Modeling the mean and covariance simultaneously is a common strategy to efficiently estimate the mean parameters when applying generalized estimating equation techniques to longitudinal data. In this article, using ge...Modeling the mean and covariance simultaneously is a common strategy to efficiently estimate the mean parameters when applying generalized estimating equation techniques to longitudinal data. In this article, using generalized estimation equation techniques, we propose a new kind of regression models for parameterizing covariance structures. Using a novel Cholesky factor, the entries in this decomposition have moving average and log innovation interpretation and are modeled as the regression coefficients in both the mean and the linear functions of covariates. The resulting estimators for eovarianee are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normally distributed. Simulation studies and a real data analysis show that the proposed approach yields highly efficient estimators for the parameters in the mean, and provides parsimonious estimation for the covariance structure.展开更多
It is well known that age influences organism mobility. This was demonstrated in vertebrates （such as mammals and birds） but has been less studied in invertebrates with the exception of Drosophila and the nematode C...It is well known that age influences organism mobility. This was demonstrated in vertebrates （such as mammals and birds） but has been less studied in invertebrates with the exception of Drosophila and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we studied the influence of age on the mobility of the orb-weaving spider Zygiella x-notata during web construction. The orb-web is a good model because it has a characteristic geometrical structure and video tracking can be used to easily follow the spider＇s movements during web building. We investigated the influence of age （specifically chronological age, life span, and time till death） on different parameters of spider mobility during the construction of the capture spiral （distance traveled, duration of construction, spider velocity, spider movement, and spider inactivity） with a generalized linear model （GLM） procedure adjusted for the spider mass. The re- sults showed that neither chronological age, nor life span affected the mobility parameters. However, when the time till death decreased, there was a decrease in the distance traveled, the duration of the construction of the capture spiral, and the spider movement. The spider velocity and the time of inactivity were not affected. These results could be correlated with a decrease in the length of the silky thread deposited for the construction of the capture spiral. Spiders with a shorter time till death built smaller web using less silk. Thus, our study suggests strongly that time till death affects spider mobility during web construction but not the chronological age and thus may be a good indicator of senescence.展开更多
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11271347 and 11171321)
文摘Modeling the mean and covariance simultaneously is a common strategy to efficiently estimate the mean parameters when applying generalized estimating equation techniques to longitudinal data. In this article, using generalized estimation equation techniques, we propose a new kind of regression models for parameterizing covariance structures. Using a novel Cholesky factor, the entries in this decomposition have moving average and log innovation interpretation and are modeled as the regression coefficients in both the mean and the linear functions of covariates. The resulting estimators for eovarianee are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normally distributed. Simulation studies and a real data analysis show that the proposed approach yields highly efficient estimators for the parameters in the mean, and provides parsimonious estimation for the covariance structure.
文摘It is well known that age influences organism mobility. This was demonstrated in vertebrates （such as mammals and birds） but has been less studied in invertebrates with the exception of Drosophila and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Here we studied the influence of age on the mobility of the orb-weaving spider Zygiella x-notata during web construction. The orb-web is a good model because it has a characteristic geometrical structure and video tracking can be used to easily follow the spider＇s movements during web building. We investigated the influence of age （specifically chronological age, life span, and time till death） on different parameters of spider mobility during the construction of the capture spiral （distance traveled, duration of construction, spider velocity, spider movement, and spider inactivity） with a generalized linear model （GLM） procedure adjusted for the spider mass. The re- sults showed that neither chronological age, nor life span affected the mobility parameters. However, when the time till death decreased, there was a decrease in the distance traveled, the duration of the construction of the capture spiral, and the spider movement. The spider velocity and the time of inactivity were not affected. These results could be correlated with a decrease in the length of the silky thread deposited for the construction of the capture spiral. Spiders with a shorter time till death built smaller web using less silk. Thus, our study suggests strongly that time till death affects spider mobility during web construction but not the chronological age and thus may be a good indicator of senescence.
