Yueyong Shi | Searcharxiv

arXiv2019

A Semi-Smooth Newton Algorithm for High-Dimensional Nonconvex Sparse Learning

The smoothly clipped absolute deviation (SCAD) and the minimax concave penalty (MCP) penalized regression models are two important and widely used nonconvex sparse learning tools that can handle variable selection and parameter estimation simultaneously, and thus have potential applications in various fields such as mining biological data in high-throughput biomedical studies. Theoretically, these two models enjoy the oracle property even in the high-dimensional settings, where the number of predictors $p$ may be much larger than the number of observations $n$. However, numerically, it is quite challenging to develop fast and stable algorithms due to their non-convexity and non-smoothness. In this paper we develop a fast algorithm for SCAD and MCP penalized learning problems. First, we show that the global minimizers of both models are roots of the nonsmooth equations. Then, a semi-smooth Newton (SSN) algorithm is employed to solve the equations. We prove that the SSN algorithm converges locally and superlinearly to the Karush-Kuhn-Tucker (KKT) points. Computational complexity analysis shows that the cost of the SSN algorithm per iteration is $O(np)$. Combined with the warm-start technique, the SSN algorithm can be very efficient and accurate. Simulation studies and a real data example suggest that our SSN algorithm, with comparable solution accuracy with the coordinate descent (CD) and the difference of convex (DC) proximal Newton algorithms, is more computationally efficient.

stat.CO↗

arXiv2018

SNAP: A semismooth Newton algorithm for pathwise optimization with optimal local convergence rate and oracle properties

We propose a semismooth Newton algorithm for pathwise optimization (SNAP) for the LASSO and Enet in sparse, high-dimensional linear regression. SNAP is derived from a suitable formulation of the KKT conditions based on Newton derivatives. It solves the semismooth KKT equations efficiently by actively and continuously seeking the support of the regression coefficients along the solution path with warm start. At each knot in the path, SNAP converges locally superlinearly for the Enet criterion and achieves an optimal local convergence rate for the LASSO criterion, i.e., SNAP converges in one step at the cost of two matrix-vector multiplication per iteration. Under certain regularity conditions on the design matrix and the minimum magnitude of the nonzero elements of the target regression coefficients, we show that SNAP hits a solution with the same signs as the regression coefficients and achieves a sharp estimation error bound in finite steps with high probability. The computational complexity of SNAP is shown to be the same as that of LARS and coordinate descent algorithms per iteration. Simulation studies and real data analysis support our theoretical results and demonstrate that SNAP is faster and accurate than LARS and coordinate descent algorithms.

stat.ML↗