Probability, Statistics & Symmetry

A special issue of Mathematics (ISSN 2227-7390). This special issue belongs to the section "Probability and Statistics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2024 | Viewed by 12379

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Math Department, University of Atacama, Copiapó 1530000, Chile
Interests: survival analysis; regression analysis; theory of distributions; bias reduction methodologies; EM-type algorithms

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Statistics, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal 59078-970, RN, Brazil
Interests: statistical analysis; data analysis; statistics; statistical modeling; probability; simulation; applied statistics; econometric analysis; applied mathematics; modeling and simulation

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Symmetry is a key concept in statistics and probability. It appears naturally in numerous applied areas, such as engineering, medicine, psychology, and economics, among others. This Special Issue is dedicated to publishing new theoretical and/or computational methodologies dedicated to the application of the concepts of symmetry and asymmetry in current topics of statistics and probability.

The scope includes but is not limited to the following topics:

  • Distribution theory;
  • Regression models;
  • Survival analysis;
  • Inference in stochastic processes;
  • Machine learning;
  • Time series analysis.

Dr. Diego I. Gallardo
Prof. Dr. Marcelo Bourguignon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Mathematics is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Published Papers (12 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

25 pages, 664 KiB  
Article
Extropy and Some of Its More Recent Related Measures for Concomitants of K-Record Values in an Extended FGM Family
by Mohamed A. Abd Elgawad, Haroon M. Barakat, Metwally A. Alawady, Doaa A. Abd El-Rahman, Islam A. Husseiny, Atef F. Hashem and Naif Alotaibi
Mathematics 2023, 11(24), 4934; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11244934 - 12 Dec 2023
Viewed by 630
Abstract
This study uses an effective, recently extended Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern (EFGM) family to derive the distribution of concomitants of K-record upper values (CKRV). For this CKRV, the negative cumulative residual extropy (NCREX), weighted NCREX (WNCREX), negative cumulative extropy (NCEX), and weighted NCEX (WNCEX) are [...] Read more.
This study uses an effective, recently extended Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern (EFGM) family to derive the distribution of concomitants of K-record upper values (CKRV). For this CKRV, the negative cumulative residual extropy (NCREX), weighted NCREX (WNCREX), negative cumulative extropy (NCEX), and weighted NCEX (WNCEX) are theoretically and numerically examined. This study presents several beautiful symmetrical and asymmetric relationships that these inaccuracy measurements satisfy. Additionally, empirical estimations are provided for these measures, and their visualizations enable users to verify their accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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19 pages, 894 KiB  
Article
Bivariate Unit-Weibull Distribution: Properties and Inference
by Roger Tovar-Falón, Guillermo Martínez-Flórez and Luis Páez-Martínez
Mathematics 2023, 11(17), 3760; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11173760 - 01 Sep 2023
Viewed by 721
Abstract
In this article, we introduce a novel bivariate probability distribution that is absolutely continuous. Considering the Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern (FGM) copula and the unit-Weibull distribution, we can obtain a bivariate unit-Weibull distribution. We evaluate the main properties of the new proposal and use two estimation [...] Read more.
In this article, we introduce a novel bivariate probability distribution that is absolutely continuous. Considering the Farlie–Gumbel–Morgenstern (FGM) copula and the unit-Weibull distribution, we can obtain a bivariate unit-Weibull distribution. We evaluate the main properties of the new proposal and use two estimation methods to estimate the parameter for the bivariate probability distribution. A brief Monte Carlo simulation study is conducted to assess the behavior of the employed estimation method and the characteristics of the estimators. Ultimately, as an illustration, a real-life application is presented, demonstrating the utility of the proposal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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14 pages, 503 KiB  
Article
The Log-Bimodal Asymmetric Generalized Gaussian Model with Application to Positive Data
by Guillermo Martínez-Flórez, Roger Tovar-Falón and Heleno Bolfarine
Mathematics 2023, 11(16), 3587; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11163587 - 19 Aug 2023
Viewed by 604
Abstract
One of the most widely known probability distributions used to explain the probabilistic behavior of positive data is the log-normal (LN). Although the LN distribution is capable of adjusting data types, it is not always fully true that the model manages to adequately [...] Read more.
One of the most widely known probability distributions used to explain the probabilistic behavior of positive data is the log-normal (LN). Although the LN distribution is capable of adjusting data types, it is not always fully true that the model manages to adequately model the behavior of the response of interest since in some cases, the degree of skewness and/or kurtosis of the data are greater or less than those that the LN distribution can capture. Another peculiarity of the LN distribution is that it only fits unimodal positive data, which constitutes a limitation when dealing with data that present more than one mode (bimodality). On the other hand, the log-normal model only fits unimodal positive data and in reality there are multiple applications where the behavior of materials is bimodal. To fill this gap, this paper introduces a new probability distribution that is capable of fitting unimodal or bimodal positive data with a high or low degree of skewness and/or kurtosis. The new distribution is a generalization of the LN distribution. For the new proposal, its main properties are studied and the process of estimation of the parameters involved in the model is carried out from a classical perspective using the maximum likelihood method. An important feature of this distribution is the non-singularity of the Fisher information matrix, which guarantees the use of asymptotic theory to study the properties of the parameter estimators. A Monte Carlo type simulation study is carried out to evaluate the properties of the estimators and finally, an illustration is presented with a set of data related to the concentration of nickel in soil samples, allowing to show that the proposed distribution fits extremely well in certain situations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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22 pages, 1117 KiB  
Article
The NBRULC Reliability Class: Mathematical Theory and Goodness-of-Fit Testing with Applications to Asymmetric Censored and Uncensored Data
by Walid B. H. Etman, Mohamed S. Eliwa, Hana N. Alqifari, Mahmoud El-Morshedy, Laila A. Al-Essa and Rashad M. EL-Sagheer
Mathematics 2023, 11(13), 2805; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11132805 - 21 Jun 2023
Viewed by 737
Abstract
The majority of approaches proposed in the past few decades to solve life test problems have differed markedly from those used for closely related, yet broader, issues. Due to the complexity of data that are generated each day in many practical domains, as [...] Read more.
The majority of approaches proposed in the past few decades to solve life test problems have differed markedly from those used for closely related, yet broader, issues. Due to the complexity of data that are generated each day in many practical domains, as a result of the development of scales for rating the success or failure of reliability, a new domain of reliability has been created. This domain is referred to as life classes, where specific probability distributions are presented. In this study, it is shown that the use of the quality-of-fit technique to solve problems involving life testing makes sense, and produces simpler processes that are roughly equivalent or superior to those used in traditional procedures. They may also behave better in limited samples. This work investigates a novel quality-of-fit test statistic; it is based on an exponential transform and is compared to the best renewal used Laplace test in increasing convex ordering (NBRULC). Evidence for approach normality is provided. The calculated variables include powers, Pitman asymptotic effectiveness, and critical points. Methods on how to handle censored data were also studied. Our experiments have real-world applications in the fields of medicine and engineering. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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14 pages, 581 KiB  
Article
Reconstructing the Quarterly Series of the Chilean Gross Domestic Product Using a State Space Approach
by Christian Caamaño-Carrillo, Sergio Contreras-Espinoza and Orietta Nicolis
Mathematics 2023, 11(8), 1827; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11081827 - 12 Apr 2023
Viewed by 904
Abstract
In this work, we use a cointegration state space approach to estimate the quarterly series of the Chilean Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the period 1965–2009. First, the equation of Engle–Granger is estimated using the data of the yearly GPD and some related [...] Read more.
In this work, we use a cointegration state space approach to estimate the quarterly series of the Chilean Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in the period 1965–2009. First, the equation of Engle–Granger is estimated using the data of the yearly GPD and some related variables, such as the price of copper, the exports of goods and services, and the mining production index. The estimated coefficients of this regression are then used to obtain a first estimation of the quarterly GDP series with measurement errors. A state space model is then applied to improve the preliminary estimation of the GDP with the main purpose of eliminating the maximum error of measurement such that the sum of the three-month values coincide swith the yearly GDP. The results are then compared with the traditional disaggregation methods. The resulting quarterly GDP series reflects the major events of the historical Chilean economy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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19 pages, 464 KiB  
Article
Some Extensions of the Asymmetric Exponentiated Bimodal Normal Model for Modeling Data with Positive Support
by Roger Tovar-Falón, Guillermo Martínez-Flórez and Isaías Ceña-Tapia
Mathematics 2023, 11(7), 1563; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11071563 - 23 Mar 2023
Viewed by 847
Abstract
It is common in many fields of knowledge to assume that the data under study have a normal distribution, which often generates mistakes in the results, since this assumption does not always coincide with the characteristics of the observations under analysis. In some [...] Read more.
It is common in many fields of knowledge to assume that the data under study have a normal distribution, which often generates mistakes in the results, since this assumption does not always coincide with the characteristics of the observations under analysis. In some cases, the data may have degrees of skewness and/or kurtosis greater than what the normal model can capture, and in others, they may present two or more modes. In this work, two new families of skewed distributions are presented that fit bimodal data with positive support. The new families were obtained from the extension of the bimodal normal distribution to the alpha-power family class. The proposed distributions were studied for their main properties, such as their probability density function, cumulative distribution function, survival function, and hazard function. The parameter estimation process was performed from a classical perspective using the maximum likelihood method. The non-singularity of Fisher’s information was demonstrated, which made it possible to find the stochastic convergence of the vector of the maximum likelihood estimators and, based on the latter, perform statistical inference via the likelihood ratio. The applicability of the proposed distributions was exemplified using real data sets. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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21 pages, 1249 KiB  
Article
The Multivariate Skewed Log-Birnbaum–Saunders Distribution and Its Associated Regression Model
by Guillermo Martínez-Flórez, Sandra Vergara-Cardozo, Roger Tovar-Falón and Luisa Rodriguez-Quevedo
Mathematics 2023, 11(5), 1095; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11051095 - 22 Feb 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1100
Abstract
In this article, a multivariate extension of the unit-sinh-normal (USHN) distribution is presented. The new distribution, which is obtained from the conditionally specified distributions methodology, is absolutely continuous, and its marginal distributions are univariate USHN. The properties of the multivariate USHN distribution are [...] Read more.
In this article, a multivariate extension of the unit-sinh-normal (USHN) distribution is presented. The new distribution, which is obtained from the conditionally specified distributions methodology, is absolutely continuous, and its marginal distributions are univariate USHN. The properties of the multivariate USHN distribution are studied in detail, and statistical inference is carried out from a classical approach using the maximum likelihood method. The new multivariate USHN distribution is suitable for modeling bounded data, especially in the (0,1)p region. In addition, the proposed distribution is extended to the case of the regression model and, for the latter, the Fisher information matrix is derived. The numerical results of a small simulation study and two applications with real data sets allow us to conclude that the proposed distribution, as well as its extension to regression models, are potentially useful to analyze the data of proportions, rates, or indices when modeling them jointly considering different degrees of correlation that may exist in the study variables is of interest. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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16 pages, 445 KiB  
Article
The Slash Half-Normal Distribution Applied to a Cure Rate Model with Application to Bone Marrow Transplantation
by Diego I. Gallardo, Yolanda M. Gómez, Héctor J. Gómez, María José Gallardo-Nelson and Marcelo Bourguignon
Mathematics 2023, 11(3), 518; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11030518 - 18 Jan 2023
Viewed by 1088
Abstract
This paper proposes, for the first time, the use of an asymmetric positive and heavy-tailed distribution in a cure rate model context. In particular, it introduces a cure-rate survival model by assuming that the time-to-event of interest follows a slash half-normal distribution and [...] Read more.
This paper proposes, for the first time, the use of an asymmetric positive and heavy-tailed distribution in a cure rate model context. In particular, it introduces a cure-rate survival model by assuming that the time-to-event of interest follows a slash half-normal distribution and that the number of competing causes of the event of interest follows a power series distribution, which defines six new cure rate models. Several properties of the model are derived and an alternative expression for the cumulative distribution function of the model is presented, which is very useful for the computational implementation of the model. A procedure based on the expectation–maximization algorithm is proposed for the parameter estimation. Two simulation studies are performed to assess some properties of the estimators, showing the good performance of the proposed estimators in finite samples. Finally, an application to a bone marrow transplant data set is presented. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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17 pages, 358 KiB  
Article
COVID-19 Active Case Forecasts in Latin American Countries Using Score-Driven Models
by Sergio Contreras-Espinoza, Francisco Novoa-Muñoz, Szabolcs Blazsek, Pedro Vidal and Christian Caamaño-Carrillo
Mathematics 2023, 11(1), 136; https://doi.org/10.3390/math11010136 - 27 Dec 2022
Viewed by 1189
Abstract
With the aim of mitigating the damage caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is important to use models that allow forecasting possible new infections accurately in order to face the pandemic in specific sociocultural contexts in the best possible way. [...] Read more.
With the aim of mitigating the damage caused by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, it is important to use models that allow forecasting possible new infections accurately in order to face the pandemic in specific sociocultural contexts in the best possible way. Our first contribution is empirical. We use an extensive COVID-19 dataset from nine Latin American countries for the period of 1 April 2020 to 31 December 2021. Our second and third contributions are methodological. We extend relevant (i) state-space models with score-driven dynamics and (ii) nonlinear state-space models with unobserved components, respectively. We use weekly seasonal effects, in addition to the local-level and trend filters of the literature, for (i) and (ii), and the negative binomial distribution for (ii). We find that the statistical and forecasting performances of the novel score-driven specifications are superior to those of the nonlinear state-space models with unobserved components model, providing a potential valid alternative to forecasting the number of possible new COVID-19 infections. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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18 pages, 731 KiB  
Article
Power Families of Bivariate Proportional Hazard Models
by Guillermo Martínez-Flórez, Carlos Barrera-Causil and Artur J. Lemonte
Mathematics 2022, 10(23), 4410; https://doi.org/10.3390/math10234410 - 23 Nov 2022
Viewed by 925
Abstract
In this paper, we propose a general class of bivariate proportional hazard distributions, which is based on the family of asymmetric proportional hazard distributions and the bivariate Pareto copula. Distributional properties of the bivariate proportional hazard distribution are derived. We specialize the bivariate [...] Read more.
In this paper, we propose a general class of bivariate proportional hazard distributions, which is based on the family of asymmetric proportional hazard distributions and the bivariate Pareto copula. Distributional properties of the bivariate proportional hazard distribution are derived. We specialize the bivariate proportional hazard family of distributions to the normal case, and so we introduce the bivariate proportional hazard normal distribution. Parameter estimation by the maximum likelihood method of the bivariate proportional hazard normal distribution is then discussed. Finally, an application of the new bivariate distribution to real data is considered for illustrative purposes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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14 pages, 436 KiB  
Article
An Alternative to the Log-Skew-Normal Distribution: Properties, Inference, and an Application to Air Pollutant Concentrations
by Jaime Arrué, Reinaldo Boris Arellano-Valle, Osvaldo Venegas, Heleno Bolfarine and Héctor W. Gómez
Mathematics 2022, 10(22), 4336; https://doi.org/10.3390/math10224336 - 18 Nov 2022
Viewed by 1007
Abstract
In this study, we consider an alternative to the log-skew-normal distribution. It is called the modified log-skew-normal distribution and introduces greater flexibility in the skewness and kurtosis parameters. We first study several of the main probabilistic properties of the new distribution, such as [...] Read more.
In this study, we consider an alternative to the log-skew-normal distribution. It is called the modified log-skew-normal distribution and introduces greater flexibility in the skewness and kurtosis parameters. We first study several of the main probabilistic properties of the new distribution, such as the computation of its moments and the non-existence of the moment-generating function. Parameter estimation by the maximum likelihood approach is also studied. This approach presents an overestimation problem in the shape parameter, which in some cases, can even be infinite. However, as we demonstrate, this problem is solved by adapting bias reduction using Firth’s approach. We also show that the modified log-skew-normal model likewise inherits the non-singularity of the Fisher information matrix of the untransformed model, when the shape parameter is null. Finally, we apply the modified log-skew-normal model to a real example related to pollution data. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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Review

Jump to: Research

19 pages, 461 KiB  
Review
An In-Depth Review of the Weibull Model with a Focus on Various Parameterizations
by Yolanda M. Gómez, Diego I. Gallardo, Carolina Marchant, Luis Sánchez and Marcelo Bourguignon
Mathematics 2024, 12(1), 56; https://doi.org/10.3390/math12010056 - 23 Dec 2023
Viewed by 1472
Abstract
The Weibull distribution is a versatile probability distribution widely applied in modeling the failure times of objects or systems. Its behavior is shaped by two essential parameters: the shape parameter and the scale parameter. By manipulating these parameters, the Weibull distribution adeptly captures [...] Read more.
The Weibull distribution is a versatile probability distribution widely applied in modeling the failure times of objects or systems. Its behavior is shaped by two essential parameters: the shape parameter and the scale parameter. By manipulating these parameters, the Weibull distribution adeptly captures diverse failure patterns observed in real-world scenarios. This flexibility and broad applicability make it an indispensable tool in reliability analysis and survival modeling. This manuscript explores five parameterizations of the Weibull distribution, each based on different moments, like mean, quantile, and mode. It meticulously characterizes each parameterization, introducing a novel one based on the model’s mode, along with its hazard and survival functions, shedding light on their unique properties. Additionally, it delves into the interpretation of regression coefficients when incorporating regression structures into these parameterizations. It is analytically established that all five parameterizations define the same log-likelihood function, underlining their equivalence. Through Monte Carlo simulation studies, the performances of these parameterizations are evaluated in terms of parameter estimations and residuals. The models are further applied to real-world data, illustrating their effectiveness in analyzing material fatigue life and survival data. In summary, this manuscript provides a comprehensive exploration of the Weibull distribution and its various parameterizations. It offers valuable insights into their applications and implications in modeling failure times, with potential contributions to diverse fields requiring reliability and survival analysis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Probability, Statistics & Symmetry)
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