1,555 research outputs found

    Changing the focus: worker-centric optimization in human-in-the-loop computations

    Get PDF
    A myriad of emerging applications from simple to complex ones involve human cognizance in the computation loop. Using the wisdom of human workers, researchers have solved a variety of problems, termed as “micro-tasks” such as, captcha recognition, sentiment analysis, image categorization, query processing, as well as “complex tasks” that are often collaborative, such as, classifying craters on planetary surfaces, discovering new galaxies (Galaxyzoo), performing text translation. The current view of “humans-in-the-loop” tends to see humans as machines, robots, or low-level agents used or exploited in the service of broader computation goals. This dissertation is developed to shift the focus back to humans, and study different data analytics problems, by recognizing characteristics of the human workers, and how to incorporate those in a principled fashion inside the computation loop. The first contribution of this dissertation is to propose an optimization framework and a real world system to personalize worker’s behavior by developing a worker model and using that to better understand and estimate task completion time. The framework judiciously frames questions and solicits worker feedback on those to update the worker model. Next, improving workers skills through peer interaction during collaborative task completion is studied. A suite of optimization problems are identified in that context considering collaborativeness between the members as it plays a major role in peer learning. Finally, “diversified” sequence of work sessions for human workers is designed to improve worker satisfaction and engagement while completing tasks

    Optimization opportunities in human in the loop computational paradigm

    Get PDF
    An emerging trend is to leverage human capabilities in the computational loop at different capacities, ranging from tapping knowledge from a richly heterogeneous pool of knowledge resident in the general population to soliciting expert opinions. These practices are, in general, termed human-in-the-loop (HITL) computations. A HITL process requires holistic treatment and optimization from multiple standpoints considering all stakeholders: a. applications, b. platforms, c. humans. In application-centric optimization, the factors of interest usually are latency (how long it takes for a set of tasks to finish), cost (the monetary or computational expenses incurred in the process), and quality of the completed tasks. Platform-centric optimization studies throughput, or revenue maximization, while human-centric optimization deals with the characteristics of the human workers, referred to as human factors, such as their skill improvement and learning, to name a few. Finally, fairness and ethical consideration are also of utmost importance in these processes./p\u3e This dissertation aims to design solutions for each of the aforementioned stakeholders. The first contribution of this dissertation is the study of recommending deployment strategies for applications consistent with task requesters’ deployment parameters. From the worker’s standpoint, this dissertation focuses on investigating online group formation where members seek to increase their learning potential via collaboration. Finally, it studies how to consolidate preferences from different workers/applications in a fair manner, such that the final order is both consistent with individual preferences and complies with a group fairness criteria. The technical contributions of this dissertation are to rigorously study these problems from theoretical standpoints, present principled algorithms with theoretical guarantees, and conduct extensive experimental analysis using large-scale real-world datasets to demonstrate their effectiveness and scalability

    Multi-Target Prediction: A Unifying View on Problems and Methods

    Full text link
    Multi-target prediction (MTP) is concerned with the simultaneous prediction of multiple target variables of diverse type. Due to its enormous application potential, it has developed into an active and rapidly expanding research field that combines several subfields of machine learning, including multivariate regression, multi-label classification, multi-task learning, dyadic prediction, zero-shot learning, network inference, and matrix completion. In this paper, we present a unifying view on MTP problems and methods. First, we formally discuss commonalities and differences between existing MTP problems. To this end, we introduce a general framework that covers the above subfields as special cases. As a second contribution, we provide a structured overview of MTP methods. This is accomplished by identifying a number of key properties, which distinguish such methods and determine their suitability for different types of problems. Finally, we also discuss a few challenges for future research

    Learning-by-mediating. Reflexive mediation in action

    Get PDF
    This paper aims at sharing some reflections and results concerning some experiences carried out within a European interdisciplinary Erasmus+ project. The main themes are community and peer mediation, considered from the perspective of educational innovation and experimentation. Two on-line videorecorded meetings of the project are analysed to show that the process of the project and this article-writing was consistent with mediation, that emerges as a topic within a discipline, but also as a cross- disciplinary methodology. The collective construction of meaning becomes a way to acquire knowledge, skills and attitudes while the participants are involved within interactive and constructive educational dynamics

    Computer-Aided Drug Design and Drug Discovery: A Prospective Analysis

    Get PDF
    In the dynamic landscape of drug discovery, Computer-Aided Drug Design (CADD) emerges as a transformative force, bridging the realms of biology and technology. This paper overviews CADDs historical evolution, categorization into structure-based and ligand-based approaches, and its crucial role in rationalizing and expediting drug discovery. As CADD advances, incorporating diverse biological data and ensuring data privacy become paramount. Challenges persist, demanding the optimization of algorithms and robust ethical frameworks. Integrating Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence amplifies CADDs predictive capabilities, yet ethical considerations and scalability challenges linger. Collaborative efforts and global initiatives, exemplified by platforms like Open-Source Malaria, underscore the democratization of drug discovery. The convergence of CADD with personalized medicine offers tailored therapeutic solutions, though ethical dilemmas and accessibility concerns must be navigated. Emerging technologies like quantum computing, immersive technologies, and green chemistry promise to redefine the future of CADD. The trajectory of CADD, marked by rapid advancements, anticipates challenges in ensuring accuracy, addressing biases in AI, and incorporating sustainability metrics. This paper concludes by highlighting the need for proactive measures in navigating the ethical, technological, and educational frontiers of CADD to shape a healthier, brighter future in drug discovery

    Exploring the optimal role of residence heads in promoting student success: an institutional case study

    Get PDF
    Thesis (DEd)--Stellenbosch University, 2017ENGLISH ABSTRACT : Attempts to improve student success in higher education are becoming more holistic and integrated in nature, while also acknowledging that informal out-of-class learning environments can significantly contribute to promoting student success. Such out-ofclass environments include student residences. In South African higher education too there is a growing awareness of the role that residences could play in promoting student success. This study focuses on exploring the optimal role of residence heads in promoting student success, with Stellenbosch University (SU) as the institutional case. The complexity of the South African higher education context within which SU finds itself and the transformation that the institution itself is undergoing make envisaging the optimal role of the residence head in the future SU challenging. The research question this study seeks to answer is: What is the optimal role of residence heads in promoting student success at a higher education institution? As this research problem is vague, broad, complex and systemic, it firstly necessitated an overview of international and national developments in student success and the role of residences in this regard, culminating in a student success level conceptual framework. This study adopted an interpretivist research paradigm. The research design was an explorative revelatory single case of the residence environment at SU. The research method for data gathering and data analysis was Interactive Qualitative Analysis (IQA). Purposive and convenient sampling from four population groups within the residence environment of SU identified participants for the focus group discussions and personal interviews. These focus group discussions and personal interviews enabled the construction of systems influence diagrams (SID). SIDs are mindmaps representing participants’ interpretation of the phenomenon being investigated. The most significant finding of the study is that the optimal role of the future residence head is a blended role of being a leader and playing an intentional educational role. The main purpose of this blended role is promoting student success. Furthermore, the residence head should not see student success simply as academic achievement, but should have a holistic understanding of promoting student success. The conceptualised student success level (SSL) framework can significantly contribute towards promoting such a holistic understanding of student success, and therefore, also influence the understanding of student success in higher education environments and institutions. This study makes contributions at the theoretical and practical level as far as the framework for student success is concerned. It also makes theoretical, policy and practical contributions as far as the role of the residence head is concerned. The conceptualised student success framework would allow higher education institutions the option of assessing their student success approach towards residences and the residence head role. The outcome of the research in terms of the blendedness of the residence head role is significant as this gives higher education institutions a better understanding of what the residence head role should or could be to promote student success. The findings of the study are also significant in that they suggest practical educational skills sets for residence heads to contribute to achieving student success at the different levels of the framework.AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING : Pogings om studentesukses in hoĂ«r onderwys te verbeter word toenemend meer holisties en geĂŻntegreerd van aard, terwyl daar ook erkenning is dat informele buiteklas omgewings ‘n deurslaggewende bydrae tot die bevordering van studentesukses kan maak. Sodanige buite-klas omgewings sluit koshuise in. In Suid-Afrikaanse hoĂ«r onderwys is daar ook ‘n toenemende bewustheid van die rol wat koshuise in die bevordering van studentesukses kan speel. Hierdie studie fokus daarop om die optimale rol wat koshuishoofde in die bevordering van studentesukses kan speel te ondersoek, met Universiteit Stellenbosch (US) as die institusionele gevallestudie. Die kompleksiteit van die Suid-Afrikaanse hoĂ«ronderwyskonteks waarin die US sigself bevind en die transformasie wat die instelling self ondergaan bied bepaalde uitdagings daaraan om die optimale rol van die koshuishoof aan ‘n toekomstige US in die vooruitsig te stel. Die navorsingsvraag wat hierdie studie wil beantwoord is: Wat is die optimale rol van koshuishoofde in die bevordering van studentesukses aan ‘n hoĂ«ronderwysinstelling? Aangesien hierdie probleem vaag, breed, kompleks en van sistemiese aard is, het dit eerstens ‘n oorsig van internasionale en nasionale ontwikkelings met betrekking tot studentesukses en die rol van koshuise daarin genoodsaak, wat uitgeloop het op ‘n konseptuele raamwerk van vlakke van studentesukses. Die studie is vanuit ‘n interpretiewe navorsingsbenadering gedoen. Die navorsingsontwerp het bestaan uit ‘n ondersoekende, onthullende gevallestudie van die koshuisomgewing aan die US. Die navorsingsmetode vir data-insameling en dataanalise was Interaktiewe Kwalitatiewe Analise (IKA). Doelgerigte en geriefsoorwegings het gegeld by steekproeftrekking uit vier populasiegroepe in die koshuisomgewing aan die US wat deelnemers vir fokusgroepbesprekings en individuele onderhoude geĂŻdentifiseer het. Hierdie fokusgroepbesprekings en individuele onderhoude het die daarstelling van sisteeminvloeddiagramme (SIDs) moontlik gemaak. SIDs is grafiese voorstellings van deelnemers se interpretasie van die fenomeen wat ondersoek word. Die mees deurslaggewende bevinding van die studie is dat die optimale rol van die toekomstige koshuishoof ‘n vermengde rol is van ‘n leier te wees en ‘n intensionele opvoedkundige rol te speel. Die primȇre doel van hierdie vermengde rol is die bevordering van studentesukses. Die gekonseptualiseerde raamwerk van vlakke van studentesukses kan ‘n noemenswaardige bydrae maak tot so ‘n holistiese verstaan van die proses van groei, leer en ontwikkeling, en kan gevolglik ook die verstaan van studentesukses in hoĂ«ronderwysomgewings en –instellings beĂŻnvloed. Hierdie studie maak bydraes op sowel teoretiese as praktiese vlak in soverre dit hierdie raamwerk vir studentesukses aangaan. Dit maak ook bydraes op teoretiese, beleids- en praktiese vlak sover dit die rol van die kohuishoof aangaan. Die gekonseptualiseerde studentesuksesraamwerk bied aan hoĂ«ronderwysinstellings die geleentheid om hulle studentesuksesbenadering tot koshuise en koshuishoofde se rol te beoordeel. Die uitkoms van die navorsing in terme van die vermengdheid van die rol van die koshuishoof is betekenisvol aangesien dit hoĂ«ronderwysinstellings ‘n beter begrip gee van wie die koshuishoof moet wees en wat hy/sy moet doen om studentesukses te bevorder. Die bevindinge van die studie is ook betekenisvol aangesien hulle praktiese opvoedkundige vaardighede vir koshuishoofde voorstel waardeur hulle kan bydra tot die bevordering van studentesukses op die verskillende vlakke van die raamwerk

    A Cascade Framework for Privacy-Preserving Point-of-Interest Recommender System

    Get PDF
    Point-of-interest (POI) recommender systems (RSes) have gained significant popularity in recent years due to the prosperity of location-based social networks (LBSN). However, in the interest of personalization services, various sensitive contextual information is collected, causing potential privacy concerns. This paper proposes a cascaded privacy-preserving POI recommendation (CRS) framework that protects contextual information such as user comments and locations. We demonstrate a minimized trade-off between the privacy-preserving feature and prediction accuracy by applying a semi-decentralized model to real-world datasets

    Revisiting core issues in dynamic assessment

    Get PDF
    Dynamic assessment is currently poised at a juncture at which theoretical and practical assessment resolutions are necessitated. Such issues concern theoretical approaches towards  psycho-educational assessment.  In order to partially explore these basic assessment approaches, a questionnaire was delivered via electronic mail to one hundred internationally, currently active dynamic assessment researchers and practitioners. The findings from the responses formed the basis for an informal content analysis, which was conducted utilising themes as primary meaning unit and word counts as secondary meaning unit of analyses. The one common and uniting feature about the current research in this area is the broad range of theoretical approaches towards assessment and the current lack of unanimity across types of approaches. Responses showed that varied theoretical frameworks are employed in dynamic assessments which do not necessarily cohere with other traditional approaches. It is contended that an exploratory revisiting of core assessment approaches would assist in positioning practitioners’ and researchers’ theoretical approaches in future assessments

    How Digital Are the Digital Humanities? An Analysis of Two Scholarly Blogging Platforms

    Get PDF
    In this paper we compare two academic networking platforms, HASTAC and Hypotheses, to show the distinct ways in which they serve specific communities in the Digital Humanities (DH) in different national and disciplinary contexts. After providing background information on both platforms, we apply co-word analysis and topic modeling to show thematic similarities and differences between the two sites, focusing particularly on how they frame DH as a new paradigm in humanities research. We encounter a much higher ratio of posts using humanities-related terms compared to their digital counterparts, suggesting a one-way dependency of digital humanities-related terms on the corresponding unprefixed labels. The results also show that the terms digital archive, digital literacy, and digital pedagogy are relatively independent from the respective unprefixed terms, and that digital publishing, digital libraries, and digital media show considerable cross-pollination between the specialization and the general noun. The topic modeling reproduces these findings and reveals further differences between the two platforms. Our findings also indicate local differences in how the emerging field of DH is conceptualized and show dynamic topical shifts inside these respective contexts
    • 

    corecore