arXiv subjects

Antonio Di Crescenzo

Publications and source records attributed to Antonio Di Crescenzo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2021

Telegraph process with elastic boundary at the origin

We investigate the one-dimensional telegraph random process in the presence of an elastic boundary at the origin. This process describes a finite-velocity random motion that alternates between two possible directions of motion (positive or negative). When the particle hits the origin, it is either absorbed, with probability $α$, or reflected upwards, with probability $1-α$. In the case of exponentially distributed random times between consecutive changes of direction, we obtain the distribution of the renewal cycles and of the absorption time at the origin. This investigation is performed both in the case of motion starting from the origin and non-zero initial state. We also study the probability law of the process within a renewal cycle.

math.PR↗

arXiv2021

Weighted mean inactivity time function with applications

The concept of mean inactivity time plays a crucial role in reliability, risk theory and life testing. In this regard, we introduce a weighted mean inactivity time function by considering a non-negative weight function. Based on this function, we provide expressions for the variance of transformed random variable and the weighted generalized cumulative entropy. The latter concept is an important measure of uncertainty which is shift-dependent and is of interest in certain applied contexts, such as reliability or mathematical neurobiology. Moreover, based on the comparison of mean inactivity times of a certain function of two lifetime random variables, we introduce and study a new stochastic order in terms of the weighted mean inactivity time function. Several characterizations and preservation properties of the new order under shock models, random maxima and renewal theory are discussed.

math.PR↗

arXiv2021

Piecewise linear processes with Poisson-modulated exponential switching times

We consider the jump telegraph process when switching intensities depend on external shocks also accompanying with jumps. The incomplete financial market model based on this process is studied. The Esscher transform, which changes only unobservable parameters, is considered in detail. The financial market model based on this transform can price switching risks as well as jump risks of the model.

math.PR↗

arXiv2020

Some results on the telegraph process confined by two non-standard boundaries

We analyze the one-dimensional telegraph random process confined by two boundaries, 0 and $H>0$. The process experiences hard reflection at the boundaries (with random switching to full absorption). Namely, when the process hits the origin (the threshold $H$) it is either absorbed, with probability $α$, or reflected upwards (downwards), with probability $1-α$, for $0<α<1$. We provide various results on the expected values of the renewal cycles and of the absorption time. The adopted approach is based on the analysis of the first-crossing times of a suitable compound Poisson process through linear boundaries. Our analysis includes also some comparisons between suitable stopping times of the considered telegraph process and of the corresponding diffusion process obtained under the classical Kac's scaling conditions.

math.PR↗

arXiv2020

Analysis and applications of the residual varentropy of random lifetimes

In reliability theory and survival analysis, the residual entropy is known as a measure suitable to describe the dynamic information content in stochastic systems conditional on survival. Aiming to analyze the variability of such information content, in this paper we introduce the variance of the residual lifetimes, "residual varentropy" in short. After a theoretical investigation of some properties of the residual varentropy, we illustrate certain applications related to the proportional hazards model and the first-passage times of an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck jump-diffusion process.

math.ST↗

arXiv2019

Analysis of random walks on a hexagonal lattice

We consider a discrete-time random walk on the nodes of an unbounded hexagonal lattice. We determine the probability generating functions, the transition probabilities and the relevant moments. The convergence of the stochastic process to a 2-dimensional Brownian motion is also discussed. Furthermore, we obtain some results on its asymptotic behavior making use of large deviation theory. Finally, we investigate the first-passage-time problem of the random walk through a vertical straight-line. Under suitable symmetry assumptions we are able to determine the first-passage-time probabilities in a closed form, which deserve interest in applied fields.

math.PR↗

arXiv2016

On the fractional probabilistic Taylor's and mean value theorems

In order to develop certain fractional probabilistic analogues of Taylor's theorem and mean value theorem, we introduce the nth-order fractional equilibrium distribution in terms of the Weyl fractional integral and investigate its main properties. Specifically, we show a characterization result by which the nth-order fractional equilibrium distribution is identical to the starting distribution if and only if it is exponential. The nth-order fractional equilibrium density is then used to prove a fractional probabilistic Taylor's theorem based on derivatives of Riemann-Liouville type. A fractional analogue of the probabilistic mean value theorem is thus developed for pairs of nonnegative random variables ordered according to the survival bounded stochastic order. We also provide some related results, both involving the normalized moments and a fractional extension of the variance, and a formula of interest to actuarial science. In conclusion we discuss the probabilistic Taylor's theorem based on fractional Caputo derivatives.

math.PR↗

arXiv2016

Analysis of a growth model inspired by Gompertz and Korf laws, and an analogous birth-death process

We propose a new deterministic growth model which captures certain features of both the Gompertz and Korf laws. We investigate its main properties, with special attention to the correction factor, the relative growth rate, the inflection point, the maximum specific growth rate, the lag time and the threshold crossing problem. Some data analytic examples and their performance are also considered. Furthermore, we study a stochastic counterpart of the proposed model, that is a linear time-inhomogeneous birth-death process whose mean behaves as the deterministic one. We obtain the transition probabilities, the moments and the population ultimate extinction probability for this process. We finally treat the special case of a simple birth process, which better mimics the proposed growth model.

q-bio.PE↗

arXiv2016

Extension of the past lifetime and its connection to the cumulative entropy

Given two absolutely continuous nonnegative independent random variables, we define the reversed relevation transform as dual to the relevation transform. We first apply such transforms to the lifetimes of the components of parallel and series systems under suitably proportionality assumptions on the hazards rates. Furthermore, we prove that the (reversed) relevation transform is commutative if and only if the proportional (reversed) hazard rate model holds. By repeated application of the reversed relevation transform we construct a decreasing sequence of random variables which leads to new weighted probability densities. We obtain various relations involving ageing notions and stochastic orders. We also exploit the connection of such a sequence to the cumulative entropy and to an operator that is dual to the Dickson-Hipp operator. Iterative formulae for computing the mean and the cumulative entropy of the random variables of the sequence are finally investigated.

math.PR↗

arXiv2016

A multispecies birth-death-immigration process and its diffusion approximation

We consider an extended birth-death-immigration process defined on a lattice formed by the integers of $d$ semiaxes joined at the origin. When the process reaches the origin, then it may jumps toward any semiaxis with the same rate. The dynamics on each ray evolves according to a one-dimensional linear birth-death process with immigration. We investigate the transient and asymptotic behavior of the process via its probability generating function. The stationary distribution, when existing, is a zero-modified negative binomial distribution. We also study a diffusive approximation of the process, which involves a diffusion process with linear drift and infinitesimal variance on each ray. It possesses a gamma-type transient density admitting a stationary limit. As a byproduct of our study, we obtain a closed form of the number of permutations with a fixed number of components, and a new series form of the polylogarithm function expressed in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric function.

math.PR↗

arXiv2016

On dynamic mutual information for bivariate lifetimes

We consider dynamic versions of the mutual information of lifetime distributions, with focus on past lifetimes, residual lifetimes and mixed lifetimes evaluated at different instants. This allows to study multicomponent systems, by measuring the dependence in conditional lifetimes of two components having possibly different ages. We provide some bounds, and investigate the mutual information of residual lifetimes within the time-transformed exponential model (under both the assumptions of unbounded and truncated lifetimes). Moreover, with reference to the order statistics of a random sample, we evaluate explicitly the mutual information between the minimum and the maximum, conditional on inspection at different times, and show that it is distribution-free. Finally, we develop a copula-based approach aiming to express the dynamic mutual information for past and residual bivariate lifetimes in an alternative way.

math.PR↗

arXiv2016

A fractional counting process and its connection with the Poisson process

We consider a fractional counting process with jumps of amplitude $1,2,\ldots,k$, with $k\in \mathbb{N}$, whose probabilities satisfy a suitable system of fractional difference-differential equations. We obtain the moment generating function and the probability law of the resulting process in terms of generalized Mittag-Leffler functions. We also discuss two equivalent representations both in terms of a compound fractional Poisson process and of a subordinator governed by a suitable fractional Cauchy problem. The first occurrence time of a jump of fixed amplitude is proved to have the same distribution as the waiting time of the first event of a classical fractional Poisson process, this extending a well-known property of the Poisson process. When $k=2$ we also express the distribution of the first passage time of the fractional counting process in an integral form. Finally, we show that the ratios given by the powers of the fractional Poisson process and of the counting process over their means tend to 1 in probability.

math.PR↗

arXiv2015

Compound Poisson process with a Poisson subordinator

A compound Poisson process whose randomized time is an independent Poisson process is called compound Poisson process with Poisson subordinator. We provide its probability distribution, which is expressed in terms of the Bell polynomials, and investigate in detail both the special cases in which the compound Poisson process has exponential jumps and normal jumps. Then for the iterated Poisson process we discuss some properties and provide convergence results to a Poisson process. The first-crossing-time problem for the iterated Poisson process is finally tackled in the cases of (i) a decreasing and constant boundary, where we provide some closed-form results, and (ii) a linearly increasing boundary, where we propose an iterative procedure to compute the first-crossing-time density and survival functions.

math.PR↗

arXiv2015

A review on symmetry properties of birth-death processes

In this paper we review some results on time-homogeneous birth-death processes. Specifically, for truncated birth-death processes with two absorbing or two reflecting endpoints, we recall the necessary and sufficient conditions on the transition rates such that the transition probabilities satisfy a spatial symmetry relation. The latter leads to simple expressions for first-passage-time densities and avoiding transition probabilities. This approach is thus thoroughly extended to the case of bilateral birth-death processes, even in the presence of catastrophes, and to the case of a two-dimensional birth-death process with constant rates.

math.PR↗

arXiv2015

On jump-diffusion processes with regime switching: martingale approach

We study jump-diffusion processes with parameters switching at random times. Being motivated by possible applications, we characterise equivalent martingale measures for these processes by means of the relative entropy. The minimal entropy approach is also developed. It is shown that in contrast to the case of Lévy processes, for this model an Esscher transformation does not produce the minimal relative entropy.

math.PR↗

arXiv2014

A quantile-based probabilistic mean value theorem

For nonnegative random variables with finite means we introduce an analogous of the equilibrium residual-lifetime distribution based on the quantile function. This allows to construct new distributions with support (0,1), and to obtain a new quantile-based version of the probabilistic generalization of Taylor's theorem. Similarly, for pairs of stochastically ordered random variables we come to a new quantile-based form of the probabilistic mean value theorem. The latter involves a distribution that generalizes the Lorenz curve. We investigate the special case of proportional quantile functions and apply the given results to various models based on classes of distributions and measures of risk theory. Motivated by some stochastic comparisons, we also introduce the `expected reversed proportional shortfall order', and a new characterization of random lifetimes involving the reversed hazard rate function.

math.PR↗

arXiv2013

A generalized telegraph process with velocity driven by random trials

We consider a random trial-based telegraph process, which describes a motion on the real line with two constant velocities along opposite directions. At each epoch of the underlying counting process the new velocity is determined by the outcome of a random trial. Two schemes are taken into account: Bernoulli trials and classical Pólya urn trials. We investigate the probability law of the process and the mean of the velocity of the moving particle. We finally discuss two cases of interest: (i) the case of Bernoulli trials and intertimes having exponential distributions with linear rates (in which, interestingly, the process exhibits a logistic stationary density with non-zero mean), and (ii) the case of Pólya trials and intertimes having first Gamma and then exponential distributions with constant rates.

math.PR↗

arXiv2013

On a bilateral birth-death process with alternating rates

We consider a bilateral birth-death process characterized by a constant transition rate $λ$ from even states and a possibly different transition rate $μ$ from odd states. We determine the probability generating functions of the even and odd states, the transition probabilities, mean and variance of the process for arbitrary initial state. Some features of the birth-death process confined to the non-negative integers by a reflecting boundary in the zero-state are also analyzed. In particular, making use of a Laplace transform approach we obtain a series form of the transition probability from state 1 to the zero-state.

math.PR↗