On Test Statistics in Profile Analysis with High-dimensional Data

We consider profile analysis with unequal covariance matrices under multivariate normality. In particular, we discuss this problem for high-dimensional data where the dimension is larger than the sample size. We propose three test statistics based on Bennett’s (1951) transformation and the Dempster trace criterion proposed by Dempster (1958 Dempster, A.P. (1958). A high dimensional two samples significance test. Annals of Mathematical Statistics 29:995–1010.[Crossref] , [Google Scholar]). We derive the null distributions as well as the nonnull distributions of the test statistics. Finally, in order to investigate the accuracy of the proposed statistics, we perform Monte Carlo simulations for some selected values of parameters.     

A Multisample Rank Test for Location-Scale Parameters

One of the multisample problems is discussed in this article. A new multisample rank tests based on a k-sample Baumgartner statistic are proposed for testing the location-scale parameters. The exact critical values of proposed statistics are calculated. Simulations are used to investigate the power of proposed statistics for various population distributions.     

The Mean Squared Error Optimum Design Criterion for Parameter Estimation in Nonlinear Regression Models

In the context of nonlinear regression models, we propose an optimal experimental design criterion for estimating the parameters that account for the intrinsic and parameter-effects nonlinearity. The optimal design criterion proposed in this article minimizes the determinant of the mean squared error matrix of the parameter estimator that is quadratically approximated using the curvature array. The design criterion reduces to the D-optimal design criterion if there are no intrinsic and parameter-effects nonlinearity in the model, and depends on the scale parameter estimator and on the reparameterization used. Some examples, using a well known nonlinear kinetics model, demonstrate the application of the proposed criterion to nonsequential design of experiments as compared with the D-optimal criterion.     

Historic evolution of public relations in Japan

This study follows the history of public relations in Japan. Meiji restoration in 1867 marked the beginning of modernization of Japan, but as democratization did not accompany modernization, the country was void of autonomous public. The birth of public relations department, though not in the mainland Japan, can be traced back to the 1920s at South Manchurian Railroad in Japan-controlled-Manchuria. After the World War II, the U.S. led Allied Occupation Army urged national and local government to adopt public relations. Shortly afterwards, ad agencies learned from the U.S. the use of public relations, but as marketing gained ground, public relations came to be used as marketing support tool. Criticism of environmental pollution in the 1970s, overseas expansion of businesses in the 1980s, collapse of bubble economy and business crises in the 1990s and onward, each drove public relations in Japan to increase its importance and expand its field.     

Choice with imprecise information: an experimental approach

This article provides an experimental analysis of attitude toward imprecise and variable information. Imprecise information is provided in the form of a set of possible probability values, such that it is virtually impossible for the subjects to guess or estimate, which one in the set is true or more likely to be true. We investigate how geometric features of such information pieces affect choices. We find that the subjects care about more features than the pairs of best-case and worst-case, which is a counter-evidence to the well-known models, maximin and α-maximin. We find that presence of nonextreme points in the set affects choice, which suggests that attitude toward imprecision is ‘nonlinear.’ We also obtain an observation, though not significant, that information pieces have a complementarity that may not be explained by the Bayesian view.     

Mathematical proof of the third order accuracy of the speedy double bootstrap method

Abstract

In our previous research, we proposed a speedy double bootstrap method for assessing the reliability of statistical models with maximum log-likelihood criterion. It can provide 3rd order accurate probabilities. In this study, our focus switches to the mathematical proof. We propose an alternative proof of the third order accuracy in the context of the multivariate normal model. Our proof is based on tube formula differential geometric methodology and an Taylor series approach to the asymptotic analysis of the bootstrap method.     

Spontaneous Facial Expressions Reveal New Action Units for the Sad Experiences

Facial expressions related to sadness are a universal signal of nonverbal communication. Although results of many psychology studies have shown that drooping of the lip corners, raising of the chin, and oblique eyebrow movements (a combination of inner brow raising and brow lowering) express sadness, no report has described a study elucidating facial expression characteristics under well-controlled circumstances with people actually experiencing the emotion of sadness itself. Therefore, spontaneous facial expressions associated with sadness remain unclear. We conducted this study to accumulate important findings related to spontaneous facial expressions of sadness. We recorded the spontaneous facial expressions of a group of participants as they experienced sadness during an emotion-elicitation task. This task required a participant to recall neutral and sad memories while listening to music. We subsequently conducted a detailed analysis of their sad and neutral expressions using the Facial Action Coding System. The prototypical facial expressions of sadness in earlier studies were not observed when people experienced sadness as an internal state under non-social circumstances. By contrast, they expressed tension around the mouth, which might function as a form of suppression. Furthermore, results show that parts of these facial actions are not only related to sad experiences but also to other emotional experiences such as disgust, fear, anger, and happiness. This study revealed the possibility that new facial expressions contribute to the experience of sadness as an internal state.     

Necessity of Transversality Conditions for Infinite Horizon Problems

This paper studies necessity of transversality conditions for the continuous time, reduced form model. By generalizing Benveniste and Scheinkman's (1982) “envelope” condition and Michel's (1990) version of the squeezing argument, we show a generalization of Michel's (1990, Theorem 1) necessity result that does not assume concavity. The generalization enables us to generalize Ekeland and Scheinkman's (1986) result as well as to establish a new result that does not require the objective functional to be finite. The new result implies that homogeneity of the return function alone is sufficient for the necessity of the most standard transversality condition. Our results are also applied to a nonstationary version of the one‐sector growth model. It is shown that bubbles never arise in an equilibrium asset pricing model with a nonlinear constraint.