Some new partial orderings on Sn and Sn×Sn

A new class of partial orderings on S_n, the set of permutations of {1,…,n}, is given. Each of these partial orderings is shown to be a subordering of a recently described partial ordering on S_n (Block, Chhetry, Fang and Sampson (1990)) which is related to Schriever's (1987) more associated ordering on bivariate distributions. Also given is an extension of three known partial orders on S_n to partial orders on S_n×S_n. These extensions facilitate the study of functions from S_n×S_n into , which preser these partial orderings, thereby, providing a methodology for extending the notion of arrangement increasing functions.     

A formula for P(bi≤Ri≤ai, 1≤i≤m) under a general class of alternatives

Let X_i≤?≤X_m and Y_i≤?≤Y_n be two sets of independent order statistics from continous distributions with distribution functions F and G respectively. Let R_i denote the rank of X_i in the combined order sample. Steck (1980) has found an expression for P(b_i≤R_i≤a_i, all i) when F = h(G), h being the incomplete beta function with parameters (α,β?α+1). An alternative expression for the same probability is obtained which is computationally a substantial improvement on Steck's result.     

Lp-norm spherical distribution

In this paper, the spherical distribution is generalized to the L_p-norm spherical distribution, S(n, p), through the stochastic representation. Then the form of its p.d.f. characterizing the S(n, p) distribution is derived. Marginal, conditional distributions and the moments of S(n, p) distribution are obtained. The order statistics and the invariance property of S(n,p) distribution are also investigated.     

Robustness of weighted L p–depth and L p–median

Summary: L ^p –norm weighted depth functions are introduced and the local and global robustness of these weighted L ^p –depth functions and their induced multivariate medians are investigated via influence function and finite sample breakdown point. To study the global robustness of depth functions, a notion of finite sample breakdown point is introduced. The weighted L ^p –depth functions turn out to have the same low breakdown point as some other popular depth functions. Their influence functions are also unbounded. On the other hand, the weighted L ^p –depth induced medians are globally robust with the highest possible breakdown point for any reasonable estimator. The weighted L ^p –medians are also locally robust with bounded influence functions for suitable weight functions. Unlike other existing depth functions and multivariate medians, the weighted L ^p depth and medians are easy to calculate in high dimensions. The price for this advantage is the lack of affine invariance and equivariance of the weighted L ^p depth and medians, respectively.*The author thanks the referees for their very insightful and constructive comments and suggestions which led to corrections and substantial improvements. Supported in part by NSF Grants DMS-0071976 and DMS-0134628.     

Bayesian analysis of Er/M/1 and Er/M/c queues

Bayesian inference and prediction tasks for Er/M/1 and Er/M/c queues are undertaken. Equilibrium probabilities of the queue size and waiting time distributions are estimated using conditional Monte-Carlo simulation methods. We illustrate that some standard queueing measures do not exist when independent priors are used for the arrival and service rates of a G/M/1 queue.     

Lattice paths combinatorics applied to transient queue length distribution of C2/M/1 queues and busy period analysis of bulk queues C2/M/1

This paper aims at deriving explicit transient queue length distribution for GI/M/1 system and busy period analysis of bulk queue GI^b/M/1 through lattice paths (LPs) combinatorics. The general interarrival time distribution is approximated by two-phase Cox distribution, C₂, that has Markovian property, enabling us to represent the processes by two-dimensional LPs. As distributions C₂ cover a wide class of distributions that have rational Laplace–Stieltjes transforms (LSTs) with square coefficient of variation lying in , the results obtained are applicable to a large class of real life situations. Some numerical results for the C₂^b/M/1 model are also given.     

An improved Cp criterion for spline smoothing

Spline smoothing is a popular technique for curve fitting, in which selection of the smoothing parameter is crucial. Many methods such as Mallows’ C_p, generalized maximum likelihood (GML), and the extended exponential (EE) criterion have been proposed to select this parameter. Although C_p is shown to be asymptotically optimal, it is usually outperformed by other selection criteria for small to moderate sample sizes due to its high variability. On the other hand, GML and EE are more stable than C_p, but they do not possess the same asymptotic optimality as C_p. Instead of selecting this smoothing parameter directly using C_p, we propose to select among a small class of selection criteria based on Stein's unbiased risk estimate (SURE). Due to the selection effect, the spline estimate obtained from a criterion in this class is nonlinear. Thus, the effective degrees of freedom in SURE contains an adjustment term in addition to the trace of the smoothing matrix, which cannot be ignored in small to moderate sample sizes. The resulting criterion, which we call adaptive C_p, is shown to have an analytic expression, and hence can be efficiently computed. Moreover, adaptive C_p is not only demonstrated to be superior and more stable than commonly used selection criteria in a simulation study, but also shown to possess the same asymptotic optimality as C_p.     

A modified Cp statistic in a system-of-equations model

A new statistic, SΓ(p), is developed for variable selection in a system-of-equations model. The standardized total mean square error in the SΓ(p)statistic is weighted by the covariance matrix of dependent variables instead of the error covariance matrix of the true model as in the original definition. The new statistic can be also used for model selection in the non-nested models. The estimate of SΓ(p), SC(p), is derived and shown to become SC_ε(p) in the similar form of C_p in a single-equation model when the covariance matrix of sampled dependent variables is replaced by the error covariance matrix under the full model.     

A critical look at Lo's modified R/S statistic

We report on an empirical investigation of the modified rescaled adjusted range or R/S statistic that was proposed by Lo, 1991. Econometrica 59, 1279–1313, as a test for long-range dependence with good robustness properties under ‘extra’ short-range dependence. In contrast to the classical R/S statistic that uses the standard deviation S to normalize the rescaled range R, Lo's modified R/S-statistic V_q is normalized by a modified standard deviation S_q which takes into account the covariances of the first q lags, so as to discount the influence of the short-range dependence structure that might be present in the data. Depending on the value of the resulting test-statistic V_q, the null hypothesis of no long-range dependence is either rejected or accepted. By performing Monte-Carlo simulations with ‘truly’ long-range- and short-range dependent time series, we study the behavior of V_q, as a function of q, and uncover a number of serious drawbacks to using Lo's method in practice. For example, we show that as the truncation lag q increases, the test statistic V_q has a strong bias toward accepting the null hypothesis (i.e., no long-range dependence), even in ideal situations of ‘purely’ long-range dependent data.     

Estimation in M/Er /1 queueing systems

In this paper, the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters for the M/E_r /1 queueing model are derived when the queue size at each departure point is observed. A numerical example is generated by simulating a finite Markov chain to illustrate the methodology for estimating the parameters with variable Erlang service time distribution. The problem of hypothesis testing and simultaneous Confidence regions of the parameter is also investigated.0     

Discrete-time GIX/Geo/1/N queue with negative customers and multiple working vacations

Using the supplementary variable and the embedded Markov chain method, we consider a discrete-time batch arrival finite capacity queue with negative customers and working vacations, where the RCH killing policy and partial batch rejection policy are adopted. We obtain steady-state system length distributions at pre-arrival, arbitrary and outside observer’s observation epochs. Furthermore, we consider the influence of system parameters on several performance measures to demonstrate the correctness of the theoretical analysis.     

On the construction of orthogonal F-squares of order n from an orthogonal array (n, k, s, 2) and an OL(s, t) set

Complete sets of orthogonal F-squares of order n = s^p, where g is a prime or prime power and p is a positive integer have been constructed by Hedayat, Raghavarao, and Seiden (1975). Federer (1977) has constructed complete sets of orthogonal F-squares of order n = 4t, where t is a positive integer. We give a general procedure for constructing orthogonal F-squares of order n from an orthogonal array (n, k, s, 2) and an OL(s, t) set, where n is not necessarily a prime or prime power. In particular, we show how to construct sets of orthogonal F-squares of order n = 2s^p, where s is a prime or prime power and p is a positive integer. These sets are shown to be near complete and approach complete sets as s and/or p become large. We have also shown how to construct orthogonal arrays by these methods. In addition, the best upper bound on the number t of orthogonal F(n, λ₁), F(n, λ₂), …, F(n, λ₁) squares is given.     

Nonparametric model checking for k-out-of-n systems

It is an important problem in reliability analysis to decide whether for a given k-out-of-n system the static or the sequential k-out-of-n model is appropriate. Often components are redundantly added to a system to protect against failure of the system. If the failure of any component of the system induces a higher rate of failure of the remaining components due to increased load, the sequential k-out-of-n model is appropriate. The increase of the failure rate of the remaining components after a failure of some component implies that the effects of the component redundancy are diminished. On the other hand, if all the components have the same failure distribution and whenever a failure occurs, the remaining components are not affected, the static k-out-of-n model is adequate. In this paper, we consider nonparametric hypothesis tests to make a decision between these two models. We analyze test statistics based on the profile score process as well as test statistics based on a multivariate intensity ratio and derive their asymptotic distribution. Finally, we compare the different test statistics.     

Large deviations of multiclass M/G/1 queues

Consider a multiclass M/G/1 queue where queued customers are served in their order of arrival at a rate which depends on the customer class. We model this system using a chain with states represented by a tree. Since the service time distribution depends on the customer class, the stationary distribution is not of product form so there is no simple expression for the stationary distribution. Nevertheless, we can find a harmonic function on this chain which provides information about the asymptotics of this stationary distribution. The associated h‐transformation produces a change of measure that increases the arrival rate of customers and decreases the departure rate thus making large deviations common. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 37: 327–346; 2009 © 2009 Statistical Society of Canada     

αn–Designs

This paper defines a broad class of resolvable incomplete block designs called α_n–designs, of which the original α–designs are a special case with n = 1. The statistical and mathematical properties of α–designs extend naturally to these n –dimensional designs. They are a flexible class of resolvable designs appropriate for use in factorial experiments, in constructing efficient t –latinized resolvable block designs, and for enhancing the existing class of α–designs for a single treatment factor.     

Estimation of Measures in M/M/1 Queue

Maximum likelihood and uniform minimum variance unbiased estimators of steady-state probability distribution of system size, probability of at least ? customers in the system in steady state, and certain steady-state measures of effectiveness in the M/M/1 queue are obtained/derived based on observations on X, the number of customer arrivals during a service time. The estimators are compared using Asympotic Expected Deficiency (AED) criterion leading to recommendation of uniform minimum variance unbiased estimators over maximum likelihood estimators for some measures.     

Approximating M/G/1 Waiting Time Tail Probabilities

Abstract

We propose a new approximation formula for the waiting time tail probability of the M/G/1 queue with FIFO discipline and unlimited waiting space. The aim is to address the difficulty of obtaining good estimates when the tail probability has non-exponential asymptotics. We show that the waiting time tail probability can be expressed in terms of the waiting time tail probability of a notional M/G/1 queue with truncated service time distribution plus the tail probability of an extreme order statistic. The Cramér–Lundberg approximation is applied to approximate the tail probability of the notional queue. In essence, our technique extends the applicability of the Cramér–Lundberg approximation to cases where the standard Lundberg condition does not hold. We propose a simple moment-based technique for estimating the parameters of the approximation; numerical results demonstrate that our approximation can yield very good estimates over the whole range of the argument.