Estimation of P(Y < X) for Weibull Distribution Under Progressive Type-II Censoring

Based on progressively Type II censored samples, we consider the estimation of R = P(Y < X) when X and Y are two independent Weibull distributions with different shape parameters, but having the same scale parameter. The maximum likelihood estimator, approximate maximum likelihood estimator, and Bayes estimator of R are obtained. Based on the asymptotic distribution of R, the confidence interval of R are obtained. Two bootstrap confidence intervals are also proposed. Analysis of a real data set is given for illustrative purposes. Monte Carlo simulations are also performed to compare the different proposed methods.     

On the moments of record values

In this paper some general relations for expectations of functions of record values are established. It is seen that these relations may be used to obtain recurrence relations for moments of record values. Bounds on expectations of record values with numerical computations are presented. Applications to the characterizations of the generalizeed exponential distribution are also given.     

Tables of the cumulative non-central cm-square distribution-part 4

The cumulative non-central chi-square .distribution is tabulated for all combinations of values of λ = 0 (0.1) 1.0 (0.2) 3.0 (0.5) 5.0 (1.0) 34.0, y=l (I) 30 (2) 50 (5) 100 and y = 0.01 (0.01) 0.1 (0.1) 1.0 (0.2) 3.0 (0.5) 10.0 (1.0 30,0 (2.0) 50,0 (5.0) 165.0. The computations have been correctly rounded to five decimal places. Also, there is a discussion about the error involved in the computations. Furthermore, there is a discussion about possible interpolation in the table using the Lagrange's method     

E. Digby Baltzell: Moral Rhetoric and Research Methodology

The ways in which values are assimilated to social research differ according to the theoretical frame of reference informing the research. An example from the writings of E. Digby Baltzell illustrates how a moral commitment shaped his assumptions about the nature of the social matrix and his research strategies. A Western moral rhetoric fares well if the researcher chooses a methodologically individualist framework. The framework assists a moral rhetoric by providing it with concrete rather than abstract social actors and with a basis for explanation in terms of motive rather than situational forces. Along the way moral statements can appear in the form of empirical generalizations and historical laws. Should sociologists deem ethically neutral social research desirable, this study suggests that concentration on scientific method, without exploring the value bases for selecting a frame of reference, is not a promising approach. A value analysis, especially around Weber's "value relevance," may function propaedeuticly.     

Evaluation of statistical protocols for quality control of ecosystem carbon dioxide fluxes

Summary.  The process of quality control of micrometeorological and carbon dioxide (CO₂) flux data can be subjective and may lack repeatability, which would undermine the results of many studies. Multivariate statistical methods and time series analysis were used together and independently to detect and replace outliers in CO₂ flux data derived from a Bowen ratio energy balance system. The results were compared with those produced by five experts who applied the current and potentially subjective protocol. All protocols were tested on the same set of three 5-day periods, when measurements were conducted in an abandoned agricultural field. The concordance of the protocols was evaluated by using the experts' opinion (mean ± 1.96 standard deviations) as a reference interval (the Bland–Altman method). Analysing the 15 days together, the statistical protocol that combined multivariate distance, multiple linear regression and time series analysis showed a concordance of 93% on a 20-min flux basis and 87% on a daily basis (only 2 days fell outside the reference interval), and the overall flux differed only by 1.7% (3.2 g CO₂ m⁻²). An automated version of this or a similar statistical protocol could be used as a standard way of filling gaps and processing data from Bowen ratio energy balance and other techniques (e.g. eddy covariance). This would enforce objectivity in comparisons of CO₂ flux data that are generated by different research groups and streamline the protocols for quality control.     

A New Look at Inequality: Introducing and Testing a Cross-Sectional Equality Measurement Framework in New York City

Inequality is a characteristic of societies worldwide, and many groups face disparities across a range of domains from economy to health to justice. While inequality is a complex problem in which many of these domains are interconnected, most research examines only one area, or at most the effect of one area on another. This paper details an innovative approach to studying inequality using an indicators methodology. The Equality Indicators are comprised of 96 measures of inequality and how it changes annually across six themes: Economy, Education, Health, Housing, Justice, and Services. It compares the experiences of those most likely to be adversely affected by inequalities to those of less disadvantaged groups. Here, we detail the development of the tool, its structure, data sources, and scoring system, followed by baseline findings from New York City, where we combined administrative and secondary public survey data with the data from a new public survey conducted for this study. We found substantial inequalities across all six themes, although they were most pronounced in Health and Justice. While we are not able to make direct comparisons of indicators in a given year, the intention of the tool is to track change over time; in future years we will be able to compare change or lack thereof across indicators and domains. The current findings across areas, however, suggest that New York City is characterized by vast inequalities, where disadvantaged groups are twice as likely as others to experience negative outcomes in fundamental areas of life.     

Family Integration,Achievement Values,Academic Self-Concept and Dropping Out of High School

Recognizing the linkages among family, neighborhood, and work, this study examines whether neighborhood resources (neighborhood satisfaction and informal helping) mediate the relationships between job stressors (work hours, job inflexibility, and work-to-family conflict), family stressors (housework hours and family-to-work conflict), and father-child relationship quality. We performed OLS regressions on data from fathers (N?=?85) from a random sample of couples from the northern part of a western state. Results indicate a direct and negative relationship between job inflexibility and father-child relationship quality that is partially mediated by neighborhood satisfaction. Additionally, family-to-work conflict bears a direct and negative relationship with father-child relationship quality, and neighborhood satisfaction mediates this relationship. Altogether, the analyses support the contention that neighborhood resources may mitigate some of the stresses associated with work and family life.     

A note on information theoretic measures

An axiomatic characterization of an information theoretic quantity is given using only two axioms. In particular, this quantity contain PEARSON'S chi-square statistic and some other useful measures     

A Bayesian approach for analysing longitudinal nominal outcomes using random coefficients transitional generalized logit model: an application to the labour force survey data

A random-effects transition model is proposed to model the economic activity status of household members. This model is introduced to take into account two kinds of correlations; one due to the longitudinal nature of the study, which will be considered using a transition parameter, and the other due to the existing correlation between responses of members of the same household which is taken into account by introducing random coefficients into the model. The results are presented based on the homogeneous (all parameters are not changed by time) and non-homogeneous Markov models with random coefficients. A Bayesian approach via the Gibbs sampling is used to perform parameter estimation. Results of using random-effects transition model are compared, using deviance information criterion, with those of three other models which exclude random effects and/or transition effects. It is shown that the full model gains more precision due to the consideration of all aspects of the process which generated the data. To illustrate the utility of the proposed model, a longitudinal data set which is extracted from the Iranian Labour Force Survey is analysed to explore the simultaneous effect of some covariates on the current economic activity as a nominal response. Also, some sensitivity analyses are performed to assess the robustness of the posterior estimation of the transition parameters to the perturbations of the prior parameters.