Discrete Linnik Weibull distribution

Abstract

We introduce a new family of distributions using truncated discrete Linnik distribution. This family is a rich family of distributions which includes many important families of distributions such as Marshall–Olkin family of distributions, family of distributions generated through truncated negative binomial distribution, family of distributions generated through truncated discrete Mittag–Leffler distribution etc. Some properties of the new family of distributions are derived. A particular case of the family, a five parameter generalization of Weibull distribution, namely discrete Linnik Weibull distribution is given special attention. This distribution is a generalization of many distributions, such as extended exponentiated Weibull, exponentiated Weibull, Weibull truncated negative binomial, generalized exponential truncated negative binomial, Marshall-Olkin extended Weibull, Marshall–Olkin generalized exponential, exponential truncated negative binomial, Marshall–Olkin exponential and generalized exponential. The shape properties, moments, median, distribution of order statistics, stochastic ordering and stress–strength properties of the new generalized Weibull distribution are derived. The unknown parameters of the distribution are estimated using maximum likelihood method. The discrete Linnik Weibull distribution is fitted to a survival time data set and it is shown that the distribution is more appropriate than other competitive models.     

An estimation procedure for the Linnik distribution

We propose estimators for the parameters of the Linnik L(??, ??) distribution. The estimators are derived from the moments of the log-transformed Linnik distributed random variable, and are shown to be asymptotically unbiased. The estimation algorithm is computationally simple and less restrictive. Our procedure is also tested using simulated data.     

Discrete Weibull geometric distribution and its properties

In this article, the discrete analog of Weibull geometric distribution is introduced. Discrete Weibull, discrete Rayleigh, and geometric distributions are submodels of this distribution. Some basic distributional properties, hazard function, random number generation, moments, and order statistics of this new discrete distribution are studied. Estimation of the parameters are done using maximum likelihood method. The applications of the distribution is established using two datasets.     

Discrete generalized exponential distribution of a second type

In this paper, we shall attempt to introduce another discrete analogue of the generalized exponential distribution of Gupta and Kundu [Generalized exponential distributions, Aust. N. Z. J. Stat. 41(2) (1999), pp. 173–188], different to that of Nekoukhou et al. [A discrete analogue of the generalized exponential distribution, Comm. Stat. Theory Methods, to appear (2011)]. This new discrete distribution, which we shall call a discrete generalized exponential distribution of the second type (DGE₂(α, p)), can be viewed as another generalization of the geometric distribution. We shall first study some basic distributional and moment properties, as well as order statistics distributions of this family of new distributions. Certain compounded DGE₂(α, p) distributions are also discussed as the results of which some previous lifetime distributions such as that of Adamidis and Loukas [A lifetime distribution with decreasing failure rate, Statist. Probab. Lett. 39 (1998), pp. 35–42] follow as corollaries. Then, we will investigate estimation of the parameters involved. Finally, we will examine the model with a real data set.     

A Note on the Characterization of Positive Linnik Laws

Recently, Jayakumar & Pillai (1996) gave an interesting characterization of the positive Linnik laws in terms of the spectrum function of an infinitely divisible law. This paper improves their result and simplifies their proof. It proves another characterization result in terms of the Pareto law. Further, it represents the positive Linnik random variable as a function of independent gamma random variables.     

The Discrete Normal Distribution

Abstract

The normal distribution has been playing a key role in stochastic modeling for a continuous setup. But its distribution function does not have an analytical form. Moreover, the distribution of a complex multicomponent system made of normal variates occasionally poses derivational difficulties. It may be worth exploring the possibility of developing a discrete version of the normal distribution so that the same can be used for modeling discrete data. Keeping in mind the above requirement we propose a discrete version of the continuous normal distribution. The Increasing Failure Rate property in the discrete setup has been ensured. Characterization results have also been made to establish a direct link between the discrete normal distribution and its continuous counterpart. The corresponding concept of a discrete approximator for the normal deviate has been suggested. An application of the discrete normal distributions for evaluating the reliability of complex systems has been elaborated as an alternative to simulation methods.     

Discrete smoothing

The simplification of complex models which were originally envisaged to explain some data is considered as a discrete form of smoothing. In this sense data based model selection techniques lead to minimal and unavoidable initial smoothing. The same techniques may also be used for further smoothing if this seems necessary. For deterministic data parametric models which are usually used for stochastic data also provide convenient notches in the process of smoothing. The usual discrepancies can be used to measure the degree of smoothing. The methods for tables of means and tables of frequencies are described in more detail and examples of applications are given.     

Discrete Beta-Exponential Distribution

Consider the estimation of the regression parameters in the usual linear model. For design densities with infinite support, it has been shown by Faraldo Roca and González Manteiga [1] Faraldo Roca, P. and González Manteiga, W. 1987. “Efficiency of a new class of linear regression estimates obtained by preliminary nonparametric estimation”. In New Perspectives in Theoretical and Applied Statistics Edited by: Puri, M. L., Vilaplana, J. P. and Wertz, W. 229–242. New York: John Wiley.  [Google Scholar] that it is possible to modify the classical least squares procedure and to obtain estimators for the regression parameters whose MSE's (mean squared errors) are smaller than those of the usual least squares estimators. The modification consists of presmoothing the response variables by a kernel estimator of the regression function. These authors also show that the gain in efficiency is not possible for a design density with compact support. We show that in this case local linear presmoothing does not fix this inefficiency problem, in spite of the well known fact that local linear fitting automatically corrects the bias in the endpoints of the (design density) support. We demonstrate on a theoretical basis how this inefficiency problem can be rectified in the compact design case: we prove that presmoothing with boundary kernels studied in Müller [2] Müller, H.-G. 1991. Smooth optimum kernel estimators near endpoints. Biometrika, 78: 521–530. [Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] and Müller and Wang [3] Müller, H.-G. and Wang, J.-L. 1994. Hazard rate estimation under random censoring with varying kernels and bandwidths. Biometrics, 50: 61–76. [Crossref], [PubMed], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar] leads to regression estimators which are superior over the least squares estimators. A very careful analytic treatment is needed to arrive at these asymptotic results.     

The Touchard distribution

We present a novel model, which is a two-parameter extension of the Poisson distribution. Its normalizing constant is related to the Touchard polynomials, hence the name of this model. It is a flexible distribution that can account for both under- or overdispersion and concentration of zeros that are frequently found in non-Poisson count data. In contrast to some other generalizations, the Hessian matrix for maximum likelihood estimation of the Touchard parameters has a simple form. We exemplify with three data sets, showing that our suggested model is a competitive candidate for fitting non-Poisson counts.     

The gamma-Lomax distribution

For any continuous baseline G distribution, Zografos and Balakrishnan [On families of beta- and generalized gamma-generated distributions and associated inference. Statist Methodol. 2009;6:344–362] proposed a generalized gamma-generated distribution with an extra positive parameter. A new three-parameter continuous distribution called the gamma-Lomax distribution, which extends the Lomax distribution is proposed and studied. Various structural properties of the new distribution are derived including explicit expressions for the moments, generating and quantile functions, mean deviations and Rényi entropy. The estimation of the model parameters is performed by maximum likelihood. We also determine the observed information matrix. An application illustrates the usefulness of the proposed model.     

On Discrete Gamma Distribution

A new discrete counterpart of gamma distribution for modelling discrete life data is defined based on similar mathematical form and properties of the continuous version. The main statistical and reliability properties of this distribution are derived and it is shown that this model can deal with both over and under-dispersed data. Geometric variables and finite sum of geometric variables, i.e., negative binomial are shown to be special cases of the proposed discrete gamma. Also, the size-biased discrete gamma distribution is derived and discussed. Moreover, different estimation methods of the underlying parameters of this distribution are utilized and comparisons of their performance have been made. Finally, an application in real-life data is used to elucidate the earlier results of this article.     

Discrete regularized discriminant analysis

A method of regularized discriminant analysis for discrete data, denoted DRDA, is proposed. This method is related to the regularized discriminant analysis conceived by Friedman (1989) in a Gaussian framework for continuous data. Here, we are concerned with discrete data and consider the classification problem using the multionomial distribution. DRDA has been conceived in the small-sample, high-dimensional setting. This method has a median position between multinomial discrimination, the first-order independence model and kernel discrimination. DRDA is characterized by two parameters, the values of which are calculated by minimizing a sample-based estimate of future misclassification risk by cross-validation. The first parameter is acomplexity parameter which provides class-conditional probabilities as a convex combination of those derived from the full multinomial model and the first-order independence model. The second parameter is asmoothing parameter associated with the discrete kernel of Aitchison and Aitken (1976). The optimal complexity parameter is calculated first, then, holding this parameter fixed, the optimal smoothing parameter is determined. A modified approach, in which the smoothing parameter is chosen first, is discussed. The efficiency of the method is examined with other classical methods through application to data.     

The Marshall-Olkin logistic-exponential distribution

We introduce a three-parameter extension of the exponential distribution which contains as sub-models the exponential, logistic-exponential and Marshall-Olkin exponential distributions. The new model is very flexible and its associated density function can be decreasing or unimodal. Further, it can produce all of the four major shapes of the hazard rate, that is, increasing, decreasing, bathtub and upside-down bathtub. Given that closed-form expressions are available for the survival and hazard rate functions, the new distribution is quite tractable. It can be used to analyze various types of observations including censored data. Computable representations of the quantile function, ordinary and incomplete moments, generating function and probability density function of order statistics are obtained. The maximum likelihood method is utilized to estimate the model parameters. A simulation study is carried out to assess the performance of the maximum likelihood estimators. Two actual data sets are used to illustrate the applicability of the proposed model.     

The exponential COM-Poisson distribution

The Conway-Maxwell Poisson (COMP) distribution as an extension of the Poisson distribution is a popular model for analyzing counting data. For the first time, we introduce a new three parameter distribution, so-called the exponential-Conway-Maxwell Poisson (ECOMP) distribution, that contains as sub-models the exponential-geometric and exponential-Poisson distributions proposed by Adamidis and Loukas (Stat Probab Lett 39:35?C42, 1998) and Ku? (Comput Stat Data Anal 51:4497?C4509, 2007), respectively. The new density function can be expressed as a mixture of exponential density functions. Expansions for moments, moment generating function and some statistical measures are provided. The density function of the order statistics can also be expressed as a mixture of exponential densities. We derive two formulae for the moments of order statistics. The elements of the observed information matrix are provided. Two applications illustrate the usefulness of the new distribution to analyze positive data.     

The bivariate alpha-skew-normal distribution

In this paper, we propose a new bivariate distribution, namely bivariate alpha-skew-normal distribution. The proposed distribution is very flexible and capable of generalizing the univariate alpha-skew-normal distribution as its marginal component distributions; it features a probability density function with up to two modes and has the bivariate normal distribution as a special case. The joint moment generating function as well as the main moments are provided. Inference is based on a usual maximum-likelihood estimation approach. The asymptotic properties of the maximum-likelihood estimates are verified in light of a simulation study. The usefulness of the new model is illustrated in a real benchmark data.     

The Kumaraswamy GEV distribution

The popular generalized extreme value (GEV) distribution has not been a flexible model for extreme values in many areas. We propose a generalization – referred to as the Kumaraswamy GEV distribution – and provide a comprehensive treatment of its mathematical properties. We estimate its parameters by the method of maximum likelihood and provide the observed information matrix. An application to some real data illustrates flexibility of the new model. Finally, some bivariate generalizations of the model are proposed.     

The complementary beta distribution

The complementary beta distribution is proposed as a new distribution on the unit interval. It results from reversing the roles of the distribution and quantile functions of the beta distribution. It has some attractive properties that are complementary to those of the beta distribution. In particular, the complementary beta distribution is much more amenable than the beta distribution to exact computations involving expectations of order statistics, including L-moments. At least for a wide range of parameter values, complementary beta and beta distributions with parameters that are reciprocals of the other's parameters are good approximations to one another. We also note the position of the complementary beta distribution in a wider family of distributions defined through the same simple form for their quantile density functions.     

The multivariate skew-slash distribution

The slash distribution is often used as a challenging distribution for a statistical procedure. In this article, we define a skewed version of the slash distribution in the multivariate setting and derive several of its properties. The multivariate skew-slash distribution is shown to be easy to simulate from and can therefore be used in simulation studies. We provide various examples for illustration.     

The fibonacci distribution revisited

The Fibonacci distributions of Shane (1973) are extended to a family of power series distributions having the higher order Fibonacci numbers as coefficients. The distributions possess a waiting time interpretation that generalizes the geometric distribution and, in a special case, solves a waiting time problem in genetics Hazard function and modal behavior is examined In particular, the distributions can have an unlimited number of modes