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Marenglen Biba


      PostDoctoral Researcher

      Address: Dipartimento di Informatica,
                       Via E. Orabona, 4 - 70125, Bari
      Telephone: (+080) 544-2293
      Fax: (+080) 544-3196
      Office: 520 DIB
      Email: last name at di dot uniba dot it

2009 - present, Postdoctoral researcher in Computer Science at LACAM laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Bari. My supervisor is Prof. Floriana Esposito.

2005 - 2009, Ph.D student in Computer Science at LACAM laboratory, Department of Computer Science, University of Bari under the supervision of Prof. Floriana Esposito. Ph.D thesis: Integrating Logic and Probability: Algorithmic Improvements in Markov Logic Networks.

September - December 2007, I was visiting student at the Machine Learning group headed by Prof. Pedro Domingos, at the Department of Computer Science and Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, USA.

1999 - 2004 Laurea Degree (cum laude) in Computer Science, University of Bari under the supervision of Prof. Stefano Ferilli and Prof. Floriana Esposito. Thesis title: "Automatic acquisition of background knowledge for a multistrategic incremental learning system".



Research interests:

Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Pattern Recognition, Computational Biology, Document Image Understanding, Information Extraction.

Current projects:

Statistical Relational Learning: I am currently investigating Markov Logic Networks, a powerful formalism that integrates first-order logic and probabilistic graphical models.
Machine Learning and Pattern Recognition for Document Classification and Understanding: I am involved in the implementation of the DOMINUS system, a document processing system that uses machine learning and pattern recognition methods. It uses layout analysis algorithms from pattern recognition to extract the structure of a document and then applies an ILP system to learn classification and understanding rules.
Applications of Machine Learning in Computational and Systems Biology: I am interested in investigating problems of Computational and Systems Biology by applying symbolic-statistical machine learning methods.
Combinatorial Optimization in Machine Learning: Most problems in Machine Learning require combinatorial optimization. I'm interested in investigating stochastic metaheuristics for statistical relational learning optimization.
Applications of Machine Learning in Information Extraction : Statistical Relational Learning has the power to boost information extraction. I'm interested in investigating the application of SRL models to relation extraction.


Past projects:

Inductive Logic Programming: I have been interested in combining ILP principles (such as refinement operators) with statistical learning.
Logical and Statistical Abduction: For my laurea thesis, I implemented some operators for automatically discovering abduction theories based on statistical properties of non-constraints found in a certain domain.
Scalability of ILP: I have been interested in the scalability of ILP. I have implemented some parts of the ILP system INTHELEX on partial memory.
Multistrategic Learning: Learning through multiple types of inferences. I have implemented some parts of the ILP system INTHELEX on multistrategic learning.


Publications

2009

M. Biba. Integrating Logic and Probability: Algorithmic Improvements in Markov Logic Networks. Ph.D Thesis, University of Bari, 2009.

S. Ferilli, M. Biba, F. Esposito, T. M. A. Basile. A Distance-based Technique for non-Manhattan Layout Analysis. International Conference On Document Analysis And Recognition (ICDAR'09), Barcelona, Spain, IEEE Computer Society, to appear.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, F. Esposito. Towards Multistrategic Statistical Relational Learning. In Recent Advances in Machine Learning. Eds. J. Koronacki, S. T. Wirzchon, Z. Ras, J. Kacprzyk. Studies in Computational Intelligence series, Springer, 2009.

S. Ferilli, F. Esposito, M. Biba, T. M.A. Basile, N. Di Mauro. FOL Learning Techniques for Knowledge Discovery from Documents. In Handbook of Research on Machine Learning Applications and Trends: Algorithms, Methods, and Techniques. Eds: E. Soria, J.D. Martin, R. Magdalena, M.Martinez, A.J. Serrano. IGI Global Publishing, Hershey, PA, USA, 2009.

S. Ferilli, T.M.A. Basile, M. Biba, N. Di Mauro, F. Esposito. A General Similarity Framework for Horn Clause Logic. Fundamenta Informaticae Journal, 90(1-2): 43-66, IOS Press, 2009.

S. Ferilli, M. Biba, T.M.A. Basile, F. Esposito. Combining Qualitative and Quantitative Keyword Extraction Methods with Document Layout Analysis. 5th Italian Research Conference on Digital Libraries, (IRCDL'09), DELOS: an Association for Digital Libraries 2009.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, F. Esposito. Modelling (Bio)Logical Sequences through Markov Logic Networks. International Joint Conference Intelligent Information Systems (IIS 2009), Recent Advances in Intelligent Infomation Systems, ISBN 978-83-60434-59-8, Warsaw, 2009.

M. Biba. Integrating Logic and Statistics: Novel Algorithms in Markov Logic Networks. VDM Verlag, ISBN 978-3639122824, Saarbrucken, Germany, 2009.

2008

S. Ferilli, M. Biba, T. M.A. Basile, N. Di Mauro, and F. Esposito. k-Nearest Neighbor Classification on First-Order Logic Descriptions . In Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Mining Complex Data - (MCD 2008 In conjunction with IEEE ICDM 2008).

S. Ferilli, T. M. A. Basile, M. Biba, F. Esposito. Incremental Machine Learning Techniques for Document Layout Understanding . In Proc. of 19th International Conference on Pattern Recognition (ICPR 2008), December 8-11, 2008, Tampa, FL, USA.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, F. Esposito. Discriminative Structure Learning of Markov Logic Networks . In Proceedings of 18th International Conference on Inductive Logic Programming, (ILP 2008), LNCS 5194, (pp. 59-76), Springer, 2008. Shared Best Student Paper Award sponsored by Machine Learning Journal.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, F. Esposito. Structure Learning of Markov Logic Networks through Iterated Local Search . In Proceedings of 18th European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI 2008), Patras, Greece, IOS Press, 2008.

S. Ferilli, T. M. A. Basile, M. Biba, F. Esposito. Automatic Document Organization Exploiting FOL Similarity-based Techniques . Post-proceedings of the 4th Italian Research Conference on Digital Library Systems, (IRCDL 2008), (pp. 57-66). DELOS: an Association for Digital Libraries 2008.

S. Ferilli, N. Di Mauro, T. M.A. Basile, M. Biba, F. Esposito. Generalization-based Similarity for Conceptual Clustering . In Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Mining Complex Data - (MCD 2007 at ECML/PKDD 2007), LNAI, Vol. 4944, 13-26, Springer, 2008.


2007

M. Biba, F. Esposito, S. Ferilli, N. Di Mauro, and T.M.A. Basile. Unsupervised Discretization Using Kernel Density Estimation . In Proceedings of the 20th International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI07), pp. 696-701, 2007.

S. Ferilli, T.M.A. Basile, N. Di Mauro, M. Biba and F. Esposito. Similarity-Guided Clause Generalization. Artificial Intelligence and Human-Oriented Computing, 10th Congress of the Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence, AI*IA 2007, LNCS 4733, pp.278-289, Springer 2007.

S. Ferilli, T.M.A. Basile, N. Di Mauro, M. Biba, and F. Esposito. Generalizzazione di Clausole Basata Su Un Nuovo Criterio di Similarita'. In Proceedings of 22nd Italian Conference on Computational Logic, CILC 2007.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, N. Di Mauro, T. M.A Basile. A Hybrid Symbolic-Statistical Approach to Modeling Metabolic Networks . Knowledge-Based Intelligent Information and Engineering Systems, 11th International Conference, KES 2007, LNCS 4692, pp. 132-139, Springer 2007.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, F. Esposito, N. Di Mauro, T.M.A Basile. A Fast Partial Memory Approach to Incremental Learning through an Advanced Data Storage Framework . In Proceedings of the 15th Italian Symposium on Advanced Database Systems, SEBD 2007, pp.52-63, ISBN 978-88-902981-0-3.

M. Biba, F. Esposito, S. Ferilli, N. Di Mauro, T.M.A Basile. Mining Time-series Sequences of Reactions for Biologically Active Patterns in Metabolic Pathways. In Proceedings of the 15th Italian Symposium on Advanced Database Systems, SEBD 2007, pp. 40-51, ISBN 978-88-902981-0-3.

M. Biba, F. Esposito, S. Ferilli, T. M.A Basile, N. Di Mauro. Multi-class Protein Fold Recognition through a Symbolic-Statistical Framework. In Proceedings of CIBB 2007: 4th International Meeting on Computational Intelligence Methods for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, LNCS 4578, pp. 666-673, Springer 2007.


2006

S. Ferilli, F. Esposito, N. Di Mauro, T.M.A Basile and M. Biba. INTHELEX system presentation: An abduction framework for handling incompleteness in first-order learning . In Proceedings of 5th Workshop on Abduction and Induction in AI and Scientific Modelling (AIAI'06) at ECAI 2006.

S. Ferilli, N. Di Mauro, T.M.A. Basile, F. Esposito and M. Biba. Automatic Topics Identification For Reviewer Assignment . In Proceedings of The 19th International Conference on Industrial, Engineering & Other Applications of Applied Intelligent Systems (IEA/AIE'06), LNAI 4031, pp. 721-730, Springer Verlag, 2006.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, N. Di Mauro and T.M.A Basile. Intelligent Methodologies for Scientific Conference Management . In Founfations of Intelligent Systems, Proceedings of the 16th International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS 2006), LNAI 4303, pp. 258-267, Springer Verlag, 2006.

M. Biba, T.M.A Basile, S. Ferilli, and F. Esposito. Improving Scalability in ILP Incremental Systems . In Proceedings of 21st Italian Conference on Computational Logic, CILC 2006.

M. Biba, S. Ferilli, T. M.A Basile, N. Di Mauro and F. Esposito. Induction of Abstraction Theories Using Unsupervised Discretization of Continuous Attributes. In S. Muggleton, R. Otero (Eds), Short Paper Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Inductive Logic Programming. University of Corunna, 2006.

S. Ferilli, T.M.A. Basile, N. Di Mauro, M. Biba, F. Esposito. A New Similarity Measure for Guiding Generalizations Search. In S. Muggleton, R. Otero (Eds), Short Paper Proceedings of the 15th International Conference on Inductive Logic Programming. University of Corunna, 2006.


Teaching

Academic year 2008/2009 - Artificial Intelligence course
Academic year 2007/2008 - Advanced Programming Methods course
Academic year 2007/2008 - Knowledge Representation course
Academic year 2007/2008 - Algorithms and Data Structures course
Academic year 2006/2007 - Algorithms and Data Structures course
Academic year 2006/2007 - Knowledge Representation course
Academic year 2006/2007 - Knowledge Engineering and Expert Systems course
Academic year 2006/2007 - Advanced Programming Methods course


Software

I am currently developing MLN++, a statistical relational learning system based on Markov Logic and built upon Alchemy .
INTHELEX
DOMINUS



Memberships

Association for Computing Machinery.
Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers.
IEEE Computer Society.
GULP - Italian Association for Logic Programming affiliated to Association for Logic Programming (ALP).


Activities

Reviewer:
International Joint Conference on Artificial Intelligence (IJCAI'07).
European Conference on Artificial Intelligence (ECAI'06, ECAI'08).
European Conference of Machine Learning/Knowledge Discovery in Databases (ECML/PKDD'06, ECML/PKDD'07, ECML/PKDD'08, ECML/PKDD'09).
ACM SIGKDD conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (KDD'09).
International Conference on Inductive Logic Programming (ILP'06, ILP'07, ILP'08).
Workshop on Multi-Relational Data Mining (MRDM'07).
IEEE International Conference on Data Mining (ICDM'06, ICDM'08).
IEEE Symposium on Computational Intelligence and Data Mining (CIDM'07, CIDM'09).
International Conference on Advanced Data Mining and Applications (ADMA'09).
International Workshop on Mining Complex Data. (MCD'07, MCD'08)
International Conference on Pattern Recognition (ICPR'08)
International Conference On Document Analysis And Recognition (ICDAR'07)
Italian Association for Artificial Intelligence (AI*IA'07)
International Symposium on Methodologies for Intelligent Systems (ISMIS'06,ISMIS'08)
International Joint Conference Intelligent Information Systems (IIS'09).
International Conference on Advanced Intelligence (ICAI'08).
International Conference on Industrial,Engineering \& Other Applications of Applied Intelligent Systems (IEA/AIE'07,IEA/AIE'08,IEA/AIE'09).
International Meeting on Computational Intelligence Methods for Bioinformatics and Biostatistics (CIBB'07, CIBB'08, CIBB'09).
The Pacific-Asia Conference on Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining (PAKDD'09).
International Uncertainty Reasoning Workshop at ISCW 2008 (URSW'08).
International Conference on Knowledge-Based and Intelligent Information & Engineering Systems (KES'07, KES'08, KES'09).
European Conference on Research and Advanced Technology for Digital Libraries (ECDL'06,ECDL'07,ECDL'08,ECDL'09).
IEEE International Conference on Document Image Analysis for Libraries (DIAL'06).
International Conference on Agents and Artificial Intelligence (ICAART'09)
Prestigious Applications of Intelligent Systems. (PAIS'08).
International Journal on Knowledge and Information Systems.
Neurocomputing Journal.
Neural Networks Journal.

Courses attended
July 2007 - I attended the Lipari summer school on "Proteomes and Proteins", A Course Jointly Organized by The International School of Advanced BioMedicine and BioInformatics and by The Lipari International School for Computer Science Researchers