Goto

Collaborating Authors

 arrowhead


Characterizing and Identifying Separable Graphical Models

arXiv.org Machine Learning

We study a broad class of graphical models whose independencies correspond to vertex separation in mixed graphs with directed, undirected, and bidirected edges, that are capable of encoding independence structures arising from feedback, latent and selection mechanisms. In particular, we introduce separable graphs, in which each missing edge implies the existence of a separating set for its endpoints, and essentially separable graphs, those graphs separation equivalent to a separable graph. We show that these models include many existing graph families used to define graphical models an provide several characterizations of separable graphs and essentially separable graphs. We also provide multiple characterizations of separation equivalence for separable graphs. One is a graphical characterization in terms of ordinary graph properties, extending earlier results for specific subfamilies Another is a separational characterization depending only on graph separation properties. Finally, we provide a canonical representation for the equivalence classes of essentially separable graphs and develop an algorithm that, under suitable assumptions, identifies the equivalence class of any essentially separable graph.


Appendix ARemovable Variables

Neural Information Processing Systems

In this section, we first prove the proposed graphical representation for a removable variable in a MAGM (Theorem 1). Then, we discuss how this representation reduces to Theorem 5 of [11] in the case of DAGs. Throughout our proofs, we say a path between X and Y is blocked by a set Wif it is not m-connecting relative to W. In this case, there exists a non-collider W on the path which is a member of W, or there exists a collider W on the path such that W/2 Anc({X,Y }[ W). In both cases we say W blocks this path with respect to W, or W blocks the path in short when W is clear from the context. We say X is a descendant of Y if Y 2Anc(X), and we denote by DeM(X) the set of descendants of X in the MAGM, and De(X) whenever the graph is clear from the context. A.1 Graphical representation Theorem 1. Vertex X is removable in a MAGM over the variables V, if and only if 1. for any Y 2Adj(X) and Z 2Ch(X)[N(X)\{Y}, Y and Z are adjacent, and 2. for any collider path u =( X,V1,...,V m,Y) and Z 2 V\{X,Y,V1,...,V m} such that {X,V1,...,V m} Pa(Z), Y and Z are adjacent. Let H denote the induced subgraph of M over V\{X}. For any W V\{X,Y,Z}, (Z,X,Y) is an m-connecting path relative to W in M, as X is a non-collider and X/2W. That is, no such W can m-separate Y and Z. Since X is removable in M, by definition of removability, (Y?Z|W)M ()(Y?Z|W)H. Again for any W V\{X,Y,Z}, (Z,X,V1,...,V m,Y) is an m-connecting path relative to W in M since I) every collider on this path is a parent (and therefore an ancestor) of Z, and II) X/2W and X is the only non-collider on this path. That is, no such W can m-separate Y and Z. Since X is removable in M, Equation 8 implies that Y and Z have no m-separating sets in H. Hence, Y is adjacent to Z in H, and therefore, in M. if part: We need to prove that for any Y,Z 2V\{X} and any W V\{X,Y,Z}, (Y?Z|W)M ()(Y?Z|W)H.





World's oldest poison-tipped arrow discovered in South Africa

Popular Science

Science Archaeology World's oldest poison-tipped arrow discovered in South Africa The 60,000-year-old relic contains traces of a toxic onion. Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent every weekday. For thousands of years, hunters around the world have employed poison-tipped arrows to assist in taking down prey. For example, the curare plant poisons used by South and Central American hunters paralyzes the respiratory system. Meanwhile, inhabitants of the Kalahari Desert have relied on the toxins harvested from beetle larvae .



Characterization and Learning of Causal Graphs with Latent Confounders and Post-treatment Selection from Interventional Data

arXiv.org Artificial Intelligence

Interventional causal discovery seeks to identify causal relations by leveraging distributional changes introduced by interventions, even in the presence of latent confounders. Beyond the spurious dependencies induced by latent confounders, we highlight a common yet often overlooked challenge in the problem due to post-treatment selection, in which samples are selectively included in datasets after interventions. This fundamental challenge widely exists in biological studies; for example, in gene expression analysis, both observational and interventional samples are retained only if they meet quality control criteria (e.g., highly active cells). Neglecting post-treatment selection may introduce spurious dependencies and distributional changes under interventions, which can mimic causal responses, thereby distorting causal discovery results and challenging existing causal formulations. To address this, we introduce a novel causal formulation that explicitly models post-treatment selection and reveals how its differential reactions to interventions can distinguish causal relations from selection patterns, allowing us to go beyond traditional equivalence classes toward the underlying true causal structure. We then characterize its Markov properties and propose a Fine-grained Interventional equivalence class, named FI-Markov equivalence, represented by a new graphical diagram, F-PAG. Finally, we develop a provably sound and complete algorithm, F-FCI, to identify causal relations, latent confounders, and post-treatment selection up to $\mathcal{FI}$-Markov equivalence, using both observational and interventional data. Experimental results on synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate that our method recovers causal relations despite the presence of both selection and latent confounders.



Sound and Complete Causal Identification with Latent Variables Given Local Background Knowledge

Neural Information Processing Systems

When BK is available in addition to observational data, a fundamental problem is: what causal relations are identifiable in the presence of latent variables? This problem is fundamental for its implication on the maximally identifiable causal knowledge with the observational data and BK.