Estimation of relaxation time distributions in magnetic resonance imaging

Magnetic resonance imaging techniques can be used to measure some biophysical properties of tissue. In this context, the T₂ relaxation time is an important parameter for soft‐tissue contrast. The authors develop a new technique to estimate the integral of the distribution of T₂ relaxation time without imposing any constraint other than the monotonicity of the underlying cumulative relaxation time distribution. They explore the properties of the estimation and its applications for the analysis of breast tissue data. As they show, an extension of linear discriminant analysis is found to distinguish well between two classes of breast tissue.     

Bayesian Binomial Regression: Predicting Survival at a Trauma Center

Standard methods for analyzing binomial regression data rely on asymptotic inferences. Bayesian methods can be performed using simple computations, and they apply for any sample size. We provide a relatively complete discussion of Bayesian inferences for binomial regression with emphasis on inferences for the probability of “success.” Furthermore, we illustrate diagnostic tools, perform model selection among nonnested models, and examine the sensitivity of the Bayesian methods.     

Design-based random permutation models with auxiliary information

We extend the random permutation model to obtain the best linear unbiased estimator of a finite population mean accounting for auxiliary variables under simple random sampling without replacement (SRS) or stratified SRS. The proposed method provides a systematic design-based justification for well-known results involving common estimators derived under minimal assumptions that do not require specification of a functional relationship between the response and the auxiliary variables.     

Book Reviews

The diagnostic tools examined in this article are applicable to regressions estimated with panel data or cross-sectional data drawn from a population with grouped structure. The diagnostic tools considered include (a) tests for the existence of group effects under both fixed and random effects models, (b) checks for outlying groups, and (c) specification tests for comparing the fixed and random effects models. A group-specific counterpart to the studentized residual is introduced. The methods are illustrated using a hedonic housing price regression.     

Misspecifications of the Normal Distribution

Incorrect statements about the normal distribution are discussed and illustrated with counterexamples.     

The Ranges of Limiting Values of Some Partial Correlations under Conditional Independence

Pearson's partial correlation, Kendall's partial tau, and a partial correlation based on Spearman's rho need not be consistent estimators of zero under conditional independence. The ranges of possible limiting values of these correlations are computed under multivariate normality and lognormality. Students should exercise caution when interpreting these partial correlations as a measure of conditional independence.     

A time series approach to life table construction

This paper deals with the construction of the life table. A discussion of basic facts about the life table is followed by the proposal of a nonstationary, autoregressive model for the life table. The moment structure of the nonstationary, autoregressive model is developed. Some estimation procedures are proposed followed by several examples.     

A multivariate solution of the multivariate ranking and selection problem

The problem of selection of the best multivariate population is given a new formulation which does not involve reducing the populations to univariate quantities. This formulation's solution is developed for known, and (using the Heteroscedastic Method) also for unknown, variance-covariance matrices. Preference reversals and arbitrary nonlinear preference functions are explicitly allowed in this new theory