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In this paper we introduce the class of beta seasonal autoregressive moving average ($\beta$SARMA) models for modeling and forecasting time series data that assume values in the standard unit interval. It generalizes the class of beta autoregressive moving average models [Rocha and Cribari-Neto, Test, 2009] by incorporating seasonal dynamics to the model dynamic structure. Besides introducing the new class of models, we develop parameter estimation, hypothesis testing inference, and diagnostic analysis tools. We also discuss out-of-sample forecasting. In particular, we provide closed-form expressions for the conditional score vector and for the conditional Fisher information matrix. We also evaluate the finite sample performances of conditional maximum likelihood estimators and white noise tests using Monte Carlo simulations. An empirical application is presented and discussed., Comment: 26 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables

We address the issue of performing inference on the parameters that index a bimodal extension of the Birnbaum-Saunders distribution (BS). We show that maximum likelihood point estimation can be problematic since the standard nonlinear optimization algorithms may fail to converge. To deal with this problem, we penalize the log-likelihood function. The numerical evidence we present show that maximum likelihood estimation based on such penalized function is made considerably more reliable. We also consider hypothesis testing inference based on the penalized log-likelihood function. In particular, we consider likelihood ratio, signed likelihood ratio, score and Wald tests. Bootstrap-based testing inference is also considered. We use a nonnested hypothesis test to distinguish between two bimodal BS laws. We derive analytical corrections to some tests. Monte Carlo simulation results and empirical applications are presented and discussed.

We consider the issue of performing accurate small-sample testing inference in beta regression models, which are useful for modeling continuous variates that assume values in $(0,1)$, such as rates and proportions. We derive the Bartlett correction to the likelihood ratio test statistic and also consider a bootstrap Bartlett correction. Using Monte Carlo simulations we compare the finite sample performances of the two corrected tests to that of the standard likelihood ratio test and also to its variant that employs Skovgaard's adjustment; the latter is already available in the literature. The numerical evidence favors the corrected tests we propose. We also present an empirical application., Comment: 27 pages, 5 tables, 3 figures

The Akaike information criterion (AIC) is a model selection criterion widely used in practical applications. The AIC is an estimator of the log-likelihood expected value, and measures the discrepancy between the true model and the estimated model. In small samples the AIC is biased and tends to select overparameterized models. To circumvent that problem, we propose two new selection criteria, namely: the bootstrapped likelihood quasi-CV (BQCV) and its 632QCV variant. We use Monte Carlo simulation to compare the finite sample performances of the two proposed criteria to those of the AIC and its variations that use the bootstrapped log-likelihood in the class of varying dispersion beta regressions. The numerical evidence shows that the proposed model selection criteria perform well in small samples. We also present and discuss and empirical application., Comment: 27 pages, 1 figure, 7 tables

We address the issue of model selection in beta regressions with varying dispersion. The model consists of two submodels, namely: for the mean and for the dispersion. Our focus is on the selection of the covariates for each submodel. Our Monte Carlo evidence reveals that the joint selection of covariates for the two submodels is not accurate in finite samples. We introduce two new model selection criteria that explicitly account for varying dispersion and propose a fast two step model selection scheme which is considerably more accurate and is computationally less costly than usual joint model selection. Monte Carlo evidence is presented and discussed. We also present the results of an empirical application., Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures, 7 tables

This paper considers edge interval estimation between two regions of a Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) image which differ in texture. This is a difficult task because SAR images are contaminated with speckle noise. Different point estimation strategies under multiplicative noise are discussed in the literature. It is important to assess the quality of such point estimates and to also perform inference under a given confidence level. This can be achieved through interval parameter estimation. To that end, we propose bootstrap-based edge confidence interval. The relative merits of the different inference strategies are compared using Monte Carlo simulation. The results show that interval edge estimation can be used to assess the accuracy of an edge point estimate. They also show that interval estimates can be quite accurate and that they can indicate the absence of an edge. In order to illustrate interval edge estimation, we also analyze a real dataset., Comment: The manuscript is accepted for publication in IEEE Transactions on Geoscience and Remote Sensing

We address the issue of edge detection in Synthetic Aperture Radar imagery. In particular, we propose nonparametric methods for edge detection, and numerically compare them to an alternative method that has been recently proposed in the literature. Our results show that some of the proposed methods display superior results and are computationally simpler than the existing method. An application to real (not simulated) data is presented and discussed., Comment: Accepted for publication in Mathematics and Computers in Simulation

The valuation of real estates (e.g., house, land, among others) is of extreme importance for decision making. Their singular characteristics make valuation through hedonic pricing methods dificult since the theory does not specify the correct regression functional form nor which explanatory variables should be included in the hedonic equation. In this article we perform real estate appraisal using a class of regression models proposed by Rigby & Stasinopoulos (2005): generalized additive models for location, scale and shape (GAMLSS). Our empirical analysis shows that these models seem to be more appropriate for estimation of the hedonic prices function than the regression models currently used to that end., Comment: 19 pages, 6 Figures

The two-parameter distribution known as exponential-Poisson (EP) distribution, which has decreasing failure rate, was introduced by Kus (2007). In this paper we generalize the EP distribution and show that the failure rate of the new distribution can be decreasing or increasing. The failure rate can also be upside-down bathtub shaped. A comprehensive mathematical treatment of the new distribution is provided. We provide closed-form expressions for the density, cumulative distribution, survival and failure rate functions; we also obtain the density of the $i$th order statistic. We derive the $r$th raw moment of the new distribution and also the moments of order statistics. Moreover, we discuss estimation by maximum likelihood and obtain an expression for Fisher's information matrix. Furthermore, expressions for the R\'enyi and Shannon entropies are given and estimation of the stress-strength parameter is discussed. Applications using two real data sets are presented.

Mixed linear models are commonly used in repeated measures studies. They account for the dependence amongst observations obtained from the same experimental unit. Oftentimes, the number of observations is small, and it is thus important to use inference strategies that incorporate small sample corrections. In this paper, we develop modified versions of the likelihood ratio test for fixed effects inference in mixed linear models. In particular, we derive a Bartlett correction to such a test and also to a test obtained from a modified profile likelihood function. Our results generalize those in Zucker et al. (Journal of the Royal Statistical Society B, 2000, 62, 827-838) by allowing the parameter of interest to be vector-valued. Additionally, our Bartlett corrections allow for random effects nonlinear covariance matrix structure. We report numerical evidence which shows that the proposed tests display superior finite sample behavior relative to the standard likelihood ratio test. An application is also presented and discussed., Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure

The Birnbaum-Saunders regression model is commonly used in reliability studies. We address the issue of performing inference in this class of models when the number of observations is small. We show that the likelihood ratio test tends to be liberal when the sample size is small, and we obtain a correction factor which reduces the size distortion of the test. The correction makes the error rate of he test vanish faster as the sample size increases. The numerical results show that the modified test is more reliable in finite samples than the usual likelihood ratio test. We also present an empirical application., Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure

The Birnbaum-Saunders distribution, also known as the fatigue-life distribution, is frequently used in reliability studies. We obtain adjustments to the Birnbaum--Saunders profile likelihood function. The modified versions of the likelihood function were obtained for both the shape and scale parameters, i.e., we take the shape parameter to be of interest and the scale parameter to be of nuisance, and then consider the situation in which the interest lies in performing inference on the scale parameter with the shape parameter entering the modeling in nuisance fashion. Modified profile maximum likelihood estimators are obtained by maximizing the corresponding adjusted likelihood functions. We present numerical evidence on the finite sample behavior of the different estimators and associated likelihood ratio tests. The results favor the adjusted estimators and tests we propose. A novel aspect of the profile likelihood adjustments obtained in this paper is that they yield improved point estimators and tests. The two profile likelihood adjustments work well when inference is made on the shape parameter, and one of them displays superior behavior when it comes to performing hypothesis testing inference on the scale parameter. Two empirical applications are briefly presented., Comment: Paper accepted for publication in Computational Statistics and Data Analysis