Comparison of risks of estimators under the LINEX loss for a family of truncated distributions

In most cases, we use a symmetric loss such as the quadratic loss in a usual estimation problem. But, in the non-regular case when the regularity conditions do not necessarily hold, it seems to be more reasonable to choose an asymmetric loss than the symmetric one. In this paper, we consider the Bayes estimation under the linear exponential (LINEX) loss which is regarded as a typical example of asymmetric loss. We also compare the Bayes risks of estimators under the LINEX loss for a family of truncated distributions and a location parameter family of truncated distributions.     

Estimation of reliability for a multicomponent survival stress-strength model based on exponential distributions

Uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) of reliability in stress-strength model (known stress) is obtained for a multicomponent survival model based on exponential distributions for parallel system. The variance of this estimator is compared with Cramer-Rao lower bound (CRB) for the variance of unbiased estimator of reliability, and the mean square error (MSE) of maximum likelihood estimator of reliability in case of two component system.     

Aalen's linear model for doubly censored data

Double censoring often occurs in registry studies when left censoring is present in addition to right censoring. In this work, we examine estimation of Aalen's nonparametric regression coefficients based on doubly censored data. We propose two estimation techniques. The first type of estimators, including ordinary least squared (OLS) estimator and weighted least squared (WLS) estimators, are obtained using martingale arguments. The second type of estimator, the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE), is obtained via expectation-maximization (EM) algorithms that treat the survival times of left censored observations as missing. Asymptotic properties, including the uniform consistency and weak convergence, are established for the MLE. Simulation results demonstrate that the MLE is more efficient than the OLS and WLS estimators.     

Reliability inference for a general lower-truncated family of distributions under records

Based on record values, point and interval estimators are proposed in this paper for the parameters of a general lower-truncated family of distributions. Maximum likelihood and bias-corrected estimators are obtained for unknown model parameters. Based on a sufficient and complete statistic, the bias-corrected estimator is also shown to be uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator. Different exact confidence intervals and exact confidence regions are constructed for the both model and truncated parameters, and other confidence interval estimates based on asymptotic distribution theory and bootstrap approaches are obtained as well. Finally, two real-life examples and a numerical study are presented to illustrate the performance of our methods.     

Inference of stress-strength for the Type-II generalized logistic distribution under progressively Type-II censored samples

This article studies the estimation of the reliability R = P[Y < X] when X and Y come from two independent generalized logistic distributions of Type-II with different parameters, based on progressively Type-II censored samples. When the common scale parameter is unknown, the maximum likelihood estimator and its asymptotic distribution are proposed. The asymptotic distribution is used to construct an asymptotic confidence interval of R. Bayes estimator of R and the corresponding credible interval using the Gibbs sampling technique have been proposed too. Assuming that the common scale parameter is known, the maximum likelihood estimator, uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator, Bayes estimation, and confidence interval of R are extracted. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to compare the different proposed methods. Analysis of a real dataset is given for illustrative purposes. Finally, methods are extended for proportional hazard rate models.     

Simultaneous confidence bands and regions for log-location-scale distributions with censored data

In many areas of application, especially life testing and reliability, it is often of interest to estimate an unknown cumulative distribution (cdf). A simultaneous confidence band (SCB) of the cdf can be used to assess the statistical uncertainty of the estimated cdf over the entire range of the distribution. Cheng and Iles [1983. Confidence bands for cumulative distribution functions of continuous random variables. Technometrics 25 (1), 77–86] presented an approach to construct an SCB for the cdf of a continuous random variable. For the log-location-scale family of distributions, they gave explicit forms for the upper and lower boundaries of the SCB based on expected information. In this article, we extend the work of Cheng and Iles [1983. Confidence bands for cumulative distribution functions of continuous random variables. Technometrics 25 (1), 77–86] in several directions. We study the SCBs based on local information, expected information, and estimated expected information for both the “cdf method” and the “quantile method.” We also study the effects of exceptional cases where a simple SCB does not exist. We describe calibration of the bands to provide exact coverage for complete data and type II censoring and better approximate coverage for other kinds of censoring. We also discuss how to extend these procedures to regression analysis.     

Exact inference on multiple exponential populations under a joint type-II progressive censoring scheme

ABSTRACT

Recently Mondal and Kundu [Mondal S, Kundu D. A new two sample type-II progressive censoring scheme. Commun Stat Theory Methods. 2018. doi:10.1080/03610926.2018.1472781] introduced a Type-II progressive censoring scheme for two populations. In this article, we extend the above scheme for more than two populations. The aim of this paper is to study the statistical inference under the multi-sample Type-II progressive censoring scheme, when the underlying distributions are exponential. We derive the maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) of the unknown parameters when they exist and find out their exact distributions. The stochastic monotonicity of the MLEs has been established and this property can be used to construct exact confidence intervals of the parameters via pivoting the cumulative distribution functions of the MLEs. The distributional properties of the ordered failure times are also obtained. The Bayesian analysis of the unknown model parameters has been provided. The performances of the different methods have been examined by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. We analyse two data sets for illustrative purposes.     

Analysis of Type-II hybrid censored competing risks data

Kundu and Gupta [Analysis of hybrid life-tests in presence of competing risks. Metrica. 2007;65:159–170] provided the analysis of Type-I hybrid censored competing risks data, when the lifetime distributions of the competing cause of failures follows exponential distribution. In this paper, we consider the analysis of Type-II hybrid censored competing risks data. It is assumed that latent lifetime distributions of the competing causes of failures follow independent exponential distributions with different scale parameters. It is observed that the maximum likelihood estimators of the unknown parameters do not always exist. We propose the modified estimators of the scale parameters, which coincide with the corresponding maximum likelihood estimators when they exist, and asymptotically they are equivalent. We obtain the exact distribution of the proposed estimators. Using the exact distributions of the proposed estimators, associated confidence intervals are obtained. The asymptotic and bootstrap confidence intervals of the unknown parameters are also provided. Further, Bayesian inference of some unknown parametric functions under a very flexible Beta-Gamma prior is considered. Bayes estimators and associated credible intervals of the unknown parameters are obtained using the Monte Carlo method. Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are performed to see the effectiveness of the proposed estimators and one real data set has been analysed for the illustrative purposes. It is observed that the proposed model and the method work quite well for this data set.     

Asymptotic properties of a quast-maximum likelihood estimator in truncated regression model with serial correlation

Robinson (1982a) presented a general approach to serial correlation in limited dependent variable models and proved the strong consistency and asymptotic normality of the quasi-maximum likelihood estimator (QMLE) for the Tobit model with serial correlation, obtained under the assumption of independent errors. This paper proves the strong consistency and asymptotic normality of the QMLE based on independent errors for the truncated regression model with serial correlation and gives consistent estimators for the limiting covariance matrix of the QMLE.     

Asymptotic properties of a quast-maximum likelihood estimator in truncated regression model with serial correlation

Robinson (1982a) presented a general approach to serial correlation in limited dependent variable models and proved the strong consistency and asymptotic normality of the quasi-maximum likelihood estimator (QMLE) for the Tobit model with serial correlation, obtained under the assumption of independent errors. This paper proves the strong consistency and asymptotic normality of the QMLE based on independent errors for the truncated regression model with serial correlation and gives consistent estimators for the limiting covariance matrix of the QMLE.     

Generalized empirical likelihood inference in partial linear regression model for longitudinal data

In this paper, empirical likelihood inference for longitudinal data within the framework of partial linear regression models are investigated. The proposed procedures take into consideration the correlation within groups without involving direct estimation of nuisance parameters in the correlation matrix. The empirical likelihood method is used to estimate the regression coefficients and the baseline function, and to construct confidence intervals. A nonparametric version of Wilk's theorem for the limiting distribution of the empirical likelihood ratio is derived. Compared with methods based on normal approximations, the empirical likelihood does not require consistent estimators for the asymptotic variance and bias. The finite sample behaviour of the proposed method is evaluated with simulation and illustrated with an AIDS clinical trial data set.     

Generalized confidence interval estimation for the mean of delta-lognormal distribution: an application to New Zealand trawl survey data

Highly skewed and non-negative data can often be modeled by the delta-lognormal distribution in fisheries research. However, the coverage probabilities of extant interval estimation procedures are less satisfactory in small sample sizes and highly skewed data. We propose a heuristic method of estimating confidence intervals for the mean of the delta-lognormal distribution. This heuristic method is an estimation based on asymptotic generalized pivotal quantity to construct generalized confidence interval for the mean of the delta-lognormal distribution. Simulation results show that the proposed interval estimation procedure yields satisfactory coverage probabilities, expected interval lengths and reasonable relative biases. Finally, the proposed method is employed in red cod densities data for a demonstration.     

Pivotal inference for the inverse Rayleigh distribution based on general progressively Type-II censored samples

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the scale parameter of the inverse Rayleigh distribution based on general progressively Type-II censored samples and progressively Type-II censored samples. The pivotal quantity method is used to derive the estimator of the scale parameter. Besides, considering that the maximum likelihood estimator is tough to obtain for this distribution, we derive an explicit estimator of the scale parameter by approximating the likelihood equation with Taylor expansion. The interval estimation is also studied based on pivotal inference. Then we conduct Monte Carlo simulations and compare the performance of different estimators. We demonstrate that the pivotal inference is simpler and more effective. The further application of the pivotal quantity method is also discussed theoretically. Finally, two real data sets are analyzed using our methods.     

Reliability analysis of multicomponent stress–strength reliability from a bathtub-shaped distribution

In this paper, inference for a multicomponent stress–strength model is studied. When latent strength and stress random variables follow a bathtub-shaped distribution and the failure times are Type-II censored, the maximum likelihood estimate of the multicomponent stress–strength reliability (MSR) is established when there are common strength and stress parameters. Approximate confidence interval is also constructed by using the asymptotic distribution theory and delta method. Furthermore, another alternative generalized point and confidence interval estimators for the MSR are constructed based on pivotal quantities. Moreover, the likelihood and the pivotal quantities-based estimates for the MSR are also provided under unequal strength and stress parameter case. To compare the equivalence of the stress and strength parameters, the likelihood ratio test for hypothesis of interest is also provided. Finally, simulation studies and a real data example are given for illustration.     

Bootstrap confidence intervals of CNpk for inverse Rayleigh and log-logistic distributions

In this article bootstrap confidence intervals of process capability index as suggested by Chen and Pearn [An application of non-normal process capability indices. Qual Reliab Eng Int. 1997;13:355–360] are studied through simulation when the underlying distributions are inverse Rayleigh and log-logistic distributions. The well-known maximum likelihood estimator is used to estimate the parameter. The bootstrap confidence intervals considered in this paper consists of various confidence intervals. A Monte Carlo simulation has been used to investigate the estimated coverage probabilities and average widths of the bootstrap confidence intervals. Application examples on two distributions for process capability indices are provided for practical use.     

Interval censored and truncated data: Rate of convergence of NPMLE of the density

We consider survival data that are both interval censored and truncated. Under appropriate assumptions on the involved distributions, the censoring, truncation and survival, we prove the consistency of the NPMLE of the density of the survival, and give the rate of convergence. Finally, we give an example where the joint law of the censoring and truncation can be explicitly computed.     

Likelihood inference for a step-stress partially accelerated life test model with Type-I progressively hybrid censored data from Weibull distribution

Recently, progressively hybrid censoring schemes have become quite popular in life testing and reliability studies. In this article, the point and interval maximum-likelihood estimations of Weibull distribution parameters and the acceleration factor are considered. The estimation process is performed under Type-I progressively hybrid censored data for a step-stress partially accelerated test model. The biases and mean square errors of the maximum-likelihood estimators are computed to assess their performances in the presence of censoring developed in this article through a Monte Carlo simulation study.