Agent Conversation: deepseek-reasoner
Task: ml-feature-selection
Feature Selection Method Design
Research Question
Design a novel univariate feature scoring method that identifies the most informative features for classification, generalizing across diverse data modalities (text, vision, tabular).
Background
Feature selection is a fundamental preprocessing step in machine learning. By removing irrelevant or redundant features, it can improve model accuracy, reduce overfitting, and speed up training. Classical univariate methods score each feature independently based on its relationship with the target variable:
- Chi-squared test: Measures departure from independence between feature and target using contingency tables. Works best with non-negative, count-like features.
- ANOVA F-value (f_classif): Computes the ratio of between-class variance to within-class variance. Effective for normally-distributed features with different means per class.
- Mutual Information: Estimates the mutual information between each feature and the target via k-nearest neighbors. Captures non-linear dependencies but is computationally expensive.
Each method has strengths and weaknesses depending on the data distribution. The task is to design a scoring function that performs robustly across different data types and class structures.
Task
Implement the score_features(X, y) function in custom_featsel.py. Given a training feature matrix X and integer class labels y, return a 1-D numpy array of non-negative importance scores (one per feature). The top-k features (by score) will be selected and used to train a LogisticRegression classifier.
Interface
def score_features(X: np.ndarray, y: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
"""
Args:
X: (n_samples, n_features) non-negative float array
y: (n_samples,) integer class labels
Returns:
scores: (n_features,) non-negative float array
"""
Available imports (already at top of file): numpy, scipy (via sklearn), sklearn.feature_selection (mutual_info_classif, chi2, f_classif), sklearn.preprocessing, sklearn.metrics.
Evaluation
Evaluated on three classification benchmarks spanning different data modalities:
- 20newsgroups: 10,000 TF-IDF text features, 20 classes, top-500 selected
- MNIST: 784 pixel intensity features, 10 digit classes, top-200 selected
- Madelon: 500 synthetic features (20 informative + 480 noisy), binary classification, top-20 selected
Metric: test classification accuracy using LogisticRegression on the selected features (higher is better).
scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py [EDITABLE — lines 86–112 only]
1: # Custom feature selection method for MLS-Bench
2: #
3: # EDITABLE section: score_features() function.
4: # FIXED sections: everything else (data loading, classifier, evaluation).
5: import os
6: import warnings
7: import numpy as np
8: from pathlib import Path
9:
10: from sklTool Input
1{
2 "op": "replace",
3 "filename": "scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py",
4 "start_line": 86,
5 "end_line": 112,
6 "content": "def score_features(X: np.ndarray, y: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:\n \"\"\"Score each feature for its relevance to the classification target.\n\n This function receives the training data and must return a score for\n each feature indicating its importance. Higher scores = more important.\n The top-k features (by score) will be selected for classification.\n\n Args:\n X: Training feature matrix of shape (n_samples, n_features).\n All values are non-negative floats (TF-IDF, pixel intensities,\n or pre-processed numeric features depending on the dataset).\n y: Training labels of shape (n_samples,), integer class labels.\n\n Returns:\n scores: 1-D numpy array of shape (n_features,) with non-negative\n importance scores. Features with higher scores are selected.\n\n Notes:\n - X values are guaranteed non-negative (suitable for chi2, etc.)\n - Must handle both binary and multi-class problems.\n - Must handle high-dimensional data (up to 10000 features).\n - Returned scores must be finite (no NaN or Inf).\n - Available imports: numpy, scipy, sklearn (see top of file).\n \"\"\"\n # Compute F-statistic (linear separability)\n f_scores, _ = f_classif(X, y)\n f_scores = np.nan_to_num(f_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n # Compute mutual information (non-linear dependency)\n mi_scores = mutual_info_classif(X, y, discrete_features=False, random_state=42, n_neighbors=5)\n mi_scores = np.nan_to_num(mi_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n # Normalize each to [0,1] range (avoid division by zero)\n f_max = f_scores.max()\n if f_max > 0:\n f_scores = f_scores / f_max\n mi_max = mi_scores.max()\n if mi_max > 0:\n mi_scores = mi_scores / mi_max\n \n # Combine using geometric mean (captures both linear and non-linear)\n # Add small epsilon to avoid zero scores\n eps = 1e-12\n scores = np.sqrt((f_scores + eps) * (mi_scores + eps))\n \n return scores"
7}OK: Replaced lines 86..112 with 46 line(s) in scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py. Editable range: 86–131.
[Current file: scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py | editable: 86–131 | total: 211 lines]
86 def score_features(X: np.ndarray, y: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
87 """Score each feature for its relevance to the classification target.
88
... (40 more lines) ...
129 scores = np.sqrt((f_scores + eps) * (mi_scores + eps))
130
131 return scores[Test #1] (2 tests remaining; call submit(n=N) to choose which test result to submit as final)
### 20newsgroups (scripts/20newsgroups.sh)
Training progress:
TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=20newsgroups n_features=10000 k=500
TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=20newsgroups top_k=500
TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=20newsgroups train_acc=0.7318 test_acc=0.5215
Test results (20newsgroups):
Accuracy: 0.5215 (52.15%)
### mnist (scripts/mnist.sh)
Training progress:
TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=mnist n_features=784 k=200
TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=mnist top_k=200
TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=mnist train_acc=0.9068 test_acc=0.8983
Test results (mnist):
Accuracy: 0.8983 (89.83%)
[Leaderboard] Results saved: {'accuracy_20newsgroups': 0.5215, 'elapsed_20newsgroups': 411, 'accuracy_mnist': 0.8983, 'elapsed_mnist': 411, 'accuracy_madelon': 0.6103, 'elapsed_madelon': 411}Tool Input
1{
2 "op": "replace",
3 "filename": "scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py",
4 "start_line": 86,
5 "end_line": 131,
6 "content": "def score_features(X: np.ndarray, y: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:\n \"\"\"Score each feature for its relevance to the classification target.\n\n This function receives the training data and must return a score for\n each feature indicating its importance. Higher scores = more important.\n The top-k features (by score) will be selected for classification.\n\n Args:\n X: Training feature matrix of shape (n_samples, n_features).\n All values are non-negative floats (TF-IDF, pixel intensities,\n or pre-processed numeric features depending on the dataset).\n y: Training labels of shape (n_samples,), integer class labels.\n\n Returns:\n scores: 1-D numpy array of shape (n_features,) with non-negative\n importance scores. Features with higher scores are selected.\n\n Notes:\n - X values are guaranteed non-negative (suitable for chi2, etc.)\n - Must handle both binary and multi-class problems.\n - Must handle high-dimensional data (up to 10000 features).\n - Returned scores must be finite (no NaN or Inf).\n - Available imports: numpy, scipy, sklearn (see top of file).\n \"\"\"\n # Compute three different univariate scores\n # Chi-squared statistic (good for count-like data)\n chi2_scores, _ = chi2(X, y)\n chi2_scores = np.nan_to_num(chi2_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n # ANOVA F-statistic (good for continuous linear relationships)\n f_scores, _ = f_classif(X, y)\n f_scores = np.nan_to_num(f_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n # Mutual information (good for non-linear dependencies)\n mi_scores = mutual_info_classif(X, y, discrete_features=False, random_state=42, n_neighbors=5)\n mi_scores = np.nan_to_num(mi_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n # Normalize each to [0,1] range (avoid division by zero)\n def normalize(arr):\n arr = arr.copy()\n max_val = arr.max()\n if max_val > 0:\n arr = arr / max_val\n return arr\n \n chi2_norm = normalize(chi2_scores)\n f_norm = normalize(f_scores)\n mi_norm = normalize(mi_scores)\n \n # Take the maximum of the three normalized scores per feature\n # This adaptively picks the best signal for each feature\n scores = np.maximum.reduce([chi2_norm, f_norm, mi_norm])\n \n # Ensure non-negative (should already be)\n scores = np.maximum(scores, 0.0)\n \n return scores"
7}OK: Replaced lines 86..131 with 57 line(s) in scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py. Editable range: 86–142.
[Current file: scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py | editable: 86–142 | total: 222 lines]
86 def score_features(X: np.ndarray, y: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
87 """Score each feature for its relevance to the classification target.
88
... (51 more lines) ...
140 scores = np.maximum(scores, 0.0)
141
142 return scores[Test #2] (1 test remaining; call submit(n=N) to choose which test result to submit as final)
### 20newsgroups (scripts/20newsgroups.sh)
Training progress:
TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=20newsgroups n_features=10000 k=500
TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=20newsgroups top_k=500
TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=20newsgroups train_acc=0.7361 test_acc=0.4976
Test results (20newsgroups):
Accuracy: 0.4976 (49.76%)
### mnist (scripts/mnist.sh)
Training progress:
TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=mnist n_features=784 k=200
TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=mnist top_k=200
TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=mnist train_acc=0.9021 test_acc=0.8938
Test results (mnist):
Accuracy: 0.8938 (89.38%)
[Leaderboard] Results saved: {'accuracy_20newsgroups': 0.4976, 'elapsed_20newsgroups': 378, 'accuracy_mnist': 0.8938, 'elapsed_mnist': 378, 'accuracy_madelon': 0.6154, 'elapsed_madelon': 378}Tool Input
1{
2 "op": "replace",
3 "filename": "scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py",
4 "start_line": 86,
5 "end_line": 142,
6 "content": "def score_features(X: np.ndarray, y: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:\n \"\"\"Score each feature for its relevance to the classification target.\n\n This function receives the training data and must return a score for\n each feature indicating its importance. Higher scores = more important.\n The top-k features (by score) will be selected for classification.\n\n Args:\n X: Training feature matrix of shape (n_samples, n_features).\n All values are non-negative floats (TF-IDF, pixel intensities,\n or pre-processed numeric features depending on the dataset).\n y: Training labels of shape (n_samples,), integer class labels.\n\n Returns:\n scores: 1-D numpy array of shape (n_features,) with non-negative\n importance scores. Features with higher scores are selected.\n\n Notes:\n - X values are guaranteed non-negative (suitable for chi2, etc.)\n - Must handle both binary and multi-class problems.\n - Must handle high-dimensional data (up to 10000 features).\n - Returned scores must be finite (no NaN or Inf).\n - Available imports: numpy, scipy, sklearn (see top of file).\n \"\"\"\n # Compute three different univariate scores\n chi2_scores, _ = chi2(X, y)\n chi2_scores = np.nan_to_num(chi2_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n f_scores, _ = f_classif(X, y)\n f_scores = np.nan_to_num(f_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n mi_scores = mutual_info_classif(X, y, discrete_features=False, random_state=42, n_neighbors=5)\n mi_scores = np.nan_to_num(mi_scores, nan=0.0)\n \n # Normalize each to [0,1] range\n def normalize(arr):\n arr = arr.copy()\n max_val = arr.max()\n if max_val > 0:\n arr = arr / max_val\n return arr\n \n chi2_norm = normalize(chi2_scores)\n f_norm = normalize(f_scores)\n mi_norm = normalize(mi_scores)\n \n # Compute sparsity of each feature (fraction of zero values)\n sparsity = (X == 0).mean(axis=0)\n \n # Adaptive weighting: for sparse features (text), trust chi2 more;\n # for dense features (continuous), trust f_classif more;\n # mutual information is always valuable but weighted by non-linearity.\n # Estimate linearity via correlation between chi2 and f scores?\n # Simple: weight chi2 by sparsity, f by (1 - sparsity), mi by 0.5 constant.\n w_chi2 = sparsity\n w_f = 1.0 - sparsity\n w_mi = 0.5 # constant contribution\n \n # Combine weighted scores\n scores = w_chi2 * chi2_norm + w_f * f_norm + w_mi * mi_norm\n \n # Ensure non-negative\n scores = np.maximum(scores, 0.0)\n \n return scores"
7}OK: Replaced lines 86..142 with 65 line(s) in scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py. Editable range: 86–150.
[Current file: scikit-learn/custom_featsel.py | editable: 86–150 | total: 230 lines]
86 def score_features(X: np.ndarray, y: np.ndarray) -> np.ndarray:
87 """Score each feature for its relevance to the classification target.
88
... (59 more lines) ...
148 scores = np.maximum(scores, 0.0)
149
150 return scores[Test #3] (0 tests remaining; call submit(n=N) to choose which test result to submit as final) [NOTE] This was your last test. You MUST now call submit(n=X) to choose which test result to submit as your final answer. ### 20newsgroups (scripts/20newsgroups.sh) Training progress: TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=20newsgroups n_features=10000 k=500 TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=20newsgroups top_k=500 TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=20newsgroups train_acc=0.7349 test_acc=0.5429 Test results (20newsgroups): Accuracy: 0.5429 (54.29%) ### mnist (scripts/mnist.sh) Training progress: TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=mnist n_features=784 k=200 TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=mnist top_k=200 TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=mnist train_acc=0.9015 test_acc=0.8924 Test results (mnist): Accuracy: 0.8924 (89.24%) ### madelon (scripts/madelon.sh) Training progress: TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=madelon n_features=500 k=20 TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=madelon top_k=20 T
Tool Input
1{
2 "n": 3
3}[submit] Submitting result from test #3 as final. ### 20newsgroups (scripts/20newsgroups.sh) Training progress: TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=20newsgroups n_features=10000 k=500 TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=20newsgroups top_k=500 TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=20newsgroups train_acc=0.7349 test_acc=0.5429 Test results (20newsgroups): Accuracy: 0.5429 (54.29%) ### mnist (scripts/mnist.sh) Training progress: TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=mnist n_features=784 k=200 TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=mnist top_k=200 TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=mnist train_acc=0.9015 test_acc=0.8924 Test results (mnist): Accuracy: 0.8924 (89.24%) ### madelon (scripts/madelon.sh) Training progress: TRAIN_METRICS step=scoring dataset=madelon n_features=500 k=20 TRAIN_METRICS step=selected dataset=madelon top_k=20 TRAIN_METRICS step=eval dataset=madelon train_acc=0.6203 test_acc=0.6372 Test results (madelon): Accuracy: 0.6372 (63.72%) [submit] Finalized test #3 as final. [Lead