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.     

Crossing number additivity over edge cuts

Consider a graph G$G$ with a minimal edge cut F$F$ and let _G1$G_1$, _G2$G_2$ be the two (augmented) components of G−F$G-F$. A long-open question asks under which conditions the crossing number of G$G$ is (greater than or) equal to the sum of the crossing numbers of _G1$G_1$ and _G2$G_2$—which would allow us to consider those graphs separately. It is known that crossing number is additive for |F|∈{0,1,2}$\left|F\right|\in \{0,1,2\}$ and that there exist graphs violating this property with |F|≥4$\left|F\right|\ge 4$. In this paper, we show that crossing number is additive for |F|=3$\left|F\right|=3$, thus closing the final gap in the question.     

On functional limits of short- and long-memory linear processes with GARCH(1,1) noises

This paper considers the short- and long-memory linear processes with GARCH (1,1) noises. The functional limit distributions of the partial sum and the sample autocovariances are derived when the tail index α$\alpha$ is in (0,2)$(0,2)$, equal to 2, and in (2,∞)$(2,\infty )$, respectively. The partial sum weakly converges to a functional of α$\alpha$-stable process when α<2$\alpha <2$ and converges to a functional of Brownian motion when α≥2$\alpha \ge 2$. When the process is of short-memory and α<4$\alpha <4$, the autocovariances converge to functionals of α/2$\alpha /2$-stable processes; and if α≥4$\alpha \ge 4$, they converge to functionals of Brownian motions. In contrast, when the process is of long-memory, depending on α$\alpha$ and β$\beta$ (the parameter that characterizes the long-memory), the autocovariances converge to either (i) functionals of α/2$\alpha /2$-stable processes; (ii) Rosenblatt processes (indexed by β$\beta$, 1/2<β<3/4$1/2<\beta <3/4$); or (iii) functionals of Brownian motions. The rates of convergence in these limits depend on both the tail index α$\alpha$ and whether or not the linear process is short- or long-memory. Our weak convergence is established on the space of càdlàg functions on [0,1]$[0,1]$ with either (i) the _J1$J_1$ or the _M1$M_1$ topology (Skorokhod, 1956); or (ii) the weaker form S$S$ topology (Jakubowski, 1997). Some statistical applications are also discussed.     

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 relaxed Newton method derivative: Its dynamics and non-linear properties

The dynamic behaviour of the one-dimensional family of maps f(x)=_c2[(a−1)x+_c1]^{−λ/(α−1)}$f\left(x\right)=c_2{[(a-1)x+c_1]}^{-\lambda /(\alpha -1)}$ is examined, for representative values of the control parameters a,_c1$a,c_1$, _c2$c_2$ and λ$\lambda$. The maps under consideration are of special interest, since they are solutions of the relaxed Newton method derivative being equal to a constant a$a$. The maps f(x)$f\left(x\right)$ are also proved to be solutions of a non-linear differential equation with outstanding applications in the field of power electronics. The recurrent form of these maps, after excessive iterations, shows, in an _xn$x_n$ versus λ$\lambda$ plot, an initial exponential decay followed by a bifurcation. The value of λ$\lambda$ at which this bifurcation takes place depends on the values of the parameters a,_c1$a,c_1$ and _c2$c_2$. This corresponds to a switch to an oscillatory behaviour with amplitudes of f(x)$f\left(x\right)$ undergoing a period doubling. For values of a$a$ higher than 1 and at higher values of λ$\lambda$ a reverse bifurcation occurs. The corresponding branches converge and a bleb is formed for values of the parameter _c1$c_1$ between 1 and 1.20. This behaviour is confirmed by calculating the corresponding Lyapunov exponents.     

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.     

Holomorphic mappings preserving Minkowski functionals

We show that the equality _m1(f(x))=_m2(g(x))$m_1\left(f\left(x\right)\right)=m_2\left(g\left(x\right)\right)$ for x$x$ in a neighborhood of a point a$a$ remains valid for all x$x$ provided that f$f$ and g$g$ are open holomorphic maps, f(a)=g(a)=0$f\left(a\right)=g\left(a\right)=0$ and _m1,_m2$m_1,m_2$ are Minkowski functionals of bounded balanced domains. Moreover, a polynomial relation between f$f$ and g$g$ is obtained.     

On first-fit coloring of ladder-free posets

Bosek and Krawczyk exhibited an on-line algorithm for partitioning an on-line poset of width w$w$ into w^14lgw$w^{14lgw}$ chains. They also observed that the problem of on-line chain partitioning of general posets of width w$w$ could be reduced to First-Fit chain partitioning of 2w²+1$2w^2+1$-ladder-free posets of width w$w$, where an m$m$-ladder is the transitive closure of the union of two incomparable chains _x1≤?≤_xm$x_1\le ?\le x_m$, _y1≤?≤_ym$y_1\le ?\le y_m$ and the set of comparabilities {_x1≤_y1,…,_xm≤_ym}$\{x_1\le y_1,\dots ,x_m\le y_m\}$. Here, we provide a subexponential upper bound (in terms of w$w$ with m$m$ fixed) for the performance of First-Fit chain partitioning on m$m$-ladder-free posets, as well as an exact quadratic bound when m=2$m=2$, and an upper bound linear in m$m$ when w=2$w=2$. Using the Bosek–Krawczyk observation, this yields an on-line chain partitioning algorithm with a somewhat improved performance bound. More importantly, the algorithm and the proof of its performance bound are much simpler.     

Characterizations of hypersurfaces of a Danielewski type

Let k$k$ be a field of characteristic zero and R$R$ a factorial affine k$k$-domain. Let B$B$ be an affineR$R$-domain. In terms of locally nilpotent derivations, we give criteria for B$B$ to be R$R$-isomorphic to the residue ring of a polynomial ring R[_X1,_X2,Y]$R[X_1,X_2,Y]$ over R$R$ by the ideal (_X1X2−φ(Y))$(X_1{X}_2-\phi \left(Y\right))$ for φ(Y)∈R[Y]?R$\phi \left(Y\right)\in R\left[Y\right]?R$.     

Minimum degree and disjoint cycles in generalized claw-free graphs

For s≥3$s\ge 3$ a graph is _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free if it does not contain an induced subgraph isomorphic to _K1,s$K_{1,s}$. Cycles in _K1,3$K_{1,3}$-free graphs, called claw-free graphs, have been well studied. In this paper we extend results on disjoint cycles in claw-free graphs satisfying certain minimum degree conditions to _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free graphs, normally called generalized claw-free graphs. In particular, we prove that if G$G$ is _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free of sufficiently large order n=3k$n=3k$ with δ(G)≥n/2+c$\delta \left(G\right)\ge n/2+c$ for some constant c=c(s)$c=c\left(s\right)$, then G$G$ contains k$k$ disjoint triangles. Analogous results with the complete graph _K3$K_3$ replaced by a complete graph _Km$K_m$ for m≥3$m\ge 3$ will be proved. Also, the existence of 2$2$-factors for _K1,s$K_{1,s}$-free graphs with minimum degree conditions will be shown.     

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$k$.     

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.     

Which finite simple groups are unit groups?

We prove that if G$G$ is a finite simple group which is the unit group of a ring, then G$G$ is isomorphic to: (a) a cyclic group of order 2; or (b) a cyclic group of prime order 2^k−1$2^k-1$ for some k$k$; or (c) a projective special linear group _PSLn(_F2)${PSL}_n\left({\mathbb{F}}_2\right)$ for some n≥3$n\ge 3$. Moreover, these groups do all occur as unit groups. We deduce this classification from a more general result, which holds for groups G$G$ with no non-trivial normal 2-subgroup.     

Applications of equivariant degree for gradient maps to symmetric Newtonian systems

We consider G=Γ×S¹$G=\Gamma \times S^1$ with Γ$\Gamma$ being a finite group, for which the complete Euler ring structure in U(G)$U\left(G\right)$ is described. The multiplication tables for Γ=_D6$\Gamma =D_6$, _S4$S_4$ and _A5$A_5$ are provided in the Appendix. The equivariant degree for G$G$-orthogonal maps is constructed using the primary equivariant degree with one free parameter. We show that the G$G$-orthogonal degree extends the degree for G$G$-gradient maps (in the case of G=Γ×S¹$G=\Gamma \times S^1$) introduced by G?ba in [K. G?ba, W. Krawcewicz, J. Wu, An equivariant degree with applications to symmetric bifurcation problems I: Construction of the degree, Bull. London. Math. Soc. 69 (1994) 377–398]. The computational results obtained are applied to a Γ$\Gamma$-symmetric autonomous Newtonian system for which we study the existence of 2π$2\pi$-periodic solutions. For some concrete cases, we present the symmetric classification of the solution set for the systems considered.     

New general convergence theory for iterative processes and its applications to Newton–Kantorovich type theorems

Let T:D⊂X→X$T:D\subset X\to X$ be an iteration function in a complete metric space X$X$. In this paper we present some new general complete convergence theorems for the Picard iteration _xn+1=T_xn$x_{n+1}=T{x}_n$ with order of convergence at least r≥1$r\ge 1$. Each of these theorems contains a priori and a posteriori error estimates as well as some other estimates. A central role in the new theory is played by the notions of a function of initial conditions   of T$T$ and a convergence function   of T$T$. We study the convergence of the Picard iteration associated to T$T$ with respect to a function of initial conditions E:D→X$E:D\to X$. The initial conditions in our convergence results utilize only information at the starting point _x0$x_0$. More precisely, the initial conditions are given in the form E(_x0)∈J$E\left(x_0\right)\in J$, where J$J$ is an interval on _R+${\mathbb{R}}_{+}$ containing 0. The new convergence theory is applied to the Newton iteration in Banach spaces. We establish three complete ω$\omega$-versions of the famous semilocal Newton–Kantorovich theorem as well as a complete version of the famous semilocal α$\alpha$-theorem of Smale for analytic functions.     

On a family of differential operators with the coupling parameter in the boundary condition

We study a family of differential operators _Lα${\mathbf{L}}_{\alpha }$ in two variables, depending on the coupling parameter α?0$\alpha ?0$ that appears only in the boundary conditions. Our main concern is the spectral properties of _Lα${\mathbf{L}}_{\alpha }$, which turn out to be quite different for α<1$\alpha <1$ and for α>1$\alpha >1$. In particular, _Lα${\mathbf{L}}_{\alpha }$ has a unique self-adjoint realization for α<1$\alpha <1$ and many such realizations for α>1$\alpha >1$. In the more difficult case α>1$\alpha >1$ an analysis of non-elliptic pseudodifferential operators in dimension one is involved.     

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.