Class Overlap Matters: Revisiting SOUP for Multi-Class Imbalanced Medical Data.

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Title: Class Overlap Matters: Revisiting SOUP for Multi-Class Imbalanced Medical Data.
Authors: Wang, Yujiang1 wyjprogram@gmail.com, Mohd Rosli, Marshima1 marshima@uitm.edu.my, Musa, Norzilah1 norzilah@uitm.edu.my
Source: IAENG International Journal of Computer Science. May2026, Vol. 53 Issue 5, p1615-1624. 10p.
Subjects: Feature selection, Sampling methods, Machine learning, Data distribution, Data augmentation, Nosology
Abstract: Multi-class imbalanced medical data classification is one of the most critical challenges in contemporary machine learning, as it reflects the diverse nature of disease conditions. While considerable efforts have been made to address class imbalance, recent studies have increasingly recognized that class overlap poses an even greater challenge to classification performance than the imbalance itself. A promising future direction to address the class overlap issue is to explore the complex inter-class relationships present in real-world datasets. In this context, the Similarity Oversampling and Undersampling Preprocessing (SOUP) method, which combines oversampling and undersampling techniques, has been considered a potential baseline for handling multi-class imbalance and provide useful insights for addressing class overlap. In this study, we revisit the SOUP method and examine its strengths and limitations in handling class overlap. Based on this analysis, we experimentally examine two potential modifications to the SOUP method: integrating feature selection and removing the undersampling component. Experiments on ten multi-class imbalanced medical datasets show that both lead to improved classification performance under class overlap conditions, providing a meaningful direction for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of IAENG International Journal of Computer Science is the property of International Association of Engineers (IAENG) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
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An: 193482019
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  Data: Class Overlap Matters: Revisiting SOUP for Multi-Class Imbalanced Medical Data.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Wang%2C+Yujiang%22">Wang, Yujiang</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> wyjprogram@gmail.com</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mohd+Rosli%2C+Marshima%22">Mohd Rosli, Marshima</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> marshima@uitm.edu.my</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Musa%2C+Norzilah%22">Musa, Norzilah</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> norzilah@uitm.edu.my</i>
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22IAENG+International+Journal+of+Computer+Science%22">IAENG International Journal of Computer Science</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 53 Issue 5, p1615-1624. 10p.
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Feature+selection%22">Feature selection</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sampling+methods%22">Sampling methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Machine+learning%22">Machine learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+distribution%22">Data distribution</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Data+augmentation%22">Data augmentation</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nosology%22">Nosology</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Multi-class imbalanced medical data classification is one of the most critical challenges in contemporary machine learning, as it reflects the diverse nature of disease conditions. While considerable efforts have been made to address class imbalance, recent studies have increasingly recognized that class overlap poses an even greater challenge to classification performance than the imbalance itself. A promising future direction to address the class overlap issue is to explore the complex inter-class relationships present in real-world datasets. In this context, the Similarity Oversampling and Undersampling Preprocessing (SOUP) method, which combines oversampling and undersampling techniques, has been considered a potential baseline for handling multi-class imbalance and provide useful insights for addressing class overlap. In this study, we revisit the SOUP method and examine its strengths and limitations in handling class overlap. Based on this analysis, we experimentally examine two potential modifications to the SOUP method: integrating feature selection and removing the undersampling component. Experiments on ten multi-class imbalanced medical datasets show that both lead to improved classification performance under class overlap conditions, providing a meaningful direction for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of IAENG International Journal of Computer Science is the property of International Association of Engineers (IAENG) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
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        Text: English
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        PageCount: 10
        StartPage: 1615
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Feature selection
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sampling methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Machine learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data distribution
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Data augmentation
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      – SubjectFull: Nosology
        Type: general
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      – TitleFull: Class Overlap Matters: Revisiting SOUP for Multi-Class Imbalanced Medical Data.
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              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
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