Approximate Bayesian analysis of doubly censored samples from mixture of two Weibull distributions

The purpose of the paper is to estimate the parameters of the two-component mixture of Weibull distribution under doubly censored samples using Bayesian approach. The choice of Weibull distribution is made due to its (i) capability to model failure time data from engineering, medical and biological sciences (ii) added advantages over the well-known lifetime distributions such as exponential, Raleigh, lognormal and gamma distribution in terms of flexibility, increasing and decreasing hazard rate and closed-form distribution function and hazard rate. The proposed two-component mixture of Weibull distribution is even more flexible than its conventional form. However, the estimation of the parameters from the proposed mixture is more complex. Further, we have assumed couple of loss functions under non informative prior for the Bayesian analysis of the parameters from the mixture model. As the resultant Bayes estimators and associated posterior risks cannot be derived in the closed form, we have used the importance sampling and Lindley’s approximation to obtain the approximate estimates for the parameters of the mixture model. The comparison between the performances of approximation techniques has been made on the basis of simulation study and real-life data analysis. The importance sampling is found to be better than Lindley’s approximation as it gives better estimation for shape and mixing parameters of the mixture model and computations under this technique are much easier/shorter than those under Lindley’s approximation.     

Characterization of Lindley distribution by truncated moments

In the past few years, the Lindley distribution has gained popularity for modeling lifetime data as an alternative to the exponential distribution. This paper provides two new characterizations of the Lindley distribution. The first characterization is based on a relation between left truncated moments and failure rate function. The second characterization is based on a relation between right truncated moments and reversed failure rate function.     

The inverse weighted Lindley distribution: Properties,estimation and an application on a failure time data

In this paper a new distribution is proposed. This new model provides more flexibility to modeling data with upside-down bathtub hazard rate function. A significant account of mathematical properties of the new distribution is presented. The maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters in the presence of complete and censored data are presented. Two corrective approaches are considered to derive modified estimators that are bias-free to second order. A numerical simulation is carried out to examine the efficiency of the bias correction. Finally, an application using a real data set is presented in order to illustrate our proposed distribution.     

Bias-Corrected maximum likelihood estimation of the parameters of the weighted Lindley distribution

The two-parameter weighted Lindley distribution is useful for modeling survival data, whereas its maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) are biased in finite samples. This motivates us to construct nearly unbiased estimators for the unknown parameters. We adopt a “corrective” approach to derive modified MLEs that are bias-free to second order. We also consider an alternative bias-correction mechanism based on Efron’s bootstrap resampling. Monte Carlo simulations are conducted to compare the performance between the proposed and two previous methods in the literature. The numerical evidence shows that the bias-corrected estimators are extremely accurate even for very small sample sizes and are superior than the previous estimators in terms of biases and root mean squared errors. Finally, applications to two real datasets are presented for illustrative purposes.     

A new generalized Lindley distribution

A new generalized Lindley distribution, based on weighted mixture of two gamma distributions, is proposed. This model includes the Lindley, gamma and exponential distributions as and other forms of Lindley distributions as special cases. Lindley distribution based on two gamma with two consecutive shape parameter is investigated in some details. Statistical and reliability properties of this model are derived. The size-biased, the length-biased and Lorenze curve are established. Estimation of the underlying parameters via the moment method and maximum likelihood has been investigated and their values are simulated. Finally, fitting this model to a set of real-life data is discussed.     

Transmuted two-parameter Lindley distribution

In this study, we propose a new distribution using the quadratic rank transmutation map named as transmuted two-parameter Lindley distribution (TTLD). This distribution is more flexible than the two-parameter Lindley distribution (TLD). The properties of the TTLD are examined, and estimation methods for the parameters of this distribution are discussed. The usefulness of the TTLD is demonstrated on some real data.     

Mean residual weighted versus the length-biased Rayleigh distribution

In some statistical applications, data may not be considered as a random sample of the whole population and some subjects have less probability of belonging to the sample. Consequently, statistical inferences for such data sets, usually yields biased estimation. In such situations, the length-biased version of the original random variable as a special weighted distribution often produces better inferences. An alternative weighted distribution based on the mean residual life is suggested to treat the biasedness. The Rayleigh distribution is applied in many real applications, hence the proposed method of weighting is performed to produce a new lifetime distribution based on the Rayleigh model. In addition, statistical properties of the proposed distribution is investigated. A simulation study and a real data set are prepared to illustrate that the mean residual weighted Rayleigh distribution gives a better fit than the original and also the length-biased Rayleigh distribution.     

On the Bayesian inference of Kumaraswamy distributions based on censored samples

In this article we discuss Bayesian estimation of Kumaraswamy distributions based on three different types of censored samples. We obtain Bayes estimates of the model parameters using two different types of loss functions (LINEX and Quadratic) under each censoring scheme (left censoring, singly type-II censoring, and doubly type-II censoring) using Monte Carlo simulation study with posterior risk plots for each different choices of the model parameters. Also, detailed discussion regarding elicitation of the hyperparameters under the dependent prior setup is discussed. If one of the shape parameters is known then closed form expressions of the Bayes estimates corresponding to posterior risk under both the loss functions are available. To provide the efficacy of the proposed method, a simulation study is conducted and the performance of the estimation is quite interesting. For illustrative purpose, real-life data are considered.     

New modified moment estimators for the two-parameter weighted Lindley distribution

We propose a modification of the moment estimators for the two-parameter weighted Lindley distribution. The modification replaces the second sample moment (or equivalently the sample variance) by a certain sample average which is bounded on the unit interval for all values in the sample space. In this method, the estimates always exist uniquely over the entire parameter space and have consistency and asymptotic normality over the entire parameter space. The bias and mean squared error of the estimators are also examined by means of a Monte Carlo simulation study, and the empirical results show the small-sample superiority in addition to the desirable large sample properties. Monte Carlo simulation study showed that the proposed modified moment estimators have smaller biases and smaller mean-square errors than the existing moment estimators and are compared favourably with the maximum likelihood estimators in terms of bias and mean-square error. Three illustrative examples are finally presented.     

Inferential analysis for the reliability parameter based on the three-parameter Lindley distribution

ABSTRACT

In this article, we consider the estimation of R = P(Y < X), when Y and X are two independent three-parameter Lindley (LI) random variables. On the basis of two independent samples, the modified maximum likelihood estimator along its asymptotic behavior and conditional likelihood-based estimator are used to estimate R. We also propose sample-based estimate of R and the associated credible interval based on importance sampling procedure. A real life data set involving the times to breakdown of an insulating fluid is presented and analyzed for illustrative purposes.     

Bayesian inference for the randomly censored Weibull distribution

In this paper, we consider the Bayesian inference of the unknown parameters of the randomly censored Weibull distribution. A joint conjugate prior on the model parameters does not exist; we assume that the parameters have independent gamma priors. Since closed-form expressions for the Bayes estimators cannot be obtained, we use Lindley's approximation, importance sampling and Gibbs sampling techniques to obtain the approximate Bayes estimates and the corresponding credible intervals. A simulation study is performed to observe the behaviour of the proposed estimators. A real data analysis is presented for illustrative purposes.     

Bayesian estimation of parameters of inverse Weibull distribution

The present paper describes the Bayes estimators of parameters of inverse Weibull distribution for complete, type I and type II censored samples under general entropy and squared error loss functions. The proposed estimators have been compared on the basis of their simulated risks (average loss over sample space). A real-life data set is used to illustrate the results.     

Weighted exponential distribution: properties and different methods of estimation

In this article, we investigate various properties and methods of estimation of the Weighted Exponential distribution. Although, our main focus is on estimation (from both frequentist and Bayesian point of view) yet, the stochastic ordering, the Bonferroni and the Lorenz curves, various entropies and order statistics are derived first time for the said distribution. Different types of loss functions are considered for Bayesian estimation. Furthermore, the Bayes estimators and their respective posterior risks are computed and compared using Gibbs sampling. The different reliability characteristics including hazard function, stress and strength analysis, and mean residual life function are also derived. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the performances of the proposed methods of estimation and two real data sets have been analysed for illustrative purposes.     

Bayesian inference and prediction of the Pareto distribution based on ordered ranked set sampling

In this paper, order statistics from independent and non identically distributed random variables is used to obtain ordered ranked set sampling (ORSS). Bayesian inference of unknown parameters under a squared error loss function of the Pareto distribution is determined. We compute the minimum posterior expected loss (the posterior risk) of the derived estimates and compare them with those based on the corresponding simple random sample (SRS) to assess the efficiency of the obtained estimates. Two-sample Bayesian prediction for future observations is introduced by using SRS and ORSS for one- and m-cycle. A simulation study and real data are applied to show the proposed results.     

A new four-parameter lifetime distribution

Generalizing lifetime distributions is always precious for applied statisticians. In this paper, we introduce a new four-parameter generalization of the exponentiated power Lindley (EPL) distribution, called the exponentiated power Lindley geometric (EPLG) distribution, obtained by compounding EPL and geometric distributions. The new distribution arises in a latent complementary risks scenario, in which the lifetime associated with a particular risk is not observable; rather, we observe only the maximum lifetime value among all risks. The distribution exhibits decreasing, increasing, unimodal and bathtub-shaped hazard rate functions, depending on its parameters. It contains several lifetime distributions as particular cases: EPL, new generalized Lindley, generalized Lindley, power Lindley and Lindley geometric distributions. We derive several properties of the new distribution such as closed-form expressions for the density, cumulative distribution function, survival function, hazard rate function, the rth raw moment, and also the moments of order statistics. Moreover, we discuss maximum likelihood estimation and provide formulas for the elements of the Fisher information matrix. Simulation studies are also provided. Finally, two real data applications are given for showing the flexibility and potentiality of the new distribution.     

On a recent generalization of gamma distribution

In this paper, we investigate a generalized gamma distribution recentIy developed by Agarwal and Kalla (1996). Also, we show that such generalized distribution, like the ordinary gamma distribution, has a unique mode and, unlike the ordinary gamma distribution, may have a hazard rate (mean residual life) function which is upside-down bathtub (bathtub) shaped.     

Bayesian inference of the inverse Weibull mixture distribution using type-I censoring

A large number of models have been derived from the two-parameter Weibull distribution including the inverse Weibull (IW) model which is found suitable for modeling the complex failure data set. In this paper, we present the Bayesian inference for the mixture of two IW models. For this purpose, the Bayes estimates of the parameters of the mixture model along with their posterior risks using informative as well as the non-informative prior are obtained. These estimates have been attained considering two cases: (a) when the shape parameter is known and (b) when all parameters are unknown. For the former case, Bayes estimates are obtained under three loss functions while for the latter case only the squared error loss function is used. Simulation study is carried out in order to explore numerical aspects of the proposed Bayes estimators. A real-life data set is also presented for both cases, and parameters obtained under case when shape parameter is known are tested through testing of hypothesis procedure.     

Aspects of the mean residual life order for weighted distributions

In this paper, we first provide conditions for preservation of the mean residual life (mrl) order under weighting. Then we apply the obtained results to establish our results about preservation of the decreasing mrl class by weighted distributions. In addition, we present some results for comparing the original random variable to its weighted version in terms of the mrl order. Also, some examples are given to illustrate the results.     

Bayesian estimation for the Pareto income distribution

The Bayes estimators of the Gini index, the mean income and the proportion of the population living below a prescribed income level are obtained in this paper on the basis of censored income data from a pareto income distribution. The said estimators are obtained under the assumptions of a two-parameter exponential prior distribution and the usual squared error loss function. This work is also extended to the case when the income data are grouped and the exact incomes for the individuals in the population are not available. The method for the assessment of the hyperparameters is also outlined. Finally, the results are generalized for the doubly truncated gamma prior distribution. Now deceased.     

The inverse power Lindley distribution in the presence of left-censored data

In this study, classical and Bayesian inference methods are introduced to analyze lifetime data sets in the presence of left censoring considering two generalizations of the Lindley distribution: a first generalization proposed by Ghitany et al. [Power Lindley distribution and associated inference, Comput. Statist. Data Anal. 64 (2013), pp. 20–33], denoted as a power Lindley distribution and a second generalization proposed by Sharma et al. [The inverse Lindley distribution: A stress–strength reliability model with application to head and neck cancer data, J. Ind. Prod. Eng. 32 (2015), pp. 162–173], denoted as an inverse Lindley distribution. In our approach, we have used a distribution obtained from these two generalizations denoted as an inverse power Lindley distribution. A numerical illustration is presented considering a dataset of thyroglobulin levels present in a group of individuals with differentiated cancer of thyroid.