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Domain Adaptation in Highly Imbalanced and Overlapping Datasets. (arXiv:2005.03585v1 [cs.LG])

In many Machine Learning domains, datasets are characterized by highly imbalanced and overlapping classes. Particularly in the medical domain, a specific list of symptoms can be labeled as one of various different conditions. Some of these conditions may be more prevalent than others by several orders of magnitude. Here we present a novel unsupervised Domain Adaptation scheme for such datasets. The scheme, based on a specific type of Quantification, is designed to work under both label and conditional shifts. It is demonstrated on datasets generated from Electronic Health Records and provides high quality results for both Quantification and Domain Adaptation in very challenging scenarios. Potential benefits of using this scheme in the current COVID-19 outbreak, for estimation of prevalence and probability of infection, are discussed.




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Predictive Modeling of ICU Healthcare-Associated Infections from Imbalanced Data. Using Ensembles and a Clustering-Based Undersampling Approach. (arXiv:2005.03582v1 [cs.LG])

Early detection of patients vulnerable to infections acquired in the hospital environment is a challenge in current health systems given the impact that such infections have on patient mortality and healthcare costs. This work is focused on both the identification of risk factors and the prediction of healthcare-associated infections in intensive-care units by means of machine-learning methods. The aim is to support decision making addressed at reducing the incidence rate of infections. In this field, it is necessary to deal with the problem of building reliable classifiers from imbalanced datasets. We propose a clustering-based undersampling strategy to be used in combination with ensemble classifiers. A comparative study with data from 4616 patients was conducted in order to validate our proposal. We applied several single and ensemble classifiers both to the original dataset and to data preprocessed by means of different resampling methods. The results were analyzed by means of classic and recent metrics specifically designed for imbalanced data classification. They revealed that the proposal is more efficient in comparison with other approaches.




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Multi-Label Sampling based on Local Label Imbalance. (arXiv:2005.03240v1 [cs.LG])

Class imbalance is an inherent characteristic of multi-label data that hinders most multi-label learning methods. One efficient and flexible strategy to deal with this problem is to employ sampling techniques before training a multi-label learning model. Although existing multi-label sampling approaches alleviate the global imbalance of multi-label datasets, it is actually the imbalance level within the local neighbourhood of minority class examples that plays a key role in performance degradation. To address this issue, we propose a novel measure to assess the local label imbalance of multi-label datasets, as well as two multi-label sampling approaches based on the local label imbalance, namely MLSOL and MLUL. By considering all informative labels, MLSOL creates more diverse and better labeled synthetic instances for difficult examples, while MLUL eliminates instances that are harmful to their local region. Experimental results on 13 multi-label datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed measure and sampling approaches for a variety of evaluation metrics, particularly in the case of an ensemble of classifiers trained on repeated samples of the original data.




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The classification permutation test: A flexible approach to testing for covariate imbalance in observational studies

Johann Gagnon-Bartsch, Yotam Shem-Tov.

Source: The Annals of Applied Statistics, Volume 13, Number 3, 1464--1483.

Abstract:
The gold standard for identifying causal relationships is a randomized controlled experiment. In many applications in the social sciences and medicine, the researcher does not control the assignment mechanism and instead may rely upon natural experiments or matching methods as a substitute to experimental randomization. The standard testable implication of random assignment is covariate balance between the treated and control units. Covariate balance is commonly used to validate the claim of as good as random assignment. We propose a new nonparametric test of covariate balance. Our Classification Permutation Test (CPT) is based on a combination of classification methods (e.g., random forests) with Fisherian permutation inference. We revisit four real data examples and present Monte Carlo power simulations to demonstrate the applicability of the CPT relative to other nonparametric tests of equality of multivariate distributions.




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Ancient Egyptian Funeral Home Reveals Embalmers Had a Knack for Business

Funeral parlors' enterprising staff offered burial packages to suit every social strata and budget




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Michigan Bill Boosts Spending To Combat Lead, Abusive Clergy

A $28.8 million spending bill nearing legislative approval would allocate funding to combat lead in Michigan drinking water systems and investigate sexual assaults by clergy.




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City sending in 'park ambassadors' to inform, not to ticket

"Park ambassadors" will soon be on patrol at some of Ottawa's busiest public green spaces to help confused residents navigate the newly loosened COVID-19 restrictions, Mayor Jim Watson announced Friday.



  • News/Canada/Ottawa


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‘Army won’t be deployed in Mumbai, will fight Covid-19 together’: Uddhav Thackeray – Hindustan Times

  1. ‘Army won’t be deployed in Mumbai, will fight Covid-19 together’: Uddhav Thackeray  Hindustan Times
  2. Maharashtra may extend lockdown to end of May, hints CM Uddhav Thackeray  Times of India
  3. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray announces compensation for kin of deceased  TIMES NOW
  4. Restrict entry-exit of migrants in Maharashtra: Raj Thackeray  Deccan Chronicle
  5. Uddhav Thackeray: You are the soldiers, no need for the Army  Mumbai Mirror
  6. View Full coverage on Google News



  • IMC News Feed


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Victory over death in a cemetery - Zimbabwe

An OM team has a rare opportunity to share the Gospel with the Doma people at the funeral of a senior member of the community.




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Zimbabwe: At The Crossroads




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Zimbabwe: Three Months after the Elections




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Zimbabwe in Crisis: Finding a Way Forward




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Ground Zimbabwe's Jet-Setting Despots




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Zimbabwe: Time for International Action




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Zimbabwe's Election: The Stakes for Southern Africa




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All Bark and No Bite? The International Response to Zimbabwe's Crisis




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Speak out to Zimbabwe




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Zimbabwe at the Crossroads: Transition or Conflict?




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Zimbabwe: What Next?




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Don't let Zimbabwe implode




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Zimbabwe: The Politics of National Liberation and International Division




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Zimbabwe: Danger and Opportunity




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Decision Time in Zimbabwe




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Leaders of Africa must act now to save Zimbabwe




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Zimbabwe: In Search of a New Strategy




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More food for thought over Zimbabwe




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Blood and Soil: Land, Politics and Conflict Prevention in Zimbabwe and South Africa




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Zimbabwe: Another Election Chance




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Post-Election Zimbabwe: What Next?




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Zimbabwe's Operation Murambatsvina: The Tipping Point?




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Zimbabwe's Continuing Self-Destruction




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Zimbabwe: An Opposition Strategy




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Zimbabwe: An End to the Stalemate?




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Zimbabwe: A Regional Solution?




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Zimbabwe: Prospects from a Flawed Election




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Negotiating Zimbabwe's Transition




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Crisis en Zimbabue




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Impasse for Zimbabwe




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Tanzania must help end Zimbabwe's military dictatorship




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Zimbabwe: Making the Most of the Deal




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Ending Zimbabwe's Nightmare: A Possible Way Forward




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Zimbabwe: Appoint Neutral Interim Government




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Zimbabwe: No Time to Wait-and-See




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Zimbabwe: Engaging the Inclusive Government




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If the World Hesitates, Zimbabwe Could Be Lost




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Want to sideline Mugabe? Support Zimbabwe now




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Zimbabwe’s Slow-Burning Crisis Could Affect Africa




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The Race for Influence in Zimbabwe