Different continuous-time models for interest rates coexist in the literature. We test parametric models by comparing their implied parametric density to the same density estimated nonparametrically. We do not replace the continuous-time model by discrete approximations, even though the data are recorded at discrete intervals. The principal source of rejection of existing models is the strong nonlinearity of the drift. Around its mean, where the drift is essentially zero, the spot rate behaves like a random walk. The drift then mean-reverts strongly when far away from the mean. The volatility is higher when away from the mean.

Testing Continuous-Time Models of the Spot Interest Rate

A large number of statistics are used in the literature to detect outliers and influential observations in the linear regression model. In this paper comparison studies have been made for determining a statistic which performs better than the other. This includes: (i) a detailed simulation study, and (ii) analyses of several data sets studied by different authors. Different choices of the design matrix of regression model are considered. Design A studies the performance of the various statistics for detecting the scale shift type outliers, and designs B and C provide information on the performance of the statistics for identifying the influential observations. We have used cutoff points using the exact distributions and Bonferroni's inequality for each statistic. The results show that the studentized residual which is used for detection of mean shift outliers is appropriate for detection of scale shift outliers also, and the Welsch's statistic and the Cook's distance are appropriate for detection of influential observations.

A comparative study on detection of influential observations in linear regression

Properties of progressively censored order statistics and inferential procedures based on progressively censored samples have recently attracted considerable attention in the literature. In this paper, I provide an overview of various developments that have taken place in this direction and also suggest some potential problems of interest for further research.

Progressive censoring methodology: an appraisal

Estimation of parameters from progressively censored data using EM algorithm

This article deals with the Bayesian inference of unknown parameters of the progressively censored Weibull distribution. It is well known that for a Weibull distribution, while computing the Bayes estimates, the continuous conjugate joint prior distribution of the shape and scale parameters does not exist. In this article it is assumed that the shape parameter has a log-concave prior density function, and for the given shape parameter, the scale parameter has a conjugate prior distribution. As expected, when the shape parameter is unknown, the closed-form expressions of the Bayes estimators cannot be obtained. We use Lindley's approximation to compute the Bayes estimates and the Gibbs sampling procedure to calculate the credible intervals. For given priors, we also provide a methodology to compare two different censoring schemes and thus find the optimal Bayesian censoring scheme. Monte Carlo simulations are performed to observe the behavior of the proposed methods, and a data analysis is onducted for ill...

Bayesian Inference and Life Testing Plan for the Weibull Distribution in Presence of Progressive Censoring

This article presents progressively censored variable sampling plans for the Weibull distribution. Approximate maximum likelihood estimators are developed for estimating the parameters of interest. In the construction of sampling plans, asymptotic distribution theory is used to determine the sample size and the acceptance constant. Sampling plans are tabulated for selected progressive censoring patterns and specifications, for demonstration and comparison. A Monte Carlo experiment, conducted to investigate the accuracy of the asymptotic normal approximation, has shown that the procedure is sufficiently accurate for practical purposes. An example, based on data reported by Montanari and Cacciari from progressively censored aging tests on XLPE-insulated cable models, is given for illustration.

https://www.jstor.org/stable/info/1271448

Progressively Censored Reliability Sampling Plans for the Weibull Distribution

This paper presents reliability sampling plans for the lognormal distribution based on progressively censored samples. In constructing these sampling plans, large-sample approximations to the best linear unbiased estimators of the location and scale parameters are used. For some selected progressive censoring schemes, reliability sampling plans are tabulated for p/sub /spl alpha// and p/sub /spl beta// to match MIL-STD-105. While in general, variable-sampling plans require smaller sample size when compared with attribute-sampling plans, the ordinary complete and right-censored life test experiments are special cases of the progressively censored experiment. Hence, the progressively censored reliability sampling plans in this paper are widely applicable. General application of the procedure is discussed, and two examples are provided.

Reliability sampling plans for lognormal distribution, based on progressively-censored samples

In this paper we examine the failure-censored sampling plans for the two–parameter exponential distri- bution based on m random samples, each of size n. The suggested procedure is based on exact results and only the first failure time of each sample is needed. The values of the acceptability constant are also tabulated for selected values of p α 1 p β 1, α and β. Further, a comparison of the proposed sampling plans with ordinary sampling plans using a sample of size mn is made. When compared to ordinary sampling plans, the proposed plan has an advantage in terms of shorter test-time and a saving of resources.

Failure–censored reliability sampling plans for the exponential distribution

For many high reliability products where very few items are expected to fail during the test period, testing under normal conditions is not feasible. Further, the requirement for high reliability increases the need for test procedures which yield valuable degradation and other useful information for improving product reliability. Thus in some manufacturing and other experiments, various types of failure censored and accelerated life tests are commonly employed for life testing. In this paper we discuss Type I progressively censored variable-sampling plans for Weibull lifetime distributions under competing causes of failure. The proposed procedure is attractive as it yields useful degradation-related information for improving product quality. In addition, the procedure is useful when a test is conducted under severe time constraint and/or when the experimenter wishes to save costly specimens or scarce test facilities for other use.

Competing causes of failure and reliability tests for Weibull lifetimes under type I progressive censoring

This paper presents reliability sampling plans for the two-parameter exponential distribution under progressive censoring. These sampling plans are quite useful to practitioners, because they provide savings in resources and in total test time. Furthermore, they off er the flexibility to remove functioning test specimens from further testing at various stages of the experimentation. In the construction of these sampling plans, the operating characteristic curve is derived using the exact distributional properties of maximum likelihood estimators. An example is given to illustrate the application of the proposed sampling plans.

Uditha Balasooriya

Papers

Progressively Censored Reliability Sampling Plans for the Weibull Distribution

Reliability sampling plans for lognormal distribution, based on progressively-censored samples

Failure–censored reliability sampling plans for the exponential distribution

Competing causes of failure and reliability tests for Weibull lifetimes under type I progressive censoring

Reliability sampling plans for the two-parameter exponential distribution under progressive censoring