A Bivariate Distribution for the Reliability Analysis of Failure Data in Presence of a Forewarning or Primer Event

This article presents a bivariate distribution for analyzing the failure data of mechanical and electrical components in presence of a forewarning or primer event whose occurrence denotes the inception of the failure mechanism that will cause the component failure after an additional random time. The characteristics of the proposed distribution are discussed and several point estimators of parameters are illustrated and compared, in case of complete sampling, via a large Monte Carlo simulation study. Confidence intervals based on asymptotic results are derived, as well as procedures are given for testing the independence between the occurrence time of the forewarning event and the additional time to failure. Numerical applications based on failure data of cable insulation specimens and of two-component parallel systems are illustrated.     

Review of Statistical Filmstrip Programs

We develop a novel nonparametric likelihood ratio test for independence between two random variables using a technique that is free of the common constraints of defining a given set of specific dependence structures. Our methodology revolves around an exact density-based empirical likelihood ratio test statistic that approximates in a distribution-free fashion the corresponding most powerful parametric likelihood ratio test. We demonstrate that the proposed test is very powerful in detecting general structures of dependence between two random variables, including nonlinear and/or random-effect dependence structures. An extensive Monte Carlo study confirms that the proposed test is superior to the classical nonparametric procedures across a variety of settings. The real-world applicability of the proposed test is illustrated using data from a study of biomarkers associated with myocardial infarction. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.     

More Powerful Tests from Confidence Interval p Values

In this article the problem of comparing two independent binomial populations is considered. It is shown that the test based on the confidence interval p value of Berger and Boos often is uniformly more powerful than the standard unconditional test. This test also requires less computational time.     

On the Measurements of Board Composition: Poor Consistency and a Serious Mismatch of Theory and Operationalization

Over two dozen operationalizations of board composition can be identified from the empirical literature. A structural equations confirmatory factor analysis (LISREL 8.03) suggests that these operationalizations do not constitute a single construct of board independence. Instead, analyses strongly indicate three separate constructs. Common operationalizations of board composition, then, are neither tenable surrogates for one another nor are they interchangeable. Implications for empirical aggregation of studies, theory/measurement convergence, and the current corporate governance public policy debate are discussed.     

On some pre-test and Stein-rule phi-divergence test estimators in the independence model of categorical data

For the model of independence in a two way contingency table, shrinkage estimators based on minimum φ$\phi$-divergence estimators and φ$\phi$-divergence statistics are considered. These estimators are based on the James–Stein-type rule and incorporate the idea of preliminary test estimator. The asymptotic bias and risk are obtained under contiguous alternative hypotheses, and on the basis of them a comparison study is carried out.     

A Theory of Rational Choice under Ignorance

This paper contributes to a theory of rational choice for decision-makers with incomplete preferences due to partial ignorance, whose beliefs are representable as sets of acceptable priors. We focus on the limiting case of `Complete Ignorance' which can be viewed as reduced form of the general case of partial ignorance. Rationality is conceptualized in terms of a `Principle of Preference-Basedness', according to which rational choice should be isomorphic to asserted preference. The main result characterizes axiomatically a new choice-rule called `Simultaneous Expected Utility Maximization'. It can be interpreted as agreement in a bargaining game (Kalai-Smorodinsky solution) whose players correspond to the (extremal) `acceptable priors' among which the decision maker has suspended judgment. An essential but non-standard feature of Simultaneous Expected Utility choices is their dependence on the entire choice set. This is justified by the conception of optimality as compromise rather than as superiority in pairwise comparisons.     

论案例指导制度中检察机关的职能定位

从法理上分析,检察机关介入案例指导程序,是其审判监督权的必然延伸。并不必然对司法独立构成侵害,相反,它有利于司法机关更好地发挥案例指导制度的作用。在当前我国司法体制下,检察机关介入案例指导程序,行使其司法监督权的途径主要包括参与最高人民法院关于指导性案例的讨论、对指导性案例评选活动是否公正、合法实行法律监督以及对法官运用指导性案例的行为进行监督等。     

中国共产党独立自主思想形成探究

中国共产党独立自主思想是在新民主主义革命的历史动态过程中逐渐形成的.通过对新民主主义革命时期独立自主思想形成经历的萌芽、初步形成和成熟3个阶段历史的梳理,相应地回答了中国共产党能不能、如何能和为什么能实现独立自主3个重要问题,并从中国共产党独立自主的实践能力、成熟的领导集体和成熟的理论指导等方面探讨中国共产党独立自主思想的形成.