Improved approaches to interval estimation of effective doses for a logistic dose-response curve

Asymptotic confidence (delta) intervals and intervals based upon the use of Fieller's theorem are alternative methods for constructing intervals for the <$>gamma<$>% effective doses (ED<$>_gamma<$>). Sitter and Wu (1993) provided a comparison of the two approaches for the ED<$>_{50}<$>, for the case in which a logistic dose response curve is assumed. They showed that the Fieller intervals are generally superior. In this paper, we introduce two new families of intervals, both of which include the delta and Fieller intervals as special cases. In addition we consider interval estimation of the ED<$>_{90}<$> as well as the ED<$>_{50}<$>. We provide a comparison of the various methods for the problem of constructing a confidence interval for the ED<$>_gamma<$>.     

Bayesian estimation and prediction for Weibull model with progressive censoring

This article presents the statistical inferences on Weibull parameters with the data that are progressively type II censored. The maximum likelihood estimators are derived. For incorporation of previous information with current data, the Bayesian approach is considered. We obtain the Bayes estimators under squared error loss with a bivariate prior distribution, and derive the credible intervals for the parameters of Weibull distribution. Also, the Bayes prediction intervals for future observations are obtained in the one- and two-sample cases. The method is shown to be practical, although a computer program is required for its implementation. A numerical example is presented for illustration and some simulation study are performed.     

Bayesian inference for the randomly censored Weibull distribution

In this paper, we consider the Bayesian inference of the unknown parameters of the randomly censored Weibull distribution. A joint conjugate prior on the model parameters does not exist; we assume that the parameters have independent gamma priors. Since closed-form expressions for the Bayes estimators cannot be obtained, we use Lindley's approximation, importance sampling and Gibbs sampling techniques to obtain the approximate Bayes estimates and the corresponding credible intervals. A simulation study is performed to observe the behaviour of the proposed estimators. A real data analysis is presented for illustrative purposes.     

Asymptotic hypothesis test to simultaneously compare the weighted kappa coefficients of multiple binary diagnostic tests in the presence of ignorable missing data

The weighted kappa coefficient of a binary diagnostic test is a measure of the beyond-chance agreement between the diagnostic test and the gold standard, and is a measure that allows us to assess and compare the performance of binary diagnostic tests. In the presence of partial disease verification, the comparison of the weighted kappa coefficients of two or more binary diagnostic tests cannot be carried out ignoring the individuals with an unknown disease status, since the estimators obtained would be affected by verification bias. In this article, we propose a global hypothesis test based on the chi-square distribution to simultaneously compare the weighted kappa coefficients when in the presence of partial disease verification the missing data mechanism is ignorable. Simulation experiments have been carried out to study the type I error and the power of the global hypothesis test. The results have been applied to the diagnosis of coronary disease.     

The Box–Cox Transformation and Non‐Iterative Estimation Methods for Ordinal Log‐Linear Models

Recently Beh and Farver investigated and evaluated three non‐iterative procedures for estimating the linear‐by‐linear parameter of an ordinal log‐linear model. The study demonstrated that these non‐iterative techniques provide estimates that are, for most types of contingency tables, statistically indistinguishable from estimates from Newton's unidimensional algorithm. Here we show how two of these techniques are related using the Box–Cox transformation. We also show that by using this transformation, accurate non‐iterative estimates are achievable even when a contingency table contains sampling zeros.     

Evidence for hedge fund predictability from a multivariate Student's t full-factor GARCH model

Extending previous work on hedge fund return predictability, this paper introduces the idea of modelling the conditional distribution of hedge fund returns using Student's t full-factor multivariate GARCH models. This class of models takes into account the stylized facts of hedge fund return series, that is, heteroskedasticity, fat tails and deviations from normality. For the proposed class of multivariate predictive regression models, we derive analytic expressions for the score and the Hessian matrix, which can be used within classical and Bayesian inferential procedures to estimate the model parameters, as well as to compare different predictive regression models. We propose a Bayesian approach to model comparison which provides posterior probabilities for various predictive models that can be used for model averaging. Our empirical application indicates that accounting for fat tails and time-varying covariances/correlations provides a more appropriate modelling approach of the underlying dynamics of financial series and improves our ability to predict hedge fund returns.     

On inference for Kendall's τ within a longitudinal data setting

Kendall's τ is a non-parametric measure of correlation based on ranks and is used in a wide range of research disciplines. Although methods are available for making inference about Kendall's τ, none has been extended to modeling multiple Kendall's τs arising in longitudinal data analysis. Compounding this problem is the pervasive issue of missing data in such study designs. In this article, we develop a novel approach to provide inference about Kendall's τ within a longitudinal study setting under both complete and missing data. The proposed approach is illustrated with simulated data and applied to an HIV prevention study.     

Demystifying the Integrated Tail Probability Expectation Formula

ABSTRACT

Calculating the expected values of different types of random variables is a central topic in mathematical statistics. Targeted toward students and instructors in both introductory probability and statistics courses and graduate-level measure-theoretic probability courses, this pedagogical note casts light on a general expectation formula stated in terms of distribution and survival functions of random variables and discusses its educational merits. Often consigned to an end-of-chapter exercise in mathematical statistics textbooks with minimal discussion and presented under superfluous technical assumptions, this unconventional expectation formula provides an invaluable opportunity for students to appreciate the geometric meaning of expectations, which is overlooked in most undergraduate and graduate curricula, and serves as an efficient tool for the calculation of expected values that could be much more laborious by traditional means. For students’ benefit, this formula deserves a thorough in-class treatment in conjunction with the teaching of expectations. Besides clarifying some commonly held misconceptions and showing the pedagogical value of the expectation formula, this note offers guidance for instructors on teaching the formula taking the background of the target student group into account.     

购买力平价及其在亚洲新兴市场中的实证分析

 作为最重要的汇率决定理论之一,购买力平价被广泛应用于实证研究,但是重点针对亚洲新兴市场的研究依然有限。本文对七个亚洲新兴市场进行了购买力平价理论长期均衡关系的实证检验分析。针对购买力平价理论,作者运用单位根检验和协整检验进行数据分析。数据采用1957年至2011年的汇率（以美元作为基础汇率）及季度价格水平（本文采用CPI作为价格水平指数）。实证检验结果表明购买力平价理论的长期均衡在亚洲新兴市场中均不成立。文章最后提出了一些或许会导致其不理想结论的因素,并针对文章的实证研究得出新的改进方法。     

各国二氧化碳排放责任的实证分析

 在进行国际环境责任分担时,综合考虑生产者责任和消费者责任,不仅符合责任分担的公平性要求,也能够协调各方利益,促进国际环境合作的达成。本文在Rodrigues等人指标模型基础上,利用全球贸易分析项目（GTAP）数据库,实际测算了在综合考虑生产者责任和消费者责任原则下,中国、美国、日本等全球十个主要国家2004年的二氧化碳排放量,发现中、俄、印三国当年的碳排放责任被高估,而美、日等其他国家当年的碳排放责任被低估。