Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #219239. 	[Title] Simulating Access to Hidden Information while Learning [Abstract] We introduce a new technique which enables a learner without access to hidden information to learn nearly as well as a learner with access to hidden information. We apply our technique to solve an open problem of Maass and Turan [18], showing that for any concept class F , the least number of queries sufficient for learning F by an algorithm which has access only to arbitrary equivalence queries is at most a factor of 1= log 2 (4=3) more than the least number of queries sufficient for learning F by an algorithm which has access to both arbitrary equivalence queries and membership queries. Previously known results imply that the 1= log 2 (4=3) in our bound is best possible. We describe analogous results for two generalizations of this model to function learning, and apply those results to bound the difficulty of learning in the harder of these models in terms of the difficulty of learning in the easier model. We bound the difficulty of learning unions of k concepts from a class F in terms of the difficulty of learning F . We bound the difficulty of learning in a noisy environment for deterministic algorithms in terms of the difficulty of learning in a noise-free environment. We apply a variant of our technique to develop an algorithm transformation that allows probabilistic learning algorithms to nearly optimally cope with noise. A second variant enables us to improve a general lower bound of Turan [19] for the PAC-learning model (with queries). Finally, we show that logarithmically many membership queries never help to obtain computationally efficient learning algorithms. fl Supported by Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant F49620-92-J-0515. Most of this work was done while this author was at TU Graz supported by a Lise Meitner Fellowship from the Fonds zur Forderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Austria). Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #210309. 	[Title] Metric Entropy and Minimax Risk in Classification [Abstract] We apply recent results on the minimax risk in density estimation to the related problem of pattern classification. The notion of loss we seek to minimize is an information theoretic measure of how well we can predict the classification of future examples, given the classification of previously seen examples. We give an asymptotic characterization of the minimax risk in terms of the metric entropy properties of the class of distributions that might be generating the examples. We then use these results to characterize the minimax risk in the special case of noisy two-valued classification problems in terms of the Assouad density and the Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12165. 	[Title] The Power of Team Exploration: Two Robots Can Learn Unlabeled Directed Graphs [Abstract] We show that two cooperating robots can learn exactly any strongly-connected directed graph with n indistinguishable nodes in expected time polynomial in n. We introduce a new type of homing sequence for two robots, which helps the robots recognize certain previously-seen nodes. We then present an algorithm in which the robots learn the graph and the homing sequence simultaneously by actively wandering through the graph. Unlike most previous learning results using homing sequences, our algorithm does not require a teacher to provide counterexamples. Furthermore, the algorithm can use efficiently any additional information available that distinguishes nodes. We also present an algorithm in which the robots learn by taking random walks. The rate at which a random walk on a graph converges to the stationary distribution is characterized by the conductance of the graph. Our random-walk algorithm learns in expected time polynomial in n and in the inverse of the conductance and is more efficient than the homing-sequence algorithm for high-conductance graphs. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1104007. 	[Title] Sequential PAC Learning [Abstract] We consider the use of "on-line" stopping rules to reduce the number of training examples needed to pac-learn. Rather than collect a large training sample that can be proved sufficient to eliminate all bad hypotheses a priori, the idea is instead to observe training examples one-at-a-time and decide "on-line" whether to stop and return a hypothesis, or continue training. The primary benefit of this approach is that we can detect when a hypothesizer has actually "converged," and halt training before the standard fixed-sample-size bounds. This paper presents a series of such sequential learning procedures for: distribution-free pac-learning, "mistake-bounded to pac" conversion, and distribution-specific pac-learning, respectively. We analyze the worst case expected training sample size of these procedures, and show that this is often smaller than existing fixed sample size bounds | while providing the exact same worst case pac-guarantees. We also provide lower bounds that show these reductions can at best involve constant (and possibly log) factors. However, empirical studies show that these sequential learning procedures actually use many times fewer training examples in prac tice. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1153160. 	[Title] Inductive Logic Programming [Abstract] A new research area, Inductive Logic Programming, is presently emerging. While inheriting various positive characteristics of the parent subjects of Logic Programming and Machine Learning, it is hoped that the new area will overcome many of the limitations of its forebears. The background to present developments within this area is discussed and various goals and aspirations for the increasing body of researchers are identified. Inductive Logic Programming needs to be based on sound principles from both Logic and Statistics. On the side of statistical justification of hypotheses we discuss the possible relationship between Algorithmic Complexity theory and Probably-Approximately-Correct (PAC) Learning. In terms of logic we provide a unifying framework for Muggleton and Buntine's Inverse Resolution (IR) and Plotkin's Relative Least General Generali-sation (RLGG) by rederiving RLGG in terms of IR. This leads to a discussion of the feasibility of extending the RLGG framework to allow for the invention of new predicates, previously discussed only within the context of IR. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #35854. 	[Title] Characterizations of Learnability for Classes of f0; ng-valued Functions [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12182. 	[Title] How to Use Expert Advice (Extended Abstract) [Abstract] We analyze algorithms that predict a binary value by combining the predictions of several prediction strategies, called experts. Our analysis is for worst-case situations, i.e., we make no assumptions about the way the sequence of bits to be predicted is generated. We measure the performance of the algorithm by the difference between the expected number of mistakes it makes on the bit sequence and the expected number of mistakes made by the best expert on this sequence, where the expectation is taken with respect to the randomization in the predictions. We show that the minimum achievable difference is on the order of the square root of the number of mistakes of the best expert, and we give efficient algorithms that achieve this. Our upper and lower bounds have matching leading constants in most cases. We give implications of this result on the performance of batch learning algorithms in a PAC setting which improve on the best results currently known in this context. We also extend our analysis to the case in which log loss is used instead of the expected number of mistakes. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #217115. 	[Title] On the Sample Complexity of Noise-Tolerant Learning [Abstract] In this paper, we further characterize the complexity of noise-tolerant learning in the PAC model. Specifically, we show a general lower bound of log(1=ffi) on the number of examples required for PAC learning in the presence of classification noise. Combined with a result of Simon, we effectively show that the sample complexity of PAC learning in the presence of classification noise is VC(F) "(12) 2 : Furthermore, we demonstrate the optimality of the general lower bound by providing a noise-tolerant learning algorithm for the class of symmetric Boolean functions which uses a sample size within a constant factor of this bound. Finally, we note that our general lower bound compares favorably with various general upper bounds for PAC learning in the presence of classification noise. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1114526. 	[Title] Approximating Hyper-Rectangles: Learning and Pseudo-random Sets [Abstract] The PAC learning of rectangles has been studied because they have been found experimentally to yield excellent hypotheses for several applied learning problems. Also, pseudorandom sets for rectangles have been actively studied recently because (i) they are a subprob-lem common to the derandomization of depth-2 (DNF) circuits and derandomizing Randomized Logspace, and (ii) they approximate the distribution of n independent multivalued random variables. We present improved upper bounds for a class of such problems of approximating high-dimensional rectangles that arise in PAC learning and pseudorandomness. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1153183. 	[Title]  [Abstract] General convergence results for linear discriminant updates Abstract The problem of learning linear discriminant concepts can be solved by various mistake-driven update procedures, including the Winnow family of algorithms and the well-known Perceptron algorithm. In this paper we define the general class of quasi-additive algorithms, which includes Perceptron and Winnow as special cases. We give a single proof of convergence that covers much of this class, including both Perceptron and Winnow but also many novel algorithms. Our proof introduces a generic measure of progress that seems to capture much of when and how these algorithms converge. Using this measure, we develop a simple general technique for proving mistake bounds, which we apply to the new algorithms as well as existing algorithms. When applied to known algorithms, our technique automatically produces close variants of existing proofs (and we generally obtain the known bounds, to within constants) thus showing, in a certain sense, that these seem ingly diverse results are fundamentally isomorphic. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12197. 	[Title] Pac Learning, Noise, and Geometry [Abstract] This paper describes the probably approximately correct model of concept learning, paying special attention to the case where instances are points in Euclidean n-space. The problem of learning from noisy training data is also studied. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12199. 	[Title] Learning k-term DNF Formulas with an Incomplete Membership Oracle [Abstract] We consider the problem of learning k-term DNF formulas using equivalence queries and incomplete membership queries as defined by Angluin and Slonim. We demonstrate that this model can be applied to non-monotone classes. Namely, we describe a polynomial-time algorithm that exactly identifies a k-term DNF formula with a k-term DNF hypothesis using incomplete membership queries and equivalence queries from the class of DNF formulas. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #9513. 	[Title] On the Complexity of Learning from Drifting Distributions [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #9515. 	[Title] Tracking Drifting Concepts By Minimizing Disagreements [Abstract] In this paper we consider the problem of tracking a subset of a domain (called the target) which changes gradually over time. A single (unknown) probability distribution over the domain is used to generate random examples for the learning algorithm and measure the speed at which the target changes. Clearly, the more rapidly the target moves, the harder it is for the algorithm to maintain a good approximation of the target. Therefore we evaluate algorithms based on how much movement of the target can be tolerated between examples while predicting with accuracy *. Furthermore, the complexity of the class H of possible targets, as measured by d, its VC-dimension, also effects the difficulty of tracking the target concept. We show that if the problem of minimizing the number of disagreements with a sample from among concepts in a class H can be approximated to within a factor k, then there is a simple tracking algorithm for H which can achieve a probability * of making a mistake if the target movement rate is at most a constant times * 2 =(k(d + k) ln 1 * ), where d is the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension of H. Also, we show that if H is properly PAC-learnable, then there is an efficient (randomized) algorithm that with high probability approximately minimizes disagreements to within a factor of 7d + 1, yielding an efficient tracking algorithm for H which tolerates drift rates up to a constant times * 2 =(d 2 ln 1 In addition, we prove complementary results for the classes of halfspaces and axis-aligned hy- perrectangles showing that the maximum rate of drift that any algorithm (even with unlimited computational power) can tolerate is a constant times * 2 =d. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1118764. 	[Title] An Efficient Extension to Mixture Techniques for Prediction and Decision Trees [Abstract] We present a method for maintaining mixtures of prunings of a prediction or decision tree that extends the "node-based" prunings of [Bun90, WST95, HS97] to the larger class of edge-based prunings. The method includes an efficient online weight allocation algorithm that can be used for prediction, compression and classification. Although the set of edge-based prunings of a given tree is much larger than that of node-based prunings, our algorithm has similar space and time complexity to that of previous mixture algorithms for trees. Using the general on-line framework of Freund and Schapire [FS97], we prove that our algorithm maintains correctly the mixture weights for edge-based prunings with any bounded loss function. We also give a similar algorithm for the logarithmic loss function with a corresponding weight allocation algorithm. Finally, we describe experiments comparing node-based and edge-based mixture models for estimating the probability of the next word in English text, which show the ad vantages of edge-based models. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #5038. 	[Title] Using and combining predictors that specialize [Abstract] We study online learning algorithms that predict by combining the predictions of several subordinate prediction algorithms, sometimes called experts. These simple algorithms belong to the multiplicative weights family of algorithms. The performance of these algorithms degrades only logarithmically with the number of experts, making them particularly useful in applications where the number of experts is very large. However, in applications such as text categorization, it is often natural for some of the experts to abstain from making predictions on some of the instances. We show how to transform algorithms that assume that all experts are always awake to algorithms that do not require this assumption. We also show how to derive corresponding loss bounds. Our method is very general, and can be applied to a large family of online learning algorithms. We also give applications to various prediction models including decision graphs and switching experts. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #148399. 	[Title] An Interactive Model of Teaching [Abstract] Previous teaching models in the learning theory community have been batch models. That is, in these models the teacher has generated a single set of helpful examples to present to the learner. In this paper we present an interactive model in which the learner has the ability to ask queries as in the query learning model of Angluin [1]. We show that this model is at least as powerful as previous teaching models. We also show that anything learnable with queries, even by a randomized learner, is teachable in our model. In all previous teaching models, all classes shown to be teachable are known to be efficiently learnable. An important concept class that is not known to be learnable is DNF formulas. We demonstrate the power of our approach by providing a deterministic teacher and learner for the class of DNF formulas. The learner makes only equivalence queries and all hypotheses are also DNF formulas. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12210. 	[Title] Efficient Distribution-free Learning of Probabilistic Concepts [Abstract] In this paper we investigate a new formal model of machine learning in which the concept (boolean function) to be learned may exhibit uncertain or probabilistic behavior|thus, the same input may sometimes be classified as a positive example and sometimes as a negative example. Such probabilistic concepts (or p-concepts) may arise in situations such as weather prediction, where the measured variables and their accuracy are insufficient to determine the outcome with certainty. We adopt from the Valiant model of learning [27] the demands that learning algorithms be efficient and general in the sense that they perform well for a wide class of p-concepts and for any distribution over the domain. In addition to giving many efficient algorithms for learning natural classes of p-concepts, we study and develop in detail an underlying theory of learning p-concepts. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12211. 	[Title] Learning From a Population of Hypotheses [Abstract] We introduce a new formal model in which a learning algorithm must combine a collection of potentially poor but statistically independent hypothesis functions in order to approximate an unknown target function arbitrarily well. Our motivation includes the question of how to make optimal use of multiple independent runs of a mediocre learning algorithm, as well as settings in which the many hypotheses are obtained by a distributed population of identical learning agents. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #4660. 	[Title] Context-sensitive learning methods for text categorization [Abstract] Two recently implemented machine learning algorithms, RIPPER and sleeping experts for phrases, are evaluated on a number of large text categorization problems. These algorithms both construct classifiers that allow the "context" of a word w to affect how (or even whether) the presence or absence of w will contribute to a classification. However, RIPPER and sleeping experts differ radically in many other respects: differences include different notions as to what constitutes a context, different ways of combining contexts to construct a classifier, different methods to search for a combination of contexts, and different criteria as to what contexts should be included in such a combination. In spite of these differences, both RIPPER and sleeping experts perform extremely well across a wide variety of categorization problems, generally outperforming previously applied learning methods. We view this result as a confirmation of the usefulness of classifiers that represent contextual information. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #10169. 	[Title] Learning Boolean Concepts in the Presence of Many Irrelevant Features [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12350. 	[Title] Cryptographic Limitations on Learning Boolean Formulae and Finite Automata [Abstract] In this paper we prove the intractability of learning several classes of Boolean functions in the distribution-free model (also called the Probably Approximately Correct or PAC model) of learning from examples. These results are representation independent, in that they hold regardless of the syntactic form in which the learner chooses to represent its hypotheses. Our methods reduce the problems of cracking a number of well-known public-key cryptosys- tems to the learning problems. We prove that a polynomial-time learning algorithm for Boolean formulae, deterministic finite automata or constant-depth threshold circuits would have dramatic consequences for cryptography and number theory: in particular, such an algorithm could be used to break the RSA cryptosystem, factor Blum integers (composite numbers equivalent to 3 modulo 4), and detect quadratic residues. The results hold even if the learning algorithm is only required to obtain a slight advantage in prediction over random guessing. The techniques used demonstrate an interesting duality between learning and cryptography. We also apply our results to obtain strong intractability results for approximating a gener - alization of graph coloring. fl This research was conducted while the author was at Harvard University and supported by an A.T.& T. Bell Laboratories scholarship. y Supported by grants ONR-N00014-85-K-0445, NSF-DCR-8606366 and NSF-CCR-89-02500, DAAL03-86-K-0171, DARPA AFOSR 89-0506, and by SERC. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #10177. 	[Title] Learning in the Presence of Malicious Errors [Abstract] In this paper we study an extension of the distribution-free model of learning introduced by Valiant [23] (also known as the probably approximately correct or PAC model) that allows the presence of malicious errors in the examples given to a learning algorithm. Such errors are generated by an adversary with unbounded computational power and access to the entire history of the learning algorithm's computation. Thus, we study a worst-case model of errors. Our results include general methods for bounding the rate of error tolerable by any learning algorithm, efficient algorithms tolerating nontrivial rates of malicious errors, and equivalences between problems of learning with errors and standard combinatorial optimization problems. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #41666. 	[Title] Separating Formal Bounds from Practical Performance in Learning Systems [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #157761. 	[Title] On the Complexity of Function Learning [Abstract] The majority of results in computational learning theory are concerned with concept learning, i.e. with the special case of function learning for classes of functions with range f0; 1g. Much less is known about the theory of learning functions with a larger range such as IN or IR. In particular relatively few results exist about the general structure of common models for function learning, and there are only very few nontrivial function classes for which positive learning results have been exhibited in any of these models. We introduce in this paper the notion of a binary branching adversary tree for function learning, which allows us to give a somewhat surprising equivalent characterization of the optimal learning cost for learning a class of real-valued functions (in terms of a max-min definition which does not involve any "learning" model). Another general structural result of this paper relates the cost for learning a union of function classes to the learning costs for the individual function classes. Furthermore, we exhibit an efficient learning algorithm for learning convex piecewise linear functions from IR d into IR. Previously, the class of linear functions from IR d into IR was the only class of functions with multi-dimensional domain that was known to be learnable within the rigorous framework of a formal model for on-line learning. Finally we give a sufficient condition for an arbitrary class F of functions from IR into IR that allows us to learn the class of all functions that can be written as the pointwise maximum of k functions from F . This allows us to exhibit a number of further nontrivial classes of functions from IR into IR for which there exist efficient learning algorithms. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #4804. 	[Title] Toward Efficient Agnostic Learning [Abstract] In this paper we initiate an investigation of generalizations of the Probably Approximately Correct (PAC) learning model that attempt to significantly weaken the target function assumptions. The ultimate goal in this direction is informally termed agnostic learning, in which we make virtually no assumptions on the target function. The name derives from the fact that as designers of learning algorithms, we give up the belief that Nature (as represented by the target function) has a simple or succinct explanation. We give a number of positive and negative results that provide an initial outline of the possibilities for agnostic learning. Our results include hardness results for the most obvious generalization of the PAC model to an agnostic setting, an efficient and general agnostic learning method based on dynamic programming, relationships between loss functions for agnostic learning, and an algorithm for a learning problem that involves hidden variables. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #15429. 	[Title] A General Lower Bound on the Number of Examples Needed for Learning [Abstract] We prove a lower bound of ( 1 * ln 1 ffi + VCdim(C) * ) on the number of random examples required for distribution-free learning of a concept class C, where VCdim(C) is the Vapnik-Chervonenkis dimension and * and ffi are the accuracy and confidence parameters. This improves the previous best lower bound of ( 1 * ln 1 ffi + VCdim(C)), and comes close to the known general upper bound of O( 1 ffi + VCdim(C) * ln 1 * ) for consistent algorithms. We show that for many interesting concept classes, including kCNF and kDNF, our bound is actually tight to within a constant factor. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #321861. 	[Title] Gambling in a rigged casino: The adversarial multi-armed bandit problem [Abstract] In the multi-armed bandit problem, a gambler must decide which arm of K non-identical slot machines to play in a sequence of trials so as to maximize his reward. This classical problem has received much attention because of the simple model it provides of the trade-off between exploration (trying out each arm to find the best one) and exploitation (playing the arm believed to give the best payoff). Past solutions for the bandit problem have almost always relied on assumptions about the statistics of the slot machines. In this work, we make no statistical assumptions whatsoever about the nature of the process generating the payoffs of the slot machines. We give a solution to the bandit problem in which an adversary, rather than a well-behaved stochastic process, has complete control over the payoffs. In a sequence of T plays, we prove that the expected per-round payoff of our algorithm approaches that of the best arm at the rate O(T 1=2 ), and we give an improved rate of convergence when the best arm has fairly low payoff. We also prove a general matching lower bound on the best possible performance of any algorithm in our setting. In addition, we consider a setting in which the player has a team of experts advising him on which arm to play; here, we give a strategy that will guarantee expected payoff close to that of the best expert. Finally, we apply our result to the problem of learning to play an unknown repeated matrix game against an all-powerful adversary. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1117249. 	[Title] Large Margin Classification Using the Perceptron Algorithm [Abstract] We introduce and analyze a new algorithm for linear classification which combines Rosenblatt's perceptron algorithm with Helmbold and Warmuth's leave-one-out method. Like Vapnik's maximal-margin classifier, our algorithm takes advantage of data that are linearly separable with large margins. Compared to Vapnik's algorithm, however, ours is much simpler to implement, and much more efficient in terms of computation time. We also show that our algorithm can be efficiently used in very high dimensional spaces using kernel functions. We performed some experiments using our algorithm, and some variants of it, for classifying images of handwritten digits. The performance of our algorithm is close to, but not as good as, the performance of maximal-margin classifiers on the same problem. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #77515. 	[Title] Prediction, Learning, Uniform Convergence, and Scale-sensitive Dimensions [Abstract] We present a new general-purpose algorithm for learning classes of [0; 1]-valued functions in a generalization of the prediction model, and prove a general upper bound on the expected absolute error of this algorithm in terms of a scale-sensitive generalization of the Vapnik dimension proposed by Alon, Ben-David, Cesa-Bianchi and Haussler. We give lower bounds implying that our upper bounds cannot be improved by more than a constant factor in general. We apply this result, together with techniques due to Haussler and to Benedek and Itai, to obtain new upper bounds on packing numbers in terms of this scale-sensitive notion of dimension. Using a different technique, we obtain new bounds on packing numbers in terms of Kearns and Schapire's fat-shattering function. We show how to apply both packing bounds to obtain improved general bounds on the sample complexity of agnostic learning. For each * &gt; 0, we establish weaker sufficient and stronger necessary conditions for a class of [0; 1]-valued functions to be agnostically learnable to within *, and to be an *-uniform Glivenko-Cantelli class. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #89547. 	[Title] Rigorous Learning Curve Bounds from Statistical Mechanics [Abstract] In this paper we introduce and investigate a mathematically rigorous theory of learning curves that is based on ideas from statistical mechanics. The advantage of our theory over the well-established Vapnik-Chervonenkis theory is that our bounds can be considerably tighter in many cases, and are also more reflective of the true behavior (functional form) of learning curves. This behavior can often exhibit dramatic properties such as phase transitions, as well as power law asymptotics not explained by the VC theory. The disadvantages of our theory are that its application requires knowledge of the input distribution, and it is limited so far to finite cardinality function classes. We illustrate our results with many concrete examples of learning curve bounds derived from our theory. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #429781. 	[Title] Mistake-Driven Learning in Text Categorization [Abstract] Learning problems in the text processing domain often map the text to a space whose dimensions are the measured features of the text, e.g., its words. Three characteristic properties of this domain are (a) very high dimensionality, (b) both the learned concepts and the instances reside very sparsely in the feature space, and (c) a high variation in the number of active features in an instance. In this work we study three mistake-driven learning algorithms for a typical task of this nature - text categorization. We argue that these algorithms which categorize documents by learning a linear separator in the feature space have a few properties that make them ideal for this domain. We then show that a quantum leap in performance is achieved when we further modify the algorithms to better address some of the specific characteristics of the domain. In particular, we demonstrate (1) how variation in document length can be tolerated by either normalizing feature weights or by using negative weights, (2) the positive effect of applying a threshold range in training, (3) alternatives in considering feature frequency, and (4) the benefits of discarding features while training. Overall, we present an algorithm, a variation of Littlestone's Winnow, which performs significantly better than any other algorithm tested on this task using a similar feature set. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #12247. 	[Title] Warning: missing six few referencesfixed in proceedings. Learning with Queries but Incomplete Information (Extended Abstract) [Abstract] We investigate learning with membership and equivalence queries assuming that the information provided to the learner is incomplete. By incomplete we mean that some of the membership queries may be answered by I don't know. This model is a worst-case version of the incomplete membership query model of Angluin and Slonim. It attempts to model practical learning situations, including an experiment of Lang and Baum that we describe, where the teacher may be unable to answer reliably some queries that are critical for the learning algorithm. We present algorithms to learn monotone k-term DNF with membership queries only, and to learn monotone DNF with membership and equivalence queries. Compared to the complete information case, the query complexity increases by an additive term linear in the number of I don't know answers received. We also observe that the blowup in the number of queries can in general be exponential for both our new model and the incomplete membership model. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #28632. 	[Title] Universal Portfolios With and Without Transaction Costs [Abstract] A constant rebalanced portfolio is an investment strategy which keeps the same distribution of wealth among a set of stocks from period to period. Recently there has been work on on-line investment strategies that are competitive with the best constant rebalanced portfolio determined in hindsight (Cover, 1991; Helmbold et al., 1996; Cover and Ordentlich, 1996a; Cover and Ordentlich, 1996b; Ordentlich and Cover, 1996; Cover, 1996). For the universal algorithm of Cover (Cover, 1991), we provide a simple analysis which naturally extends to the case of a fixed percentage transaction cost (commission), answering a question raised in (Cover, 1991; Helmbold et al., 1996; Cover and Ordentlich, 1996a; Cover and Ordentlich, 1996b; Ordentlich and Cover, 1996; Cover, 1996). In addition, we present a simple randomized implementation that is significantly faster in practice. We conclude by explaining how these algorithms can be applied to other problems, such as combining the predictions of statistical language models, where the resulting guarantees are more striking. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #155736. 	[Title] Worst-case Quadratic Loss Bounds for Prediction Using Linear Functions and Gradient Descent [Abstract] In this paper we study the performance of gradient descent when applied to the problem of on-line linear prediction in arbitrary inner product spaces. We prove worst-case bounds on the sum of the squared prediction errors under various assumptions concerning the amount of a priori information about the sequence to predict. The algorithms we use are variants and extensions of on-line gradient descent. Whereas our algorithms always predict using linear functions as hypotheses, none of our results requires the data to be linearly related. In fact, the bounds proved on the total prediction loss are typically expressed as a function of the total loss of the best fixed linear predictor with bounded norm. All the upper bounds are tight to within constants. Matching lower bounds are provided in some cases. Finally, we apply our results to the problem of on-line prediction for classes of smooth functions. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #175576. 	[Title] PAC Learning of One-Dimensional Patterns [Abstract] Developing the ability to recognize a landmark from a visual image of a robot's current location is a fundamental problem in robotics. We consider the problem of PAC-learning the concept class of geometric patterns where the target geometric pattern is a configuration of k points on the real line. Each instance is a configuration of n points on the real line, where it is labeled according to whether or not it visually resembles the target pattern. To capture the notion of visual resemblance we use the Hausdorff metric. Informally, two geometric patterns P and Q resemble each other under the Hausdorff metric, if every point on one pattern is "close" to some point on the other pattern. We relate the concept class of geometric patterns to the landmark recognition problem and then present a polynomial-time algorithm that PAC-learns the class of one-dimensional geometric patterns. We also present some experimental results on how our algorithm performs. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #155738. 	[Title] Improved Bounds about On-line Learning of Smooth Functions of a Single Variable [Abstract] We consider the complexity of learning classes of smooth functions formed by bounding different norms of a function's derivative. The learning model is the generalization of the mistake-bound model to continuous-valued functions. Suppose F q is the set of all absolutely continuous functions f from [0; 1] to R such that jjf 0 jj q 1, and opt(F q ; m) is the best possible bound on the worst-case sum of absolute prediction errors over sequences of m trials. We show that for all q 2, opt(F q ; m) = fi( Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #57948. 	[Title] PAC Learning Axis-aligned Rectangles with Respect to Product Distributions from Multiple-instance Examples [Abstract] We describe a polynomial-time algorithm for learning axis-aligned rectangles in Q d with respect to product distributions from multiple-instance examples in the PAC model. Here, each example consists of n elements of Q d together with a label indicating whether any of the n points is in the rectangle to be learned. We assume that there is an unknown product distribution D over Q d such that all instances are independently drawn according to D. The accuracy of a hypothesis is measured by the probability that it would incorrectly predict whether one of n more points drawn from D was in the rectangle to be learned. Our algorithm achieves accuracy * with probability 1 ffi in Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1246. 	[Title] DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF EFFICIENT REINFORCEMENT LEARNING ALGORITHMS [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #42207. 	[Title] Asking Questions to Minimize Errors [Abstract] A number of efficient learning algorithms achieve exact identification of an unknown function from some class using membership and equivalence queries. Using a standard transformation such algorithms can easily be converted to on-line learning algorithms that use membership queries. Under such a transformation the number of equivalence queries made by the query algorithm directly corresponds to the number of mistakes made by the on-line algorithm. In this paper we consider several of the natural classes known to be learnable in this setting, and investigate the minimum number of equivalence queries with accompanying counterexamples (or equivalently the minimum number of mistakes in the on-line model) that can be made by a learning algorithm that makes a polynomial number of membership queries and uses polynomial computation time. We are able both to reduce the number of equivalence queries used by the previous algorithms and often to prove matching lower bounds. As an example, consider the class of DNF formulas over n variables with at most k = O(log n) terms. Previously, the algorithm of Blum and Rudich [BR92] provided the best known upper bound of 2 O(k) log n for the minimum number of equivalence queries needed for exact identification. We greatly improve on this upper bound showing that exactly k counterexamples are needed if the learner knows k a priori and exactly k +1 counterexamples are needed if the learner does not know k a priori. This exactly matches known lower bounds [BC92]. For many of our results we obtain a complete characterization of the tradeoff between the number of membership and equivalence queries needed for exact identification. The classes we consider here are monotone DNF formulas, Horn sentences, O(log n)-term DNF formulas, read-k sat-j DNF formulas, read-once formulas over various bases, and deterministic finite automata. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #28640. 	[Title] Predicting a binary sequence almost as well as the optimal biased coin [Abstract] We apply the exponential weight algorithm, introduced and Littlestone and Warmuth [17] and by Vovk [24] to the problem of predicting a binary sequence almost as well as the best biased coin. We first show that for the case of the logarithmic loss, the derived algorithm is equivalent to the Bayes algorithm with Jeffrey's prior, that was studied by Xie and Barron under probabilistic assumptions [26]. We derive a uniform bound on the regret which holds for any sequence. We also show that if the empirical distribution of the sequence is bounded away from 0 and from 1, then, as the length of the sequence increases to infinity, the difference between this bound and a corresponding bound on the average case regret of the same algorithm (which is asymptotically optimal in that case) is only 1=2. We show that this gap of 1=2 is necessary by calculating the regret of the min-max optimal algorithm for this problem and showing that the asymptotic upper bound is tight. We also study the application of this algorithm to the square loss and show that the algorithm that is derived in this case is different from the Bayes algorithm and is better than it for prediction in the worst-case. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #28641. 	[Title] Game Theory, On-line Prediction and Boosting [Abstract] We study the close connections between game theory, on-line prediction and boosting. After a brief review of game theory, we describe an algorithm for learning to play repeated games based on the on-line prediction methods of Littlestone and War-muth. The analysis of this algorithm yields a simple proof of von Neumann's famous minmax theorem, as well as a provable method of approximately solving a game. We then show that the on-line prediction model is obtained by applying this game-playing algorithm to an appropriate choice of game and that boosting is obtained by applying the same algorithm to the dual of this game. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #309476. 	[Title] Adaptive Mixtures of Probabilistic Transducers [Abstract] We describe and analyze a mixture model for supervised learning of probabilistic transducers. We devise an on-line learning algorithm that efficiently infers the structure and estimates the parameters of each probabilistic transducer in the mixture. Theoretical analysis and comparative simulations indicate that the learning algorithm tracks the best transducer from an arbitrarily large (possibly infinite) pool of models. We also present an application of the model for inducing a noun phrase recognizer. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #28649. 	[Title] ON-LINE LEARNING OF LINEAR FUNCTIONS [Abstract] We present an algorithm for the on-line learning of linear functions which is optimal to within a constant factor with respect to bounds on the sum of squared errors for a worst case sequence of trials. The bounds are logarithmic in the number of variables. Furthermore, the algorithm is shown to be optimally robust with respect to noise in the data (again to within a constant factor). Key words. Machine learning; computational learning theory; on-line learning; linear functions; worst-case loss bounds; adaptive filter theory. Subject classifications. 68T05. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #94713. 	[Title] Update rules for parameter estimation in Bayesian networks [Abstract] This paper re-examines the problem of parameter estimation in Bayesian networks with missing values and hidden variables from the perspective of recent work in on-line learning [12]. We provide a unified framework for parameter estimation that encompasses both on-line learning, where the model is continuously adapted to new data cases as they arrive, and the more traditional batch learning, where a pre-accumulated set of samples is used in a one-time model selection process. In the batch case, our framework encompasses both the gradient projection algorithm [2, 3] and the EM algorithm [14] for Bayesian networks. The framework also leads to new on-line and batch parameter update schemes, including a parameterized version of EM. We provide both empirical and theoretical results indicating that parameterized EM allows faster convergence to the maximum likelihood parame ters than does standard EM. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1119471. 	[Title] Learning from Incomplete Boundary Queries Using Split Graphs and Hypergraphs (Extended Abstract) [Abstract] We consider learnability with membership queries in the presence of incomplete information. In the incomplete boundary query model introduced by Blum et al. [7], it is assumed that membership queries on instances near the boundary of the target concept may receive a "don't know" answer. We show that zero-one threshold functions are efficiently learnable in this model. The learning algorithm uses split graphs when the boundary region has radius 1, and their generalization to split hypergraphs (for which we give a split-finding algorithm) when the boundary region has constant radius greater than 1. We use a notion of indistinguishability of concepts that is appropriate for this model. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1059953. 	[Title] WORST CASE PREDICTION OVER SEQUENCES UNDER LOG LOSS [Abstract] We consider the game of sequentially assigning probabilities to future data based on past observations under logarithmic loss. We are not making probabilistic assumptions about the generation of the data, but consider a situation where a player tries to minimize his loss relative to the loss of the (with hindsight) best distribution from a target class for the worst sequence of data. We give bounds on the minimax regret in terms of the metric entropies of the target class with respect to suitable distances between distributions. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1106418. 	[Title] Online Learning versus O*ine Learning [Abstract] We present an off-line variant of the mistake-bound model of learning. Just like in the well studied on-line model, a learner in the offline model has to learn an unknown concept from a sequence of elements of the instance space on which he makes "guess and test" trials. In both models, the aim of the learner is to make as few mistakes as possible. The difference between the models is that, while in the on-line model only the set of possible elements is known, in the off-line model the sequence of elements (i.e., the identity of the elements as well as the order in which they are to be presented) is known to the learner in advance. We give a combinatorial characterization of the number of mistakes in the off-line model. We apply this characterization to solve several natural questions that arise for the new model. First, we compare the mistake bounds of an off-line learner to those of a learner learning the same concept classes in the on-line scenario. We show that the number of mistakes in the on-line learning is at most a log n factor more than the off-line learning, where n is the length of the sequence. In addition, we show that if there is an off-line algorithm that does not make more than a constant number of mistakes for each sequence then there is an online algorithm that also does not make more than a constant number of mistakes. The second issue we address is the effect of the ordering of the elements on the number of mistakes of an off-line learner. It turns out that there are sequences on which an off-line learner can guarantee at most one mistake, yet a permutation of the same sequence forces him to err on many elements. We prove, however, that the gap, between the off-line mistake bounds on permutations of the same sequence of n-many elements, cannot be larger than a multiplicative factor of log n, and we present examples that obtain such a gap. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #65650. 	[Title] Machine Learning 27(1):51-68, 1997. Predicting nearly as well as the best pruning of a decision tree [Abstract] Many algorithms for inferring a decision tree from data involve a two-phase process: First, a very large decision tree is grown which typically ends up "over-fitting" the data. To reduce over-fitting, in the second phase, the tree is pruned using one of a number of available methods. The final tree is then output and used for classification on test data. In this paper, we suggest an alternative approach to the pruning phase. Using a given unpruned decision tree, we present a new method of making predictions on test data, and we prove that our algorithm's performance will not be "much worse" (in a precise technical sense) than the predictions made by the best reasonably small pruning of the given decision tree. Thus, our procedure is guaranteed to be competitive (in terms of the quality of its predictions) with any pruning algorithm. We prove that our procedure is very efficient and highly robust. Our method can be viewed as a synthesis of two previously studied techniques. First, we apply Cesa-Bianchi et al.'s [4] results on predicting using "expert advice" (where we view each pruning as an "expert") to obtain an algorithm that has provably low prediction loss, but that is com-putationally infeasible. Next, we generalize and apply a method developed by Buntine [3], [2] and Willems, Shtarkov and Tjalkens [20], [21] to derive a very efficient implementation of this procedure. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1107572. 	[Title] Sifting informative examples from a random source. [Abstract] We discuss two types of algorithms for selecting relevant examples that have been developed in the context of computation learning theory. The examples are selected out of a stream of examples that are generated independently at random. The first two algorithms are the so-called "boosting" algorithms of Schapire [ Schapire, 1990 ] and Fre-und [ Freund, 1990 ] , and the Query-by-Committee algorithm of Seung [ Seung et al., 1992 ] . We describe the algorithms and some of their proven properties, point to some of their commonalities, and suggest some possible future implications. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #20601. 	[Title] Learning Conjunctions of Horn Clauses [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #20602. 	[Title] Learning Read-Once Formulas with Queries [Abstract] A read-once formula is a boolean formula in which each variable occurs at most once. Such formulas are also called -formulas or boolean trees. This paper treats the problem of exactly identifying an unknown read-once formula using specific kinds of queries. The main results are a polynomial time algorithm for exact identification of monotone read-once formulas using only membership queries, and a polynomial time algorithm for exact identification of general read-once formulas using equivalence and membership queries (a protocol based on the notion of a minimally adequate teacher [1]). Our results improve on Valiant's previous results for read-once formulas [26]. We also show that no polynomial time algorithm using only membership queries or only equivalence queries can exactly identify all read-once formulas. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #95225. 	[Title] Learning Boolean Read-Once Formulas over Generalized Bases [Abstract] A read-once formula is one in which each variable appears on at most a single input. Angluin, Hellerstein, and Karpinski give a polynomial time algorithm that uses membership and equivalence queries to identify exactly read-once boolean formulas over the basis fAND; OR; NOTg [AHK93]. The goal of this work is to consider natural generalizations of these gates, in order to develop exact identification algorithms for more powerful classes of formulas. We show that read-once formulas over a basis of arbitrary boolean functions of constant fan-in k or less (i.e. any f : f0; 1g 1ck ! f0; 1g) are exactly identifiable in polynomial time using membership and equivalence queries. We show that read-once formulas over the basis of arbitrary symmetric boolean functions are also exactly identifiable in polynomial time in this model. Given standard cryptographic assumptions, there is no polynomial time identification algorithm for read-twice formulas over either of these bases using membership and equivalence queries. We further show that for any basis class B meeting certain technical conditions, any polynomial time identification algorithm for read-once formulas over B can be extended to a polynomial time identification algorithm for read-once formulas over the union of B and the arbitrary functions of fan-in k or less. As a result, read-once formulas over the union of arbitrary symmetric and arbitrary constant fan-in gates are also exactly identifiable in polynomial time using membership and equivalence queries. Please summarise all the given information.

Paper #219239 has the title `Simulating Access to Hidden Information while Learning  
` and the abstract `We introduce a new technique which enables a learner without access to hidden information to learn nearly as well as a learner with access to hidden information. We apply our technique to solve an open problem of Maass and Turan [18], showing that for any concept class F , the least number of queries sufficient for learning F by an algorithm which has access only to arbitrary equivalence queries is at most a factor of 1= log 2 (4=3) more than the least number of queries sufficient for learning F by an algorithm which has access to both arbitrary equivalence queries and membership queries. Previously known results imply that the 1= log 2 (4=3) in our bound is best possible. We describe analogous results for two generalizations of this model to function learning, and apply those results to bound the difficulty of learning in the harder of these models in terms of the difficulty of learning in the easier model. We bound the difficulty of learning unions of k concepts from a class F in terms of the difficulty of learning F . We bound the difficulty of learning in a noisy environment for deterministic algorithms in terms of the difficulty of learning in a noise-free environment. We apply a variant of our technique to develop an algorithm transformation that allows probabilistic learning algorithms to nearly optimally cope with noise. A second variant enables us to improve a general lower bound of Turan [19] for the PAC-learning model (with queries). Finally, we show that logarithmically many membership queries never help to obtain computationally efficient learning algorithms. fl Supported by Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant F49620-92-J-0515. Most of this work was done while this author was at TU Graz supported by a Lise Meitner Fellowship from the Fonds zur Forderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Austria). 
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Question: Which category should Paper #219239 be classified as ?
You can select one from ['Neural_Networks', 'Case_Based', 'Theory', 'Reinforcement_Learning', 'Probabilistic_Methods', 'Rule_Learning', 'Genetic_Algorithms'].


Paper #219239 has the title `Simulating Access to Hidden Information while Learning  
` and the abstract `We introduce a new technique which enables a learner without access to hidden information to learn nearly as well as a learner with access to hidden information. We apply our technique to solve an open problem of Maass and Turan [18], showing that for any concept class F , the least number of queries sufficient for learning F by an algorithm which has access only to arbitrary equivalence queries is at most a factor of 1= log 2 (4=3) more than the least number of queries sufficient for learning F by an algorithm which has access to both arbitrary equivalence queries and membership queries. Previously known results imply that the 1= log 2 (4=3) in our bound is best possible. We describe analogous results for two generalizations of this model to function learning, and apply those results to bound the difficulty of learning in the harder of these models in terms of the difficulty of learning in the easier model. We bound the difficulty of learning unions of k concepts from a class F in terms of the difficulty of learning F . We bound the difficulty of learning in a noisy environment for deterministic algorithms in terms of the difficulty of learning in a noise-free environment. We apply a variant of our technique to develop an algorithm transformation that allows probabilistic learning algorithms to nearly optimally cope with noise. A second variant enables us to improve a general lower bound of Turan [19] for the PAC-learning model (with queries). Finally, we show that logarithmically many membership queries never help to obtain computationally efficient learning algorithms. fl Supported by Air Force Office of Scientific Research grant F49620-92-J-0515. Most of this work was done while this author was at TU Graz supported by a Lise Meitner Fellowship from the Fonds zur Forderung der wissenschaftlichen Forschung (Austria). 
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Question: Which category should Paper #219239 be classified as ?
You can select one from ['Neural_Networks', 'Case_Based', 'Theory', 'Reinforcement_Learning', 'Probabilistic_Methods', 'Rule_Learning', 'Genetic_Algorithms'].

This paper should be classified into: Theory