Generalized modified slash distribution with applications

Abstract

In this article a generalization of the modified slash distribution is introduced. This model is based on the quotient of two independent random variables, whose distributions are a normal and a one-parameter gamma, respectively. The resulting distribution is a new model whose kurtosis is greater than other slash distributions. The probability density function, its properties, moments, and kurtosis coefficient are obtained. Inference based on moment and maximum likelihood methods is carried out. The multivariate version is also introduced. Two real data sets are considered in which it is shown that the new model fits better to symmetric data with heavy tails than other slash extensions previously introduced in literature.     

On the Product and Ratio of Gamma and Beta Random Variables

Summary: The distributions of the product XY and the ratio X/Y are derived when X and Y are gamma and beta random variables distributed independently of each other. Tabulations of the associated percentage points and illustrations of their practical use are also provided. * The authors would like to thank the referee and the editor for carefully reading the paper and for their help in improving the paper.     

Alternative expectation formulas for real-valued random vectors

Abstract

When the elements of a random vector take any real values, formulas of product moments are obtained for continuous and discrete random variables using distribution/survival functions. The random product can be that of strictly increasing functions of random variables. For continuous cases, the derivation based on iterated integrals is employed. It is shown that Hoeffding’s covariance lemma is algebraically equal to a special case of this result. For discrete cases, the elements of a random vector can be non-integers and/or unequally spaced. A discrete version of Hoeffding’s covariance lemma is derived for real-valued random variables.     

On the strong convergence of weighted sums of widely dependent random variables

ABSTRACT

For widely dependent random variables, we present some results on the strong convergence of weighted sums, including results on almost surely (a.s.) and complete convergence. To this end, we verified some Borel–Cantelli lemmas of the widely dependent random variables. The above-mentioned random variables contain common negatively dependent random variables, some positively dependent random variables, and some others; therefore, the obtained results extend and improve some existing results.     

On exact strong laws of large numbers for ratios of random variables and their applications

Abstract

We study the almost sure convergence of weighted sums of ratios of independent random variables satisfying some general, mild conditions. The obtained results are applied to exact laws for order statistics. An exact law for independent random variables which are nonidentically distributed is also proved and applied to ratios of adjacent order statistics for a sample of uniformly distributed random variables.     

Two Applications of Statistics to Traffic Models

Two statistical applications for estimation and prediction of flows in traffic networks are presented. In the first, the number of route users are assumed to be independent α-shifted gamma Γ(θ, λ₀) random variables denoted H(α, θ, λ₀), with common λ₀. As a consequence, the link, OD (origin-destination) and node flows are also H(α, θ, λ₀) variables. We assume that the main source of information is plate scanning, which permits us to identify, totally or partially, the vehicle route, OD and link flows by scanning their corresponding plate numbers at an adequately selected subset of links. A Bayesian approach using conjugate families is proposed that allows us to estimate different traffic flows. In the second application, a stochastic demand dynamic traffic model to predict some traffic variables and their time evolution in real networks is presented. The Bayesian network model considers that the variables are generalized Beta variables such that when marginally transformed to standard normal become multivariate normal. The model is able to provide a point estimate, a confidence interval or the density of the variable being predicted. Finally, the models are illustrated by their application to the Nguyen Dupuis network and the Vermont-State example. The resulting traffic predictions seem to be promising for real traffic networks and can be done in real time.     

On the rate of convergence in the strong law of large numbers for negatively orthant-dependent random variables

ABSTRACT

In this paper, we study the complete convergence and complete moment convergence for negatively orthant-dependent random variables. Especially, we obtain the Hsu–Robbins-type theorem for negatively orthant-dependent random variables. Our results generalize the corresponding ones for independent random variables.     

On approximating the central and noncentral multivariate gamma distributions

In this paper a finite series approximation involving Laguerre polynomials is derived for central and noncentral multivariate gamma distributions. It is shown that if one approximates the density of any k nonnegative continuous random variables by a finite series of Laguerre polynomials up to the (n₁, …, n_k)th degree, then all the mixed moments up to the order (n₁, …, n_k) of the approximated distribution equal to the mixed moments up to the same order of the random variables. Some numerical results are given for the bivariate central and noncentral multivariate gamma distributions to indicate the usefulness of the approximations.     

A Sequential Multi-Hypothesis Test for the Mean Function of a Discrete-Time Gaussian Process

Abstract

A sequential multi-hypothesis test for the mean function of a discrete-time Gaussian process with known covariance kernel is developed. It is obtained by applying the Bechhofer-Kiefer-Sobel generalized sequential probability ratio test GSPRT, and its properties are studied analytically. Selected applications to i.i.d. normal random variables, observation in a time series AR(1) model, and Wiener processes are given.     

A Sample Size Formula for a Non-Central t Test

An elementary method of proof of the mode, median, and mean inequality is given for skewed, unimodal distributions of continuous random variables. A proof of the inequality for the gamma, F, and beta random variables is sketched.     

Moderate deviations for the random weighted sums of WUOD random variables with consistently varying tails

Abstract

In this paper, we investigate the moderate deviations for random weighted sums of widely upper orthant dependent (WUOD) random variables with consistently varying tails, which are not necessarily identically distributed. In the end, we obtain the asymptotic relations for random weighted sums of random variables.     

Stein’s method and the distribution of the product of zero mean correlated normal random variables

Abstract

Over the last 80?years there has been much interest in the problem of finding an explicit formula for the probability density function of two zero mean correlated normal random variables. Motivated by this historical interest, we use a recent technique from the Stein’s method literature to obtain a simple new proof, which also serves as an exposition of a general method that may be useful in related problems.     

On the distribution of some ordered variables

Abstract

Motivated by a recent article published by Adam and Tawn, we characterize the distribution of two random variables X, Y ordered linearly like X < Y. We suppose that the random variables follow a bivariate extreme value distribution.     

Limit Distributions of Random Sums of Z+-Valued Random Variables

In this article, we formulate a transfer theorem in terms of probability generating functions and discuss two approaches to limit distributions of random sums of Z ₊-valued random variables. We then develop Z ₊-valued N-ID and ?-ID laws.     

Convergence properties for weighted sums of NSD random variables

Abstract

Let {X_n, n ? 1} be a sequence of negatively superadditive dependent (NSD, in short) random variables and {b_ni, 1 ? i ? n, n ? 1} be an array of real numbers. In this article, we study the strong law of large numbers for the weighted sums ∑ⁿ_{i = 1}b_niX_i without identical distribution. We present some sufficient conditions to prove the strong law of large numbers. As an application, the Marcinkiewicz-Zygmund strong law of large numbers for NSD random variables is obtained. In addition, the complete convergence for the weighted sums of NSD random variables is established. Our results generalize and improve some corresponding ones for independent random variables and negatively associated random variables.     

A limit theorem on moment convergence of centered spectral statistics of random matrices

ABSTRACT

The eigenvalues of a random matrix are a sequence of specific dependent random variables, the limiting properties of which are one of interesting topics in probability theory. The aim of the article is to extend some probability limiting properties of i.i.d. random variables in the context of the complete moment convergence to the centered spectral statistics of random matrices. Some precise asymptotic results related to the complete convergence of p-order conditional moment of Wigner matrices and sample covariance matrices are obtained. The proofs mainly depend on the central limit theorem and large deviation inequalities of spectral statistics.     

On the exponential inequalities for widely orthant-dependent random variables

ABSTRACT

In this work, we establish some exponential inequalities for widely orthant-dependent random variables. We also obtain the convergence rate O(n^{? 1/2}ln?^1/2n) for the strong law of large numbers for widely orthant-dependent random variables.     

Probability inequalities for sums of NSD random variables and applications

Abstract

In this paper, we obtain the exponential-type inequalities for maximal partial sums of negatively superadditive dependent (NSD) random variables, which extends the corresponding results for independent and negatively associated (NA) random variables. Using these inequalities, we further investigate the weak convergence of the M-estimators in the generalized linear model with NSD errors, which generalize and improve the corresponding results of the independent random errors to that of NSD random errors.     

Inference on the Common Variance of Correlated Normal Random Variables

ABSTRACT

Scale equivariant estimators of the common variance σ², of correlated normal random variables, have mean squared errors (MSE) which depend on the unknown correlations. For this reason, a scale equivariant estimator of σ² which uniformly minimizes the MSE does not exist. For the equi-correlated case, we have developed three equivariant estimators of σ²: a Bayesian estimator for invariant prior as well as two non-Bayesian estimators. We then generalized these three estimators for the case of several variables with multiple unknown correlations. In addition, we developed a system of confidence intervals which produce the desired coverage probability while being efficient in terms of expected length.     

On the convergence rate for arrays of row-wise NOD random variables

Abstract

In this article, the complete convergence results of weighted sums for arrays of rowwise negatively orthant dependent (NOD) random variables are investigated. Some sufficient conditions for complete convergence for arrays of rowwise NOD random variables are presented without assumption of identical distribution.