DEPARTMENT OF COMPUTING SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS
UNIVERSITY . COMPUTING SCIENCE . SEMINARS

SEMINARS - Spring 2008

[Talk Schedule] [Abstracts] [Previous Seminars]

The Department of Computing Science and Mathematics presents the following seminars. Unless otherwise stated, seminars will take place in Room 4B94 of the Cottrell Building, University of Stirling from 15.00 to 16.00 on Friday afternoons during semester time. For instructions on how to get to the University, please look at the following routes.

If you would like to give a seminar to the department in future or if you need more information, please contact the seminar organiser, Savi Maharaj (Phone 01786 467431, Email savi@cs.stir.ac.uk).

Talk Schedule [Top] [Abstracts]

Abstracts [Top] [Schedule]

22nd February [Schedule]

Bio-PEPA: a framework for the modelling and analysis of biological systems
Federica Ciocchetta
Laboratory for Foundations of Computer Science
School of Informatics
University of Edinburgh

Abstract

In recent years there has been increasing interest in the application of process algebras in the modelling and analysis of biological systems. Indeed process algebras have some interesting properties that make them particularly useful in describing biological systems, such as compositionality, the possibility to give formal representation of the system avoiding ambiguity and the possibility to consider different kinds of analysis.

In this talk, after a brief introduction to process algebras in systems biology, I will present Bio-PEPA, a new process algebra for the modelling and the analysis of biochemical networks. It is a modification of PEPA, originally defined for the performance analysis of computer systems, in order to model and analyse biochemical networks. Specifically, Bio-PEPA allows us to handle some features of biological systems, such as stoichiometry and general kinetic laws (i.e. different from mass-action).

 

29th February [Schedule]

Specifying, Formalising, Testing and Implementing Web/Grid Service Orchestration
Larry Tan
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics
University of Stirling

Abstract

Grid services, a leading distributed computing technology, enables heterogeneous resources to interoperate in a standard manner. Its SOA (Service Oriented Architecture) nature allows existing services to be composed together to form new services. This activity is widely known as service orchestration. Grid service orchestration has a considerable amount of interest. Grid service applications are usually mission-critical, long-running, resource intensive and complex, hence it is desirable that their behaviour is correct, otherwise circumvent the expenses made for the execution. In constrast to the huge attention given to practical realisation of orchestrating grid services there is not much interest in techniques to ensure properties desirable of the systems. My work focuses on bringing these two aspects: practical realisation of grid service orchestration, and the formal analysis of composite grid services. These also applies to web services This talk will give in detail the implementation of grid service orchestration towards the latest standard specification, and the formal techniques applied.

7th March [Schedule]

Neuronal computing or computational neuroscience: brains vs computers [Abstract]
Leslie Smith
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics
University of Stirling

Abstract

Animal brains are extraordinarily complex, as are modern computers. Both process information, though in quite different ways. Neural systems have been modelled on computers for many years: yet although this has shed light on many aspects of the information processing carried out by brains, it has not enabled us to build software (or hardware) to allow computers to have the same capabilities as animal brains. Why is this? Is there a qualitative difference between brain and computer processing? We suggest (i) that the underlying differences at the lowest levels pervade the nature of their system capabilities and (ii) that the way in which the different levels on brains interact is qualitatively different from the situation in computers. Computers are built directly out of binary logic elements, whereas animal brains have a multi-level operation, based on a multitude of ionic channels, and multiple types of modulator molecules, both large and localised, and small and diffusing. The ways in which these operate and interact is qualitatively different from the way in which digital electronic systems operate and interact.

 

7th March [Schedule]

Evolving graph layout: user studies and applications
Helen Purchase
Department of Computing Science
University of Glasgow

Abstract

Extensive work has been done on the design and implementation of visualisation algorithms that depict evolving graphs as they change over time. The design of these algorithms has typically been based on assumptions about how best to support user comprehension, and usually relate to the concept of 'maintaining the mental map.' This seminar will describe user experiments investigating the usefulness of the 'mental map' in dynamic graph layout, with reference to the domains of social networks, bioinformatics and Shakespeare.

11th April [Schedule]

Application and Programming Security
Rory McCune
HBOS

Abstract

In the past 5-10 years, most companies have made heavy investments in system and network level security systems in the form of Firewalls and Antivirus software. Such systems were primarily employed to mitigate the risks at the network and operating system level of internal company systems. Historically, it was assumed that perimeter security would suffice, therefore security at the application development level was sometimes not viewed as a key priority.

However, customer expectations have changed in line with developments in technology, which has forced the business to diversify and open up new delivery channels in order to meet customer expectations. Clearly, opening up multiple delivery channels, such as Online Banking channels, presents a significant security risk, as gaps need to be made in the secure perimeter to allow external traffic access to internal systems - this means that the internal applications are exposed to external traffic. To mitigate this risk, there must be a step-change in the way we develop and code our applications.

The purpose of this seminar is to provide an overview of the new challenges facing application and programming security, and to provide an insight into the direction that the industry is moving in order to mitigate the risks associated with exposing core systems to satisfy customer expectation.

18th April [Schedule]

The Development of a Risk Modelling Tool to Predict Chemotherapy Related Toxicity in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Adjuvant Chemotherapy
Clare Leadbetter
Department of Computing Science and Mathematics, University of Stirling

Abstract

It is widely acknowledged that patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment want specific information on potential toxicities of their treatment, such as what side-effects they are likely to experience, their severity, duration and how to manage them. Such information not only has the potential to greatly improve the experiences of patients with cancer receiving chemotherapy, but by providing a more accurate prediction of potential side-effects based on patients’ individual and disease related characteristics, may also be of significant benefit clinically as patients who are ‘at risk’ of developing certain toxicities may be identified, facilitating more targeted and cost effective interventions, to those in greatest need and who are most likely to benefit.

Risk modelling provides a powerful mechanism for identifying patterns in data, and the results of such analysis can be used to provide likelihood information relating to the prevalence of similar data occurring in the future. In this study we employ risk modelling techniques to detect patterns occurring in chemotherapy side-effects. Through such analysis, a patient can receive information specific to the side-effects they are likely to experience, when they are most likely to occur across the different cycles of treatment, and the severity with which they are likely to be experienced. Through the use of a user-friendly software tool, this information can be presented to the patient both at the start of treatment and reviewed and monitored with each new cycle of chemotherapy received.

 

25th April [Schedule]

What is Separation Logic?
Ianthe Hind
School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences, Heriot-Watt University

Abstract

Separation logic is an extension of Hoare logic that allows reasoning about pointers. Separation logic introduces a spatial conjuction P * Q which says that the current heap can be split into two heaplets so that P holds for the first heaplet and Q holds for the other. A spatial implication is also introduced which says that whenever a new heaplet satisfying P is added to the current heap, Q will then hold for the combined heap. These spatial connectives permit simple proof rules for pointer manipulations, such as deallocation of a heap cell. In this talk I will explain these spatial connectives and their associated proof rules. I will go through some examples showing separation logic in action. Time permitting, I will discuss my research involving proof automation for separation logic.

 

25th April [Schedule]

Formal methods on small and medium-scales using Omnibus and a large-scale with Praxis HIS
Thomas Wilson
Praxis HIS and Department of Computing Science and Mathematics
University of Stirling

Abstract

This seminar will discuss 3 software development projects of different sizes that use formal methods. The focus of the talk is the first two of these which use the Omnibus language and toolset developed at University of Stirling. The seminar will involve a demonstration of how Omnibus is used in both of these projects to ensure that the corresponding implementations are correct. The first project is a small case study implementing a classical library recording loans of books etc to members. The second project is of a larger size and involves the implementation of the next generation of Omnibus tools using Omnibus itself. This ambitious project is now well underway and I will explain its current status and future aims. Finally, I will talk a little about the large software project which I have been involved in for the last 6 months since joining Praxis High Integrity Systems. The project is an Air Traffic Control System called iFACTS (Interim Future Area Control Tools Support) and is described by National Air Traffic Services (NATS) as "The biggest change in air traffic control since radar". Formal methods are being used extensively within the project as I will briefly outline.

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Last Modified: 25th January 2008