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

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

On a symbolic representation of non-central Wishart random matrices with applications

By using a symbolic method, known in the literature as the classical umbral calculus, the trace of a non-central Wishart random matrix is represented as the convolution of the trace of its central component and of a formal variable involving traces of its non-centrality matrix. Thanks to this representation, the moments of this random matrix are proved to be a Sheffer polynomial sequence, allowing us to recover several properties. The multivariate symbolic method generalizes the employment of Sheffer representation and a closed form formula for computing joint moments and cumulants (also normalized) is given. By using this closed form formula and a combinatorial device, known in the literature as necklace, an efficient algorithm for their computations is set up. Applications are given to the computation of permanents as well as to the characterization of inherited estimators of cumulants, which turn useful in dealing with minors of non-central Wishart random matrices. An asymptotic approximation of generalized moments involving free probability is proposed.Comment: Journal of Multivariate Analysis (2014

On photon statistics parametrized by a non-central Wishart random matrix

In order to tackle parameter estimation of photocounting distributions, polykays of acting intensities are proposed as a new tool for computing photon statistics. As unbiased estimators of cumulants, polykays are computationally feasible thanks to a symbolic method recently developed in dealing with sequences of moments. This method includes the so-called method of moments for random matrices and results to be particularly suited to deal with convolutions or random summations of random vectors. The overall photocounting effect on a deterministic number of pixels is introduced. A random number of pixels is also considered. The role played by spectral statistics of random matrices is highlighted in approximating the overall photocounting distribution when acting intensities are modeled by a non-central Wishart random matrix. Generalized complete Bell polynomials are used in order to compute joint moments and joint cumulants of multivariate photocounters. Multivariate polykays can be successfully employed in order to approximate the multivariate Mendel-Poisson transform. Open problems are addressed at the end of the paper.Comment: 18 pages, in press in Journal of Statistical Planning and Inference, 201

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

Natural statistics for spectral samples

Spectral sampling is associated with the group of unitary transformations acting on matrices in much the same way that simple random sampling is associated with the symmetric group acting on vectors. This parallel extends to symmetric functions, k-statistics and polykays. We construct spectral k-statistics as unbiased estimators of cumulants of trace powers of a suitable random matrix. Moreover we define normalized spectral polykays in such a way that when the sampling is from an infinite population they return products of free cumulants.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/13-AOS1107 the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

The networks of the solo self-employed and their success

An increasing proportion of the Dutch labour market is formed by the solo selfemployed (i.e. one person enterprises, mainly offering their own human capital). Knowledge on solo self-employed is still limited and this makes tailoring policy measures towards this group difficult. Their network position may play a crucial role in economic performance of solo self-employed, as resources available are by definition limited. They are likely to depend heavily on their professional networks for acquisition and mobilizing additional resources. In this paper we use a specially constructed panel of solo self-employed from the Netherlands to explore the motives, gestation and spatial extent of their networks. (Multinomial) logit models are used to relate network position to their economic performance. The results suggest that the motives for and gestation of cooperation between solo self-employed differ from other groups of entrepreneurs. In contrast to existing ideas about network benefits, information sharing and knowledge spill-overs are not an important motive for solo self-employed. Rather, they focus on executing jobs and joint acquisition. Finally, we find that in terms of success a good network position is negatively related to economic performance. In more detail, cooperation on scope is connected to success, whereas joined acquisition is related to poor performing solo self-employed. It seems that solo self-employed reach out to their colleagues when business is slow. �

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

Electronic setup for fluorescence emission measurements and long-time constant-temperature maintenance of Single-Walled Carbon Nano-Tubes in water solutions

In our previous research we have observed that the fluorescence emission from water solutions of Single-Walled Carbon Nano-Tubes (SWCNT), excited by a laser with a wavelength of 830nm, diminishes with the time. We have already proved that such a fading is a function of the storage time and the storage temperature. In order to study the emission of the SWCNT as a function of these two parameters we have designed and realized a special measurement compartment with a cuvette holder where the SWCNT solutions can be measured and stored at a fixed constant temperature for periods of time as long as several weeks. To maintain the measurement setup under a constant temperature we have designed special experimental setup based on two Peltier cells with electronic temperature control