Locally most powerful tests for the two sample problem when the combined sample is type ii censored

We derive locally most powerful tests for the two sample problem when the combined sample is type II censored. Both middle-censored and doubly-censored cases are considered. These include, in particular, the left- and right-censored cases. The main contribution of this paper is to provide extensive small sample size tables of critical values for Wilcoxon. normal scores, Freund-Ansari-Bradley and Capon tests.     

Distribution Analyzer and Risk Evaluator (DARE) Using Fault Trees

Risk and uncertainty are integral parts of modern technology, and they must be managed effectively to allow the development of reliable, high-quality products. Because so many facets of technology and society involve risk and uncertainty, it is essential that risk management be handled in a systematic manner. Fault-tree analysis is one of the principal methods used in the analysis of systems'safety. Its detailed and systematic deductive structure makes it a valuable tool for design and diagnostic purposes. Point probability and the minimization of the expected failure probability have, until recently, dominated fault-tree analysis. A methodology that incorporates uncertainty analysis, conditional expected risk, and multiple objectives with fault-tree analysis is presented. A computer software package termed the "Distribution Analyzer and Risk Evaluator (DARE) Using Fault Trees," which translates the new methodology into a working decision-support system, is developed. DARE Using Fault Trees is a flexible computer code that is capable of analyzing the risk of the overall system in terms of the probability density function of failure probability. Emphasis is placed on the uncertainty and risk of extreme events. A comparative study between existing codes for fault-tree analysis and DARE demonstrates the strengths of the methodology. A case study for NASA's solid rocket booster is used to perform the comparative analysis.     

Fuzzy measures of the incidence of relative poverty and deprivation: a multi-dimensional perspective

In this paper we present a methodology for the study of multi-dimensional aspects of poverty and deprivation. The conventional poor/non-poor dichotomy is replaced by defining poverty as a matter of degree, determined by the place of the individual in the income distribution. The fuzzy poverty measure proposed is in fact also expressible in terms of the generalised Gini measure. The same methodology facilitates the inclusion of other dimensions of deprivation into the analysis: by appropriately weighting indicators of deprivation to reflect their dispersion and correlation, we can construct measures of non-monetary deprivation in its various dimensions. These indicators illuminate the extent to which purely monetary indicators are insufficient in themselves in capturing the prevalence of deprivation. An important contribution of the paper is to identify rules for the aggregation of fuzzy sets appropriate for the study of poverty and deprivation. In particular, we define a ‘composite’ fuzzy set operator which takes into account whether the sets being aggregated are of a ‘similar’ or a ‘dissimilar’ type. These rules allow us to meaningfully combine income and the diverse non-income deprivation indices at the micro-level and construct what we have termed ‘intensive’ and ‘extensive’ indicators of deprivation. We note that mathematically the same approach can be carried over to the study of persistence of poverty and deprivation over time.     

Pricing and Logistics Decisions for a Private‐Sector Provider in the Cash Supply Chain

We study a problem faced by a secure‐logistics provider (SLP) of maximizing profit by jointly pricing the services of fit‐sorting and transporting cash along with the design of the supporting logistics network, in a market consisting of a population of Depository Institutions (DIs). The need to jointly price the services assumes significance because they are partial substitutes of one another. Our study finds that the influence of the logistics network on prices is especially strong when there are non‐linearities in the cost of provisioning the logistics services. Furthermore, the impact of logistics decisions on different types of pricing schemes (e.g., volume discount, bundled pricing) is different, both in its structure and extent. In present times, when the market for the fit‐sorting service is relatively immature, our findings have major implications to the way an SLP's business is managed.     

Depression screening,education, and treatment at the workplace: A pilot study utilizing the CDC Health Scorecard

Depression is a significant health issue for many Americans, ranking among the top worksite issues resulting in referrals to Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs) with prevalence rates in the working population of more than 6%. This study was part of a larger statewide assessment conducted using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Worksite Health Scorecard. The purpose of this study is to examine the number of Kentucky workplaces currently offering screening, education, and treatment related to depression. The study also aims to compare the number of Kentucky workplaces offering these elements by size and industry type. The one-time, cross-sectional assessment surveyed a random sample of 1,200 worksites to examine worksite offerings of screening, education, counseling, management training, and health insurance coverage related to depression. Results showed that the majority of worksites do not provide employee depression screening, education and counseling, management training on identifying warning signs of depression, or comprehensive treatment and follow-up for employees with depression. Smaller worksites (<250 employees) were even less likely than larger companies to provide screening, education, counseling, training, and insurance coverage for depression. Increasing the provision of these wellness components at the worksite has potential to improve the quality of life for employees and reduce the financial burden to employers.     

Determining Optimal Advertising Strategies: A Markov Decision Model Approach*

This study falls in the class of models in which advertising wearout and the differences between the learning and forgetting of advertisements are explicitly included. A discrete time Markov decision modeling approach is used to obtain optimal control limit policies, and an algorithm is provided to identify these policies. A control limit policy specifies whether or not to advertise in a specific time period on the basis of the level of awareness in that time period. Thus, the duration for which advertising is not done is determined endogenously, and the algorithm helps determine this duration for a given set of parameters. This is a particularly desirable feature, since advertising practitioners are interested in determining the optimal duration of advertising pulses. Computational experience suggests that the algorithm is very fast and easy to implement. Also, conditions on model parameters indicating the relative efficacy of pulsing versus uniform advertising are provided.     

Theoretical and Interpretation Challenges to Using the Author Affiliation Index Method to Rank Journals

We formally review the Author Affiliation Index (AAI) method as originally conceived by David Harless and Robert J. Reilly from the Economics Department at the Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business and as subsequently developed and interpreted by Gorman and Kanet in their 2005 article. Through this formal review, we first highlight and discuss two important informational inputs that can impact the stability of the AAI scores for journals in any given set of to‐be‐evaluated journals. We then identify and challenge interpretations related to these scores (one theoretical, one statistical) offered by Gorman and Kanet that result in misleading conclusions about journal quality and that may potentially motivate inappropriate editorial behavior. For important professional decisions of hiring, performance evaluation, promotion, and tenure, we conclude by cautioning against sole reliance on the AAI method for ranking journals and against exclusive interpretation of the score computed via the AAI method as an indicator of journal quality.     

Optimal Enhancement and Lifetime of Software Systems: A Control Theoretic Analysis

We develop an optimal control model to maximize the net value provided by a software system over its useful life. The model determines the initial number of features in the system, the level of dynamic enhancement effort, and the lifetime of the system. The various factors affecting these optimal choices are systems characteristics (e.g., complexity, age, quality), user learning, and process maturity. We also consider that there is a time lag between the addition of a feature and the realization of its benefit to users. The basic model is extended to consider the decision of replacing the existing system by a new one.