We consider the problem of estimating the partition function of the two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising and Potts models in an external magnetic field. The estimation is done via importance sampling in the dual of the Forney factor graph representing the models. We present importance sampling schemes that can efficiently compute an estimate of the partition function in a wide range of model par...

We consider factor analysis when we assume the distribution form is known up to its mean and variance. A prior is placed on the mean and variance and then inference is made as to whether or not any latent factors exist. Inference is carried out by comparing the concentrations of the prior and posterior about various subsets of the parameter space that are specified by hypothesizing factor struc...

results age was selected as the important factor based on all 7 statistics. exclusion of age variable decreased c index from 0.75 to 0.68 and r square from 0.25 to 0.15. duration of hospitalization was important based on 4 statistics. exclusion of this variable decreased r square from 0.25 to 0.21. while gender was a useful variable in separation of patients into risk groups, its omission did n...