Comparison of Block Design Nonparametric Subset Selection Rules Based on Alternative Scoring Rules

This article compares the size of selected subsets using nonparametric subset selection rules with two different scoring rules for the observations. The scoring rules are based on the expected values of order statistics of the uniform distribution (yielding rank values) and of the normal distribution (yielding normal score values). The comparison is made using state motor vehicle traffic fatality rates, published in a 2016 article, with fifty-one states (including DC as a state) and over a nineteen-year period (1994 through 2012). The earlier study considered four block design selection rules—two for choosing a subset to contain the “best” population (i.e., state with lowest mean fatality rate) and two for the “worst” population (i.e., highest mean rate) with a probability of correct selection chosen to be 0.90. Two selection rules based on normal scores resulted in selected subset sizes substantially smaller than corresponding rules based on ranks (7 vs. 16 and 3 vs. 12). For two other selection rules, the subsets chosen were very close in size (within one). A comparison is also made using state homicide rates, published in a 2022 article, with fifty states and covering eight years. The results are qualitatively the same as those obtained with the motor vehicle traffic fatality rates.

Analysis of State Homicide Rates Using Statistical Ranking and Selection Procedures

Nonparametric and parametric subset selection procedures are used in the analysis of state homicide rates (SHRs), for the year 2005 and years 2014-2020, to identify subsets of states that contain the “best” (lowest SHR) and “worst” (highest SHR) rates with a prescribed probability. A new Bayesian model is developed and applied to the SHR data and the results are contrasted with those obtained with the subset selection procedures. All analyses are applied within the context of a two-way block design.

Machine Knowledge and Human Cognition

Intelligent machines are knowledge systems with unique knowledge structure and function.In this paper,we discuss issues including the characteristics and forms of machine knowledge,the relationship between knowledge and human cognition,and the approach to acquire machine knowledge.These issues are of great significance to the development of artificial intelligence.

Multi-category diagnostic accuracy based on logistic regression

We provide a detailed review for the statistical analysis of diagnostic accuracy in a multi-category classification task.For qualitative response variables with more than two categories,many traditional accuracy measures such as sensitivity,specificity and area under the ROC curve are no longer applicable.In recent literature,new diagnostic accuracy measures are introduced in medical research studies.In this paper,important statistical concepts for multi-category classification accuracy are reviewed and their utilities are demonstrated with real medical examples.We offer problem-based R code to illustrate how to perform these statistical computations step by step.We expect such analysis tools will become more familiar to practitioners and receive broader applications in biostatistics.Our program can be adapted to many classifiers among which logistic regression may be the most popular approach.We thus base our discussion and illustration completely on the logistic regression in this paper.