mobile Edge Computing

Group: Systems Seminars
Speaker: Ibrahim Alghamdi, University of Glasgow
Date: 27 April, 2021
Time: 14:00 - 14:30
Location: Zoom meeting

Mobile Edge Computing (MEC) is a new computing paradigm that moves computing resources closer to the user at the edge of the network. The aim is to have low-latency, high bandwidth, and to improve energy consumption when running computational tasks. The idea of deploying MEC servers near to the users along the 5G technology has led to open an interest in the field of Vehicular Network (VN). MEC servers can play significant roles in improving the performance of VN applications. In this environment, offloading computational tasks over collected contextual data by the mobile nodes (smart vehicles for example) meets the challenge of when & where to offload the collected data while on the move. In this work, we modelled the problem of offloading contextual data to the MEC servers as an optimal stopping problem. Our objectives are to offload to a MEC server with lower execution time and before the collected data get stale. We evaluated our model using real mobility trace with real servers’ utilization; the results showed that the proposed model outperforms other offloading methods.

Systems Seminar: Towards QoS-aware Provisioning of Chained Virtual Security Services in Edge Networks

Group: Systems Seminars
Speaker: Mircea Iordache Șică, University of Glasgow
Date: 27 April, 2021
Time: 14:30 - 15:00
Location: Zoom meeting

 Future networks are expected to deliver low-latency, user-specific services in a flexible and efficient manner. Operators have to ensure infrastructure resilience in the face of such challenges, while maintaining service guarantees for subscribed users. One approach to support emerging use cases is through the introduction and user of virtualised network functions (VNFs) at the edge of the network. While placement of VNFs at the network edge has been previously studied, it has not taken into account services comprised of multiple VNFs and considerations for network security. In this paper we propose a mathematical model for latency-optimal on-path allocation of VNF chains on physical servers within an edge network infrastructure, with special considerations for network security applications and operator's best practices. We acknowledge the challenges of employing optimal solutions in real networks and provide the Minimal Path Deviation Allocation algorithm for placement of security-focused network services in a distributed edge environment, minimising end-to-end latency for users. We then evaluate our placement results over a simulated nation-wide network using real-world latency characteristics. We show that our placement algorithm provides near-optimal placement, with minimal latency violations with respect an optimal solution, whilst offering robust tolerance to temporal latency variations.

Multiparty Session Types for Safe Runtime Adaptation in an Actor Language

Group: Programming Languages at University of Glasgow (PLUG)
Speaker: Simon Fowler, University of Glasgow
Date: 27 April, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online

1. join at the advertised start of the session, and we will begin on the academic hour;
2. start with your camera turned off and microphone muted; and
3. ensure you can be identified by your username.

FATA Coffee

Group: Formal Analysis, Theory and Algorithms (FATA)
Speaker: Various
Date: 28 April, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online

A chance for everyone to meet up informally and have a chat - In the SOCS common room

HealthCare Seminar: Deep Medicine: machine learning meets large-scale epidemiology and population health

Group: Computing Technologies for Healthcare
Speaker: Prof. Kazem Rahimi / Dr. Mohammad Hossein Mamouei, University of Oxford
Date: 28 April, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: zoom-HealthcareSeminar

Abstract: This talk will first provide an overview of the claimed expectations from machine learning and AI in medicine. It criticises the misconceptions around personalised medicine in the context of multi-cause conditions such as cardiovascular diseases. It then provides a general overview of the machine learning research at Deep Medicine with examples of how this is guiding research and could lead to better decision making in clinical practice. Examples will primarily focus on the application of a range of machine learning models to complex Electronic Health Records for risk prediction, co-morbidity and patient clustering, risk factor identification, causal inference and model interpretability. 

Kazem Rahimi is a Professor of Cardiovascular Medicine and Population Health, at the University of Oxford and a consultant cardiologist at the Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust. His research interests include hypertension, heart failure, multimorbidity and cardiovascular risk management, using a variety of methodologies such as individual-patient meta-analysis, large-scale decentralised clinical trials, and digital health technologies.

Kazem leads the Deep Medicine programme at the Nuffield Department of Women’s and Reproductive Health with a major interest in the application of machine learning approaches to electronic health records. He also leads the Blood Pressure Lowering Treatment Trialists’ Collaboration (BPLTTC), which is an international collaboration of all the major trials of blood pressure lowering drugs. He is the Director of the Martin School Programme on Informal Cities and a Co-Investigator of the PEAK-Urban programme.
----

Dr. Mohammadhossein Mamouei is a Machine Learning Scientist at the University of Oxford. As a member of the interdisciplinary research group, Deep Medicine led by Prof Kazem Rahimi, Mo specialises in the applications of machine learning on large-scale electronic health records to extract new insights and develop models for prognostication and diagnostication. He is involved in the PEAK Urban and Informal Cities programmes where he focuses on the effects of environmental and sociodemographic factors on health outcomes. 

Before joining the University of Oxford, he was a postdoctoral researcher at City, University of London focusing on the analysis of high-dimensional optical spectra and bio-signals, and a research assistant at University of Southampton focusing on urban mobility. 

Mo's educational background is in Applied Mathematics-Systems and Modelling (PhD, City, University of London), and Electrical Engineering (MSc, City, University of London & BSc, Iran University of Science and Technology).

He also leads a team of data scientists at a charity, Apart of Me, that has embarked upon the ambitious project of delivering the first mobile game to help children cope with bereavement.

SICSA Education Workshop: Lessons from Lockdown

Group: Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA)
Speaker: SICSA Event, SICSA
Date: 29 April, 2021
Time: 14:00 - 16:30
Location: TBA

The educational landscape has seen a major shift over the past 12 months. As the world starts to heal, it is important to reflect on what worked and what did not, so we can provide new insights into ways of helping both students and educators move forward and ensure efficacy in teaching/learning. SICSA Education will host an online event on the 29th April, presenting a number of talks on lessons learnt from this agile shift from across the SICSA Education network.   You can register to attend this event via the Eventbrite link.

FATA Coffee

Group: Formal Analysis, Theory and Algorithms (FATA)
Speaker: Various
Date: 05 May, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online

A chance for everyone to meet up informally and have a chat - In the SOCS common room

HCI Research Theme: SICSA Pre-CHI day 2021: "Methods in the Madness"

Group: Scottish Informatics and Computer Science Alliance (SICSA)
Speaker: SICSA Event, SICSA
Date: 06 May, 2021
Time: 09:00 - 12:30
Location: TBA

It's just a few weeks until CHI 2021, and in keeping with tradition, the SICSA HCI theme is organising a Pre-CHI day to celebrate this year's contributions from SICSA-affiliated authors. The event will take place online, and will have two parts -- registered participants can attend either or both parts as they are able. 09:00 – 10:30 – CHI 5-minute video watch party We will curate a video containing as many of the CHI papers that feature SICSA affiliated authors as possible. The video will premiere live on YouTube for members of the community to watch together and discuss, and will remain available after the event. 10:30 – 12:30 – CHI Discussion, Methods in the Madness. We fully recognise that this year has been incredibly difficult for authors to carry out publishable work, and also collaboratively work with others in achieving this. Following the live video showcase, we will share best practice from successful authors, through a guided discussion with the SICSA community that will focus on the following: Recruiting participants Study adjustment for COVID The remote writing process The remote rebuttal process Any other area related to the HCI publication process that has changed over the last year Register for the event. Note that SICSA has also funded a limited number of Uber Eats vouchers available for those who want to have the full Pre-CHI day experience -- these will be distributed free of charge on a first-come first-served basis to SICSA members who choose that option on the registration form. We hope to see you all there on the 6th!  

Title TBA

Group: Programming Languages at University of Glasgow (PLUG)
Speaker: Edwin Brady, University of St Andrews
Date: 11 May, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online

FATA Coffee

Group: Formal Analysis, Theory and Algorithms (FATA)
Speaker: Various
Date: 12 May, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online

A chance for everyone to meet up informally and have a chat - In the SOCS common room

FATA Coffee

Group: Formal Analysis, Theory and Algorithms (FATA)
Speaker: Various
Date: 19 May, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online

A chance for everyone to meet up informally and have a chat - In the SOCS common room

FATA Coffee

Group: Formal Analysis, Theory and Algorithms (FATA)
Speaker: Various
Date: 26 May, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online

A chance for everyone to meet up informally and have a chat - In the SOCS common room

Computational Biology Conference

Group: Computing Technologies for Healthcare
Speaker: Prof Robert Insall, Dr Breda Cullen, Dr Richard Reeve, Dr Mayetri Gupta, University of Glasgow
Date: 27 May, 2021
Time: 09:00 - 17:00
Location: https://cbc.dcs.gla.ac.uk/

Organised by staff and PhD students, the First University of Glasgow Computational Biology Conferences aims to bring together researchers across the University of Glasgow who are interested or work in the field of computational biology. Topics of interest including but not limited to: computational approaches in omics, systems biology, population genetics, medical imaging, public health and clinical data. The conference will take place in the afternoons of 27th and 28th of May. We are pleased to confirm our keynote speakers: Prof Robert Insall, Dr Breda Cullen, Dr Richard Reeve, and Dr Mayetri Gupta. 

We welcome abstract submissions from early career researchers and PhD students. Abstract deadline is April 30th, 2021. Abstract submission form available on our website: https://cbc.dcs.gla.ac.uk/

Register to attend here. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to drop us a message: compbio-conference@glasgow.ac.uk

HealthCare Seminar: TBC

Group: Computing Technologies for Healthcare
Speaker: Dr Kitty Meeks, University of Glasgow
Date: 27 May, 2021
Time: 14:00 - 15:00
Location: https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMrdeGoqj0rGNX8m5Oy6OZlCNKxLE04hBVg

Biography

As a child, she dreamed of becoming a professional cake decorator. However, it soon became clear that her future was more likely to lie in mathematics.

She went on to obtain an MMath in Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Oxford (Merton College) in 2009; She stayed in Oxford, working under the supervision of Alex Scott, to complete my DPhil in Mathematics (with a thesis entitled Graph Colourings and Games) in 2013. From 2012 to 2014, she was a Postdoctoral Research Assistant in the School of Mathematical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London, working with Mark Jerrum on the EPSRC-funded project Computational Counting.

She came to the University of Glasgow in 2014, where she held a lectureship in the School of Mathematics and Statistics for two years. In October 2016 she moved to the School of Computing Science, where she currently hold a five-year Royal Society of Edinburgh Personal Research Fellowship (funded by the Scottish Government).

International Workshop on Artificial Intelligence and Mental Health

Group: Computing Technologies for Healthcare
Speaker: https://socialcdt.org/aimh/
Date: 08 June, 2021
Time: 10:00 - 16:00
Location: Zoom

The World Health Organisation states that mental health problems costs the global economy one trillion US dollars each year, whereas in UK, mental health services report that 19.7% of people over 16 years old show symptoms of anxiety and depression. The latest interactive technologies of social robots and virtual reality, powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI) promise new approaches for clinical treatment of psychiatric, developmental and cognitive problems. This workshop brings together experts in AI, computing and mental health, from both academia and industry, that work towards the development of new, computing based methodologies for detection, treatment and analysis of mental health issues. Besides providing an extensive overview of the state-of-the-art in the domain, the workshop aims at helping young researchers (including PhD students and postdocs) and raise awareness of multidisciplinary opportunities of computing and medical sciences in mental health.

Speakers:

• Dr. Nicholas Cummins
  Title: Speech analysis for mental health: opportunities and challenges
• Prof. Helen Minnis
  Title: Social Signal Processing in Attachment
• Prof. Mohamed Chetouani
  Title: Putting the social interaction at the center of mental health analysis and modeling with AI-based approaches
  
• Dr. Esther Papies
  Title: The role of habits in health behaviour: Challenges and opportunities for digital interventions
  
• Dr Pietro Cipresso
  Title: Computational Psychometrics integrating artificial intelligence, virtual reality and mental health

Organised by Computing Technologies for HealthCare and Social AI CDT. For more information and registration details visit the official website.

Quickstrom: Linear Temporal Logic for property-based acceptance testing

Group: Programming Languages at University of Glasgow (PLUG)
Speaker: Liam O'Connor, University of Edinburgh
Date: 08 June, 2021
Time: 15:00 - 16:00
Location: Online