The Kumaraswamy skew-t distribution and its related properties

Skew normal distribution is an alternative distribution to the normal distribution to accommodate asymmetry. Since then extensive studies have been done on applying Azzalini’s skewness mechanism to other well-known distributions, such as skew-t distribution, which is more flexible and can better accommodate long tailed data than the skew normal one. The Kumaraswamy generalized distribution (Kw ? F) is another new class of distribution which is capable of fitting skewed data that can not be fitted well by existing distributions. Such a distribution has been widely studied and various versions of generalization of this distribution family have been introduced. In this article, we introduce a new generalization of the skew-t distribution based on the Kumaraswamy generalized distribution. The new class of distribution, which we call the Kumaraswamy skew-t (KwST) has the ability of fitting skewed, long, and heavy-tailed data and is more flexible than the skew-t distribution as it contains the skew-t distribution as a special case. Related properties of this distribution family such as mathematical properties, moments, and order statistics are discussed. The proposed distribution is applied to a real dataset to illustrate the estimation procedure.     

Empirical likelihood based detection procedure for change point in mean residual life functions under random censorship

The mean residual life (MRL) function is one of the basic parameters of interest in survival analysis that describes the expected remaining time of an individual after a certain age. The study of changes in the MRL function is practical and interesting because it may help us to identify some factors such as age and gender that may influence the remaining lifetimes of patients after receiving a certain surgery. In this paper, we propose a detection procedure based on the empirical likelihood for the changes in MRL functions with right censored data. Two real examples are also given: Veterans' administration lung cancer study and Stanford heart transplant to illustrate the detecting procedure. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Inference on a progressive type I interval-censored truncated normal distribution

In this paper, we consider the problem of making statistical inference for a truncated normal distribution under progressive type I interval censoring. We obtain maximum likelihood estimators of unknown parameters using the expectation-maximization algorithm and in sequel, we also compute corresponding midpoint estimates of parameters. Estimation based on the probability plot method is also considered. Asymptotic confidence intervals of unknown parameters are constructed based on the observed Fisher information matrix. We obtain Bayes estimators of parameters with respect to informative and non-informative prior distributions under squared error and linex loss functions. We compute these estimates using the importance sampling procedure. The highest posterior density intervals of unknown parameters are constructed as well. We present a Monte Carlo simulation study to compare the performance of proposed point and interval estimators. Analysis of a real data set is also performed for illustration purposes. Finally, inspection times and optimal censoring plans based on the expected Fisher information matrix are discussed.     

Inference on unknown parameters of a Burr distribution under hybrid censoring

Based on hybrid censored data, the problem of making statistical inference on parameters of a two parameter Burr Type XII distribution is taken up. The maximum likelihood estimates are developed for the unknown parameters using the EM algorithm. Fisher information matrix is obtained by applying missing value principle and is further utilized for constructing the approximate confidence intervals. Some Bayes estimates and the corresponding highest posterior density intervals of the unknown parameters are also obtained. Lindley’s approximation method and a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) technique have been applied to evaluate these Bayes estimates. Further, MCMC samples are utilized to construct the highest posterior density intervals as well. A numerical comparison is made between proposed estimates in terms of their mean square error values and comments are given. Finally, two data sets are analyzed using proposed methods.     

A Matrix Variate Closed Skew-Normal Distribution with Applications to Stochastic Frontier Analysis

In this article, we introduce the matrix extension of the closed skew-normal distribution and give two constructions for it: a marginal one and another based on hidden truncation. Important basic properties of the distribution are presented such as its closure under linear transformation and moment generating function. We also give distributional results for quadratic forms involving random matrices distributed according to two particular cases of it. Using an additive construction, we derive a submodel which can be employed to describe the compound error structure of a very general multivariate stochastic frontier model. Finally, we consider the skew-elliptical extension of the proposed distribution.     

A new family of multivariate skew slash distribution

In this article, the new family of multivariate skew slash distribution is defined. According to the definition, a stochastic representation of the multivariate skew slash distribution is derived. The first four moments and measures of skewness and kurtosis of a random vector with the multivariate skew slash distribution are obtained. The distribution of quadratic forms for the multivariate skew slash distribution and the non central skew slash χ² distribution are studied. Maximum likelihood inference and real data illustration are discussed. In the end, the potential extension of multivariate skew slash distribution is discussed.     

Quantile estimation for a progressively censored exponential distribution

Abstract

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the quantile of a two-parameter exponential distribution with respect to an arbitrary strictly convex loss function under progressive type II censoring. Inadmissibility of the best affine equivariant (BAE) estimator is established through a conditional risk analysis. In particular we provide dominance results for quadratic, linex and absolute value loss functions. Further, a class of dominating estimators is derived using the IERD (integral expression of risk difference) approach of Kubokawa (1994 Kubokawa, T. 1994. A unified approach to improving equivariant estimators. The Annals of Statistics 22 (1):290–9. doi:10.1214/aos/1176325369.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). In sequel the generalized Bayes estimator is shown to improve the BAE estimator.     

Reliability analysis for stress-strength model from a general family of truncated distributions under censored data

Abstract

Under progressive Type-II censoring, inference of stress-strength reliability (SSR) is studied for a general family of lower truncated distributions. When the lifetime models of the strength and stress variables have arbitrary and common parameters, maximum likelihood and pivotal quantities based generalized estimators of SSR are established, respectively. Confidence intervals are constructed based on generalized pivotal quantities and bootstrap technique under different parameter cases as well. In addition, to compare the equivalence of the strength and stress parameters, likelihood ratio testing of interested parameters is provided as a complementary. Simulation studies and two real-life data examples are provided to investigate the performance of proposed methods.     

Twelve‐Month‐Olds Know Their Cups From Their Keps and Tups

Fourteen‐month‐olds are sensitive to mispronunciations of the vowels and consonants in familiar words (N. Mani & K. Plunkett (2007), Journal of Memory and Language, 57, 252; D. Swingley & R. N. Aslin (2002), Psychological Science, 13, 480). To examine the development of this sensitivity further, the current study tests 12‐month‐olds’ sensitivity to different kinds of vowel and consonant mispronunciations of familiar words. The results reveal that vocalic changes influence word recognition, irrespective of the kinds of vocalic changes made. While consonant changes influenced word recognition in a similar manner, this was restricted to place and manner of articulation changes. Infants did not display sensitivity to voicing changes. Infants’ sensitivity to vowel mispronunciations, but not consonant mispronunciations, was influenced by their vocabulary size—infants with larger vocabularies were more sensitive to vowel mispronunciations than infants with smaller vocabularies. The results are discussed in terms of different models attempting to chart the development of acoustically or phonologically specified representations of words during infancy.