Stochastic comparisons of order statistics from gamma distributions

Let (X₁,X₂,…,X_n) and (Y₁,Y₂,…,Y_n) be gamma random vectors with common shape parameter α(0<α?1) and scale parameters (λ₁,λ₂,…,λ_n), (μ₁,μ₂,…,μ_n), respectively. Let X₍₎=(X₍₁₎,X₍₂₎,…,X_(n)), Y₍₎=(Y₍₁₎,Y₍₂₎,…,Y_(n)) be the order statistics of (X₁,X₂,…,X_n) and (Y₁,Y₂,…,Y_n). Then (λ₁,λ₂,…,λ_n) majorizes (μ₁,μ₂,…,μ_n) implies that X₍₎ is stochastically larger than Y₍₎. However if the common shape parameter α>1, we can only compare the the first- and last-order statistics. Some earlier results on stochastically comparing proportional hazard functions are shown to be special cases of our results.     

Conditional orderings and positive dependence

Every univariate random variable is smaller, with respect to the ordinary stochastic order and with respect to the hazard rate order, than a right censored version of it. In this paper we attempt to generalize these facts to the multivariate setting. It turns out that in general such comparisons do not hold in the multivariate case, but they do under some assumptions of positive dependence. First we obtain results that compare the underlying random vectors with respect to the usual multivariate stochastic order. A larger slew of results, that yield comparisons of the underlying random vectors with respect to various multivariate hazard rate orders, is given next. Some comparisons with respect to the orthant orders are also discussed.     

Increasing directionally convex orderings of random vectors having the same copula, and their use in comparing ordered data

In this paper, we establish some results for the increasing convex comparisons of generalized order statistics. First, we prove that if the minimum of two sets of generalized order statistics are ordered in the increasing convex order, then the remaining generalized order statistics are also ordered in the increasing convex order. This result is extended to the increasing directionally convex comparisons of random vectors of generalized order statistics. For establishing this general result, we first prove a new result in that two random vectors with a common conditionally increasing copula are ordered in the increasing directionally convex order if the marginals are ordered in the increasing convex order. This latter result is, of course, of interest in its own right.     

Likelihood ratio orderings of spacings of heterogeneous exponential random variables

Let X₁,X₂,…,X_n be independent exponential random variables such that X_i has failure rate λ for i=1,…,p and X_j has failure rate λ^* for j=p+1,…,n, where p≥1 and q=n-p≥1. Denote by D_i:n(p,q)=X_i:n-X_i-1:n the ith spacing of the order statistics , where X_0:n≡0. It is shown that D_i:n(p,q)?_lrD_i+1:n(p,q) for i=1,…,n-1, and that if λ?λ^* then , and for i=1,…,n, where ?_lr denotes the likelihood ratio order. The main results are used to establish the dispersive orderings between spacings.     

Dependence orderings for some functionals of multivariate point processes

We study dependence orderings for functionals of k-variate point processes Φ and Ψ. We view the first process as a collection of counting measures, whereas the second as the sequences of interpoint distances. Subsequently, we establish regularity properties of stationary sequences which generalize known results for iid case. The theoretical results are illustrated by many special cases including comparison of multivariate sums and products, comparison of multivariate shock models and queueing systems.     

Stochastic comparisons for time transformed exponential models

Different sufficient conditions for stochastic comparisons between random vectors have been described in the literature. In particular, conditions for the comparison of random vectors having the same copula, i.e., the same dependence structure, may be found in Müller and Scarsini (2001). Here we provide conditions for the comparison, in the usual stochastic order sense and in other weaker stochastic orders, of two time transformed exponential bivariate lifetimes having different copulas. Some examples of applications are provided too.     

A class of bivariate exponential distributions

We introduce a class of absolutely continuous bivariate exponential distributions, generated from quadratic forms of standard multivariate normal variates.This class is quite flexible and tractable, since it is regulated by two parameters only, derived from the matrices of the quadratic forms: the correlation and the correlation of the squares of marginal components. A simple representation of the whole class is given in terms of 4-dimensional matrices. Integral forms allow evaluating the distribution function and the density function in most of the cases.The class is introduced as a subclass of bivariate distributions with chi-square marginals; bounds for the dimension of the generating normal variable are underlined in the general case.Finally, we sketch the extension to the multivariate case.     

Singular random matrix decompositions: distributions

Assuming that Y has a singular matrix variate elliptically contoured distribution with respect to the Hausdorff measure, the distributions of several matrices associated to QR, modified QR, SV and polar decompositions of matrix Y are determined, for central and non-central, non-singular and singular cases, as well as their relationship to the Wishart and pseudo-Wishart generalized singular and non-singular distributions. Some of these results are also applied to two particular subfamilies of elliptical distributions, the singular matrix variate normal distribution and the singular matrix variate symmetric Pearson type VII distribution.     

Stochastic properties of INID progressive Type-II censored order statistics

Let X_1:n≤X_2:n≤?≤X_n:n denote the order statistics of random variables X₁,X₂,…,X_n which are independent but not necessarily identically distributed (INID), and let K₁,K₂ be two integer-valued random variables, independent of {X₁,…,X_n}, such that 1≤K₁≤K₂≤n. It is shown that if K₁ has a log-concave probability function and SI(K₂|K₁) then RTI(X_K2:n|X_K1:n), and if K₂ has a log-concave probability function and SI(K₁|K₂) then LTD(X_K1:n|X_K2:n), where SI, RTI and LTD are three notions of bivariate positive dependence. Based on these, we obtain that RTI and LTD whenever 1≤i<j≤m, where are progressive Type-II censored order statistics from INID random variables {X₁,…,X_n}. Furthermore, one result concerning the likelihood ratio ordering of the progressive Type-II censored order statistics is also given.     

Stochastic conservation laws: Weak-in-time formulation and strong entropy condition

This article is an attempt to complement some recent developments on conservation laws with stochastic forcing. In a pioneering development, Feng and Nualart [8] have developed the entropy solution theory for such problems and the presence of stochastic forcing necessitates introduction of strong entropy condition. However, the authors' formulation of entropy inequalities are weak-in-space but strong-in-time. In the absence of a priori path continuity for the solutions, we take a critical outlook towards this formulation and offer an entropy formulation which is weak-in-time and weak-in-space.     

Distributions of the compound and scale mixture of vector and spherical matrix variate elliptical distributions

Several matrix variate hypergeometric type distributions are derived. The compound distributions of left-spherical matrix variate elliptical distributions and inverted hypergeometric type distributions with matrix arguments are then proposed. The scale mixture of left-spherical matrix variate elliptical distributions and univariate inverted hypergeometric type distributions is also derived as a particular case of the compound distribution approach.     

Flexible bivariate beta distributions

Bivariate beta distributions which can be used to model data sets exhibiting positive or negative correlation are introduced. Properties of these bivariate beta distributions and their applications in Bayesian analysis are discussed. Three methods for parameter estimation are presented. The performance of these estimators is evaluated based on Monte Carlo simulations. Examples are provided to illustrate how additional parameters can be introduced to gain even more modeling flexibility. A possible extension of the proposed bivariate beta model and a multivariate generalization are also discussed.     

Random orderings of the integers and card shuffling

In this paper we study random orderings of the integers with a certain invariance property. We describe all such orders in a simple way. We define and represent random shuffles of a countable set of labels and then give an interpretation of these orders in terms of a class of generalized riffle shuffles.     

Exact distributions of MLEs of regression coefficients in GMANOVA-MANOVA model

This paper studies the exact distributions of the MLEs of the regression coefficient matrices in a GMANOVA-MANOVA model with normal error. The unique conditions for linear functions of the MLEs of regression coefficient matrices are presented, and the exact density functions or characteristic functions for these linear functions are derived.     

Interpolation, correlation identities, and inequalities for infinitely divisible variables

We present an interpolation formula for the expectation of functions of infinitely divisible (i.d.) variables. This is then applied to study the association problem for i.d. vectors and to present new covariance expansions and correlation inequalities. Acknowledgements and Notes. The research of C. Houdré was supported in part by an NSF Mathematical Sciences Post-Doctoral Fellowship and by an NSF-NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship and by the NSF grant No. DMS-98032039. This research was completed while V. Pérez-Abreu was visiting the Georgia Institute of Technology.     

Stochastic wave equation of pure jumps: Existence,uniqueness and invariant measures

In this paper, we investigate a class of nonlinear damped stochastic hyperbolic equations with jumps. The jump component considered here is described as a Poisson point process. This paper is divided into two parts. The first part deals with existence and uniqueness of global weak and strong solutions to this type of equations, based on the energy approach. The second part devotes to the existence and support of invariant measures corresponding to the weak solution semi-group, based on Markov property of the solution.     

Tempered stable distributions and processes

We investigate the class of tempered stable distributions and their associated processes. Our analysis of tempered stable distributions includes limit distributions, parameter estimation and the study of their densities. Regarding tempered stable processes, we deal with density transformations and compute their p$p$-variation indices. Exponential stock models driven by tempered stable processes are discussed as well.     

Stochastic Navier-Stokes equations

We construct a solution to stochastic Navier-Stokes equations in dimension n4 with the feedback in both the external forces and a general infinite-dimensional noise. The solution is unique and adapted to the Brownian filtration in the 2-dimensional case with periodic boundary conditions or, when there is no feedback in the noise, for the Dirichlet boundary condition. The paper uses the methods of nonstandard analysis.The research of this author was supported by an SERC Grant.     

Convergence rates in the strong laws of asymptotically negatively associated random fields

In this paper, a notion of negative side p-mixing (p -mixing) which can be regardedas asymptotic negative association is defined, and some Rosenthal type inequalities for p -mix-ing random fields are established. The complete convergence and almost sure summability onthe convergence rates with respect to the strong law of large numbers are also discussed for p--mixing random fields. The results obtained extend those for negatively associated sequences andp“ -mixing random fields.