Learning objectives
Course Objectives
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The objective of the course is to provide the student with the ability to
understand and apply the basic rules of machine learning and, in
particular:
- to apply the most common statistical tests in classification among
different categories
- to synthesize the structure of the optimal classifier and analyze its error
performance
- to apply the most common feature extraction methods from input data
- to apply the most common statistical estimators in machine learning
- to apply the most common clustering algorithms in unsupervised
learning
The abilities in applying the above-mentioned knowledge are in particular
in the:
- design and performance analysis of classifiers in machine learning
- selection of the most appropriate features to discriminate input
categories
- selection of the most appropriate clustering algorithms in the design of
unsupervised classifiers
Prerequisites
Entry-level courses in linear algebra and probability theory, such as those
normally offered in the corresponding 3-year Laurea course, are necessary
pre-requisites for this course.
Course unit content
PART 1: Fundamentals (Bononi):
Basic probability refresher. Bayesian binary and M-ary classification. MAP and Minimax classifiers. Performance and ROC. Gaussian case and linear discriminant rules.
Bayesian estimation (regression). Maximum likelihood, MMSE, MMAE estimators. Linear suboptimal estimators.
Supervised learning. Generative versus discriminative approaches. Plug-in learning. Bayesian learning. Minimum empirical risk learning. Nonparametric probability density estimation.
linear data reduction for feature extraction.
PART 2: Advanced topics and applications (Cagnoni)
Support Vector Machines. Classifier evaluation techniques.
Unsupervised classification and clustering.
- K-means and Isodata algorithms
- Self-Organizing Maps
- Learning Vector Quantization
- Kohonen networks
Full programme
Syllabus of PART 1: Fundamentals (Bononi)
(2H every lecture)
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Lec. 1. Introduction
- Problem statement and definitions
- Examples of machine learning problems
- Glossary of equivalent terms in Radar detecton theory, hypothesis testing and machine learning
Lec. 2. Probability refresher
- Axioms, conditional probability, total probability law, Bayes law, double conditioning, chain rule, independence and conditional independence of events.
- Discrete random variables (RV): expectation, conditional expectation. Pairs of RVs. Sum rule. Iterated expectation. Vectors of RVs. An extended example.
Lec. 3. Probability refresher
- Random vectors:
expectation, covariance and its properties, spectral decomposition of covariance matrix, whitening.
- Continuous RV.
Parallels with discrete RVs. Functions of RVs. Mixed RVs. Continuous random vectors.
- Appendix: differentiation rules for vectors and matrices.
Lec. 4.
- Gaussian RVs and their linear transformations. Mahalanobis distance.
Classification:
- Bayesian prediction: introduction, loss function, conditional risk, argmin/argmax rules
- Bayes classification: introduction
Lec. 5. Classification
- 0/1 loss -> maximum a posteriori (MAP) classifier. Binary MAP. Decision regions.
- Classifier performance.
- Likelihood ratio tests and receiver operating curve (ROC)
- Minimax rule
Lec. 6. Classification
- Binary Gaussian classification
- Homoscedastic case: linear discriminant analysis
- Heteroscedastic case: Bhattacharrya bound
- Bayes classification with discrete features
- Classification with missing data (composite hypothesis testing)
Lec. 7. Estimation
- Bayesian estimation: introduction
- Quadratic loss: minimum mean square error (MMSE) estimator = regression curve
- L1 loss: minimum mean absolute error (MMAE) estimator
- 0/1 loss: MAP estimator, and maximum likelihood (ML) in uniform prior.
- Regression for vector Gaussian case
- ML estimation for Gaussian observations
Lec. 8. Estimation
- ML for multinomial
- Conjugate priors in MAP estimation
- Estimation accuracy and ML properties, Cramer Rao bounds.
Suboptimal (non Bayesian) estimation:
- LMMSE estimation (linear regression)
- LMMSE derivation with LDU decomposition
Lec. 9. Estimation
- LMMSE examples
- Generalized linear regression
- Example: polynomial regression
- Sample LMMSE
- Generalized sample LMMSE.
Lec. 10. Learning
- Supervised learning: introduction
- Generative vs discriminatie approaches
- Example: logistic model
- Plug-in learning
ML fitting of logistic model: logistic regression
Example: handwritten digit recognition.
- Bayesian Learning
Lec. 11.
Learning:
- Empirical risk minimization
Nonparametric density estimation:
- Parzen window estimator
- kNN estimator
Lec. 12. linear data reduction
- Principal component analysis (PCA)
- Fisher linear classifier
Bibliography
[1] C. W. Therrien, "Decision, estimation and classification" Wiley, 1989
[2] R. O. Duda, P. E. Hart, D. G. Stork, "Pattern classification", 2nd Ed., Wiley, 2001
[3] D. Barber "Bayesian Reasoning and Machine Learning" Cambridge University Press, 2012.
[4] C. M. Bishop "Pattern Recognition and Machine Learning", Springer, 2006.
[5] T. Hastie, R. Tibshirani, J. Friedman, "The Elements of Statistical Learning: Data mining, inference, and prediction", Springer, 2008.
Teaching methods
Classroom teaching, 42 hours.
In-class problem solving, 6 hours.
Homework regularly assigned.
Assessment methods and criteria
Part 1, Bononi: Oral only, to be scheduled on an individual basis. When
ready, please contact the instructor by email at alberto.bononi[AT]unipr.
it and by specifying the requested date. The exam consists of solving
some exercises and explaining theoretical details connected with them,
for a total time of about 1 hour. You can bring your summary of important
formulas in an A4 sheet to consult if you so wish.
Part 2, Cagnoni: A practical project will be assigned, whose results will be
presented and discussed by the student both as a written report and as
an oral presentation.
Other information
Office Hours
Bononi: Monday 11:30-13:30 (Scientific Complex, Building 2, floor 2,
Room 2/19T).
Cagnoni: by appointment (Scientific Complex, Building 1, floor 2, email
cagnoni[AT]ce.unipr.it).
Course website: http://www.tlc.unipr.it/bononi/didattica/ML/ML.html
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