WOMBAT—A tool for mixed model analyses in quantitative genetics by restricted maximum likelihood (REML)

WOMBAT is a software package for quantitative genetic analyses of continuous traits, fitting a linear, mixed model; estimates of covariance components and the resulting genetic parameters are obtained by restricted maximum likelihood. A wide range of models, comprising numerous traits, multiple fixed and random effects, selected genetic covariance structures, random regression models and reduced rank estimation are accommodated. WOMBAT employs up-to-date numerical and computational methods. Together with the use of efficient compilers, this generates fast executable programs, suitable for large scale analyses. Use of WOMBAT is illustrated for a bivariate analysis. The package consists of the executable program, available for LINUX and WINDOWS environments, manual and a set of worked example, and can be downloaded free of charge from http：//agbu. une.edu.au/-kmeyer/wombat.html

Beamspace maximum likelihood algorithm based on sum and difference beams for elevation estimation

Beamspace super-resolution methods for elevation estimation in multipath environment has attracted significant attention, especially the beamspace maximum likelihood(BML)algorithm. However, the difference beam is rarely used in superresolution methods, especially in low elevation estimation. The target airspace information in the difference beam is different from the target airspace information in the sum beam. And the use of difference beams does not significantly increase the complexity of the system and algorithms. Thus, this paper applies the difference beam to the beamformer to improve the elevation estimation performance of BML algorithm. And the direction and number of beams can be adjusted according to the actual needs. The theoretical target elevation angle root means square error(RMSE) and the computational complexity of the proposed algorithms are analyzed. Finally, computer simulations and real data processing results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms.

Studies on unfolding energy spectra of neutrons using maximumlikelihood expectation–maximization method

Energy spectra of neutrons are important for identification of unknown neutron sources and for determination of the equivalent dose. Although standard energy spectra of neutrons are available in some situations, e.g., for some radiotherapy treatment machines, they are unknown in other cases, e.g., for photoneutrons created in radiotherapy rooms and neutrons generated in nuclear reactors. In situations where neutron energy spectra need to be determined, unfolding the required neutron energy spectra using the Bonner sphere spectrometer (BSS) and nested neutron spectrometer (NNS) has been found promising. However, without any prior knowledge on the spectra, the unfolding process has remained a tedious task. In this work, a standalone numerical tool named ‘‘NRUunfold’’ was developed which could satisfactorily unfold neutron spectra for BSS or NNS, or any other systems using similar detection methodology. A generic and versatile algorithm based on maximum-likelihood expectation– maximization method was developed and benchmarked against the widely used STAY’SL algorithm which was based on the least squares method. The present method could output decent results in the absence of precisely calculated initial guess, although it was also remarked that employment of exceptionally bizarre initial spectra could lead to some unreasonable output spectra. The neutron count rates computed using the manufacturer’s response functions were used for sensitivity studies. The present NRUunfold code could be useful for neutron energy spectrum unfolding for BSS or NNS applications in the absence of a precisely calculated initial guess.

Life prediction for vacuum fluorescent display using maximum likelihood estimation

In order to obtain the life information of the vacuum fluorescent display （VFD） in a short time, a model of constant stress accelerated life tests （CSALT） is established with its filament temperature increased, and four constant stress tests are conducted. The Weibull function is applied to describe the life distribution of the VFD, and the maximum likelihood estimation （MLE） and its iterative flow chart are used to calculate the shape parameters and the scale parameters. Furthermore, the accelerated life equation is determined by the least square method, the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test is performed to verify whether the VFD life meets the Weibull distribution or not, and selfdeveloped software is employed to predict the average life and the reliable life. Statistical data analysis results demonstrate that the test plans are feasible and versatile, that the VFD life follows the Weibull distribution, and that the VFD accelerated model satisfies the linear Arrhenius equation. The proposed method and the estimated life information of the VFD can provide some significant guideline to its manufacturers and customers.

基于Maximum Likelihood与HMM的文本挖掘

随着信息技术、数据库技术、网络技术的发展,各行各业均存储了大量的文本数据,怎样从这些文本数据中发掘有价值的信息和知识成为人们急需解决的问题。提出基于Maximum Likelihood与HMM的文本挖掘方法,利用Maximum Likelihood构建隐马尔可夫模型,对论文条目进行特定信息的发掘,并克服了实验过程中"零概率"的缺陷。实验结果表明准确率平均达到0.9,召回率平均达到0.85,从理论和实践上证明该方法是有效的。

Landscape Pattern Evaluation Based on Maximum Likelihood Classification——A Case Study of Irrigated Area of Hongsibao Town in China

By using maximum likelihood classification, several landscape indexes have been adopted to evaluate landscape structure of the irrigated area of Hongsibao Town, and landscape pattern and dynamic change of Hongsibao in 1989, 1999, 2003 and 2008 had been analyzed based on landscape patch, landscape type and transfer matrix. The results show that landscape pattern had changed obviously, patch number, fragmentation and dominance had increased, evenness had decreased, and landscape shape had become regular in the irrigated area of Hongsibao Town from 1989 to 2008. The primary landscape type in 1989 was grassland and in 2008 was sand, directly influenced by human activities.

基于ML估计的高动态GNSS信号快速捕获检测方法

针对高动态环境下GNSS因频域带宽增加导致捕获难度增大的问题,分析了接收端数字中频采样信号的传输特性及复基带信号经FFT模块处理后的相关峰的检测,提出了基于极大似然(ML)估计的高动态GNSS信号快速捕获检测方法。首先,根据随机信号的统计理论建立二元假设检验条件,构建了奈曼-皮尔逊准则下的GNSS信号捕获判决门限模型;其次,通过判决量的统计特性对等效高斯白噪声方差进行ML估计,根据其估计值计算捕获判决门限,其中通过虚警率的量化放大处理,解决了判决量样本值的增加带来的估计偏差问题;最后,对不同高动态条件下北斗B3I信号进行了捕获检测仿真实验。结果表明采用ML估计方法确定捕获判决门限从而提高高动态GNSS信号捕获的检测方法对高动态适应范围较宽,其频移捕获精度与SINS信息辅助捕获相当,比序贯检测算法提高约28%以上,相同条件下具有更快的平均捕获检测速度。

Diagnostics in generalized nonlinear models based on maximum L_q-likelihood estimation

In order to detect whether the data conforms to the given model, it is necessary to diagnose the data in the statistical way. The diagnostic problem in generalized nonlinear models based on the maximum Lq-likelihood estimation is considered. Three diagnostic statistics are used to detect whether the outliers exist in the data set. Simulation results show that when the sample size is small, the values of diagnostic statistics based on the maximum Lq-likelihood estimation are greater than the values based on the maximum likelihood estimation. As the sample size increases, the difference between the values of the diagnostic statistics based on two estimation methods diminishes gradually. It means that the outliers can be distinguished easier through the maximum Lq-likelihood method than those through the maximum likelihood estimation method.

EXACT MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATOR FOR DRIFT FRACTIONAL BROWNIAN MOTION AT DISCRETE OBSERVATION

This paper deals with the problems of consistency and strong consistency of the maximum likelihood estimators of the mean and variance of the drift fractional Brownian motions observed at discrete time instants. Both the central limit theorem and the Berry-Ess′een bounds for these estimators are obtained by using the Stein’s method via Malliavin calculus.

Asymptotic properties and expectation-maximization algorithm for maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters from Weibull-Logarithmic model

In this article, we consider a lifetime distribution, the Weibull-Logarithmic distri- bution introduced by [6]. We investigate some new statistical characterizations and properties. We develop the maximum likelihood inference using EM algorithm. Asymptotic properties of the MLEs are obtained and extensive simulations are conducted to assess the performance of parameter estimation. A numerical example is used to illustrate the application.

Fast method for spreading sequence estimation of DSSS signal based on maximum likelihood function

To estimate the spreading sequence of the direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) signal, a fast algorithm based on maximum likelihood function is proposed, and the theoretical derivation of the algorithm is provided. By simplifying the objective function of maximum likelihood estimation, the algorithm can realize sequence synchronization and sequence estimation via adaptive iteration and sliding window. Since it avoids the correlation matrix computation, the algorithm significantly reduces the storage requirement and the computation complexity. Simulations show that it is a fast convergent algorithm, and can perform well in low signal to noise ratio (SNR).

A laboratory study of directional spectra with maximum likelihood method─I Developing wind wave

From measurements by a circular array consisting of 18 wave gauges in a large wave tank, directional spectra of wind-generated waves in deep water are systematically determined by using maximum likehood method.The investigations reveal that the angular spreading of the wave energy is consistent with cos2s(θ/2) proposed by Longuet-Higgins et al. (1963, Ocean Wad Spectra,11~136), if the bimodal distributions of wave energy are not taken into account. Bimodality occurring on higher frequency than peak frequency is too rare to affect our whole results. Surprisingly, a much broader directional spreading than that of the field, which is interpreted by the strongly nonlinear energy transfer because of the very young waves in laboratory, is found. The parameter s depends on frequency in the same way as observed by Mitsuyasu et al. (1975, Journal of Physical Oceanography, 5, 750~760)and Hasselmann et al. (1980, Journal of physical Oceanography, 10, 1264~1280) in the field, and the relationship between the four nondimensional parameters sm, fo, b1 and b2, determining the directional width, and (corresponding to the inverse of wave age) are given respectively. The observed distributions are found to agree well with the suggestion of Donelan et al. (1985, Philosophical Transaction of Royal Society of London, A315, 509~562) when applied to field waves.

Maximum Likelihood Estimation of the Parameters of Exponentiated Generalized Weibull Based on Progressive Type II Censored Data

Exponentiated Generalized Weibull distribution is a probability distribution which generalizes the Weibull distribution introducing two more shapes parameters to best adjust the non-monotonic shape. The parameters of the new probability distribution function are estimated by the maximum likelihood method under progressive type II censored data via expectation maximization algorithm.

Maximum Likelihood Estimation of the Identification Parameters and Its Correction

By taking the subsequence out of the input-output sequence of a system polluted by white noise, an independent observation sequence and its probability density are obtained and then a maximum likelihood estimation of the identification parameters is given. In order to decrease the asymptotic error, a corrector of maximum likelihood (CML) estimation with its recursive algorithm is given. It has been proved that the corrector has smaller asymptotic error than the least square methods. A simulation example shows that the corrector of maximum likelihood estimation is of higher approximating precision to the true parameters than the least square methods.

Extraction of Information from Crowdsourcing: Experimental Test Employing Bayesian, Maximum Likelihood, and Maximum Entropy Methods

A crowdsourcing experiment in which viewers (the “crowd”) of a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) television show submitted estimates of the number of coins in a tumbler was shown in an antecedent paper (Part 1) to follow a log-normal distribution ∧(m,s2). The coin-estimation experiment is an archetype of a broad class of image analysis and object counting problems suitable for solution by crowdsourcing. The objective of the current paper (Part 2) is to determine the location and scale parameters (m,s) of ∧(m,s2) by both Bayesian and maximum likelihood (ML) methods and to compare the results. One outcome of the analysis is the resolution, by means of Jeffreys’ rule, of questions regarding the appropriate Bayesian prior. It is shown that Bayesian and ML analyses lead to the same expression for the location parameter, but different expressions for the scale parameter, which become identical in the limit of an infinite sample size. A second outcome of the analysis concerns use of the sample mean as the measure of information of the crowd in applications where the distribution of responses is not sought or known. In the coin-estimation experiment, the sample mean was found to differ widely from the mean number of coins calculated from ∧(m,s2). This discordance raises critical questions concerning whether, and under what conditions, the sample mean provides a reliable measure of the information of the crowd. This paper resolves that problem by use of the principle of maximum entropy (PME). The PME yields a set of equations for finding the most probable distribution consistent with given prior information and only that information. If there is no solution to the PME equations for a specified sample mean and sample variance, then the sample mean is an unreliable statistic, since no measure can be assigned to its uncertainty. Parts 1 and 2 together demonstrate that the information content of crowdsourcing resides in the distribution of responses (very often log-normal in form), which can be obtained empirically or by appropriate modeling.

Stochastic Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimator in Logistic Regression Model

In the presence of multicollinearity in logistic regression, the variance of the Maximum Likelihood Estimator (MLE) becomes inflated. Siray et al. (2015) [1] proposed a restricted Liu estimator in logistic regression model with exact linear restrictions. However, there are some situations, where the linear restrictions are stochastic. In this paper, we propose a Stochastic Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimator (SRMLE) for the logistic regression model with stochastic linear restrictions to overcome this issue. Moreover, a Monte Carlo simulation is conducted for comparing the performances of the MLE, Restricted Maximum Likelihood Estimator (RMLE), Ridge Type Logistic Estimator(LRE), Liu Type Logistic Estimator(LLE), and SRMLE for the logistic regression model by using Scalar Mean Squared Error (SMSE).

The Maximum Likelihood Method of Aerodynamic Parameter Identification

In this paper a method of aerodynamic parameter identification of vehicle, the maximum likelihood method, is introduced. The aerodynamic model of vehicle is identified and the basic equations using maximum likelihood method are established. After that, the simulation data is identified to verify the correctness of the mathematic model and identification method. Last, the practical flight data is identified and analyzed.

Parameter Estimation of Maneuvering Target Using Maximum Likelihood Estimation for MIMO Radar with Colocated Antennas

The estimation of target parameters in MIMO radar signal processing is one of the most important research topics. An efficient implementation of the Maximum Likelihood estimator is presented in this paper to estimate the DOA (Direction of Arrival), initial velocity and acceleration of a maneuvering target in colocated MIMO radar. The target’s DOA is estimated in the first place, then a Maximum-Likelihood (ML) estimation based on peak search is applied to a two-dimensional grids providing estimation of initial velocity and acceleration. Simulations show that the MIMO radar has a better performance in DOA estimation than the phased array radar. By means of Monte Carlo simulations, the estimation error of initial velocity and acceleration on different SNRs are calculated. The results also suggest the effectiveness of this method.

Low-angle estimation using frequency-agile refined maximum likelihood algorithm based on optimal fusion

Low elevation estimation,which has attracted wide attention due to the presence of specular multipath,is essential for tracking radars.Frequency agility not only has the advantage of strong anti-interference ability,but also can enhance the performance of tracking radars.A frequency-agile refined maximum likelihood(RML)algorithm based on optimal fusion is proposed.The algorithm constructs an optimization problem,which minimizes the mean square error(MSE)of angle estimation.Thereby,the optimal weight at different frequency points is obtained for fusing the angle estimation.Through theoretical analysis and simulation,the frequency-agile RML algorithm based on optimal fusion can improve the accuracy of angle estimation effectively.

An Iterative Maximum Likelihood Synchronization Method for OFDM System

OFDM system divides a wideband transmission bandwidth into several overlapped narrowband subcarriers to avoid the serious frequency selective fading problem. However, if Timing Offset (TO) and Carrier Frequency Offset (CFO) exist between the Transmitter (Tx) and Receiver (Rx), OFDM system will suffer the Inter-Symbol Interference (ISI) and Inter-Carrier Interference (ICI) that degrade the system performance dramatically. In this paper, we propose an iterative maximum likelihood method for synchronization. We also adopt the overlap concept to reduce the plateau problem. Simulation results show that the proposed method can predict the time delay and frequency offset correctly even under the multipath fading scenarios.