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Graph neural networks for residential location choice: connection to classical logit models

Cheng, Zhanhong, Hu, Lingqian, Bu, Yuheng, Zhou, Yuqi, Wang, Shenhao

arXiv.org Machine Learning

Researchers have adopted deep learning for classical discrete choice analysis as it can capture complex feature relationships and achieve higher predictive performance. However, the existing deep learning approaches cannot explicitly capture the relationship among choice alternatives, which has been a long-lasting focus in classical discrete choice models. To address the gap, this paper introduces Graph Neural Network (GNN) as a novel framework to analyze residential location choice. The GNN-based discrete choice models (GNN-DCMs) offer a structured approach for neural networks to capture dependence among spatial alternatives, while maintaining clear connections to classical random utility theory. Theoretically, we demonstrate that the GNN-DCMs incorporate the nested logit (NL) model and the spatially correlated logit (SCL) model as two specific cases, yielding novel algorithmic interpretation through message passing among alternatives' utilities. Empirically, the GNN-DCMs outperform benchmark MNL, SCL, and feedforward neural networks in predicting residential location choices among Chicago's 77 community areas. Regarding model interpretation, the GNN-DCMs can capture individual heterogeneity and exhibit spatially-aware substitution patterns. Overall, these results highlight the potential of GNN-DCMs as a unified and expressive framework for synergizing discrete choice modeling and deep learning in the complex spatial choice contexts.


seMCD: Sequentially implemented Monte Carlo depth computation with statistical guarantees

Gnettner, Felix, Kirch, Claudia, Nieto-Reyes, Alicia

arXiv.org Machine Learning

Statistical depth functions provide center-outward orderings in spaces of dimension larger than one, where a natural ordering does not exist. The numerical evaluation of such depth functions can be computationally prohibitive, even for relatively low dimensions. We present a novel sequentially implemented Monte Carlo methodology for the computation of, theoretical and empirical, depth functions and related quantities (seMCD), that outputs an interval, a so-called seMCD-bucket, to which the quantity of interest belongs with a high probability prespecified by the user. For specific classes of depth functions, we adapt algorithms from sequential testing, providing finite-sample guarantees. For depth functions dependent on unknown distributions, we offer asymptotic guarantees using non-parametric statistical methods. In contrast to plain-vanilla Monte Carlo methodology the number of samples required in the algorithm is random but typically much smaller than standard choices suggested in the literature. The seMCD method can be applied to various depth functions, covering multivariate and functional spaces. We demonstrate the efficiency and reliability of our approach through empirical studies, highlighting its applicability in outlier or anomaly detection, classification, and depth region computation. In conclusion, the seMCD-algorithm can achieve accurate depth approximations with few Monte Carlo samples while maintaining rigorous statistical guarantees.


Residual Feature Integration is Sufficient to Prevent Negative Transfer

Xu, Yichen, Nakada, Ryumei, Zhang, Linjun, Li, Lexin

arXiv.org Machine Learning

Transfer learning typically leverages representations learned from a source domain to improve performance on a target task. A common approach is to extract features from a pre-trained model and directly apply them for target prediction. However, this strategy is prone to negative transfer where the source representation fails to align with the target distribution. In this article, we propose Residual Feature Integration (REFINE), a simple yet effective method designed to mitigate negative transfer. Our approach combines a fixed source-side representation with a trainable target-side encoder and fits a shallow neural network on the resulting joint representation, which adapts to the target domain while preserving transferable knowledge from the source domain. Theoretically, we prove that REFINE is sufficient to prevent negative transfer under mild conditions, and derive the generalization bound demonstrating its theoretical benefit. Empirically, we show that REFINE consistently enhances performance across diverse application and data modalities including vision, text, and tabular data, and outperforms numerous alternative solutions. Our method is lightweight, architecture-agnostic, and robust, making it a valuable addition to the existing transfer learning toolbox.


Metric Privacy in Federated Learning for Medical Imaging: Improving Convergence and Preventing Client Inference Attacks

Díaz, Judith Sáinz-Pardo, Athanasiou, Andreas, Jung, Kangsoo, Palamidessi, Catuscia, García, Álvaro López

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Federated learning is a distributed learning technique that allows training a global model with the participation of different data owners without the need to share raw data. This architecture is orchestrated by a central server that aggregates the local models from the clients. This server may be trusted, but not all nodes in the network. Then, differential privacy (DP) can be used to privatize the global model by adding noise. However, this may affect convergence across the rounds of the federated architecture, depending also on the aggregation strategy employed. In this work, we aim to introduce the notion of metric-privacy to mitigate the impact of classical server side global-DP on the convergence of the aggregated model. Metric-privacy is a relaxation of DP, suitable for domains provided with a notion of distance. We apply it from the server side by computing a distance for the difference between the local models. We compare our approach with standard DP by analyzing the impact on six classical aggregation strategies. The proposed methodology is applied to an example of medical imaging and different scenarios are simulated across homogeneous and non-i.i.d clients. Finally, we introduce a novel client inference attack, where a semi-honest client tries to find whether another client participated in the training and study how it can be mitigated using DP and metric-privacy. Our evaluation shows that metric-privacy can increase the performance of the model compared to standard DP, while offering similar protection against client inference attacks.