gompertz.Rd
This function provides a very general way of specifying the mean function of the decreasing or incresing Gompertz dose-response or growth curve models.
gompertz(fixed = c(NA, NA, NA, NA), names = c("b", "c", "d", "e"), method = c("1", "2", "3", "4"), ssfct = NULL, fctName, fctText)
fixed | numeric vector. Specifies which parameters are fixed and at what value they are fixed. NAs for parameter that are not fixed. |
---|---|
names | vector of character strings giving the names of the parameters (should not contain ":"). The order of the parameters is: b, c, d, e (see under 'Details' for the precise meaning of each parameter). |
method | character string indicating the self starter function to use. |
ssfct | a self starter function to be used. |
fctName | character string used internally by convenience functions (optional). |
fctText | character string used internally by convenience functions (optional). |
The Gompertz model is given by the mean function
$$ f(x) = c + (d-c)(\exp(-\exp(b(x-e)))) $$
and it is a dose-response/growth curve on the entire real axis, that is it is not limited to non-negative values even though this is the range for most dose-response and growth data. One consequence is that the curve needs not reach the lower asymptote at dose 0.
If $$b<0$$ the mean function is increasing and it is decreasing for $$b>0$$. The decreasing Gompertz model is not a well-defined dose-response model and other dose-response models such as the Weibull models should be used instead.
Various re-parameterisations of the model are used in practice.
The value returned is a list containing the non-linear function, the self starter function and the parameter names.
Seber, G. A. F. and Wild, C. J. (1989) Nonlinear Regression, New York: Wiley \& Sons (p. 331).
The function is for use with the function drm
, but typically the convenience functions
G.2
, G.3
, G.3u
, and G.4
should be used.
The Weibull model weibull2
is closely related to the Gompertz model.