Prophet Regions for Discounted,Uniformly Bounded Random Variables

Abstract

Let X ₁, X ₂,… be any sequence of [0,1]-valued random variables. A complete comparison is made between the expected maximum E(max _j≤n Y _j ) and the stop rule supremum sup _t E Y _t for two types of discounted sequences: (i) Y _j  = b _j X _j , where {b _j } is a nonincreasing sequence of positive numbers with b ₁ = 1; and (ii) Y _j  = B ₁… B _j?1 X _j , where B ₁, B ₂,… are independent [0,1]-valued random variables that are independent of the X _j , having a common mean β. For instance, it is shown that the set of points {(x, y): x = sup _t E Y _{{(x, y): x=sup t E Y} and y = E(max _j≤n Y _j ), for some sequence X ₁,…,X _n and Y _j  = b _j X _j }, is precisely the convex closure of the union of the sets {(b _j x, b _j y): (x, y) ∈ C _j }, j = 1,…,n, where C _j  = {(x, y):0 ≤ x ≤ 1, x ≤ y ≤ x[1 + (j ? 1)(1 ? x ^1/(j?1))]} is the prophet region for undiscounted random variables given by Hill and Kertz [8 Hill , T.P. , and R.P. Kertz . 1983 . Stop rule inequalities for uniformly bounded sequences of random variables . Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 278 : 197 – 207 . [CSA]  [Google Scholar]]. As a special case, it is shown that the maximum possible difference E(max _j≤n β ^j?1 X _j ) ? sup _t E(β ^t?1 X _t ) is attained by independent random variables when β ≤ 27/32, but by a martingale-like sequence when β > 27/32. Prophet regions for infinite sequences are given also.     

Additive comparisons of stopping values and supremum values for finite stage multiparameter stochastic processes

This paper concerns the optimal stopping problem for discrete time multiparameter stochastic processes with the index set Nd. In the classical optimal stopping problems, the comparisons between the expected reward of a player with complete foresight and the expected reward of a player using nonanticipating stop rules, known as prophet inequalities, have been studied by many authors. Ratio comparisons between these values in the case of multiparameter optimal stopping problems are studied by Krengel and Sucheston (1981) [9] and Tanaka (2007, 2006) [14] and [15]. In this paper an additive comparison in the case of finite stage multiparameter optimal stopping problems is given.     

Prophet regions and sharp inequalities for pth absolute moments of martingales

Exact comparisons are made relating E|Y₀|^p, E|Y_n−1|^p, and E(max_j≤n−1 |Y_j|^p), valid for all martingales Y₀,…,Y_n−1, for each p ≥ 1. Specifically, for p > 1, the set of ordered triples {(x, y, z) : X = E|Y₀|^p, Y = E |Y_n−1|^p, and Z = E(max_j≤n−1 |Y_j|^p) for some martingale Y₀,…,Y_n−1} is precisely the set {(x, y, z) : 0≤x≤y≤z≤Ψ_n,p(x, y)}, where Ψ_n,p(x, y) = xψ_n,p(y/x) if x > 0, and = a_n−1,py if x = 0; here ψ_n,p is a specific recursively defined function. The result yields families of sharp inequalities, such as E(max_j≤n−1 |Y_j|^p) + ψ_n,p^*(a) E |Y₀|^p ≤ aE |Y_n−1|^p, valid for all martingales Y₀,…,Y_n−1, where ψ_n,p^* is the concave conjugate function of ψ_n,p. Both the finite sequence and infinite sequence cases are developed. Proofs utilize moment theory, induction, conjugate function theory, and functional equation analysis.     

Three Series Theorem for Independent Random Variables under Sub-linear Expectations with Applications

In this paper, motived by the notion of independent and identically distributed random variables under the sub-linear expectation initiated by Peng, we establish a three series theorem of independent random variables under the sub-linear expectations. As an application, we obtain the Marcinkiewicz's strong law of large numbers for independent and identically distributed random variables under the sub-linear expectations. The technical details are different from those for classical theorems because the sub-linear expectation and its related capacity are not additive.     

Bonferroni-type inequalities; Chebyshev-type inequalities for the distributions on [0, n]

An elementary majorant-minorant method to construct the most stringent Bonferroni-type inequalities is presented. These are essentially Chebyshev-type inequalities for discrete probability distributions on the set {0, 1,..., n}, where n is the number of concerned events, and polynomials with specific properties on the set lead to the inequalities. All the known results are proved easily by this method. Further, the inequalities in terms of all the lower moments are completely solved by the method. As examples, the most stringent new inequalities of degrees three and four are obtained. Simpler expressions of Mrgritescu's inequality (1987, Stud. Cerc. Mat., 39, 246–251), improving Galambos' inequality, are given.     

The Jackson Inequality for the Best L2-Approximation of Functions on [0, 1] with the Weight x

Let L^2（[0, 1], x） be the space of the real valued, measurable, square summable functions on [0, 1] with weight x, and let n be the subspace of L2（[0, 1], x） defined by a linear combination of Jo（μkX）, where Jo is the Bessel function of order 0 and {μk} is the strictly increasing sequence of all positive zeros of Jo. For f ∈ L^2（[0, 1], x）, let E（f, n） be the error of the best L2（[0, 1], x）, i.e., approximation of f by elements of n. The shift operator off at point x ∈[0, 1] with step t ∈[0, 1] is defined by T（t）f（x）=1/π∫0^π f（√x^2 ＋t^2-2xtcosO）dθ The differences （I- T（t））^r/2f = ∑j=0^∞（-1）^j（j^r/2）T^j（t）f of order r ∈ （0, ∞） and the L^2（[0, 1],x）- modulus of continuity ωr（f,τ） = sup{｜｜（I- T（t））^r/2f｜｜：0≤ t ≤τ] of order r are defined in the standard way, where T^0（t） = I is the identity operator. In this paper, we establish the sharp Jackson inequality between E（f, n） and ωr（f, τ） for some cases of r and τ. More precisely, we will find the smallest constant n（τ, r） which depends only on n, r, and % such that the inequality E（f, n）≤ n（τ, r）ωr（f, τ） is valid.     

Epsilon substitution method for [Π0 1, Π0 1]-FIX

We formulate epsilon substitution method for a theory [Π⁰₁, Π⁰₁]-FIX for two steps non-monotonic Π⁰₁ inductive definitions. Then we give a termination proof of the H-processes based on Ackermann [1].     

On the Esscher transforms and other equivalent martingale measures for Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard stochastic volatility models with jumps

We compute and then discuss the Esscher martingale transform for exponential processes, the Esscher martingale transform for linear processes, the minimal martingale measure, the class of structure preserving martingale measures, and the minimum entropy martingale measure for stochastic volatility models of the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck type as introduced by Barndorff-Nielsen and Shephard. We show that in the model with leverage, with jumps both in the volatility and in the returns, all those measures are different, whereas in the model without leverage, with jumps in the volatility only and a continuous return process, several measures coincide, some simplifications can be made and the results are more explicit. We illustrate our results with parametric examples used in the literature.     

Martingales and the Robbins-Monro procedure in D[0, 1]

The Robbins-Monro procedure for recursive estimation of a zero point of a regression function f is investigated for the case f defined on and with values in the space D[0, 1] of real-valued functions on [0, 1] that are right-continuous and have left-hand limits, endowed with Skorohod's J₁-topology. There are proved an a.s. convergence result and an invariance principle where the limit process is a Gaussian Markov process with paths in the space of continuous C[0, 1]-valued functions on [0, 1]. At first the case f(x) ≡ x, i.e., the case of a martingale in D[0, 1], is treated and by this then the general case. An application to an initial value problem with only empirically available function values is sketched.     

Riesz sequences of translates and generalized duals with support on [0, 1]

If the integer translates of a function ø with compact support generate a frame for a subspace W of L ²(?),then it is automatically a Riesz basis for W, and there exists a unique dual Riesz basis belonging to W. Considerable freedom can be obtained by considering oblique duals, i.e., duals not necessarily belonging to W. Extending work by Ben-Artzi and Ron, we characterize the existence of oblique duals generated by a function with support on an interval of length one. If such a generator exists, we show that it can be chosen with desired smoothness. Regardless whether ø is polynomial or not, the same condition implies that a polynomial dual supported on an interval of length one exists.     

A Generalization of Ostrowski Integral Inequality for Mappings Whose Derivatives Belong to L_1 [a,b] and Applications in Numerical Integration

A generalization of Ostrowski integral inequality for mappings whose derivatives belong to L_1 [a,b], and applications for general quadrature formulae are given.     

On weighted approximations in D[0, 1] with applications to self-normalized partial sum processes

Let X,X ₁,X ₂,… be a sequence of non-degenerate i.i.d. random variables with mean zero. The best possible weighted approximations are investigated in D[0, 1] for the partial sum processes {S _[nt], 0 ≦ t ≦ 1} where S _n = Σ _j=1 ⁿ X _j , under the assumption that X belongs to the domain of attraction of the normal law. The conclusions then are used to establish similar results for the sequence of self-normalized partial sum processes {S _[nt]=V _n , 0 ≦ t ≦ 1}, where V _n ² = Σ _j=1 ⁿ X _j ² . L _p approximations of self-normalized partial sum processes are also discussed.     

A note on -estimates for stable integrals with drift

Let be of the form where is a symmetric stable process of index with . We obtain various -estimates for the process . In particular, for and any measurable, nonnegative function we derive the inequality

As an application of the obtained estimates, we prove the existence of solutions for the stochastic equation for any initial value .

     

An asymptotic formula for the moments of the Minkowski question mark function in the interval [0, 1]

In this paper, we prove an asymptotic formula for the moments of the Minkowski question mark function, which describes the distribution of rationals in the Farey tree. The main idea is to demonstrate that a certain variation of a Laplace method is applicable in this problem, and hence the task reduces to a number of technical calculations. Dedicated to Antanas Laurinčikas on the occasion of his 60th birthday     

K_(1,n)-free图具有给定性质的[a,b]-因子的一个充分条件

图G称为K1,n-free图,如果它不含K1,n作为其导出子图.对K1,n-free图具有给定性质的[a,b]-因子涉及到最小度条件进行了研究,得到一个充分条件.     

Positive solutions and multiple solutions at non-resonance, resonance and near resonance for hemivariational inequalities with -Laplacian

In this paper we study eigenvalue problems for hemivariational inequalities driven by the -Laplacian differential operator. We prove the existence of positive smooth solutions for both non-resonant and resonant problems at the principal eigenvalue of the negative -Laplacian with homogeneous Dirichlet boundary condition. We also examine problems which are near resonance both from the left and from the right of the principal eigenvalue. For nearly resonant from the right problems we also prove a multiplicity result.

     

Quadratic reflected BSDEs with unbounded obstacles

In this paper, we analyze a real-valued reflected backward stochastic differential equation (RBSDE) with an unbounded obstacle and an unbounded terminal condition when its generator f$f$ has quadratic growth in the z$z$-variable. In particular, we obtain existence, uniqueness, and stability results, and consider the optimal stopping for quadratic g$g$-evaluations. As an application of our results we analyze the obstacle problem for semi-linear parabolic PDEs in which the non-linearity appears as the square of the gradient. Finally, we prove a comparison theorem for these obstacle problems when the generator is concave in the z$z$-variable.