Building Probabilistic Graphical Models with Python

173 Pages·2014·4.314 MB·English

by  Kiran R Karkera

Building Probabilistic Graphical
Models with Python
Solve machine learning problems using probabilistic
graphical models implemented in Python with
real-world applications
Kiran R Karkera
BIRMINGHAM - MUMBAI
Building Probabilistic Graphical Models with Python
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First published: June 2014
Production reference: 1190614
Published by Packt Publishing Ltd.
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ISBN 978-1-78328-900-4
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Cover image by Manju Mohanadas ([e-mail])
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Credits
Author Project Coordinator
Kiran R Karkera Melita Lobo
Reviewers Proofreaders
Mohit Goenka Maria Gould
Shangpu Jiang Joanna McMahon
Jing (Dave) Tian
Xiao Xiao Indexers
Mariammal Chettiyar
Hemangini Bari
Commissioning Editor
Kartikey Pandey
Graphics
Disha Haria
Acquisition Editor
Nikhil Chinnari Yuvraj Mannari
Abhinash Sahu
Content Development Editor
Madhuja Chaudhari
Production Coordinator
Alwin Roy
Technical Editor
Krishnaveni Haridas
Cover Work
Alwin Roy
Copy Editors
Alisha Aranha
Roshni Banerjee
Mradula Hegde
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About the Author
Kiran R Karkera is a telecom engineer with a keen interest in machine learning.
He has been programming professionally in Python, Java, and Clojure for more than
10 years. In his free time, he can be found attempting machine learning competitions
at Kaggle and playing the flute.
I would like to thank the maintainers of Libpgm and OpenGM
libraries, Charles Cabot and Thorsten Beier, for their help with
the code reviews.
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About the Reviewers
Mohit Goenka graduated from the University of Southern California (USC) with
a Master's degree in Computer Science. His thesis focused on game theory and
human behavior concepts as applied in real-world security games. He also received
an award for academic excellence from the Office of International Services at the
University of Southern California. He has showcased his presence in various realms
of computers including artificial intelligence, machine learning, path planning,
multiagent systems, neural networks, computer vision, computer networks, and
operating systems.
During his tenure as a student, Mohit won multiple competitions cracking codes
and presented his work on Detection of Untouched UFOs to a wide range of audience.
Not only is he a software developer by profession, but coding is also his hobby. He
spends most of his free time learning about new technology and grooming his skills.
What adds a feather to Mohit's cap is his poetic skills. Some of his works are part
of the University of Southern California libraries archived under the cover of the
Lewis Carroll Collection. In addition to this, he has made significant contributions by
volunteering to serve the community.
Shangpu Jiang is doing his PhD in Computer Science at the University of Oregon.
He is interested in machine learning and data mining and has been working in
this area for more than six years. He received his Bachelor's and Master's
degrees from China.
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Jing (Dave) Tian is now a graduate researcher and is doing his PhD in Computer
Science at the University of Oregon. He is a member of the OSIRIS lab. His research
direction involves system security, embedded system security, trusted computing,
and static analysis for security and virtualization. He is interested in Linux kernel
hacking and compilers. He also spent a year on AI and machine learning direction
and taught the classes Intro to Problem Solving using Python and Operating Systems in
the Computer Science department. Before that, he worked as a software developer
in the Linux Control Platform (LCP) group at the Alcatel-Lucent (former Lucent
Technologies) R&D department for around four years. He got his Bachelor's and
Master's degrees from EE in China.
Thanks to the author of this book who has done a good job for both
Python and PGM; thanks to the editors of this book, who have made
this book perfect and given me the opportunity to review such a nice
book.
Xiao Xiao is a PhD student studying Computer Science at the University of Oregon.
Her research interests lie in machine learning, especially probabilistic graphical
models. Her previous project was to compare two inference algorithms' performance
on a graphical model (relational dependency network).
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Table of Contents
Preface 1
Chapter 1: Probability 5
The theory of probability 5
Goals of probabilistic inference 8
Conditional probability 9
The chain rule 9
The Bayes rule 9
Interpretations of probability 11
Random variables 13
Marginal distribution 13
Joint distribution 14
Independence 14
Conditional independence 15
Types of queries 16
Probability queries 16
MAP queries 16
Summary 18
Chapter 2: Directed Graphical Models 19
Graph terminology 19
Python digression 20
Independence and independent parameters 20
The Bayes network 23
The chain rule 24
Reasoning patterns 24
Causal reasoning 25
Evidential reasoning 27
Inter-causal reasoning 27