The multivariate Markov and multiple Chebyshev inequalities

Abstract

A sharp probability inequality named the multivariate Markov inequality is derived for the intersection of the survival functions for non-negative random variables as an extension of the Markov inequality for a single variable. The corresponding result in Chebyshev’s inequality is also obtained as a special case of the multivariate Markov inequality, which is called the multiple Chebyshev inequality to distinguish from the multivariate Chebyshev inequality for a quadratic form of standardized uncorrelated variables. Further, the results are extended to the inequalities for the union of the survival functions and those with lower bounds.     

The evaluation of trivariate normal probabilities defined by linear inequalities

This paper considers the evaluation of probabilities which are defined by a set of linear inequalities of a trivariate normal distribution. It is shown that these probabilities can be evaluated by a one-dimensional numerical integration. The trivariate normal distribution can have any covariance matrix and any mean vector, and the probability can be defined by any number of one-sided and two-sided linear inequalities. This affords a practical and efficient method for the calculation of these probabilities which is superior to basic simulation methods. An application of this method to the analysis of pairwise comparisons of four treatment effects is discussed.     

Continuous covariate frailty models for censored and truncated clustered data

Using some logarithmic and integral transformation we transform a continuous covariate frailty model into a polynomial regression model with a random effect. The responses of this mixed model can be ‘estimated’ via conditional hazard function estimation. The random error in this model does not have zero mean and its variance is not constant along the covariate and, consequently, these two quantities have to be estimated. Since the asymptotic expression for the bias is complicated, the two-large-bandwidth trick is proposed to estimate the bias. The proposed transformation is very useful for clustered incomplete data subject to left truncation and right censoring (and for complex clustered data in general). Indeed, in this case no standard software is available to fit the frailty model, whereas for the transformed model standard software for mixed models can be used for estimating the unknown parameters in the original frailty model. A small simulation study illustrates the good behavior of the proposed method. This method is applied to a bladder cancer data set.     

A polar coordinate transformation for estimating bivariate survival functions with randomly censored and truncated data

This paper proposes a new estimator for bivariate distribution functions under random truncation and random censoring. The new method is based on a polar coordinate transformation, which enables us to transform a bivariate survival function to a univariate survival function. A consistent estimator for the transformed univariate function is proposed. Then the univariate estimator is transformed back to a bivariate estimator. The estimator converges weakly to a zero-mean Gaussian process with an easily estimated covariance function. Consistent truncation probability estimate is also provided. Numerical studies show that the distribution estimator and truncation probability estimator perform remarkably well.     

A class of nonparametric bivariate survival function estimators for randomly censored and truncated data

This paper proposes a class of nonparametric estimators for the bivariate survival function estimation under both random truncation and random censoring. In practice, the pair of random variables under consideration may have certain parametric relationship. The proposed class of nonparametric estimators uses such parametric information via a data transformation approach and thus provides more accurate estimates than existing methods without using such information. The large sample properties of the new class of estimators and a general guidance of how to find a good data transformation are given. The proposed method is also justified via a simulation study and an application on an economic data set.     

The Bayesian and frequentist approaches to testing a one-sided hypothesis about a multivariate mean

This paper compares the Bayesian and frequentist approaches to testing a one-sided hypothesis about a multivariate mean. First, this paper proposes a simple way to assign a Bayesian posterior probability to one-sided hypotheses about a multivariate mean. The approach is to use (almost) the exact posterior probability under the assumption that the data has multivariate normal distribution, under either a conjugate prior in large samples or under a vague Jeffreys prior. This is also approximately the Bayesian posterior probability of the hypothesis based on a suitably flat Dirichlet process prior over an unknown distribution generating the data. Then, the Bayesian approach and a frequentist approach to testing the one-sided hypothesis are compared, with results that show a major difference between Bayesian reasoning and frequentist reasoning. The Bayesian posterior probability can be substantially smaller than the frequentist p-value. A class of example is given where the Bayesian posterior probability is basically 0, while the frequentist p-value is basically 1. The Bayesian posterior probability in these examples seems to be more reasonable. Other drawbacks of the frequentist p-value as a measure of whether the one-sided hypothesis is true are also discussed.     

Bayes and empirical bayes estimation of survival function under progressive censoring

The purpose of this note is to derive the Bayes and the empirical Bayes estimators of an unknown survival function F under progressively censored data with respect to the squared error loss function and a Dirichlet process prior using the fact that the posterior distribution of F given the data is a mixture of Dirichlet processes, and the assumption that the survival and the censor in0- distributions are continuous.     

On prediction and mean squared error

Practical questions motivate the search for predictors either of an as yet unobserved random vector, or of a random function of a parameter. An extension of the classical UMVUE theory is presented to cover such situations. In includes a Rao-Blackwell-type theorem, a Cramer-Rao-type inequality, and necessary and sufficient conditions for a predictor to minimize the mean squared error uniformly in the parameter. Applications are considered to the problem of selected means, the species problem, and the examination of some u-v estimates of Robbins (1988).     

The First Exit Time Theory Applied to Life Table Data: The Health State Function of a Population and Other Characteristics

In this article, we summarize the main parts of the first exit time theory developed in connection to the life table data and the resulting theoretical and applied issues. New tools arise from the development of this theory and especially the Health State Function and some important characteristics of this function.

We provide both simple and complex models and propose a methodology for reconstructing the health state function from the provided first exit time density distribution (for the appropriate computer program, see http://www.cmsim.net). In the simpler case, this theory is applied for the reconstruction of the so-called Inverse-Gaussian function.