this paper, is that with F =2logp. This choice was proposed by Foster &G eorge (1994) where it was called the Risk Inflation Criterion (RIC) because it asymptotically minimises the maximum predictive risk inflation due to selection when X is orthogonal. This choice and its minimax property were also discovered independently by Donoho & Johnstone (1994) in the wavelet regression context, where they refer to it as the universal hard thresholding rule

In contrast to a posterior analysis given a particular sampling model, posterior model probabilities in the context of model uncertainty are typically rather sensitive to the specification of the prior. In particular, “diffuse” priors on model-specific parameters can lead to quite unexpected consequences. Here we focus on the practically relevant situation where we need to entertain a (large) number of sampling models and we have (or wish to use) little or no subjective prior information. We aim at providing an “automatic” or “benchmark” prior structure that can be used in such cases. We focus on the Normal linear regression model with uncertainty in the choice of regressors. We propose a partly noninformative prior structure related to a Natural Conjugate g-prior specification, where the amount of subjective information requested from the user is limited to the choice of a single scalar hyperparameter g0j. The consequences of different choices for g0j are examined. We investigate theoretical properties, such as consistency of the implied Bayesian procedure. Links with classical information criteria are provided. More importantly, we examine the finite sample implications of several choices of g0j in a simulation study. The use of the MC3 algorithm of Madigan and York (1995), combined with efficient coding in Fortran, makes it feasible to conduct large simulations. In addition to posterior criteria, we shall also compare the predictive performance of different priors. A classic example concerning the economics of crime will also be provided and contrasted with results in the literature. The main findings of the paper will lead us to propose a “benchmark” prior specification in a linear regression context with model uncertainty.

this article we propose three criteria that can be used to address model selection. These emphasize observables rather than parameters and are based on a certain Bayesian predictive density. They have a unifying basis that is simple and interpretable,are free of asymptotic de#nitions,and allow the incorporation of prior information. Moreover,two of these criteria are readily calibrated.

We consider the problems of variable selection and accounting for model uncertainty in linear regression models. Conditioning on a single selected model ignores model uncertainty, and thus leads to the underestimation of uncertainty when making inferences about quantities of interest. The complete Bayesian solution to this problem involves averaging over all possible models when making inferences about quantities of interest. This approach is often not practical. In this paper we offer two alternative approaches. First we describe a Bayesian model selection algorithm called "Occam's "Window" which involves averaging over a reduced set of models. Second, we describe a Markov chain Monte Carlo approach which directly approximates the exact solution. Both these model averaging procedures provide better predictive performance than any single model which might reasonably have been selected. In the extreme case where there are many candidate predictors but there is no relationship between any of them and the response, standard variable selection procedures often choose some subset of variables that yields a high R² and a highly significant overall F value. We refer to this unfortunate phenomenon as "Freedman's Paradox" (Freedman, 1983). In this situation, Occam's vVindow usually indicates the null model as the only one to be considered, or else a small number of models including the null model, thus largely resolving the paradox.

In this paper, the problem of joint Bayesian model selection and parameter estimation for sinusoids in white Gaussian noise is addressed. An original Bayesian model is proposed that allows us to define a posterior distribution on the parameter space. All Bayesian inference is then based on this distribution. Unfortunately, a direct evaluation of this distribution and of its features, including posterior model probabilities, requires evaluation of some complicated high-dimensional integrals. We develop an efficient stochastic algorithm based on reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo methods to perform the Bayesian computation. A convergence result for this algorithm is established. In simulation, it appears that the performance of detection based on posterior model probabilities outperforms conventional detection schemes.

We propose a hierachical full Bayesian model for radial basis networks. This model treats the model dimension (number of neurons), model parameters,...

Zellner’s g-prior remains a popular conventional prior for use in Bayesian variable selection, despite several undesirable consistency issues. In this paper, we study mixtures of g-priors as an alternative to default g-priors that resolve many of the problems with the original formulation, while maintaining the computational tractability that has made the g-prior so popular. We present theoretical properties of the mixture g-priors and provide real and simulated examples to compare the mixture formulation with fixed g-priors, Empirical Bayes approaches and other default procedures.

The incorporation of unlabelled data in statistical machine learning methods for prediction, including regression and classification, has demonstrated the potential for improved accuracy in prediction in a number of recent examples. The statistical basis for this semi-supervised analysis does not, however, appear to have been well delineated in the literature to date. Nor, perhaps, are statisticians as fully engaged in the vigourous research in this area of machine learning as might be desired. Much of the theoretical work in the literature has focused, for ex-ample, on geometric and structural properties of the unlabeled data in the context of particular algorithms, rather than probabilistic and statistical questions. This paper overviews the fun-damental statistical foundations for predictive modelling and the general questions associated with unlabelled data, highlighting the relevance of venerable concepts of sampling design and prior specification. This theory, illustrated with a series of simple but central examples, shows precisely when, why and how unlabelled data matter.

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The authors consider the problem of Bayesian variable selection for proportional hazards regression models with right censored data. They propose a semi-parametric approach in which a nonparametric prior is specified for the baseline hazard rate and a fully parametric prior is specified for the regression coe#cients. For the baseline hazard, they use a discrete gamma process prior, and for the regression coe#cients and the model space, they propose a semi-automatic parametric informative prior specification that focuses on the observables rather than the parameters. To implement the methodology, they propose a Markov chain Monte Carlo method to compute the posterior model probabilities. Examples using simulated and real data are given to demonstrate the methodology. R ESUM E Les auteurs abordent d'un point de vue bayesien le problemedelaselection de variables dans les modeles de regression des risques proportionnels en presence de censure a droite. Ils proposent une approche semi-p...