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.     

An Alternative to Transfer Function Forecasting Based on Subspace Methods

In the time series literature, recent interest has focused on the so-called subspace methods. These techniques use canonical correlations and linear regressions to estimate the system matrices of an ARMAX model expressed in state space form. In this article, we use subspace methods to forecast two series with the help of some exogenous variables related to them. We compare the results with those obtained using traditional transfer function models and find that the forecasts obtained with both methods are similar. This result is very encouraging because, in contrast to transfer function models, subspace methods can be considered as almost automatic.     

Regenerative Markov Chain Monte Carlo for Any Distribution

While Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) methods are frequently used for difficult calculations in a wide range of scientific disciplines, they suffer from a serious limitation: their samples are not independent and identically distributed. Consequently, estimates of expectations are biased if the initial value of the chain is not drawn from the target distribution. Regenerative simulation provides an elegant solution to this problem. In this article, we propose a simple regenerative MCMC algorithm to generate variates for any distribution.     

Dependence Between Two Diagnostic Tests with Copula Function Approach: A Simulation Study

The study of the dependence between two medical diagnostic tests is an important issue in health research since it can modify the diagnosis and, therefore, the decision regarding a therapeutic treatment for an individual. In many practical situations, the diagnostic procedure includes the use of two tests, with outcomes on a continuous scale. For final classification, usually there is an additional “gold standard” or reference test. Considering binary test responses, we usually assume independence between tests or a joint binary structure for dependence. In this article, we introduce a simulation study assuming two dependent dichotomized tests using two copula function dependence structures in the presence or absence of verification bias. We compare the test parameter estimators obtained under copula structure dependence with those obtained assuming binary dependence or assuming independent tests.     

First and Second Derivatives in Time Series Classification Using DTW

In our previous work, we developed a new distance function based on a derivative and showed that our algorithm is effective. In contrast to well-known measures from the literature, our approach considers the general shape of a time series rather than standard distance of function (value) comparison. The new distance was used in classification with the nearest neighbor rule. Now we improve on our previous technique by adding the second derivative. In order to provide a comprehensive comparison, we conducted a set of experiments, testing effectiveness on 47 time series datasets from a wide variety of application domains. Our experiments show that this new method provides a significantly more accurate classification on the examined datasets.     

Nonparametric product partition models for multiple change-points analysis

ABSTRACT

We propose an extension of parametric product partition models. We name our proposal nonparametric product partition models because we associate a random measure instead of a parametric kernel to each set within a random partition. Our methodology does not impose any specific form on the marginal distribution of the observations, allowing us to detect shifts of behaviour even when dealing with heavy-tailed or skewed distributions. We propose a suitable loss function and find the partition of the data having minimum expected loss. We then apply our nonparametric procedure to multiple change-point analysis and compare it with PPMs and with other methodologies that have recently appeared in the literature. Also, in the context of missing data, we exploit the product partition structure in order to estimate the distribution function of each missing value, allowing us to detect change points using the loss function mentioned above. Finally, we present applications to financial as well as genetic data.     

A class of bivariate regression models for discrete and/or continuous responses

ABSTRACT

A general class of models for discrete and/or continuous responses is proposed in which joint distributions are constructed via the conditional approach. It is assumed that the distributions of one response and of the other response given the first one belong to exponential family of distributions. Furthermore, the marginal means are related to the covariates by link functions and a dependency structure between the responses is inserted into the model. Estimation methods, diagnostic analysis and a simulation study considering a Bernoulli-exponential model, a particular case of the class, are presented. Finally, this model is used in a real data set.     

Survival Estimation with Missing Censoring Times for the Generalized Koziol–Green Model

ABSTRACT

When analyzing time-to-event data, there are various situations in which right censoring times for unfailed units are missing. In that context, by taking a supplementary sample of a convenient percentage of unfailed units, we propose a semi-parametric method for estimating a survival function under the natural extension of the Koziol–Green model to double random censoring. Some large sample properties of this estimator are derived. We prove uniform strong consistency and asymptotic weak convergence to a Gaussian process. A simulation study is also presented in order to analyze the behavior of the proposed estimator.     

Spatial Matching of Multiple Configurations of Points with a Bioinformatics Application

In this article, we present a general model to deal with the problem of matching multiple objects or configurations of points from a Bayesian point of view. We study both labeled and non labeled cases. Our model generalizes, in terms of non singular affine transformations and multiple configurations, previous two-terms matching models. As a practical application in Bioinformatics, we consider data from a microarray experiment of gorilla, bonobo, and human-cultured fibroblasts. We find out the matchings and the best affine transformation between the projections of genes on a two-dimensional space, obtained by a multidimensional scaling technique.