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In this paper we provide a provably convergent algorithm for the multivariate Gaussian Maximum Likelihood version of the Behrens--Fisher Problem. Our work builds upon a formulation of the log-likelihood function proposed by Buot and Richards citeBR. Instead of focusing on the first order optimality conditions, the algorithm aims directly for the maximization of the log-likelihood function itself to achieve a global solution. Convergence proof and complexity estimates are provided for the algorithm. Computational experiments illustrate the applicability of such methods to high-dimensional data. We also discuss how to extend the proposed methodology to a broader class of problems. We establish a systematic algebraic relation between the Wald, Likelihood Ratio and Lagrangian Multiplier Test ($Wgeq mathit{LR}geq mathit{LM}$) in the context of the Behrens--Fisher Problem. Moreover, we use our algorithm to computationally investigate the finite-sample size and power of the Wald, Likelihood Ratio and Lagrange Multiplier Tests, which previously were only available through asymptotic results. The methods developed here are applicable to much higher dimensional settings than the ones available in the literature. This allows us to better capture the role of high dimensionality on the actual size and power of the tests for finite samples.
This paper is concerned with the problem of comparing the population means of two groups of independent observations. An approximate randomization test procedure based on the test statistic of Chen & Qin (2010) is proposed. The asymptotic behavior of the test statistic as well as the randomized statistic is studied under weak conditions. In our theoretical framework, observations are not assumed to be identically distributed even within groups. No condition on the eigenstructure of the covariance is imposed. And the sample sizes of two groups are allowed to be unbalanced. Under general conditions, all possible asymptotic distributions of the test statistic are obtained. We derive the asymptotic level and local power of the proposed test procedure. Our theoretical results show that the proposed test procedure can adapt to all possible asymptotic distributions of the test statistic and always has correct test level asymptotically. Also, the proposed test procedure has good power behavior. Our numerical experiments show that the proposed test procedure has favorable performance compared with several altervative test procedures.
For in vivo research experiments with small sample sizes and available historical data, we propose a sequential Bayesian method for the Behrens-Fisher problem. We consider it as a model choice question with two models in competition: one for which the two expectations are equal and one for which they are different. The choice between the two models is performed through a Bayesian analysis, based on a robust choice of combined objective and subjective priors, set on the parameters space and on the models space. Three steps are necessary to evaluate the posterior probability of each model using two historical datasets similar to the one of interest. Starting from the Jeffreys prior, a posterior using a first historical dataset is deduced and allows to calibrate the Normal-Gamma informative priors for the second historical dataset analysis, in addition to a uniform prior on the model space. From this second step, a new posterior on the parameter space and the models space can be used as the objective informative prior for the last Bayesian analysis. Bayesian and frequentist methods have been compared on simulated and real data. In accordance with FDA recommendations, control of type I and type II error rates has been evaluated. The proposed method controls them even if the historical experiments are not completely similar to the one of interest.
This paper deals with a new Bayesian approach to the standard one-sample $z$- and $t$- tests. More specifically, let $x_1,ldots,x_n$ be an independent random sample from a normal distribution with mean $mu$ and variance $sigma^2$. The goal is to test the null hypothesis $mathcal{H}_0: mu=mu_1$ against all possible alternatives. The approach is based on using the well-known formula of the Kullbak-Leibler divergence between two normal distributions (sampling and hypothesized distributions selected in an appropriate way). The change of the distance from a priori to a posteriori is compared through the relative belief ratio (a measure of evidence). Eliciting the prior, checking for prior-data conflict and bias are also considered. Many theoretical properties of the procedure have been developed. Besides its simplicity, and unlike the classical approach, the new approach possesses attractive and distinctive features such as giving evidence in favor of the null hypothesis. It also avoids several undesirable paradoxes, such as Lindleys paradox that may be encountered by some existing Bayesian methods. The use of the approach has been illustrated through several examples.
We consider the distinct elements problem, where the goal is to estimate the number of distinct colors in an urn containing $ k $ balls based on $n$ samples drawn with replacements. Based on discrete polynomial approximation and interpolation, we propose an estimator with additive error guarantee that achieves the optimal sample complexity within $O(loglog k)$ factors, and in fact within constant factors for most cases. The estimator can be computed in $O(n)$ time for an accurate estimation. The result also applies to sampling without replacement provided the sample size is a vanishing fraction of the urn size. One of the key auxiliary results is a sharp bound on the minimum singular values of a real rectangular Vandermonde matrix, which might be of independent interest.
In this paper, we show how concentration inequalities for Gaussian quadratic form can be used to propose exact confidence intervals of the Hurst index parametrizing a fractional Brownian motion. Both cases where the scaling parameter of the fractional Brownian motion is known or unknown are investigated. These intervals are obtained by observing a single discretized sample path of a fractional Brownian motion and without any assumption on the parameter $H$.