Dynamic Bayesian networks have been well explored in the literature as discrete-time models: however, their continuous-time extensions have seen comparatively little attention. In this paper, we propose the first implementation of a constraint-based algorithm for learning the structure of continuous-time Bayesian networks. We discuss the different statistical tests and the underlying hypotheses used by our proposal to establish conditional independence. Furthermore, we analyze and discuss the computational complexity of the best and worst cases for the proposed algorithm. Finally, we validate its performance using synthetic data, and we discuss its strengths and limitations comparing it with the score-based structure learning algorithm from Nodelman et al. [23]. We find the latter to be more accurate in learning networks with binary variables, while our constraint-based approach is more accurate with variables assuming more than two values. Numerical experiments confirm that score-based and constraint-based algorithms are comparable in terms of computation time.

Bregoli, A., Scutari, M., Stella, F. (2021). A constraint-based algorithm for the structural learning of continuous-time Bayesian networks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPROXIMATE REASONING, 138(November 2021), 105-122 [10.1016/j.ijar.2021.08.005].

A constraint-based algorithm for the structural learning of continuous-time Bayesian networks

Bregoli A.
;
Stella F.
2021

Abstract

Dynamic Bayesian networks have been well explored in the literature as discrete-time models: however, their continuous-time extensions have seen comparatively little attention. In this paper, we propose the first implementation of a constraint-based algorithm for learning the structure of continuous-time Bayesian networks. We discuss the different statistical tests and the underlying hypotheses used by our proposal to establish conditional independence. Furthermore, we analyze and discuss the computational complexity of the best and worst cases for the proposed algorithm. Finally, we validate its performance using synthetic data, and we discuss its strengths and limitations comparing it with the score-based structure learning algorithm from Nodelman et al. [23]. We find the latter to be more accurate in learning networks with binary variables, while our constraint-based approach is more accurate with variables assuming more than two values. Numerical experiments confirm that score-based and constraint-based algorithms are comparable in terms of computation time.
Articolo in rivista - Articolo scientifico
Bayesian networks; Constraint-based algorithm; Continuous-time; Structure learning;
English
2021
138
November 2021
105
122
none
Bregoli, A., Scutari, M., Stella, F. (2021). A constraint-based algorithm for the structural learning of continuous-time Bayesian networks. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF APPROXIMATE REASONING, 138(November 2021), 105-122 [10.1016/j.ijar.2021.08.005].
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/10281/370636
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