Mathematical Problems in Engineering

Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 395263, 8 pages

http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2014/395263

Research Article

An Optimized Classification Algorithm by Neural Network Ensemble Based on PLS and OLS

Weikuan Jia,¹ Dean Zhao,¹ Yuyang Tang,¹ Chanli Hu,¹ and Yuyan Zhao²

¹School of Electrical and Information Engineering, Jiangsu University, Zhenjiang 212013, China

²Changzhou College of Information Technology, Changzhou 213164, China

Received 19 May 2014; Accepted 30 June 2014; Published 20 July 2014

Academic Editor: Shifei Ding

Copyright © 2014 Weikuan Jia et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

Abstract.

Using the neural network to classify the data which has higher dimension and fewer samples means overmuch feature inputs influence the structure design of neural network and fewer samples will generate incomplete or overfitting phenomenon during the neural network training. All of the above will restrict the recognition precision obviously. It is even better to use neural network to classify and, therefore, propose a neural network ensemble optimized classification algorithm based on PLS and OLS in this paper. The new algorithm takes some advantages of partial least squares (PLS) algorithm to reduce the feature dimension of small sample data, which obtains the low-dimensional and stronger illustrative data; using ordinary least squares (OLS) theory determines the weights of each neural network in ensemble learning system. Feature dimension reduction is applied to simplify the neural network’s structure and improve the operation efficiency; ensemble learning can compensate for the information loss caused by the dimension reduction; on the other hand, it improves the recognition precision of classification system. Finally, through the case analysis, the experiment results suggest that the operating efficiency and recognition precision of new algorithm are greatly improved, which is worthy of further promotion.

1. Introduction

Neural network (NN) is based on the intelligent computing, which makes use of the computer network to imitate the biological neural network. It shows powerful function in dealing with nonlinear process and large-scale computing. The essence of classification system is regarded as an input/output system. The transformational relations are mainly about three aspects which includes numerical fitting, logical reasoning, and fuzzy transforming; all of these can be well expressed by neural network. The research of neural network classification has obtained widespread application in many fields [1].

However, while dealing with the small sample, it is a big challenge to use neural network to classify. Overmuch feature inputs will influence the structure design of the neural network and restrict the operating efficiency. However, fewer numbers of samples easily lead to incomplete training or overfitting, which restricts the final classification precision. Thus, in this paper, we introduce the feature dimension reduction and ensemble learning into neural network algorithm.

The principle of feature dimension reduction theory [2, 3] is to extract most useful feature from many complex feature variables, which eliminates the influence of repetition or correlation factors. It means that reducing the feature dimension as much as possible on the premise of solving the problems normally. Because feature dimension reduction will cause the loss of information, but it can’t influence the problem solving. To reduce the inputs of the neural network, we will design and simplify structure conveniently. Optimized neural network algorithm based on feature dimension reduction has obtained gratifying achievement in many fields [4–6]. The traditional feature extraction algorithm which depends on the measure of variance (such as principal component analysis, factor analysis, etc.) is hard to get ideal low dimensional data for small sample, which is with higher dimension and fewer samples. In this paper, we adopt partial least square (PLS) to feature dimension reduction algorithm [7, 8], which can take the level of correlation feature variables and the dependent variables into consideration and obtain the relatively ideal low-dimensional data with strong interpretation. It has a unique advantage for dealing with small sample data. Using PLS to optimize the classification algorithm and neural network, it has got some progress [9–11].

Hansen and Salamon first proposed neural network ensemble learning [12]. They proved the performance of a series of integrated neural network is better than the best single neural network by the experiment; the generalization ability and recognition precision of multiple classifier integration system have been improved obviously. In order to improve the classification precision, the method of multiple classifiers integration has been considered. Meanwhile, the ensemble learning reaches a climax, a series of concepts and algorithms have been proposed [13–15], and applied in many fields. The history of neural network has more than 70 years; hundreds of models are proposed and different models have their own advantage in dealing with different problems. However, it is not perfect for the nature of neural network. In this paper, choose BP, RBF, Elman three neural networks as subclassifier to study. The integrator design is the key point of ensemble optimization algorithm, which is to determine the final recognition precision of integrated classification system. The key of ensemble learning is how to determine the weights of each subclassifier; it attracts many scholars’ research interests [16–18]. This study is using ordinary least squares (OLS) principle to ensemble learning for classification system, through establishing the regression equation to determine the weights of three subclassifiers.

Brief and to the point, in view of the nature of small sample and neural network, in this paper, an ensemble optimized classification algorithm by neural network based on PLS and OLS is proposed. The new algorithm by PLS dimension reduction is to improve the operating efficiency and the recognition precision through OLS ensemble learning. The new algorithm aims at providing a high efficiency and precision classification system. Finally, through the test of two data sets, one from the actual production, the other one form UCI standard data sets, the experimental results suggest that the new algorithm is valid and worthy of further popularization and application.

2. PLS Dimension Reduction Algorithm

Partial least squares is the characteristic development of ordinary least squares (OLS), its basic idea is that the feature variable matrix is reduced; at the same time, it gives consideration to the correlation of the dependent variable matrix . Suppose there are feature variables, , dependent variables, , after preprocessing, matrix is reduced into

Here, is the score matrix, is the load matrix, and is the residual error matrix. Matrix multiplication of can be expressed as the sum products of score vector (the th column of matrix ) and load vector (the th column of matrix ); then the above formula can be written as

Similarly, matrix is decomposed into

Here, is the score matrix, is the load matrix, and is the residual error matrix. Matrix multiplication of can be expressed as the sum products of score vector (the th column of matrix ) and load vector (the th column of matrix ); then the above formula can be written as

PLS analysis separately extracted the scores and form corresponding and ; they are the linear combination of feature variables and dependent variables. And both scores satisfied the maximum load of variation information of feature variables and the dependent variables; the covariance between them is the largest. Establishment of the regression equation is

Here, is regression coefficient; the formula can be expressed in matrix form as

Here, is coefficients matrix;

Here, is the weights matrix.

PLS aims to each dimension iterative calculation by using each other’s information; each iteration continuously according to residual information of , to adjust , for the second round extracted, until the residual matrix element of absolute value approximate to zero. The precision satisfied the requirements; then the algorithm stops. In the iteration process, , can maximize the expression of variance of and simultaneously.

PLS regression does not need to use all the components to establish the regression equation, which just need to select the front components () and then get better regression equation. Generally, K-fold cross-validation method is used to calculate prediction residual sum of squares and determine the number of components extracted, reaching the purpose of dimension reduction.

3. Neural Network Ensemble Optimization

3.1. Subclassifier (Individual Neural Network)

Select BP, RBF, and Elman regression three different types of neural networks as subclassifier in this paper. These three subclassifiers, to a certain extent, play a complementary role. The topology structure of three neural networks is as shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1: The topology structures of BP, RBF, and Elman neural network.

BP neural network is denoted by subclassifier I; it adopts the error back propagation learning. A three-layer BP neural network can imitate any nonlinear function with arbitrary precision. It has good adaptive robustness and generalization ability. With the expanding scope of application, the defects of BP neural network emerge gradually, which includes fixed learning rate that caused long training time, easily trapped in local minimum, and the overfitting illusion, hidden layer, and its uncertain neurons numbers. All these above become the inherent defects of BP network.

RBF neural network is denoted by subclassifier II; it is a kind of feed forward model, which can adjust the hidden layer adaptively in the training process according to the specific problems. The distribution of hidden layer units is determined by the training sample’s capacity, category, and distribution. It can dynamically determine the hidden layer, even its center and width; meanwhile, the convergence speed is fast. The biggest advantage is to use linear learning algorithm to complete the work done by nonlinear learning algorithm and maintain high precision of nonlinear algorithm; it has the characteristics of the best approximation and global optimal. It can use the sum of local approximation to attain the global approximation of training data, so using the sum of low-order local approximation can be finished the training data fitting. During the training process, it is easily appear over-fitting phenomenon, low learning ability, and so on. All of these insufficient will lead the bigger prediction error, further influence the recognition precision of RBF neural network.

Elman regression neural network is denoted by subclassifier III; it is a kind of feedback model that adds a context layer based on hidden layer of BP neural network. The context layer is regarded as a delay operator; it can delay and store the output of hidden layer and achieve the memory. That means the system has the ability of adapting the time-varying dynamic characteristics and strong global stability. Thus, Elman neural network optimization is always based on BP neural network, naturally; it inevitably inherits the inherent defects of BP neural network which will lead to the unsatisfactory operating efficiency.

3.2. Construct of Neural Network Ensemble Algorithm

Consider the complex pattern classification problems; single classifier is usually difficult to achieve the ideal recognition precision and has some of its own deficiencies. The generalization ability and recognition precision of multiple classifier integrated system will be more outstanding obviously. Each classifier is regarded as subclassifier of integrated system; the main idea of ensemble learning is mainly about using many subclassifiers to solve the same problem and integrating the outputs of each subclassifier, finally obtaining the results of integrated classification system. The purpose is to improve the ability of generalization and recognition of the learning algorithm.

Neural network ensemble is a pattern classification system, which integrates a series of single neural networks. The performance of the integrated system is better than any single neural network. The main purpose of neural network ensemble is to improve the recognition precision of classification system. Obviously, determining the weights of each subclassifier is the key of ensemble algorithm. The main task of neural network ensemble algorithm is seeking the weights of each subclassifier based on the characteristics of subclassifier and reducing the recognition error of integrated classification system.

There are three subclassifiers for ensemble learning, in order to deal with the small sample, adopt dimension reduction before ensemble learning and optimizing original data, and then we further attempt to establish neural network ensemble learning models. Figure 2 presents the established ensemble learning model. Its operating principle consists of dimension reduction for small sample by PLS algorithm, getting the low-dimensional data as the input of each subclassifier and regarding the output of each subclassifier as the input of integrator. The outputs of sub-classifiers weighted learning by integrator, finally the system gets relatively optimal classification results.

Figure 2: Optimized classification algorithm assembled with neural network.

Figure 2 presents the basic flow chart of neural network ensemble algorithm; this study applies three subclassifiers, for example. Respectively, we use three subclassifiers to recognize the pending sample data; the cognition results of subclassifiers I are denoted by , the cognition results of subclassifiers II are denoted by , and the cognition results of subclassifiers III are denoted by . Three subclassifiers are independent of each other, so are the results.

Respectively, the weights of three subclassifiers are denoted by , , and , the output of integrated system is denoted by , and the value of is obtained by sum of weighted , , , and the ensemble learning model is established as

Model (8) reflects the follow discussion obviously. While , , , it means that only subclassifier I works, the system output results are determined by the subclassifier I. While , , , it means that only subclassifier II works; the system output results are determined by the subclassifier II. While , , , it means that only subclassifier III works, the system output results are determined by subclassifier III. The optimized integrated system, that is, find out the optimal weights of each sub-classifier, and then makes the recognition results of model (8) to achieve optimal state.

3.3. Optimized Weights

The study of neural network ensemble learning, that is, the optimized the model (8), is to determine the value of three individual neural networks’ weights , , . We use the thought of multiple regressions to establish ternary regression equation for the output of three subclassifiers and determine the optimal estimated value of weights , , by OLS algorithm.

Suppose the recognized results of three subclassifiers are denoted by , , , respectively, for the th training sample; the output of integrated system is denoted by and the actual value of the sample is , where . By the actual value of training sample, the ternary regression equation is established as follows:

Here, , , present the partial regression coefficient; using the method of maximum likelihood estimation to estimate unknown parameters , , , , it needs the minimum residual error value :

Satisfy, namely,

If we make minimum, , , , should satisfy the following equation sets:

Set

The equation set (12) translates into matrix form

Obtain the least squares estimate of coefficient matrix :

By the coefficient matrix , get the values of regression coefficients , , , and the values of weights , and can be further obtained:

When values of , , as formula (16), then substitute them into formula (8), will makes the output value is closer to the actual value , so the residual error reach the minimum.

Consider

Formula (16) is the optimal weights of the three subclassifiers by training; model (8) achieves the most optimal and further establish ensemble optimization algorithm.

3.4. Elementary Parameters of Ensemble Optimized Algorithm

To sum up the above, using PLS for small sample dimension reduction realized the preliminary optimization of the classification system and then optimized the weights of each subclassifier by OLS. For the high dimensional and small sample problems, we may as well try to establish ensemble optimized classification algorithm by neural network based on PLS and OLS.

Some parameters setting of the new algorithm are as follows.

( 1) Data Preprocessing. Data preprocessing eliminates the incommensurability by different data index distribution and numerical differences, which ensures the quality of the application of data from the source. Using standardized transformation obtains the data which is in accordance with the distribution of . The standardized transformation formula is

( 2) Parameters of PLS. PLS feature dimension reduction is using K-fold cross validation (K-CV) method to calculate prediction residual sum of squares. This method can effectively avoid overlearning or under-fitting and get more persuasive result.

( 3) Parameters of BP Neural Network. The number of neurons using Gao’s empirical formula [19] to determine

In the formula, , , , respectively, are on behalf of the number of neurons of hidden layer, input layer, and output layer. The neural network training uses trainlm (LM) algorithm, which is the combination of gradient descent and quasi-newton algorithm. Its advantage is give full play to the gradient descent algorithm can rapid convergence at the beginning training, and the quasi-newton algorithm can quickly produce an ideal search direction near the extremum. Connection weights and threshold learning use the Learngdm algorithm.

( 4) Set the Center of RBF Neural Network. Set up the center of the RBF network and choose the center of the basis function empirically; as long as the distribution of the training samples can represent the given problem, the centers of the uniform distribution can be chosen according to experience; the distance is ; choose the width of Gaussian basis function

Select the basis function by K-clustering method; exploit the center of clustered class as the center of the basis function.

( 5) Parameters of Elman Neural Network. Elman neural network, which is optimized by BP neural network, the number of context layer is the same as the hidden layer. Parameter set is equal to BP neural network.

3.5. Steps of Ensemble Optimized Algorithm

The basic steps of neural network ensemble algorithm based on PLS and OLS are as follows.

Step 1. Normalize the original data according to formula (18); get the characteristic variables matrix and dependent variable matrix .

Step 2. Respectively, extract the first pair component , from , and make up to the maximum correlation, respectively; establish the regression equation of on and on .

Step 3. Using residual error matrix and instead of and , repetition Step 2, until the absolute value of the residual matrix elements is close to zero.

Step 4. With K-CV method, by the principles of cross-validation and residual sum of squares to determine the number of components extracted.

Step 5. From the perspective of information feature compression, get the compression matrix and , as new samples.

Step 6. Divide the new samples into two parts as training samples and simulation samples according to the need of the problem.

Step 7. Set up three subclassifiers, respectively; classification training, the output of the three subclassifiers are .

Step 8. By the output of three subclassifiers, establish the ternary regression model (9).

Step 9. Transform (9) into equations set (12) by maximum likelihood estimation.

Step 10. Get the formula (13) by solving equations set (12) and using OLS theory.

Step 11. By regression coefficient and formula (16), the weight of three subclassifiers can be obtained.

Step 12. Get the optimal solution of integrated model (8) and terminate the algorithm.

4. Case Analysis

Respectively, use three subclassifiers, PLS-Elman neural network and neural network ensemble algorithm to test the data set and contrast the test results.

From the follow three aspects to evaluate the performance of each algorithm (model), which includes convergence steps, sum of squared errors and recognition accuracy rate. Convergence steps, we test 10 times, the experiment tests 10 times, we record the best once, and list in table. The sum of squared errors, the sum of squares of the difference of predicted value and actual value, is usually used to estimate the degree of closeness between recognition value and actual value. In the circumstances of the same accuracy simulation, the smaller the error sum of squares is, the higher the precision of the algorithm is. Accuracy rate, the ratio of correct recognized samples and simulation samples, which reflects the recognize accuracy of each algorithm.

In order to illustrate the validity of new algorithm better, we use two data sets for testing. One data set is agricultural pests forecasting data, which is from the actual production [20], and the other data set is the ionosphere data subset of radar, which is from the UCI machine learning standard data sets [21].

4.1. Test 1

This data comes from agricultural production, using the meteorological factor to predict the occurrence degree of wheat midge. The data set includes 60 samples from 1941 to 2000, which regards 14 feature variables (meteorological factors) as the input of neural network. The single output presents the occurrence degree of wheat midge.

4.1.1. Algorithm Performance

Select the last 30 samples to test among 15 training samples and 15 simulation samples, in accordance with the characteristics of small sample. By PLS dimension reduction, the data extracts 6 features, which means the dimensions of data from reduce 14 to 6. The simulation test results are listed in Table 1.

Table 1: Comparison of every classifier’s performance for Test 1.

Network model
Weights
Training steps
SSE
Accuracy, %

Subclassifier I  (BP NN)
0.3207
1132
2.3167
73.33

Subclassifier II  (EBF NN)
0.2457
45
4.0261
66.67

Subclassifier III  (Elman NN)
0.4336
881
1.0595
80.00

PLS-Elman
—
475
0.8676
80.00

Assembling system
—
—
0.3284
100

4.1.2. Recognize Precision of Algorithm

In order to better illustrate the classification ability of the new algorithm, we continue to do the following test; divide the selected samples into 25 training samples and 5 simulation samples. Compared with the simulation results and the actual value, the test results are listed in Table 2.

Table 2: Comparison of every classifier’s accuracy for Test 1.

Network model
Weights
Training steps
1996
1997
1998
1999
2000
SSE

Actual value
—
—
1
2
2
2
1
—

Subclassifier I  (BP NN)
0.3179
1036
0.5031
1.8796
2.2593
1.6927
1.1268
0.4392

Subclassifier II  (EBF NN)
0.2311
45
1.8109
2.3207
1.3358
2.2819
0.6651
1.3932

Subclassifier III  (Elman NN)
0.4510
925
1.5218
1.9076
1.8978
2.1038
0.8255
0.3325

PLS-Elman
—
447
1.4129
2.2106
1.9073
1.8775
0.8691
0.2556

Assembling system
—
—
1.2919
1.9942
1.8828
2.0145
0.9451
0.1022

4.2. Test 2

We using another UCI data set to test the new algorithm, the radar data includes 351 samples that have 34 characteristics and each sample is used to predict the quality of the radar, which means 34 inputs and 1 output.

4.2.1. Performance of Each Algorithm

We selected the front 40 samples, among 20 training samples and 20 simulation samples. It is in accordance with the characteristics of small sample. By PLS dimension reduction, this data extracts 19 features; that is, the dimensions of data reduce from 34 to 19. The simulation test results are listed in Table 3.

Table 3: Comparison of every classifier’s performance for Test 2.

Network model
Weights
Training steps
SSE
Accuracy, %

Subclassifier I  (BP NN)
0.3301
976
2.0533
70.00

Subclassifier II  (EBF NN)
0.2117
45
3.1048
60.00

Subclassifier III  (Elman NN)
0.4582
907
1.8368
75.00

PLS-Elman
—
459
1.4739
80.00

Assembling system
—
—
0.4469
100.00

4.2.2. Every Algorithm’s Recognize Precision

In order to better illustrate the classification ability of the new algorithm, we continue to do the following test and divide the selected samples into 35 training samples and 5 simulation samples. Comparing the simulation results with the actual value, the test results are listed in Table 4.

Table 4: Comparison of every classifier’s accuracy for Test 2.

Network model
Weights
Training steps
1
2
3
4
5
SSE

Actual value
—
—
0
1
0
1
0
—

Subclassifier I  (BP NN)
0.3127
1205
−0.2163
1.5213
0.2027
0.6994
−0.1050
0.4610

Subclassifier II  (EBF NN)
0.2208
45
0.3255
1.4126
−0.1685
1.5012
0.2167
0.6027

Subclassifier III  (Elman NN)
0.4665
877
−0.1294
0.8927
−0.5101
1.2093
−0.0972
0.3417

PLS-Elman
—
408
0.1273
0.5792
−0.2216
1.1749
0.1132
0.2858

Assembling system
—
—
−0.0561
1.2041
−0.2118
1.1143
−0.0303
0.1036

4.3. Results

According to the results of Tables 1 to 4, compared among the three subclassifiers, RBF neural network training is fastest, but the recognition accuracy is the worst; Elman neural network’s recognition accuracy is the best; BP neural network’s training is the slowest; on the training speed and recognition accuracy, Elman is slightly better than BP neural network.

Comparing PLS-Elman algorithm with traditional Elman neural network, it has better training speed and is slightly better in recognition precision. It shows that the recognition precision of classifier is not influenced; on the contrary, the operating efficiency has been improved after PLS optimization.

The classification ability of ensemble optimization is the best. The data of Tables 1 and 3 prove that Comparing with other traditional neural network, the ensemble learning algorithm with the highest recognition accuracy rate and minimum error, it can suggest that the new algorithm with the highest recognition precision.

The experimental results reflect that the recognition precision of ensemble algorithm is obviously higher than any subclassifier, to a certain degree, compensating for the information loss caused by data dimension reduction. Recognition results meet the ideal requirements, which means the new algorithm is effective.

5. Conclusion and Discussion

From the two groups of experimental results above, The optimized classification algorithm by PLS, algorithm, improves the training speed of subclassifier, and and the recognition accuracy is not reduced. It shows that the new algorithm reduces the inputs of neural network by PLS feature dimension reduction, which is convenient for designing the network structure and improving the operating efficiency. The recognition accuracy rate and test error of integrated system have been greatly improved, which shows that the classification precision of the ensemble algorithm has been greatly improved and higher than any subclassifier. The purpose of neural network ensemble is to improve the recognition precision of pattern classification and the point of ensemble learning is to determine the weights of each sub,classifier effectively. In this paper, using OLS principle to design integrator, establish multiple regression model and further determine the weight of each subclassifier.

In view of the small sample classification problem, this paper proposes an ensemble optimized neural network classification algorithm based on PLS and OLS. PLS has unique advantage to reduce dimension for small sample data, which obtains ideal low-dimensional data. By OLS algorithm, do neural network ensemble learning, to determine the weights of each subclassifier. The new algorithm has higher operating efficiency and classification precision, which shows the worthness of further popularization and application.

Conflict of Interests

The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.

Acknowledgments

This work is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (nos. 60875052, 61203014, and 61379101); Priority Academic Program Development of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions; Major Projects in the National Science & Technology Pillar Program during the Twelfth Five-year Plan Period (no. 2011BAD20B06); Major Projects in Jiangsu Province Science & Technology Pillar Program Plan (Industrial) (no. BE2012136); The Specialized Research Fund for the Doctoral Program of Higher Education of China (no. 20133227110024), Ordinary University Graduate Student Research Innovation Projects of Jiangsu Province (no. KYLX14_1062).

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