title: Is multiple sclerosis an infectious disease? Inference about an input process based on the output.
abstract: The output process of an infinite-server queue with a Poisson process input is observed starting at time 0 with an empty queue. It is assumed that the service time distribution is known. This article discusses statistical inference about the input intensity. A controversial issue in the study of multiple sclerosis is addressed as a motivation for the model and methods developed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mathematics and Statistics, McGill University, Montréal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wolfson
authors.forename: D B
authors.initials: DB
authors.lastname: Wolfson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001699:Biometry; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007239:Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D015233:Models, Statistical; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016012:Poisson Distribution