Extension of a Two-Stage Conditionally Unbiased Estimator of the Selected Population to the Bivariate Normal Case

A useful parameterization of the exponential failure model with imperfect signalling, under random censoring scheme, is considered to accommodate covariates. Simple sufficient conditions for the existence, uniqueness, consistency, and asymptotic normality of maximum likelihood estimators for the parameters in these models are given. The results are then applied to derive the asymptotic properties of the likelihood ratio test for a difference between failure signalling proportions between groups in a ‘one-way’ classification.     

Skew-Normal ARMA Models with Nonlinear Heteroscedastic Predictors

Multivariate skew-normal (SN) distributions (Azzalini and Dalla Valle, 1996 Azzalini , A. , Dalla Valle , A. ( 1996 ). The multivariate skew-normal distribution . Biometrika 83 : 715 – 726 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]) enjoy some of the useful properties of normal distributions, have nonlinear heteroscedastic predictors but lack the closure property of normal distributions (the sum of independent SN random variables is not SN). Recently, there has been a proliferation of classes of SN distributions with certain closure properties, one of the most promising being the closed skew-normal (CSN) distributions of González-Farías et al. (2004 González-Farías , G. , Dominguez-Molina , J. A. , Gupta , A. K. ( 2004 ). Additive properties of skew-normal random vectors . J. Statist. Plann. Infer. 126 : 521 – 534 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]). We study the construction of stationary SN ARMA models for colored SN noise and show that their finite-dimensional distributions are skew-normal, seldom strictly stationary and their covariance functions differ from their normal ARMA counterparts in that they do not converge to zero for large lags. The situation is better for ARMA models driven by CSN noise, but at the additional cost of considerable computational complexity and a less explicit skewness parameter. In view of these results, the widespread use of such classes of SN distributions in the framework of ARMA models seem doubtful.     

Some Uniform Limit Results in Additive Regression Model

In the setting of additive regression model components estimation, we establish some uniform limit results in probability. Our results allow to give an asymptotic simultaneous 100% confidence band for these components. These results are stated in the framework of i.i.d random vectors when the marginal integration estimation method is used.     

Edgeworth Expansion for Linear Regression Processes with Long-Memory Errors

This article provides an Edgeworth expansion for the distribution of the log-likelihood derivative LLD of the parameter of a time series generated by a linear regression model with Gaussian, stationary, and long-memory errors. Under some sets of conditions on the regression coefficients, the spectral density function, and the parameter values, an Edgeworth expansion of the density as well as the distribution function of a vector of centered and normalized derivatives of the plug-in log-likelihood PLL function of arbitrarily large order is established. This is done by extending the results of Lieberman et al. (2003 Lieberman , O. , Rousseau , J. , Zucker , D. M. ( 2003 ). Valid edgeworth expansions for the maximum likelihood estimator of the parameter of a stationary. gaussian, strongly dependent processes. it Ann. Statist. 31:586–612 . [Google Scholar]), who provided an Edgeworth expansion for the Gaussian stationary long-memory case, to our present model, which is a linear regression process with stationary Gaussian long-memory errors.     

Barnard Convex Sets

In calculating significance levels for statistical non inferiority tests, the critical regions that satisfy the Barnard convexity condition have a central role. According to a theorem proved by Röhmel and Mansmann (1999 Röhmel , J. , Mansmann , U. ( 1999 ). Unconditional nonasymptotic one sided tests for independent binomial proportions when the interest lies in showing noninferiority and or superiority . Biometr. J. 2 : 149 – 170 .[Crossref], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]), when the critical regions satisfy this condition, the significance level for non inferiority tests can be calculated much more efficiently. In this study, the sets that fulfil the Barnard convexity condition are called Barnard convex sets, and because of their relevance, we studied their properties independently of the context from which the sets originated. Among several results, we found that Barnard convex sets are a convex geometry and that each Barnard convex set has a unique basis. Also, we provide an algorithm for calculating the Barnard convex hull of any set. Finally, we present some applications of the concept of the Barnard convex hull of a set for non inferiority tests.     

On Sensitivity of Inverse Response Plot Estimation and the Benefits of a Robust Estimation Approach

Abstract. Inverse response plots are a useful tool in determining a response transformation function for response linearization in regression. Under some mild conditions it is possible to seek such transformations by plotting ordinary least squares fits versus the responses. A common approach is then to use nonlinear least squares to estimate a transformation by modelling the fits on the transformed response where the transformation function depends on an unknown parameter to be estimated. We provide insight into this approach by considering sensitivity of the estimation via the influence function. For example, estimation is insensitive to the method chosen to estimate the fits in the initial step. Additionally, the inverse response plot does not provide direct information on how well the transformation parameter is being estimated and poor inverse response plots may still result in good estimates. We also introduce a simple robustified process that can vastly improve estimation.     

An Examination of the Robustness to Non Normality of the EWMA Control Charts for the Dispersion

ABSTRACT

The EWMA control chart is used to detect small shifts in a process. It has been shown that, for certain values of the smoothing parameter, the EWMA chart for the mean is robust to non normality. In this article, we examine the case of non normality in the EWMA charts for the dispersion. It is shown that we can have an EWMA chart for dispersion robust to non normality when non normality is not extreme.     

On the Performance of Sequential Regression Multiple Imputation Methods with Non Normal Error Distributions

Sequential regression multiple imputation has emerged as a popular approach for handling incomplete data with complex features. In this approach, imputations for each missing variable are produced based on a regression model using other variables as predictors in a cyclic manner. Normality assumption is frequently imposed for the error distributions in the conditional regression models for continuous variables, despite that it rarely holds in real scenarios. We use a simulation study to investigate the performance of several sequential regression imputation methods when the error distribution is flat or heavy tailed. The methods evaluated include the sequential normal imputation and its several extensions which adjust for non normal error terms. The results show that all methods perform well for estimating the marginal mean and proportion, as well as the regression coefficient when the error distribution is flat or moderately heavy tailed. When the error distribution is strongly heavy tailed, all methods retain their good performances for the mean and the adjusted methods have robust performances for the proportion; but all methods can have poor performances for the regression coefficient because they cannot accommodate the extreme values well. We caution against the mechanical use of sequential regression imputation without model checking and diagnostics.     

Robust and diagnostic regression analyses

Graphical methods of diagnostic regression analysis are applied to three examples in which least squares and robust regression analyses give substantially different results. The diagnostic tools lead to the identification of data deficiencies and model inadequacies. The analyses serve as a reminder that robust regressions depend upon the linear model and upon the scale in whicli the response is analysed. The robust analysis may also be sensitive to gross errors in one or more explanatory variables