Estimating the covariance matrix: a new approach

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the covariance matrix and the generalized variance when the observations follow a nonsingular multivariate normal distribution with unknown mean. A new method is presented to obtain a truncated estimator that utilizes the information available in the sample mean matrix and dominates the James-Stein minimax estimator. Several scale equivariant minimax estimators are also given. This method is then applied to obtain new truncated and improved estimators of the generalized variance; it also provides a new proof to the results of Shorrock and Zidek (Ann. Statist. 4 (1976) 629) and Sinha (J. Multivariate Anal. 6 (1976) 617).     

Shrinkage priors for Bayesian estimation of the mean matrix in an elliptically contoured distribution

This paper deals with the problem of estimating the mean matrix in an elliptically contoured distribution with unknown scale matrix. The Laplace and inverse Laplace transforms of the density allow us not only to evaluate the risk function with respect to a quadratic loss but also to simplify expressions of Bayes estimators. Consequently, it is shown that generalized Bayes estimators against shrinkage priors dominate the unbiased estimator.     

Estimating the covariance matrix and the generalized variance under a symmetric loss

For estimating the power of a generalized variance under a multivariate normal distribution with unknown means, the inadmissibility of the best affine equivariant estimator relative to the symmetric loss is shown, and a class of improved estimators is given. The problem of estimating the covariance matrix is also discussed.     

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??In this paper, we construct a generalized spatial panel data model with two-way error components where the spatial correlation also exist in the individual effects. Based on the methods of the generalized moment estimate and the two-step least square estimate, we look for the best instrumental variable, fit generalized moments and the weighted matrix to discuss the estimator of the parameters, and prove the consistent of the estimators. Monte Carlo experiments show that the weighted generalized moment estimators are better than the unweighted generalized moment estimators, and the estimate effect of feasible generalized two stages least squares estimators is good.     

On improved estimation of normal precision matrix and discriminant coefficients

The problem of estimating the precision matrix of a multivariate normal distribution model is considered with respect to a quadratic loss function. A number of covariance estimators originally intended for a variety of loss functions are adapted so as to obtain alternative estimators of the precision matrix. It is shown that the alternative estimators have analytically smaller risks than the unbiased estimator of the precision matrix. Through numerical studies of risk values, it is shown that the new estimators have substantial reduction in risk. In addition, we consider the problem of the estimation of discriminant coefficients, which arises in linear discriminant analysis when Fisher's linear discriminant function is viewed as the posterior log-odds under the assumption that two classes differ in mean but have a common covariance matrix. The above method is also adapted for this problem in order to obtain improved estimators of the discriminant coefficients under the quadratic loss function. Furthermore, a numerical study is undertaken to compare the properties of a collection of alternatives to the “unbiased” estimator of the discriminant coefficients.     

On generalized matrix approximation problem in the spectral norm

In this paper theoretical results regarding a generalized minimum rank matrix approximation problem in the spectral norm are presented. An alternative solution expression for the generalized matrix approximation problem is obtained. This alternative expression provides a simple characterization of the achievable minimum rank, which is shown to be the same as the optimal objective value of the classical problem considered by Eckart–Young–Schmidt–Mirsky, as long as the generalized problem is feasible. In addition, this paper provides a result on a constrained version of the matrix approximation problem, establishing that the later problem is solvable via singular value decomposition.     

Methods for improvement in estimation of a normal mean matrix

This paper is concerned with the problem of estimating a matrix of means in multivariate normal distributions with an unknown covariance matrix under invariant quadratic loss. It is first shown that the modified Efron-Morris estimator is characterized as a certain empirical Bayes estimator. This estimator modifies the crude Efron-Morris estimator by adding a scalar shrinkage term. It is next shown that the idea of this modification provides a general method for improvement of estimators, which results in the further improvement on several minimax estimators. As a new method for improvement, an adaptive combination of the modified Stein and the James-Stein estimators is also proposed and is shown to be minimax. Through Monte Carlo studies of the risk behaviors, it is numerically shown that the proposed, combined estimator inherits the nice risk properties of both individual estimators and thus it has a very favorable risk behavior in a small sample case. Finally, the application to a two-way layout MANOVA model with interactions is discussed.     

A matrix formula for the skewness of maximum likelihood estimators

We give a general matrix formula for computing the second-order skewness of maximum likelihood estimators. The formula was firstly presented in a tensorial version by Bowman and Shenton (1998). Our matrix formulation has numerical advantages, since it requires only simple operations on matrices and vectors. We apply the second-order skewness formula to a normal model with a generalized parametrization and to an ARMA model.     

Properties of a generalized Sylvester matrix

We consider problems close to that of the minimal stabilization of a linear vector (i.e., MISO or SIMO) dynamic system; more specifically, the problem of determining the number of common roots of a family of polynomials, and investigating the properties of the so-called generalized Sylvester matrix. The classical definition of the Sylvester matrix is valid for two polynomials, and there are different methods for defining the generalized (extended) Sylvester matrix for a family of polynomials. In this work, we consider a definition of the generalized Sylvester matrix and its properties in the context of their potential future application for solving the minimal stabilization problem.     

Linear sufficiency and linear admissibility in a continuous time Gauss–Markov model

This paper considers the problem of estimation in a linear model when a stochastic process instead of a random vector is observed. Estimators obtained as integrals of the observed process are studied. Characterizations of linear sufficiency and admissibility similar to those given in the classical linear model are obtained in this context. Moreover, a definition of generalized ridge estimators in continuous time is introduced and also a characterization of such estimators is given.     

Sequences of bias-adjusted covariance matrix estimators under heteroskedasticity of unknown form

The linear regression model is commonly used by practitioners to model the relationship between the variable of interest and a set of explanatory variables. The assumption that all error variances are the same, known as homoskedasticity, is oftentimes violated when cross sectional data are used. Consistent standard errors for the ordinary least squares estimators of the regression parameters can be computed following the approach proposed by White (Econometrica 48:817–838, 1980). Such standard errors, however, are considerably biased in samples of typical sizes. An improved covariance matrix estimator was proposed by Qian and Wang (J Stat Comput Simul 70:161–174, 2001). In this paper, we improve upon the Qian–Wang estimator by defining a sequence of bias-adjusted estimators with increasing accuracy. The numerical results show that the Qian–Wang estimator is typically much less biased than the estimator proposed by Halbert White and that our correction to the former can be quite effective in small samples. Finally, we show that the Qian–Wang estimator can be generalized into a broad class of heteroskedasticity-consistent covariance matrix estimators, and our results can be easily extended to such a class of estimators.     

Estimation of the precision matrix of a singular Wishart distribution and its application in high-dimensional data

In this article, the Stein-Haff identity is established for a singular Wishart distribution with a positive definite mean matrix but with the dimension larger than the degrees of freedom. This identity is then used to obtain estimators of the precision matrix improving on the estimator based on the Moore-Penrose inverse of the Wishart matrix under the Efron-Morris loss function and its variants. Ridge-type empirical Bayes estimators of the precision matrix are also given and their dominance properties over the usual one are shown using this identity. Finally, these precision estimators are used in a quadratic discriminant rule, and it is shown through simulation that discriminant methods based on the ridge-type empirical Bayes estimators provide higher correct classification rates.     

Isomorphisms of formal matrix incidence rings

Abstract—In a paper published in 2008 P. A. Krylov showed that formal matrix rings Ks(R) and Kt(R) are isomorphic if and only if the elements s and t differ up to an automorphism by an invertible element. Similar dependence takes place in many cases. In this paper we consider formal matrix rings (and algebras) which have the same structure as incidence rings. We show that the isomorphism problem for formal matrix incidence rings can be reduced to the isomorphism problem for generalized incidence algebras. For these algebras, the direct assertion of Krylov’s theorem holds, but the converse is not true. In particular, we obtain a complete classification of isomorphisms of generalized incidence algebras of order 4 over a field. We also consider the isomorphism problem for special classes of formal matrix rings, namely, formal matrix rings with zero trace ideals.     

Estimation of matrix valued realized signal to noise ratio

In this paper we derive several estimators of matrix valued realized signal to noise ratio as defined by Khatri and Rao (1987, IEEE Trans. Acoust. Speech Signal Process. ASSP-35, No. 5 671–679) for real and complex cases. To do so we define the matrix valued confluent hypergeometric distribution and establish some of its properties. Also we derive unique admissible estimates under generalized Pitman nearness. Finally a discussion of confidence interval estimation for signal to noise ratio is given.     

Computing the determinants of matrix Padé approximation

This paper is devoted to a computational problem of two special determinants which appear in the construction of generalized inverse matrix Padé approximants of type [n/2k] for the given power series with matrix coefficients. The main tools to be used are well-known Schur complement theorem and Arnoldi process for skew-symmetric systems.     

2SUR回归模型系数估计的均方误差比较

对于2SUR回归模型的参数估计问题,给出了一些一航均方误差矩阵比较结果,据此提出了一类线性估计和一类基于离差阵广义非限定估计的非线性两步估计,并获得了该两步估计类的一些有限样本性质。     

Double Shrinkage Estimation of Common Coefficients in Two Regression Equations with Heteroscedasticity

The problem of estimating the common regression coefficients is addressed in this paper for two regression equations with possibly different error variances. The feasible generalized least squares (FGLS) estimators have been believed to be admissible within the class of unbiased estimators. It is, nevertheless, established that the FGLS estimators are inadmissible in light of minimizing the covariance matrices if the dimension of the common regression coefficients is greater than or equal to three. Double shrinkage unbiased estimators are proposed as possible candidates of improved procedures.     

Schröder matrix as inverse of Delannoy matrix

Using Riordan arrays, we introduce a generalized Delannoy matrix by weighted Delannoy numbers. It turns out that Delannoy matrix, Pascal matrix, and Fibonacci matrix are all special cases of the generalized Delannoy matrices, meanwhile Schröder matrix and Catalan matrix also arise in involving inverses of the generalized Delannoy matrices. These connections are the focus of our paper. The half of generalized Delannoy matrix is also considered. In addition, we obtain a combinatorial interpretation for the generalized Fibonacci numbers.     

GENERAL MINIMAX ESTIMATORS ON THE LOCATION MATRIX OF A MIXTURE OF NORMALS

This paper considers the estimate problem on the mean matrix of mixtureof normals. In order to evaluate estimators of the mean matrix, a fundamental frameof Ф-(general) decision problem is established. Under the frame, a class of Ф-minimax estimators are constructed.     

Improving on the Best Affine Equivariant Estimator of the Ratio of Generalized Variances

We consider the problem of decision-theoretic estimation of the ratio of generalized variances of two matrix normal distributions with unknown means under a general loss function. The inadmissibility of the best affine equivariant estimator is established by exhibiting various improved estimators. In particular, under certain conditions on the loss, two classes of improved procedures based onallthe available data are presented. As a preliminary result of independent interest, an improved estimator of an arbitrary power of the generalized variance of a matrix normal distribution with an unknown mean is derived under a general strictly bowl-shaped loss.