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## Abstract

This paper is devoted to random-bit simulation of probability densities, supported on $[0,1]$. The term “random-bit” means that the source of randomness for simulation is a sequence of symmetrical Bernoulli trials. In contrast to the pioneer paper [D. E. Knuth and A. C. Yao, The complexity of nonuniform random number generation, Algorithms and Complexity, Academic Press, New York 1976, 357–428], the proposed method demands the knowledge of the probability density under simulation, and not the values of the corresponding distribution function. The method is based on the so-called binary decomposition of the density and comes down to simulation of a special discrete distribution to get several principal bits of output, while further bits of output are produced by “flipping a coin”. The complexity of the method is studied and several examples are presented.

## Abstract

We wish to study a class of optimal controls for problems governed by forward-backward doubly stochastic differential equations (FBDSDEs). Firstly, we prove existence of optimal relaxed controls, which are measure-valued processes for nonlinear FBDSDEs, by using some tightness properties and weak convergence techniques on the space of Skorokhod $𝔻$ equipped with the S-topology of Jakubowski. Moreover, when the Roxin-type convexity condition is fulfilled, we prove that the optimal relaxed control is in fact strict. Secondly, we prove the existence of a strong optimal controls for a linear forward-backward doubly SDEs. Furthermore, we establish necessary as well as sufficient optimality conditions for a control problem of this kind of systems. This is the first theorem of existence of optimal controls that covers the forward-backward doubly systems.

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## Abstract

Evaluation of teaching performance of faculty members, on the basis of students’ feedback, is routinely performed by almost all tertiary education institutions. Objective assessment of faculty members requires a comprehensive index of teaching performance. A composite indicator is proposed to assess teaching performance of faculty members. It is based on the combination of several items evaluated by students such as punctuality, communication ability and subject coverage. Robustness of the indicator is assessed applying uncertainty analysis. An application to a data set from an Indian institution is presented. It is shown that the proposed index can be used to rank faculty members from the least to the worst performer according to students’ feedback.

## Abstract

We study the problem of deepening the Jessen–Wintner theorem for asymmetric Bernoulli convolutions. In particular, we investigate the Lebesgue structure of a random incomplete sum of series, whose terms are reciprocal to Jacobsthal–Lucas numbers.

## Abstract

The major problem in analyzing control charts is to work with autocorrelated data. This problem can be solved by fitting a suitable model to the data and using the control chart for the residuals. The problem becomes very important, when the distribution of observation is nonnormal, in addition to being autocorrelated. Much recent research has focused on the development of appropriate statistical process control techniques for the autocorrelated data or nonnormal distribution, but few studies have considered monitoring the process mean of both nonnormal and autocorrelated data. In this paper, a simulation study is conducted to compare the performances of the control chart based on the median absolute deviation method (MAD) with those of existing control charts for the skew normal distribution. Simulation results indicate considerable improvement over existing control charts for nonnormal data can be achieved when the control charts with control limits based on the MAD method are used to monitor the process mean of nonnormal autocorrelated data.

## Abstract

The multilevel Monte Carlo (MLMC) method developed by M. B. Giles [Multilevel Monte Carlo path simulation, Oper. Res. 56 2008, 3, 607–617] has a natural application to the evaluation of nested expectations $𝔼[g(𝔼[f(X,Y)|X])]$, where $f,g$ are functions and $(X,Y)$ a couple of independent random variables. Apart from the pricing of American-type derivatives, such computations arise in a large variety of risk valuations (VaR or CVaR of a portfolio, CVA), and in the assessment of margin costs for centrally cleared portfolios. In this work, we focus on the computation of initial margin. We analyze the properties of corresponding MLMC estimators, for which we provide results of asymptotic optimality; at the technical level, we have to deal with limited regularity of the outer function g (which might fail to be everywhere differentiable). Parallel to this, we investigate upper and lower bounds for nested expectations as above, in the spirit of primal-dual algorithms for stochastic control problems.

## Abstract

In this paper, we derive a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) algorithm supported by a neural network. In particular, we use the neural network to substitute derivative calculations made during a Metropolis adjusted Langevin algorithm (MALA) step with inexpensive neural network evaluations. Using a complex, high-dimensional blood coagulation model and a set of measurements, we define a likelihood function on which we evaluate the new MCMC algorithm. The blood coagulation model is a dynamic model, where derivative calculations are expensive and hence limit the efficiency of derivative-based MCMC algorithms. The MALA adaptation greatly reduces the time per iteration, while only slightly affecting the sample quality. We also test the new algorithm on a 2-dimensional example with a non-convex shape, a case where the MALA algorithm has a clear advantage over other state of the art MCMC algorithms. To assess the impact of the new algorithm, we compare the results to previously generated results of the MALA and the random walk Metropolis Hastings (RWMH).