Nonparametric inference of quantile curves for nonstationary time series

The paper considers nonparametric specification tests of quantile curves for a general class of nonstationary processes. Using Bahadur representation and Gaussian approximation results for nonstationary time series, simultaneous confidence bands and integrated squared difference tests are proposed to test various parametric forms of the quantile curves with asymptotically correct type I error rates. A wild bootstrap procedure is implemented to alleviate the problem of slow convergence of the asymptotic results. In particular, our results can be used to test the trends of extremes of climate variables, an important problem in understanding climate change. Our methodology is applied to the analysis of the maximum speed of tropical cyclone winds. It was found that an inhomogeneous upward trend for cyclone wind speeds is pronounced at high quantile values. However, there is no trend in the mean lifetime-maximum wind speed. This example shows the effectiveness of the quantile regression technique.Comment: Published in at http://dx.doi.org/10.1214/09-AOS769 the Annals of Statistics (http://www.imstat.org/aos/) by the Institute of Mathematical Statistics (http://www.imstat.org

On Arbitrage and Duality under Model Uncertainty and Portfolio Constraints

We consider the fundamental theorem of asset pricing (FTAP) and hedging prices of options under non-dominated model uncertainty and portfolio constrains in discrete time. We first show that no arbitrage holds if and only if there exists some family of probability measures such that any admissible portfolio value process is a local super-martingale under these measures. We also get the non-dominated optional decomposition with constraints. From this decomposition, we get duality of the super-hedging prices of European options, as well as the sub- and super-hedging prices of American options. Finally, we get the FTAP and duality of super-hedging prices in a market where stocks are traded dynamically and options are traded statically.Comment: Final version. To appear in Mathematical Financ

On a Stopping Game in continuous time

We consider a zero-sum continuous time stopping game in which the pay-off is revealed in the maximum of the two stopping times instead of the minimum, which is the case in Dynkin games.Comment: To appear in the Proceedings of the AMS. Final versio

Smooth Solutions and Discrete Imaginary Mass of the Klein-Gordon Equation in the de Sitter Background

Using methods in the theory of semisimple Lie algebras, we can obtain all smooth solutions of the Klein-Gordon equation on the 4-dimensional de Sitter spacetime (dS^4). The mass of a Klein-Gordon scalar on dS^4 is related to an eigenvalue of the Casimir operator of so(1,4). Thus it is discrete, or quantized. Furthermore, the mass m of a Klein-Gordon scalar on dS^4 is imaginary: m^2 being proportional to -N(N+3), with N >= 0 an integer.Comment: 23 pages, 4 figure