Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #126927. 	[Title] Convergence properties of perturbed Markov chains [Abstract] Acknowledgements. We thank Neal Madras, Radford Neal, Peter Rosenthal, and Richard Tweedie for helpful conversations. This work was partially supported by EPSRC of the U.K., and by NSERC of Canada. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #6913. 	[Title] On Convergence of the EM Algorithm and the Gibbs Sampler  SUMMARY [Abstract] In this article we investigate the relationship between the two popular algorithms, the EM algorithm and the Gibbs sampler. We show that the approximate rate of convergence of the Gibbs sampler by Gaussian approximation is equal to that of the corresponding EM type algorithm. This helps in implementing either of the algorithms as improvement strategies for one algorithm can be directly transported to the other. In particular, by running the EM algorithm we know approximately how many iterations are needed for convergence of the Gibbs sampler. We also obtain a result that under conditions, the EM algorithm used for finding the maximum likelihood estimates can be slower to converge than the corresponding Gibbs sampler for Bayesian inference which uses proper prior distributions. We illustrate our results in a number of realistic examples all based on the generalized linear mixed models. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #645897. 	[Title] A note on convergence rates of Gibbs sampling for nonparametric mixtures [Abstract] We consider a mixture model where the mixing distribution is random and is given a Dirichlet process prior. We describe the general structure of two Gibbs sampling algorithms that are useful for approximating Bayesian inferences in this problem. When the kernel f(x j ) of the mixture is bounded, we show that the Markov chains resulting from the Gibbs sampling are uniformly ergodic, and we provide an explicit rate bound. Unfortunately, the bound is not sharp in general; improving sensibly the bound seems however quite difficult. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #646286. 	[Title] Rate of Convergence of the Gibbs Sampler by Gaussian Approximation  SUMMARY [Abstract] In this article we approximate the rate of convergence of the Gibbs sampler by a normal approximation of the target distribution. Based on this approximation, we consider many implementational issues for the Gibbs sampler, e.g., updating strategy, parameterization and blocking. We give theoretical results to justify our approximation and illustrate our methods in a number of realistic examples. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #643221. 	[Title] A simulation approach to convergence rates for Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithms [Abstract] Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods, including the Gibbs sampler and the Metropolis-Hastings algorithm, are very commonly used in Bayesian statistics for sampling from complicated, high-dimensional posterior distributions. A continuing source of uncertainty is how long such a sampler must be run in order to converge approximately to its target stationary distribution. Rosenthal (1995b) presents a method to compute rigorous theoretical upper bounds on the number of iterations required to achieve a specified degree of convergence in total variation distance by verifying drift and minorization conditions. We propose the use of auxiliary simulations to estimate the numerical values needed in Rosenthal's theorem. Our simulation method makes it possible to compute quantitative convergence bounds for models for which the requisite analytical computations would be prohibitively difficult or impossible. On the other hand, although our method appears to perform well in our example problems, it can not provide the guarantees offered by analytical proof. Acknowledgements. We thank Brad Carlin for assistance and encouragement. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #643485. 	[Title] Geometric Ergodicity of Gibbs and Block Gibbs Samplers for a Hierarchical Random Effects Model [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #643239. 	[Title] Analysis of the Gibbs sampler for a model related to James-Stein estimators [Abstract] Summary. We analyze a hierarchical Bayes model which is related to the usual empirical Bayes formulation of James-Stein estimators. We consider running a Gibbs sampler on this model. Using previous results about convergence rates of Markov chains, we provide rigorous, numerical, reasonable bounds on the running time of the Gibbs sampler, for a suitable range of prior distributions. We apply these results to baseball data from Efron and Morris (1975). For a different range of prior distributions, we prove that the Gibbs sampler will fail to converge, and use this information to prove that in this case the associated posterior distribution is non-normalizable. Acknowledgements. I am very grateful to Jun Liu for suggesting this project, and to Neal Madras for suggesting the use of the Submartingale Convergence Theorem herein. I thank Kate Cowles and Richard Tweedie for helpful conversations, and thank the referees for useful comments. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1131305. 	[Title] Two convergence properties of hybrid samplers [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1131312. 	[Title] Theoretical rates of convergence for Markov chain Monte Carlo [Abstract] We present a general method for proving rigorous, a priori bounds on the number of iterations required to achieve convergence of Markov chain Monte Carlo. We describe bounds for specific models of the Gibbs sampler, which have been obtained from the general method. We discuss possibilities for obtaining bounds more generally. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #16819. 	[Title] Markov Chain Monte Carlo Convergence Diagnostics: A Comparative Review [Abstract] A critical issue for users of Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods in applications is how to determine when it is safe to stop sampling and use the samples to estimate characteristics of the distribution of interest. Research into methods of computing theoretical convergence bounds holds promise for the future but currently has yielded relatively little that is of practical use in applied work. Consequently, most MCMC users address the convergence problem by applying diagnostic tools to the output produced by running their samplers. After giving a brief overview of the area, we provide an expository review of thirteen convergence diagnostics, describing the theoretical basis and practical implementation of each. We then compare their performance in two simple models and conclude that all the methods can fail to detect the sorts of convergence failure they were designed to identify. We thus recommend a combination of strategies aimed at evaluating and accelerating MCMC sampler convergence, including applying diagnostic procedures to a small number of parallel chains, monitoring autocorrelations and cross-correlations, and modifying parameterizations or sampling algorithms appropriately. We emphasize, however, that it is not possible to say with certainty that a finite sample from an MCMC algorithm is representative of an underlying stationary distribution. Mary Kathryn Cowles is Assistant Professor of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115. Bradley P. Carlin is Associate Professor, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455. Much of the work was done while the first author was a graduate student in the Divison of Biostatistics at the University of Minnesota and then Assistant Professor, Biostatistics Section, Department of Preventive and Societal Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE 68198. The work of both authors was supported in part by National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases FIRST Award 1-R29-AI33466. The authors thank the developers of the diagnostics studied here for sharing their insights, experiences, and software, and Drs. Thomas Louis and Luke Tierney for helpful discussions and suggestions which greatly improved the manuscript. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #126909. 	[Title] Analysis of a Non-Reversible Markov Chain Sampler [Abstract] Technical Report BU-1385-M, Biometrics Unit, Cornell University Abstract We analyse the convergence to stationarity of a simple non-reversible Markov chain that serves as a model for several non-reversible Markov chain sampling methods that are used in practice. Our theoretical and numerical results show that non-reversibility can indeed lead to improvements over the diffusive behavior of simple Markov chain sampling schemes. The analysis uses both probabilistic techniques and an explicit diagonalisation. We thank David Aldous, Martin Hildebrand, Brad Mann, and Laurent Saloff-Coste for their help. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #126912. 	[Title] Continuous sigmoidal belief networks trained using slice sampling [Abstract] Real-valued random hidden variables can be useful for modelling latent structure that explains correlations among observed variables. I propose a simple unit that adds zero-mean Gaussian noise to its input before passing it through a sigmoidal squashing function. Such units can produce a variety of useful behaviors, ranging from deterministic to binary stochastic to continuous stochastic. I show how "slice sampling" can be used for inference and learning in top-down networks of these units and demonstrate learning on two simple problems. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #645571. 	[Title] A Note on the Dirichlet Process Prior in Bayesian Nonparametric Inference with Partial Exchangeability 1 [Abstract] Technical Report no. 297 Department of Statistics University of Washington 1 Sonia Petrone is Assistant Professor, Universita di Pavia, Dipartimento di Economia Politica e Metodi Quantitativi, I-27100 Pavia, Italy and Adrian E. Raftery is Professor of Statistics and Sociology, Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Box 354322, Seattle, WA 98195-4322. This research was supported by ONR grant no. N-00014-91-J-1074 and by grants from MURST, Rome. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1131334. 	[Title] APPLICATIONS OF CHEEGER'S CONSTANT TO THE CONVERGENCE RATE OF MARKOV CHAINS ON R n [Abstract] Quantitative geometric rates of convergence for reversible Markov chains are closely related to the Cheeger's constant, which is hard to calculate for general state spaces. This article describes a geometric argument to bound the Cheeger's constant for chains on bounded subsets of R n . Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1131335. 	[Title] Estimating L 1 Error of Kernel Estimator: Monitoring Convergence of Markov Samplers [Abstract] In many Markov chain Monte Carlo problems, the target density function is known up to a normalization constant. In this paper, we take advantage of this knowledge to facilitate the convergence diagnostic of a Markov sampler by estimating the L 1 error of a kernel estimator. Firstly, we propose an estimator of the normalization constant which is shown to be asymptotically normal under mixing and moment conditions. Secondly, the L 1 error of the kernel estimator is estimated using the normalization constant estimator, and the ratio of the estimated L 1 error to the true L 1 error is shown to converge to 1 in probability under similar conditions. Thirdly, we propose a sequential plot of the estimated L 1 error as a tool to monitor the convergence of the Markov sampler. Finally, a 2-dimensional bimodal example is given to illustrate the proposal, fl Bin Yu is Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720-3860. Research supported in part by the Junior Faculty Research Grant from University of California at Berkeley, grants DAAL03-91-G-007 and DAAH04-94-G-0232 from the Army Research Office, and grant DMS-9322817 from the National Science Foundation. The author is very grateful to Professors Peter Bickel and Andrew Gelman for many helpful discussions and their comments on the draft. Special thanks are due to Mr. Sam Buttrey for his help on simulation, to Professor Per Mykland and Mr. Karl Broman for commenting on the draft, and to two anonymous and two Markov samplers are compared in the example using the proposed diagnostic plot. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #126920. 	[Title] Auxiliary Variable Methods for Markov Chain Monte Carlo with Applications [Abstract] Suppose one wishes to sample from the density (x) using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC). An auxiliary variable u and its conditional distribution (ujx) can be defined, giving the joint distribution (x; u) = (x)(ujx). A MCMC scheme which samples over this joint distribution can lead to substantial gains in efficiency compared to standard approaches. The revolutionary algorithm of Swendsen and Wang (1987) is one such example. In addition to reviewing the Swendsen-Wang algorithm and its generalizations, this paper introduces a new auxiliary variable method called partial decoupling. Two applications in Bayesian image analysis are considered. The first is a binary classification problem in which partial decoupling out performs SW and single site Metropolis. The second is a PET reconstruction which uses the gray level prior of Geman and McClure (1987). A generalized Swendsen-Wang algorithm is developed for this problem, which reduces the computing time to the point that MCMC is a viable method of posterior exploration. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #126926. 	[Title] SUPPRESSING RANDOM WALKS IN MARKOV CHAIN MONTE CARLO USING ORDERED OVERRELAXATION [Abstract] Markov chain Monte Carlo methods such as Gibbs sampling and simple forms of the Metropolis algorithm typically move about the distribution being sampled via a random walk. For the complex, high-dimensional distributions commonly encountered in Bayesian inference and statistical physics, the distance moved in each iteration of these algorithms will usually be small, because it is difficult or impossible to transform the problem to eliminate dependencies between variables. The inefficiency inherent in taking such small steps is greatly exacerbated when the algorithm operates via a random walk, as in such a case moving to a point n steps away will typically take around n 2 iterations. Such random walks can sometimes be suppressed using "overrelaxed" variants of Gibbs sampling (a.k.a. the heatbath algorithm), but such methods have hitherto been largely restricted to problems where all the full conditional distributions are Gaussian. I present an overrelaxed Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm based on order statistics that is more widely applicable. In particular, the algorithm can be applied whenever the full conditional distributions are such that their cumulative distribution functions and inverse cumulative distribution functions can be efficiently computed. The method is demonstrated on an inference problem for a simple hierarchical Bayesian model. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #642894. 	[Title] Rates of convergence of the Hastings and Metropolis algorithms [Abstract] We apply recent results in Markov chain theory to Hastings and Metropolis algorithms with either independent or symmetric candidate distributions, and provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the algorithms to converge at a geometric rate to a prescribed distribution . In the independence case (in IR k ) these indicate that geometric convergence essentially occurs if and only if the candidate density is bounded below by a multiple of ; in the symmetric case (in IR only) we show geometric convergence essentially occurs if and only if has geometric tails. We also evaluate recently developed computable bounds on the rates of convergence in this context: examples show that these theoretical bounds can be inherently extremely conservative, although when the chain is stochastically monotone the bounds may well be effective. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #642681. 	[Title] Assessing Convergence of Markov Chain Monte Carlo Algorithms [Abstract] We motivate the use of convergence diagnostic techniques for Markov Chain Monte Carlo algorithms and review various methods proposed in the MCMC literature. A common notation is established and each method is discussed with particular emphasis on implementational issues and possible extensions. The methods are compared in terms of their interpretability and applicability and recommendations are provided for particular classes of problems. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #644448. 	[Title] Adaptive Markov Chain Monte Carlo through Regeneration  Summary [Abstract] Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) is used for evaluating expectations of functions of interest under a target distribution . This is done by calculating averages over the sample path of a Markov chain having as its stationary distribution. For computational efficiency, the Markov chain should be rapidly mixing. This can sometimes be achieved only by careful design of the transition kernel of the chain, on the basis of a detailed preliminary exploratory analysis of . An alternative approach might be to allow the transition kernel to adapt whenever new features of are encountered during the MCMC run. However, if such adaptation occurs infinitely often, the stationary distribution of the chain may be disturbed. We describe a framework, based on the concept of Markov chain regeneration, which allows adaptation to occur infinitely often, but which does not disturb the stationary distribution of the chain or the consistency of sample-path averages. Key Words: Adaptive method; Bayesian inference; Gibbs sampling; Markov chain Monte Carlo; Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #644577. 	[Title] Geometric Ergodicity and Hybrid Markov Chains [Abstract] Various notions of geometric ergodicity for Markov chains on general state spaces exist. In this paper, we review certain relations and implications among them. We then apply these results to a collection of chains commonly used in Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation algorithms, the so-called hybrid chains. We prove that under certain conditions, a hybrid chain will "inherit" the geometric ergodicity of its constituent parts. Acknowledgements. We thank Charlie Geyer for a number of very useful comments regarding spectral theory and central limit theorems. We thank Alison Gibbs, Phil Reiss, Peter Rosenthal, and Richard Tweedie for very helpful discussions. We thank the referee and the editor for many excellent suggestions. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1131236. 	[Title] Bounding Convergence Time of the Gibbs Sampler in Bayesian Image Restoration [Abstract] This paper gives precise, easy to compute bounds on the convergence time of the Gibbs sampler used in Bayesian image reconstruction. For sampling from the Gibbs distribution both with and without the presence of an external field, bounds that are N 2 in the number of pixels are obtained, with a proportionality constant that is easy to calculate. Some key words: Bayesian image restoration; Convergence; Gibbs sampler; Ising model; Markov chain Monte Carlo. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #103543. 	[Title] Markov Chain Monte Carlo Methods Based on `Slicing' the Density Function [Abstract] Technical Report No. 9722, Department of Statistics, University of Toronto Abstract. One way to sample from a distribution is to sample uniformly from the region under the plot of its density function. A Markov chain that converges to this uniform distribution can be constructed by alternating uniform sampling in the vertical direction with uniform sampling from the horizontal `slice' defined by the current vertical position. Variations on such `slice sampling' methods can easily be implemented for univariate distributions, and can be used to sample from a multivariate distribution by updating each variable in turn. This approach is often easier to implement than Gibbs sampling, and may be more efficient than easily-constructed versions of the Metropolis algorithm. Slice sampling is therefore attractive in routine Markov chain Monte Carlo applications, and for use by software that automatically generates a Markov chain sampler from a model specification. One can also easily devise overrelaxed versions of slice sampling, which sometimes greatly improve sampling efficiency by suppressing random walk behaviour. Random walks can also be avoided in some slice sampling schemes that simultaneously update all variables. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #1131257. 	[Title] Von Mises type statistics for single site updated local interaction random fields [Abstract] Random field models in image analysis and spatial statistics usually have local interactions. They can be simulated by Markov chains which update a single site at a time. The updating rules typically condition on only a few neighboring sites. If we want to approximate the expectation of a bounded function, can we make better use of the simulations than through the empirical estimator? We describe symmetrizations of the empirical estimator which are computationally feasible and can lead to considerable variance reduction. The method is reminiscent of the idea behind generalized von Mises statistics. To simplify the exposition, we consider mainly nearest neighbor random fields and the Gibbs sampler. Please summarise all the given information.

Above are papers related to the following paper: [Paper_ID] Paper #644093. 	[Title] Possible biases induced by MCMC convergence diagnostics [Abstract]  Please summarise all the given information.

Paper #126927 has the title `Convergence properties of perturbed Markov chains  
` and the abstract `Acknowledgements. We thank Neal Madras, Radford Neal, Peter Rosenthal, and Richard Tweedie for helpful conversations. This work was partially supported by EPSRC of the U.K., and by NSERC of Canada. 
`.
Question: Which category should Paper #126927 be classified as ?
You can select one from ['Neural_Networks', 'Case_Based', 'Theory', 'Reinforcement_Learning', 'Probabilistic_Methods', 'Rule_Learning', 'Genetic_Algorithms'].


Paper #126927 has the title `Convergence properties of perturbed Markov chains  
` and the abstract `Acknowledgements. We thank Neal Madras, Radford Neal, Peter Rosenthal, and Richard Tweedie for helpful conversations. This work was partially supported by EPSRC of the U.K., and by NSERC of Canada. 
`.
Question: Which category should Paper #126927 be classified as ?
You can select one from ['Neural_Networks', 'Case_Based', 'Theory', 'Reinforcement_Learning', 'Probabilistic_Methods', 'Rule_Learning', 'Genetic_Algorithms'].

This paper should be classified into: Probabilistic_Methods