Fakultet primijenjene matematike i informatike

Nenad Šuvak

Associate Professor
Department of Mathematics
Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek
Trg Ljudevita Gaja 6
Osijek, HR-31000, Croatia
phone: +385-31-224-821
fax: +385-31-224-801
email: nsuvak @ mathos.hr
office: 18 (first floor)

 

 


Research Interests

Diffusion processes
Statistical analysis of stochastic processes

Degrees

PhD in Mathematics, Department of Mathematics, University of Zagreb, Croatia, 2010
BSc in Mathematics and Computer Science, Department of Mathematics, University of Osijek, Croatia, 2004
 

Publications

Google Scholar

Journal Publications

  1. N.N. Leonenko, Ž. Salinger, A. Sikorskii, N. Šuvak, M. Boivin, Generalized Gaussian time series model for increments of EEG data, Statistics and its Interface 16/1 (2023), 17-29
    We propose a new strictly stationary time series model with marginal generalized Gaussian distribution and exponentially decaying autocorrelation function for modeling of increments of electroencephalogram (EEG) data collected from Ugandan children during coma from cerebral malaria. The model inherits its appealing properties from the strictly stationary strong mixing Markovian diffusion with invariant generalized Gaussian distribution (GGD). The GGD parametrization used in this paper comprises some famous light-tailed distributions (e.g., Laplace and Gaussian) and some well known and widely applied heavy-tailed distributions (e.g., Student). Two versions of this model fit to the data from each EEG channel. In the first model, marginal distributions is from the light-tailed GGD sub-family, and the distribution parameters were estimated using quasi-likelihood approach. In the second model, marginal distributions is heavy-tailed (Student), and the tail index was estimated using the approach based on the empirical scaling function. The estimated parameters from models across EEG channels were explored as potential predictors of neurocognitive outcomes of these children 6 months after recovering from illness. Several of these parameters were shown to be important predictors even after controlling for neurocognitive scores immediately following cerebral malaria illness and traditional blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers collected during hospitalization.
  2. N.N. Leonenko, A. Sikorskii, Ž. Salinger, M. Boivin, N. Šuvak, Multimodal diffusion model for increments of electroencephalogram data, Stochastic Environmental Research and Risk Assessement 37 (2023)
    We propose a new strictly stationary strong mixing diffusion model with marginal multimodal (three-peak) distribution and exponentially decaying autocorrelation function for modeling of increments of electroencephalogram data collected from Ugandan children during coma from cerebral malaria. We treat the increments as discrete-time observations and construct a diffusion process where the stationary distribution is viewed as a mixture of three non-central generalized Gaussian distributions and we state some important properties related to the moments of this mixture. We estimate the distribution parameters using the expectation-maximization algorithm, where the added shape parameter is estimated using the higher order statistics approach based on an analytical relationship between the shape parameter and kurtosis. The derived estimates are then used for prediction of subsequent neurodevelopment and cognition of cerebral malaria survivors using the elastic net regression. We compare different predictive models and determine whether additional information obtained from multimodality of the marginal distributions can be used to improve the prediction.
  3. J. Đorđević, M. Milošević, N. Šuvak, Non-linear stochastic model for dopamine cycle, Chaos, Solitons & Fractals 1 (2023)
    Dopamine is a crucial neurotransmitter that plays a central role in various aspects of brain functions, including reward processing, motivation, learning, and movement control. Its intricate involvement in these biological processes has made it a subject of extensive research across multiple disciplines, ranging from neuroscience and psychology to computational modeling. In this paper the non-linear stochastic model describing synthesis, storage, release, uptake and metabolism of dopamine in dopaminergic nerve terminal of the rat striatum is introduced. The model is driven by 9-dimensional Brownian motion with constant coordinate intensities. Existence and uniqueness of a positive global solution on a corresponding time-domain are proved and lower and upper bounds for specific moments of coordinate processes are derived. These results are used for calculation of bounds for intensities of driving processes and time horizons ensuring that expected values of coordinate processes stay in the same time-interval as the corresponding expected starting values. Furthermore, positivity preserving balance implicit method is used for simulation of coordinate processes in order to illustrate theoretical results.
  4. J. Đorđević, I. Papić, N. Šuvak, A two diffusion stochastic model for the spread of the new corona virus SARS-CoV-2, Chaos, Solitons & Fractals 148/110991 (2021)
    We propose a refined version of the stochastic SEIR model for epidemic of the new corona virus SARS-Cov-2, causing the COVID-19 disease, taking into account the spread of the virus due to the regular infected individuals, hospitalized individuals and superspreaders. The model is constructed from the corresponding ordinary differential model by introducing two independent environmental white noises in transmission coefficients for above mentioned classes - one noise for infected and hospitalized individuals and the other for superspreaders. Therefore, the model is defined as a system of stochastic differential equations driven by two independent standard Brownian motions. Existence and uniqueness of the global positive solution is proven, and conditions under which extinction and persistence in mean hold are given. The theoretical results are illustrated via numerical simulations.
  5. J. Đorđević, B. Jovanović, J. Manojlović, N. Šuvak, Analysis of stability and sensitivity of deterministic and stochastic models for the spread of new corona virus SARS-CoV-2, Filomat 35/3 (2021), 1045-1063
    Basic reproduction number for deterministic SEIPHAR model and its stochastic counterpart for the spread of SARS-CoV-2 virus are analyzed and compared. For deterministic version of the model, conditions for stability of the disease-free equilibrium are derived and, in addition, conditions for existence of bifurcation state related to endemic equilibrium are established. For stochastic model, conditions for extinction and persistence in mean of the disease are derived. Complete sensitivity analysis of thresholds between the extinction and mean-persistence are performed for both the deterministic and the stochastic version of the model. Influence of variation in parameter values is illustrated for epidemics in Wuhan in early 2020.





Projects

Participation (as researcher) in work of the following projects:

  • Application of short-range and long-range dependent stochastic models (bilateral project with Faculty of Natural Sciences - Department of Mathematics, University of Niš, Serbia; Project leaders: Nenad Šuvak (University of Osijek) and Jasmina Đorđević (University of Niš); Project funded by Ministry of Science and Education of the Republic of Croatia and Ministry of Education, Science and Technology Development of the Republic of Serbia) 
  • Limiting behavior of intermittent processes and diffusions
    Project runs in academic year 2019/2020. Project leader: Danijel Grahovac. Project funded by University of Osijek
  • RealForAll - Real-time measurements and forecasting for successful prevention and management of seasonal allergies in Croatia-Serbia cross-border region (2017 - 2019, project ID: HR-RS151) 

RealForAll logo color

  • Stochastic models with long-range dependence (Stohastički modeli s dugoročnom zavisnošću; 2017-2018), Department of Mathematics, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Leader: Nenad Šuvak (the project was funded by the J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek)
  • Fractional Pearson Diffusions (Frakcionalne Pearsonove difuzije; 2015-2016), Department of Mathematics, J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Leader: Nenad Šuvak (the project was funded by the J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek)
  • Statistical Aspects of Parameter Estimation in Nonlinear Parametric Models (Statistički aspekti procjene parametara u nelinearnim parametarskim modelima; 2007-2013), Department of Mathematic, University of Osijek, Leader: Prof. M. Benšić (the project was funded by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia)
  • Models for Risk Assessment of the Company (Modeli za ocjenu rizičnosti poslovanja poduzeća; 2007-2013), Faculty of Economics, University of Osijek, Leader: Prof. N. Šarlija (the project was funded by the Ministry of Science, Education and Sports of the Republic of Croatia)
  • Statistical Analysis of Diffusion Processes and their Applications in Economics and Finance (2009-2010) - this project was a collaborative project with Professor Nikolai N. Leonenko from School of Mathematics, Cardiff University, UK (the project was funded by the Croatian Science Foundation within the program for education of PhD students)

 


 

Grants

  • ERASMUS grant for mobility of scientists (study visit to Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 2016)
  • ERASMUS grant for mobility of scientists (study visit to School of Mathematics, Cardiff University, UK, 2013)
  • Grant of the AMAC-UK, United Kingdom Association of Alumni and Friends of Croatian Universities (study visit to School of Mathematics, Cardiff University, UK, 2011)
  • Grant of the Croatian Ministry of Science, Education and Sports for specialization of croatian PhD students at the foreign Universities (study visit to School of Mathematics, Cardiff University, UK, 2008)

 


Professional Activities

Committee Memberships


Refereeing

  • Scientific journals:
    • Mathematical Communications, Glasnik matematički, Random Operators and Stochastic Equations, Journal of Classical Analysis, International Journal of Stochastic Analysis, Communication in Statistics - Simulation and Computation, Physical Communication, International Journal of Applied and Computational Mathematics, Mathematics, Applied Mathematical Modelling, Journal of Biological Physics, Journal of Mathematical Biology, Journal of Mathematical Analysis and Applications, Applied Probability Journals
  • Professional journals:
    • Osijek Mathematical Gazette

Reviewing

  • AMS Mathematical Reviews (2011-2020)

 Conferences and Workshops


Lectures and Seminar talks

  • Stohastički integral i Itova formula, Seminar za teoriju vjerojatnosti, PMF-Matematički odjel, Zagreb, 2. i 9. svibnja 2006.
  • Dokazi nepotpunosti bez dijagonalne leme, Seminar za logiku i osnove matematike, PMF-Matematički odjel, Zagreb, 3. travnja 2007.
  • Statistical analysis of Pearson diffusions with heavy-tailed marginal distributions, OR and Statistics Seminar, School of Mathematics, Cardiff University, UK, November 10, 2009
  • Statistička analiza Pearsonovih difuzija s marginalnim distribucijama koje imaju teške repove, Seminar za optimizaciju i primjene, Odjel za matematiku, Osijek, 16. prosinca 2009.
  • Statistička analiza Pearsonovih difuzija s marginalnim distribucijama koje imaju teške repove I, II, III, Seminar za teoriju vjerojatnosti, PMF-Matematički odjel, Zagreb, 16. i 23. veljače, 30. ožujka 2010.
  • Testiranje hipoteza za Fisher-Snedecorovu difuziju, Matematički kolokvij, Odjel za matematiku, Osijek, 19. travnja 2012.
  • Bertrandov paradoks - nastavni izazovi, Geometrijska škola Stanka Bilinskog, SŠ Isidora Kršnjavoga, Našice, 8. travnja 2017.
  • Mjere zavisnosti - svojstva i zamke, Statistički seminar, Odjel za matematiku, Osijek, 14. prosinca 2017.
  • Modeliranje koncentracije peludi ambrozije, Statistički seminar, Odjel za matematiku, Osijek, 8. studenog 2018.
  • Statistical analysis of Pearson diffusions with heavy-tailed marginal distributions, Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, University of Niš, Serbia,  February 14, 2020.
  • Stochastic models for SARS-CoV-2 epidemicsStatistički seminar, Odjel za matematiku, Osijek, 3. veljače 2022.

Study visits

  • School of Mathematics, Cardiff University, UK (study visits lasting 2-6 weeks in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016 and 2018)

 Service Activities

  • President of the Osijek Mathematical Society (2017-2021)
  • Co-chair of the Statistical seminar of the Department of Mathematics (since January 2017)
  • Member of the Higher Education Quality Assurance Board at the Department of Mathematics (since 2006)

Teaching

Konzultacije (Office Hours):

  • Srijedom u 12:00, ured 18 na katu Odjela za matematiku
  • Po dogovoru e-mailom, konzultacije su moguće i u drugim terminima.

Teme završnih i diplomskih radova:

Courses:

Courses taught:

  • Selected Applications of Probability, Stochastic Processes I, Probability, Introduction to Probability and Statistics, StatLab, Elementary Mathematics I and II, Introduction to Probability and Statistics, Introduction to Computer Science, Web Programming (Department of Mathematics, University of Osijek)
  • Mathematics IV (Department of Physics, University of Osijek)
  • Statistics (Faculty of Education, University of Osijek)
  • Mathematics (Faculty of Agriculture, University of Osijek)
  • Probability and Statistics (Faculty of Civil Engineering,  University of Osijek)
  • Statistics (Faculty of Food Technology, University of Osijek)