Matrices and kernels with positivity structures, and the question of
entrywise functions preserving them, have been studied throughout the
20th century, attracting recent interest in connection to
high-dimensional covariance estimation. This is the first book to
systematically develop the theoretical foundations of the entrywise
calculus, focusing on entrywise operations - or transforms - of matrices
and kernels with additional structure, which preserve positive
semidefiniteness. Designed as an introduction for students, it presents
an in-depth and comprehensive view of the subject, from early results to
recent progress. Topics include: structural results about, and
classifying the preservers of positive semidefiniteness and other
Loewner properties (monotonicity, convexity, super-additivity);
historical connections to metric geometry; classical connections to
moment problems; and recent connections to combinatorics and Schur
polynomials. Based on the author's course, the book is structured for
use as lecture notes, including exercises for students, yet can also
function as a comprehensive reference text for experts.