Comparison of parametric and semi-parametric models with randomly right-censored data by weighted estimators: Two applications in colon cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma datasets

In this study, parametric and semi-parametric regression models are examined for random right censorship. The components of the aforementioned regression models are estimated with weights based on Cox and Kaplan–Meier estimates, which are semi-parametric and nonparametric methods used in survival analysis, respectively. The Tobit based on weights obtained from a Cox regression is handled as a parametric model instead of other parametric models requiring distribution assumptions such as exponential, Weibull, and gamma distributions. Also, the semi-parametric smoothing spline and the semi-parametric smoothing kernel estimators based on Kaplan–Meier weights are used. Therefore, estimates are obtained from two models with flexible approaches. To show the flexible shape of the models depending on the weights, Monte Carlo simulations are conducted, and all results are presented and discussed. Two empirical datasets are used to show the performance of the aforementioned estimators. Although three approaches gave similar results to each other, the semi-parametric approach was slightly superior to the parametric approach. The parametric approach method, on the other hand, yields good results in medium and large sample sizes and at a high censorship level. All other findings have been shared and interpreted.

A Modified Chi-square Type Test for Distributional Validity with Applications to Right Censored Reliability and Medical Data

In this paper, a modified Chi-square goodness-of-fit test called the modified Bagdonavičius-Nikulin goodness-of-fit test statistic is investigated and the applied for distributional validation under the right censored case. The new modified goodness-of-fit test is presented and applied for the right censored data sets. The algorithm of the censored Barzilai-Borwein is employed via a comprehensive simulation study for assessing validity of the new test. The modified Bagdonavičius-Nikulin test is applied to four real and right censored data sets. A new distribution is compared with many other competitive distributions under the new modified Bagdonavičius-Nikulin goodness-of-fit test statistic.

A Two Parameters Rani Distribution: Estimation and Tests for Right Censoring Data with an Application

In this paper, we developed a new distribution, namely the two parameters Rani distribution (TPRD). Some statistical properties of the proposed distribution are derived including the moments, moment-generating function, reliability function, hazard function, reversed hazard function, odds function, the density function of order statistics, stochastically ordering, and the entropies. The maximum likelihood method is used for model parameters estimation. Following the same approach suggested by Bagdonavicius and Nikulin (2011), modified chi squared goodness-of-fit tests are constructed for right censored data and some tests for right data is considered. An application study is presented to illustrate the ability of the suggested model in fitting aluminum reduction cells sets and the strength data of glass of the aircraft window.

RCM 3 Methodology Application to Armored Military Vehicle Cooling System

The ultimate goal of developing the future of Reliability Centered Maintenance is to introduce the RCM3 methodology, applied in this article to the cooling system of high-performance military armored vehicles fleet, used in current operation theaters. This methodology is not only more advanced and aligned with the international standards for physical asset management and risk management, but also allows users to fully understand and quantify the associated risks, focused on the reliability of the systems. The case study aims to obtain a proposed maintenance plan to the vehicle’s cooling system. Methods such as the distribution of Weibull applied to reliability and Right Censored Data, were used for the calculation of MTBF (Mean Time Between Failures). The results of the study confirm the possibility of using the proposed methodology to evaluate the operational reliability of the high-performance military armored vehicles fleet in any armed forces. The maintenance plan obtained with RCM3 proves to be more suitable and capable of reducing the risk associated with the system failure modes.

Statistical Inference of Left Truncated and Right Censored Data from Marshall–Olkin Bivariate Rayleigh Distribution

In this paper, statistical inference and prediction issue of left truncated and right censored dependent competing risk data are studied. When the latent lifetime is distributed by Marshall–Olkin bivariate Rayleigh distribution, the maximum likelihood estimates of unknown parameters are established, and corresponding approximate confidence intervals are also constructed by using a Fisher information matrix and asymptotic approximate theory. Furthermore, Bayesian estimates and associated high posterior density credible intervals of unknown parameters are provided based on general flexible priors. In addition, when there is an order restriction between unknown parameters, the point and interval estimates based on classical and Bayesian frameworks are discussed too. Besides, the prediction issue of a censored sample is addressed based on both likelihood and Bayesian methods. Finally, extensive simulation studies are conducted to investigate the performance of the proposed methods, and two real-life examples are presented for illustration purposes.

Novel empirical likelihood inference for the mean difference with right-censored data

This paper focuses on comparing two means and finding a confidence interval for the difference of two means with right-censored data using the empirical likelihood method combined with the independent and identically distributed random functions representation. In the literature, some early researchers proposed empirical link-based confidence intervals for the mean difference based on right-censored data using the synthetic data approach. However, their empirical log-likelihood ratio statistic has a scaled chi-squared distribution. To avoid the estimation of the scale parameter in constructing confidence intervals, we propose an empirical likelihood method based on the independent and identically distributed representation of Kaplan–Meier weights involved in the empirical likelihood ratio. We obtain the standard chi-squared distribution. We also apply the adjusted empirical likelihood to improve coverage accuracy for small samples. In addition, we investigate a new empirical likelihood method, the mean empirical likelihood, within the framework of our study. The performances of all the empirical likelihood methods are compared via extensive simulations. The proposed empirical likelihood-based confidence interval has better coverage accuracy than those from existing methods. Finally, our findings are illustrated with a real data set.

Applications of statistical experimental designs to improve statistical inference in weed management

In a balanced design, researchers allocate the same number of units across all treatment groups. It has been believed as a rule of thumb among some researchers in agriculture. Sometimes, an unbalanced design outperforms a balanced design. Given a specific parameter of interest, researchers can design an experiment by unevenly distributing experimental units to increase statistical information about the parameter of interest. An additional way of improving an experiment is an adaptive design (e.g., spending the total sample size in multiple steps). It is helpful to have some knowledge about the parameter of interest to design an experiment. In the initial phase of an experiment, a researcher may spend a portion of the total sample size to learn about the parameter of interest. In the later phase, the remaining portion of the sample size can be distributed in order to gain more information about the parameter of interest. Though such ideas have existed in statistical literature, they have not been applied broadly in agricultural studies. In this article, we used simulations to demonstrate the superiority of the experimental designs over the balanced designs under three practical situations: comparing two groups, studying a dose-response relationship with right-censored data, and studying a synergetic effect of two treatments. The simulations showed that an objective-specific design provides smaller error in parameter estimation and higher statistical power in hypothesis testing when compared to a balanced design. We also conducted an adaptive experimental design applied to a dose-response study with right-censored data to quantify the effect of ethanol on weed control. Retrospective simulations supported the benefit of this adaptive design as well. All researchers face different practical situations, and appropriate experimental designs will help utilize available resources efficiently.