KRCD detects unobserved confounders in nonlinear observational data.
problem Detecting unobserved confounders in nonlinear observational studies.
method Kernel Regression Confounder Detection (KRCD) using reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces.
result KRCD outperforms existing methods and achieves superior computational efficiency.
New approach for causal inference with interdependent, time-varying latent confounders.
problem Estimating causal effects with interdependent, time-varying latent confounders.
method Variational estimation with a representer theorem and random input space.
result Demonstrates effectiveness on various temporal datasets.
CgNN uses network structure as IVs to estimate causal effects in networks.
problem Hidden confounders complicate causal effect estimation in network data.
method CgNN combines GNNs and attention mechanisms to leverage network structure as IVs.
result CgNN effectively mitigates hidden confounder bias and improves causal effect estimation.
AR CI framework handles complex confounders and sequential actions.
problem Low-dimensional confounders and singleton actions in causal inference.
method Sequencification to transform data into sequences, enabling CI with complex confounders and sequential actions.
result AR model can estimate multiple causal quantities using a single model, simplifying inference and improving outcome prediction.
SpaCE tackles spatial confounding in scientific studies.
problem Spatial confounding influences treatment and outcome, leading to spurious associations.
method Introduces SpaCE toolkit for benchmark datasets and tools to evaluate causal inference methods.
result Facilitates automated evaluation of machine learning and causal inference models.
New method tackles complex systems with hidden confounders and feedback loops.
problem Understanding complex systems with hidden confounders and feedback loops.
method Robust Causal Analysis of Linear Cyclic Systems with Hidden Confounders (LLC)
result LLC method can robustly analyze cyclic systems with hidden confounders.
New model tackles complex spatio-temporal causal inference with dynamic confounders and functional data.
problem Complex spatio-temporal dynamics and unmeasured confounders hinder causal inference.
method PFD-BDCM, a unified generative framework for spatio-temporal dependencies, functional data, and dynamic confounding.
result PFD-BDCM outperforms existing methods across observational, interventional, and counterfactual queries.
New methods for evaluating and optimizing policies in offline RL with unobserved confounders.
problem Evaluating and optimizing policies in the presence of unobserved confounders.
method Characterized settings and algorithms for consistent value estimates and lower bounds, with sample complexity guarantees.
result Proved local convergence guarantees for offline policy improvement.
Deep CITs test conditional independence in images, improving brain MRI scan analysis.
problem Testing conditional independence in complex, high-dimensional variables like images.
method Combines embedding maps and nonparametric CITs for feature representations.
result Valid DNCITs for brain MRI scans and behavioral traits, confirming null results.
Scalable GPLVM reduces complexity in scRNA-seq data, accounting for technical and biological confounders.
problem Complexity and confounders in scRNA-seq data hamper interpretation.
method Extended Gaussian process latent variable model (GPLVM) to handle large datasets.
result Framework reconstructs latent signatures and captures disease-specific gene expression.
CDM models counterfactual outcomes in longitudinal data with improved accuracy.
problem Predicting counterfactual outcomes in longitudinal data with complex time-dependent confounding.
method Causal Diffusion Model (CDM) using denoising diffusion architecture with relational self-attention.
result CDM outperforms state-of-the-art methods in generating full probabilistic distributions of counterfactual outcomes.
Proposes methods to identify and estimate counterfactual distributions with confounding.
problem Estimating counterfactual distributions in the presence of confounding.
method Nonparametric identification and semiparametric estimation using conditional copulas and machine learning.
result Valid inference for individual-level effects and nonparametric identifiability of latent confounding subspace.
This paper corrects climate model biases using a factor model approach.
problem Systematic biases in GCM outputs due to unobserved confounders.
method Factor model approach to learn latent confounders from historical data and apply them to enhance bias correction.
result Significant improvements in the accuracy of precipitation outputs.
Study improves sample complexity for distinguishing continuous distributions and causal relationships.
problem Distinguishing continuous distributions and causal relationships in the presence of unobserved confounding.
method Proposed an estimator of KL divergence based on von Mises expansion for closeness testing.
result Established sample complexity guarantees for causal discovery in non-linear models with continuous variables and unobserved confounding.
Proxy methods adapt to distribution shifts without explicitly modeling latent confounders.
problem Adapting to distribution shifts under latent variable confounding.
method Proximal causal learning, two-stage kernel estimation.
result Proxy methods outperform other methods in adapting to complex distribution shifts.
While deep representation learning has become increasingly capable of separating task-relevant representations from other confounding factors in the data, two significant challenges remain. First, there is often an unknown and potentially infinite number of confounding factors coinciding in the data. Second, not all of…
New model infers causal relationships from spatio-temporal data, even with unobserved confounders.
problem Challenges in inferring causal relationships from spatio-temporal data due to unobserved confounders.
method Spatio-Temporal Hierarchical Causal Models (ST-HCMs) that extend hierarchical causal modeling to the spatio-temporal domain, using the Spatio-Temporal Collapse Theorem.
result Validated the effectiveness of ST-HCMs on both synthetic and real-world datasets, demonstrating robust causal inference in complex dynamic systems.
Given only data generated by a standard confounding graph with unobserved confounder, the Average Treatment Effect (ATE) is not identifiable. To estimate the ATE, a practitioner must then either (a) collect deconfounded data;(b) run a clinical trial; or (c) elucidate further properties of the causal graph that might re…
Neuroimaging datasets keep growing in size to address increasingly complex medical questions. However, even the largest datasets today alone are too small for training complex machine learning models. A potential solution is to increase sample size by pooling scans from several datasets. In this work, we combine 12,207…
DFPV improves PCL for confounded bandit policy evaluation.
problem Estimating causal effects in confounded settings with high-dimensional data.
method Deep feature proxy variable method (DFPV) for high-dimensional, nonlinear relationships.
result DFPV outperforms state-of-the-art methods on synthetic benchmarks and confounded bandit problems.
New method for causal discovery in high dimensions with confounder blanket assumption.
problem Inferring causal relationships from observational data in high dimensions.
method Relaxes parametric restrictions and sparsity constraints, focusing on confounder blanket.
result Provable sound and complete structure learning algorithm with finite sample error control.
The paper proposes a method to precisely decompose confounders and estimate treatment effects.
problem Estimating treatment effects from observational data with confounder identification and balancing.
method Learning decomposed representations to identify and balance confounders and non-confounders.
result The method achieves more precise treatment effect estimation than existing methods.
G-computation improves clinical trial power with machine learning.
problem Balancing prognostic factors in randomized trials to prevent near-confounders.
method G-computation with penalized models (Lasso, Elasticnet) and algorithm-based methods (neural network, SVM, super learner).
result G-computation with Elasticnet and splines reduces variance and increases power in RCTs.
New method tackles OOD robustness with a single additional variable.
problem Out-of-distribution generalization with unobserved confounders.
method Identifiability assumptions using a single additional variable.
result Superior empirical performance on benchmark tasks.
Reinforcement learning aims at searching the best policy model for decision making, and has been shown powerful for sequential recommendations. The training of the policy by reinforcement learning, however, is placed in an environment. In many real-world applications, however, the policy training in the real environmen…
Research shows continual learning challenges in confounded datasets.
problem Challenges in mitigating confounders in continual learning settings.
method Formal description of continual confounders, construction of ConCon dataset.
result Standard continual learning methods fail to ignore confounders.
New method tests causal association using noise contrastive backdoor adjustment.
problem Testing causal association in complex settings with many confounders.
method Backdoor-HSIC (bd-HSIC) using HSIC for independence testing.
result Calibrated and powerful for binary and continuous treatments with many confounders.
VTD uses deep embeddings to estimate treatment effects from longitudinal data without unconfoundedness assumption.
problem Challenges in estimating individualized treatment effects from longitudinal observational data due to confounding bias.
method Leverages deep variational embeddings and observed proxies to learn hidden confounders.
result Effective in estimating treatment effects when hidden confounding is the leading bias.
Statistical learning on biological data can be challenging due to confounding variables in sample collection and processing. Confounders can cause models to generalize poorly and result in inaccurate prediction performance metrics if models are not validated thoroughly. In this paper, we propose methods to control for …
Causal inference from observational data requires assumptions. These assumptions range from measuring confounders to identifying instruments. Traditionally, causal inference assumptions have focused on estimation of effects for a single treatment. In this work, we construct techniques for estimation with multiple treat…
Detect hidden confounding in observational data using multiple environments.
problem Detect hidden confounding in observational data.
method Theoretical framework and simulation studies to test for hidden confounding.
result The proposed procedure correctly predicts hidden confounding, especially when bias is large.
Machine learning confound removal biases results, leading to misleading predictions.
problem Common confound removal methods in machine learning lead to misleading predictions.
method Featurewise removal of confound variance by linear regression before applying ML.
result This common deconfounding approach can leak information, amplifying null or moderate effects.
Study identifies conditions for proxy adjustment in confounded binary treatment outcomes.
problem Average causal effect estimation with a non-differentially mismeasured binary confounder.
method Identifies conditions for proxy adjustment in the presence of a non-differentially mismeasured binary confounder.
result Adjusting for a non-differentially mismeasured binary proxy can improve estimation of the average causal effect.
New method estimates policy performance under unobserved confounding.
problem Estimating policy performance when decisions depend on unobserved variables.
method Developed worst-case bounds for robust OPE under unobserved confounding.
result Efficient procedure for computing worst-case bounds, proving statistical consistency.
Ablation studies show BCF model's propensity score is not essential for treatment effect estimation.
problem Understanding the necessity of propensity score in nonparametric treatment effect estimation.
method Partial ablation studies of Bayesian Causal Forest (BCF) model.
result Excluding estimated propensity score does not affect treatment effect estimation or uncertainty quantification.
Consistent estimator derived for confounding strength in observational data.
problem Estimating confounding strength in observational data is challenging due to unobserved confounders.
method Derived and adapted a consistent estimator using tools from random matrix theory.
result The original estimator is not consistent, but an adapted one is.
A new method uses randomized trials to estimate the strength of unobserved confounding.
problem Unobserved confounding compromises causal conclusions from non-randomized studies.
method Designs a statistical test to detect unobserved confounding strength and estimates a lower bound.
result Estimates an asymptotically valid lower bound on unobserved confounding strength.
New method for evaluating policies in complex decision-making models with hidden variables.
problem Evaluating policies in partially observable Markov decision processes with hidden confounders.
method Introduces novel identification methods and minimax estimation techniques for linking target policy's value and observed data distribution.
result Proposes three estimators for off-policy evaluation in POMDPs with latent confounders, demonstrating their effectiveness through nonasymptotic and asymptotic analysis.
Can we distinguish between two wireless transmitters sending exactly the same message, using the same protocol? The opportunity for doing so arises due to subtle nonlinear variations across transmitters, even those made by the same manufacturer. Since these effects are difficult to model explicitly, we investigate lear…
This paper tackles confounding biases in data augmentation.
problem Mitigating spurious correlations and confounding variables in training data.
method Formal analysis and counterfactual data augmentation.
result Removing confounding biases leads to invariant features and better generalization.
Study interpolating estimators for causal learning from observational data.
problem Learning causal models from observational data in complex model classes.
method Investigate min-norm interpolators and ridge-regularized regressors in a linearly confounded model.
result Interpolators cannot be optimal for causal learning under the principle of independent causal mechanisms, requiring stronger regularization.
New method recovers latent confounders from high-dimensional proxy variables.
problem Detecting latent confounders from high-dimensional proxy variables.
method Proxy Confounder Factorization (PCF) framework using ICA-PCF and GD-PCF.
result ICA-PCF recovers confounders with high correlation and low error in synthetic and real-world data.
Proposes tests to control confounding bias in predictive models.
problem Lack of non-parametric tests for confounding bias in predictive modeling.
method Partial and full confounder tests for probing null hypotheses of unconfounded and fully confounded models.
result Reveals previously unreported or hard-to-correct confounders in machine learning models.
New method tackles confounded bandit problems with dual instrumental variables.
problem Confounded contextual bandit problems where noise affects both contexts and rewards.
method Dual instrumental variable regression applied to reproducing kernel Hilbert spaces.
result Near-optimal convergence rate and computationally efficient algorithms proved.
MOCA uses modular attention to estimate causal effects from complex data.
problem Estimating causal effects from observational data with complex, non-linear, and high-dimensional treatment and outcome mechanisms.
method MOCA is a transformer-based framework that separates treatment and outcome modeling through modular design and one-way attention mechanism, with cutting-feedback to prevent outcome influence on treatment representations.
result MOCA outperforms classical estimators and machine learning approaches across various simulated and real-world scenarios.
Method for understanding heterogeneous treatment effects in complex causal graphs.
problem Heterogeneity and comorbidity in healthcare problems.
method Developed a new approach to characterize heterogeneous causal effects (HCEs) in graphical contexts, including heterogeneous causal graphs (HCGs) with confounders and mediators.
result Established theoretical forms and properties of HCEs in linear and nonlinear models, and developed interactive structural learning for estimation.
Causal discovery from data affected by latent confounders is an important and difficult challenge. Causal functional model-based approaches have not been used to present variables whose relationships are affected by latent confounders, while some constraint-based methods can present them. This paper proposes a causal f…
Estimating the individual treatment effect (ITE) from observational data is essential in medicine. A central challenge in estimating the ITE is handling confounders, which are factors that affect both an intervention and its outcome. Most previous work relies on the unconfoundedness assumption, which posits that all th…