50,300 research outputs found
A survey of generalized inverses and their use in stochastic modelling
In many stochastic models, in particular Markov chains in discrete or continuous time and Markov
renewal processes, a Markov chain is present either directly or indirectly through some form of
embedding. The analysis of many problems of interest associated with these models, eg. stationary
distributions, moments of first passage time distributions and moments of occupation time random
variables, often concerns the solution of a system of linear equations involving I â P, where P is the
transition matrix of a finite, irreducible, discrete time Markov chain.
Generalized inverses play an important role in the solution of such singular sets of equations. In this
paper we survey the application of generalized inverses to the aforementioned problems. The
presentation will include results concerning the analysis of perturbed systems and the characterization of
types of generalized inverses associated with Markovian kernels
Simple procedures for finding mean first passage times in Markov chains
The derivation of mean first passage times in Markov chains involves the solution of a family of linear equations. By exploring the solution of a related set of equations, using suitable generalized inverses of the Markovian kernel I â P, where P is the transition matrix of a finite irreducible Markov chain, we are able to derive elegant new results for finding the mean first passage times. As a by-product we derive the stationary distribution of the Markov chain without the necessity of any further computational procedures. Standard techniques in the literature, using for example Kemeny and Snellâs fundamental matrix Z, require the initial derivation of the stationary distribution followed by the computation of Z, the inverse I â P + eÏT where eT = (1, 1, âŠ,1) and ÏT is the stationary probability vector. The procedures of this paper involve only the derivation of the inverse of a matrix of simple structure, based upon known characteristics of the Markov chain together with simple elementary vectors. No prior computations are required. Various possible families of matrices are explored leading to different related procedures
Bounds on expected coupling times in Markov chains
In the authorâs paper âCoupling and Mixing Times in Markov Chainsâ (RLIMS, 11, 1-
22, 2007) it was shown that it is very difficult to find explicit expressions for the
expected time to coupling in a general Markov chain. In this paper simple upper and
lower bounds are given for the expected time to coupling in a discrete time finite
Markov chain. Extensions to the bounds under additional restrictive conditions are also
given with detailed comparisons provided for two and three state chains
Stationary distributions and mean first passage times of perturbed Markov chains
Stationary distributions of perturbed finite irreducible discrete time Markov chains are intimately
connected with the behaviour of associated mean first passage times. This interconnection is explored
through the use of generalized matrix inverses. Some interesting qualitative results regarding the nature
of the relative and absolute changes to the stationary probabilities are obtained together with some
improved bounds
Coupling and mixing times in a Markov Chains [sic]
The derivation of the expected time to coupling in a Markov chain and its relation to the
expected time to mixing (as introduced by the author in âMixing times with applications
to perturbed Markov chainsâ Linear Algebra Appl. (417, 108-123 (2006)) are explored.
The two-state cases and three-state cases are examined in detail
Markovian queues with correlated arrival processes
In an attempt to examine the effect of dependencies in the arrival process on the steady state
queue length process in single server queueing models with exponential service time distribution,
four different models for the arrival process, each with marginally distributed exponential interarrivals
to the queueing system, are considered. Two of these models are based upon the upper
and lower bounding joint distribution functions given by the Fréchet bounds for bivariate
distributions with specified marginals, the third is based on Downtonâs bivariate exponential
distribution and fourthly the usual M/M/1 model. The aim of the paper is to compare conditions
for stability and explore the queueing behaviour of the different models
Detection of leukocytes stained with acridine orange using unique spectral features acquired from an image-based spectrometer
A leukocyte differential count can be used to diagnosis a myriad blood disorders, such as infections, allergies, and efficacy of disease treatments. In recent years, attention has been focused on developing point-of-care (POC) systems to provide this test in global health settings. Acridine orange (AO) is an amphipathic, vital dye that intercalates leukocyte nucleic acids and acidic vesicles. It has been utilized by POC systems to identify the three main leukocyte subtypes: granulocytes, monocytes, and lymphocytes. Subtypes of leukocytes can be characterized using a fluorescence microscope, where the AO has a 450 nm excitation wavelength and has two peak emission wavelengths between 525 nm (green) and 650 nm (red), depending on the cellular content and concentration of AO in the cells. The full spectra of AO stained leukocytes has not been fully explored for POC applications. Optical instruments, such as a spectrometer that utilizes a diffraction grating, can give specific spectral data by separating polychromatic light into distinct wavelengths. The spectral data from this setup can be used to create object-specific emission profiles.
Yellow-green and crimson microspheres were used to model the emission peaks and profiles of AO stained leukocytes. Whole blood was collected via finger stick and stained with AO to gather preliminary leukocyte emission profiles. A MATLAB algorithm was designed to analyze the spectral data within the images acquired using the image-based spectrometer. The algorithm utilized watershed segmentation and centroid location functions to isolate independent spectra from an image. The output spectra represent the average line intensity profiles for each pixel across a slice of an object. First steps were also taken in processing video frames of manually translated microspheres. The high-speed frame rate allowed objects to appear in multiple consecutive images. A function was applied to each image cycle to identify repeating centroid locations.
The yellow-green (515 nm) and crimson (645 nm) microspheres exhibited a distinct separation in colorimetric emission with a peak-to-peak difference of 36 pixels, which is related to the 130 nm peak emission difference. Two AO stained leukocytes exhibited distinct spectral profiles and peaks across different wavelengths. This could be due to variations in the staining method (incubation period and concentration) effecting the emissions or variations in cellular content indicating different leukocyte subtypes. The algorithm was also effective when isolating unique centroids between video frames.
We have demonstrated the ability to extract spectral information from data acquired from the image-based spectrometer of microspheres, as a control, and AO stained leukocytes. We determined that the spectral information from yellow-green and crimson microspheres could be used to represent the wavelength range of AO stained leukocytes, thus providing a calibration tool. Also, preliminary spectral information was successfully extracted from yellow-green microspheres translated under the linear slit using stationary images and video frames, thus demonstrating the feasibility of collecting data from a large number of objects
Aggregate economy risk and company failure: An examination of UK quoted firms
Considerable attention has been directed in the recent finance and economics literature to issues concerning
the effects on company failure risk of changes in the macroeconomic environment. This paper examines the
accounting ratio-based and macroeconomic determinants of insolvency exit of UK large industrials during
the early 1990s with a view to improve understanding of company failure risk. Failure determinants are
revealed from estimates based on a cross-section of 369 quoted firms, which is followed by an assessment
of predictive performance based on a series of time-to-failure-specific logit functions, as is typical in the
literature. Within the traditional for cross-sectional data studies framework, a more complete model of
failure risk is developed by adding to a set of traditional financial statement-based inputs, the two variables
capturing aggregate economy risk - one-year lagged, unanticipated changes in the nominal interest rate and
in the real exchange rate. Alternative estimates of prediction error are obtained, first, by analytically
adjusting the apparent error rate for the downward bias and, second, by generating holdout predictions.
More complete, augmented with the two macroeconomic variables models demonstrate improved out-ofestimation-
sample classificatory accuracy at risk horizons ranging from one to four years prior to failure,
with the results being quite robust across a wide range of cut-off probability values, for both failing and
non-failed firms.
Although in terms of the individual ratio significance and overall predictive accuracy, the findings of the
present study may not be directly comparable with the evidence from prior research due to differing data
sets and model specifications, the results are intuitively appealing. First, the results affirm the important
explanatory role of liquidity, gearing, and profitability in the company failure process. Second, the findings
for the failure probability appear to demonstrate that shocks from unanticipated changes in interest and
exchange rates may matter as much as the underlying changes in firm-specific characteristics of liquidity,
gearing, and profitability. Obtained empirical determinants suggest that during the 1990s recession, shifts
in the real exchange rate and rises in the nominal interest rate, were associated with a higher propensity of
industrial company to exit via insolvency, thus indicating links to a loss in competitiveness and to the
effects of high gearing. The results provide policy implications for reducing the company sector
vulnerability to financial distress and failure while highlighting that changes in macroeconomic conditions
should be an important ingredient of possible extensions of company failure prediction models
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