Christos Anagnostopoulos

Qianying Liu, Chaitanya Kaul, Jun Wang et al.

For medical image semantic segmentation (MISS), Vision Transformers have emerged as strong alternatives to convolutional neural networks thanks to their inherent ability to capture long-range correlations. However, existing research uses off-the-shelf vision Transformer blocks based on linear projections and feature processing which lack spatial and local context to refine organ boundaries. Furthermore, Transformers do not generalize well on small medical imaging datasets and rely on large-scale pre-training due to limited inductive biases. To address these problems, we demonstrate the design of a compact and accurate Transformer network for MISS, CS-Unet, which introduces convolutions in a multi-stage design for hierarchically enhancing spatial and local modeling ability of Transformers. This is mainly achieved by our well-designed Convolutional Swin Transformer (CST) block which merges convolutions with Multi-Head Self-Attention and Feed-Forward Networks for providing inherent localized spatial context and inductive biases. Experiments demonstrate CS-Unet without pre-training outperforms other counterparts by large margins on multi-organ and cardiac datasets with fewer parameters and achieves state-of-the-art performance. Our code is available at Github.

Shameem A Puthiya Parambath, Christos Anagnostopoulos, Roderick Murray-Smith

We propose an algorithm for next query recommendation in interactive data exploration settings, like knowledge discovery for information gathering. The state-of-the-art query recommendation algorithms are based on sequence-to-sequence learning approaches that exploit historical interaction data. Due to the supervision involved in the learning process, such approaches fail to adapt to immediate user feedback. We propose to augment the transformer-based causal language models for query recommendations to adapt to the immediate user feedback using multi-armed bandit (MAB) framework. We conduct a large-scale experimental study using log files from a popular online literature discovery service and demonstrate that our algorithm improves the per-round regret substantially, with respect to the state-of-the-art transformer-based query recommendation models, which do not make use of immediate user feedback. Our data model and source code are available at https://github.com/shampp/exp3_ss

Qianyu Long, Christos Anagnostopoulos, Shameem Puthiya Parambath et al.

Federated Learning (FL) has been successfully adopted for distributed training and inference of large-scale Deep Neural Networks (DNNs). However, DNNs are characterized by an extremely large number of parameters, thus, yielding significant challenges in exchanging these parameters among distributed nodes and managing the memory. Although recent DNN compression methods (e.g., sparsification, pruning) tackle such challenges, they do not holistically consider an adaptively controlled reduction of parameter exchange while maintaining high accuracy levels. We, therefore, contribute with a novel FL framework (coined FedDIP), which combines (i) dynamic model pruning with error feedback to eliminate redundant information exchange, which contributes to significant performance improvement, with (ii) incremental regularization that can achieve \textit{extreme} sparsity of models. We provide convergence analysis of FedDIP and report on a comprehensive performance and comparative assessment against state-of-the-art methods using benchmark data sets and DNN models. Our results showcase that FedDIP not only controls the model sparsity but efficiently achieves similar or better performance compared to other model pruning methods adopting incremental regularization during distributed model training. The code is available at: https://github.com/EricLoong/feddip.

Theodoros Anagnostopoulos, Evanthia Zervoudi, Christos Anagnostopoulos et al.

Linear regression analysis focuses on predicting a numeric regressand value based on certain regressor values. In this context, k-Nearest Neighbors (k-NN) is a common non-parametric regression algorithm, which achieves efficient performance when compared with other algorithms in literature. In this research effort an optimization of the k-NN algorithm is proposed by exploiting the potentiality of an introduced arithmetic method, which can provide solutions for linear equations involving an arbitrary number of real variables. Specifically, an Arithmetic Method Algorithm (AMA) is adopted to assess the efficiency of the introduced arithmetic method, while an Arithmetic Method Regression (AMR) algorithm is proposed as an optimization of k-NN adopting the potentiality of AMA. Such algorithm is compared with other regression algorithms, according to an introduced optimal inference decision rule, and evaluated on certain real world data sources, which are publicly available. Results are promising since the proposed AMR algorithm has comparable performance with the other algorithms, while in most cases it achieves better performance than the k-NN. The output results indicate that introduced AMR is an optimization of k-NN.

Qianyu Long, Qiyuan Wang, Christos Anagnostopoulos et al.

Decentralized Federated Learning (DFL) has become popular due to its robustness and avoidance of centralized coordination. In this paradigm, clients actively engage in training by exchanging models with their networked neighbors. However, DFL introduces increased costs in terms of training and communication. Existing methods focus on minimizing communication often overlooking training efficiency and data heterogeneity. To address this gap, we propose a novel \textit{sparse-to-sparser} training scheme: DA-DPFL. DA-DPFL initializes with a subset of model parameters, which progressively reduces during training via \textit{dynamic aggregation} and leads to substantial energy savings while retaining adequate information during critical learning periods. Our experiments showcase that DA-DPFL substantially outperforms DFL baselines in test accuracy, while achieving up to $5$ times reduction in energy costs. We provide a theoretical analysis of DA-DPFL's convergence by solidifying its applicability in decentralized and personalized learning. The code is available at:https://github.com/EricLoong/da-dpfl

Maximilian Forstenhäusler, Daniel Külzer, Christos Anagnostopoulos et al.

Accurate predictions using sequential spatiotemporal data are crucial for various applications. Utilizing real-world data, we aim to learn the intent of a smart device user within confined areas of a vehicle's surroundings. However, in real-world scenarios, environmental factors and sensor limitations result in non-stationary and irregularly sampled data, posing significant challenges. To address these issues, we developed a Transformer-based approach, STaRFormer, which serves as a universal framework for sequential modeling. STaRFormer employs a novel, dynamic attention-based regional masking scheme combined with semi-supervised contrastive learning to enhance task-specific latent representations. Comprehensive experiments on 15 datasets varying in types (including non-stationary and irregularly sampled), domains, sequence lengths, training samples, and applications, demonstrate the efficacy and practicality of STaRFormer. We achieve notable improvements over state-of-the-art approaches. Code and data will be made available.

Shameem A. Puthiya Parambath, Christos Anagnostopoulos, Roderick Murray-Smith et al.

We consider the query recommendation problem in closed loop interactive learning settings like online information gathering and exploratory analytics. The problem can be naturally modelled using the Multi-Armed Bandits (MAB) framework with countably many arms. The standard MAB algorithms for countably many arms begin with selecting a random set of candidate arms and then applying standard MAB algorithms, e.g., UCB, on this candidate set downstream. We show that such a selection strategy often results in higher cumulative regret and to this end, we propose a selection strategy based on the maximum utility of the arms. We show that in tasks like online information gathering, where sequential query recommendations are employed, the sequences of queries are correlated and the number of potentially optimal queries can be reduced to a manageable size by selecting queries with maximum utility with respect to the currently executing query. Our experimental results using a recent real online literature discovery service log file demonstrate that the proposed arm selection strategy improves the cumulative regret substantially with respect to the state-of-the-art baseline algorithms. % and commonly used random selection strategy for a variety of contextual multi-armed bandit algorithms. Our data model and source code are available at ~\url{https://anonymous.4open.science/r/0e5ad6b7-ac02-4577-9212-c9d505d3dbdb/}.

Kostas Kolomvatsos, Christos Anagnostopoulos

The combination of the infrastructure provided by the Internet of Things (IoT) with numerous processing nodes present at the Edge Computing (EC) ecosystem opens up new pathways to support intelligent applications. Such applications can be provided upon humongous volumes of data collected by IoT devices being transferred to the edge nodes through the network. Various processing activities can be performed on the discussed data and multiple collaborative opportunities between EC nodes can facilitate the execution of the desired tasks. In order to support an effective interaction between edge nodes, the knowledge about the geographically distributed data should be shared. Obviously, the migration of large amounts of data will harm the stability of the network stability and its performance. In this paper, we recommend the exchange of data synopses than real data between EC nodes to provide them with the necessary knowledge about peer nodes owning similar data. This knowledge can be valuable when considering decisions such as data/service migration and tasks offloading. We describe an continuous reasoning model that builds a temporal similarity map of the available datasets to get nodes understanding the evolution of data in their peers. We support the proposed decision making mechanism through an intelligent similarity extraction scheme based on an unsupervised machine learning model, and, at the same time, combine it with a statistical measure that represents the trend of the so-called discrepancy quantum. Our model can reveal the differences in the exchanged synopses and provide a datasets similarity map which becomes the appropriate knowledge base to support the desired processing activities. We present the problem under consideration and suggest a solution for that, while, at the same time, we reveal its advantages and disadvantages through a large number of experiments.

Kostas Kolomvatsos, Christos Anagnostopoulos

The combination of Internet of Things (IoT) and Edge Computing (EC) can assist in the delivery of novel applications that will facilitate end users activities. Data collected by numerous devices present in the IoT infrastructure can be hosted into a set of EC nodes becoming the subject of processing tasks for the provision of analytics. Analytics are derived as the result of various queries defined by end users or applications. Such queries can be executed in the available EC nodes to limit the latency in the provision of responses. In this paper, we propose a meta-ensemble learning scheme that supports the decision making for the allocation of queries to the appropriate EC nodes. Our learning model decides over queries' and nodes' characteristics. We provide the description of a matching process between queries and nodes after concluding the contextual information for each envisioned characteristic adopted in our meta-ensemble scheme. We rely on widely known ensemble models, combine them and offer an additional processing layer to increase the performance. The aim is to result a subset of EC nodes that will host each incoming query. Apart from the description of the proposed model, we report on its evaluation and the corresponding results. Through a large set of experiments and a numerical analysis, we aim at revealing the pros and cons of the proposed scheme.

Panagiotis Fountas, Kostas Kolomvatsos, Christos Anagnostopoulos

Pervasive computing involves the placement of processing services close to end users to support intelligent applications. With the advent of the Internet of Things (IoT) and the Edge Computing (EC), one can find room for placing services at various points in the interconnection of the aforementioned infrastructures. Of significant importance is the processing of the collected data. Such a processing can be realized upon the EC nodes that exhibit increased computational capabilities compared to IoT devices. An ecosystem of intelligent nodes is created at the EC giving the opportunity to support cooperative models. Nodes become the hosts of geo-distributed datasets formulated by the IoT devices reports. Upon the datasets, a number of queries/tasks can be executed. Queries/tasks can be offloaded for performance reasons. However, an offloading action should be carefully designed being always aligned with the data present to the hosting node. In this paper, we present a model to support the cooperative aspect in the EC infrastructure. We argue on the delivery of data synopses to EC nodes making them capable to take offloading decisions fully aligned with data present at peers. Nodes exchange data synopses to inform their peers. We propose a scheme that detects the appropriate time to distribute synopses trying to avoid the network overloading especially when synopses are frequently extracted due to the high rates at which IoT devices report data to EC nodes. Our approach involves a Deep Learning model for learning the distribution of calculated synopses and estimate future trends. Upon these trends, we are able to find the appropriate time to deliver synopses to peer nodes. We provide the description of the proposed mechanism and evaluate it based on real datasets. An extensive experimentation upon various scenarios reveals the pros and cons of the approach by giving numerical results.

Anna Karanika, Panagiotis Oikonomou, Kostas Kolomvatsos et al.

Data quality is a significant issue for any application that requests for analytics to support decision making. It becomes very important when we focus on Internet of Things (IoT) where numerous devices can interact to exchange and process data. IoT devices are connected to Edge Computing (EC) nodes to report the collected data, thus, we have to secure data quality not only at the IoT but also at the edge of the network. In this paper, we focus on the specific problem and propose the use of interpretable machine learning to deliver the features that are important to be based for any data processing activity. Our aim is to secure data quality, at least, for those features that are detected as significant in the collected datasets. We have to notice that the selected features depict the highest correlation with the remaining in every dataset, thus, they can be adopted for dimensionality reduction. We focus on multiple methodologies for having interpretability in our learning models and adopt an ensemble scheme for the final decision. Our scheme is capable of timely retrieving the final result and efficiently select the appropriate features. We evaluate our model through extensive simulations and present numerical results. Our aim is to reveal its performance under various experimental scenarios that we create varying a set of parameters adopted in our mechanism.

Fotis Savva, Christos Anagnostopoulos, Peter Triantafillou

Large organizations have seamlessly incorporated data-driven decision making in their operations. However, as data volumes increase, expensive big data infrastructures are called to rescue. In this setting, analytics tasks become very costly in terms of query response time, resource consumption, and money in cloud deployments, especially when base data are stored across geographically distributed data centers. Therefore, we introduce an adaptive Machine Learning mechanism which is light-weight, stored client-side, can estimate the answers of a variety of aggregate queries and can avoid the big data backend. The estimations are performed in milliseconds are inexpensive and accurate as the mechanism learns from past analytical-query patterns. However, as analytic queries are ad-hoc and analysts' interests change over time we develop solutions that can swiftly and accurately detect such changes and adapt to new query patterns. The capabilities of our approach are demonstrated using extensive evaluation with real and synthetic datasets.

Fotis Savva, Christos Anagnostopoulos, Peter Triantafillou

Analysts wishing to explore multivariate data spaces, typically pose queries involving selection operators, i.e., range or radius queries, which define data subspaces of possible interest and then use aggregation functions, the results of which determine their exploratory analytics interests. However, such aggregate query (AQ) results are simple scalars and as such, convey limited information about the queried subspaces for exploratory analysis. We address this shortcoming aiding analysts to explore and understand data subspaces by contributing a novel explanation mechanism coined XAXA: eXplaining Aggregates for eXploratory Analytics. XAXA's novel AQ explanations are represented using functions obtained by a three-fold joint optimization problem. Explanations assume the form of a set of parametric piecewise-linear functions acquired through a statistical learning model. A key feature of the proposed solution is that model training is performed by only monitoring AQs and their answers on-line. In XAXA, explanations for future AQs can be computed without any database (DB) access and can be used to further explore the queried data subspaces, without issuing any more queries to the DB. We evaluate the explanation accuracy and efficiency of XAXA through theoretically grounded metrics over real-world and synthetic datasets and query workloads.