Stochastic comparison of residual lifetime mixture models

In this paper, we consider stochastic comparisons of mixtures ($F^1$ and $G^1$) of residual life distributions ($F_{\theta }$ and $G_{\theta }$, $\theta >0$) arising out of different baseline distributions ($F$ and $G$) and different mixing distributions ($H_1$ and $H_2$). Under certain conditions on $F$, $G$, $H_1$ and $H_2$, we establish that the distributions $F^1$ and $G^1$ are stochastically ordered. Further, we make stochastic comparison of mixture distribution $F^1$ with the distribution of residual lifetime at random time ${\Theta }_1$.     

Quantile residual lifetime for left-truncated and right-censored data

This article proposes a simple nonparametric estimator of quantile residual lifetime function under left-truncated and right-censored data. The asymptotic consistency and normality of this estimator are proved and the variance expression is calculated. Two bootstrap procedures are employed in the simulation study, where the latter bootstrap from Zeng and Lin (2008) is 4000 times faster than the former naive one, and the numerical results in both methods show that our estimating approach works well. A real data example is used to illustrate its application.     

Profile empirical likelihood for parametric and semiparametric models

This paper introduces a profile empirical likelihood and a profile conditionally empirical likelihood to estimate the parameter of interest in the presence of nuisance parameters respectively for the parametric and semiparametric models. It is proven that these methods propose some efficient estimators of parameters of interest in the sense of least-favorable efficiency. Particularly, for the decomposable semiparametric models, an explicit representation for the estimator of parameter of interest is derived from the proposed nonparametric method. These new estimations are different from and more efficient than the existing estimations. Some examples and simulation studies are given to illustrate the theoretical results. The first author is supported by NNSF projects (10371059 and 10171051) of China. The second author is supported by a grant from The Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (#HKU7060/04P). The third author is supported by the University Research Committee of the University of Hong Kong and a grant from the Research Grants Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, China (Project No. HKU7323/01M).     

Semiparametric analysis of transformation models with left-truncated and right-censored data

We analyze left-truncated and right-censored (LTRC) data using semiparametric transformation models. It is demonstrated that the approach of Chen et al. (Biometrika 89: 659–668, 2002) can be extended to LTRC data. Furthermore, when covariates are discrete, similar to the approach of Cai and Cheng (Biometrika 91: 277–290, 2004), we propose an alternative estimator. A simulation study is conducted to investigate the performance of the proposed estimators.     

Estimation in semiparametric models with missing data

This paper considers the problem of parameter estimation in a general class of semiparametric models when observations are subject to missingness at random. The semiparametric models allow for estimating functions that are non-smooth with respect to the parameter. We propose a nonparametric imputation method for the missing values, which then leads to imputed estimating equations for the finite dimensional parameter of interest. The asymptotic normality of the parameter estimator is proved in a general setting, and is investigated in detail for a number of specific semiparametric models. Finally, we study the small sample performance of the proposed estimator via simulations.     

Stochastic comparisons of multivariate mixture models

In this paper we consider sufficient conditions in order to stochastically compare random vectors of multivariate mixture models. In particular we consider stochastic and convex orders, the likelihood ratio order, and the hazard rate and mean residual life dynamic orders. Applications to proportional hazard models and mixture models in risk theory are also given.     

Fitting semiparametric clustering models to dissimilarity data

The cluster analysis problem of partitioning a set of objects from dissimilarity data is here handled with the statistical model-based approach of fitting the “closest” classification matrix to the observed dissimilarities. A classification matrix represents a clustering structure expressed in terms of dissimilarities. In cluster analysis there is a lack of methodologies widely used to directly partition a set of objects from dissimilarity data. In real applications, a hierarchical clustering algorithm is applied on dissimilarities and subsequently a partition is chosen by visual inspection of the dendrogram. Alternatively, a “tandem analysis” is used by first applying a Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) algorithm and then by using a partitioning algorithm such as k-means applied on the dimensions specified by the MDS. However, neither the hierarchical clustering algorithms nor the tandem analysis is specifically defined to solve the statistical problem of fitting the closest partition to the observed dissimilarities. This lack of appropriate methodologies motivates this paper, in particular, the introduction and the study of three new object partitioning models for dissimilarity data, their estimation via least-squares and the introduction of three new fast algorithms.     

Monotone rank estimation of transformation models with length-biased and right-censored data

This paper considers the monotonic transformation model with an unspecified transformation function and an unknown error function, and gives its monotone rank estimation with length-biased and rightcensored data. The estimator is shown to be√n-consistent and asymptotically normal. Numerical simulation studies reveal good finite sample performance and the estimator is illustrated with the Oscar data set. The variance can be estimated by a resampling method via perturbing the U-statistics objective function repeatedly.     

Analyzing left-truncated and right-censored data under Cox models with long-term survivors

We analyze left-truncated and right-censored data using Cox proportional hazard models with long-term survivors. The estimators of covariate coefficients and the long-term survivor proportion are obtained by the partial likelihood method, and their asymptotic properties are also established. Simulation studies demonstrate the performance of the proposed estimators, and an application to a real dataset is provided.     

纵向数据下半参数联合均值协方差模型的贝叶斯分析

基于改进的Cholesky分解,研究分析了纵向数据下半参数联合均值协方差模型的贝叶斯估计和贝叶斯统计诊断,其中非参数部分采用B样条逼近.主要通过应用Gibbs抽样和Metropolis-Hastings算法相结合的混合算法获得模型中未知参数的贝叶斯估计和贝叶斯数据删除影响诊断统计量.并利用诊断统计量的大小来识别数据的异常点.模拟研究和实例分析都表明提出的贝叶斯估计和诊断方法是可行有效的.     

A modified EM algorithm for mixture models based on Bregman divergence

The EM algorithm is a sophisticated method for estimating statistical models with hidden variables based on the Kullback–Leibler divergence. A natural extension of the Kullback–Leibler divergence is given by a class of Bregman divergences, which in general enjoy robustness to contamination data in statistical inference. In this paper, a modification of the EM algorithm based on the Bregman divergence is proposed for estimating finite mixture models. The proposed algorithm is geometrically interpreted as a sequence of projections induced from the Bregman divergence. Since a rigorous algorithm includes a nonlinear optimization procedure, two simplification methods for reducing computational difficulty are also discussed from a geometrical viewpoint. Numerical experiments on a toy problem are carried out to confirm appropriateness of the simplifications.     

Robust estimation in generalized semiparametric mixed models for longitudinal data

In this paper, we consider robust generalized estimating equations for the analysis of semiparametric generalized partial linear mixed models (GPLMMs) for longitudinal data. We approximate the non-parametric function in the GPLMM by a regression spline, and make use of bounded scores and leverage-based weights in the estimating equation to achieve robustness against outliers and influential data points, respectively. Under some regularity conditions, the asymptotic properties of the robust estimators are investigated. To avoid the computational problems involving high-dimensional integrals in our estimators, we adopt a robust Monte Carlo Newton-Raphson (RMCNR) algorithm for fitting GPLMMs. Small simulations are carried out to study the behavior of the robust estimates in the presence of outliers, and these estimates are also compared to their corresponding non-robust estimates. The proposed robust method is illustrated in the analysis of two real data sets.     

Analysis of two-sample censored data using a semiparametric mixture model

In this article we study a semiparametric mixture model for the two-sample problem with right censored data. The model implies that the densities for the continuous outcomes are related by a parametric tilt but otherwise unspecified. It provides a useful alternative to the Cox （1972） proportional hazards model for the comparison of treatments based on right censored survival data. We propose an iterative algorithm for the semiparametric maximum likelihood estimates of the parametric and nonparametric components of the model. The performance of the proposed method is studied using simulation. We illustrate our method in an application to melanoma.     

Quantile regression for right-censored and length-biased data

Length-biased data arise in many important fields, including epidemiological cohort studies, cancer screening trials and labor economics. Analysis of such data has attracted much attention in the literature. In this paper we propose a quantile regression approach for analyzing right-censored and length-biased data. We derive an inverse probability weighted estimating equation corresponding to the quantile regression to correct the bias due to length-bias sampling and informative censoring. This method can easily handle informative censoring induced by length-biased sampling. This is an appealing feature of our proposed method since it is generally difficult to obtain unbiased estimates of risk factors in the presence of length-bias and informative censoring. We establish the consistency and asymptotic distribution of the proposed estimator using empirical process techniques. A resampling method is adopted to estimate the variance of the estimator. We conduct simulation studies to evaluate its finite sample performance and use a real data set to illustrate the application of the proposed method.     

Asymptotic properties in semiparametric partially linear regression models for functional data

We consider the semiparametric partially linear regression models with mean function XTβ + g(z), where X and z are functional data. The new estimators of β and g(z) are presented and some asymptotic results are given. The strong convergence rates of the proposed estimators are obtained. In our estimation, the observation number of each subject will be completely flexible. Some simulation study is conducted to investigate the finite sample performance of the proposed estimators.     

An effective strategy for initializing the EM algorithm in finite mixture models

Finite mixture models represent one of the most popular tools for modeling heterogeneous data. The traditional approach for parameter estimation is based on maximizing the likelihood function. Direct optimization is often troublesome due to the complex likelihood structure. The expectation–maximization algorithm proves to be an effective remedy that alleviates this issue. The solution obtained by this procedure is entirely driven by the choice of starting parameter values. This highlights the importance of an effective initialization strategy. Despite efforts undertaken in this area, there is no uniform winner found and practitioners tend to ignore the issue, often finding misleading or erroneous results. In this paper, we propose a simple yet effective tool for initializing the expectation–maximization algorithm in the mixture modeling setting. The idea is based on model averaging and proves to be efficient in detecting correct solutions even in those cases when competitors perform poorly. The utility of the proposed methodology is shown through comprehensive simulation study and applied to a well-known classification dataset with good results.     

A semiparametric test of independence in copula models for censored data

We propose a semiparametric test of independence in copula models for bivariate survival censored data. We give the limit laws of the estimate of the parameter and the proposed test statistic under the null hypothesis of independence.     

Estimation and model selection in a class of semiparametric models for cluster data

Stimulated by a study in Bangladesh about the first birth interval, we propose a semivarying-coefficient model for cluster data analysis. We consider the estimation procedure for the proposed model and establish the asymptotic results of the proposed estimators. Furthermore, we employ the cross-validation (CV) to identify the constant coefficients. The associated asymptotic properties are rigorously examined. Simulation studies are conducted to investigate the performance of the proposed estimation and the CV-based model selection procedure for finite sample size. Finally, our methods are used to analyse the aforementioned data set to explore how several factors affect the first birth interval in Bangladesh.