A Comparison of Procedures for Controlling the False Discovery Rate in the Presence of Small Variance Genes: A Simulation Study

The Significance Analysis of Microarrays (SAM; Tusher et al., 2001 Tusher , V. G. , Tibshirani , R. , Chu , G. ( 2001 ). Significance analysis of microarrys applied to the ionizing radiation response . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 98 : 5116 – 5121 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) method is widely used in analyzing gene expression data while controlling the FDR by using resampling-based procedure in the microarray setting. One of the main components of the SAM procedure is the adjustment of the test statistic. The introduction of the fudge factor to the test statistic aims at deflating the large value of test statistics due to the small standard error of gene-expression. Lin et al. (2008 Lin , D. , Shkedy , Z. , Burzykowski , T. , Göhlmann , H. W. H. , De Bondt , A. , Perera , T. , Geerts , T. , Bijnens , L. ( 2008 ). Significance analysis of microarray (SAM) for comparisons of several treatments with one control . Biometric Journal, MCP 50 ( 5 ): 801 – 823 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) pointed out that the fudge factor does not effectively improve the power and the control of the FDR as compared to the SAM procedure without the fudge factor in the presence of small variance genes. Motivated by the simulation results presented in Lin et al. (2008 Lin , D. , Shkedy , Z. , Burzykowski , T. , Göhlmann , H. W. H. , De Bondt , A. , Perera , T. , Geerts , T. , Bijnens , L. ( 2008 ). Significance analysis of microarray (SAM) for comparisons of several treatments with one control . Biometric Journal, MCP 50 ( 5 ): 801 – 823 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), in this article, we extend our study to compare several methods for choosing the fudge factor in the modified t-type test statistics and use simulation studies to investigate the power and the control of the FDR of the considered methods.     

On Joint Determination of the Number of States and the Number of Variables in Markov-Switching Models: A Monte Carlo Study

In this article, we examine the performance of two newly developed procedures that jointly select the number of states and variables in Markov-switching models by means of Monte Carlo simulations. They are Smith et al. (2006 Smith , A. , Naik , P. A. , Tsai , C. ( 2006 ). Markov-switching model selection using Kullback–Leibler divergence . Journal of Econometrics 134 ( 2 ): 553 – 577 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Psaradakis and Spagnolo (2006 Psaradakis , Z. , Spagnolo , N. ( 2006 ). Joint determination of the state dimension and autoregressive order for models with Markov regime switching . Journal of Time Series Analysis 27 ( 2 ): 753 – 766 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), respectively. The former develops Markov switching criterion (MSC) designed specifically for Markov-switching models, while the latter recommends the use of standard complexity-penalised information criteria (BIC, HQC, and AIC) in joint determination of the state dimension and the autoregressive order of Markov-switching models. The Monte Carlo evidence shows that BIC outperforms MSC while MSC and HQC are preferable over AIC.     

Generalized Symmetric Divergence Measures and the Probability of Error

There are three classical divergence measures exist in the literature on information theory and statistics. These are namely, Jeffryes-Kullback-Leiber (Jeffreys, 1946 Jeffreys , H. ( 1946 ). An invariant form for the prior probability in estimation problems . Proc. Roy. Soc. Lon. Ser. A 186 : 453 – 461 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; Kullback and Leibler, 1951 Kullback , S. , Leibler , R. A. ( 1951 ). On information and sufficiency . Ann. Math. Statist. 22 : 79 – 86 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) J-divergence. Sibson-Burbea-Rao (Sibson, 1969 Sibson , R. ( 1969 ). Information radius . Z. Wahrs. und verw Geb. 14 : 149 – 160 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), Jensen-Shannon divegernce, (Burbea and Rao, 1982 Burbea , J. , Rao , C. R. ( 1982 ). On the convexity of some divergence measures based on entropy functions . IEEE Trans. Inform. Theor. IT-28 : 489 – 495 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), and Taneja (1995 Taneja , I.J. ( 1995 ). New developments in generalized information measures , In: Hawkes , P. W. , Ed., Advances in Imaging and Electron Physics . 91:37–136 . [Google Scholar]). Arithmetic-Geometric divergence. These three measures bear an interesting relationship among each other. The divergence measures like Hellinger (1909 Hellinger , H. ( 1909 ). Neue Begründung der theorie der quadratischen formen von unendlichen vielen Veränderlichen . J. Reine Aug. Math. 136 : 210 – 271 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) discrimination, symmetric χ²-divergence, and triangular discrimination are also known in the literature. In this article, we have considered generalized symmetric divergence measures having the measures given above as particular cases. Bounds on the probability of error are obtained in terms of generalized symmetric divergence measures. Study of bounds on probability of error is extended for the difference of divergence measures.     

A Broad Class of Partially Specified Autoregressions on Multi-Casting Data

Extending the bifurcating autoregressive (BAR) process (cf. Cowan and Staudte, 1986 Cowan , R. , Staudte , R. G. ( 1986 ). The bifurcating autoregression model in cell lineage studies . Biometrics 42 : 769 – 783 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) to multi-casting (multi-splitting) data, Hwang and Choi (2009 Hwang , S. Y. , Choi , M. S. ( 2009 ). Modeling and large sample estimation for multi-casting autoregression . Statist. Prob. Lett. 79 : 1943 – 1950 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) introduced multi-casting autoregression (MCAR, for short) defined on multi-casting tree structured data. This article is concerned with the case when the MCAR model is partially specified only through conditional mean and variance without directly imposing autoregressive (AR) structure. The resulting class of models will be referred to as P-MCAR (partially specified MCAR). The P-MCAR considerably enlarges the class of multi-casting models including (as special cases) MCAR, random coefficient MCAR, conditionally heteroscedastic multi-casting models and binomial-thinning processes. Moment structures for this broad P-MCAR class are investigated. Least squares (LS) estimation method is discussed and asymptotic relative efficiency (ARE) of the generalized-LS over ordinary-LS is obtained in a closed form. A simulation study is conducted to illustrate results.     

The Identification of Potential Longitudinal Biomarkers and Measurements of Effectiveness for Biomarkers as Surrogates in Multivariate Survival Data

A proposed method based on frailty models is used to identify longitudinal biomarkers or surrogates for a multivariate survival. This method is an extention of earlier models by Wulfsohn and Tsiatis (1997 Wulfsohn , M. S. , Tsiatis , A. A. ( 1997 ). A joint model for survival and longitudinal data measured with error . Biometrics 53 ( 1 ): 330 – 339 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Song et al. (2002 Song , X. , Davidian , M. , Tsiatis , A. A. ( 2002 ). A Semiparametric likelihood approach to joint modeling of longitudinal and time-to-event data . Biometrics 58 ( 4 ): 742 – 753 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). In this article, similar to Henderson et al. (2002 Henderson , R. , Diggle , P. J. , Dobson , A. ( 2002 ). Identification and efficacy of longitudinal markers for survival . Biostatistics 3 ( 1 ): 33 – 50 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), a joint likelihood function combines the likelihood functions of the longitudinal biomarkers and the multivariate survival times. We use simulations to explore how the number of individuals, the number of time points per individual and the functional form of the random effects from the longitudianl biomarkers influence the power to detect the association of a longitudinal biomarker and the multivariate survival time. The proposed method is illustrate by using the gastric cancer data.     

Methods for Bivariate Survival Data with Mismeasured Covariates Under an Accelerated Failure Time Model

Accelerated failure time models are useful in survival data analysis, but such models have received little attention in the context of measurement error. In this paper we discuss an accelerated failure time model for bivariate survival data with covariates subject to measurement error. In particular, methods based on the marginal and joint models are considered. Consistency and efficiency of the resultant estimators are investigated. Simulation studies are carried out to evaluate the performance of the estimators as well as the impact of ignoring the measurement error of covariates. As an illustration we apply the proposed methods to analyze a data set arising from the Busselton Health Study (Knuiman et al., 1994 Knuiman , M. W. , Cullent , K. J. , Bulsara , M. K. , Welborn , T. A. , Hobbs , M. S. T. ( 1994 ). Mortality trends, 1965 to 1989, in Busselton, the site of repeated health surveys and interventions . Austral. J. Public Health 18 : 129 – 135 . [CSA] [Crossref], [PubMed] , [Google Scholar]).     

Lag Length Selection in DF-GLS Unit Root Tests

We reinvestigate the empirical problem of lag length selection in unit root tests when using the augmented Dickey–Fuller test based on GLS-detrending. We extend the Ng and Perron (1995 Ng , S. , Perron , P. ( 1995 ). Unit root tests in ARMA models with data-dependent methods for the selection of the truncation lag . Journal of American Statistical Association 90 : 268 – 281 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) work on this issue by applying the finite sample critical values calculated using the formulae proposed by Cheung and Lai (1995 Cheung , Y. W. , Lai , K. S. ( 1995 ). Lag order and critical values of a modified Dickey–Fuller test . Oxford Bulletin of Business and Economics 57 : 411 – 418 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). Unlike Ng and Perron (2001 Ng , S. , Perron , P. (2001). Lag length selection and the construction of unit root tests with good size and power. Econometrica 69:1519–1554.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) we find through simulation studies that the method of selecting lag length using the sequential t-test in the ADF regression of GLS-detrended series performs the best in most cases.     

A Generalization to Bivariate Mittag–Leffler and Bivariate Discrete Mittag–Leffler Autoregressive Processes

A generalization of the Gaver and Lewis (1980 Gaver , D. P. , Lewis , P. A. W. ( 1980 ). First order autoregressive gamma sequences and point processes . Adv. Appl. Probab. 12 : 727 – 745 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) model of first-order autoregressive process with marginals as bivariate Mittag–Leffler distribution is obtained. A necessary and sufficient condition for stationarity of the process is established. Autoregressive process with marginals follow bivariate discrete Mittag–Leffler distribution is also developed. The unknown parameters of the processes are estimated and some numerical results of the estimations are given.     

Computing the Exact Fisher Information Matrix of Periodic State-Space Models

The purpose of this article is to develop algorithms for computing the exact Fisher information matrix of periodic time-varying state-space models. We first present a relatively simple recursive algorithm which computes the elements of the exact information matrix without involving numerical differentiation, since all required derivatives are analytically evaluated. The proposed algorithm extends the procedure due to Cavanaugh and Shumway (1996 Cavanaugh , J. E. , Shumway , R. H. ( 1996 ). On computing the expected Fisher information matrix for state-space model parameters . Statist. Probab. Lett. 26 : 347 – 355 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) to the periodic state-space framework. Exploiting the approach used in Klein et al. (2000 Klein , A. , Mélard , G. , Zahaf , T. ( 2000 ). Construction of the exact Fisher information matrix of Gaussian time series models by means of matrix differential rules . Linear Alg. Applic. 321 : 209 – 232 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), a second algorithm is proposed in order to obtain the exact information matrix as a whole instead of element by element. The algorithms are first developed in a general framework and then specialized to the case of a periodic Gaussian vector autoregressive moving-average (PVARMA) model.     

On Complete Convergence for Arrays of Dependent Random Variables

A complete convergence theorem for an array of rowwise independent random variables was established by Sung et al. (2005 Sung , S. H. , Volodin , A. I. , Hu , T.-C. ( 2005 ). More on complete convergence for arrays . Statist. Probab. Lett. 71 : 303 – 311 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). This result has been generalized and extended by Kruglov et al. (2006 Kruglov , V. M. , Volodin , A. I. , Hu , T.-C. ( 2006 ). On complete convergence for arrays . Statist. Probab. Lett. 76 : 1631 – 1640 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Chen et al. (2007 Chen , P. , Hu , T.-C. , Liu , X. , Volodin , A. ( 2007 ). On complete convergence for arrays of rowwise negatively associated random variables . Theor. Probab. Appl. 52 : 393 – 397 . [Google Scholar]). In this article, we extend the results of Sung et al. (2005 Sung , S. H. , Volodin , A. I. , Hu , T.-C. ( 2005 ). More on complete convergence for arrays . Statist. Probab. Lett. 71 : 303 – 311 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), Kruglov et al. (2006 Kruglov , V. M. , Volodin , A. I. , Hu , T.-C. ( 2006 ). On complete convergence for arrays . Statist. Probab. Lett. 76 : 1631 – 1640 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), and Chen et al. (2007 Chen , P. , Hu , T.-C. , Liu , X. , Volodin , A. ( 2007 ). On complete convergence for arrays of rowwise negatively associated random variables . Theor. Probab. Appl. 52 : 393 – 397 . [Google Scholar]) to an array of dependent random variables satisfying Hoffmann-Jørgensen type inequalities.     

Estimating Incidence Rate on Current Status Data with Application to a Phase IV Cancer Trial

New drug discovery in the pediatrics has dramatically improved survival, but with long- term adverse events. This motivates the examination of adverse outcomes such as long-term toxicity in a phase IV trial. An ideal approach to monitor long-term toxicity is to systematically follow the survivors, which is generally not feasible. Instead, cross-sectional surveys are conducted in Hudson et al. (2007 Hudson , M. M. , Rai , S. N. , Nunez , C. , Merchant , T. E. , Marina , N. M. , Zalamea , N. , Cox , C. , Phipps , S. , Pompeu , R. , Rosenthal , D. ( 2007 ). Noninvasive evaluation of late anthracycline cardiac toxicity in childhood cancer survivors . J. Clin. Oncol. 25 : 3635 – 3643 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), with one of the objectives to estimate the cumulative incidence rates along with specific interest in fixed-term (5 or 10 year) rates. We present inference procedures based on current status data to our motivating example with very interesting findings.     

Improved Estimation of Finite Population Variance Using Auxiliary Information

This article addresses the problem of estimating of finite population variance using auxiliary information in simple random sampling. A ratio-cum-difference type class of estimators for population variance has been suggested with its properties under large sample approximation. It has been shown that the suggested class of estimators is more efficient than usual unbiased, difference, Das and Tripathi (1978 Das , A. K. , Tripathi , T. P. ( 1978 ). Use of auxiliary information in estimating the finite population variance . Sankhya C 40 : 139 – 148 . [Google Scholar]), Isaki (1983 Isaki , C. T. ( 1983 ). Variance estimation using auxiliary information . J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 78 : 117 – 123 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), Singh et al. (1988 Singh , H. P. , Upadhyaya , L. N. , Namjoshi , U. D. ( 1988 ). Estimation of finite population variance . Curr. Sci. 57 : 1331 – 1334 .[Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), Kadilar and Cingi (2006 Kadilar , C. , Cingi , H. ( 2006 ). Ratio estimators for the population variance in simple and stratified random sampling . Appl. Math. Comp. 173 ( 2 ): 1047 – 1059 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), and other estimators/classes of estimators. In addition, we support this theoretical result with the aid of a empirical study.     

On Estimating the Finite Population Mean Using Two Auxiliary Variables in Two Phase Sampling in the Presence of Non Response

This article considers the problem of estimating the population mean using information on two auxiliary variables in the presence of non response under two-phase sampling. Some improved ratio-in-regression type estimators have been proposed in four different situations of non response along with their properties under large sample approximation. Efficiency comparisons of the proposed estimators with the usual unbiased estimator by Hansen and Hurwitz (1946 Hansen , M. H. , Hurwitz , W. N. ( 1946 ). The problem of non response in sample surveys . J. Amer. Statist. Assoc. 41 : 517 – 529 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), conventional ratio and regression estimators using single auxiliary variable and Singh and Kumar (2010b Singh , H. P. , Kumar , S. ( 2010b ). Improved estimation of population mean under double sampling with sub-sampling the non-respondents . J. Statist. Plann. Infer. 140 ( 9 ): 2536 – 2550 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) estimators using two auxiliary variables have been made. Finally, these theoretical findings are illustrated by a numerical example.     

On Simultaneous Estimation of the Number of Signals and Frequencies of Multiple Sinusoids When Some Observations Are Missing

In an earlier article (Bai et al., 1999 Bai , Z. D. , Rao , C. R. , Wu , Y. H. , Zen , M. M. , Zhao , L. C. ( 1999 ). The simultaneous estimation of the number of signals and frequencies of multiple sinusods when some observations are missing: I. Asymptotics . Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 96 : 11,106 – 11,110 . [CSA] [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), the problem of simultaneous estimation of the number of signals and frequencies of multiple sinusoids is considered in the case that some observations are missing. The number of signals is estimated with an information theoretic criterion and the frequencies are estimated with eigenvariation linear prediction. Asymptotic properties of the procedure are investigated but the Monte Carlo simulation is not performed. In this article, a slightly different but scale invariant criterion for detection is proposed and the estimation of frequencies remains the same. Asymptotic properties of this new procedure are provided. Monte Carlo Simulation for both procedures is carried out. Furthermore, comparison on the real signals is also given.     

Efficient Ratio and Product Estimators in Stratified Random Sampling

This paper suggests an efficient class of ratio and product estimators for estimating the population mean in stratified random sampling using auxiliary information. It is interesting to mention that, in addition to many, Koyuncu and Kadilar (2009 Koyuncu , N. , Kadilar , C. ( 2009 ). Ratio and product estimators in stratified random sampling . J. Statist. Plann. Infer. 139 : 2552 – 2558 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), Kadilar and Cingi (2003 Kadilar , C. , Cingi , H. ( 2003 ). Ratio estimator in stratified sampling . Biometr. J. 45 : 218 – 225 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar], 2005 Kadilar , C. , Cingi , H. ( 2005 ). A new estimator in stratified random sampling . Commun. Statist. Theor. Meth. 34 : 597 – 602 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), and Singh and Vishwakarma (2007 Singh , H. P. , Vishwakarma , G. K. ( 2007 ). Modified exponential ratio and product estimators for finite population mean in double sampling . Austr. J. Statist. 36 ( 3 ): 217 – 225 . [Google Scholar]) estimators are identified as members of the proposed class of estimators. The expressions of bias and mean square error (MSE) of the proposed estimators are derived under large sample approximation in general form. Asymptotically optimum estimator (AOE) in the class is identified alongwith its MSE formula. It has been shown that the proposed class of estimators is more efficient than combined regression estimator and Koyuncu and Kadilar (2009 Koyuncu , N. , Kadilar , C. ( 2009 ). Ratio and product estimators in stratified random sampling . J. Statist. Plann. Infer. 139 : 2552 – 2558 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) estimator. Moreover, theoretical findings are supported through a numerical example.     

Using the Score Test to Identify the Longitudinal Biomarker Considering Accelerate Failure Time Model with the Frailty in Survival Analysis

Quality of life (QOL) is looked upon as a multidimensional entity comprising physical, psychological, social, and medical parameters. QOL is a good prognostic factor for the cancer patients. In this article, we want to determine if QOL is a good biomarker as a surrogate to indicate the survival time of gastric cancer patients. We conducted a single institutional trial and examines QOL of gastric cancer patients receiving the different surgery. In this trial, QOL is a longitudinal measurement. The accelerated failure time model can be used to deal with survival data when the proportionality assumption fails to capture the relationship between the survival time and covariates. In this article, similar to Henderson et al. (2000 Henderson , R. , Diggle , P. , Dobson , A. ( 2000 ). Joint modelling of longitudinal measurements and event time data . Biostatistics 1 ( 4 ): 465 – 480 .[Crossref], [PubMed] , [Google Scholar], 2002 Henderson , R. , Diggle , P. J. , Dobson , A. ( 2002 ). Identification and efficacy of longitudinal markers for survival . Biostatistics 3 ( 1 ): 33 – 50 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), a joint likelihood function combines the likelihood functions of the longitudinal biomarkers and the survival times under the accelerated failure time assumption. We introduce a method employing a frailty model to identify longitudinal biomarkers or surrogates for a time to event outcome. We allow random effects to be present in both the longitudinal biomarker and underlying survival function. The random effects in the biomarker are introduced via an explicit term while the random effect in the underlying survival function is introduced by the inclusion of frailty into the model. We will introduce a method to identify longitudinal biomarkers or surrogates for a time to event outcome based on the accelerated failure time assumption.     

Using Frailty Models to Identify the Longitudinal Biomarkers in Survival Analysis

We introduce a score test to identify longitudinal biomarkers or surrogates for a time to event outcome. This method is an extension of Henderson et al. (2000 Henderson , R. , Diggle , P. , Dobson , A. ( 2000 ). Joint modelling of longitudinal measurements and event time data . Biostatistics 1 ( 4 ): 465 – 480 .[Crossref], [PubMed] , [Google Scholar], 2002 Henderson , R. , Diggle , P. , Dobson , A. ( 2002 ). Identification and efficacy of longitudinal markers for survival . Biostatistics 3 ( 1 ): 33 – 50 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). In this article, a score test is based on a joint likelihood function which combines the likelihood functions of the longitudinal biomarkers and the survival times. Henderson et al. (2000 Henderson , R. , Diggle , P. , Dobson , A. ( 2000 ). Joint modelling of longitudinal measurements and event time data . Biostatistics 1 ( 4 ): 465 – 480 .[Crossref], [PubMed] , [Google Scholar], 2002 Henderson , R. , Diggle , P. , Dobson , A. ( 2002 ). Identification and efficacy of longitudinal markers for survival . Biostatistics 3 ( 1 ): 33 – 50 .[Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) assumed that the same random effect exists in the longitudinal component and in the Cox model and then they can derive a score test to determine if a longitudinal biomarker is associated with time to an event. We extend this work and our score test is based on a joint likelihood function which allows other random effects to be present in the survival function.

Considering heterogeneous baseline hazards in individuals, we use simulations to explore how the factors can influence the power of a score test to detect the association of a longitudinal biomarker and the survival time. These factors include the functional form of the random effects from the longitudinal biomarkers, in the different number of individuals, and time points per individual. We illustrate our method using a prothrombin index as a predictor of survival in liver cirrhosis patients.     

A Generalization of the Skew-Normal Distribution: The Beta Skew-Normal

We consider a new generalization of the skew-normal distribution introduced by Azzalini (1985 Azzalini , A. ( 1985 ). A class of distributions which includes the normal ones . Scand. J. Statis. 12 ( 2 ): 171 – 178 .[Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). We denote this distribution Beta skew-normal (BSN) since it is a special case of the Beta generated distribution (Jones, 2004 Jones , M. C. ( 2004 ). Families of distributions of order statistics . Test 13 ( 1 ): 1 – 43 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). Some properties of the BSN are studied. We pay attention to some generalizations of the skew-normal distribution (Bahrami et al., 2009 Bahrami , W. , Agahi , H. , Rangin , H. ( 2009 ). A two-parameter Balakrishnan skew-normal distribution . J. Statist. Res. Iran 6 : 231 – 242 . [Google Scholar]; Sharafi and Behboodian, 2008 Sharafi , M. , Behboodian , J. ( 2008 ). The Balakrishnan skew-normal density . Statist. Pap. 49 : 769 – 778 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]; Yadegari et al., 2008 Yadegari , I. , Gerami , A. , Khaledi , M. J. ( 2008 ). A generalization of the Balakrishnan skew-normal distribution . Statist. Probab. Lett. 78 : 1165 – 1167 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and to their relations with the BSN.     

Relative Errors of Difference-Based Variance Estimators in Nonparametric Regression

Difference-based estimators for the error variance are popular since they do not require the estimation of the mean function. Unlike most existing difference-based estimators, new estimators proposed by Müller et al. (2003 Müller , U. , Schick , A. , Wefelmeyer , W. ( 2003 ). Estimating the error variance in nonparametric regression by a covariate-matched U-statistic . Statistics 37 : 179 – 188 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) and Tong and Wang (2005 Tong , T. , Wang , Y. ( 2005 ). Estimating residual variance in nonparametric regression using least squares . Biometrika 92 : 821 – 830 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) achieved the asymptotic optimal rate as residual-based estimators. In this article, we study the relative errors of these difference-based estimators which lead to better understanding of the differences between them and residual-based estimators. To compute the relative error of the covariate-matched U-statistic estimator proposed by Müller et al. (2003 Müller , U. , Schick , A. , Wefelmeyer , W. ( 2003 ). Estimating the error variance in nonparametric regression by a covariate-matched U-statistic . Statistics 37 : 179 – 188 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), we develop a modified version by using simpler weights. We further investigate its asymptotic property for both equidistant and random designs and show that our modified estimator is asymptotically efficient.