Strong stochastic convexity: closure properties and applications

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. George Shanthikumar ◽  
David D. Yao

A family of random variables {X(θ)} parameterized by the parameter θ satisfies stochastic convexity (SCX) if and only if for any increasing and convex function f(x), Ef[X(θ)] is convex in θ. This definition, however, has a major drawback for the lack of certain important closure properties. In this paper we establish the notion of strong stochastic convexity (SSCX), which implies SCX. We demonstrate that SSCX is a property enjoyed by a wide range of random variables. We also show that SSCX is preserved under random mixture, random summation, and any increasing and convex operations that are applied to a set of independent random variables. These closure properties greatly facilitate the study of parametric convexity of many stochastic systems. Applications to GI/G/1 queues, tandem and cyclic queues, and tree-like networks are discussed. We also demonstrate the application of SSCX in bounding the performance of certain systems.

1991 ◽  
Vol 28 (01) ◽  
pp. 131-145 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. George Shanthikumar ◽  
David D. Yao

A family of random variables {X(θ)} parameterized by the parameter θ satisfies stochastic convexity (SCX) if and only if for any increasing and convex function f(x), Ef[X(θ)] is convex in θ . This definition, however, has a major drawback for the lack of certain important closure properties. In this paper we establish the notion of strong stochastic convexity (SSCX), which implies SCX. We demonstrate that SSCX is a property enjoyed by a wide range of random variables. We also show that SSCX is preserved under random mixture, random summation, and any increasing and convex operations that are applied to a set of independent random variables. These closure properties greatly facilitate the study of parametric convexity of many stochastic systems. Applications to GI/G/1 queues, tandem and cyclic queues, and tree-like networks are discussed. We also demonstrate the application of SSCX in bounding the performance of certain systems.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 42 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sel Ly ◽  
Kim-Hung Pho ◽  
Sal Ly ◽  
Wing-Keung Wong

Determining distributions of the functions of random variables is a very important problem with a wide range of applications in Risk Management, Finance, Economics, Science, and many other areas. This paper develops the theory on both density and distribution functions for the quotient Y = X 1 X 2 and the ratio of one variable over the sum of two variables Z = X 1 X 1 + X 2 of two dependent or independent random variables X 1 and X 2 by using copulas to capture the structures between X 1 and X 2 . Thereafter, we extend the theory by establishing the density and distribution functions for the quotients Y = X 1 X 2 and Z = X 1 X 1 + X 2 of two dependent normal random variables X 1 and X 2 in the case of Gaussian copulas. We then develop the theory on the median for the ratios of both Y and Z on two normal random variables X 1 and X 2 . Furthermore, we extend the result of median for Z to a larger family of symmetric distributions and symmetric copulas of X 1 and X 2 . Our results are the foundation of any further study that relies on the density and cumulative probability functions of ratios for two dependent or independent random variables. Since the densities and distributions of the ratios of both Y and Z are in terms of integrals and are very complicated, their exact forms cannot be obtained. To circumvent the difficulty, this paper introduces the Monte Carlo algorithm, numerical analysis, and graphical approach to efficiently compute the complicated integrals and study the behaviors of density and distribution. We illustrate our proposed approaches by using a simulation study with ratios of normal random variables on several different copulas, including Gaussian, Student-t, Clayton, Gumbel, Frank, and Joe Copulas. We find that copulas make big impacts from different Copulas on behavior of distributions, especially on median, spread, scale and skewness effects. In addition, we also discuss the behaviors via all copulas above with the same Kendall’s coefficient. The approaches developed in this paper are flexible and have a wide range of applications for both symmetric and non-symmetric distributions and also for both skewed and non-skewed copulas with absolutely continuous random variables that could contain a negative range, for instance, generalized skewed-t distribution and skewed-t Copulas. Thus, our findings are useful for academics, practitioners, and policy makers.


Author(s):  
Gerald B. Feldewerth

In recent years an increasing emphasis has been placed on the study of high temperature intermetallic compounds for possible aerospace applications. One group of interest is the B2 aiuminides. This group of intermetaliics has a very high melting temperature, good high temperature, and excellent specific strength. These qualities make it a candidate for applications such as turbine engines. The B2 aiuminides exist over a wide range of compositions and also have a large solubility for third element substitutional additions, which may allow alloying additions to overcome their major drawback, their brittle nature.One B2 aluminide currently being studied is cobalt aluminide. Optical microscopy of CoAl alloys produced at the University of Missouri-Rolla showed a dramatic decrease in the grain size which affects the yield strength and flow stress of long range ordered alloys, and a change in the grain shape with the addition of 0.5 % boron.


2020 ◽  
pp. 9-13
Author(s):  
A. V. Lapko ◽  
V. A. Lapko

An original technique has been justified for the fast bandwidths selection of kernel functions in a nonparametric estimate of the multidimensional probability density of the Rosenblatt–Parzen type. The proposed method makes it possible to significantly increase the computational efficiency of the optimization procedure for kernel probability density estimates in the conditions of large-volume statistical data in comparison with traditional approaches. The basis of the proposed approach is the analysis of the optimal parameter formula for the bandwidths of a multidimensional kernel probability density estimate. Dependencies between the nonlinear functional on the probability density and its derivatives up to the second order inclusive of the antikurtosis coefficients of random variables are found. The bandwidths for each random variable are represented as the product of an undefined parameter and their mean square deviation. The influence of the error in restoring the established functional dependencies on the approximation properties of the kernel probability density estimation is determined. The obtained results are implemented as a method of synthesis and analysis of a fast bandwidths selection of the kernel estimation of the two-dimensional probability density of independent random variables. This method uses data on the quantitative characteristics of a family of lognormal distribution laws.


2014 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 553-562 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Surowiak ◽  
Marian Brożek

Abstract Settling velocity of particles, which is the main parameter of jig separation, is affected by physical (density) and the geometrical properties (size and shape) of particles. The authors worked out a calculation algorithm of particles settling velocity distribution for irregular particles assuming that the density of particles, their size and shape constitute independent random variables of fixed distributions. Applying theorems of probability, concerning distributions function of random variables, the authors present general formula of probability density function of settling velocity irregular particles for the turbulent motion. The distributions of settling velocity of irregular particles were calculated utilizing industrial sample. The measurements were executed and the histograms of distributions of volume and dynamic shape coefficient, were drawn. The separation accuracy was measured by the change of process imperfection of irregular particles in relation to spherical ones, resulting from the distribution of particles settling velocity.


1965 ◽  
Vol 2 (02) ◽  
pp. 352-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
Samuel Karlin ◽  
James McGregor

In the Ehrenfest model with continuous time one considers two urns and N balls distributed in the urns. The system is said to be in stateiif there areiballs in urn I, N −iballs in urn II. Events occur at random times and the time intervals T between successive events are independent random variables all with the same negative exponential distributionWhen an event occurs a ball is chosen at random (each of theNballs has probability 1/Nto be chosen), removed from its urn, and then placed in urn I with probabilityp, in urn II with probabilityq= 1 −p, (0 <p< 1).


1991 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 381-384
Author(s):  
Rohan Hemasinha

LetEbe a Banach space, and let(Ω,ℱ,P)be a probability space. IfL1(Ω)contains an isomorphic copy ofL1[0,1]then inLEP(Ω)(1≤P<∞), the closed linear span of every sequence of independent,Evalued mean zero random variables has infinite codimension. IfEis reflexive orB-convex and1<P<∞then the closed(in LEP(Ω))linear span of any family of independent,Evalued, mean zero random variables is super-reflexive.


Bernoulli ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 19 (5A) ◽  
pp. 1776-1789 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaoqing Pan ◽  
Maochao Xu ◽  
Taizhong Hu

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