The book aims to present a wide range of the newest results on multivariate statistical models, distribution theory and applications of multivariate statistical methods. A paper on Pearson-Kotz-Dirichlet distributions by Professor N Balakrishnan contains main results of the Samuel Kotz Memorial Lecture. Extensions of linear models to multivariate exponential dispersion models and Growth Curve models are presented, and several papers on classification methods are included. Applications range from insurance mathematics to medical and industrial statistics and sampling algorithms.

The book aims to present a wide range of the newest results on multivariate statistical models, distribution theory and applications of multivariate statistical methods. A paper on Pearson-Kotz-Dirichlet distributions by Professor N Balakrishnan contains main results of the Samuel Kotz Memorial Lecture. Extensions of linear models to multivariate exponential dispersion models and Growth Curve models are presented, and several papers on classification methods are included. Applications range from insurance mathematics to medical and industrial statistics and sampling algorithms.

The Department of Statistical Sciences of the University of Bologna in collaboration with the Department of Management and Engineering of the University of Padova, the Department of Statistical Modelling of Saint Petersburg State University, and INFORMS Simulation Society sponsored the Seventh Workshop on Simulation. This international conference was devoted to statistical techniques in stochastic simulation, data collection, analysis of scientific experiments, and studies representing broad areas of interest. The previous workshops took place in St. Petersburg, Russia in 1994, 1996, 1998, 2001, 2005, and 2009. The Seventh Workshop took place in the Rimini Campus of the University of Bologna, which is in Rimini’s historical center.

Preface; Organizing Committees; CONTENTS; Variable Selection and Post-Estimation of Regression Parameters Using Quasi-Likelihood Approach S. Fallahpour and S.E. Ahmed; 1. Introduction; 2. Improved Estimation and Variable Selection Strategies; 2.1. Pretest Estimations; 2.2. Absolute Penalty Estimator (APE); 3. Asymptotic Distribution Bias and Risk; 3.1. Bias and Risk Comparison; 4. Monte Carlo Simulation; 5. Conclusions; Acknowledgments; 6. Proofs; References; Maximum Likelihood Estimates for Markov-Additive Processes of Arrivals by Aggregated Data A.M. Andronov; 1. Introduction. - 2. Markov-Additive Process of arrivals3. Problem of parameter estimation; 4. Derivatives of the expectation; 4.1. Derivatives of with respect to; 4.2. Derivatives of with respect to; 5. Derivatives of the covariance matrix C; 5.1. Derivatives of C with respect to; 5.2. Derivatives of C with respect to; 6. Score function; 7. Parameter identification; 8. Numerical example; 9. Conclusions; Acknowledgement; References; A Simple and Efficient Method of Estimation of the Parameters of a Bivariate Birnbaum-Saunders Distribution Based on Type-II Censored Samples N. Balakrishnan and X. Zhu. - 1. Introduction2. Bivariate Birnbaum-Saunders Distribution and Some Properties; 3. Form of Data; 4. Estimation Based on Type-II Censored Samples; 5. Simulation Study; 6. Illustrative Data Analysis; 7. Concluding Remarks; References; Analysis of Contingent Valuation Data with Self-Selected Rounded WTP-Intervals Collected by Two-Steps Sampling Plans Yu. K. Belyaev and B. Kristrom; Introduction; Basic assumptions; Sampling design; Statistical model and corresponding log likelihood; Numerical experiment; Conclusion; Acknowledgements; References

The book presents important tools and techniques for treating problems in m- ern multivariate statistics in a systematic way. The ambition is to indicate new directions as well as to present the classical part of multivariate statistical analysis in this framework. The book has been written for graduate students and statis- cians who are not afraid of matrix formalism. The goal is to provide them with a powerful toolkit for their research and to give necessary background and deeper knowledge for further studies in di?erent areas of multivariate statistics. It can also be useful for researchers in applied mathematics and for people working on data analysis and data mining who can ?nd useful methods and ideas for solving their problems. Ithasbeendesignedasatextbookforatwosemestergraduatecourseonmultiva- ate statistics. Such a course has been held at the Swedish Agricultural University in 2001/02. On the other hand, it can be used as material for series of shorter courses. In fact, Chapters 1 and 2 have been used for a graduate course ”Matrices in Statistics” at University of Tartu for the last few years, and Chapters 2 and 3 formed the material for the graduate course ”Multivariate Asymptotic Statistics” in spring 2002. An advanced course ”Multivariate Linear Models” may be based on Chapter 4. A lot of literature is available on multivariate statistical analysis written for di?- ent purposes and for people with di?erent interests, background and knowledge.

This volume is the proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Model-Oriented Data Analysis. This series of events originated in 1987 at a meeting in Eisenach, that successfully brought together scientists from numerous countries of the 'East ' and 'West'. Now that this distinction is obsolete dialogue has been greatly facilitated, providing opportunities for this dialogue, however, is as vital as ever. The present meeting at Spetses, Greece from 5th to 9th of June 1995 again assembles statisticians from all over the world as this book documents. The hospitality offered by the University of Economics of Athens and the Korgialenios School made it possible to organize this workshop. The editors are also grateful to Intracom (Greece), the Ionian Bank and the Procter & Gamble Company (USA) for their generous support. We would particularly like to mention Dr. Michael Meredith, who being our contact person at Procter & Gamble, enabled us to publish these proceedings. Further thanks go to Dr. Peter Schuster from Physica Verlag Heidelberg for his continuing support of the project. The contributions to this volume were carefully selected from the submissions by the editors after a one stage refereeing process. We would like to thank the members of the MODA committee, A.C. Atkinson, R.D. Cook, V.V. Fedorov, P.Hackl, H. Lauter, B.Torsney, LN. Vuchkov, H.P.Wynn,and A.A. Zhigljavsky, who not only defined the main topics of the workshop, but also served as the referees.