arXiv subjects

Yixiao Yu

Publications and source records attributed to Yixiao Yu.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Learning $\mathsf{AC}^0$ under Locally Sampleable Graphical Models

The problem of learning constant-depth circuits holds profound implications for computational learning theory. In a seminal result, by introducing the low-degree algorithm, Linial, Mansour, and Nisan (J. ACM 1993) presented a quasipolynomial-time learner for $\mathsf{AC}^0$ under the uniform distribution. However, obtaining comparable learning guarantees for broader classes of correlated distributions has remained a longstanding challenge. Recently, Chandrasekaran, Gaitonde, Moitra, and Vasilyan (arXiv 2026) extended these guarantees to Gibbs distributions on bounded-degree graphical models with both strong spatial mixing and polynomial growth. In this paper, we give a quasipolynomial-time learner for $\mathsf{AC}^0$ under graphical models that admit efficient local samplers, circumventing the polynomial-growth requirement in prior work. The key ingredient is a new low-degree approximation for Gibbs distributions, established by simulating and suitably truncating the classical Glauber dynamics. As applications, this framework yields learners for two-spin systems, including the hard-core model and Ising model, on arbitrary bounded-degree graphs, in regimes approaching their respective sampling thresholds.

cs.LG↗

arXiv2026

Zero-free regions and concentration inequalities for hypergraph colorings in the local lemma regime

We show that for $q$-colorings in $k$-uniform hypergraphs with maximum degree $\Delta$, if $k\ge 50$ and $q\ge 700\Delta^{\frac{5}{k-10}}$, there is a "Lee-Yang" zero-free strip around the interval $[0,1]$ of the partition function, which includes the special case of uniform enumeration of hypergraph colorings. As an immediate consequence, we obtain Berry-Esseen type inequalities for hypergraph $q$-colorings under such conditions, demonstrating the asymptotic normality for the size of any color class in a uniformly random coloring. Our framework also extends to the study of "Fisher zeros", leading to deterministic algorithms for approximating the partition function in the zero-free region. Our approach is based on extending the recent work of [Liu, Wang, Yin, Yu, STOC 2025] to general constraint satisfaction problems (CSP). We focus on partition functions defined for CSPs by introducing external fields to the variables. A key component in our approach is a projection-lifting scheme, which enables us to essentially lift information percolation type analysis for Markov chains from the real line to the complex plane. Last but not least, we also show a Chebyshev-type inequality under the sampling LLL condition for atomic CSPs.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2025

Learning CNF formulas from uniform random solutions in the local lemma regime

We study the problem of learning a $n$-variables $k$-CNF formula $\Phi$ from its i.i.d. uniform random solutions, which is equivalent to learning a Boolean Markov random field (MRF) with $k$-wise hard constraints. Revisiting Valiant's algorithm (Commun. ACM'84), we show that it can exactly learn (1) $k$-CNFs with bounded clause intersection size under Lov\'asz local lemma type conditions, from $O(\log n)$ samples; and (2) random $k$-CNFs near the satisfiability threshold, from $\widetilde{O}(n^{\exp(-\sqrt{k})})$ samples. These results significantly improve the previous $O(n^k)$ sample complexity. We further establish new information-theoretic lower bounds on sample complexity for both exact and approximate learning from i.i.d. uniform random solutions.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2024

Phase Transitions via Complex Extensions of Markov Chains

We study algebraic properties of partition functions, particularly the location of zeros, through the lens of rapidly mixing Markov chains. The classical Lee-Yang program initiated the study of phase transitions via locating complex zeros of partition functions. Markov chains, besides serving as algorithms, have also been used to model physical processes tending to equilibrium. In many scenarios, rapid mixing of Markov chains coincides with the absence of phase transitions (complex zeros). Prior works have shown that the absence of phase transitions implies rapid mixing of Markov chains. We reveal a converse connection by lifting probabilistic tools for the analysis of Markov chains to study complex zeros of partition functions. Our motivating example is the independence polynomial on $k$-uniform hypergraphs, where the best-known zero-free regime has been significantly lagging behind the regime where we have rapidly mixing Markov chains for the underlying hypergraph independent sets. Specifically, the Glauber dynamics is known to mix rapidly on independent sets in a $k$-uniform hypergraph of maximum degree $\Delta$ provided that $\Delta \lesssim 2^{k/2}$. On the other hand, the best-known zero-freeness around the point $1$ of the independence polynomial on $k$-uniform hypergraphs requires $\Delta \le 5$, the same bound as on a graph. By introducing a complex extension of Markov chains, we lift an existing percolation argument to the complex plane, and show that if $\Delta \lesssim 2^{k/2}$, the Markov chain converges in a complex neighborhood, and the independence polynomial itself does not vanish in the same neighborhood. In the same regime, our result also implies central limit theorems for the size of a uniformly random independent set, and deterministic approximation algorithms for the number of hypergraph independent sets of size $k \le \alpha n$ for some constant $\alpha$.

cs.DS↗

arXiv2023

Men Can't Always be Transformed into Mice: Decision Algorithms and Complexity for Sorting by Symmetric Reversals

Sorting a permutation by reversals is a famous problem in genome rearrangements. Since 1997, quite some biological evidence were found that in many genomes the reversed regions are usually flanked by a pair of inverted repeats. This type of reversals are called symmetric reversals, which, unfortunately, were largely ignored until recently. In this paper, we investigate the problem of sorting by symmetric reversals, which requires a series of symmetric reversals to transform one chromosome $A$ into the another chromosome $B$. The decision problem of sorting by symmetric reversals is referred to as {\em SSR} (when the input chromosomes $A$ and $B$ are given, we use {\em SSR(A,B)}) and the corresponding optimization version (i.e., when the answer for {\em SSR(A,B)} is yes, using the minimum number of symmetric reversals to convert $A$ to $B$), is referred to as {\em SMSR(A,B)}. The main results of this paper are summarized as follows, where the input is a pair of chromosomes $A$ and $B$ with $n$ repeats. (1) We present an $O(n^2)$ time algorithm to solve the decision problem {\em SSR(A,B)}, i.e., determine whether a chromosome $A$ can be transformed into $B$ by a series of symmetric reversals. (2) We design an $O(n^2)$ time algorithm for a special 2-balanced case of {\em SMSR(A,B)}, where chromosomes $A$ and $B$ both have duplication number 2 and every repeat appears twice in different orientations in $A$ and $B$. (3) We show that SMSR is NP-hard even if the duplication number of the input chromosomes are at most 2, hence showing that the above positive optimization result is the best possible. As a by-product, we show that the \emph{minimum Steiner tree} problem on \emph{circle graphs} is NP-hard, settling the complexity status of a 38-year old open problem.

cs.DS↗