This paper introduces a new concept of stochastic dependence among many random variables which we call conditional neighborhood dependence (CND). Suppose that there are a set of random variables and a set of sigma algebras where both sets are indexed by the same set endowed with a neighborhood system. When the set of random variables satisfies CND, any two non-adjacent sets of random variables are conditionally independent given sigma algebras having indices in one of the two sets' neighborhood. Random variables with CND include those with conditional dependency graphs and a class of Markov random fields with a global Markov property. The CND property is useful for modeling cross-sectional dependence governed by a complex, large network. This paper provides two main results. The first result is a stable central limit theorem for a sum of random variables with CND. The second result is a Donsker-type result of stable convergence of empirical processes indexed by a class of functions satisfying a certain bracketing entropy condition when the random variables satisfy CND. When there are high-degree vertices, they potentially hamper normal approximation by causing widespread dependence among the random variables. Thus we generalize the results by approximating the sum of random variables by the sum conditioned on high-degree vertices so that stable limit results continue to hold even when the maximum degree of the neighborhood system diverges to infinity as the size of the system grows.

We define the local empirical process, based on n i.i.d. random vectors in dimension d, in the neighborhood of the boundary of a fixed set. Under natural conditions on the shrinking neighborhood, we show that for these local empirical processes, indexed by classes of sets that vary with n and satisfy certain conditions, an appropriately defined uniform central limit theorem holds. The concept of differentiation of sets in measure is very convenient for developing the results. A continuous mapping theorem for our situation is also derived and some examples are presented.

This volume is devoted to the study of asymptotic properties of wide classes of stochastic systems arising in mathematical statistics, percolation theory, statistical physics and reliability theory. Attention is paid not only to positive and negative associations introduced in the pioneering papers by Harris, Lehmann, Esary, Proschan, Walkup, Fortuin, Kasteleyn and Ginibre, but also to new and more general dependence conditions. Naturally, this scope comprises families of independent real-valued random variables. A variety of important results and examples of Markov processes, random measures, stable distributions, Ising ferromagnets, interacting particle systems, stochastic differential equations, random graphs and other models are provided. For such random systems, it is worthwhile to establish principal limit theorems of the modern probability theory (central limit theorem for random fields, weak and strong invariance principles, functional law of the iterated logarithm etc.) and discuss their applications.There are 434 items in the bibliography.The book is self-contained, provides detailed proofs, for reader's convenience some auxiliary results are included in the Appendix (e.g. the classical Hoeffding lemma, basic electric current theory etc.).