Parametric and semiparametric models are tools with a wide range of applications to reliability, survival analysis, and quality of life. This self-contained volume examines these tools in survey articles written by experts currently working on the development and evaluation of models and methods. While a number of chapters deal with general theory, several explore more specific connections and recent results in "real-world" reliability theory, survival analysis, and related fields. Specific topics covered include:

• cancer prognosis using survival forests

• short-term health problems related to air pollution: analysis using semiparametric generalized additive models

• semiparametric models in the studies of aging and longevity

  This book will be of use as a reference text for general statisticians, theoreticians, graduate students, reliability engineers, health researchers, and biostatisticians working in applied probability and statistics.

  Inhalt

  Part I: Cox Models and Analyses Estimation in Partly Parametric Additive Cox Models / H. Läuter Nonparametric Maximum Likelihood Estimation in the Proportional Hazards Model with Covariate Measurement Error / J-F. Dupuy Diagnostics for Cox's Proportional Hazards Model / C. Caroni Part II: Degradation Models and Analyses Semiparametric Analysis of Degradation and Failure Time Data with Covariates / V. Bagdonavicius and M. Nikulin On a Degradation-Failure Model for Repairable Items / A. Lehmann Comparison of Parametric and Semiparametric Estimates in a Degradation Model with Covariates and Traumatic Censoring / V. Couallier Part III: Accelerated Failure Time Models and Analyses Accelerated Life Testing, Fuzzy Information and Generalized Probability / R. Viertl Asymptotic Theory in Rank Estimation for AFT Model under Fixed Censorship / Z. Jin and Z. Ying An Example of Optimal Design in Accelerated Experiments / L. Gerville-Reache Part IV: Aging Properties and Analyses Aspects of Multivariate Aging in Exchangeable Frailty Models / F. Spizzichino Semiparametric Models in the Studies of Aging and Longevity / A. I. Yashin Part V: Analyses of Censored and Truncated Data Semiparametric Transformation Models for Arbitrarily Censored and Truncated Data / C. Huber-Carol and F. Vonta EM Algorithm for Type-II Right Censored Bivariate Normal Data / N. Balakrishnan and J.-A. Kim Statistical Estimation Based on Interval Censored Data / M.S. Tikhov Part VI: Regression Methods and Applications The Covariate Order Method for Nonparametric Exponential Regression and Some Applications in Other Lifetime Models J.V. Kvaløy and B.H. Lindquist Effect of Ignoring Heterogeneity in Hazards Regression / H-D. I. Wu Part VII: Time-Series Analysis An Introduction to Efficient Estimation for SemiparametricTime Series / P. E. Greenwood, U. U. Mueller and W. Wefelmeyer Part VIII: Inferential Methods Distance-Based Multivariate Two Sample Tests / C. M. Cuadras and J. Fortiana Empirical Likelihood in Nonparametric and Semiparametric Models / P. Bertail Goodness of Fit Tests of L_2-Type / H. Liero Part IX: Multicentre Studies Asymptotic Properties of the CRT Estimators for Multicentre Studies / V. V. Anisimov and V. V. Fedorov Part X: Quality of Life Studies HRQoL and Concomitant Adjusted Mean Residual Life Analysis / P. K. Sen Semiparametric Approach to the Multivariate Mixed Rasch Model / M-L. Feddag and M. Mesbah Part XI: Breast Cancer Studies Breast Cancer Prognosis using Survival Forests / T. M. Hoang and V. L. Parsons Semiparametric Versus Parametric Regression Analysis Based on the Bounded Cumulative Hazard Model: An Application to Breast Cancer Recurrence K. M. Boucher, B. Asselain, A. D. Tsodikov and A. Y. Yakovlev Part XII: Inference for Processes Estimation of Analytic Spectral Density of Gaussian Stationary Processes / I. Ibragimov Sub-optimal Estimation of Unknown Function from Stationary Noisy Data / V. Solev On Parameter Estimation by Contaminated Observations of Ergodic Diffusion Processes / Yu. A. Kutoyants On Parameter Estimation for a Position-Dependent Marking of a Doubly Stochastic Poisson Process / H. Wendt and W. Kahle Discrete Time Semi-Markov Processes for Reliability and Survival Analysis: A Nonparametric Estimation Approach / V. Barbu and N. Limnios Non-parametric Estimation on Lifetimes of Subjects Exposed to Radiation from a Semi-Markov Process / A-L. Afchain Part XIII: Probability Theory and Applications An Extension of Levy's Formula to Weighted Wiener Processes / P. Deheuvels Sur l'Inegalite de Concentration de Doeblin-Levy, Rogozin, Kesten / J. Bretagnolle<