Flexible Threshold Models for Modelling Interest Rate Volatility

This paper focuses on interest rate models with regime switching and extends previous nonlinear threshold models by relaxing the assumption of a fixed number of regimes. Instead we suggest automatic model determination through Bayesian inference via the reversible jump Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm. Moreover, we allow the thresholds in the volatility to be driven not only by the interest rate but also by other economic factors. We illustrate our methodology by applying it to interest rates and other economic factors of the American economy.     

Simultaneous Bayesian modeling of longitudinal and survival data in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Using simultaneous Bayesian modeling, an attempt is made to analyze data on the size of lymphedema occurring in the arms of breast cancer patients after breast cancer surgery (as the longitudinal data) and the time interval for disease progression (as the time-to-event occurrence). A model based on a multivariate skew t distribution is shown to provide the best fit. This outcome was confirmed by simulation studies too.     

A double Metropolis–Hastings sampler for spatial models with intractable normalizing constants

The problem of simulating from distributions with intractable normalizing constants has received much attention in recent literature. In this article, we propose an asymptotic algorithm, the so-called double Metropolis–Hastings (MH) sampler, for tackling this problem. Unlike other auxiliary variable algorithms, the double MH sampler removes the need for exact sampling, the auxiliary variables being generated using MH kernels, and thus can be applied to a wide range of problems for which exact sampling is not available. For the problems for which exact sampling is available, it can typically produce the same accurate results as the exchange algorithm, but using much less CPU time. The new method is illustrated by various spatial models.     

Bayesian Approach to Multicentre Sparse Data

In a 2 × 2 contingency table, when the sample size is small, there may be a number of cells that contain few or no observations, usually referred to as sparse data. In such cases, a common recommendation in the conventional frequentist methods is adding a small constant to every cell of the observed table to find the estimates of the unknown parameters. However, this approach is based on asymptotic properties of the estimates and may work poorly for small samples. An alternative approach would be to use Bayesian methods in order to provide better insight into the problem of sparse data coupled with fewer centers, which would otherwise be difficult to carry out the analysis. In this article, an attempt has been made to use hierarchical Bayesian model to a multicenter data on the effect of a surgical treatment with standard foot care among leprosy patients with posterior tibial nerve damage which is summarized as seven 2 × 2 tables. Monte Carlo Markov Chain (MCMC) techniques are applied in estimating the parameters of interest under sparse data setup.     

Inferring an Augmented Bayesian Network to Confront a Complex Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment Model with Durability Studies: Application to Bacillus Cereus on a Courgette Purée Production Chain

The Monte Carlo (MC) simulation approach is traditionally used in food safety risk assessment to study quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) models. When experimental data are available, performing Bayesian inference is a good alternative approach that allows backward calculation in a stochastic QMRA model to update the experts’ knowledge about the microbial dynamics of a given food‐borne pathogen. In this article, we propose a complex example where Bayesian inference is applied to a high‐dimensional second‐order QMRA model. The case study is a farm‐to‐fork QMRA model considering genetic diversity of Bacillus cereus in a cooked, pasteurized, and chilled courgette purée. Experimental data are Bacillus cereus concentrations measured in packages of courgette purées stored at different time‐temperature profiles after pasteurization. To perform a Bayesian inference, we first built an augmented Bayesian network by linking a second‐order QMRA model to the available contamination data. We then ran a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm to update all the unknown concentrations and unknown quantities of the augmented model. About 25% of the prior beliefs are strongly updated, leading to a reduction in uncertainty. Some updates interestingly question the QMRA model.     

Confidence interval of the jump activity index based on empirical likelihood using high frequency data

It is widely accepted that jumps exist in the asset price process. The jump activity index is a natural measure of how frequent the jumps are. Statistical inference of the jump activity index is of importance in determining the type of process that underlies the dynamics of the log price process. In this paper, we implement the empirical likelihood approach to construct the confidence interval of the jump activity index of a pure jump model using high frequency data. Wilks' theorem is established. We also extend the result on Zhao and Wu (2009)'s estimator to the more general framework in this paper. Simulation studies demonstrate the good performance of the empirical likelihood approach. Compared with the existing non-parametric estimator proposed by Zhao and Wu (2009), the empirical likelihood approach gives more accurate coverage probabilities in the simulation studies.     

Bayesian regression analysis of data with censored initiating and terminating times: applications to aids

Data with censored initiating and terminating times arises quite frequently in acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemiologic studies. Analysis of such data involves a complicated bivariate likelihood, which is difficult to deal with computationally. Bayesian analysis, op the other hand, presents added complexities that have yet to be resolved. By exploiting the simple form of a complete data likelihood and utilizing the power of a Markov Chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm, this paper presents a methodology for fitting Bayesian regression models to such data. The proposed methods extend the work of Sinha (1997), who considered non-parametric Bayesian analysis of this type of data. The methodology is illustiated with an application to a cohort of HIV infected hemophiliac patients.     

Prior Distributions for Item Parameters in IRT Models

The focus of this article is on the choice of suitable prior distributions for item parameters within item response theory (IRT) models. In particular, the use of empirical prior distributions for item parameters is proposed. Firstly, regression trees are implemented in order to build informative empirical prior distributions. Secondly, model estimation is conducted within a fully Bayesian approach through the Gibbs sampler, which makes estimation feasible also with increasingly complex models. The main results show that item parameter recovery is improved with the introduction of empirical prior information about item parameters, also when only a small sample is available.     

Identification of quantitative trait loci for canine hip dysplasia by two sequential multipoint linkage analyses

Canine hip dysplasia (CHD) is characterized by hip laxity and subluxation that can lead to hip osteoarthritis. Studies have shown the involvement of multiple genetic regions in the expression of CHD. Although we have associated some variants in the region of fibrillin 2 with CHD in a subset of dogs, no major disease-associated gene has been identified. The focus of this study is to identify quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with CHD. Two sequential multipoint linkage analyses based on a reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo approach were applied on a cross-breed pedigree of 366 dogs. Hip radiographic trait (Norberg Angle, NA) on both hips of each dog was tested for linkage to 21,455 single nucleotide polymorphisms across 39 chromosomes. Putative QTL for the NA was found on 11 chromosomes (1, 2, 3, 4, 7, 14, 19, 21, 32, 36, and 39). Identification of genes in the QTL region(s) can assist in identification of the aberrant genes and biochemical pathways involving hip dysplasia in both dogs and humans.     

Bayesian estimation with integrated nested Laplace approximation for binary logit mixed models

In multilevel models for binary responses, estimation is computationally challenging due to the need to evaluate intractable integrals. In this paper, we investigate the performance of integrated nested Laplace approximation (INLA), a fast deterministic method for Bayesian inference. In particular, we conduct an extensive simulation study to compare the results obtained with INLA to the results obtained with a traditional stochastic method for Bayesian inference (MCMC Gibbs sampling), and with maximum likelihood through adaptive quadrature. Particular attention is devoted to the case of small number of clusters. The specification of the prior distribution for the cluster variance plays a crucial role and it turns out to be more relevant than the choice of the estimation method. The simulations show that INLA has an excellent performance as it achieves good accuracy (similar to MCMC) with reduced computational times (similar to adaptive quadrature).