A generalization of the compound rayleigh distribution: using a bayesian method on cancer survival times

In this paper the generalized compound Rayleigh model, exhibiting flexible hazard rate, is high¬lighted. This makes it attractive for modelling survival times of patients showing characteristics of a random hazard rate. The Bayes estimators are derived for the parameters of this model and some survival time parameters from a right censored sample. This is done with respect to conjugate and discrete priors on the parameters of this model, under the squared error loss function, Varian's asymmetric linear-exponential (linex) loss function and a weighted linex loss function. The future survival time of a patient is estimated under these loss functions. A Monte Carlo simu¬lation procedure is used where closed form expressions of the estimators cannot be obtained. An example illustrates the proposed estimators for this model.     

New estimators of distribution functions

ABSTRACT

This article considers the estimation of a distribution function F_X(x) based on a random sample X₁, X₂, …, X_n when the sample is suspected to come from a close-by distribution F₀(x). The new estimators, namely the preliminary test (PTE) and Stein-type estimator (SE) are defined and compared with the “empirical distribution function” (edf) under local departure. In this case, we show that Stein-type estimators are superior to edf and PTE is superior to edf when it is close to F₀(x). As a by-product similar estimators are proposed for population quantiles.     

A variance shift model for detection of outliers in the linear mixed measurement error models

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we extend a variance shift model, previously considered in the linear mixed models, to the linear mixed measurement error models using the corrected likelihood of Nakamura (1990 Nakamura, T. (1990). Corrected score function for errors in variables models: methodology and application to generalized linear models. Biometrika 77:127–137.[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). This model assumes that a single outlier arises from an observation with inflated variance. We derive the score test and the analogue of the likelihood ratio test, to assess whether the ith observation has inflated variance. A parametric bootstrap procedure is implemented to obtain empirical distributions of the test statistics. Finally, results of a simulation study and an example of real data are presented to illustrate the performance of proposed tests.     

Mathematical forms of the distribution of the product of two normal variables

This paper finds the mathematical forms of the distribution of the product where x and x follow a bivariate normal distribution In this paper the distribution when PT0 is expressed as an integral, a new, fundamental result. From this general form, six different cases can be distinguished depending on what is known about the parameters and p. The special cases are Aroian $year:1959 and (6) Additionally, we prove that if and as the distribution of the product approaches the Type III distribution. When p=0# Aroian $year:1959 and Aroian and Meeker $year:1977, give tables for various values of 6., 6 . The results in this paper will be used to provide brief tables for p^O in a separate paper     

A test for bivariate symmetry based on the empirical distribution function

Hollander (1970) proposed a conditionally distribution-free test of bivariate symmetry based on the empirical distribution function. In this paper Hollander’s test statistic is examined In greater detail: in particular; its conditional asymptotic distribution is derived under the null hypothesis as well as under a sequence of local alternatives. Percentage points of the asymptotic distribution are presented; a power comparison between Hollander’s statistic and the likelihood ratio criterion in testing a variant of the sphericity hypothesis in multivariate analysis is made.     

Exact and approximate distributions for linear contrasts of means and variances

A Bayesian analysis is presented for the K-group Behrens-Fisher problem. Both exact posterior distributions and approximations were developed for both a general linear contrast of the K means and the K variances, given either proper diffuse or informative conjugate priors. The contrast of variances is a unique feature of the heterogeneous variance model that enables investigators to test specific effects of experimental manipulations on variance. Finally, important-differences were observed between the heterogeneous variance model and the homogeneous model.     

How non-normality affects the quadratic discriminant function

The quadratic discriminant function is commonly used for the two group classification problem when the covariance matrices in the two populations are substantially unequal. This procedure is optimal when both populations are multivariate normal with known means and covariance matrices. This study examined the robustness of the QDF to non-normality. Sampling experiments were conducted to estimate expected actual error rates for the QDF when sampling from a variety of non-normal distributions. Results indicated that the QDF was robust to non-normality except when the distributions were highly skewed, in which case relatively large deviations from optimal were observed. In all cases studied the average probabilities of misclassification were relatively stable while the individual population error rates exhibited considerable variability.     

Identifiability of distributions under competing risks and complementary risks model

Let X₁,X₂,…,X_p be p random variables with cdf's F₁(x),F₂(x),…,F_p(x)respectively. Let U = min(X₁,X₂,…,X_p) and V = max(X₁,X₂,…,X_p).In this paper we study the problem of uniquely determining and estimating the marginal distributions F₁,F₂,…,F_p given the distribution of U or of V.

First the problem of competing and complementary risks are introduced with examples and the corresponding identification problems are considered when the X₁'s are independently distributed and U(V) is identified, as well as the case when U(V) is not identified. The case when the X₁'s are dependent is considered next. Finally the problem of estimation is considered.     

Unbiasedness of two-stage estimation and prediction procedures for mixed linear models

The traditional method for estimating or predicting linear combinations of the fixed effects and realized values of the random effects in mixed linear models is first to estimate the variance components and then to proceed as if the estimated values of the variance components were the true values. This two-stage procedure gives unbiased estimators or predictors of the linear combinations provided the data vector is symmetrically distributed about its expected value and provided the variance component estimators are translation-invariant and are even functions of the data vector. The standard procedures for estimating the variance components yield even, translation-invariant estimators.