A perturbed gamma degradation process with degradation dependent non‐Gaussian measurement errors

This paper proposes and illustrates a new perturbed gamma degradation process where the measurement error is modeled as a non‐Gaussian random variable that depends stochastically on the actual degradation level. The expression of the likelihood function for a generic set of noisy degradation measurements is derived, and the expression of the remaining useful life distribution of a degrading unit that fails when its degradation level exceeds a given threshold limit is formulated. A particle filter method is suggested, which allows one to compute the likelihood function and to estimate the remaining useful life distribution in a quick yet efficient manner. In addition, a closed‐form approximation of the perturbed gamma process is proposed to use in the special, yet meaningful, case where the standard deviation of the measurement error depends linearly on the actual degradation level. Finally, an applicative example is discussed, where the parameters of the perturbed gamma process, the remaining useful life distribution, and the mean remaining useful life of the degrading units are estimated from a set of noisy real degradation data.     

Data analysis for accelerated life tests via Weibull-gamma frailty regression models

In this article, we study data analysis methods for accelerated life test (ALT) with blocking. Unlike the previous assumption of normal distribution for random block effects, we advocate the use of Weibull regression model with gamma random effects for making statistical inference of ALT data. To estimate the unknown parameters in the proposed model, maximum likelihood estimation and Bayesian estimation methods are provided. We illustrate the proposed methods using real data examples and simulation examples. Numerical results suggest that distribution of random effects has minimal impact on the estimation of fixed effects in the Weibull regression models. Furthermore, to demonstrate the advantage of our proposed model, we also provide methods to compare ALT plans and thus identify the optimal ALT plans.     

Bayesian planning of step‐stress accelerated degradation tests under various optimality criteria

Step‐stress accelerated degradation testing (SSADT) has become a common approach to predicting lifetime for highly reliable products that are unlikely to fail in a reasonable time under use conditions or even elevated stress conditions. In literature, the planning of SSADT has been widely investigated for stochastic degradation processes, such as Wiener processes and gamma processes. In this paper, we model the optimal SSADT planning problem from a Bayesian perspective and optimize test plans by determining both stress levels and the allocation of inspections. Large‐sample approximation is used to derive the asymptotic Bayesian utility functions under 3 planning criteria. A revisited LED lamp example is presented to illustrate our method. The comparison with optimal plans from previous studies demonstrates the necessity of considering the stress levels and inspection allocations simultaneously.     

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 study of shifting models in life tests via bayesian approach using semi-or-used priors (SOUPS)

Summary This paper analyses the shift in parameter of a life test model. This analysis depends on the prediction of order statistics in future samples based on order statistics in a series of earlier samples in life tests having a general exponential model. While a series ofk samples are being drawn, model itself undergoes a change. Firstly, a single shift is considered and the effect of this shift on the variance is discussed. Generalisation withs shifts (s≦k) ink samples in also taken up and the semi-or-used priors (SOUPS) have been used to get predictive distributions. Finally, shift afteri (i≦k) stages, from exponential to gamma model is considered and for this case effect of the shift on the variance as well as on the Bayesian prediction region (BPR) is analysed along with set of tables.     

Double penalized variable selection procedure for partially linear models with longitudinal data

Based on the double penalized estimation method,a new variable selection procedure is proposed for partially linear models with longitudinal data.The proposed procedure can avoid the effects of the nonparametric estimator on the variable selection for the parameters components.Under some regularity conditions,the rate of convergence and asymptotic normality of the resulting estimators are established.In addition,to improve efficiency for regression coefficients,the estimation of the working covariance matrix is involved in the proposed iterative algorithm.Some simulation studies are carried out to demonstrate that the proposed method performs well.     

A synergy of multicriteria techniques to assess additive value models

The assessment of additive value functions in Multicriteria Decision Aid (MCDA) has to face issues of legitimacy and technical difficulties when real decision makers are involved. This paper presents a synergy of three complementary techniques to assess additive models on the whole criteria space. The synergy includes a revised MACBETH technique, the standard MAUT trade-off analysis and UTA-based methods for the assessment of both the marginal value functions and the weighting factors. The paper uses a set of original robustness measures and rules associated with revised MACBETH and UTA in order to manage multiple linear programming solutions and to extract robust conclusions from them. Finally, to illustrate the methods’ synergy, an application example is presented, dealing with the planning of metro extension lines.     

Reducing component estimation for varying coefficient models with longitudinal data

Varying-coefficient models with longitudinal observations are very useful in epidemiology and some other practical fields.In this paper,a reducing component procedure is proposed for es- timating the unknown functions and their derivatives in very general models,in which the unknown coefficient functions admit different or the same degrees of smoothness and the covariates can be time- dependent.The asymptotic properties of the estimators,such as consistency,rate of convergence and asymptotic distribution,are derived.The asymptotic results show that the asymptotic variance of the reducing component estimators is smaller than that of the existing estimators when the coefficient functions admit different degrees of smoothness.Finite sample properties of our procedures are studied through Monte Carlo simulations.     

Model detection and variable selection for varying coefficient models with longitudinal data

In this paper, we consider the problem of variable selection and model detection in varying coefficient models with longitudinal data. We propose a combined penalization procedure to select the significant variables, detect the true structure of the model and estimate the unknown regression coefficients simultaneously. With appropriate selection of the tuning parameters, we show that the proposed procedure is consistent in both variable selection and the separation of varying and constant coefficients, and the penalized estimators have the oracle property. Finite sample performances of the proposed method are illustrated by some simulation studies and the real data analysis.     

Weibull分布恒定应力加速寿命试验的Bayes估计

对定时和定数截尾样本情形CE模型下Weibull分布场合恒定应力加速寿命试验进行了Bayes统计分析,利用Laplace方法给出了该模型的近似Bayes估计.最后通过模拟实例表明该Bayes估计是有效的.     

半参数变系数部分线性模型的统计推断

本文在多种复杂数据下, 研究一类半参数变系数部分线性模型的统计推断理论和方法. 首先在纵向数据和测量误差数据等复杂数据下, 研究半参数变系数部分线性模型的经验似然推断问题, 分别提出分组的和纠偏的经验似然方法. 该方法可以有效地处理纵向数据的组内相关性给构造经验似然比函数所带来的困难. 其次在测量误差数据和缺失数据等复杂数据下, 研究模型的变量选择问题, 分别提出一个“纠偏” 的和基于借补值的变量选择方法. 该变量选择方法可以同时选择参数分量及非参数分量中的重要变量, 并且变量选择与回归系数的估计同时进行. 通过选择适当的惩罚参数, 证明该变量选择方法可以相合地识别出真实模型, 并且所得的正则估计具有oracle 性质.     

Diagnostics in Birnbaum–Saunders accelerated life models with an application to fatigue data

In industrial statistics, there is great interest in predicting with precision lifetimes of specimens that operate under stress. For example, a bad estimation of the lower percentiles of a life distribution can produce significant monetary losses to organizations due to an excessive amount of warranty claims. The Birnbaum–Saunders distribution is useful for modeling lifetime data. This is because such a distribution allows us to relate the total time until the failure occurs to some type of cumulative damage produced by stress. In this paper, we propose a methodology for detecting influence of atypical data in accelerated life models on the basis of the Birnbaum–Saunders distribution. The methodology developed in this study should be considered in the design of structures and in the prediction of warranty claims. We conclude this work with an application of the proposed methodology on the basis of real fatigue life data, which illustrates its importance in a warranty claim problem. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Some new approaches to multivariate probability distributions

We extend and generalize to the multivariate set-up our earlier investigations related to expected remaining life functions and general hazard measures including representations and stability theorems for arbitrary probability distributions in terms of these concepts. (The univariate case is discussed in detail in Kotz and Shanbhag, Advan. Appl. Probab. 12 (1980), 903–921.)     

Dynamic decision making for graphical models applied to oil exploration

We present a framework for sequential decision making in problems described by graphical models. The setting is given by dependent discrete random variables with associated costs or revenues. In our examples, the dependent variables are the potential outcomes (oil, gas or dry) when drilling a petroleum well. The goal is to develop an optimal selection strategy of wells that incorporates a chosen utility function within an approximated dynamic programming scheme. We propose and compare different approximations, from naive and myopic heuristics to more complex look-ahead schemes, and we discuss their computational properties. We apply these strategies to oil exploration over multiple prospects modeled by a directed acyclic graph, and to a reservoir drilling decision problem modeled by a Markov random field. The results show that the suggested strategies clearly improve the naive or myopic constructions used in petroleum industry today. This is useful for decision makers planning petroleum exploration policies.     

Heteroscedasticity and/or Autocorrelation Checks in Longitudinal Nonlinear Models with Elliptical and AR（1） Errors

The aim of this paper is to study the tests for variance heterogeneity and/or autocorrelation in nonlinear regression models with elliptical and AR(1) errors. The elliptical class includes several symmetric multivariate distributions such as normal, Student-t, power exponential, among others. Several diagnostic tests using score statistics and their adjustment are constructed. The asymptotic properties, including asymptotic chi-square and approximate powers under local alternatives of the score statistics, are studied. The properties of test statistics are investigated through Monte Carlo simulations. A data set previously analyzed under normal errors is reanalyzed under elliptical models to illustrate our test methods.     

指数分布场合恒加试验缺失数据的Bayes统计分析

主要讨论了当寿命分布是指数分布时恒定应力加速寿命试验中常见几类数据类型(完全样本,分组样本,删失样本)的Bayes统计分析方法.运用G ibbs抽样迭代算法成功解决了Bayes分析中极为复杂的后验边际分布的计算问题,得到了满足顺序约束的参数的Bayes估计.模拟结果表明各场合下此方法均较好.     

Efficient Data Augmentation for Fitting Stochastic Epidemic Models to Prevalence Data

Stochastic epidemic models describe the dynamics of an epidemic as a disease spreads through a population. Typically, only a fraction of cases are observed at a set of discrete times. The absence of complete information about the time evolution of an epidemic gives rise to a complicated latent variable problem in which the state space size of the epidemic grows large as the population size increases. This makes analytically integrating over the missing data infeasible for populations of even moderate size. We present a data augmentation Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) framework for Bayesian estimation of stochastic epidemic model parameters, in which measurements are augmented with subject-level disease histories. In our MCMC algorithm, we propose each new subject-level path, conditional on the data, using a time-inhomogenous continuous-time Markov process with rates determined by the infection histories of other individuals. The method is general, and may be applied to a broad class of epidemic models with only minimal modifications to the model dynamics and/or emission distribution. We present our algorithm in the context of multiple stochastic epidemic models in which the data are binomially sampled prevalence counts, and apply our method to data from an outbreak of influenza in a British boarding school. Supplementary material for this article is available online.     

应用全概率公式研究输水管道系统的可靠性

文中采用网络分解法,以全概率公式为依据对设置连通管的输水管道系统的可靠性进行了分析,建立了设置连通管的输水管道系统的可靠性计算模型;计算表明,三通和输水干管的管段的可靠性变化是影响系统可靠性的敏感性因素.研究成果对于输水管道系统组件的选择、施工与维护管理,具有重要的指导意义.     

Approximation to the distribution of the least squares estimators in two dimensional cosine models by randomly weighted bootstrap

Recently, Kundu and Gupta （Metrika, 48：83 C 97, 1998） established the asymptotic normality of the least squares estimators in the two dimensional cosine model. In this paper, we give the approximation to the general least squares estimators by using random weights which is called the Bayesian bootstrap or the random weighting method by Rubin （Annals of Statistics, 9：130 C 134, 1981） and Zheng （Acta Math. Appl. Sinica （in Chinese）, 10（2）： 247 C 253, 1987）. A simulation study shows that this approximation works very well.     

Gompertz zero-inflated cure rate regression models applied to credit risk data

In the financial market, it is important to consider that there is a proportion of customers that have settled their debt in time zero, immediately recovering their ability to pay. In this context, in this paper, we propose a survival analysis methodology that allows the insertion of times equal to zero in scenarios where credit risk is observed. The proposed model addresses the survival analysis model of the zero-inflated cure rate which incorporates the heterogeneity of three subgroups (individuals having events in the initial time, and individuals not susceptible and susceptible to the event). In our proposal, all available survival data of customers are modeled considering that the number of competitive causes follows a Poisson distribution and the baseline risk function follows a Gompertz distribution. The model parameter estimation is obtained by the maximum likelihood estimation procedure and simulation studies are conducted to evaluate the estimators' performance. The studied methodology will be applied to a credit database provided by a financial institution in Brazil.