Author: Awais

[Submitted on 20 Dec 2025 (v1), last revised 23 Dec 2025 (this version, v2)] View a PDF of the paper titled On Efficient Adjustment for Micro Causal Effects in Summary Causal Graphs, by Isabela Belciug and 2 other authors View PDF Abstract:Observational studies in fields such as epidemiology often rely on covariate adjustment to estimate causal effects. Classical graphical criteria, like the back-door criterion and the generalized adjustment criterion, are powerful tools for identifying valid adjustment sets in directed acyclic graphs (DAGs). However, these criteria are not directly applicable to summary causal graphs (SCGs), which are abstractions of DAGs commonly…

Sony’s full suite of PlayStation 5 consoles jumped in price in August due to increased US tariffs, but now through Christmas, you can save $100 on several models. This discount is especially great if you planned to go big with Sony’s PS5 Pro, the company’s priciest, most powerful console yet. Normally $749.99, you can currently grab one at Amazon, Walmart, and Target for around $689.99. Sony’s PlayStation Direct storefront indicates that the PS5 Pro sale ends on December 25th at 3AM ET, although discounts may remain on cheaper models.The PS5 Pro plays many games at their best resolution, while making…

Malicious Google Chrome extensions “Phantom Shuttle” secretly rerouted traffic through attacker-controlled proxies Extensions targeted Chinese users, harvesting credentials from 170 high-value domainsGoogle removed the plugins; experts warn browser add-ons remain a major security riskSecurity researchers recently discovered two extensions for the Google Chrome browser were rerouting valuable traffic through compromised proxies, and thus sharing sensitive information with malicious third parties.Socket said it found two extensions in the Chrome Web Store, named ‘Phantom Shuttle’. On the surface, these were advertised as plugins for a proxy service, allowing users to proxy traffic and test network speeds, and were targeted mostly for Chinese…

I really thought I was on my good luck game coming into a new year. I stocked up on black-eyed peas and collard greens days before to make sure I could prepare a proper Southern New Year’s Feast to usher in all the good fortune and success imaginable.  But, as I braised greens and fried up bacon on January 1st, I scrolled through post after post of people eating grapes (12 to be exact) at the stroke of midnight the night before. What was this all about—and how was I only just hearing about it? I immediately got online to…

: The Midnight Paradox Imagine this. You’re building a model to predict electricity demand or taxi pickups. So, you feed it time (such as minutes) starting at midnight. Clean and simple. Right? Now your model sees 23:59 (minute 1439 in the day) and 00:01 (minute 1 in the day). To you, they’re two minutes apart. To your model, they’re very far apart. That’s the midnight paradox. And yes, your model is probably time-blind. Why does this happen? Because most machine learning models treat numbers as straight lines, not circles. Linear regression, KNN, SVMs, and even neural networks will treat numbers…

The subwoofer is no joke, at about 13 x 16 inches and 18 pounds, but it’s not something you’ll need to move once you get it set up, and it contributes massively (pun intended) to the depth and breadth of the Bar 500MK2’s sound. With a 10-inch driver, it’s more than enough to get to its claimed 40-Hz floor.Controls on the bar are minimal, with volume and input buttons hidden in the center of the matte black bar, and an included remote that lets you adjust settings. There is a convenient LED screen hidden inside the right front of the…

It’s your last chance to get Christmas gifts under the tree! Luckily right now there are lots of deals on Lego sets and you can get them in time with in-store pickup (depending on your location.)For example, you can get these pretty Lego Roses on sale for $9 at Walmart. This simple build is great to brighten up a room and makes for an excellent gift for a loved one. Or, if you have a Star Wars fan in the family, this Lego Star Wars 327th Star Corps Clone Troopers Battle Pack is on sale for $35 at Walmart.I’ve listed…

Italy has ordered Meta to suspend its policy that bans companies from using WhatsApp’s business tools to offer their own AI chatbots on the popular chat app. The Italian Competition Authority (AGCM) on Wednesday said it had found enough cause in its ongoing investigation into whether Meta was abusing its dominant position in the market to offer its Meta AI chatbot within WhatsApp to order the suspension of the policy. “Meta’s conduct appears to constitute an abuse, since it may limit production, market access, or technical developments in the AI Chatbot services market, to the detriment of consumers,” the Authority…

Your phone is essentially a portable petri dish. Think about everywhere you take it-the gym, the kitchen, and yes, the bathroom-and then consider that it spends half its life pressed against your face. Research suggests your screen is likely teeming with more bacteria than a public toilet seat, yet most of us go weeks without a single wipe-down. And if you’re spending a lot of time with family during the holiday season, you could be spreading those germs to everyone.  Zooey Liao/CNETIf you aren’t disinfecting your phone daily, you’re just carrying around a layer of grime that you’ve been cultivating…

As people who write about food and test kitchen gadgets for a living, Bon Appétit editors are constantly surrounded by a wide range of products. Between our own purchases and the endless stream of samples sent our way, it means there’s always something new coming across our desks and into our homes. Every month, we’re rounding up the standouts we’ve tested or bought ourselves that changed the way we cook and eat.This month, a zesty hot sauce to brighten winter cooking, a mini vacuum for small kitchen messes, and the cozy slippers and sets we’ll be wearing all winter.Read on…