Residual analysis for spatial point processes (with discussion)

Summary.  We define residuals for point process models fitted to spatial point pattern data, and we propose diagnostic plots based on them. The residuals apply to any point process model that has a conditional intensity; the model may exhibit spatial heterogeneity, interpoint interaction and dependence on spatial covariates. Some existing ad hoc methods for model checking (quadrat counts, scan statistic, kernel smoothed intensity and Berman's diagnostic) are recovered as special cases. Diagnostic tools are developed systematically, by using an analogy between our spatial residuals and the usual residuals for (non-spatial) generalized linear models. The conditional intensity λ plays the role of the mean response. This makes it possible to adapt existing knowledge about model validation for generalized linear models to the spatial point process context, giving recommendations for diagnostic plots. A plot of smoothed residuals against spatial location, or against a spatial covariate, is effective in diagnosing spatial trend or co-variate effects. Q – Q -plots of the residuals are effective in diagnosing interpoint interaction.     

A note on measures of similarity based on centrality

This note presents a measure of similarity between connected nodes in terms of centrality based on Euclidean distances, and compares it to ‘assortative mixing’ [Newman, M.E.J., 2002. Assortative mixing in networks. Physical Review Letters 89, 208701], which is based on Pearson correlation coefficient. This study suggests that the measure based on Euclidean distances may be more appropriate for relatively smaller (N < 500) and denser networks.     

A procedure for testing the equality of k dependent correlation coefficients

A procedure is proposed for testing the equality of k dependent correlation coefficients. The procedure is simulated utilizing Monte Carlo techniques; and, a method for post hoc probing is also suggested.     

Diagnostics of multiple group influential observations for logistic regression models

In this paper, two new multiple influential observation detection methods, GCD.GSPR and mCD*, are introduced for logistic regression. The proposed diagnostic measures are compared with the generalized difference in fits (GDFFITS) and the generalized squared difference in beta (GSDFBETA), which are multiple influential diagnostics. The simulation study is conducted with one, two and five independent variable logistic regression models. The performance of the diagnostic measures is examined for a single contaminated independent variable for each model and in the case where all the independent variables are contaminated with certain contamination rates and intensity. In addition, the performance of the diagnostic measures is compared in terms of the correct identification rate and swamping rate via a frequently referred to data set in the literature.     

Influence diagnostics in gamma ridge regression model

In this article, we proposed some influence diagnostics for the gamma regression model (GRM) and the gamma ridge regression model (GRRM). We assess the impact of influential observations on the GRM and GRRM estimates by extending the work of Pregibon [Logistic regression diagnostics. Ann Stat. 1981;9:705–724] and Walker and Birch [Influence measures in ridge regression. Technometrics. 1988;30:221–227]. Comparison of both models is made and demonstrated with the help of a simulation study and a real data set. We report some momentous results in detecting the influential observations and their effects on the GRM and GRRM estimates.     

Classification with minimum ambiguity under distribution heterogeneity

The traditional classification is based on the assumption that distribution of indicator variable X in one class is homogeneous. However, when data in one class comes from heterogeneous distribution, the likelihood ratio of two classes is not unique. In this paper, we construct the classification via an ambiguity criterion for the case of distribution heterogeneity of X in a single class. The separated historical data in each situation are used to estimate the thresholds respectively. The final boundary is chosen as the maximum and minimum thresholds from all situations. Our approach obtains the minimum ambiguity with a high classification accuracy allowing for a precise decision. In addition, nonparametric estimation of the classification region and theoretical properties are derived. Simulation study and real data analysis are reported to demonstrate the effectiveness of our method.     

Approximating the risk score for disease diagnosis using MARS

In disease screening and diagnosis, often multiple markers are measured and combined to improve the accuracy of diagnosis. McIntosh and Pepe [Combining several screening tests: optimality of the risk score, Biometrics 58 (2002), pp. 657–664] showed that the risk score, defined as the probability of disease conditional on multiple markers, is the optimal function for classification based on the Neyman–Pearson lemma. They proposed a two-step procedure to approximate the risk score. However, the resulting receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve is only defined in a subrange (L, h) of false-positive rates in (0,1) and the determination of the lower limit L needs extra prior information. In practice, most diagnostic tests are not perfect, and it is usually rare that a single marker is uniformly better than the other tests. Using simulation, I show that multivariate adaptive regression spline is a useful tool to approximate the risk score when combining multiple markers, especially when ROC curves from multiple tests cross. The resulting ROC is defined in the whole range of (0,1) and is easy to implement and has intuitive interpretation. The sample code of the application is shown in the appendix.     

Computation of finite population parameters and approximate probability values for multi-response randomized block permutation procedures (mrbp)

An algorithm is presented for computing the finite population parameters and the approximate probability values associated with a recently-developed class of statistical inference techniques termed multi-response randomized block permutation procedures (MRBP).     

Optimal record-based statistical procedures for the two-parameter exponential distribution

There are a number of situations in which the experimental data observed are record statistics. In this paper, optimal confidence intervals as well as uniformly most powerful (MP) tests for one-sided alternatives are developed. Since a uniformly MP test for a two-sided alternative does not exist, generalized likelihood ratio and uniformly unbiased and invariant tests are derived for the two parameters of the exponential distribution based on record data. For illustrative purposes, a data set on the times between consecutive telephone calls to a company's switchboard is analysed using the proposed procedures. Finally, some open problems in this direction are pointed out.     

Editor's Report

There are two common methods for statistical inference on 2 × 2 contingency tables. One is the widely taught Pearson chi-square test, which uses the well-known χ²statistic. The chi-square test is appropriate for large sample inference, and it is equivalent to the Z-test that uses the difference between the two sample proportions for the 2 × 2 case. Another method is Fisher’s exact test, which evaluates the likelihood of each table with the same marginal totals. This article mathematically justifies that these two methods for determining extreme do not completely agree with each other. Our analysis obtains one-sided and two-sided conditions under which a disagreement in determining extreme between the two tests could occur. We also address the question whether or not their discrepancy in determining extreme would make them draw different conclusions when testing homogeneity or independence. Our examination of the two tests casts light on which test should be trusted when the two tests draw different conclusions.