Strong limit theorems for quasi-orthogonal random fields

This is a systematic and unified treatment of a variety of seemingly different strong limit problems. The main emphasis is laid on the study of the a.s. behavior of the rectangular means ζ_mn = 1/(λ₁(m) λ₂(n)) Σ_i=1^m Σ_k=1ⁿ X_ik as either max{m, n} → ∞ or min{m, n} → ∞. Here {X_ik: i, k ≥ 1} is an orthogonal or merely quasi-orthogonal random field, whereas {λ₁(m): m ≥ 1} and {λ₂(n): n ≥ 1} are nondecreasing sequences of positive numbers subject to certain growth conditions. The method applied provides the rate of convergence, as well. The sufficient conditions obtained are shown to be the best possible in general. Results on double subsequences and 1-parameter limit theorems are also included.     

Average Width and Optimal Interpolation of the Sobolev-Wiener Class Wpq(R) in the Metric Lq(R)

In this paper, we determine the exact value of average n − K width _n(W^r_pq(R), L_q(R)) of Sobolev-Wiener class W^r_pq(R) in the metric L_q(R) for 1 > q ≥ p > ∞ and get the value of _n(W^r_p(R), L_qp(R)) for the dual case. We also solve the optimal interpolation problems of W^r_pq(R) in the metric L_q(R) and W^r_p(R) in the metric L_qp(R) for 1 < q ≤ p < ∞.     

On confidence sequences for the mean vector of a multivariate normal distribution

Let X₁, X₂,… be idd random vectors with a multivariate normal distribution N(μ, Σ). A sequence of subsets {R_n(a₁, a₂,…, a_n), n ≥ m} of the space of μ is said to be a (1 − α)-level sequence of confidence sets for μ if P(μ R_n(X₁, X₂,…, X_n) for every n ≥ m) ≥ 1 − α. In this note we use the ideas of Robbins Ann. Math. Statist. 41 (1970) to construct confidence sequences for the mean vector μ when Σ is either known or unknown. The constructed sequence R_n(X₁, X₂, …, X_n) depends on Mahalanobis' or Hotelling's according as Σ is known or unknown. Confidence sequences for the vector-valued parameter in the general linear model are also given.     

On the sequence of powers of a stochastic matrix with large exponent

We consider the class of primitive stochastic n×n matrices A, whose exponent is at least (n²−2n+2)/2+2. It is known that for such an A, the associated directed graph has cycles of just two different lengths, say k and j with k>j, and that there is an α between 0 and 1 such that the characteristic polynomial of A is λⁿ−αλ^n−j−(1−α)λ^n−k. In this paper, we prove that for any mn, if α1/2, then A^m+k−A^m_∞A^m−1w^T_∞, where 1 is the all-ones vector and w^T is the left-Perron vector for A, normalized so that w^T1=1. We also prove that if jn/2, n31 and , then A^m+j−A^m_∞A^m−1w^T_∞ for all sufficiently large m. Both of these results lead to lower bounds on the rate of convergence of the sequence A^m.     

Some oscillation criteria for second order nonlinear functional ordinary differential equations

The main objective of this article is to study the oscillatory behavior of the solutions of the following nonlinear functional differential equations (a(t)x'(t))' δ1p(t)x'(t) δ2q(t)f(x(g(t))) = 0,for 0 ≤ t0 ≤ t, where δ1 = ±1 and δ2 = ±1. The functions p,q,g : [t0, ∞) → R, f :R → R are continuous, a(t) ＞ 0, p(t) ≥ 0,q(t) ≥ 0 for t ≥ t0, limt→∞ g(t) = ∞, and q is not identically zero on any subinterval of [t0, ∞). Moreover, the functions q(t),g(t), and a(t) are continuously differentiable.     

Reverse Martingales and Approximation Operators

Let {ξ_n, _n, n ≥ m ≥ 1} be a reverse martingale such that the distribution of ξ_n depends on x I R =(− ∞, ∞)x. for each n ≥ m, and ξ_n[formula] For a continuous bounded function f on R let L_n(f, x) = Ef(ξ_n) be the associated positive linear operator. The properties of ξ_n are used to obtain the convergence properties of L_n(f, x), and some more details are given when ξ_n is a reverse martingale sequence of -statistics. Lipschitz properties for a subclass of these operators resulting from an exponential Family of distributions are also given. It is further shown that this class of operators of convex functions preserves convexity also. An example of a reverse supermartingale related to the Bleimann-Butzer-Hahn operator is also discussed.     

Density of Gabor Frames

A Gabor system is a set of time-frequency shifts S(g, Λ) ={e^{2 π ibx}g(x − a)}_{(a, b) Λ} of a function g L²(R^d). We prove that if a finite union of Gabor systems _{k = 1}^rS(g_k, Λ_k) forms a frame for L²(R^d) then the lower and upper Beurling densities of Λ = _{k = 1}^r Λ_k satisfy D⁻(Λ) ≥ 1 and D ⁺ (Λ) < ∞. This extends recent work of Ramanathan and Steger. Additionally, we prove the conjecture that no collection _{k = 1}^r{g_k(x − a)}_{a Γk} of pure translates can form a frame for L²(R^d).     

Values of the Euler Function in Various Sequences

Let ϕ(n) and λ(n) denote the Euler and Carmichael functions, respectively. In this paper, we investigate the equation ϕ(n)^r = λ(n)^s, where r ≥ s ≥ 1 are fixed positive integers. We also study those positive integers n, not equal to a prime or twice a prime, such that ϕ(n) = p − 1 holds with some prime p, as well as those positive integers n such that the equation ϕ(n) = f(m) holds with some integer m, where f is a fixed polynomial with integer coefficients and degree degf > 1.     

Propriétés statistiques des entiers friables

Let Ψ(x,y) (resp. Ψ_m(x,y)) denote the number of integers not exceeding x that are y-friable, i.e. have no prime factor exceeding y (resp. and are coprime to m). Evaluating the ratio Ψ_m(x/d,y)/Ψ(x,y) for 1≤slantd≤slantx, m≥slant 1, x≥slant y≥slant 2, turns out to be a crucial step for estimating arithmetic sums over friable integers. Here, it is crucial to obtain formulae with a very wide range of validity. In this paper, several uniform estimates are provided for the aforementioned ratio, which supersede all previously known results. Applications are given to averages of various arithmetic functions over friable integers which in turn improve corresponding results from the literature. The technique employed rests mainly on the saddle-point method, which is an efficient and specific tool for the required design.2000 Mathematics Subject Classification: Primary—11N25; Secondary—11K65, 11N37     

Inequalities for predictive ratios and posterior variances in natural exponential families

The predictive ratio is considered as a measure of spread for the predictive distribution. It is shown that, in the exponential families, ordering according to the predictive ratio is equivalent to ordering according to the posterior covariance matrix of the parameters. This result generalizes an inequality due to Chaloner and Duncan who consider the predictive ratio for a beta-binomial distribution and compare it with a predictive ratio for the binomial distribution with a degenerate prior. The predictive ratio at x₁ and x₂ is defined to be p_g(x₁)p_g(x₂)/[p_g( )]² = h_g(x₁, x₂), where p_g(x₁) = ∫ ƒ(x₁θ) g(θ) dθ is the predictive distribution of x₁ with respect to the prior g. We prove that h_g(x₁, x₂) ≥ h_g^*(x₁, x₂) for all x₁ and x₂ if ƒ(xθ) is in the natural exponential family and Cov_gx(θ) ≥ Cov_g^*x(θ) in the Loewner sense, for all x on a straight line from x₁ to x₂. We then restrict the class of prior distributions to the conjugate class and ask whether the posterior covariance inequality obtains if g and g^* differ in that the “sample size”     

On the asymptotic behaviour of a semigroup of linear operators

Let T = {T(t)}_{t ≥ 0} be a C₀-semigroup on a Banach space X. In this paper, we study the relations between the abscissa ω_Lp(T) of weak p-integrability of T (1 ≤ p < ∞), the abscissa ω^p_R(A) of p-boundedness of the resolvent of the generator A of T (1 ≤ p ≤ ∞), and the growth bounds ω_β(T), β ≥ 0, of T. Our main results are as follows.

1. (i) Let T be a C₀-semigroup on a B-convex Banach space such that the resolvent of its generator is uniformly bounded in the right half plane. Then ω_{1 − ε}(T) < 0 for some ε > 0.

2. (ii) Let T be a C₀-semigroup on L^p such that the resolvent of the generator is uniformly bounded in the right half plane. Then ω_β(T) < 0 for all β>¦1/p − 1/p′¦, 1/p + 1/p′ = 1.

3. (iii) Let 1 ≤ p ≤ 2 and let T be a weakly L^p-stable C₀-semigroup on a Banach space X. Then for all β>1/p we have ω_β(T) ≤ 0.

Further, we give sufficient conditions in terms of ω^q_R(A) for the existence of L^p-solutions and W^1,p-solutions (1 ≤ p ≤ ∞) of the abstract Cauchy problem for a general class of operators A on X.     

Asymptotic distributions of regression and autoregression coefficients with martingale difference disturbances

In this paper a form of the Lindeberg condition appropriate for martingale differences is used to obtain asymptotic normality of statistics for regression and autoregression. The regression model is y_t = Bz_t + v_t. The unobserved error sequence {v_t} is a sequence of martingale differences with conditional covariance matrices {Σ_t} and satisfying sup_{t=1,…, n} {v′_tv_tI(v′_tv_t>a) |z_t, v_t−1, z_t−1, …} 0 as a → ∞. The sample covariance of the independent variables z₁, …, z_n, is assumed to have a probability limit M, constant and nonsingular; max_t=1,…,nz′_tz_t/n 0. If (1/n)Σ_t=1ⁿΣ_t Σ, constant, then √nvec( _n−B) N(0,M⁻¹Σ) and _n Σ. The autoregression model is x_t = Bx_{t − 1} + v_t with the maximum absolute value of the characteristic roots of B less than one, the above conditions on {v_t}, and (1/n)Σ_t=max(r,s)+1(Σ_tv_t−1−rv′_t−1−s) δ_rs(ΣΣ), where δ_rs is the Kronecker delta. Then √nvec( _n−B) N(0,Γ⁻¹Σ), where Γ = Σ_{s = 0}^∞B^sΣ(B′)^s.     

Remarks on some zero-sum problems

Let Z denote the ring of integers and for a prime p and positive integers r and d, let f_r(P, d) denote the smallest positive integer such that given any sequence of f_r(p, d) elements in (Z/pZ(^d, there exists a subsequence of (rp) elements whose sum is zero in (Z/pZ(^d. That f₁(p, 1) = 2p − 1, is a classical result due to Erdős, Ginzburg and Ziv. Whereas the determination of the exact value of f₁(p, 2) has resisted the attacks of many well known mathematicians, we shall see that exact values of f_r(p, 1) for r ≥ 1 can be easily obtained from the above mentioned theorem of Erdős, Ginzburg and Ziv and those of f_r(p, 2) for r ≥ 2 can be established by the existing techniques developed by Alon, Dubiner and Rónyai in connection with obtaining good upper bounds for f₁(p, 2). We shall also take this opportunity to describe some of the early results in the introduction.     

Tractability of Multivariate Integration for Weighted Korobov Classes

We study the worst-case error of multivariate integration in weighted Korobov classes of periodic functions of d coordinates. This class is defined in terms of weights γ_j which moderate the behavior of functions with respect to successive coordinates. We study two classes of quadrature rules. They are quasi-Monte Carlo rules which use n function values and in which all quadrature weights are 1/n and rules for which all quadrature weights are non-negative. Tractability for these two classes of quadrature rules means that the minimal number of function values needed to guarantee error in the worst-case setting is bounded by a polynomial in d and ⁻¹. Strong tractability means that the bound does not depend on d and depends polynomially on ⁻¹. We prove that strong tractability holds iff ∑^∞_j=1 γ_j<∞, and tractability holds iff lim sup_d→∞ ∑^d_j=1 γ_j/log d<∞. Furthermore, strong tractability or tractability results are achieved by the relatively small class of lattice rules. We also prove that if ∑^∞_j=1 γ^1/α_j<∞, where α measures the decay of Fourier coefficients in the weighted Korobov class, then for d1, n prime and δ>0 there exist lattice rules that satisfy an error bound independent of d and of order n^−α/2+δ. This is almost the best possible result, since the order n^−α/2 cannot be improved upon even for d=1. A corresponding result is deduced for weighted non-periodic Sobolev spaces: if ∑^∞_j=1 γ^1/2_j<∞, then for d1, n prime and δ>0 there exist shifted lattice rules that satisfy an error bound independent of d and of order n^−1+δ. We also check how the randomized error of the (classical) Monte Carlo algorithm depends on d for weighted Korobov classes. It turns out that Monte Carlo is strongly tractable iff ∑^∞_j=1 log γ_j<∞ and tractable iff lim sup_d→∞ ∑^d_j=1 log γ_j/log d<∞. Hence, in particular, for γ_j=1 we have the usual Korobov space in which integration is intractable for the two classes of quadrature rules in the worst-case setting, whereas Monte Carlo is strongly tractable in the randomized setting.     

On Hilbert''s Integral Inequality

In this paper, we generalize Hilbert's integral inequality and its equivalent form by introducing three parameterst,a, andb.Iff, g L²[0, ∞), then[formula]where π is the best value. The inequality (1) is well known as Hilbert's integral inequality, and its equivalent form is[formula]where π²is also the best value (cf. [[1], Chap. 9]). Recently, Hu Ke made the following improvement of (1) by introducing a real functionc(x),[formula]wherek(x) = 2/π∫^∞₀(c(t²x)/(1 + t²)) dt − c(x), 1 − c(x) + c(y) ≥ 0, andf, g ≥ 0 (cf. [[2]]). In this paper, some generalizations of (1) and (2) are given in the following theorems, which are other than those in [ [2]].     

Uniform Estimates for a Class of Evolution Equations

L^∞ estimates are derived for the oscillatory integral ∫⁺₀^∞e^{−i(xλ + (1/m) tλm)}a(λ) dλ, where 2 ≤ m and (x, t) × ₊. The amplitude a(λ) can be oscillatory, e.g., a(λ) = e^{it (λ)} with (λ) a polynomial of degree ≤ m − 1, or it can be of polynomial type, e.g., a(λ) = (1 + λ)^k with 0 ≤ k ≤ (m − 2). The estimates are applied to the study of solutions of certain linear pseudodifferential equations, of the generalized Schrödinger or Airy type, and of associated semilinear equations.     

Dimension in diffeology

We define the dimension function for diffeological spaces, a simple but new invariant. We show then how it can be applied to prove that, for two different integers m and n the quotient spaces R^m/O(m) and Rⁿ/O(n) are not diffeomorphic, and not diffeomorphic to the half-line [0, ∞[ R.     

Maximum likelihood estimation of a change-point in the distribution of independent random variables: General multiparameter case

In a sequence ofn independent random variables the pdf changes fromf(x, 0) tof(x, 0 + δv_n⁻¹) after the firstnλ variables. The problem is to estimateλ (0, 1 ), where 0 and δ are unknownd-dim parameters andv_n → ∞ slower thann^1/2. Let_n denote the maximum likelihood estimator (mle) ofλ. Analyzing the local behavior of the likelihood function near the true parameter values it is shown under regularity conditions that ifn_n²(− λ) is bounded in probability asn → ∞, then it converges in law to the timeT_(δjδ)^1/2 at which a two-sided Brownian motion (B.M.) with drift1/2(δ′Jδ)^1/2ton(−∞, ∞) attains its a.s. unique minimum, whereJ denotes the Fisher-information matrix. This generalizes the result for small change in mean of univariate normal random variables obtained by Bhattacharya and Brockwell (1976,Z. Warsch. Verw. Gebiete37, 51–75) who also derived the distribution ofT_μ forμ > 0. For the general case an alternative estimator is constructed by a three-step procedure which is shown to have the above asymptotic distribution. In the important case of multiparameter exponential families, the construction of this estimator is considerably simplified.     

The Existence of Positive Solutions to Neutral Differential Equations

In this paper, we shall consider a class of neutral differential equations of the form

Full-size image (1K)

where τ (0, ∞), σ [0, ∞), Q(t) C([t₀, ∞), R ⁺ ), r(t) C([t₀, ∞), (0, ∞)) with r(t) nondecreasing on [t₀ − τ, ∞). We shall show that all positive solutions of ( * ) can be classified into four types, A, B, C, and D, and we shall obtain sufficient and necessary conditions for the existence of A-type, B-type, and D-type positive solutions of ( * ), respectively. A sufficient condition for the existence of C-type positive solutions of ( * ) is also given. Finally, we shall offer a sharp oscillation result for all solutions of ( * ). Our results generalize and improve those established in B. Yang and B. G. Zhang (Funkcial. Ekvac.39 (1996), 347–362).     

Laguerre Expansions of Gel′fand-Shilov Spaces

The subspaces G_α, G^β, and G^β_α (α, β ≥ 0)of Schwartz′ space S⁺ in (0, + ∞) are associated with the Hankel transform in the same way as the Gel′fand-Shilov spaces S_α, S^β, and S^β_α are associated with the Fourier transform. Indeed, if we consider the Hankel transform H_γ (γ < −1) defined by _γ(ƒ)(t) = ∫^∞₀ (xt)^−γ/2x^γJ_γ([formula]) ƒ(x) dx then _γ is an isomorphism from G_α, G^β, and G^β_α onto G^α, G_β, and G^α_β respectively. So. the spaces G^α_α are invariant for _γ. In this paper, we characterize the spaces G^α_α (α > 1) in terms of their Fourier-Laguerre coefficients. Also, we characterize the range of the Fourier-Laplace operator _D defined by _D(ƒ)(w) = ∫^∞₀ ƒ(t) e^{−(1/2)((1 + w)/(1 − w))t} for w D = {w : |w| ≤ 1} when it acts on the space G^α_α.