Generalized varying-coefficient single-index model

In this paper, the generalized varying-coefficient single-index model is discussed based on penalized likelihood. All the unknown functions are fitted by penalized spline. The estimates of the unknown parameters and the unknown coefficient functions are obtained and the estimation approach is rapid and computationally stable. Under some mild conditions, the consistency and the asymptotic normality of these resulting estimators are given. Two simulation studies are carried out to illustrate the performance of the estimates. An application of the model to the Hong Kong environmental data further demonstrates the potential of the proposed modelling procedures.     

Modifications of the Empirical Likelihood Interval Estimation with Improved Coverage Probabilities

The empirical likelihood (EL) technique has been well addressed in both the theoretical and applied literature in the context of powerful nonparametric statistical methods for testing and interval estimations. A nonparametric version of Wilks theorem (Wilks, 1938 Wilks , S. S. ( 1938 ). The large-sample distribution of the likelihood ratio for testing composite hypotheses . Annals of Mathematical Statistics 9 : 60 – 62 .[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]) can usually provide an asymptotic evaluation of the Type I error of EL ratio-type tests. In this article, we examine the performance of this asymptotic result when the EL is based on finite samples that are from various distributions. In the context of the Type I error control, we show that the classical EL procedure and the Student's t-test have asymptotically a similar structure. Thus, we conclude that modifications of t-type tests can be adopted to improve the EL ratio test. We propose the application of the Chen (1995 Chen , L. ( 1995 ). Testing the mean of skewed distributions . Journal of the American Statistical Association 90 : 767 – 772 .[Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) t-test modification to the EL ratio test. We display that the Chen approach leads to a location change of observed data whereas the classical Bartlett method is known to be a scale correction of the data distribution. Finally, we modify the EL ratio test via both the Chen and Bartlett corrections. We support our argument with theoretical proofs as well as a Monte Carlo study. A real data example studies the proposed approach in practice.     

Changepoint Estimation in a Segmented Linear Regression via Empirical Likelihood

For a segmented regression system with an unknown changepoint over two domains of a predictor, a new empirical likelihood ratio statistic is proposed to test the null hypothesis of no change. Under the null hypothesis of no change, the proposed test statistic is shown empirically to be Gumbel distributed with robust location and scale estimators against various parameter settings and error distributions. A power analysis is conducted to illustrate the performance of the test. Under the alternative hypothesis with a changepoint, the test statistic is utilized to estimate the changepoint between the two domains. A comparison of the frequency distributions between the proposed estimator and two parametric methods indicates that the proposed method is effective in capturing the true changepoint.     

A Unified Way to Represent and Compute the Cumulative Distribution Function for Noncentral t,F, and χ2

This short article shows an unified approach to representing and computing the cumulative distribution function for noncentral t, F, and χ². Unlike the existing algorithms, which involve different expansion and/or recurrence, the new approach consistently represents all the three noncentral cumulative distribution functions as the integral of the normal cumulative distribution function and χ² density function.     

Uniform asymptotics for ruin probability of a two-dimensional dependent renewal risk model

ABSTRACT

In this paper we consider the tail behavior of a two-dimensional dependent renewal risk model with two dependent classes of insurance business, in which the claim sizes are governed by a common renewal counting process, and their inter-arrival times are dependent, identically distributed. For the case that the claim size distribution belongs to the intersection of long-tailed distribution class and dominant variation class, we obtain an asymptotic formula, which holds uniformly for all time in an infinite interval. Moreover, we point out that the formula still holds uniformly for all time in an infinite interval for widely dependent random variables (r.v.s) under some conditions.     

Estimation Bias in Complete-Case Analysis in Crossover Studies with Missing Data

Crossover designs are used often in clinical trials. It is not uncommon that subjects discontinue before completing all treatment periods in a crossover study. Despite availability of statistical methodologies utilizing all available data and software for obtaining valid inferences under the assumption of missing at random (MAR), naïve approaches, such as the complete case (CC) analysis, which is only valid with a strong assumption of missing completely at random are still widely used in practice. In this article, we obtain the analytical form of the estimation bias of treatment effects with CC for linear mixed models. We use simulation studies to examine the inflation of Type I error and efficiency loss in the inferences with CC under MAR. Invalidity and inefficiency of two other commonly used approaches for defining analyzed data in the presence of missing data, including data from at least two periods in three period crossover and available cases for a specific comparison of interest, are also demonstrated through simulation studies.     

Statistical Properties of a Modified Accelerated Design for Phase I Cancer Clinical Trials

We consider the semiparametric profile likelihood inference for the distribution function under doubly censored data. For further developments of the statistical inference based on the profile likelihood ratio and alternative tools such as the score or Wald-type inference, we discuss the structures of the profile likelihood estimators and their derivatives included in the score function and the Fisher function of the profile likelihood, establishing the consistencies of their estimators.     

Robust Confidence Intervals for the Bernoulli Parameter

Despite the simplicity of the Bernoulli process, developing good confidence interval procedures for its parameter—the probability of success p—is deceptively difficult. The binary data yield a discrete number of successes from a discrete number of trials, n. This discreteness results in actual coverage probabilities that oscillate with the n for fixed values of p (and with p for fixed n). Moreover, this oscillation necessitates a large sample size to guarantee a good coverage probability when p is close to 0 or 1.

It is well known that the Wilson procedure is superior to many existing procedures because it is less sensitive to p than any other procedures, therefore it is less costly. The procedures proposed in this article work as well as the Wilson procedure when 0.1 ≤p ≤ 0.9, and are even less sensitive (i.e., more robust) than the Wilson procedure when p is close to 0 or 1. Specifically, when the nominal coverage probability is 0.95, the Wilson procedure requires a sample size 1, 021 to guarantee that the coverage probabilities stay above 0.92 for any 0.001 ≤ min {p, 1 ?p} <0.01. By contrast, our procedures guarantee the same coverage probabilities but only need a sample size 177 without increasing either the expected interval width or the standard deviation of the interval width.