This book consitutes the refereed proceedings of the First International Workshop on Machine Learning held in Sheffield, UK, in September 2004. The 19 revised full papers presented were carefully reviewed and selected for inclusion in the book. They address all current issues in the rapidly maturing field of machine learning that aims to provide practical methods for data discovery, categorisation and modelling. The particular focus of the workshop was advanced research methods in machine learning and statistical signal processing.

The recent rapid growth in the variety and complexity of new machine learning architectures requires the development of improved methods for designing, analyzing, evaluating, and communicating machine learning technologies. Statistical Machine Learning: A Unified Framework provides students, engineers, and scientists with tools from mathematical statistics and nonlinear optimization theory to become experts in the field of machine learning. In particular, the material in this text directly supports the mathematical analysis and design of old, new, and not-yet-invented nonlinear high-dimensional machine learning algorithms. Features: Unified empirical risk minimization framework supports rigorous mathematical analyses of widely used supervised, unsupervised, and reinforcement machine learning algorithms Matrix calculus methods for supporting machine learning analysis and design applications Explicit conditions for ensuring convergence of adaptive, batch, minibatch, MCEM, and MCMC learning algorithms that minimize both unimodal and multimodal objective functions Explicit conditions for characterizing asymptotic properties of M-estimators and model selection criteria such as AIC and BIC in the presence of possible model misspecification This advanced text is suitable for graduate students or highly motivated undergraduate students in statistics, computer science, electrical engineering, and applied mathematics. The text is self-contained and only assumes knowledge of lower-division linear algebra and upper-division probability theory. Students, professional engineers, and multidisciplinary scientists possessing these minimal prerequisites will find this text challenging yet accessible. About the Author: Richard M. Golden (Ph.D., M.S.E.E., B.S.E.E.) is Professor of Cognitive Science and Participating Faculty Member in Electrical Engineering at the University of Texas at Dallas. Dr. Golden has published articles and given talks at scientific conferences on a wide range of topics in the fields of both statistics and machine learning over the past three decades. His long-term research interests include identifying conditions for the convergence of deterministic and stochastic machine learning algorithms and investigating estimation and inference in the presence of possibly misspecified probability models.

The European Conference on Machine Learning (ECML) and the European Conference on Principles and Practice of Knowledge Discovery in Databases (PKDD) were jointly organized this year for the ?fth time in a row, after some years of mutual independence before. After Freiburg (2001), Helsinki (2002), Cavtat (2003) and Pisa (2004), Porto received the 16th edition of ECML and the 9th PKDD in October 3–7. Having the two conferences together seems to be working well: 585 di?erent paper submissions were received for both events, which maintains the high s- mission standard of last year. Of these, 335 were submitted to ECML only, 220 to PKDD only and 30 to both. Such a high volume of scienti?c work required a tremendous e?ort from Area Chairs, Program Committee members and some additional reviewers. On average, PC members had 10 papers to evaluate, and Area Chairs had 25 papers to decide upon. We managed to have 3 highly qua- ?edindependentreviewsperpaper(withveryfewexceptions)andoneadditional overall input from one of the Area Chairs. After the authors’ responses and the online discussions for many of the papers, we arrived at the ?nal selection of 40 regular papers for ECML and 35 for PKDD. Besides these, 32 others were accepted as short papers for ECML and 35 for PKDD. This represents a joint acceptance rate of around 13% for regular papers and 25% overall. We thank all involved for all the e?ort with reviewing and selection of papers. Besidesthecoretechnicalprogram,ECMLandPKDDhad6invitedspeakers, 10 workshops, 8 tutorials and a Knowledge Discovery Challenge.

Probability is the bedrock of machine learning. You cannot develop a deep understanding and application of machine learning without it. Cut through the equations, Greek letters, and confusion, and discover the topics in probability that you need to know. Using clear explanations, standard Python libraries, and step-by-step tutorial lessons, you will discover the importance of probability to machine learning, Bayesian probability, entropy, density estimation, maximum likelihood, and much more.

Kirchhoff’s laws give a mathematical description of electromechanics. Similarly, translational motion mechanics obey Newton’s laws, while rotational motion mechanics comply with Euler’s moment equations, a set of three nonlinear, coupled differential equations. Nonlinearities complicate the mathematical treatment of the seemingly simple action of rotating, and these complications lead to a robust lineage of research culminating here with a text on the ability to make rigid bodies in rotation become self-aware, and even learn. This book is meant for basic scientifically inclined readers commencing with a first chapter on the basics of stochastic artificial intelligence to bridge readers to very advanced topics of deterministic artificial intelligence, espoused in the book with applications to both electromechanics (e.g. the forced van der Pol equation) and also motion mechanics (i.e. Euler’s moment equations). The reader will learn how to bestow self-awareness and express optimal learning methods for the self-aware object (e.g. robot) that require no tuning and no interaction with humans for autonomous operation. The topics learned from reading this text will prepare students and faculty to investigate interesting problems of mechanics. It is the fondest hope of the editor and authors that readers enjoy the book.

Machine learning allows computers to learn and discern patterns without actually being programmed. When Statistical techniques and machine learning are combined together they are a powerful tool for analysing various kinds of data in many computer science/engineering areas including, image processing, speech processing, natural language processing, robot control, as well as in fundamental sciences such as biology, medicine, astronomy, physics, and materials. Introduction to Statistical Machine Learning provides a general introduction to machine learning that covers a wide range of topics concisely and will help you bridge the gap between theory and practice. Part I discusses the fundamental concepts of statistics and probability that are used in describing machine learning algorithms. Part II and Part III explain the two major approaches of machine learning techniques; generative methods and discriminative methods. While Part III provides an in-depth look at advanced topics that play essential roles in making machine learning algorithms more useful in practice. The accompanying MATLAB/Octave programs provide you with the necessary practical skills needed to accomplish a wide range of data analysis tasks. - Provides the necessary background material to understand machine learning such as statistics, probability, linear algebra, and calculus - Complete coverage of the generative approach to statistical pattern recognition and the discriminative approach to statistical machine learning - Includes MATLAB/Octave programs so that readers can test the algorithms numerically and acquire both mathematical and practical skills in a wide range of data analysis tasks - Discusses a wide range of applications in machine learning and statistics and provides examples drawn from image processing, speech processing, natural language processing, robot control, as well as biology, medicine, astronomy, physics, and materials

Focuses on mathematical understanding Presentation is self-contained, accessible, and comprehensive Full color throughout Extensive list of exercises and worked-out examples Many concrete algorithms with actual code