Infinite horizon reflected backward stochastic differential equations with Markov chains

We first give the existence and uniqueness results for infinite horizon backward stochastic differential equations with Markov chains, taking advantage of the martingale representation theorem and fixed point principle. Then we prove the well-posedness results for infinite horizon reflected backward stochastic differential equations with Markov chains, by virtue of the Snell envelope theory and contraction mapping method. Comparison theorems for the above two kinds of equations are also obtained, via the linearization approach or properties of reflected backward stochastic differential equations, respectively.     

Reflected BSDE of Wiener-Poisson type in time-dependent domains

In this paper we study multidimensional reflected backward stochastic differential equations driven by Wiener-Poisson type processes. We prove existence and uniqueness of solutions, with reflection in the inward spatial normal direction, in the setting of certain time-dependent domains.     

A kind of stochastic recursive Zero-Sum differential game problem with double obstacles constraint

Abstract

This paper concerns a class of stochastic recursive zero-sum differential game problem with recursive utility related to a backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE) with double obstacles. A sufficient condition is provided to obtain the saddle-point strategy under some assumptions. In virtue of the corresponding relationship of doubly reflected BSDE and mixed game problem, a stochastic linear recursive mixed differential game problem is studied to apply our theoretical result, and here the explicit saddle-point strategy as well as the saddle-point stopping time for the mixed game problem are obtained. Besides, a numeral example is also given to demonstrate the result by virtue of partial differential equations (PDEs) computation method.     

倒向随机微分方程中非参数估计的核函数选择

比较了多种类型的核函数下倒向随机微分方程（BSDE）中生成元z的非参数估计方法,利用不同的核函数估计BSDE中的生成元z的非参数估计,在均方误差意义下比较了8种不同的核函数下得到的BSDE的生成元z的非参数估计的精度,统计分析结果显示Gaussian核函数下的估计效果最好。     

Persistence and existence of stationary measures for a logistic growth model with predation

We consider a stochastic logistic growth model with a predation term, and a diffusive stochastic part with a power-type coefficient. We provide criteria for the persistence of the population and for the existence and uniqueness of a stationary measure. Furthermore, we perform a detailed study of the densities of the stationary measures resorting to the forward Kolmogorov equation. We compile our results in a stochastic bifurcation diagram, drawing comparisons with the corresponding deterministic model.     

Bayesian sequential inference for nonlinear multivariate diffusions

In this paper, we adapt recently developed simulation-based sequential algorithms to the problem concerning the Bayesian analysis of discretely observed diffusion processes. The estimation framework involves the introduction of m−1 latent data points between every pair of observations. Sequential MCMC methods are then used to sample the posterior distribution of the latent data and the model parameters on-line. The method is applied to the estimation of parameters in a simple stochastic volatility model (SV) of the U.S. short-term interest rate. We also provide a simulation study to validate our method, using synthetic data generated by the SV model with parameters calibrated to match weekly observations of the U.S. short-term interest rate.     

Stochastic differential equation systems for an SIS epidemic model with vaccination and immigration

Two Itô stochastic differential equation (SDE) systems are constructed for a Susceptible-Infected-Susceptible epidemic model with temporary vaccination. A constant number of new members enter the population and total size of the population is variable. Some conditions for disease extinction in the stochastic models are established and compared with conditions in deterministic one. It is shown that the two stochastic models are equivalent in the sense that their solutions come from same distribution. In addition, the SDE models are simulated and the equivalence of the two stochastic models is confirmed by numerical examples. The probability distribution for extinction is also obtained numerically, provided there exists a probability for disease persistence whereas the expected duration of epidemic is acquired when extinction occurs with probability 1.     

On drift parameter estimation in models with fractional Brownian motion

We consider a stochastic differential equation involving standard and fractional Brownian motion with unknown drift parameter to be estimated. We investigate the standard maximum likelihood estimate of the drift parameter, two non-standard estimates and three estimates for the sequential estimation. Model strong consistency and some other properties are proved. The linear model and Ornstein–Uhlenbeck model are studied in detail. As an auxiliary result, an asymptotic behaviour of the fractional derivative of the fractional Brownian motion is established.     

Anticipated Backward Stochastic Differential Equation with Reflection

In this article, we deal with anticipated backward stochastic differential equation with reflecting boundary. The existence and uniqueness of solution is obtained for equation with Lipschitz and non-Lipschitz generator.     

Accelerating inference for diffusions observed with measurement error and large sample sizes using approximate Bayesian computation

In recent years, dynamical modelling has been provided with a range of breakthrough methods to perform exact Bayesian inference. However, it is often computationally unfeasible to apply exact statistical methodologies in the context of large data sets and complex models. This paper considers a nonlinear stochastic differential equation model observed with correlated measurement errors and an application to protein folding modelling. An approximate Bayesian computation (ABC)-MCMC algorithm is suggested to allow inference for model parameters within reasonable time constraints. The ABC algorithm uses simulations of ‘subsamples’ from the assumed data-generating model as well as a so-called ‘early-rejection’ strategy to speed up computations in the ABC-MCMC sampler. Using a considerate amount of subsamples does not seem to degrade the quality of the inferential results for the considered applications. A simulation study is conducted to compare our strategy with exact Bayesian inference, the latter resulting two orders of magnitude slower than ABC-MCMC for the considered set-up. Finally, the ABC algorithm is applied to a large size protein data. The suggested methodology is fairly general and not limited to the exemplified model and data.     

Estimating the Nitrous Oxide Emission Rate from the Soil Surface by Means of a Diffusion Model

Soil cover methods are probably the most widely used methods for measuring the nitrous oxide emission rate from the soil surface. The methodology involves estimation of the emission rate from repeated measurements of the nitrous oxide concentration beneath a soil cover. Based on a deterministic model proposed by Hutchinson & Mosier (1981) we propose to use a diffusion process as a stochastic model for the evolution of the nitrous oxide concentrations beneath a soil cover. From this model we derive methods for statistical inference about the emission rate that significantly extend the method proposed by Hutchinson & Mosier (1981). In particular, the derived methods provide solutions to important problems with the method proposed by Hutchinson & Mosier (1981).     

A note on reflecting boundaries for solutions of stochastic differential equations

In this note, sufficient conditions are given for a function g(t) to be a reflecting barrier for the sample paths of a solution process X(t) of a stochastic differential equation.     

Sparse Approximations of Fractional Matérn Fields

We consider fast lattice approximation methods for a solution of a certain stochastic non‐local pseudodifferential operator equation. This equation defines a Matérn class random field. We approximate the pseudodifferential operator with truncated Taylor expansion, spectral domain error functional minimization and rounding approximations. This allows us to construct Gaussian Markov random field approximations. We construct lattice approximations with finite‐difference methods. We show that the solutions can be constructed with overdetermined systems of stochastic matrix equations with sparse matrices, and we solve the system of equations with a sparse Cholesky decomposition. We consider convergence of the truncated Taylor approximation by studying band‐limited Matérn fields. We consider the convergence of the discrete approximations to the continuous limits. Finally, we study numerically the accuracy of different approximation methods with an interpolation problem.     

A detection algorithm for the first jump time in sample trajectories of jump-diffusions driven by α-stable white noise

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to develop a detection algorithm for the first jump point in sampling trajectories of jump-diffusions which are described as solutions of stochastic differential equations driven by α-stable white noise. This is done by a multivariate Lagrange interpolation approach. To this end, we utilize computer simulation algorithm in MATLAB to visualize the sampling trajectories of the jump-diffusions for various combinations of parameters arising in the modeling structure of stochastic differential equations.     

Feedback and Mediation in Causal Inference Illustrated by Stochastic Process Models

The concept of causality is naturally related to processes developing over time. Central ideas of causal inference like time‐dependent confounding (feedback) and mediation should be viewed as dynamic concepts. We shall study these concepts in the context of simple dynamic systems. Time‐dependent confounding and its implications are illustrated in a Markov model. We emphasize the distinction between average treatment effect, ATE, and treatment effect of the treated, ATT. These effects could be quite different, and we discuss the relationship between them. Mediation is studied in a stochastic differential equation model. A type of natural direct and indirect effects is considered for this model. Mediation analysis of discrete measurements from such processes may give misleading results, and one needs to consider the underlying continuous process. The dynamic and time‐continuous view of causality and mediation is an essential feature, and more attention should be payed to the time aspect in causal inference.     

Estimation of an Ergodic Diffusion from Discrete Observations

We consider a one-dimensional diffusion process X , with ergodic property, with drift b ( x , θ) and diffusion coefficient a ( x , σ) depending on unknown parameters θ and σ. We are interested in the joint estimation of (θ, σ). For that purpose, we dispose of a discretized trajectory, observed at n equidistant times tⁿ_i = ih_n , 1 ≤ i ≤ n . We assume that h_n ← 0 and nh_n ←∞. Under the condition nh_n^p ← 0 for an arbitrary integer p , we exhibit a contrast dependent on p which provides us with an asymptotically normal and efficient estimator of (θ, σ).     

Nonparametric Estimation for FBSDEs Models with Applications in Finance

As a continuous-time model, forward-backward stochastic differential equations (in short FBSDEs) have been successfully applied in mathematical finance, e.g., European option pricing for either a small or a large investor in a Markovian market. However, the correct FBSDEs model for a specific topic can neither be provided automatically by financial market nor derived from theory of mathematical finance. In this article, a nonparametric FBSDEs model is adopted for its flexibility and robustness, and the estimators of the functional coefficients of the FBSDEs model are obtained. The asymptotic properties of the estimators are also discussed. A simulation is performed to test the feasibility of our method.     

Maximum Likelihood Estimation for Stochastic Differential Equations with Random Effects

Abstract. We consider N independent stochastic processes (X _i (t), t ∈ [0,T _i ]), i=1,…, N, defined by a stochastic differential equation with drift term depending on a random variable φ _i . The distribution of the random effect φ _i depends on unknown parameters which are to be estimated from the continuous observation of the processes X_i. We give the expression of the exact likelihood. When the drift term depends linearly on the random effect φ _i and φ _i has Gaussian distribution, an explicit formula for the likelihood is obtained. We prove that the maximum likelihood estimator is consistent and asymptotically Gaussian, when T _i =T for all i and N tends to infinity. We discuss the case of discrete observations. Estimators are computed on simulated data for several models and show good performances even when the length time interval of observations is not very large.     

Lp (1 < p ⩽ 2) solutions of one-dimensional BSDEs whose generator is weakly monotonic in y and non-Lipschitz in z

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we start with establishing the existence of a minimal (maximal) L^p (1 < p ? 2) solution to a one-dimensional backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE), where the generator g satisfies a p-order weak monotonicity condition together with a general growth condition in y and a linear growth condition in z. Then, we propose and prove a comparison theorem of L^p (1 < p ? 2) solutions to one-dimensional BSDEs with q-order (1 ? q < p) weak monotonicity and uniform continuity generators. As a consequence, an existence and uniqueness result of L^p (1 < p ? 2) solutions is also given for BSDEs whose generator g is q-order (1 ? q < p) weakly monotonic with a general growth in y and uniformly continuous in z.     

A Bootstrap Likelihood Approach to Bayesian Computation

There is an increasing amount of literature focused on Bayesian computational methods to address problems with intractable likelihood. One approach is a set of algorithms known as Approximate Bayesian Computational (ABC) methods. One of the problems with these algorithms is that their performance depends on the appropriate choice of summary statistics, distance measure and tolerance level. To circumvent this problem, an alternative method based on the empirical likelihood has been introduced. This method can be easily implemented when a set of constraints, related to the moments of the distribution, is specified. However, the choice of the constraints is sometimes challenging. To overcome this difficulty, we propose an alternative method based on a bootstrap likelihood approach. The method is easy to implement and in some cases is actually faster than the other approaches considered. We illustrate the performance of our algorithm with examples from population genetics, time series and stochastic differential equations. We also test the method on a real dataset.