On the maximum likelihood degree of linear mixed models with two   variance components
  We extend the results concerning the upper bounds for the maximum likelihood degree and the REML degree of the one-way random effects model presented in Gross et al. [Electron. J. Stat. 6 (2012), pp. 993-1016] to the case of the normal linear mixed model with two variance components. Then we prove that both parts of Conjecture 1 in the paper of Gross et al., which concerns a certain extension of the one-way random effects model, are true under fairly mild conditions. 
Mariusz Grzadziel
math.ST stat.TH