On sparse estimation for semiparametric linear transformation models

Semiparametric linear transformation models have received much attention due to their high flexibility in modeling survival data. A useful estimating equation procedure was recently proposed by Chen et al. (2002) [21] for linear transformation models to jointly estimate parametric and nonparametric terms. They showed that this procedure can yield a consistent and robust estimator. However, the problem of variable selection for linear transformation models has been less studied, partially because a convenient loss function is not readily available under this context. In this paper, we propose a simple yet powerful approach to achieve both sparse and consistent estimation for linear transformation models. The main idea is to derive a profiled score from the estimating equation of Chen et al. [21], construct a loss function based on the profile scored and its variance, and then minimize the loss subject to some shrinkage penalty. Under regularity conditions, we have shown that the resulting estimator is consistent for both model estimation and variable selection. Furthermore, the estimated parametric terms are asymptotically normal and can achieve a higher efficiency than that yielded from the estimation equations. For computation, we suggest a one-step approximation algorithm which can take advantage of the LARS and build the entire solution path efficiently. Performance of the new procedure is illustrated through numerous simulations and real examples including one microarray data.     

On the comparison of the pre-test and shrinkage phi-divergence test estimators for the symmetry model of categorical data

The estimation problem of the parameters in a symmetry model for categorical data has been considered for many authors in the statistical literature (for example, Bowker (1948) [1], Ireland et al. (1969) [2], Quade and Salama (1975) [3], Cressie and Read (1988) [4], Menéndez et al. (2005) [5]) without using uncertain prior information. It is well known that many new and interesting estimators, using uncertain prior information, have been studied by a host of researchers in different statistical models, and many papers have been published on this topic (see Saleh (2006) [9] and references therein). In this paper, we consider the symmetry model of categorical data and we study, for the first time, some new estimators when non-sample information about the symmetry of the probabilities is considered. The decision to use a “restricted” estimator or an “unrestricted” estimator is based on the outcome of a preliminary test, and then a shrinkage technique is used. It is interesting to note that we present a unified study in the sense that we consider not only the maximum likelihood estimator and likelihood ratio test or chi-square test statistic but we consider minimum phi-divergence estimators and phi-divergence test statistics. Families of minimum phi-divergence estimators and phi-divergence test statistics are wide classes of estimators and test statistics that contain as a particular case the maximum likelihood estimator, likelihood ratio test and chi-square test statistic. In an asymptotic set-up, the biases and the risk under the squared loss function for the proposed estimators are derived and compared. A numerical example clarifies the content of the paper.     

Constructing priors based on model size for nondecomposable Gaussian graphical models: A simulation based approach

A method for constructing priors is proposed that allows the off-diagonal elements of the concentration matrix of Gaussian data to be zero. The priors have the property that the marginal prior distribution of the number of nonzero off-diagonal elements of the concentration matrix (referred to below as model size) can be specified flexibly. The priors have normalizing constants for each model size, rather than for each model, giving a tractable number of normalizing constants that need to be estimated. The article shows how to estimate the normalizing constants using Markov chain Monte Carlo simulation and supersedes the method of Wong et al. (2003) [24] because it is more accurate and more general. The method is applied to two examples. The first is a mixture of constrained Wisharts. The second is from Wong et al. (2003) [24] and decomposes the concentration matrix into a function of partial correlations and conditional variances using a mixture distribution on the matrix of partial correlations. The approach detects structural zeros in the concentration matrix and estimates the covariance matrix parsimoniously if the concentration matrix is sparse.     

Estimation in partially linear models with missing responses at random

A partially linear model is considered when the responses are missing at random. Imputation, semiparametric regression surrogate and inverse marginal probability weighted approaches are developed to estimate the regression coefficients and the nonparametric function, respectively. All the proposed estimators for the regression coefficients are shown to be asymptotically normal, and the estimators for the nonparametric function are proved to converge at an optimal rate. A simulation study is conducted to compare the finite sample behavior of the proposed estimators.     

Low dimensional semiparametric estimation in a censored regression model

A new estimation procedure for a partial linear additive model with censored responses is proposed. To this aim, ideas of Lewbel and Linton [A. Lewbel, O. Linton, Nonparametric censored and truncated regression, Econometrica 70 (2002) 765-779] on censored model regression are combined with those of Kim et al. [W. Kim, O. Linton, N.W. Hengartner, A computationally efficient estimator for additive nonparametric regression with bootstrap confidence intervals, Journal of Computational and Graphical Statistics, 8 (1999) 278-297] on marginal integration and those on average derivatives. This allows for dimension reduction, interpretability and — depending on the context — for weights yielding computationally attractive estimates. Asymptotic behavior is provided for all proposed estimators.     

Generalized partially linear models with missing covariates

In this article we study a semiparametric generalized partially linear model when the covariates are missing at random. We propose combining local linear regression with the local quasilikelihood technique and weighted estimating equation to estimate the parameters and nonparameters when the missing probability is known or unknown. We establish normality of the estimators of the parameter and asymptotic expansion for the estimators of the nonparametric part. We apply the proposed models and methods to a study of the relation between virologic and immunologic responses in AIDS clinical trials, in which virologic response is classified into binary variables. We also give simulation results to illustrate our approach.     

Multivariate measures of skewness for the skew-normal distribution

The main objective of this work is to calculate and compare different measures of multivariate skewness for the skew-normal family of distributions. For this purpose, we consider the Mardia (1970) [10], Malkovich and Afifi (1973) [9], Isogai (1982) [17], Srivastava (1984) [15], Song (2001) [14], Móri et al. (1993) [11], Balakrishnan et al. (2007) [3] and Kollo (2008) [7] measures of skewness. The exact expressions of all measures of skewness, except for Song’s, are derived for the family of skew-normal distributions, while Song’s measure of shape is approximated by the use of delta method. The behavior of these measures, their similarities and differences, possible interpretations, and their practical use in testing for multivariate normal are studied by evaluating their power in the case of some specific members of the multivariate skew-normal family of distributions.     

Statistical inference using a weighted difference-based series approach for partially linear regression models

Partially linear regression models with fixed effects are useful tools for making econometric analyses and normalizing microarray data. Baltagi and Li (2002) [7] proposed a computation friendly difference-based series estimation (DSE) for them. We show that the DSE is not asymptotically efficient in most cases and further propose a weighted difference-based series estimation (WDSE). The weights in it do not involve any unknown parameters. The asymptotic properties of the resulting estimators are established for both balanced and unbalanced cases, and it is shown that they achieve a semiparametric efficient boundary. Additionally, we propose a variable selection procedure for identifying significant covariates in the parametric part of the semiparametric fixed-effects regression model. The method is based on a combination of the nonconcave penalization (Fan and Li, 2001 [13]) and weighted difference-based series estimation techniques. The resulting estimators have the oracle property; that is, they can correctly identify the true model as if the true model (the subset of variables with nonvanishing coefficients) were known in advance. Simulation studies are conducted and an application is given to demonstrate the finite sample performance of the proposed procedures.     

Jackknife-blockwise empirical likelihood methods under dependence

Empirical likelihood for general estimating equations is a method for testing hypothesis or constructing confidence regions on parameters of interest. If the number of parameters of interest is smaller than that of estimating equations, a profile empirical likelihood has to be employed. In case of dependent data, a profile blockwise empirical likelihood method can be used. However, if too many nuisance parameters are involved, a computational difficulty in optimizing the profile empirical likelihood arises. Recently, Li et al. (2011) [9] proposed a jackknife empirical likelihood method to reduce the computation in the profile empirical likelihood methods for independent data. In this paper, we propose a jackknife-blockwise empirical likelihood method to overcome the computational burden in the profile blockwise empirical likelihood method for weakly dependent data.     

缺失数据下EV模型的调整最小二乘估计

该文考虑协变量缺失时的多元线性EV模型参数的估计, 其中协变量的缺失机制是Rubin(1976)提出的随机缺失(MAR). 利用加权调整最小二乘方法给出参数估计, 证明了估计的相合性和渐近正态性. 数值模拟结果表明所给的估计性态良好.     

Multiple imputations and the missing censoring indicator model

Semiparametric random censorship (SRC) models (Dikta, 1998) provide an attractive framework for estimating survival functions when censoring indicators are fully or partially available. When there are missing censoring indicators (MCIs), the SRC approach employs a model-based estimate of the conditional expectation of the censoring indicator given the observed time, where the model parameters are estimated using only the complete cases. The multiple imputations approach, on the other hand, utilizes this model-based estimate to impute the missing censoring indicators and form several completed data sets. The Kaplan-Meier and SRC estimators based on the several completed data sets are averaged to arrive at the multiple imputations Kaplan-Meier (MIKM) and the multiple imputations SRC (MISRC) estimators. While the MIKM estimator is asymptotically as efficient as or less efficient than the standard SRC-based estimator that involves no imputations, here we investigate the performance of the MISRC estimator and prove that it attains the benchmark variance set by the SRC-based estimator. We also present numerical results comparing the performances of the estimators under several misspecified models for the above mentioned conditional expectation.     

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.     

On recent developments in the theory of abstract differential equations with fractional derivatives

This note is motivated from some recent papers treating the problem of the existence of a solution for abstract differential equations with fractional derivatives. We show that the existence results in [Agarwal et al. (2009) [1], Belmekki and Benchohra (2010) [2], Darwish et al. (2009) [3], Hu et al. (2009) [4], Mophou and N’Guérékata (2009) [6] and [7], Mophou (2010) [8] and [9], Muslim (2009) [10], Pandey et al. (2009) [11], Rashid and El-Qaderi (2009) [12] and Tai and Wang (2009) [13]] are incorrect since the considered variation of constant formulas is not appropriate. In this note, we also consider a different approach to treat a general class of abstract fractional differential equations.     

Erratum to: “Local edge domination critical graphs” [Discrete Math. 161 (1996) 175–184]

The proof of the main theorem in the paper Henning et al. (1996) [2] is incorrect as it is missing an important case. Here we complete the proof by giving the missing case.     

A posteriori error estimates for a finite element approximation of transmission problems with sign changing coefficients

We perform the a posteriori error analysis of residual type of transmission problem with sign changing coefficients. According to Bonnet-BenDhia et al. (2010) [9], if the contrast is large enough, the continuous problem can be transformed into a coercive one. We further show that a similar property holds for the discrete problem for any regular meshes, extending the framework from Bonnet-BenDhia et al. [9]. The reliability and efficiency of the proposed estimator are confirmed by some numerical tests.     

Censored multiple regression by the method of average derivatives

This paper proposes a technique [termed censored average derivative estimation (CADE)] for studying estimation of the unknown regression function in nonparametric censored regression models with randomly censored samples. The CADE procedure involves three stages: firstly-transform the censored data into synthetic data or pseudo-responses using the inverse probability censoring weighted (IPCW) technique, secondly estimate the average derivatives of the regression function, and finally approximate the unknown regression function by an estimator of univariate regression using techniques for one-dimensional nonparametric censored regression. The CADE provides an easily implemented methodology for modelling the association between the response and a set of predictor variables when data are randomly censored. It also provides a technique for “dimension reduction” in nonparametric censored regression models. The average derivative estimator is shown to be root-n consistent and asymptotically normal. The estimator of the unknown regression function is a local linear kernel regression estimator and is shown to converge at the optimal one-dimensional nonparametric rate. Monte Carlo experiments show that the proposed estimators work quite well.     

Nonparametric rank-based tests of bivariate extreme-value dependence

A new class of tests of extreme-value dependence for bivariate copulas is proposed. It is based on the process comparing the empirical copula with a natural nonparametric rank-based estimator of the unknown copula under extreme-value dependence. A multiplier technique is used to compute approximate p-values for several candidate test statistics. Extensive Monte Carlo experiments were carried out to compare the resulting procedures with the tests of extreme-value dependence recently studied in Ben Ghorbal et al. (2009) [1] and Kojadinovic and Yan (2010) [19]. The finite-sample performance study of the tests is complemented by local power calculations.     

A mathematical modeling for the lookback option with jump-diffusion using binomial tree method

The binomial tree method (BTM), first proposed by Cox et al. (1979) [4] in diffusion models and extended by Amin (1993) [9] to jump-diffusion models, is one of the most popular approaches to pricing options. In this paper, we present a binomial tree method for lookback options in jump-diffusion models and show its equivalence to certain explicit difference scheme. We also prove the existence and convergence of the optimal exercise boundary in the binomial tree approximation to American lookback options and give the terminal value of the genuine exercise boundary. Further, numerical simulations are performed to illustrate the theoretical results.     

On the asymptotic distribution of a unit root test against ESTAR alternatives

We derive the null distribution of the nonlinear unit root test proposed in Kapetanios et al. [Kapetanios, G., Shin, Y., Snell, A., 2003. Testing for a unit root in the nonlinear STAR framework. Journal of Econometrics 112, 359-379] when nonzero means or both means and deterministic trends are accounted for. Some discrepancies to claims in Kapetanios et al. are discussed.     

Remarks on between estimator in the intraclass correlation model with missing data

In this paper, we consider the between estimator under the intraclass correlation model with missing data. We give a necessary and sufficient condition for existing exact simultaneous confidence intervals for all contrasts in the means under the between transformed model, which indicates the F-test statistic and simultaneous confidence intervals, constructed by Seo et al. [T. Seo, J. Kikuchi, K. Koizumi, On simultaneous confidence intervals for all contracts in the means of the intraclass correlation model with missing data, J. Multivariate Anal. 97 (2006) 1976–1983] based on the between estimator, is invalid. Furthermore, using the distribution of the between estimator, we present the exact test statistics and confidence intervals for partial contrasts.