Using randomization tests to preserve type I error with response adaptive and covariate adaptive randomization

We demonstrate that clinical trials using response adaptive randomized treatment assignment rules are subject to substantial bias if there are time trends in unknown prognostic factors and standard methods of analysis are used. We develop a general class of randomization tests based on generating the null distribution of a general test statistic by repeating the adaptive randomized treatment assignment rule holding fixed the sequence of outcome values and covariate vectors actually observed in the trial. We develop broad conditions on the adaptive randomization method and the stochastic mechanism by which outcomes and covariate vectors are sampled that ensure that the type I error is controlled at the level of the randomization test. These conditions ensure that the use of the randomization test protects the type I error against time trends that are independent of the treatment assignments. Under some conditions in which the prognosis of future patients is determined by knowledge of the current randomization weights, the type I error is not strictly protected. We show that response adaptive randomization can result in substantial reduction in statistical power when the type I error is preserved. Our results also ensure that type I error is controlled at the level of the randomization test for adaptive stratification designs used for balancing covariates.     

Optimal inferences for proportional hazards model with parametric covariate transformations

The traditional Cox model assumes a log-linear relationship between covariates and the underlying hazard function. However, the linearity may be invalid in real data. We study a Cox model which employs unknown parametric covariate transformations. This model is applicable to observational studies or randomized trials when a treatment effect is investigated after controlling for a confounding variable that may have non-log-linear relationship with the underlying hazard function. While the proposed generalization is simple, the inferential issues are challenging due to the loss of identifiability under no effects of transformed covariates. Optimal tests are derived for certain alternatives. Rigorous parametric inference is established under regularity conditions and non-zero transformed covariate effects. The estimates perform well in simulation studies with realistic sample size, and the proposed tests are more powerful than the usual partial likelihood ratio test, which is no longer optimal. Data from a breast cancer trial are used to illustrate the model building strategy and the better fit of the proposed model, comparing to the traditional Cox model.     

Censored lifetime learning: Optimal Bayesian age-replacement policies

We consider a sequence of age-replacement problems with a general lifetime distribution parametrized by an a-priori unknown parameter. There is a trade-off: Preventive replacements are censored but cheap, whereas corrective replacements are uncensored but costly observations of the lifetime distribution. We first analyze the optimal policy for a finite sequence and establish some properties. We then propose a myopic Bayesian policy that almost surely learns the unknown parameter and converges to the optimal policy with full knowledge of the parameter.     

A New Class of Consistent Estimators for Stochastic Linear Regressive Models

In this paper we propose a new approach for estimating the unknown parameter in the stochastic linear regressive model with stationary ergodic sequence of covariates. Under mild conditions on the joint distribution of the covariate and the error, the estimator constructed is shown to be strongly consistent in two important special cases: (1) The sequence of (variate, covariate) is independent identically distributed (i.i.d.), and (2) the sequence of variates is a stationary autoregressive series. The asymptotical normality is also discussed under more assumptions on the distribution of the covariate.     

Efficient estimation of a varying-coefficient partially linear binary regression model

This article considers a semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear binary regression model. The semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression binary model which is a generalization of binary regression model and varying-coefficient regression model that allows one to explore the possibly nonlinear effect of a certain covariate on the response variable. A Sieve maximum likelihood estimation method is proposed and the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are discussed. One of our main objects is to estimate nonparametric component and the unknowen parameters simultaneously. It is easier to compute, and the required computation burden is much less than that of the existing two-stage estimation method. Under some mild conditions, the estimators are shown to be strongly consistent. The convergence rate of the estimator for the unknown smooth function is obtained, and the estimator for the unknown parameter is shown to be asymptotically efficient and normally distributed. Simulation studies are carried out to investigate the performance of the proposed method.     

协变量区间删失时线性模型的参数估计

本文研究了当协变量为区间数据时的线性模型，通过构造区间数据变量的条件均值，得到了回归参数的估计，当协变量的分布已知时，证明了估计的无偏性与强相合性．时协变量的分布未知的情形也作了讨论．文中还作了若干模拟计算，从模拟的结果不难发现，利用本文提出的方法所获得的估计简便且具有较高的精度．     

Efficient estimation for semiparametric varying- coefficient partially linear regression models with current status data

This article considers a semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression model with current status data. The semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression model which is a generalization of the partially linear regression model and varying-coefficient regression model that allows one to explore the possibly nonlinear effect of a certain covariate on the response variable. A Sieve maximum likelihood estimation method is proposed and the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are discussed. Under some mild conditions, the estimators are shown to be strongly consistent. The convergence rate of the estimator for the unknown smooth function is obtained and the estimator for the unknown parameter is shown to be asymptotically efficient and normally distributed. Simulation studies are conducted to examine the small-sample properties of the proposed estimates and a real dataset is used to illustrate our approach.     

A Framework for Unbiased Model Selection Based on Boosting

Variable and model selection are of major concern in many statistical applications, especially in high-dimensional regression models. Boosting is a convenient statistical method that combines model fitting with intrinsic model selection. We investigate the impact of base-learner specification on the performance of boosting as a model selection procedure. We show that variable selection may be biased if the covariates are of different nature. Important examples are models combining continuous and categorical covariates, especially if the number of categories is large. In this case, least squares base-learners offer increased flexibility for the categorical covariate and lead to a preference even if the categorical covariate is noninformative. Similar difficulties arise when comparing linear and nonlinear base-learners for a continuous covariate. The additional flexibility in the nonlinear base-learner again yields a preference of the more complex modeling alternative. We investigate these problems from a theoretical perspective and suggest a framework for bias correction based on a general class of penalized least squares base-learners. Making all base-learners comparable in terms of their degrees of freedom strongly reduces the selection bias observed in naive boosting specifications. The importance of unbiased model selection is demonstrated in simulations. Supplemental materials including an application to forest health models, additional simulation results, additional theorems, and proofs for the theorems are available online.     

Multivariate logistic regression with incomplete covariate and auxiliary information

In this article, we propose and explore a multivariate logistic regression model for analyzing multiple binary outcomes with incomplete covariate data where auxiliary information is available. The auxiliary data are extraneous to the regression model of interest but predictive of the covariate with missing data. Horton and Laird [N.J. Horton, N.M. Laird, Maximum likelihood analysis of logistic regression models with incomplete covariate data and auxiliary information, Biometrics 57 (2001) 34–42] describe how the auxiliary information can be incorporated into a regression model for a single binary outcome with missing covariates, and hence the efficiency of the regression estimators can be improved. We consider extending the method of [9] to the case of a multivariate logistic regression model for multiple correlated outcomes, and with missing covariates and completely observed auxiliary information. We demonstrate that in the case of moderate to strong associations among the multiple outcomes, one can achieve considerable gains in efficiency from estimators in a multivariate model as compared to the marginal estimators of the same parameters.     

Sieve M-estimation for semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression model

This article considers a semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression model.The semiparametric varying-coefficient partially linear regression model which is a generalization of the partially linear regression model and varying-coefficient regression model that allows one to explore the possibly nonlinear effect of a certain covariate on the response variable.A sieve M-estimation method is proposed and the asymptotic properties of the proposed estimators are discussed.Our main object is to estimate the nonparametric component and the unknown parameters simultaneously.It is easier to compute and the required computation burden is much less than the existing two-stage estimation method.Furthermore,the sieve M-estimation is robust in the presence of outliers if we choose appropriate ρ( ).Under some mild conditions,the estimators are shown to be strongly consistent;the convergence rate of the estimator for the unknown nonparametric component is obtained and the estimator for the unknown parameter is shown to be asymptotically normally distributed.Numerical experiments are carried out to investigate the performance of the proposed method.     

Semiparametric Bayesian Regression via Potts Model

We consider Bayesian nonparametric regression through random partition models. Our approach involves the construction of a covariate-dependent prior distribution on partitions of individuals. Our goal is to use covariate information to improve predictive inference. To do so, we propose a prior on partitions based on the Potts clustering model associated with the observed covariates. This drives by covariate proximity both the formation of clusters, and the prior predictive distribution. The resulting prior model is flexible enough to support many different types of likelihood models. We focus the discussion on nonparametric regression. Implementation details are discussed for the specific case of multivariate multiple linear regression. The proposed model performs well in terms of model fitting and prediction when compared to other alternative nonparametric regression approaches. We illustrate the methodology with an application to the health status of nations at the turn of the 21st century. Supplementary materials are available online.     

Optimal design for smoothing splines

In the common nonparametric regression model we consider the problem of constructing optimal designs, if the unknown curve is estimated by a smoothing spline. A special basis for the space of natural splines is introduced and the local minimax property for these splines is used to derive two optimality criteria for the construction of optimal designs. The first criterion determines the design for a most precise estimation of the coefficients in the spline representation and corresponds to D-optimality, while the second criterion is the G-optimality criterion and corresponds to an accurate prediction of the curve. Several properties of the optimal designs are derived. In general, D- and G-optimal designs are not equivalent. Optimal designs are determined numerically and compared with the uniform design.     

Robust investment–reinsurance optimization with multiscale stochastic volatility

This paper investigates the investment and reinsurance problem in the presence of stochastic volatility for an ambiguity-averse insurer (AAI) with a general concave utility function. The AAI concerns about model uncertainty and seeks for an optimal robust decision. We consider a Brownian motion with drift for the surplus of the AAI who invests in a risky asset following a multiscale stochastic volatility (SV) model. We formulate the robust optimal investment and reinsurance problem for a general class of utility functions under a general SV model. Applying perturbation techniques to the Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman–Isaacs (HJBI) equation associated with our problem, we derive an investment–reinsurance strategy that well approximates the optimal strategy of the robust optimization problem under a multiscale SV model. We also provide a practical strategy that requires no tracking of volatility factors. Numerical study is conducted to demonstrate the practical use of theoretical results and to draw economic interpretations from the robust decision rules.     

Single-period Two-product Inventory Model with Reorder and Substitution

In market, excess demands for many products can be met by reorder even during one period, and retailers usually adopt substitution strategy for more benefit. Under the retailer's substitution strategy and permission of reorder, we develop the profits maximization model for the two-substitutable-product inventory problem with stochastic demands and proportional costs and revenues. We show that the objective function is concave and submodular, and therefore the optimal policy exists. We present the optimal conditions for order quantity and provide some properties of the optimal order quantities. Comparing our model with Netessine and Rudi's, we prove that reorder and adoption of the substitution strategy can raise the general profits and adjust down the general stock level.     

Optimal Selling of an Asset with Jumps Under Incomplete Information

ABSTRACT

We study the optimal liquidation strategy of an asset with price process satisfying a jump diffusion model with unknown jump intensity. It is assumed that the intensity takes one of two given values, and we have an initial estimate for the probability of both of them. As time goes by, by observing the price fluctuations, we can thus update our beliefs about the probabilities for the intensity distribution. We formulate an optimal stopping problem describing the optimal liquidation problem. It is shown that the optimal strategy is to liquidate the first time the point process falls below (goes above) a certain time-dependent boundary.     

Bayesian Growth Curves Using Normal Mixtures With Nonparametric Weights

Reference growth curves estimate the distribution of a measurement as it changes according to some covariate, often age. We present a new methodology to estimate growth curves based on mixture models and splines. We model the distribution of the measurement with a mixture of normal distributions with an unknown number of components, and model dependence on the covariate through the weights, using smooth functions based on B-splines. In this way the growth curves respect the continuity of the covariate and there is no need for arbitrary grouping of the observations. The method is illustrated with data on triceps skinfold in Gambian girls and women.     

The Optimal Control of a Train

We consider the problem of determining an optimal driving strategy in a train control problem with a generalised equation of motion. We assume that the journey must be completed within a given time and seek a strategy that minimises fuel consumption. On the one hand we consider the case where continuous control can be used and on the other hand we consider the case where only discrete control is available. We pay particular attention to a unified development of the two cases. For the continuous control problem we use the Pontryagin principle to find necessary conditions on an optimal strategy and show that these conditions yield key equations that determine the optimal switching points. In the discrete control problem, which is the typical situation with diesel-electric locomotives, we show that for each fixed control sequence the cost of fuel can be minimised by finding the optimal switching times. The corresponding strategies are called strategies of optimal type and in this case we use the Kuhn–Tucker equations to find key equations that determine the optimal switching times. We note that the strategies of optimal type can be used to approximate as closely as we please the optimal strategy obtained using continuous control and we present two new derivations of the key equations. We illustrate our general remarks by reference to a typical train control problem.     

Generalized Smooth Monotonic Regression in Additive Modeling

Common approaches to monotonic regression focus on the case of a unidimensional covariate and continuous response variable. Here a general approach is proposed that allows for additive structures where one or more variables have monotone influence on the response variable. In addition the approach allows for response variables from an exponential family, including binary and Poisson distributed response variables. Flexibility of the smooth estimate is gained by expanding the unknown function in monotonic basis functions. For the estimation of coefficients and the selection of basis functions a likelihood-based boosting algorithm is proposed which is simple to implement. Stopping criteria and inference are based on AIC-type measures. The method is applied to several datasets.     

A comparison of asymptotic covariance matrices of three consistent estimators in the Poisson regression model with measurement errors

We consider a Poisson model, where the mean depends on certain covariates in a log-linear way with unknown regression parameters. Some or all of the covariates are measured with errors. The covariates as well as the measurement errors are both jointly normally distributed, and the error covariance matrix is supposed to be known. Three consistent estimators of the parameters—the corrected score, a structural, and the quasi-score estimators—are compared to each other with regard to their relative (asymptotic) efficiencies. The paper extends an earlier result for a scalar covariate.     

Empirical likelihood inference for censored median regression model via nonparametric kernel estimation

An alternative to the accelerated failure time model is to regress the median of the failure time on the covariates. In the recent years, censored median regression models have been shown to be useful for analyzing a variety of censored survival data with the robustness property. Based on missing information principle, a semiparametric inference procedure for regression parameter has been developed when censoring variable depends on continuous covariate. In order to improve the low coverage accuracy of such procedure, we apply an empirical likelihood ratio method (EL) to the model and derive the limiting distributions of the estimated and adjusted empirical likelihood ratios for the vector of regression parameter. Two kinds of EL confidence regions for the unknown vector of regression parameters are obtained accordingly. We conduct an extensive simulation study to compare the performance of the proposed methods with that normal approximation based method. The simulation results suggest that the EL methods outperform the normal approximation based method in terms of coverage probability. Finally, we make some discussions about our methods.