Analysis of two-sample truncated data using generalized logistic models

Parallel to Cox's [JRSS B34 (1972) 187-230] proportional hazards model, generalized logistic models have been discussed by Anderson [Bull. Int. Statist. Inst. 48 (1979) 35-53] and others. The essential assumption is that the two densities ratio has a known parametric form. A nice property of this model is that it naturally relates to the logistic regression model for categorical data. In astronomic, demographic, epidemiological, and other studies the variable of interest is often truncated by an associated variable. This paper studies generalized logistic models for the two-sample truncated data problem, where the two lifetime densities ratio is assumed to have the form exp{α+φ(x;β)}. Here φ is a known function of x and β, and the baseline density is unspecified. We develop a semiparametric maximum likelihood method for the case where the two samples have a common truncation distribution. It is shown that inferences for β do not depend the nonparametric components. We also derive an iterative algorithm to maximize the semiparametric likelihood for the general case where different truncation distributions are allowed. We further discuss how to check goodness of fit of the generalized logistic model. The developed methods are illustrated and evaluated using both simulated and real data.     

Cochran's statistical theorem for outer inverses of matrices and matrix quadratic forms

We extend the matrix version of Cochran's statistical theorem to outer inverses of a matrix. As applications, we investigate the Wishartness and independence of matrix quadratic forms for Kronecker product covariance structures.     

Places of algebraic function fields in arbitrary characteristic

We consider the Zariski space of all places of an algebraic function field F|K of arbitrary characteristic and investigate its structure by means of its patch topology. We show that certain sets of places with nice properties (e.g., prime divisors, places of maximal rank, zero-dimensional discrete places) lie dense in this topology. Further, we give several equivalent characterizations of fields that are large, in the sense of F. Pop's Annals paper Embedding problems over large fields. We also study the question whether a field K is existentially closed in an extension field L if L admits a K-rational place. In the appendix, we prove the fact that the Zariski space with the Zariski topology is quasi-compact and that it is a spectral space.     

Long Abelian ideals

We study Abelian ideals of a Borel subalgebra consisting of long roots. It is shown that methods of Cellini and Papi can be extended to this situation. A uniform expression for the number of long Abelian ideals is given. We also show that there is a one-to-one correspondence between the long Abelian ideals and B-stable commutative subalgebras in the little adjoint representation of the Langlands dual Lie algebra.     

From a Nonlinear, Nonconvex Variational Problem to a Linear, Convex Formulation

   Abstract. We propose a general approach to deal with nonlinear, nonconvex variational problems based on a reformulation of the problem resulting in an optimization problem with linear cost functional and convex constraints. As a first step we explicitly explore these ideas to some one-dimensional variational problems and obtain specific conclusions of an analytical and numerical nature.     

Rank one perturbations at infinite coupling in Pontryagin spaces

In this paper we relate the operators in the operator representations of a generalized Nevanlinna function N(z) and of the function −N(z)⁻¹ under the assumption that z=∞ is the only (generalized) pole of nonpositive type. The results are applied to the Q-function for S and H and the Q-function for S and H^∞, where H is a self-adjoint operator in a Pontryagin space with a cyclic element w, H^∞ is the self-adjoint relation obtained from H and w via a rank one perturbation at infinite coupling, and S is the symmetric operator given by S=H∩H^∞.     

Improvements in Depth Selective Electron Mössbauer Spectroscopy

The conditions for achievement of high resolving power of depth selective conversion electron Mössbauer spectroscopy method at a combined installation ‘electron spectrometer–nuclear gamma-resonance spectrometer’ have been obtained. There has been made a considerable step in development of the method at its realization at a magnetic sector electron spectrometer with double focusing, equipped with electron source (a sample under investigation) of large-area and position-sensitive detector. The paper presents a prospective symmetrical version of a magnetic sector electron spectrometer that allows realizing more completely possibilities of the method. It is noted that the proposed method is particularly valuable for investigations of nanosystems, nanostrutures that contain Mössbauer nuclei.     

What Oxidation State of Iron Determines the Amethyst Colour?

A colourless quartz crystal doped with ⁵⁷Fe³⁺ was obtained by hydrothermal synthesis in an NH₄F solution. The crystal was transformed into violet amethyst by gamma-irradiation. The change in colour was accompanied by changes in the Mössbauer spectrum that can be interpreted as the conversion of trivalent iron into the tetravalent state: Fe³⁺→Fe⁴⁺.

     

Attractors for 2D-Navier-Stokes models with delays

The existence of an attractor for a 2D-Navier-Stokes system with delay is proved. The theory of pullback attractors is successfully applied to obtain the results since the abstract functional framework considered turns out to be nonautonomous. However, on some occasions, the attractors may attract not only in the pullback sense but in the forward one as well. Also, this formulation allows to treat, in a unified way, terms containing various classes of delay features (constant, variable, distributed delays, etc.). As a consequence, some results for the autonomous model are deduced as particular cases of our general formulation.