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This paper concerns regression methodology for assessing relationships between multi-dimensional response variables and covariates that are correlated within a network. To address analytical challenges associated with the integration of network topology into the regression analysis, we propose a hybrid quadratic inference method that uses both prior and data-driven correlations among network nodes. A Godambe information-based tuning strategy is developed to allocate weights between the prior and data-driven network structures, so the estimator is efficient. The proposed method is conceptually simple and computationally fast, and has appealing large-sample properties. It is evaluated by simulation, and its application is illustrated using neuroimaging data from an association study of the effects of iron deficiency on auditory recognition memory in infants.

Merging data from multiple studies has been widely adopted in biomedical research. In this paper, we consider two major issues related to merging longitudinal datasets. We first develop a rigorous hypothesis testing procedure to assess the validity of data merging, and then propose a flexible joint estimation procedure that enables us to analyse merged data and to account for different within-subject correlations and follow-up schedules in different studies. We establish large sample properties for the proposed procedures. We compare our method with meta analysis and generalized estimating equations and show that our test provides robust control of Type I error against both misspecification of working correlation structures and heterogeneous dispersion parameters. Our joint estimating procedure leads to an improvement in estimation efficiency on all regression coefficients after data merging is validated. Copyright 2012, Oxford University Press.

The inverse probability weighted generalized estimating equations approach (Robins et al. 1994; Robins et al. 1995), effectively removes bias and provides valid statistical inference for regression parameter estimation in marginal models when longitudinal data contain missing values. The validity of the weighted generalized estimating equations regarding consistent estimation depends on whether the underlying missing data process is properly modelled. However, there is little work available to examine whether or not this condition holds. In this paper we propose a test constructed from two sets of estimating equations: one set is known to be unbiased, but the other set is not known. We utilize the quadratic inference function (Qu et al. 2000) method to assess their compatibility, which is equivalent to testing for the validity of the weighted generalized estimating equations approach. We conduct simulation studies to assess the performance of the proposed method. The test procedure is illustrated through a real data example. Copyright 2011, Oxford University Press.

In the presence of data contamination or outliers, some empirical studies have indicated that the two methods of generalised estimating equations and quadratic inference functions appear to have rather different robustness behaviour. This paper presents a theoretical investigation from the perspective of the influence function to identify the causes for the difference. We show that quadratic inference functions lead to bounded influence functions and the corresponding M-estimator has a redescending property, but the generalised estimating equation approach does not. We also illustrate that, unlike generalised estimating equations, quadratic inference functions can still provide consistent estimators even if part of the data is contaminated. We conclude that the quadratic inference function is a preferable method to the generalised estimating equation as far as robustness is concerned. This conclusion is supported by simulations and real-data examples.

SUMMARY We address the matter of determining whether or not missing data in longitudinal studies are ignorable with regard to quasilikelihood or estimating equations approaches. This involves testing for whether or not the zero-mean property of estimating equations holds true. Chen & Little (1999) proposed testing for significant differences among parameter estimators calculated from sample subsets with different patterns of missing data, whereas we propose a more unified generalised score-type test. This avoids exhaustive estimation of parameters for each missing-data pattern, testing instead with a single quadratic score test statistic whether or not there is a common parameter under which the means of all the pattern-specific estimating equations are zero. Comparisons are made for the two approaches with both simulations and real data examples.

SUMMARY We propose a nonstationary state space model for multivariate longitudinal count data driven by a latent gamma Markov process. The Poisson counts are assumed to be conditionally independent given the latent process, both over time and across categories. We consider a regression model where time-varying covariates may enter via either the Poisson model or the latent gamma process. Estimation is based on the Kalman smoother, and we consider analysis of residuals from both the Poisson model and the latent process. A reanalysis of Zeger's (1988) polio data shows that the choice between a stationary and nonstationary model is crucial for the correct assessment of the evidence of a long-term decrease in the rate of U.S. polio infection.