Polynomial traces and elementary symmetric functions in the latent roots of a non-central Wishart matrix

Hypergeometric functions and zonal polynomials are the tools usually addressed in the literature to deal with the expected value of the elementary symmetric functions in non-central Wishart latent roots. The method here proposed recovers the expected value of these symmetric functions by using the umbral operator applied to the trace of suitable polynomial matrices and their cumulants. The employment of a suitable linear operator in place of hypergeometric functions and zonal polynomials was conjectured by de Waal in 1972. Here we show how the umbral operator accomplishes this task and consequently represents an alternative tool to deal with these symmetric functions. When special formal variables are plugged in the variables, the evaluation through the umbral operator deletes all the monomials in the latent roots except those contributing in the elementary symmetric functions. Cumulants further simplify the computations taking advantage of the convolution structure of the polynomial trace. Open problems are addressed at the end of the paper

Multivariate Bernoulli and Euler polynomials via L\'evy processes

By a symbolic method, we introduce multivariate Bernoulli and Euler polynomials as powers of polynomials whose coefficients involve multivariate L\'evy processes. Many properties of these polynomials are stated straightforwardly thanks to this representation, which could be easily implemented in any symbolic manipulation system. A very simple relation between these two families of multivariate polynomials is provided

On a representation of time space-harmonic polynomials via symbolic L\'evy processes

In this paper, we review the theory of time space-harmonic polynomials developed by using a symbolic device known in the literature as the classical umbral calculus. The advantage of this symbolic tool is twofold. First a moment representation is allowed for a wide class of polynomial stochastic involving the L\'evy processes in respect to which they are martingales. This representation includes some well-known examples such as Hermite polynomials in connection with Brownian motion. As a consequence, characterizations of many other families of polynomials having the time space-harmonic property can be recovered via the symbolic moment representation. New relations with Kailath-Segall polynomials are stated. Secondly the generalization to the multivariable framework is straightforward. Connections with cumulants and Bell polynomials are highlighted both in the univariate case and in the multivariate one. Open problems are addressed at the end of the paper

On multivariable cumulant polynomial sequences with applications

A new family of polynomials, called cumulant polynomial sequence, and its extensions to the multivariate case is introduced relied on a purely symbolic combinatorial method. The coefficients of these polynomials are cumulants, but depending on what is plugged in the indeterminates, either sequences of moments either sequences of cumulants can be recovered. The main tool is a formal generalization of random sums, also with a multivariate random index and not necessarily integer-valued. Applications are given within parameter estimations, L\'evy processes and random matrices and, more generally, problems involving multivariate functions. The connection between exponential models and multivariable Sheffer polynomial sequences offers a different viewpoint in characterizing these models. Some open problems end the paper.Comment: 17 pages, In pres

On the computation of classical, boolean and free cumulants

This paper introduces a simple and computationally efficient algorithm for conversion formulae between moments and cumulants. The algorithm provides just one formula for classical, boolean and free cumulants. This is realized by using a suitable polynomial representation of Abel polynomials. The algorithm relies on the classical umbral calculus, a symbolic language introduced by Rota and Taylor in 1994, that is particularly suited to be implemented by using software for symbolic computations. Here we give a MAPLE procedure. Comparisons with existing procedures, especially for conversions between moments and free cumulants, as well as examples of applications to some well-known distributions (classical and free) end the paper.Comment: 14 pages. in press, Applied Mathematics and Computatio

On some applications of a symbolic representation of non-centered L\'evy processes

By using a symbolic technique known in the literature as the classical umbral calculus, we characterize two classes of polynomials related to L\'evy processes: the Kailath-Segall and the time-space harmonic polynomials. We provide the Kailath-Segall formula in terms of cumulants and we recover simple closed-forms for several families of polynomials with respect to not centered L\'evy processes, such as the Hermite polynomials with the Brownian motion, the Poisson-Charlier polynomials with the Poisson processes, the actuarial polynomials with the Gamma processes, the first kind Meixner polynomials with the Pascal processes, the Bernoulli, Euler and Krawtchuk polynomials with suitable random walks

A symbolic method for k-statistics

Trough the classical umbral calculus, we provide new, compact and easy to handle expressions of k-statistics, and more in general of U-statistics. In addition such a symbolic method can be naturally extended to multivariate case and to generalized k-statistics.Comment: Extended abstract with corrected typos and change conten

CUB models: a preliminary fuzzy approach to heterogeneity

In line with the increasing attention paid to deal with uncertainty in ordinal data models, we propose to combine Fuzzy models with \cub models within questionnaire analysis. In particular, the focus will be on \cub models' uncertainty parameter and its interpretation as a preliminary measure of heterogeneity, by introducing membership, non-membership and uncertainty functions in the more general framework of Intuitionistic Fuzzy Sets. Our proposal is discussed on the basis of the Evaluation of Orientation Services survey collected at University of Naples Federico II.Comment: 10 pages, invited contribution at SIS2016 (Salerno, Italy), in SIS2016 proceeding

Multivariate time-space harmonic polynomials: a symbolic approach

By means of a symbolic method, in this paper we introduce a new family of multivariate polynomials such that multivariate L\'evy processes can be dealt with as they were martingales. In the univariate case, this family of polynomials is known as time-space harmonic polynomials. Then, simple closed-form expressions of some multivariate classical families of polynomials are given. The main advantage of this symbolic representation is the plainness of the setting which reduces to few fundamental statements but also of its implementation in any symbolic software. The role played by cumulants is emphasized within the generalized Hermite polynomials. The new class of multivariate L\'evy-Sheffer systems is introduced.Comment: In pres