We propose a tree regularization framework, which enables many tree models to perform feature selection efficiently. The key idea of the regularization framework is to penalize selecting a new feature for splitting when its gain (e.g. information gain) is similar to the features used in previous splits. The regularizat…
Selective inference framework for CART trees to control error rates and coverage.
problem Inference on CART trees does not control Type 1 error rates and coverage.
method Selective inference framework conditioning on tree estimation, efficient algorithms.
result Proposes tests and intervals for CART trees with selective error control.
The paper introduces a new model to correct bias in treatment effect estimates due to sample selection.
problem Bias in treatment effect estimates due to sample selection.
method Type 2 Tobit Bayesian Additive Regression Trees (TOBART-2) with Dirichlet Process Mixture distribution and soft trees.
result Corrects bias in treatment effect estimates by accounting for nonlinearities and model uncertainty.
FoLDTree improves oblique decision trees with ULDA, enhancing accuracy and feature selection.
problem Axis-orthogonal splits limit traditional decision trees' performance on oblique decision boundaries.
method Integrates ULDA into decision tree structure for efficient oblique splits, feature selection, and handling missing values.
result FoLDTree outperforms other methods in accuracy and feature selection, comparable to random forest.
Improved tree selection methods enhance OTE's performance.
problem Optimal trees ensemble (OTE) underperforms with larger training data.
method Two modified methods: OOB and sub-bagging.
result Improved predictive accuracy compared to OTE and other methods.
Interactive RL and DT feedback improve feature selection efficiency.
problem Balancing feature selection effectiveness and efficiency.
method Interactive Reinforcement Learning (IRL) and Decision Tree Feedback (DTF) architecture.
result Improved feature selection performance on real-world datasets.
Tree ensembles, such as random forests and boosted trees, are renowned for their high prediction performance. However, their interpretability is critically limited due to the enormous complexity. In this study, we present a method to make a complex tree ensemble interpretable by simplifying the model. Specifically, we …
This work analyzes tree-based methods from a ranking perspective, providing insights and new statistics.
problem Understanding the effectiveness of tree-based methods in finite-sample settings, especially symbolic feature selection.
method Local ranking perspective, finite-sample analysis, oracle bounds, posterior contraction results, concordant divergence statistics.
result New insights and statistics for evaluating symbolic feature mappings.
New method improves feature selection in tree-based models.
problem Previous feature selection methods in tree-based models lack sufficient regularization and sub-optimal performance.
method Developed a new gain penalization approach for tree-based models that allows for flexible feature-specific importance weights.
result The new method improves out-of-sample performance, especially with correlated features.
A new method for decision tree selection in recommendation systems.
problem Feature-based selection of a single tree from an ensemble for dynamic interpretation.
method A multi-armed contextual bandit recommendation framework that trains a system on top of Random Forests to identify the most relevant tree.
result The dynamic method outperforms an independent CART tree and is comparable to Random Forest in predictive performance.
Variable selection for high-dimensional linear models has received a lot of attention lately, mostly in the context of l1-regularization. Part of the attraction is the variable selection effect: parsimonious models are obtained, which are very suitable for interpretation. In terms of predictive power, however, these re…
ControlBurn selects few features from tree ensembles for better model interpretability.
problem Improving model interpretability in machine learning models.
method Sparse tree ensembles with lasso optimization.
result ControlBurn selects feature-sparse subsets for better model interpretability.
Proposes a new tree-based algorithm for class-imbalanced data.
problem Classification of imbalanced data.
method Precision-Recall Curve (PRC) classification tree algorithm.
result The PRC classification tree outperforms classic algorithms for class-imbalanced data.
A new probability distribution on full rooted trees helps in model selection.
problem Model selection for full rooted trees is problematic due to their hierarchical structure.
method Assume a prior distribution on full rooted trees, using Bayes decision theory.
result The proposed distribution enables optimal model selection and prevents overfitting.
Tree tensor networks balance model complexity and empirical risk for high-dimensional function approximation.
problem Selecting optimal tree structure and ranks for high-dimensional function approximation.
method Proposes a complexity-based model selection method for tree tensor networks in empirical risk minimization.
result Demonstrates near-minimax adaptive performance across various smoothness classes.
We study the effectiveness of non-uniform randomized feature selection in decision tree classification. We experimentally evaluate two feature selection methodologies, based on information extracted from the provided dataset: (i) \emph{leverage scores-based} and (ii) \emph{norm-based} feature selection. Experimenta…
We compare three network portfolio selection methods; hierarchical clustering trees, minimum spanning trees and neighbor-Nets, with random and industry group selection methods on twelve years of data from the 30 Dow Jones Industrial Average stocks from 2001 to 2013 for very small private investor sized portfolios. We f…
FREEtree improves tree-based methods for correlated longitudinal data.
problem Poor performance of Random Forests in high dimensional longitudinal data with correlated features.
method FREEtree uses a piecewise random effects model and clustering with WGCNA to select features and maintain interpretability.
result FREEtree outperforms other tree-based methods in prediction and feature selection accuracy.
Improves decision tree performance by correcting split selection errors.
problem Invalid statistical guarantees in split selection for decision trees.
method Introduces anytime-valid inference to provide valid statistical guarantees.
result Provides anytime-valid control of false splits under arbitrary data streams.
SCORE improves tree-based predictions with boosted residual extraTrees.
problem Improving tree-based prediction models with reduced errors.
method Inspired by representation learning, SCORE uses boosting, regularized regression, and variable selection.
result SCORE provides comparable or superior performance compared to other models.
We present a dataset and experiments on applying recurrent neural networks (RNNs) for guiding clause selection in the connection tableau proof calculus. The RNN encodes a sequence of literals from the current branch of the partial proof tree to a hidden vector state; using it, the system selects a clause for extending …
Dealing with datasets of very high dimension is a major challenge in machine learning. In this paper, we consider the problem of feature selection in applications where the memory is not large enough to contain all features. In this setting, we propose a novel tree-based feature selection approach that builds a sequenc…
This paper presents a brand new nonparametric density estimation strategy named the best-scored random forest density estimation whose effectiveness is supported by both solid theoretical analysis and significant experimental performance. The terminology best-scored stands for selecting one density tree with the best e…
The paper proposes a new probability distribution for rooted trees.
problem Overfitting in tree selection for statistical models.
method Bayesian approach with a generalized probability distribution for rooted trees.
result Recursive methods to evaluate the probability distribution without approximations.
Study improves CAD diagnosis accuracy by selecting significant features.
problem Improving accuracy of CAD diagnosis through feature selection.
method Integrated machine learning approach using random trees (RTs), C5.0, SVM, and CHAID.
result Random trees model outperforms other models in CAD diagnosis.
Tree ensembles such as Random Forests have achieved impressive empirical success across a wide variety of applications. To understand how these models make predictions, people routinely turn to feature importance measures calculated from tree ensembles. It has long been known that Mean Decrease Impurity (MDI), one of t…
Optimal survival trees ensemble reduces tree count and improves predictive performance.
problem Improving predictive performance in survival analysis.
method Grows a forest of optimal survival trees by ranking and selecting the best trees based on out-of-bag error.
result Reduces the number of trees in the ensemble while improving predictive performance.
Recursive partitioning approaches producing tree-like models are a long standing staple of predictive modeling, in the last decade mostly as ``sub-learners'' within state of the art ensemble methods like Boosting and Random Forest. However, a fundamental flaw in the partitioning (or splitting) rule of commonly used tre…
Infinite BART model selects number of trees and allows different functions for clusters.
problem Regression and classification analysis with automatic tree selection and cluster-specific functions.
method Incorporates an Indian Buffet process prior to select a subset of decision trees for each observation.
result Infinite BART model outperforms classic BART on simulated and real datasets.
A hybrid model for Bayesian optimization handles mixed variables using MCTS for categorical and GP for continuous.
problem Optimizing functions with mixed variable types (continuous, integer, categorical).
method Merges MCTS for categorical and GP for continuous variables, integrates UCTS search strategy, and dynamically selects kernels.
result Hybrid models outperform traditional methods in Bayesian optimization.
A new method for automatic gradient tree boosting using information theory.
problem Automatic selection of tree complexity and number in gradient boosting.
method Optimism of greedy leaf splitting procedure modeled as a Cox-Ingersoll-Ross process, leading to an information criterion for model selection.
result The method achieves significant speedups (10-1400) compared to xgboost without sacrificing predictive power.
Tree ensembles are flexible predictive models that can capture relevant variables and to some extent their interactions in a compact and interpretable manner. Most algorithms for obtaining tree ensembles are based on versions of boosting or Random Forest. Previous work showed that boosting algorithms exhibit a cyclic b…
Unified framework for selecting variables with uncertainty quantification.
problem Uncertainty in nonlinear variable selection for various models.
method Develops a unified framework using integrated partial derivatives for quantifying variable importance and uncertainty.
result The approach provides a principled method for quantifying variable selection uncertainty and is generalizable to non-differentiable models.
A new decision tree induction method using MIP for faster optimization.
problem Optimizing decision tree split rules for better classification performance.
method Mixed-integer programming (MIP) for Gini reduction maximization, efficient search algorithm.
result bsnsing trees outperform other tree models in new case discrimination.
PILOT is a fast algorithm for linear model trees that outperforms existing methods.
problem Fitting linear model trees to large datasets efficiently and accurately.
method Greedy training with L2 boosting and model selection rule. result PILOT outperforms standard decision trees and other linear model trees on various datasets.
Proposes a method to speed up model selection for classification.
problem Time-consuming model selection process and lack of dataset-specific insights.
method Relaxes decision boundaries of neural decision trees to find equivalent or better models.
result Reduces the scope of exploration needed for model selection.
We study the convergence of the predictive surface of regression trees and forests. To support our analysis we introduce a notion of adaptive concentration for regression trees. This approach breaks tree training into a model selection phase in which we pick the tree splits, followed by a model fitting phase where we f…
This paper deals with prediction of anopheles number, the main vector of malaria risk, using environmental and climate variables. The variables selection is based on an automatic machine learning method using regression trees, and random forests combined with stratified two levels cross validation. The minimum threshol…
FIRE extracts interpretable rules from tree ensembles.
problem Building sparse and interpretable rule sets from tree ensembles.
method Optimization-based framework with fusion regularization and sparsity-inducing penalties.
result FIRE outperforms state-of-the-art rule ensemble algorithms.
Tree ensembles such as random forests and boosted trees are accurate but difficult to understand, debug and deploy. In this work, we provide the inTrees (interpretable trees) framework that extracts, measures, prunes and selects rules from a tree ensemble, and calculates frequent variable interactions. An rule-based le…
Paper proposes a new method for feature importance in model selection.
problem Feature importance in model selection.
method New tree-model explanation approach using Coefficient of Variation of feature weight.
result Novel feature explanation performs better than cross-validation in model selection.
The paper proposes a new algorithm to select subsets of training data for better accuracy and explainability.
problem Tackles the challenge of balancing accuracy and explainability in pattern recognition.
method Identifies multiple subsets with simple local patterns by clustering similar instances.
result The sub-setting algorithm outperformed traditional decision trees by 15% on the international stroke dataset.
Energy trees handle complex data structures with multiple variable types.
problem Handling intricate data structures with various types of covariates.
method Energy trees, a regression and classification model, use energy statistics to accommodate structured covariates of different types.
result Energy trees maintain statistical foundations, interpretability, and robustness to overfitting.
Tuning SVM and boosting models using optimization algorithms.
problem Tuning parameters for SVM and boosting models across various datasets.
method Used grid search to identify parameter ranges and optimization algorithms to select models.
result Optimization algorithms outperformed grid search in selecting well-performing models.
Previous algorithms for constructing regression tree models for longitudinal and multiresponse data have mostly followed the CART approach. Consequently, they inherit the same selection biases and computational difficulties as CART. We propose an alternative, based on the GUIDE approach, that treats each longitudinal d…
Enhanced survival trees improve computational efficiency and inference.
problem Censored failure time data and variable selection bias.
method Improved splitting procedure, intersected validation, fused regularization, and bootstrap-based bias correction.
result Valid confidence intervals for median survival times.
We propose a new algorithm called PLUTO for building logistic regression trees to binary response data. PLUTO can capture the nonlinear and interaction patterns in messy data by recursively partitioning the sample space. It fits a simple or a multiple linear logistic regression model in each partition. PLUTO employs th…
Decision tree classifiers are a widely used tool in data stream mining. The use of confidence intervals to estimate the gain associated with each split leads to very effective methods, like the popular Hoeffding tree algorithm. From a statistical viewpoint, the analysis of decision tree classifiers in a streaming setti…