Wavelet density estimation for negatively associated stratified size-biased sample

This paper provides upper bounds of wavelet estimations on L^p (1≤p<∞) risk for a density function in Besov spaces based on negatively associated stratified size-biased random samples. It turns out that the classical theorem of Donoho, Johnstone, Kerkyacharian and Picard is completely extended to more general cases. More precisely, we consider the model with multiplication noise and allow the sample negatively associated. Our theory is illustrated with a simulation study.     

A test of normality using nonparametrlic residuals

In this paper, we develop a test of the normality assumption of the errors using the residuals from a nonparametric kernel regression. Contrary to the existing tests based on the residuals from a parametric regression, our test is thus robust to misspecification of the regression function. The test statistic proposed here is a Bera-Jarque type test of skewness and kurtosis. We show that the test statistic has the usual x²(2) limit distribution under the null hypothesis. In contrast to the results of Rilstone (1992), we provide a set of primitive assumptions that allow weakly dependent observations and data dependent bandwidth parameters. We also establish consistency property of the test. Monte Carlo experiments show that our test has reasonably good size and power performance in small samples and perfornu better than some of the alternative tests in various situations.     

A Note on Regression-Type Estimators Using Multiple Auxiliary Information

Kiregyera (1984), Mukerjee, Rao & Vijayan (1987), and Tripathi & Ahmed (1995) considered a number of regression-type estimators where information on two auxiliary variables related to study variable is available at different levels. Mukerjee et al . (1987) suggested three estimators and computed their mean square errors, but the computations seem to be incorrect. This note corrects them, and finds their estimators are no better than that of Kiregyera (1984). The estimator suggested by Tripathi & Ahmed (1995) is the best in the sense of having the smallest mean square error.     

Identity for the NPMLE in Censored Data Models

We derive an identity for nonparametric maximum likelihood estimators (NPMLE) and regularized MLEs in censored data models which expresses the standardized maximum likelihood estimator in terms of the standardized empirical process. This identity provides an effective starting point in proving both consistency and efficiency of NPMLE and regularized MLE. The identity and corresponding method for proving efficiency is illustrated for the NPMLE in the univariate right-censored data model, the regularized MLE in the current status data model and for an implicit NPMLE based on a mixture of right-censored and current status data. Furthermore, a general algorithm for estimation of the limiting variance of the NPMLE is provided. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Smoothing parameter selection in nonparametric regression using an improved Akaike information criterion

Many different methods have been proposed to construct nonparametric estimates of a smooth regression function, including local polynomial, (convolution) kernel and smoothing spline estimators. Each of these estimators uses a smoothing parameter to control the amount of smoothing performed on a given data set. In this paper an improved version of a criterion based on the Akaike information criterion (AIC), termed AIC_C, is derived and examined as a way to choose the smoothing parameter. Unlike plug-in methods, AIC_C can be used to choose smoothing parameters for any linear smoother, including local quadratic and smoothing spline estimators. The use of AIC_C avoids the large variability and tendency to undersmooth (compared with the actual minimizer of average squared error) seen when other 'classical' approaches (such as generalized cross-validation (GCV) or the AIC) are used to choose the smoothing parameter. Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate that the AIC_C-based smoothing parameter is competitive with a plug-in method (assuming that one exists) when the plug-in method works well but also performs well when the plug-in approach fails or is unavailable.     

Prediction intervals for farima processes by bootstrap methods

In this paper we introduce a procedure to compute prediction intervals for FARIMA (p d q) processes, taking into account the variability due to model identification and parameter estimation. To this aim, a particular bootstrap technique is developed. The performance of the prediction intervals is then assessed and compared to that of stand­ard bootstrap percentile intervals. The methods are applied to the time series of Nile River annual minima.     

Estimating the variance of the sample median

The small-sample bias and root mean squared error of several distribution-free estimators of the variance of the sample median are examined. A new estimator is proposed that is easy to compute and tends to have the smallest bias and root mean squared error.     

On tests of symmetry,marginal homogeneity and quasi-symmetry in two-way contingency tables based on minimum φ-divergence estimator with constraints

The restricted minimum φ-divergence estimator, [Pardo, J.A., Pardo, L. and Zografos, K., 2002, Minimum φ-divergence estimators with constraints in multinomial populations. Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 104, 221–237], is employed to obtain estimates of the cell frequencies of an I×I contingency table under hypotheses of symmetry, marginal homogeneity or quasi-symmetry. The associated φ-divergence statistics are distributed asymptotically as chi-squared distributions under the null hypothesis. The new estimators and test statistics contain, as particular cases, the classical estimators and test statistics previously presented in the literature for the cited problems. A simulation study is presented, for the symmetry problem, to choose the best function φ₂ for estimation and the best function φ₁ for testing.     

RECENTERED AND RESCALED INSTRUMENTAL VARIABLE ESTIMATION OF TOBIT AND PROBIT MODELS WITH ERRORS IN VARIABLES

Since Durbin (1954) and Sargan (1958), instrumental variable (IV) method has long been one of the most popular procedures among economists and other social scientists to handle linear models with errors-in-variables. A direct application of this method to nonlinear errors-in-variables models, however, fails to yield consistent estimators.

This article restricts attention to Tobit and Probit models and shows that simple recentering and rescaling of the observed dependent variable may restore consistency of the standard IV estimator if the true dependent variable and the IV's are jointly normally distributed. Although the required condition seems rarely to be satisfied by real data, our Monte Carlo experiment suggests that the proposed estimator may be quite robust to the possible deviation from normality.     

Rank invariant tests with left truncated and interval censored data

Peto and Peto (1972) have studied rank invariant tests to compare two survival curves for right censored data. We apply their tests, including the logrank test and the generalized Wilcoxon test, to left truncated and interval censored data. The significance levels of the tests are approximated by Monte Carlo permutation tests. Simulation studies are conducted to show their size and power under different distributional differences. In particular, the logrank test works well under the Cox proportional hazards alternatives, as for the usual right censored data. The methods are illustrated by the analysis of the Massachusetts Health Care Panel Study dataset.