Accession Number:

ADA455933

Title:

Canonical Probability Distributions for Model Building, Learning, and Inference

Descriptive Note:

Final rept. 1 Jan 2003-30 December 2005

Corporate Author:

PITTSBURGH UNIV PA SCHOOL OF INFO SCIENCES

Personal Author(s):

• Druzdzel, Marek J.

Report Date:

2006-07-14

Pagination or Media Count:

34.0

Abstract:

The performed project focused on three major issues 1 development and application of parametric conditional probability distributions, 2 improvements of stochastic sampling algorithms based on importance sampling, and 3 practical applications of our general purpose decision modeling environment to diagnosis of complex systems. We have proposed a new class of parametric probability distributions, named Probabilistic Independence of Causal Interaction pICI models. We have shown that this class of models leads to improvements in learning of and inference in Bayesian networks. We have booked considerable advances in stochastic sampling algorithms for Bayesian networks based on importance sampling, preserved our leading role, and gained recognition of the community. Finally, we have developed a special module of GeNIe and SMILETM, the systems developed in the framework of our project, that supports diagnostic applications, and fielded the module in practical industrial settings.

Descriptors:

• *DECISION MAKING
• *PROBABILITY DISTRIBUTION FUNCTIONS
• *LEARNING MACHINES
• TEST AND EVALUATION
• ALGORITHMS
• DIAGNOSIS(GENERAL)
• BAYES THEOREM
• HEURISTIC METHODS
• SAMPLING
• NETWORKS
• MODELS
• UNCERTAINTY

Subject Categories:

• Statistics and Probability
• Computer Programming and Software
• Cybernetics

Distribution Statement:

APPROVED FOR PUBLIC RELEASE