Regression Depth with Censored and Truncated Data

Abstract

In this article, we consider the problem of estimating regression coefficients for a linear model with censored and truncated data based on regression depth. Any line can be given a rank using regression depth and the deepest regression line is the line with the maximum regression depth. We propose a method to define the regression depth of a line in the presence of censoring and truncation. We show how the proposed regression performs through analyzing Stanford heart transplant data and AIDS incubation data.     

The Product-Limit Estimate as an Inverse-Probability-Weighted Average

Abstract

For randomly censored data, (Satten, G. A., Datta S. (2001 Satten, G. A. and Datta, S. 2001. The Kaplan–Meier estimator as an inverse-probability-of-censoring weighted average. Amer. Statist. Ass., 55: 207–210. [Taylor & Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). The Kaplan–Meier estimator as an inverse-probability-of-censoring weighted average. Amer. Statist. Ass. 55:207–210) showed that the Kaplan–Meier estimator (product-limit estimator (PLE)) can be expressed as an inverse-probability-weighted average. In this article, we consider the other two PLEs: the truncation PLE and the censoring-truncation PLE. For the data subject to left-truncation or both left-truncation and right-censoring, it is shown that these two PLEs can be expressed as inverse-probability-weighted averages.     

A product-limit estimator for use with length-biased data

The following life-testing situation is considered. At some time in the distant past, n objects, from a population with life distribution F, were put in use; whenever an object failed, it was promptly replaced. At some time τ, long after the start of the process, a statistician starts observing the n objects in use at that time; he knows the age of each of those n objects, and observes each of them for a fixed length of time? ∞, or until failure, whichever occurs first. In the case where T is finite, some of the observations may be censored; in the case where T =∞, there is no censoring. The total life of an object in use at time ∞ is a length-biased observation from F. A nonparametric estimator of the (cumulative) hazard function is proposed, and is used to construct an estimator of F which is of the product-limit type. Strong uniform consistency results (for n → ∞) are obtained. An “Aalen-Johansen” identity, satisfied by any pair of life distributions and their (cumulative) hazard functions, is used in obtaining rate-of-convergence results.     

Bias and Variance of the Nonparametric MLE Under Length-Biased Censored Sampling: A Simulation Study

Abstract

In some applications, the available data suffer from several sampling problems related to loss of information. This typically happens in Survival Analysis, where models for truncation, censorship, and biasing have been proposed and widely investigated. In this work, we analyze by simulations the (finite sample) bias and variance of the nonparametric MLE under length-biasing and right-censorship, recently introduced by de Uńa-Álvarez [de Uńa-Álvarez, J. (2002a). Product-limit estimation for length-biased censored data. Test 11:109–125]. Comparison with the time-honoured Kaplan–Meier estimate for censored data is included.     

Fitting a Semi-Parametric Mixture Model for Competing Risks in Survival Data

A model for survival analysis is studied that is relevant for samples which are subject to multiple types of failure. In comparison with a more standard approach, through the appropriate use of hazard functions and transition probabilities, the model allows for a more accurate study of cause-specific failure with regard to both the timing and type of failure. A semiparametric specification of a mixture model is employed that is able to adjust for concomitant variables and allows for the assessment of their effects on the probabilities of eventual causes of failure through a generalized logistic model, and their effects on the corresponding conditional hazard functions by employing the Cox proportional hazards model. A carefully formulated estimation procedure is presented that uses an EM algorithm based on a profile likelihood construction. The methods discussed, which could also be used for reliability analysis, are applied to a prostate cancer data set.     

Estimation of Survival Function in Cox Regression Model Under Random Censoring From Both Sides

In this article we present three types of parametric–non parametric estimators for conditional survival function in Cox proportional hazards regression model when the lifetime of interest is subjected to random censorship from both sides. We prove consistency and asymptotic normality of estimators.     

An Alternative to Efron's Redistribution-of-Mass Construction of the Kaplan—Meier Estimator

Kaplan and Meier (1958) derived the nonparametric maximum likelihood estimator of the survival function for the case in which some survival times are right-censored. Efron (1967) proposed a redistribution-of-mass construction of the Kaplan—Meier estimator that emphasized and illustrated the contribution of the censored observations. This article presents an alternative construction that, unlike Efron's method, redistributes the mass initially associated with each censored observation directly to the uncensored observations. The proposed construction avoids distributing a given mass more than once and provides additional insight into the nature of the Kaplan—Meier estimator.     

Edgeworth Expansion and Bootstrap Approximation for Studentized Product-Limit Estimator with Truncated and Censored Data

The Yule-Walker estimators of the AR coefficients of a causal multidimensional AR model are obtained by replacing the autocovariances with their estimators in the Yule-Walker equations. It is shown that only unbiased-type estimators of the autocovariances yield consistency of the Yule-Walker estimators. Also, the asymptotic joint distribution of the Yule-Walker estimators is presented.     

Comparisons Between Local Linear Estimator and Kernel Smooth Estimator for a Smooth Distribution Based on MSE Under Right Censoring

We describe a method for estimating the coefficients in a logistic regression model when the predictors are subject to measurement error and an instrumental variable is present. The proposed method is based upon the theory of factor scores taken from factor analysis. Two versions of the proposed method, a simple one and an extended one, are compared to the methods referred to by Carrol, Ruppert and Stefanski (1995) through simulation studies. Our conclusion is that the simple version performs as well as the methods from Carrol et al. (1995), and the extended version performs betterwith respect to MSE, due to a reduction of bias.