Rstats

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Usage

Insert rstats = "^1" in the Cargo.toml file, under [dependencies].

Use in source files any of the following structs, as needed:
use rstats::{MinMax,Med,Mstats};
and any of the following helper functions:
use rstats::{i64tof64,tof64,here,wi,wv,wsum,printvv,genvec,genvecu8};
and any of the following traits:
use rstats::{Stats,MutStats,Vecu8,Vecf64,Vecg,MutVecg,VecVec,VecVecg};

It is highly recommended to read and run tests/tests.rs, which shows examples of usage.

To run all the tests, use single thread in order to produce the results in the right order:
cargo test --release -- --test-threads=1 --nocapture --color always

Introduction

Rstats is primarily about characterising multidimensional sets of points, with applications to Machine Learning and Big Data Analysis. It begins with basic statistical measures and vector algebra, which provide self-contained tools for the multidimensional algorithms but can also be used in their own right.

Our treatment of multidimensional sets of points is constructed from the first principles. Some original concepts, not found elsewhere, are introduced and implemented here. Specifically, the new multidimensional (geometric) median algorithm. Also, the comediance matrix as a replacement for the covariance matrix. It is obtained simply by supplying covar with the geometric median instead of the usual centroid (mean vector).

Zero median vectors are generally preferable to the commonly used zero mean vectors.

Most authors 'cheat' by using quasi medians (1-d medians along each axis). Quasi medians are a poor start to stable characterisation of multidimensional data. In a highly dimensional space, they are not even any quicker to compute.

Specifically, all 1-d measures are sensitive to the choice of axis and thus are affected by rotation.

In contrast, analyses based on the true geometric median (gm) are axis (rotation) independent. They are computed here by the novel methods smedian and gmedian and their weighted versions wsmedian and wgmedian.

Implementation

The main constituent parts of Rstats are Rust traits, grouping together methods applicable to a single vector (of numbers) - Stats, two vectors - Vecg, n vectors - VecVec or n vectors and another generic argument - VecVecg. End type f64 is most commonly used for the results, whereas inputs to the generic methods can be vectors (or slices) of any numeric end types.

Documentation

To see more detailed comments, plus some examples, see the source.

Structs and auxiliary functions

Trait Stats

One dimensional statistical measures implemented for all numeric end types.

Its methods operate on one slice of generic data and take no arguments. For example, s.amean() returns the arithmetic mean of the data in slice s. Some of these methods are checked and will report all kinds of errors, such as an empty input. This means you have to call .unwrap() or something similar on their results.

Included in this trait are:

Trait MutStats

A few of the Stats methods are reimplemented under this trait (only for f64), so that they mutate self in-place. This is more efficient and convenient in some circumstances, such as in vector iterative methods.

Trait Vecg

Vector algebra operations between two slices &[T], &[U] of any length (dimensionality):

This trait is unchecked (for speed), so some caution with data is advisable.

Trait Vecf64

A handful of primitive methods as in Vecg but operating on an argument of known end type f64 or &[f64].

Traits MutVecg & MutVecf64

Mutable vector addition, subtraction and multiplication.
Mutate self in-place. This is for efficiency and convenience. Specifically, in vector iterative methods.

MutVecf64 is to be used in preference, when the end type of self is known to be f64. Beware that these methods work by side-effect and do not return anything, so they can not be functionally chained.

Trait Vecu8

Trait VecVec

Relationships between n vectors (in d dimensions). This is the original contribution of this library. True geometric median is found by fast and stable iteration, using improved Weiszfeld's algorithm boosted by a secant method. These measures solve Weiszfeld's convergence problems in the vicinity of existing set points.

Trait VecVec is entirely unchecked, so check your data upfront.

Trait VecVecg

Methods which take an additional generic vector argument, such as a vector of weights for computing the weighted geometric medians.

Appendix I: Terminology (and some new definitions) for sets of nD points

Appendix II: Recent Releases