Characterizations of discrete distributions based on conditional expectations of record values

r -th record values subject to (r + 1)-th record values, record mean function, from a distribution of discrete type. We give some properties of the record mean function and an explicit expression for the distribution function based on its record mean function, which allows us to characterize particular discrete distributions using the record mean functions. Received: January 4, 1999; revised version: September 27, 1999     

Parameter Estimation for the Discrete Stable Family

The discrete stable family constitutes an interesting two-parameter model of distributions on the non-negative integers with a Paretian tail. The practical use of the discrete stable distribution is inhibited by the lack of an explicit expression for its probability function. Moreover, the distribution does not possess moments of any order. Therefore, the usual tools—such as the maximum-likelihood method or even the moment method—are not feasible for parameter estimation. However, the probability generating function of the discrete stable distribution is available in a simple form. Hence, we initially explore the application of some existing estimation procedures based on the empirical probability generating function. Subsequently, we propose a new estimation method by minimizing a suitable weighted L ²-distance between the empirical and the theoretical probability generating functions. In addition, we provide a goodness-of-fit statistic based on the same distance.     

A General Recurrence Relation for the Moments of Bivariate and Trivariate Order Statistics

In this article, by using the dropping argument, a general recurrence relation satisfied by the joint cumulative distribution functions of order statistics from any arbitrary bivariate distribution function is established. This recurrence relation is the first bivariate version of the basic triangle rule for order statistics arisen from univariate distribution function. Finally, this relation is extended to the trivariate case. These lead to similar identities for product moments (of any order) of order statistics.     

Characterization of discrete distributions using expected values

In this paper we study characterization problems for discrete distributions using the doubly truncated mean function m(xy)=E(h(X)|x≤X≤y), for a monotonic function h(x). We obtain the distribution function F(x) from m(x,y) and we give the necessary and sufficient conditions for any real function to be the doubly truncated mean function for a discrete distribution.     

A new four-parameter discrete distribution with bathtub and unimodal failure rate

In this paper, a discrete counterpart of the general class of continuous beta-G distributions is introduced. A discrete analog of the beta generalized exponential distribution of Barreto-Souza et al. [2], as an important special case of the proposed class, is studied. This new distribution contains some previously known discrete distributions as well as two new models. The hazard rate function of the new model can be increasing, decreasing, bathtub-shaped and upside-down bathtub. Some distributional and moment properties of the new distribution as well as its order statistics are discussed. Estimation of the parameters is illustrated using the maximum likelihood method and, finally, the model with a real data set is examined.     

Discrete associated kernels method and extensions

Discrete kernel estimation of a probability mass function (p.m.f.), often mentioned in the literature, has been far less investigated in comparison with continuous kernel estimation of a probability density function (p.d.f.). In this paper, we are concerned with a general methodology of discrete kernels for smoothing a p.m.f. f. We give a basic of mathematical tools for further investigations. First, we point out a generalizable notion of discrete associated kernel which is defined at each point of the support of f and built from any parametric discrete probability distribution. Then, some properties of the corresponding estimators are shown, in particular pointwise and global (asymptotical) properties. Other discrete kernels are constructed from usual discrete probability distributions such as Poisson, binomial and negative binomial. For small samples sizes, underdispersed discrete kernel estimators are more interesting than the empirical estimator; thus, an importance of discrete kernels is illustrated. The choice of smoothing bandwidth is classically investigated according to cross-validation and, novelly, to excess of zeros methods. Finally, a unification way of this method concerning the general probability function is discussed.     

An extended Gompertz-Makeham distribution with application to lifetime data

In this paper, we propose an extension of the Gompertz-Makeham distribution. This distribution is called the transmuted Gompertz-Makeham (TGM). The new model which can handle bathtub-shaped, increasing, increasing-constant and constant hazard rate functions. This property makes TGM is useful in survival analysis. Various statistical and reliability measures of the model are obtained, including hazard rate function, moments, moment generating function (mgf), quantile function, random number generating, skewness, kurtosis, conditional moments, mean deviations, Bonferroni curve, Lorenz curve, Gini index, mean inactivity time, mean residual lifetime and stochastic ordering; we also obtain the density of the ith order statistic. Estimation of the model parameters is justified by the method of maximum likelihood. An application to real data demonstrates that the TGM distribution can provides a better fit than some other very well known distributions.     

A new family of generalized distributions

Kumaraswamy [Generalized probability density-function for double-bounded random-processes, J. Hydrol. 462 (1980), pp. 79–88] introduced a distribution for double-bounded random processes with hydrological applications. For the first time, based on this distribution, we describe a new family of generalized distributions (denoted with the prefix ‘Kw’) to extend the normal, Weibull, gamma, Gumbel, inverse Gaussian distributions, among several well-known distributions. Some special distributions in the new family such as the Kw-normal, Kw-Weibull, Kw-gamma, Kw-Gumbel and Kw-inverse Gaussian distribution are discussed. We express the ordinary moments of any Kw generalized distribution as linear functions of probability weighted moments (PWMs) of the parent distribution. We also obtain the ordinary moments of order statistics as functions of PWMs of the baseline distribution. We use the method of maximum likelihood to fit the distributions in the new class and illustrate the potentiality of the new model with an application to real data.     

A fractional order statistic towards defining a smooth quantile function for discrete data

This work is motivated in part by a recent publication by Ma et al. (2011) who resolved the asymptotic non-normality problem of the classical sample quantiles for discrete data through defining a new mid-distribution based quantile function. This work is the motivation for defining a new and improved smooth population quantile function given discrete data. Our definition is based on the theory of fractional order statistics. The main advantage of our definition as compared to its competitors is the capability to distinguish the uth quantile across different discrete distributions over the whole interval, u∈(0,1). In addition, we define the corresponding estimator of the smooth population quantiles and demonstrate the convergence and asymptotic normal distribution of the corresponding sample quantiles. We verify our theoretical results through a Monte Carlo simulation, and illustrate the utilization of our quantile function in a Q-Q plot for discrete data.     

Discrete generalized exponential distribution of a second type

In this paper, we shall attempt to introduce another discrete analogue of the generalized exponential distribution of Gupta and Kundu [Generalized exponential distributions, Aust. N. Z. J. Stat. 41(2) (1999), pp. 173–188], different to that of Nekoukhou et al. [A discrete analogue of the generalized exponential distribution, Comm. Stat. Theory Methods, to appear (2011)]. This new discrete distribution, which we shall call a discrete generalized exponential distribution of the second type (DGE₂(α, p)), can be viewed as another generalization of the geometric distribution. We shall first study some basic distributional and moment properties, as well as order statistics distributions of this family of new distributions. Certain compounded DGE₂(α, p) distributions are also discussed as the results of which some previous lifetime distributions such as that of Adamidis and Loukas [A lifetime distribution with decreasing failure rate, Statist. Probab. Lett. 39 (1998), pp. 35–42] follow as corollaries. Then, we will investigate estimation of the parameters involved. Finally, we will examine the model with a real data set.     

Nonparametric estimation of the mean function of a stochastic process with missing observations

In an attempt to identify similarities between methods for estimating a mean function with different types of response or observation processes, we explore a general theoretical framework for nonparametric estimation of the mean function of a response process subject to incomplete observations. Special cases of the response process include quantitative responses and discrete state processes such as survival processes, counting processes and alternating binary processes. The incomplete data are assumed to arise from a general response-independent observation process, which includes right- censoring, interval censoring, periodic observation, and mixtures of these as special cases. We explore two criteria for defining nonparametric estimators, one based on the sample mean of available data and the other inspired by the construction of Kaplan-Meier (or product-limit) estimator [J. Am. Statist. Assoc. 53 (1958) 457] for right-censored survival data. We show that under regularity conditions the estimated mean functions resulting from both criteria are consistent and converge weakly to Gaussian processes, and provide consistent estimators of their covariance functions. We then evaluate these general criteria for specific responses and observation processes, and show how they lead to familiar estimators for some response and observation processes and new estimators for others. We illustrate the latter with data from an recently completed AIDS clinical trial.     

Random translation of discrete order statistics

We investigate the existence and uniqueness of a discrete parent distribution supported on the integers whose order statistics are related by a random translation. We also provide some examples using the constructive method that we propose.     

Theoretical results on the discrete Weibull distribution of Nakagawa and Osaki

In this paper, we discuss some theoretical results and properties of the discrete Weibull distribution, which was introduced by Nakagawa and Osaki [The discrete Weibull distribution. IEEE Trans Reliab. 1975;24:300–301]. We study the monotonicity of the probability mass, survival and hazard functions. Moreover, reliability, moments, p-quantiles, entropies and order statistics are also studied. We consider likelihood-based methods to estimate the model parameters based on complete and censored samples, and to derive confidence intervals. We also consider two additional methods to estimate the model parameters. The uniqueness of the maximum likelihood estimate of one of the parameters that index the discrete Weibull model is discussed. Numerical evaluation of the considered model is performed by Monte Carlo simulations. For illustrative purposes, two real data sets are analyzed.     

Refined solution to upper-bound problem for the expectations of order statistics from decreasing density on the average distributions

Rychlik [Metrika 77, 539–557, 2014] described sharp upper negative bounds for the expectations of low-rank order statistics, centered about the population mean and measured in the mean absolute deviation from the mean units, for the i.i.d. sequences with common distribution possessing decreasing density function on the average. The bounds coincide with the negatives of maximal values of complicated functions on the unit interval. Here, we provide more precise solutions to the maximization problems.     

Maximum term of a particular autoregressivesequence with discrete margins

In this paper we consider a stationary sequence of discrete random variables with marginal distribution H(x), obtained by a simple transformation from the max-AR(1) sequence considered by Alpuim (1989). Because discrete distributions impose severe restrictions on the convergence of the normalized maxima to an extreme value distribution, it is seen that in this particular case, whenever H(x) belongs to the domain of attraction of any max-stable distribution, the sequence possesses an extremal index 0 = 0. Nevertheless, it, is possible to obtain a nondegenerate limiting distribution for the linearized maxima by choosing other sets of normalizing constants. Whenever H(x) does not belong to the domain of attraction of any max-stable distribution, but, satisfies adequate conditions, the maxima nearly possess an asymptotic stability with the presence of an extremal index 0 <θ<1.

Motivated by the behaviour of these sequences we obtained a more general result extending the results of Anderson (1970) and Me (Jon nick and Park (1992) over the mixing conditionsD ^(k)(u_n), defined by Chermck et al (1991).

Several examples, obtained after simulation, are presented in order to illustrate the different situations that may occur.     

Characterizations of geometric distribution through progressively Type-II right-censored order statistics

In this paper, we consider characterizations of geometric distribution based on some properties of progressively Type-II right-censored order statistics. Specifically, we establish characterizations through conditional expectation, identical distribution, and independence of functions of progressively Type-II right-censored order statistics. Moreover, extensions of these results to generalized order statistics are also sketched. These generalize the corresponding results known for the case of ordinary order statistics.     

On Properties of Reversed Mean Residual Life Order for Weighted Distributions

In this article, first, in order to compare X and X ^w (the weighted version of X with weight function w(·)) according to reversed mean residual life order, we provide an equivalent condition. We then try to provide conditions under which the reversed mean residual life order is preserved by weighted distributions. For this end, we obtain several independent results. Finally, the problem of preservation of increasing reversed mean residual life class under weighting is investigated, as well. Some examples are also given to illustrate the results.     

Characterizations based on regression assumptions of order statistics

Let X₍₁₎≤X₍₂₎≤···≤X_(n) be the order statistics from independent and identically distributed random variables {X_i, 1≤i≤n} with a common absolutely continuous distribution function. In this work, first a new characterization of distributions based on order statistics is presented. Next, we review some conditional expectation properties of order statistics, which can be used to establish some equivalent forms for conditional expectations for sum of random variables based on order statistics. Using these equivalent forms, some known results can be extended immediately.     

The exponentiated exponential–geometric distribution: a distribution with decreasing,increasing and unimodal failure rate

In this paper, we proposed a new family of distributions namely exponentiated exponential–geometric (E2G) distribution. The E2G distribution is a straightforwardly generalization of the exponential–geometric (EG) distribution proposed by Adamidis and Loukas [A lifetime distribution with decreasing failure rate, Statist. Probab. Lett. 39 (1998), pp. 35–42], which accommodates increasing, decreasing and unimodal hazard functions. It arises on a latent competing risk scenarios, where the lifetime associated with a particular risk is not observable but only the minimum lifetime value among all risks. The properties of the proposed distribution are discussed, including a formal proof of its probability density function and explicit algebraic formulas for its survival and hazard functions, moments, rth moment of the ith order statistic, mean residual lifetime and modal value. Maximum-likelihood inference is implemented straightforwardly. From a mis-specification simulation study performed in order to assess the extent of the mis-specification errors when testing the EG distribution against the E2G, and we observed that it is usually possible to discriminate between both distributions even for moderate samples with presence of censoring. The practical importance of the new distribution was demonstrated in three applications where we compare the E2G distribution with several lifetime distributions.