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 rand…
A Time-Non-Homogeneous Double-Ended Queue with Failures and Repairs and Its Continuous Approximation
We consider a time-non-homogeneous double-ended queue subject to catastrophes and repairs. The catastrophes occur according to a non-homogeneous Poisson process and lead the system into a state of failure. Instantaneously, the system is put under repair, such that repair time is governed by a time-varying intensity function. We analyze the transient and the asymptotic behavior of the queueing system. Moreover, we derive a heavy-traffic approximation that allows approximating the state of the systems by a time-non-homogeneous Wiener process subject to jumps to a spurious state (due to catastrophes) and random returns to the zero state (due to repairs). Special attention is devoted to the cas…
On First-Passage-Time Densities for Certain Symmetric Markov Chains
The spatial symmetry property of truncated birth-death processes studied in Di Crescenzo [6] is extended to a wider family of continuous-time Markov chains. We show that it yields simple expressions for first-passage-time densities and avoiding transition probabilities, and apply it to a bilateral birth-death process with jumps. It is finally proved that this symmetry property is preserved within the family of strongly similar Markov chains.
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.
Generalized Entropies, Variance and Applications
The generalized cumulative residual entropy is a recently defined dispersion measure. In this paper, we obtain some further results for such a measure, in relation to the generalized cumulative residual entropy and the variance of random lifetimes. We show that it has an intimate connection with the non-homogeneous Poisson process. We also get new expressions, bounds and stochastic comparisons involving such measures. Moreover, the dynamic version of the mentioned notions is studied through the residual lifetimes and suitable aging notions. In this framework we achieve some findings of interest in reliability theory, such as a characterization for the exponential distribution, various resul…
Logistic Growth Described by Birth-Death and Diffusion Processes
We consider the logistic growth model and analyze its relevant properties, such as the limits, the monotony, the concavity, the inflection point, the maximum specific growth rate, the lag time, and the threshold crossing time problem. We also perform a comparison with other growth models, such as the Gompertz, Korf, and modified Korf models. Moreover, we focus on some stochastic counterparts of the logistic model. First, we study a time-inhomogeneous linear birth-death process whose conditional mean satisfies an equation of the same form of the logistic one. We also find a sufficient and necessary condition in order to have a logistic mean even in the presence of an absorbing endpoint. Then…
Fractional generalized cumulative entropy and its dynamic version
Following the theory of information measures based on the cumulative distribution function, we propose the fractional generalized cumulative entropy, and its dynamic version. These entropies are particularly suitable to deal with distributions satisfying the proportional reversed hazard model. We study the connection with fractional integrals, and some bounds and comparisons based on stochastic orderings, that allow to show that the proposed measure is actually a variability measure. The investigation also involves various notions of reliability theory, since the considered dynamic measure is a suitable extension of the mean inactivity time. We also introduce the empirical generalized fract…
M/M/1 queue in two alternating environments and its heavy traffic approximation
We investigate an M/M/1 queue operating in two switching environments, where the switch is governed by a two-state time-homogeneous Markov chain. This model allows to describe a system that is subject to regular operating phases alternating with anomalous working phases or random repairing periods. We first obtain the steady-state distribution of the process in terms of a generalized mixture of two geometric distributions. In the special case when only one kind of switch is allowed, we analyze the transient distribution, and investigate the busy period problem. The analysis is also performed by means of a suitable heavy-traffic approximation which leads to a continuous random process. Its d…
Analysis of the Past Lifetime in a Replacement Model through Stochastic Comparisons and Differential Entropy
A suitable replacement model for random lifetimes is extended to the context of past lifetimes. At a fixed time u an item is planned to be replaced by another one having the same age but a different lifetime distribution. We investigate the past lifetime of this system, given that at a larger time t the system is found to be failed. Subsequently, we perform some stochastic comparisons between the random lifetimes of the single items and the doubly truncated random variable that describes the system lifetime. Moreover, we consider the relative ratio of improvement evaluated at x &isin