Cross-project collaboration – Page 2

03.10.2024.06.10.2024.

BSc thesis on computer vision and machine learning for sign language

Mr. Igor Radulovic defended his BSc thesis on computer vision and machine learning for creating a prediction model for sign language. The defence took place on 3 October at UDG. This effort was inspired by the AI4S3 course and was supported by mentors from NCC Montenegro and HPC4S3ME team.

ABSTRACT – This thesis explores the use of advanced computer vision and machine learning techniques to develop a system that enables the translation of sign language into speech or written text in real time. The project aims to facilitate the communication of deaf-mute people with people who do not know sign language, in order to overcome language barriers and improve the social status of deaf-mute people in society. Using technologies such as Google Colab, Python, Roboflow, VS Code and Detectron2, a system was developed that recognizes various American Sign Language (ASL) gestures and converts them into understandable information. The system is based on deep neural networks and processes such as model training and instance segmentation, in order to achieve a high level of accuracy and reliability. Through the evaluation of the results, an impressive performance of the model was achieved with an F1 result of 95.6%, while the challenges in the technical limitations remained an important point of future development. This work points to the significant social impact of the application of computer vision in the communication of deaf and mute people, enabling them to integrate and be present in modern society.

Computer vision and machinle learning for sign language

03.10.2024.06.10.2024.

BSc thesis on prompt engineering

Mr. Veselin Andric defended his BSc thesis titleld “Prompt endineering for LLMs” at the Faculty for information systems and technologies. The devence took place on 2 Oct 2024 and it was done under mentorship of the EuroCC and HPC4S3ME teams’ members. This was a part of the effort to promote HPC and AI related technologies in the teaching curricula and research activities at UDG.

ABSTRACT – Prompt engineering is one of the primary areas of Natural language processing (NLP). It is a process that involves designing and improving inputs that are given to a language model such as ChatGPT, with a goal of getting wanted results. This dissertation investigates details of prompt engineering, it’s theoretical foundation, methodologies and practical uses in different tasks of NLP.

Mr. Veselin Andric defended his BSc thesis on Prompt Engineering

The provided an overview of NLP, LLMs and prompt techniques

02.10.2024.

HPC and AI in Pharmacy

At the Avala Hotel in Budva, on September 27, 2024, as part of the international EPhEU event, the association of pharmacy organizations from Europe (September 26 to 28, 2024), a session on Module 6 of continuing education for Montenegrin pharmacists was held, titled “Artificial Intelligence in Pharmacy: Digital Challenges, Myths and Misconceptions Incorporated in Digital Media, the Need for New Competencies for Pharmacists.” This event gathered over 150 experts, both online and in person, from the field of pharmacy, aiming to discuss the role of artificial intelligence in transforming the pharmaceutical sector.

*Mr Cakic gave a lecture on HPC and AI and applications in Pharmaceutical industry*

Mr Stevan Čakić from UDG and NCC Montenegro gave a lecture on the history and development of AI, emphasizing its growing importance in pharmacy. Then a special attention was given to the application of AI in drug development, personalized therapy, and optimization of pharmaceutical services. The discussion addressed the potential of AI and HPC to reshape the way pharmacists perform their daily tasks, as well as the need to improve skills and knowledge to adapt to new technologies. Link for the PKFE: https://pkfe.me/edukativni-programi/

20.09.2024.

AIFusion! Course on AI in S3 domains

AIFusion! Apply for a course on artificial intelligence (AI) in agriculture, medicine and energy. HPC4S3ME team mebers will actively participate in training and workshop sessions. The training is carried out in the context of NCC Montenegro and EUROCC with the financial support of the Innovation Fund of Montenegro. We continue last year’s success! This is an activity supported by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro.

More info: link.

30.07.2024.06.10.2024.

In-house HPC lab is getting an upgrade

The in-house HPC lab at UDG is getting an upgrade. Though cross-project collaboration with the support from EUROCC (NCC Montenegro) and financial support through AI-AGE project financed by the Ministry of education, science and innovation, UDG is procurring additional computing node and data storage that will be integrated with the equipment lab established through HPC4S3ME.

More in-house computing and storage power

The HPC Rack computing node is a high-performance 2U rack server designed for demanding computing tasks. It features dual processors, each with 24 cores running at 3.40 GHz, offering 48 threads and a 36 MB cache. The server comes equipped with 256GB DDR4 memory, expandable up to 4TB per processor, and includes 32 memory slots. Storage is provided by two 480GB SSD SATA 6G drives, with graphics powered by an NVIDIA L40 48GB card. It includes a Broadcom MR216i-a storage controller and network capabilities with 4x 1Gb Ethernet ports and 1 management port. The server also supports advanced security features like UEFI Secure Boot, Trusted Platform Module (TPM) 1.2, and secure firmware updates, ensuring tamper-free operation and data protection. Additionally, it is equipped with dual 1600W power supplies and easy rack-mounting options for streamlined deployment in HPC environments.

The NAS storage system features a robust setup designed for high-capacity data management and sharing. It includes a 4-bay configuration, each supporting 12TB SATA 6Gb/s drives, allowing for a total storage capacity of up to 66TB. Powered by an Intel Celeron N5095 4-core processor with 8GB RAM, this system provides solid performance for various storage needs. With dual 2.5 Gigabit Ethernet ports and PCIe Gen 3 expansion capabilities, it ensures fast data transfer and network connectivity. Additionally, it supports up to 1,500 concurrent CIFS connections, making it suitable for medium to large-scale data environments.

01.02.2024.16.04.2024.

AI-AGE: Artificial Intelligence Supported Identification of Novel Non-invasive Biomarkers of Aging

Another AI and S3 related project is granted for implementation at UDG. The AI-AGE project proposes the use of machine learning (ML) algorithms and evaluation of state-of-the-art AI tools to train and create prediction models to identify novel non-invasive biomarkers of aging, and increased risk for development of age-related conditions. The idea is to utilize a large dataset of annotated retinal images from the UK Biobank, to explore deep learning (DL) techniques, most commonly based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs), such as U-Net and Res-Net, and transformers, but also to expand the research on the use of ensemble methods that combine ML techniques to improve performance and accuracy.

The eye serves as a window for non-invasive assessment of retinal vascular and neural tissue, offering valuable insight into our health. Extensive research has established the association between changes in retinal morphology and the increased risk for many age-related chronic diseases. These changes are also linked to healthy aging, albeit more pronounced in the presence of age-related chronic conditions. This project will provide sustainability for HPC4S3ME activities and it implementation spans from 2024 to 2026.

AI-AGE project is implemented through partnership between the Faculty for Information Systems and Technologies (UDG) and Faculty of Medicine (UoM). The project is funded by the Ministry of Education, Science and Innovation, grant number 04-082/23-2528/1.

25.12.2023.31.12.2023.

EuroCC and AI4S3 Hackaton

On 23 Dec 2023, our researchers participated in the organisation of EuroCC and AI4S3 Hackaton. The hackaton was organized in the context of EuroCC implementing AI4S3 education project that was funded by the Innovation Fund of Montenegro. There was 24 teams presenting their projects and around 50 attendees. There were students from BSc, MSc and PhD level, as well as some industry representatives.

The Hackaton focused on HPC/AI and Comuter Vision applications in S3 domains

There was 24 teams that presented their projects

10.12.2023.10.12.2023.

EUROCC2 Workshop “Digital Transformation and HPC/AI” for BSc students

On 8 Dec 2023, a workshop on “Digital Transformation and HPC/AI” unfolded at the University of Donja Gorica. Over the course of this semester, final-year BSc students from the Faculty for Information Systems and Technologies delved into research on HPC and AI technologies within the framework of the Managing Information Technology subject. The EUROCC NCC Montenegro team conducted enlightening lectures and presentations on HPC and AI, providing students with a comprehensive grasp of these technologies and illustrating their pivotal roles in digital transformation.

The workshop was organized for BSc students by EUROCC NCC Monteengro team

During the workshop, students had the opportunity to showcase the projects they worked on throughout the semester, projects that will be defended during their final exam in Managing Information Technology course. The presented use cases spanned across various fields such as tourism, medicine, agriculture, and digital marketing. This event not only allowed students to share their findings but also fostered a deeper understanding of the practical applications of HPC and AI in real-world scenarios. Our focus was on the possible applications of interest for Montenegro and in the priority domains of Smart Specialisation Strategy for Montenegro (2014-2019).