On progressively truncated maximum likelihood estimators

Summary The basic regularity conditions pertaining to the asymptotic theory of progressively truncated likelihood functions and maximum likelihood estimators are considered, and the uniform strong consistency and weak convergence of progressively truncated maximum likelihood estimators are studied systematically. Work done during the first author's visit (as a visiting scholar) to the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, supported by the Ministry of Education of the Japanese Government. Work supported by the (U.S.) National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, Contact NIH-NHLBI-F1-2243-L.     

Godambe estimating functions and asymptotic optimal inference

Godambe (1985) introduced a class of optimum estimating functions which can be regarded as a generalization of quasilikelihood score functions. The “optimality” established by Godambe (1985) within a certain class is for estimating functions and it is based on finite samples. The question that arises naturally is what (if any) asymptotic optimality properties do the estimators and tests based on optimum estimating functions possess. In this paper, we establish, via presenting a convolution theorem, asymptotic optimality of estimators and tests obtained from Godambe optimum estimating functions. It is noted that we do not require the knowledge of the likelihood function.     

Estimating means from a non-I.I.D. Mixture of Poisson samples

In this paper, a family of estimators for estimating means when mixing two independent Poisson samples is proposed. This family is based on the probability-generating function of the Poisson distribution and is offered as an alternative to the maximum likelihood estimators, which have some drawbacks. These estimators include the method of moments estimators as a special limiting case.     

Maximum likelihood estimation of covariance matrices under simple tree ordering

The closed-form maximum likelihood estimators for the completely balanced multivariate one-way random effect model are obtained by Anderson et al. (Ann. Statist. 14 (1986) 405). It remains open whether there exist the closed-form maximum likelihood estimators for the more general completely balanced multivariate multi-way random effects models. In this paper, a new parameterization technique for covariance matrices is used to grasp the inside structure of likelihood function so that the maximum likelihood equations can be dramatically simplified. As such we obtain the closed-form maximum likelihood estimators of covariance matrices for Wishart density functions over the simple tree ordering set, which can then be applied to get the maximum likelihood estimators for the completely balanced multivariate multi-way random effects models without interactions.     

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In this paper, we investigate a competing risks model based on exponentiated Weibull distribution under Type-I progressively hybrid censoring scheme. To estimate the unknown parameters and reliability function, the maximum likelihood estimators and asymptotic confidence intervals are derived. Since Bayesian posterior density functions cannot be given in closed forms, we adopt Markov chain Monte Carlo method to calculate approximate Bayes estimators and highest posterior density credible intervals. To illustrate the estimation methods, a simulation study is carried out with numerical results. It is concluded that the maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian estimation can be used for statistical inference in competing risks model under Type-I progressively hybrid censoring scheme.     

Reliability inference of stress–strength model for the truncated proportional hazard rate distribution under progressively Type-II censored samples

This paper considers the reliability inference for the truncated proportional hazard rate stress–strength model based on progressively Type-II censoring scheme. When the stress and strength variables follow the truncated proportional hazard rate distributions, the maximum likelihood estimation and the pivotal quantity estimation of stress–strength reliability are derived. Based on the percentile bootstrap sampling technique, the 95% confidence interval of stress–strength reliability is obtained, as well as the related coverage percentage. Moreover, based on the Fisher Z transformation and the modified generalized pivotal quantity, the 95% modified generalized confidence interval for the stress–strength reliability is obtained. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated by the Monte Carlo simulation. The numerical results show that the pivotal quantity estimators performs better than the maximum likelihood estimators. At last, two real datasets are analyzed by the proposed methodology for illustrative purpose. The results of real example analysis show that our model can be applied to the practical problem, the truncated proportional hazard rate distribution can fit the failure data better than other distributions, and the algorithms in this paper are suitable to handle the small sample data.     

On stable laws for estimating functions and derived estimators

Summary Stable laws forM-estimators, maximum likelihood and other estimators and obtained through parallel results for the estimating functions and relative compactness of some related estimating functional processes. Work supported by the Office of Naval Research, Contract No. N00014-83-K-0387.     

Estimation of the Cholesky decomposition in a conditional independent normal model with missing data

We investigate the problem of estimating the Cholesky decomposition in a conditional independent normal model with missing data. Explicit expressions for the maximum likelihood estimators and unbiased estimators are derived. By introducing a special group, we obtain the best equivariant estimators.     

Estimating functionals of one-dimensional Gibbs states

Summary Some estimators of maximum likelihood type are constructed for estimating functionals of one-dimensional Gibbs states. We also show that those estimators are strongly consistent, asymptotically normal and asymptotically efficient.     

Variable selection in the partially linear errors-in-variables models for longitudinal data

This paper proposes a new approach for variable selection in partially linear errors-in-variables (EV) models for longitudinal data by penalizing appropriate estimating functions. We apply the SCAD penalty to simultaneously select significant variables and estimate unknown parameters. The rate of convergence and the asymptotic normality of the resulting estimators are established. Furthermore, with proper choice of regularization parameters, we show that the proposed estimators perform as well as the oracle procedure. A new algorithm is proposed for solving penalized estimating equation. The asymptotic results are augmented by a simulation study.     

ON THE EXISTENCE OF MAXIMAL LIKELIHOOD ESTMATORS

In this paper, we give necessary and sufficient for the existence of maximal likelihood estimators when the density functions of probability distributions are product measurable. We also show that when we adopt the generalized definition of maximal likelihood estimators, the generalized maximal likelihood estimators always exist,provide the denesity functions are product measurable.     

The asymptotic expansion fo the Stein estimators for the vector case

Summary Charles Stein established the existence of estimators which dominate the maximum likelihood estimators for the problem of simultanously estimating the means of three or more random variables. Since the exact distributions of the Stein estimators are not known and because the distributions are of great importance for people studying confidence sets, it was the purpose of this note to derive the asymptotic distributions, means and variances of the Stein estimators, as well as that of the quadratic loss functions for the vector case. Financially supported by the CSIR and the University of the OFS Research Fund.     

简单半序约束下估计位置参数的一个非参方法

This paper deals with estimating parameters under simple order when samples come from location models. Based on the idea of Hodges and Lehmann estimator (H-L estimator), a new approach to estimate parameters is proposed, which is difference with the classical L1 isotonic regression and L2 isotonic regression. An algorithm to compute estimators is given. Simulations by the Monte-Carlo method is applied to compare the likelihood functions with respect to L1 estimators and weighted isotonic H-L estimators.     

Measurement error in proportional hazards models for survival data with long-term survivors

This work studies a proportional hazards model for survival data with "long-term survivors",in which covariates are subject to linear measurement error.It is well known that the naive estimators from both partial and full likelihood methods are inconsistent under this measurement error model.For measurement error models,methods of unbiased estimating function and corrected likelihood have been proposed in the literature.In this paper,we apply the corrected partial and full likelihood approaches to estimate the model and obtain statistical inference from survival data with long-term survivors.The asymptotic properties of the estimators are established.Simulation results illustrate that the proposed approaches provide useful tools for the models considered.     

Statistical inference for coherent systems with Weibull distributed component lifetimes under complete and incomplete information

Point estimators for the parameters of the component lifetime distribution in coherent systems are evolved assuming to be independently and identically Weibull distributed component lifetimes. We study both complete and incomplete information under continuous monitoring of the essential component lifetimes. First, we prove that the maximum likelihood estimator (MLE) under complete information based on progressively Type‐II censored system lifetimes uniquely exists and we present two approaches to compute the estimates. Furthermore, we consider an ad hoc estimator, a max‐probability plan estimator and the MLE for the parameters under incomplete information. In order to compute the MLEs, we consider a direct maximization of the likelihood and an EM‐algorithm–type approach, respectively. In all cases, we illustrate the results by simulations of the five‐component bridge system and the 10‐component parallel system, respectively.     

Burr Type XII 分布的统计推断

该文讨论了两参数 Burr Type XII 分布基于逐次定数截尾样本的参数估计, 导出了有关参数的点估计和区间估计. 我们利用模拟方法对所给点估计和参数的最大似然估计作了比较, 模拟结果显示所给点估计优于常用的最大似然估计. 最后, 用一个实际例子说明本文所给方法.     

Moderate deviations of generalized method of moments and empirical likelihood estimators

This paper studies moderate deviation behaviors of the generalized method of moments and generalized empirical likelihood estimators for generalized estimating equations, where the number of equations can be larger than the number of unknown parameters. We consider two cases for the data generating probability measure: the model assumption and local contaminations or deviations from the model assumption. For both cases, we characterize the first-order terms of the moderate deviation error probabilities of these estimators. Our moderate deviation analysis complements the existing literature of the local asymptotic analysis and misspecification analysis for estimating equations, and is useful to evaluate power and robust properties of statistical tests for estimating equations which typically involve some estimators for nuisance parameters.     

Statistical Inference for the Location and Scale Parameters of the Skew Normal Distribution

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating the location and scale parameters of the skew normal distribution introduced by Azzalini. For this distribution, the classic maximum likelihood estimators(MLEs) do not take explicit forms. We approximate the likelihood equations and derive explicit estimators of the parameters. The bias and variance of the estimators are investigated and Monte Carlo simulation studies show that the estimators are as efficient as the classic MLEs. We demonstrate that the probability coverages of the pivotal quantities (for location and scale parameters) based on asymptotic normality are unsatisfactory, especially when the sample size is small. The use of unconditional simulated percentage points of these quantities is suggested. Finally, a numerical example is used to illustrate the proposed inference methods.     

Empirical likelihood for semiparametric regression model with missing response data

A bias-corrected technique for constructing the empirical likelihood ratio is used to study a semiparametric regression model with missing response data. We are interested in inference for the regression coefficients, the baseline function and the response mean. A class of empirical likelihood ratio functions for the parameters of interest is defined so that undersmoothing for estimating the baseline function is avoided. The existing data-driven algorithm is also valid for selecting an optimal bandwidth. Our approach is to directly calibrate the empirical log-likelihood ratio so that the resulting ratio is asymptotically chi-squared. Also, a class of estimators for the parameters of interest is constructed, their asymptotic distributions are obtained, and consistent estimators of asymptotic bias and variance are provided. Our results can be used to construct confidence intervals and bands for the parameters of interest. A simulation study is undertaken to compare the empirical likelihood with the normal approximation-based method in terms of coverage accuracies and average lengths of confidence intervals. An example for an AIDS clinical trial data set is used for illustrating our methods.     

截尾样本下,具有共同尺度参数的多总体指数分布的参数估计

讨论了在截尾样本下,具有共同尺度参数的多总体指数分布的参数估计问题,证明了尺度参数及位置参数的最佳仿射同变估计是不容许的,且给出了相应的改进估计.