D-Optimum Designs for Optimum Mixture in a Quadratic Log Contrast Model

Optimal designs for estimating the optimum mixing proportions in a quadratic mixture model was first investigated by Pal and Mandal (2006). In this article, similar investigation is carried out when mean response in a mixture experiment is described by a quadratic log contrast model. It is found that in a symmetric subspace of the finite dimensional simplex, there exists a D-optimal design that puts weights at the centroid of the sub-space and the vertices of the experimental domain. The optimality is checked by numerical computation using Equivalence Theorem.     

Estimating Average Worth of the Selected Subset from Two-Parameter Exponential Populations

ABSTRACT

Suppose independent random samples are available from k(k ≥ 2) exponential populations ∏₁,…,∏ _k with a common location θ and scale parameters σ₁,…,σ _k , respectively. Let X _i and Y _i denote the minimum and the mean, respectively, of the ith sample, and further let X = min{X ₁,…, X _k } and T _i  = Y _i  ? X; i = 1,…, k. For selecting a nonempty subset of {∏₁,…,∏ _k } containing the best population (the one associated with max{σ₁,…,σ _k }), we use the decision rule which selects ∏ _i if T _i  ≥ c max{T ₁,…,T _k }, i = 1,…, k. Here 0 < c ≤ 1 is chosen so that the probability of including the best population in the selected subset is at least P* (1/k ≤ P* < 1), a pre-assigned level. The problem is to estimate the average worth W of the selected subset, the arithmetic average of means of selected populations. In this article, we derive the uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator (UMVUE) of W. The bias and risk function of the UMVUE are compared numerically with those of analogs of the best affine equivariant estimator (BAEE) and the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE).     

A multiparameter extension of two stage modified shrinkage estimator

A multiparameter extension is made to modified two stage shrinkage estimator proposed by Handa andKambo (1990), For aparticular class of shrinkage estimator, the local optimality of the extended modified estimator is shown over the two stage shrinkage estimator defined by Bhattacharya and Prakasa Rao(1990) in terms of quadratic loss.     

Non-negative estimation of variance components in heteroscedastic one-way random-effects ANOVA models

There is a considerable amount of literature dealing with inference about the parameters in a heteroscedastic one-way random-effects ANOVA model. In this paper, we primarily address the problem of improved quadratic estimation of the random-effect variance component. It turns out that such estimators with a smaller mean squared error compared with some standard unbiased quadratic estimators exist under quite general conditions. Improved estimators of the error variance components are also established.     

A generalized two-piece skew normal distribution and some of its properties

In this paper, we develop a generalized version of the two-piece skew normal distribution of Kim [On a class of two-piece skew-normal distributions, Statistics 39(6) (2005), pp. 537–553] and derive explicit expressions for its distribution function and characteristic function and discuss some of its important properties. Further estimation of the parameters of the generalized distribution is carried out.     

Discriminating between the Weibull and log-normal distributions for Type-II censored data

Log-normal and Weibull distributions are the two most popular distributions for analysing lifetime data. In this paper, we consider the problem of discriminating between the two distribution functions. It is assumed that the data are coming either from log-normal or Weibull distributions and that they are Type-II censored. We use the difference of the maximized log-likelihood functions, in discriminating between the two distribution functions. We obtain the asymptotic distribution of the discrimination statistic. It is used to determine the probability of correct selection in this discrimination process. We perform some simulation studies to observe how the asymptotic results work for different sample sizes and for different censoring proportions. It is observed that the asymptotic results work quite well even for small sizes if the censoring proportions are not very low. We further suggest a modified discrimination procedure. Two real data sets are analysed for illustrative purposes.     

An Adaptive Test for the Two-Sample Location Problem Based on U-Statistics

For the two-sample location problem with continuous data we consider a general class of tests, all members of it are based on U-statistics. The asymptotic efficacies are investigated in detail. We construct an adaptive test where all statistics involved are suitably chosen U-statistics. It is shown that the proposed adaptive test has good asymptotic and finite sample power properties.     

How do changes in income,employment and health insurance affect family mental health spending?

Using eight two-year panels from the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey data for the period 2004 to 2012, we examine the effect of economic shocks on mental health spending by families with children. Estimating two-part expenditure models within the correlated random effects framework, we find that employment shocks have a greater impact on mental health spending than do income or health insurance shocks. Our estimates reveal that employment gains are associated with a lower likelihood of family mental health services utilization. By contrast employment losses are positively related to an increase in total family mental health. We do not detect a link between economic shocks and mental health spending on behalf of fathers.

     

Persistent Risk-Related Worry as a Function of Recalled Exposure to the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Prior Trauma

Large oil spills are disasters associated with psychological effects for exposed communities. The amount of worry that individuals experience after a disaster may be influenced by many factors, such as the type and extent of exposure to disaster impacts, prior trauma, and sociodemographic characteristics. This study examined the nature and predictors of worry about ongoing impacts of the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DH) oil spill reported by Gulf of Mexico coastal residents. A random sample of 2,520 adult residents of Gulf of Mexico coastal counties were administered a telephone survey in 2016, including items about persistent worry and exposure to DH impacts, prior trauma, residence at the time of the spill, and sociodemographic characteristics. Respondents varied in the amount of worry they reported about ongoing health, social, and economic impacts. Controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, higher exposure to the DH oil spill was related to higher levels of worry about ongoing impacts, with past traumatic events related specifically to worry about health impacts. Unexpectedly, those who moved into the region after the spill showed similar levels of worry to residents exposed to the spill, and higher levels than residents who did not recall being exposed to the DH oil spill. This study highlights the impact of the DH oil spill on coastal residents many years after the DH disaster. The findings underscore the need to examine multiple pathways by which individuals experience disasters and for risk researchers to close knowledge gaps about long-term impacts of oil spills within a multi-dimensional framework.