The inverse gaussian distribution: Some properties and characterizations

This article presents some structural properties of the inverse Gaussian distribution, together with several new characterizations based on constancy of regression of suitable functions on the sum of n independent identically distributed random variables. A decomposition of the statistic λσ (X^?1_i?X^?1) into n - 1 independent chi-squared random variables, each with one degree of freedom, is given when n is of the form 2^r.     

Some characterizations of discrete distributions based on weak records

Let X ₁, X ₂,... be iid random variables (rv's) with the support on nonnegative integers and let (W _n , n≥0) denote the corresponding sequence of weak record values. We obtain new characterization of geometric and some other discrete distributions based on different forms of partial independence of rv's W _n and W _n+r —W _n for some fixed n≥0 and r≥1. We also prove that rv's W ₀ and W _n+1 —W _n have identical distribution if and only if (iff) the underlying distribution is geometric.     

Computational procedures for deriving sampling distributions of attribute-contaminated random variables

Statistical distributions generated from any J- or U-shaped random variables are cumbersome to derive if not completely indefinable and thus are unavailable analytically because of the singularities at the tails of the basic random variable. This paper presents a computational method for providing a numerical convolution derived from a basic U-shaped random variable composed of a continuous part mixed with (or contaminated by) a discrete part at the tails. The J-shaped sampling distribution case is implied as a special case. Though the computations are based on a background Normal Distribution, it can be generalized on any other distribution.Such distributions will open up an area of sampling distributions of mixed random variables that are not elaborately covered in textbooks dealing with the theory of distributions.     

Some properties of extreme stable laws and related infinitely divisible random variables

In the course of studying the moment sequence {nⁿ:n=0,1,…}$\{n^n:n=0,1,\dots \}$, Eaton et al. [1971. On extreme stable laws and some applications. J. Appl. Probab. 8, 794–801] have shown that this sequence, which is, indeed, the moment sequence of a log-extreme stable law with characteristic exponent γ=1$\gamma =1$, corresponds to a scale mixture of exponential distributions and hence to a distribution with decreasing failure rate. Following essentially the approach of Shanbhag et al. [1977. Some further results in infinite divisibility. Math. Proc. Cambridge Philos. Soc. 82, 289–295] we show that, under certain conditions, log-extreme stable laws with characteristic exponent γ∈[1,2)$\gamma \in [1,2)$ are scale mixtures of exponential distributions and hence are infinitely divisible and have decreasing failure rates. In addition, we study the moment problem associated with the log-extreme stable laws with characteristic exponent γ∈(0,2]$\gamma \in (0,2]$ and throw further light on the existing literature on the subject. As a by-product, we show that generalized Poisson and generalized negative binomial distributions are mixed Poisson distributions. Finally, we address some relevant questions on structural aspects of infinitely divisible distributions, and make new observations, including in particular that certain results appearing in Steutel and van Harn [2004. Infinite Divisibility of Probability Distributions on the Real Line. Marcel Dekker, New York] have links with the Wiener–Hopf factorization met in the theory of random walk.     

Higher order moments of order statistics from INID symmetric random variables

In this paper we present analogues of Balakrishnan's (1989) relations that relate the triple and quadruple moments of order statistics from independent and nonidentically distributed (I.NI.D.) random variables from a symmetric distribution to those of the folded distribution. We then apply these results, along with the corresponding recurrence relations for the exponential distribution derived recently by Childs (2003), to study the robustness of the Winsorized variance.     

Some results on dependent random variables and a connection with the multivariate s-increasing convex order

In this paper, some new concepts of dependence are introduced that generalize the concepts of positive and negative association. The new concepts of dependence are linked to the multivariate s-increasing convex order. Furthermore, a Kolmogorov-type inequality and a Hàjek–Rènyi inequality are proven that lead to an asymptotic result for these new random objects.     

On order statistics from non-identical right-truncated exponential random variables and some applications

By considering order statistics arising from n independent non-identically distributed right-truncated exponential random variables, we derive in this paper several recurrence relations for the single and the product moments of order statistics. These recurrence relations are simple in nature and could be used systematically in order to compute all the single and the product moments of order statistics for all sample sizes in a simple recursive manner. The results for order statistics from a multiple-outlier model (with a slippage of p observations) from a right-truncated exponential population are deduced as special cases. These results will be useful in assessing robustness properties of any linear estimator of the unknown parameter of the right-truncated exponential distribution, in the presence of one or more outliers in the sample. These results generalize those for the order statistics arising from an i.i.d. sample from a right-truncated exponential population established by Joshi (1978, 1982).     

On the convolution of normal and t random variables

The need for the convolution of normal and Student's t random variables arises in many areas. Since the 1930s, various authors have attempted to derive closed-form expressions for the probability density function (pdf) of the convolution, but with little success. Here, general closed-form expressions are derived for the pdf.     

Complete convergence for arrays of rowwise negatively superadditive-dependent random variables and its applications

In this paper, the Rosenthal-type maximal inequalities and Kolmogorov-type exponential inequality for negatively superadditive-dependent (NSD) random variables are presented. By using these inequalities, we study the complete convergence for arrays of rowwise NSD random variables. As applications, the Baum–Katz-type result for arrays of rowwise NSD random variables and the complete consistency for the estimator of nonparametric regression model based on NSD errors are obtained. Our results extend and improve the corresponding ones of Chen et al. [On complete convergence for arrays of rowwise negatively associated random variables. Theory Probab Appl. 2007;52(2):393–397] for arrays of rowwise negatively associated random variables to the case of arrays of rowwise NSD random variables.     

Comparing the Fisher information in record data and random observations

We compare the Fisher information (FI) contained in the firstn record values and record times with the FI inn i. i. d. observations. General results are established for exponential family and Weibull type setups, and a summary table is provided listing several common distributions. We show that the FI in record data improves notably once the record times are included, often changing from being less to being equal or greater than the FI in a random sample of the same size. The behavior in the Weibull case is surprising. There it depends onn, whether the record or the i.i. d. observations have more FI. We propose new estimators based on record data. The results may be of interest in some life testing situations. Supported in part by Fondo Nacional de Desarrollo Cientifico y Tecnologico (FONDECYT) grant # 1010222 of Chile.     

Distributions of the product and ratio of Maxwell and Rayleigh random variables

The distributions of the product and ratio of independent random variables arise in many applied problems. These have been extensively studied by many researchers. In this paper, the distributions of the product | XY | and ratio have been derived, when X and Y are Maxwell and Rayleigh random variables and are distributed independently of each other. The associated cdfs, pdfs, kth moments, entropies, etc., have been given. To describe the possible shapes of the associated pdfs and entropies, the respective plots are provided. The percentage points associated with the cdfs of the product and ratio have been tabulated.     

Higher order moments of order statistics from INID exponential random variables

In this paper we develop recurrence relations for the third and fourth order moments of order statistics from I.NI.D exponential random variables. Recurrence relations for the p-outlier model (with a slippage of p observations) are derived as a special case. Applications of these results will also be described.     

The inverse problem of multivariate and matrix-variate skew normal distributions

In this paper, we prove that the joint distribution of random vectors Z ₁ and Z ₂ and the distribution of Z ₂ are skew normal provided that Z ₁ is skew normally distributed and Z ₂ conditioning on Z ₁ is distributed as closed skew normal. Also, we extend the main results to the matrix variate case.     

Some Improvements in Numerical Evaluation of Symmetric Stable Density and Its Derivatives

A new multivariate inverse Polya distribution of order k, type I, is derived by means of a generalized urn scheme and by compounding the multivariate negative binomial distribution of order k, type I, of Philippou, Antzoulakos and Tripsiannis (1988) with the Dirichlet distribution. It is noted that this new distribution includes as special cases a new multivariate inverse hypergeometric distribution of order k and a new multivariate negative inverse one of the same order. The mean and variance-covariance of the multivariate inverse Polya distribution of order k, type I, are derived, and two known distributions of the same order are shown to be limiting cases of it.     

The linear combination,product and ratio of Laplace random variables

The distributions of linear combinations, products and ratios of random variables arise in many areas of engineering. In this paper, the exact distributions of the linear combination α X+β Y, the product |X Y| and the ratio |X/Y| are derived when X and Y are independent Laplace random variables. The Laplace distribution, being the oldest model for continuous data, has been one of the most popular models for measurement errors in engineering.     

Some computational aspects of the generalized von Mises distribution

This article deals with some important computational aspects of the generalized von Mises distribution in relation with parameter estimation, model selection and simulation. The generalized von Mises distribution provides a flexible model for circular data allowing for symmetry, asymmetry, unimodality and bimodality. For this model, we show the equivalence between the trigonometric method of moments and the maximum likelihood estimators, we give their asymptotic distribution, we provide bias-corrected estimators of the entropy, the Akaike information criterion and the measured entropy for model selection, and we implement the ratio-of-uniforms method of simulation.     

Information matrix for a mixture of two Laplace distributions

The Fisher information matrix for a mixture of two Laplace distributions is derived. Numerical tabulations of the matrix and a computer program are provided for practical purposes. The work is motivated by two real–life examples discussed in Hsu (Appl Stat 28:62–72, 1979) and Bhowmick et al. (Biostatistics 7:630–641, 2006).      

On simple wavelet estimators of random signals and their small-sample properties

In the paper we suggest certain nonparametric estimators of random signals based on the wavelet transform. We consider stochastic signals embedded in white noise and extractions with wavelet denoizing algorithms utilizing the non-decimated discrete wavelet transform and the idea of wavelet scaling. We evaluate properties of these estimators via extensive computer simulations and partially also analytically. Our wavelet estimators of random signals have clear advantages over parametric maximum likelihood methods as far as computational issues are concerned, while at the same time they can compete with these methods in terms of precision of estimation in small samples. An illustrative example concerning smoothing of survey data is also provided.     

Completeness and optimality of marginal likelihood estimating equations

A counter-example shows that the proof of optimality of the marginal likelihood estimating function for parameter of interest, under the conditions assumed in Lloyd (1987), contains a gap and is, thus, invalid. The same comment applies to the generalized version of Lloyd’s Theorem given by Bhapkar and Srinivasan (1993). In the light of known results concerning Fisher information for parameter of interest and partial sufficiency of a suitable statistic, the counter-example reveals a similar gap in the proof of corollary 3.2 of Bhapkar (1991).     

Tables of cumulative distribution functions and percentiles of the standardized stable random variables

It is shown that Zolotarev's (1964) integral representation of the cumulative distribution function (c.d.f.) of stable random variables and the IMSL subroutine DCADRE (for numerical integration ) provide a natural and practically simple method for finding the values of c.d.f., the percentiles and the density function of such random variables. For symmetric stable random variables (r.v.'s ) Z_∝, values of P_∝(z) … P(0<Z_∝<z) for z … 0(.02)4.08 and ∝=.1(.2)1.9, as well as percentiles of these r.v.'s for ∝=.5(.1)2 and the percentage points .6, .7(.05).85(.025).9(.01).96(.005).995, are presented. For asymmetric stable r.v.'s we present values of their c.d.f.'s for z … 0(.1)4, ß= ?1(.25)1 and ∝=.1(.2)1.9. These result sare compared with related results of others which were obtained by using different procedure and standardization.