In this paper, we propose a covariate-adjusted nonlinear regression model. In
this model, both the response and predictors can only be observed after being
distorted by some multiplicative factors. Because of nonlinearity, existing
methods for the linear setting cannot be directly employed. To attack this
problem, we propose estimating the distorting functions by nonparametrically
regressing the predictors and response on the distorting covariate; then,
nonlinear least squares estimators for the parameters are obtained using the
estimated response and predictors. Root $n$-consistency and asymptotic
normality are established. However, the limiting variance has a very complex
structure with several unknown components, and confidence regions based on
normal approximation are not efficient. Empirical likelihood-based confidence
regions are proposed, and their accuracy is also verified due to its self-scale
invariance. Furthermore, unlike the common results derived from the profile
methods, even when plug-in estimates are used for the infinite-dimensional
nuisance parameters (distorting functions), the limit of empirical likelihood
ratio is still chi-squared distributed. This property eases the construction of
the empirical likelihood-based confidence regions. A simulation study is
carried out to assess the finite sample performance of the proposed estimators
and confidence regions. We apply our method to study the relationship between
glomerular filtration rate and serum creatinine.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/08-AOS627 the Annals of
Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical
Statistics (http://www.imstat.org
Abstract. Climate warming is changing streamflow regimes and groundwater storage in
cold alpine regions. In this study, the Yangbajain headwater catchment
in the Lhasa River basin is adopted as the study area to assess
streamflow changes and active groundwater storage in response to climate
warming. The results show that both annual streamflow and the mean air
temperature increase significantly at respective rates of about 12.30 mm per decade and 0.28 ∘C per decade from 1979 to 2013 in the study area. The results of gray
relational analysis indicate that the air temperature acts as a primary
factor for the increased streamflow. Due to climate warming, the total
glacier volume has retreated by over 25 % during the past 50 years, and
the areal extent of permafrost has degraded by 15.3 % over the last 20 years. Parallel comparisons with other subbasins in the Lhasa River basin
indirectly reveal that the increased streamflow at the Yangbajain Station is
mainly fed by the accelerated glacier retreat. Using baseflow recession
analysis, we also find that the estimated groundwater storage that is
comparable with the GRACE data increases significantly at rates of about
19.32 mm per decade during the abovementioned period. That is to say, as permafrost thaws, more
spaces have been made available to accommodate the increasing meltwater. Finally,
a large water imbalance (of more than 5.79×107 m3 a−1)
between the melt-derived runoff and the actual increase in runoff as well
as the groundwater storage is also observed. The results from this study
suggest that the impacts of glacial retreat and
permafrost degradation show compound behaviors on the storage–discharge
mechanism due to climate warming, and that this fundamentally affects the water supply and the mechanisms
of streamflow generation and change.
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