Checking validity of monotone domain mean estimators

Estimates of population characteristics such as domain means are often expected to follow monotonicity assumptions. Recently, a method to adaptively pool neighbouring domains was proposed, which ensures that the resulting domain mean estimates follow monotone constraints. The method leads to asymptotically valid estimation and inference, and can lead to substantial improvements in efficiency, in comparison with unconstrained domain estimators. However, assuming incorrect shape constraints may lead to biased estimators. Here, we develop the Cone Information Criterion for Survey Data as a diagnostic method to measure monotonicity departures on population domain means. We show that the criterion leads to a consistent methodology that makes an asymptotically correct decision choosing between unconstrained and constrained domain mean estimators. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 47: 315–331; 2019 © 2019 Statistical Society of Canada     

Cox regression of clustered event times with covariates missing not at random

Motivated by a recent tuberculosis (TB) study, this paper is concerned with covariates missing not at random (MNAR) and models the potential intracluster correlation by a frailty. We consider the regression analysis of right‐censored event times from clustered subjects under a Cox proportional hazards frailty model and present the semiparametric maximum likelihood estimator (SPMLE) of the model parameters. An easy‐to‐implement pseudo‐SPMLE is then proposed to accommodate more realistic situations using readily available supplementary information on the missing covariates. Algorithms are provided to compute the estimators and their consistent variance estimators. We demonstrate that both the SPMLE and the pseudo‐SPMLE are consistent and asymptotically normal by the arguments based on the theory of modern empirical processes. The proposed approach is examined numerically via simulation and illustrated with an analysis of the motivating TB study data.     

Estimating E-bayesian and hierarchical bayesian of scalar parameter of gompertz distribution under type II censoring schemes based on fuzzy data

In this study, the E-Bayesian and hierarchical Bayesian of the scalar parameter of a Gompertz distribution under Type II censoring schemes were estimated based on fuzzy data under the squared error (SE) loss function and the efficiency of the proposed methods was compared with each other and with the Bayesian estimator using Monte Carlo simulation.     

A semiparametric approach for modelling multivariate nonlinear time series

In this article, a semiparametric time‐varying nonlinear vector autoregressive (NVAR) model is proposed to model nonlinear vector time series data. We consider a combination of parametric and nonparametric estimation approaches to estimate the NVAR function for both independent and dependent errors. We use the multivariate Taylor series expansion of the link function up to the second order which has a parametric framework as a representation of the nonlinear vector regression function. After the unknown parameters are estimated by the maximum likelihood estimation procedure, the obtained NVAR function is adjusted by a nonparametric diagonal matrix, where the proposed adjusted matrix is estimated by the nonparametric kernel estimator. The asymptotic consistency properties of the proposed estimators are established. Simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the performance of the proposed semiparametric method. A real data example on short‐run interest rates and long‐run interest rates of United States Treasury securities is analyzed to demonstrate the application of the proposed approach. The Canadian Journal of Statistics 47: 668–687; 2019 © 2019 Statistical Society of Canada     

Non-parametric estimation of reciprocal coordinate subtangent for right censored dependent scheme

The concept of reciprocal coordinate subtangent (RCST) has been used as a useful tool to study the monotone behavior of a continuous density function and for characterizing probability distributions. In this paper, we propose a non-parametric estimator for RCST based on the censored dependent data. Asymptotic properties of the estimator are established under suitable regularity conditions. A simulation study is carried out to examine the performance of the estimator. The usefulness of the estimator is also examined through a real data.     

Uniform consistency rate of kNN regression estimation for functional time series data

In this paper, we investigate the k-nearest neighbours (kNN) estimation of nonparametric regression model for strong mixing functional time series data. More precisely, we establish the uniform almost complete convergence rate of the kNN estimator under some mild conditions. Furthermore, a simulation study and an empirical application to the real data analysis of sea surface temperature (SST) are carried out to illustrate the finite sample performances and the usefulness of the kNN approach.     

A volume based approach to establish B-spline based expressions for density functions and its application to progressive hybrid censoring

We propose an approach to determine the distribution of particular linear combinations of hybrid censored order statistics which is based on the calculation of volumes of polytopes. For this purpose, we establish efficient and compact volume formulas in terms of B-splines. Further, we illustrate our approach for ten different progressive hybrid censoring schemes under an exponential assumption.     

Sixty years of change in Tibetan fertility: An assessment

Existing knowledge of Tibetan historical population development is mostly based on ‘best-guess’ estimates and is heavily politicized. Using census data, I reconstruct the development of Tibetan fertility in China since the 1940s, with the objective of providing an independent assessment that can be used as benchmark for future studies and debates on Tibetan demography. Following major social and economic transformations starting in the 1950s, Tibetan fertility unexpectedly increased from the late 1950s to the late 1960s. As noted in several existing studies, Tibetan fertility in China then declined swiftly from the early 1980s onwards and has now reached values close to replacement level. Focusing on the 1950–70 period, I examine factors that contributed to shaping the Tibetan fertility increase in more detail. This confirms that changes in nuptiality and disease-related infertility both played a role in pushing up fertility rates among Tibetan women in China.     

一类稀疏投资组合双层参数估计模型及其应用

带基约束的投资组合问题是近年来投资组合领域的热点问题,但是参数不确定性直接影响了模型的效果。带基约束的投资组合问题所涉及的参数不仅包括以往研究认为非常重要的预期收益率,还包括控制投资组合规模的稀疏度,尤其是最优稀疏度估计方面的专门研究还十分匮乏。为了使带基约束的投资组合模型更好地为投资决策服务,本文从投资者效用出发,用双层规划的思想构建了带基约束的投资组合双层参数估计模型。然后根据模型的特点,设计了无导数优化算法框架,并基于ADMM对算法子问题进行求解。本文实验针对真实的市场数据给出了预期收益率和最优稀疏度的估计,接着通过与等权重策略和含上下界约束的均值-方差模型进行比较,说明了模型及算法的有效性和实用性。最后,将本文提出的双层参数估计模型推广到了更一般的形式。     

基于波动持续性的最优组合构建与分散化研究

构建恰当资产组合来减少风险, 是投资组合理论研究的重要目标.由于金融时间序列的波动往往会伴随着持续性特征, 该种特性会增大组合未来收益的风险.本文通过构建随机波动模型序列持续性最优投资组合模型, 以降低金融资产波动的持续性特征对组合收益波动的影响;并通过研究其分散化水平, 考察该投资组合构建方法的有效性与稳健性.研究发现:与均值方差的组合模型相比较, 序列持续性组合的风险分散化水平更好.此研究在资产组合选择方面, 具有较为重要的理论价值及实践意义.