A Markov Chain Monte Carlo comparison of variance estimators for the sampling of particulate mixtures

During the sampling of particulate mixtures, samples taken are analyzed for their mass concentration, which generally has non‐zero sample‐to‐sample variance. Bias, variance, and mean squared error (MSE) of a number of variance estimators, derived by Geelhoed, were studied in this article. The Monte Carlo simulation was applied using an observable first‐order Markov Chain with transition probabilities that served as a model for the sample drawing process. Because the bias and variance of a variance estimator could depend on the specific circumstances under which it is applied, Monte Carlo simulation was performed for a wide range of practically relevant scenarios. Using the ‘smallest mean squared error’ as a criterion, an adaptation of an estimator based on a first‐order Taylor linearization of the sample concentration is the best. An estimator based on the Horvitz–Thompson estimator is not practically applicable because of the potentially high MSE for the cases studied. The results indicate that the Poisson estimator leads to a biased estimator for the variance of fundamental sampling error (up to 428% absolute value of relative bias) in case of low levels of grouping and segregation. The uncertainty of the results obtained by the simulations was also addressed and it was found that the results were not significantly affected. The potentials of a recently described other approach are discussed for extending the first‐order Markov Chain described here to account also for higher levels of grouping and segregation. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Smoothed Monte Carlo estimators for the time-in-the-red in risk processes

We consider a modified version of the de Finetti model in insurance risk theory in which, when surpluses become negative the company has the possibility of borrowing, and thus continue its operation. For this model we examine the problem of estimating the time-in-the red over a finite horizon via simulation. We propose a smoothed estimator based on a conditioning argument which is very simple to implement as well as particularly efficient, especially when the claim distribution is heavy tailed. We establish unbiasedness for this estimator and show that its variance is lower than the naïve estimator based on counts. Finally we present a number of simulation results showing that the smoothed estimator has variance which is often significantly lower than that of the naïve Monte-Carlo estimator.     

Minimax estimators for location vectors in elliptical distributions with unknown scale parameter and its application to variance reduction in simulation

In this paper, we give an ever wider and new class of minimax estimators for the location vector of an elliptical distribution (a scale mixture of normal densities) with an unknown scale parameter. The its application to variance reduction for Monte Carlo simulation when control variates are used is considered. The results obtained thus extend (i) Berger's result concerning minimax estimation of location vectors for scale mixtures of normal densities with known scale parameter and (ii) Strawderman's result on the estimation of the normal mean with common unknown variance.Research partially supported by National Science Foundation, Grant #DMS 8901922.     

Discrete stochastic consistent estimators of the Monte Carlo method

The efficiency of discrete stochastic consistent estimators (the weighted uniform sampling and estimator with a correcting multiplier) of the Monte Carlo method is investigated. Confidence intervals and upper bounds on the variances are obtained, and the computational cost of the corresponding discrete stochastic numerical scheme is estimated.     

Highly nonlinear model in finance and convergence of Monte Carlo simulations

In this paper we consider the highly nonlinear model in finance proposed by Ait-Sahalia [Y. Ait-Sahalia, Testing continuous-time models of the spot interest rate, Rev. Finan. Stud. 9 (2) (1996) 385-426]. Both the drift and diffusion coefficients in this model do not obey the classical linear growth condition. To overcome the difficulties due to the highly nonlinear coefficients, we develop several new techniques to study the analytical properties of the model including the positivity and boundedness. In particular, we show that the Euler-Maruyama approximate solutions converge to the true solution in probability. The convergence result justifies clearly that the Monte Carlo simulations based on the Euler-Maruyama scheme can be used to compute the expected payoff of financial products e.g. options.     

An adaptive Monte Carlo algorithm for computing mixed logit estimators

Researchers and analysts are increasingly using mixed logit models for estimating responses to forecast demand and to determine the factors that affect individual choices. However the numerical cost associated to their evaluation can be prohibitive, the inherent probability choices being represented by multidimensional integrals. This cost remains high even if Monte Carlo or quasi-Monte Carlo techniques are used to estimate those integrals. This paper describes a new algorithm that uses Monte Carlo approximations in the context of modern trust-region techniques, but also exploits accuracy and bias estimators to considerably increase its computational efficiency. Numerical experiments underline the importance of the choice of an appropriate optimisation technique and indicate that the proposed algorithm allows substantial gains in time while delivering more information to the practitioner. Fabian Bastin: Research Fellow of the National Fund for Scientific Research (FNRS)     

Modifications of weighted Monte Carlo algorithms for nonlinear kinetic equations

Test problems for the nonlinear Boltzmann and Smoluchowski kinetic equations are used to analyze the efficiency of various versions of weighted importance modeling as applied to the evolution of multiparticle ensembles. For coagulation problems, a considerable gain in computational costs is achieved via the approximate importance modeling of the “free path” of the ensemble combined with the importance modeling of the index of a pair of interacting particles. A weighted modification of the modeling of the initial velocity distribution was found to be the most efficient for model solutions to the Boltzmann equation. The technique developed can be useful as applied to real-life coagulation and relaxation problems for which the model problems considered give approximate solutions.     

E-Bayesian estimation for the Lomax distribution based on type-II censored data

This paper is concerned with using the E-Bayesian method for computing estimates of the unknown parameter and some survival time parameters e.g. reliability and hazard functions of Lomax distribution based on type-II censored data. These estimates are derived based on a conjugate prior for the parameter under the balanced squared error loss function. A comparison between the new method and the corresponding Bayes and maximum likelihood techniques is conducted using the Monte Carlo simulation.     

Bayesian estimation of NIG models via Markov chain Monte Carlo methods

The normal inverse Gaussian (NIG) distribution is a promising alternative for modelling financial data since it is a continuous distribution that allows for skewness and fat tails. There is an increasing number of applications of the NIG distribution to financial problems. Due to the complicated nature of its density, estimation procedures are not simple. In this paper we propose Bayesian estimation for the parameters of the NIG distribution via an MCMC scheme based on the Gibbs sampler. Our approach makes use of the data augmentation provided by the mixture representation of the distribution. We also extend the model to allow for modelling heteroscedastic regression situations. Examples with financial and simulated data are provided. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Comparison of certain value-at-risk estimation methods for the two-parameter Weibull loss distribution

The Weibull distribution is one of the most important distributions that is utilized as a probability model for loss amounts in connection with actuarial and financial risk management problems. This paper considers the Weibull distribution and its quantiles in the context of estimation of a risk measure called Value-at-Risk (VaR). VaR is simply the maximum loss in a specified period with a pre-assigned probability level. We attempt to present certain estimation methods for VaR as a quantile of a distribution and compare these methods with respect to their deficiency (Def) values. Along this line, the results of some Monte Carlo simulations, that we have conducted for detailed investigations on the efficiency of the estimators as compared to MLE, are provided.     

Variance of a standard vector Monte Carlo estimate in the theory of polarized radiative transfer

The spectral radius ρ of the matrix integral operator defining the covariance matrix of a standard vector Monte Carlo estimate in the polarized radiative transfer problem is examined. The theory of positive operators is used to analytically calculate ρ = ρ₀ for transfer through an infinite homogeneous medium. For a bounded medium, it is shown that ρ is approximately equal to ρ₀ times the spectral radius of the operator corresponding to radiative transfer without polarization. This is shown numerically by estimating the iterations of the corresponding resolvent and approximately analytically by using a perturbation of a special functional.     

Improved Bounds and Simulation Procedures on the Value of the Multivariate Normal Probability Distribution Function

Improved bounds and simulation procedures on the value of the multivariate normal probability distribution function value are given in the paper. The author's variance reduction technique was based on the Bonferroni bounds involving the first two binomial moments only. The new variance reduction technique is adapted to the most refined new bounds developed in the last decade for the estimation the probability of union respectively intersection of events. Numerical test results prove the efficiency of the simulation procedures described in the paper.     

基于贝叶斯MCMC算法的美式期权定价

鉴于美式期权的定价具有后向迭代搜索特征,本文结合Longstaff和Schwartz提出的美式期权定价的最小二乘模拟方法,研究基于马尔科夫链蒙特卡洛算法对回归方程系数的估计,实现对美式期权的双重模拟定价.通过对无红利美式看跌股票期权定价进行大量实证模拟,从期权价值定价误差等方面同著名的最小二乘蒙特卡洛模拟方法进行对比分析,结果表明基于MCMC回归算法给出的美式期权定价具有更高的精确度.模拟实证结果表明本文提出的对美式期权定价方法具有较好的可行性、有效性与广泛的适用性.该方法的不足之处就是类似于一般的蒙特卡洛方法,会使得求解的计算量有所加大.     

Corrections to the Article “Weighted Monte Carlo Methods for Approximate Solution of a Nonlinear Boltzmann Equation”

Corrections are given to the above-mentioned article.     

Ant colony method to control variance reduction techniques in the Monte Carlo simulation of clinical electron linear accelerators of use in cancer therapy

The Monte Carlo simulation of clinical electron linear accelerators requires large computation times to achieve the level of uncertainty required for radiotherapy. In this context, variance reduction techniques play a fundamental role in the reduction of this computational time. Here we describe the use of the ant colony method to control the application of two variance reduction techniques: Splitting and Russian roulette. The approach can be applied to any accelerator in a straightforward way and permits the increasing of the efficiency of the simulation by a factor larger than 50.     

Simulation of conditioned diffusion and application to parameter estimation

In this paper, we propose some algorithms for the simulation of the distribution of certain diffusions conditioned on a terminal point. We prove that the conditional distribution is absolutely continuous with respect to the distribution of another diffusion which is easy for simulation, and the formula for the density is given explicitly. An example of parameter estimation for a Duffing–Van der Pol oscillator is given as an application.     

Weighted Monte Carlo method for an approximate solution of the nonlinear coagulation equation

New weighted modifications of direct statistical simulation methods designed for the approximate solution of the nonlinear Smoluchowski equation are developed on the basis of stratification of the interaction distribution in a multiparticle system according to the index of a pair of interacting particles. The weighted algorithms are validated for a model problem with a known solution. It is shown that they effectively estimate variations in the functionals with varying parameters, in particular, with the initial number N ₀ of particles in the simulating ensemble. The computations performed for the problem with a known solution confirm the semiheuristic hypothesis that the model error is O(N ₀ ^?1 ). Estimates are derived for the derivatives of the approximate solution with respect to the coagulation coefficient.     

Monte Carlo EM加速算法

EM算法是近年来常用的求后验众数的估计的一种数据增广算法, 但由于求出其E步中积分的显示表达式有时很困难, 甚至不可能, 限制了其应用的广泛性. 而Monte Carlo EM算法很好地解决了这个问题, 将EM算法中E步的积分用Monte Carlo模拟来有效实现, 使其适用性大大增强. 但无论是EM算法, 还是Monte Carlo EM算法, 其收敛速度都是线性的, 被缺损信息的倒数所控制, 当缺损数据的比例很高时, 收敛速度就非常缓慢. 而Newton-Raphson算法在后验众数的附近具有二次收敛速率. 本文提出Monte Carlo EM加速算法, 将Monte Carlo EM算法与Newton-Raphson算法结合, 既使得EM算法中的E步用Monte Carlo模拟得以实现, 又证明了该算法在后验众数附近具有二次收敛速度. 从而使其保留了Monte Carlo EM算法的优点, 并改进了Monte Carlo EM算法的收敛速度. 本文通过数值例子, 将Monte Carlo EM加速算法的结果与EM算法、Monte Carlo EM算法的结果进行比较, 进一步说明了Monte Carlo EM加速算法的优良性.