The paper studies estimation of partially linear hazard regression models with varying coefficients for multivariate survival data. A profile pseudo-partial-likelihood estimation method is proposed. The estimation of the parameters of the linear part is accomplished via maximization of the profile pseudo-partial-likelihood, whereas the varying-coefficient functions are considered as nuisance parameters that are profiled out of the likelihood. It is shown that the estimators of the parameters are root n consistent and the estimators of the non-parametric coefficient functions achieve optimal convergence rates. Asymptotic normality is obtained for the estimators of the finite parameters and varying-coefficient functions. Consistent estimators of the asymptotic variances are derived and empirically tested, which facilitate inference for the model. We prove that the varying-coefficient functions can be estimated as well as if the parametric components were known and the failure times within each subject were independent. Simulations are conducted to demonstrate the performance of the estimators proposed. A real data set is analysed to illustrate the methodology proposed.
Varying-coefficient linear models arise from multivariate nonparametric regression, non-linear time series modelling and forecasting, functional data analysis, longitudinal data analysis and others. It has been a common practice to assume that the varying coefficients are functions of a given variable, which is often called an index. To enlarge the modelling capacity substantially, this paper explores a class of varying-coefficient linear models in which the index is unknown and is estimated as a linear combination of regressors and/or other variables. We search for the index such that the derived varying-coefficient model provides the least squares approximation to the underlying unknown multidimensional regression function. The search is implemented through a newly proposed hybrid backfitting algorithm. The core of the algorithm is the alternating iteration between estimating the index through a one-step scheme and estimating coefficient functions through one-dimensional local linear smoothing. The locally significant variables are selected in terms of a combined use of the t-statistic and the Akaike information criterion. We further extend the algorithm for models with two indices. Simulation shows that the methodology proposed has appreciable flexibility to model complex multivariate non-linear structure and is practically feasible with average modern computers. The methods are further illustrated through the Canadian mink–muskrat data in 1925–1994 and the pound–dollar exchange rates in 1974–1983.
more » « less- NSF-PAR ID:
- 10405789
- Publisher / Repository:
- Oxford University Press
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of the Royal Statistical Society Series B: Statistical Methodology
- Volume:
- 65
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 1369-7412
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- p. 57-80
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
More Like this
-
more » « less
Summary -
more » « less
Summary Multivariate functional data are increasingly encountered in data analysis, whereas statistical models for such data are not well developed yet. Motivated by a case-study where one aims to quantify the relationship between various longitudinally recorded behaviour intensities for Drosophila flies, we propose a functional linear manifold model. This model reflects the functional dependence between the components of multivariate random processes and is defined through data-determined linear combinations of the multivariate component trajectories, which are characterized by a set of varying-coefficient functions. The time varying linear relationships that govern the components of multivariate random functions yield insights about the underlying processes and also lead to noise-reduced representations of the multivariate component trajectories. The functional linear manifold model proposed is put to the task for an analysis of longitudinally observed behavioural patterns of flying, feeding, walking and resting over the lifespan of Drosophila flies and is also investigated in simulations.
-
more » « less
Abstract We introduce the Weak-form Estimation of Nonlinear Dynamics (WENDy) method for estimating model parameters for non-linear systems of ODEs. Without relying on any numerical differential equation solvers, WENDy computes accurate estimates and is robust to large (biologically relevant) levels of measurement noise. For low dimensional systems with modest amounts of data, WENDy is competitive with conventional forward solver-based nonlinear least squares methods in terms of speed and accuracy. For both higher dimensional systems and stiff systems, WENDy is typically both faster (often by orders of magnitude) and more accurate than forward solver-based approaches. The core mathematical idea involves an efficient conversion of the strong form representation of a model to its weak form, and then solving a regression problem to perform parameter inference. The core statistical idea rests on the Errors-In-Variables framework, which necessitates the use of the iteratively reweighted least squares algorithm. Further improvements are obtained by using orthonormal test functions, created from a set of
$$C^{\infty }$$ https://github.com/MathBioCU/WENDy . -
more » « less
Summary We introduce a flexible marginal modelling approach for statistical inference for clustered and longitudinal data under minimal assumptions. This estimated estimating equations approach is semiparametric and the proposed models are fitted by quasi-likelihood regression, where the unknown marginal means are a function of the fixed effects linear predictor with unknown smooth link, and variance–covariance is an unknown smooth function of the marginal means. We propose to estimate the nonparametric link and variance–covariance functions via smoothing methods, whereas the regression parameters are obtained via the estimated estimating equations. These are score equations that contain nonparametric function estimates. The proposed estimated estimating equations approach is motivated by its flexibility and easy implementation. Moreover, if data follow a generalized linear mixed model, with either a specified or an unspecified distribution of random effects and link function, the model proposed emerges as the corresponding marginal (population-average) version and can be used to obtain inference for the fixed effects in the underlying generalized linear mixed model, without the need to specify any other components of this generalized linear mixed model. Among marginal models, the estimated estimating equations approach provides a flexible alternative to modelling with generalized estimating equations. Applications of estimated estimating equations include diagnostics and link selection. The asymptotic distribution of the proposed estimators for the model parameters is derived, enabling statistical inference. Practical illustrations include Poisson modelling of repeated epileptic seizure counts and simulations for clustered binomial responses.
-
more » « less
Summary Many contemporary large-scale applications involve building interpretable models linking a large set of potential covariates to a response in a non-linear fashion, such as when the response is binary. Although this modelling problem has been extensively studied, it remains unclear how to control the fraction of false discoveries effectively even in high dimensional logistic regression, not to mention general high dimensional non-linear models. To address such a practical problem, we propose a new framework of ‘model-X’ knockoffs, which reads from a different perspective the knockoff procedure that was originally designed for controlling the false discovery rate in linear models. Whereas the knockoffs procedure is constrained to homoscedastic linear models with n⩾p, the key innovation here is that model-X knockoffs provide valid inference from finite samples in settings in which the conditional distribution of the response is arbitrary and completely unknown. Furthermore, this holds no matter the number of covariates. Correct inference in such a broad setting is achieved by constructing knockoff variables probabilistically instead of geometrically. To do this, our approach requires that the covariates are random (independent and identically distributed rows) with a distribution that is known, although we provide preliminary experimental evidence that our procedure is robust to unknown or estimated distributions. To our knowledge, no other procedure solves the controlled variable selection problem in such generality but, in the restricted settings where competitors exist, we demonstrate the superior power of knockoffs through simulations. Finally, we apply our procedure to data from a case–control study of Crohn's disease in the UK, making twice as many discoveries as the original analysis of the same data.
