Mosco convergence of the sets of fixed points for one-parameter nonexpansive semigroups

We consider the Mosco convergence of the sets of fixed points for one-parameter strongly continuous semigroups of nonexpansive mappings. One of our main results is the following: Let C$C$ be a closed convex subset of a Hilbert space E$E$. Let {T(t):t≥0}$\{T\left(t\right):t\ge 0\}$ be a strongly continuous semigroup of nonexpansive mappings on C$C$. The set of all fixed points of T(t)$T\left(t\right)$ is denoted by F(T(t))$F\left(T\left(t\right)\right)$ for each t≥0$t\ge 0$. Let τ$\tau$ be a nonnegative real number and let {_tn}$\left\{t_n\right\}$ be a sequence in R$\mathbb{R}$ satisfying τ+_tn≥0$\tau +t_n\ge 0$ and _tn≠0$t_n\ne 0$ for n∈N$n\in \mathbb{N}$, and _limntn=0${lim}_n{t}_n=0$. Then {F(T(τ+_tn))}$\left\{F\left(T(\tau +t_n)\right)\right\}$ converges to _?t≥0F(T(t))${?}_{t\ge 0}F\left(T\left(t\right)\right)$ in the sense of Mosco.     

Parametric inference for discretely observed multidimensional diffusions with small diffusion coefficient

We consider a multidimensional diffusion X$X$ with drift coefficient b(α,_Xt)$b(\alpha ,X_t)$ and diffusion coefficient ?σ(β,_Xt)$?\sigma (\beta ,X_t)$. The diffusion sample path is discretely observed at times _tk=kΔ$t_k=k\Delta$ for k=1…n$k=1\dots n$ on a fixed interval [0,T]$[0,T]$. We study minimum contrast estimators derived from the Gaussian process approximating X$X$ for small ?$?$. We obtain consistent and asymptotically normal estimators of α$\alpha$ for fixed Δ$\Delta$ and ?→0$?\to 0$ and of (α,β)$(\alpha ,\beta )$ for Δ→0$\Delta \to 0$ and ?→0$?\to 0$ without any condition linking ?$?$ and Δ$\Delta$. We compare the estimators obtained with various methods and for various magnitudes of Δ$\Delta$ and ?$?$ based on simulation studies. Finally, we investigate the interest of using such methods in an epidemiological framework.     

An approximation method for strictly pseudocontractive mappings

Let K$K$ be a closed convex subset of a q$q$-uniformly smooth separable Banach space, T:K→K$T:K\to K$ a strictly pseudocontractive mapping, and f:K→K$f:K\to K$ an L$L$-Lispschitzian strongly pseudocontractive mapping. For any t∈(0,1)$t\in (0,1)$, let _xt$x_t$ be the unique fixed point of tf+(1-t)T$\mathit{tf}+(1-t)T$. We prove that if T$T$ has a fixed point, then {_xt}$\{x_t\}$ converges to a fixed point of T$T$ as t$t$ approaches to 0.     

Estimation for stochastic differential equations with a small diffusion coefficient

We consider a multidimensional diffusion X$X$ with drift coefficient b(_Xt,α)$b(X_t,\alpha )$ and diffusion coefficient εa(_Xt,β)$\epsilon a(X_t,\beta )$ where α$\alpha$ and β$\beta$ are two unknown parameters, while ε$\epsilon$ is known. For a high frequency sample of observations of the diffusion at the time points k/n$k/n$, k=1,…,n$k=1,\dots ,n$, we propose a class of contrast functions and thus obtain estimators of (α,β)$(\alpha ,\beta )$. The estimators are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal when n→∞$n\to \infty$ and ε→0$\epsilon \to 0$ in such a way that ε⁻¹n^−ρ${\epsilon }^{-1}{n}^{-\rho }$ remains bounded for some ρ>0$\rho >0$. The main focus is on the construction of explicit contrast functions, but it is noted that the theory covers quadratic martingale estimating functions as a special case. In a simulation study we consider the finite sample behaviour and the applicability to a financial model of an estimator obtained from a simple explicit contrast function.     

Randomly weighted self-normalized Lévy processes

Let (_Ut,_Vt)$(U_t,V_t)$ be a bivariate Lévy process, where _Vt$V_t$ is a subordinator and _Ut$U_t$ is a Lévy process formed by randomly weighting each jump of _Vt$V_t$ by an independent random variable _Xt$X_t$ having cdf F$F$. We investigate the asymptotic distribution of the self-normalized Lévy process _Ut/_Vt$U_t/V_t$ at 0 and at ∞$\infty$. We show that all subsequential limits of this ratio at 0 (∞$\infty$) are continuous for any nondegenerate F$F$ with finite expectation if and only if _Vt$V_t$ belongs to the centered Feller class at 0 (∞$\infty$). We also characterize when _Ut/_Vt$U_t/V_t$ has a non-degenerate limit distribution at 0 and ∞$\infty$.     

Median,concentration and fluctuations for Lévy processes

We estimate a median of f(_Xt)$f\left(X_t\right)$ where f$f$ is a Lipschitz function, X$X$ is a Lévy process and t$t$ is an arbitrary time. This leads to concentration inequalities for f(_Xt)$f\left(X_t\right)$. In turn, corresponding fluctuation estimates are obtained under assumptions typically satisfied if the process has a regular behavior in small time and a, possibly different, regular behavior in large time.     

Reflection principle and Ocone martingales

Let M=_(Mt)t≥0$M={\left(M_t\right)}_{t\ge 0}$ be any continuous real-valued stochastic process. We prove that if there exists a sequence _(an)n≥1${\left(a_n\right)}_{n\ge 1}$ of real numbers which converges to 0 and such that M$M$ satisfies the reflection property at all levels _an$a_n$ and 2_an$2a_n$ with n≥1$n\ge 1$, then M$M$ is an Ocone local martingale with respect to its natural filtration. We state the subsequent open question: is this result still true when the property only holds at levels _an$a_n$? We prove that this question is equivalent to the fact that for Brownian motion, the σ$\sigma$-field of the invariant events by all reflections at levels _an$a_n$, n≥1$n\ge 1$ is trivial. We establish similar results for skip free Z$\mathbb{Z}$-valued processes and use them for the proof in continuous time, via a discretization in space.     

Non-parametric adaptive estimation of the drift for a jump diffusion process

In this article, we consider a jump diffusion process _(Xt)t≥0${\left(X_t\right)}_{t\ge 0}$ observed at discrete times t=0,Δ,…,nΔ$t=0,\Delta ,\dots ,n\Delta$. The sampling interval Δ$\Delta$ tends to 0 and nΔ$n\Delta$ tends to infinity. We assume that _(Xt)t≥0${\left(X_t\right)}_{t\ge 0}$ is ergodic, strictly stationary and exponentially β$\beta$-mixing. We use a penalised least-square approach to compute two adaptive estimators of the drift function b$b$. We provide bounds for the risks of the two estimators.     

Path convergence,approximation of fixed points and variational solutions of Lipschitz pseudocontractions in Banach spaces

Let E$E$ be a reflexive Banach space with a uniformly Gâteaux differentiable norm, let K$K$ be a nonempty closed convex subset of E$E$, and let T:K?E$T:K?E$ be a continuous pseudocontraction which satisfies the weakly inward condition. For f:K?K$f:K?K$ any contraction map on K$K$, and every nonempty closed convex and bounded subset of K$K$ having the fixed point property for nonexpansive self-mappings, it is shown that the path x→_xt,t∈[0,1)$x\to x_t,t\in [0,1)$, in K$K$, defined by _xt=tT_xt+(1−t)f(_xt)$x_t=tT{x}_t+(1-t)f\left(x_t\right)$ is continuous and strongly converges to the fixed point of T$T$, which is the unique solution of some co-variational inequality. If, in particular, T$T$ is a Lipschitz pseudocontractive self-mapping of K$K$, it is also shown, under appropriate conditions on the sequences of real numbers {_αn},{_μn}$\left\{{\alpha }_n\right\},\left\{{\mu }_n\right\}$, that the iteration process: _z1∈K$z_1\in K$, _zn+1=_μn(_αnT_zn+(1−_αn)_zn)+(1−_μn)f(_zn),n∈N$z_{n+1}={\mu }_n({\alpha }_{n}T{z}_n+(1-{\alpha }_n)z_n)+(1-{\mu }_n)f\left(z_n\right),n\in \mathbb{N}$, strongly converges to the fixed point of T$T$, which is the unique solution of the same co-variational inequality. Our results propose viscosity approximation methods for Lipschitz pseudocontractions.     

Convergence of the modified Mann’s iteration method for asymptotically strict pseudo-contractions

Let C$C$ be a closed convex subset of a real Hilbert space H$H$ and assume that T$T$ is an asymptotically κ$\kappa$-strict pseudo-contraction on C$C$ with a fixed point, for some 0≤κ<1$0\le \kappa <1$. Given an initial guess _x0∈C$x_0\in C$ and given also a real sequence {_αn}$\left\{{\alpha }_n\right\}$ in (0, 1), the modified Mann’s algorithm generates a sequence {_xn}$\left\{x_n\right\}$ via the formula: _xn+1=_αnxn+(1−_αn)Tⁿ_xn$x_{n+1}={\alpha }_n{x}_n+(1-{\alpha }_n)T^n{x}_n$, n≥0$n\ge 0$. It is proved that if the control sequence {_αn}$\left\{{\alpha }_n\right\}$ is chosen so that κ+δ<_αn<1−δ$\kappa +\delta <{\alpha }_n<1-\delta$ for some δ∈(0,1)$\delta \in (0,1)$, then {_xn}$\left\{x_n\right\}$ converges weakly to a fixed point of T$T$. We also modify this iteration method by applying projections onto suitably constructed closed convex sets to get an algorithm which generates a strongly convergent sequence.     

Blow-up and propagation of disturbances for fast diffusion equations

This paper is concerned with the Cauchy problem for the fast diffusion equation _ut−Δu^m=αu^_p1$u_t-\Delta u^m=\alpha u^{p_1}$ in R^N${\mathbb{R}}^N$ (N≥1$N\ge 1$), where m∈(0,1)$m\in (0,1)$, _p1>1$p_1>1$ and α>0$\alpha >0$. The initial condition _u0$u_0$ is assumed to be continuous, nonnegative and bounded. Using a technique of subsolutions, we set up sufficient conditions on the initial value _u0$u_0$ so that u(t,x)$u(t,x)$ blows up in finite time, and we show how to get estimates on the profile of u(t,x)$u(t,x)$ for small enough values of t>0$t>0$.     

The scaling limit of Poisson-driven order statistics with applications in geometric probability

Let _ηt${\eta }_t$ be a Poisson point process of intensity t≥1$t\ge 1$ on some state space Y$\mathbb{Y}$ and let f$f$ be a non-negative symmetric function on Y^k${\mathbb{Y}}^k$ for some k≥1$k\ge 1$. Applying f$f$ to all k$k$-tuples of distinct points of _ηt${\eta }_t$ generates a point process _ξt${\xi }_t$ on the positive real half-axis. The scaling limit of _ξt${\xi }_t$ as t$t$ tends to infinity is shown to be a Poisson point process with explicitly known intensity measure. From this, a limit theorem for the m$m$-th smallest point of _ξt${\xi }_t$ is concluded. This is strengthened by providing a rate of convergence. The technical background includes Wiener–Itô chaos decompositions and the Malliavin calculus of variations on the Poisson space as well as the Chen–Stein method for Poisson approximation. The general result is accompanied by a number of examples from geometric probability and stochastic geometry, such as k$k$-flats, random polytopes, random geometric graphs and random simplices. They are obtained by combining the general limit theorem with tools from convex and integral geometry.     

The Deodhar decomposition of the Grassmannian and the regularity of KP solitons

Given a point A$A$ in the real Grassmannian, it is well-known that one can construct a soliton solution _uA(x,y,t)$u_A(x,y,t)$ to the KP equation. The contour plot   of such a solution provides a tropical approximation to the solution when the variables x$x$, y$y$, and t$t$ are considered on a large scale and the time t$t$ is fixed. In this paper we use several decompositions of the Grassmannian in order to gain an understanding of the contour plots of the corresponding soliton solutions. First we use the positroid stratification   of the real Grassmannian in order to characterize the unbounded line-solitons in the contour plots at y?0$y?0$ and y?0$y?0$. Next we use the Deodhar decomposition   of the Grassmannian–a refinement of the positroid stratification–to study contour plots at t?0$t?0$. More specifically, we index the components of the Deodhar decomposition of the Grassmannian by certain tableaux which we call Go-diagrams  , and then use these Go-diagrams to characterize the contour plots of solitons solutions when t?0$t?0$. Finally we use these results to show that a soliton solution _uA(x,y,t)$u_A(x,y,t)$ is regular for all times t$t$ if and only if A$A$ comes from the totally non-negative part of the Grassmannian.     

Frobenius groups and retract rationality

Let k$k$ be any field, G$G$ be a finite group acting on the rational function field k(_xg:g∈G)$k(x_g:g\in G)$ by h⋅_xg=_xhg$h\cdot x_g=x_{hg}$ for any h,g∈G$h,g\in G$. Define k(G)=k(_xg:g∈G)^G$k\left(G\right)=k{(x_g:g\in G)}^G$. Noether’s problem asks whether k(G)$k\left(G\right)$ is rational (= purely transcendental) over k$k$. A weaker notion, retract rationality introduced by Saltman, is also very useful for the study of Noether’s problem. We prove that, if G$G$ is a Frobenius group with abelian Frobenius kernel, then k(G)$k\left(G\right)$ is retract k$k$-rational for any field k$k$ satisfying some mild conditions. As an application, we show that, for any algebraic number field k$k$, for any Frobenius group G$G$ with Frobenius complement isomorphic to S_L2(_F5)$S{L}_2\left({\mathbb{F}}_5\right)$, there is a Galois extension field K$K$ over k$k$ whose Galois group is isomorphic to G$G$, i.e. the inverse Galois problem is valid for the pair (G,k)$(G,k)$. The same result is true for any non-solvable Frobenius group if k(_ζ8)$k\left({\zeta }_8\right)$ is a cyclic extension of k$k$.