On the optimality of the sample variance

The present paper explores the structure of linear exponential families for which the sample variance is a uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimator.     

A note on a parametric extension of rank tests to the analysis of multifactor experiments within blocks

A general rank test procedure based on an underlying multinomial distribution is suggested for randomized block experiments with multifactor treatment combinations within each block. The Wald statistic for the multinomial is used to test hypotheses about the within–block rankings. This statistic is shown to be related to the one–sample Hotellingt's T² statistic, suggesting a method for computing the test statistic using the standard statistical computer packages.     

Asymptotic non-null distribution of a test connected with exponential populations

In this paper asymptotic expansions of the non-null distribution of the likelihood ratio criterion for testing the equality of several one parameter exponential distributions are obtained under local alternatives. These expansions are in terms of Chi-square distributions.     

A new discrete distribution involving laguerre polynomials

A discrete distribution in which the probabilities are expressible as Laguerre polynomials is formulated in terms of a probability generating function involving three parameters. The skewness and kurtosis is given for members of the family corresponding to various parameter values. Several estimators of the parameters are proposed, including some based on minimum chi-square. All the estimators are compared on the basis of asymptotic relative efficiency.     

Using the singly truncated normal distribution to analyze satellite data

This paper proposes the singly truncated normal distribution as a model for estimating radiance measurements from satellite-borne infrared sensors. These measurements are made in order to estimate sea surface temperatures which can be related to radiances. Maximum likelihood estimation is used to provide estimates for the unknown parameters. In particular, a procedure is described for estimating clear radiances in the presence of clouds and the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic is used to test goodness-of-fit of the measurements to the singly truncated normal distribution. Tables of quantile values of the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic for several values of the truncation point are generated from Monie Carlo experiment Mnally a numerical emample using satetic data is presented to illustrate the application of the procedures.     

On umvu estimators for the multivariate lognormal distribution and their variances

Uniformly minimum variance unbiased estimators of several parameters of the multivariate lognormal distribution are expressed by using the hypergeometric functions of matrix argument. And the variances are given in special cases.     

Structural properties and estimation in m|EK| 1 queue

In this paper we study the distribution of the number of customers served in a busy period in the framework of modified power series distribution introduced by Gupta (197U) and obtain the moments and probability generating function of this distribution. We also study the maximum likelihood estimation of the parameter θand the variance and the asymptotic bias of the MLE are also obtained. The minimum variance unbiased estimate of θ^ris investigated and an estimate of the probabilities is given.     

Nonparametric estimation of the survival distribution in censored data

Two nonparametric estimators o f the survival distributionare discussed. The estimators were proposed by Kaplan and Meier (1958) and Breslow (1972) and are applicable when dealing with censored data. It is known that they are asymptotically unbiased and uniformly strongly consistent, and when properly normalized that they converge weakly to the same Gaussian process. In this paper, the properties of the estimators are carefully inspected in small or moderate samples. The Breslow estimator, a shrinkage version of the Kaplan-Meier, nearly always has the smaller mean square error (MSE) whenever the truesurvival probabilityis at least 0.20, but has considerably larger MSE than the Kaplan-Meier estimator when the survivalprobability is near zero.     

Sample size determinations when two binomial proportions are very small

Sample size determination for testing the hypothesis of equality of proportions with a specified type I and type I1 error probabilitiesis of ten based on normal approximation to the binomial distribution. When the proportionsinvolved are very small, the exact distribution of the test statistic may not follow the assumed distribution. Consequently, the sample size determined by the test statistic may not result in the sespecifiederror probabilities. In this paper the author proposes a square root formula and compares it with several existing sample size approximation methods. It is found that with small proportion (p≦.01) the squar eroot formula provides the closest approximation to the exact sample sizes which attain a specified type I and type II error probabilities. Thes quare root formula is simple inform and has the advantage that equal differencesare equally detectable.     

Maximum likelihood estimation,from doubly censored samples,of the mean of a normal distribution with known coeffucient of variation

Let x be a random variable having the normal distribution with mean μ and variance c²μ², where c is a known constant. The maximum likelihood estimation of μ when the lowest r₁ and the highest r₂ sample values censored have been given the asymptotic variance of the maximum likelihood estimator is obtained.