We consider a mixture model approach to the regression analysis of competing-risks data. Attention is focused on inference concerning the effects of factors on both the probability of occurrence and the hazard rate conditional on each of the failure types. These two quantities are specified in the mixture model using the logistic model and the proportional hazards model, respectively. We propos...

Most existing semi-parametric estimation procedures for binary choice models are based on the maximum score, maximum likelihood, or nonlinear least squares principles. These methods have two problems. They are difficult to compute and they may result in multiple local optima because they require optimizing nonlinear objective functions which may not be unimode. These problems are exacerbated wh...

In this article the general non-symmetric parametric form of the incremental secant stiffness matrix for nonlinear analysis of solids have been investigated to present a semi analytical sensitivity analysis approach for geometric nonlinear shape optimization. To approach this aim the analytical formulas of secant stiffness matrix are presented. The models were validated and used to perform inve...