Global query optimization in a multidatabase system (MDBS) is a challenging issue since some local optimization information such as local cost models may not be available at the global level due to local autonomy. It becomes even more difficult when dynamic environmental factors are taken into consideration. In our previous work, a qualitative approach was suggested to build so-called multistat...

Maymin (1987) proved that for binary systems the path-cut lower bound is sharper than the minimax lower bound when the components are all highly reliable, which was originally conjectured by Barlow and Proschan (1981). This motivates us to consider the problem that whether this property for binary systems remains valid for the more general and complicated multistate systems. An example is const...

BACKGROUND Prevalence of disability depends on when a person becomes disabled (disability incidence) and when he or she dies (mortality). Multistate projection models can take into account both underlying processes of disability prevalence. The application of these models, however, is often hampered by high data requirements. OBJECTIVE This paper describes a generic estimation procedure for cal...