On residual lifetime of coherent systems after the rth failure

In this article we study the residual lifetime of a coherent system after the rth failure, i.e. the time elapsed from the rth failure until the system failure given that the system operates at the time of the rth failure. We provide a mixture representation for the corresponding residual lifetime distribution in terms of signature. We also obtain some stochastic ordering results for the residual lifetimes.     

Non-parametric prediction intervals for the lifetime of coherent systems

In this paper, nonparametric methods are proposed to construct prediction intervals for the lifetime of a coherent system with known signatures. An explicit expression for the coverage probability of the prediction intervals is presented based on Samaniego’s signature. The existence and optimality of these intervals are discussed. In our derivation, we also obtain an exact expression for the marginal distribution of the \(i\) th order statistic from a pooled sample.     

Equivariant estimation for the parameters of location-scale multivariate exponential models and its application in reliability analysis

ABSTRACT

By considering an absolutely continuous location-scale multivariate exponential model (Weier and Basu, 1980), we obtain minimum risk equivariant estimator(s) of the parameter(s). Given a location-scale multivariate exponential random vector, it is shown that the normalized spacings associated with the random vector are independent standard exponential. The distribution of the complete sufficient statistic is derived. We derive the performance measures of standby, parallel, and series systems and also obtain the minimum risk equivariant estimator of the mean time before failure of the three systems. Some of the results of this article are extensions of those of Chandrasekar and Sajesh (2010).     

Higher order moments of order statistics from the Lindley distribution and associated inference

ABSTRACT

The Lindley distribution is an important distribution for analysing the stress–strength reliability models and lifetime data. In many ways, the Lindley distribution is a better model than that based on the exponential distribution. Order statistics arise naturally in many of such applications. In this paper, we derive the exact explicit expressions for the single, double (product), triple and quadruple moments of order statistics from the Lindley distribution. Then, we use these moments to obtain the best linear unbiased estimates (BLUEs) of the location and scale parameters based on Type-II right-censored samples. Next, we use these results to determine the mean, variance, and coefficients of skewness and kurtosis of some certain linear functions of order statistics to develop Edgeworth approximate confidence intervals of the location and scale Lindley parameters. In addition, we carry out some numerical illustrations through Monte Carlo simulations to show the usefulness of the findings. Finally, we apply the findings of the paper to some real data set.     

On progressive hybrid censored exponential distribution

In this paper, we introduce a new adaptive Type-I progressive hybrid censoring scheme, which has some advantages over the progressive hybrid censoring schemes already discussed in the literature. Based on an adaptive Type-I progressively hybrid censored sample, we derive the exact distribution of the maximum-likelihood estimator (MLE) of the mean lifetime of an exponential distribution as well as confidence intervals for the failure rate using exact distribution, asymptotic distribution, and three parametric bootstrap resampling methods. Furthermore, we provide computational formula for the expected number of failures and investigate the performance of the point and interval estimation for the failure rate in this case. An alternative simple form for the distribution of the MLE under adaptive Type-II progressive hybrid censoring scheme proposed by Ng et al. [Statistical analysis of exponential lifetimes under an adaptive Type-II progressive censoring scheme, Naval Res. Logist. 56 (2009), pp. 687–698] is obtained. Finally, from the exact distribution of the MLE, we establish the explicit expression for the Bayes risk of a sampling plan under adaptive Type-II progressive hybrid censoring scheme when a general loss function is used, and present some optimal Bayes solutions under four different progressive hybrid censoring schemes to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed method.     

Exact bootstrap confidence intervals for regression coefficients in small samples

ABSTRACT

Regression analysis is one of the important tools in statistics to investigate the relationships among variables. When the sample size is small, however, the assumptions for regression analysis can be violated. This research focuses on using the exact bootstrap to construct confidence intervals for regression parameters in small samples. The comparison of the exact bootstrap method with the basic bootstrap method was carried out by a simulation study. It was found that on a very small sample (n ≈ 5) under Laplace distribution with the independent variable treated as random, the exact bootstrap was more effective than the standard bootstrap confidence interval.     

The Distribution of a Ratio of Quadratic Forms in Noncentral Normal Variables

Abstract

An expression for the exact cumulative distribution function of a ratio of quadratic forms in noncentral normal variable is derived in terms of infinite series of top order invariant polynomials.     

Parameter estimation of Lindley step stress model with independent competing risk under type 1 censoring

Abstract

In literature, Lindley distribution is considered as an alternative to exponential distribution to fit lifetime data. In the present work, a Lindley step-stress model with independent causes of failure is proposed. An algorithm to generate random samples from the proposed model under type 1 censoring scheme is developed. Point and interval estimation of the model parameters is carried out using maximum likelihood method and percentile bootstrap approach. To understand the effectiveness of the resulting estimates, numerical illustration is provided based on simulated and real-life data sets.     

A moment-generating function with application to the birnbaum-saunders distribution

The Birnbaum-Saunders distribution is a fatigue life distribution that was derived from a model assuming that failure is due to the development and growth of a dominant crack. This distribution has been shown to be applicable not only for fatigue analysis but also in other areas of engineering science. Because of its increasing use, it would be desirable to obtain expressions for the expected value of different powers of this distribution.

In this article, the moment-generating function for the sinh-normal distribution is derived. It is shown that this moment-generating function can be used to obtain both integer and fractional moments for the Birnbaum-Saunders distribution. Thus it is now possible to obtain an expression for the expected value of the square root of a Birnbaum-Saunders random variable. A general expression for integer noncentral moments for the Birnbaum-Saunders distribution is derived using the moment-generating function of the sinh-normal distribution. Also included is an approximation of the moment-generating function that can be used fcx small values of the shape parameter.     

One stage multiple comparisons of k-1 treatment mean lifetimes with the control for exponential distributions under heteroscedasticity

Abstract

In survival or reliability data analysis, it is often useful to estimate the quantiles of the lifetime distribution, such as the median time to failure. Different nonparametric methods can construct confidence intervals for the quantiles of the lifetime distributions, some of which are implemented in commonly used statistical software packages. We here investigate the performance of different interval estimation procedures under a variety of settings with different censoring schemes. Our main objectives in this paper are to (i) evaluate the performance of confidence intervals based on the transformation approach commonly used in statistical software, (ii) introduce a new density-estimation-based approach to obtain confidence intervals for survival quantiles, and (iii) compare it with the transformation approach. We provide a comprehensive comparative study and offer some useful practical recommendations based on our results. Some numerical examples are presented to illustrate the methodologies developed.     

Number of Working Components in Consecutive k-out-of-n System While It Is Working

In this article we study the distribution and expected value of the number of working components at time t in a consecutive k-out-of-n system under the condition that it is working at time t. We provide the exact distribution of the corresponding conditional random variable and compute its expected value for the system consisting of exchangeable dependent components. The results are also extended to any coherent system by the aid of system signature. Finally, we present illustrative and computational results for some systems having Lomax components.     

Estimation on dependent right censoring scheme in an ordinary bivariate geometric distribution

Discrete lifetime data are very common in engineering and medical researches. In many cases the lifetime is censored at a random or predetermined time and we do not know the complete survival time. There are many situations that the lifetime variable could be dependent on the time of censoring. In this paper we propose the dependent right censoring scheme in discrete setup when the lifetime and censoring variables have a bivariate geometric distribution. We obtain the maximum likelihood estimators of the unknown parameters with their risks in closed forms. The Bayes estimators as well as the constrained Bayes estimates of the unknown parameters under the squared error loss function are also obtained. We considered an extension to the case where covariates are present along with the data. Finally we provided a simulation study and an illustrative example with a real data.     

Power binomial exponential distribution: Modeling,simulation and application

ABSTRACT

The binomial exponential 2 (BE2) distribution was proposed by Bakouch et al. as a distribution of a random sum of independent exponential random variables, when the sample size has a zero truncated binomial distribution. In this article, we introduce a generalization of BE2 distribution which offers a more flexible model for lifetime data than the BE2 distribution. The hazard rate function of the proposed distribution can be decreasing, increasing, decreasing–increasing–decreasing and unimodal, so it turns out to be quite flexible for analyzing non-negative real life data. Some statistical properties and parameters estimation of the distribution are investigated. Three different algorithms are proposed for generating random data from the new distribution. Two real data applications regarding the strength data and Proschan's air-conditioner data are used to show that the new distribution is better than the BE2 distribution and some other well-known distributions in modeling lifetime data.     

THE LOG-EIG DISTRIBUTION: A NEW PROBABILITY MODEL FOR LIFETIME DATA

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we propose a new probability model called the log-EIG distribution for lifetime data analysis. Some important properties of the proposed model and maximum likelihood estimation of its parameters are discussed. Its relationship with the exponential inverse Gaussian distribution is similar to that of the lognormal and the normal distributions. Through applications to well-known datasets, we show that the log-EIG distribution competes well, and in some instances even provides a better fit than the commonly used lifetime models such as the gamma, lognormal, Weibull and inverse Gaussian distributions. It can accommodate situations where an increasing failure rate model is required as well as those with a decreasing failure rate at larger times.     

Bayesian prediction of the total time on test using doubly censored rayleigh data

In a Bayesian setting, and on the basis of a doubly censored random sample of failure times drawn from a Rayleigh distribution, Fernandez (2000, Statist. Probab. Lett. , 48 , 393-399) considered the problem of predicting an independent future sample from the same distribution. In this article, we extend his work to include the estimation of the predictive distribution of the total time on test up to a certain failure in a future sample, as well as that of the remaining testing time time until all the items in the original sample have failed. Two examples are used to illustrate the prediction procedure.     

Proportional hazards model for discrete data: Some new developments

ABSTRACT

Many times, a product lifetime can be described through a non negative integer valued random variable. In this article, we propose a proportional hazards model for discrete data analogous to the version for continuous data. Some ageing properties of the model are discussed. Stochastic comparison of pair of random variables that follow the model are also made. A new test based on U-statistics is developed for testing that the proportionality parameter in the proposed model is 1. The asymptotic properties of the proposed test are studied. We present some numerical results to asses the performance of the test procedure.     

Life behavior of \delta -shock models for uniformly distributed interarrival times

In this paper we study the life behavior of \(\delta \) -shock models when the shocks occur according to a renewal process whose interarrival distribution is uniform. In particular, we obtain the first two moments of the corresponding lifetime random variables for general interarrival distribution, and survival functions when the interarrival distribution is uniform.     

Estimation of exponential-polynomial distribution by holonomic gradient descent

ABSTRACT

We study the holonomic gradient decent for maximum likelihood estimation of exponential-polynomial distribution, whose density is the exponential function of a polynomial in the random variable. We first consider the case that the support of the distribution is the set of positive reals. We show that the maximum likelihood estimate (MLE) can be easily computed by the holonomic gradient descent, even though the normalizing constant of this family does not have a closed-form expression, and discuss the determination of the degree of the polynomial based on the score test statistic. Then, we present extensions to the whole real line and to the bivariate distribution on the positive orthant.     

Further results on discrete mean past lifetime

Abstract

The present paper aims at studying the mean past lifetime of a discrete random variable. The notion of discrete mean past lifetime is studied in relation to the concepts of reversed hazard rate, reversed lack of memory property, and cumulative past entropy. New classes of distributions characterized by particular forms of discrete mean past life are also investigated. Implications of an increasing mean past lifetime on other reliability notions are studied and finally some bivariate generalizations are discussed.     

ANALYSIS OF MASKED DATA IN A DEPENDENT COMPETING RISKS MODEL UNDER UNKNOWN ENVIRONMENT

ABSTRACT

System failure data is often analyzed to estimate component reliabilities. Due to cost and time constraints, the exact component causing the failure of the system cannot be identified in some cases. This phenomenon is called masking. Further, it is sometimes necessary for us to take account of the influence of the operating environment. Here we consider a series system, operating under unknown environment, of two components whose failure times follow the Marshall-Olkin bivariate exponential distribution. We present a maximum likelihood approach for obtaining estimators from the masked data for this system. From a simulation study, we found that the relative errors of the estimates are almost well behaved even for small or moderate expected number of systems whose cause of failure is identified.