Fuzzy logic in measurements

Our main interest in this paper is to translate from “natural language” into “system theoretical language”. This is of course important since a statement in system theory can be analyzed mathematically or computationally. We assume that, in order to obtain a good translation, “system theoretical language” should have great power of expression. Thus we first propose a new frame of system theory, which includes the concepts of “measurement” as well as “state equation”. And we show that a certain statement in usual conversation, i.e., fuzzy modus ponens with the word “very”, can be translated into a statement in the new frame of system theory. Though our result is merely one example of the translation from “natural language” into “system theoretical language”, we believe that our method is fairly general.     

Universal deformation formulas and breaking symmetry

We show that an algebra with a non-nilpotent Lie group of automorphisms or “symmetries” (e.g., smooth functions on a manifold with such a group of diffeomorphisms) may generally be deformed (in the function case, “quantized”) in such a way that only a proper subgroup of the original group acts. This symmetry breaking is a consequence of the existence of certain “universal deformation formulas” which are elements, independent of the original algebra, in the tensor algebra of the enveloping algebra of the Lie algebra of the group.     

Stratification method in the theory of thin shells : PMM vol. 43, no. 6, 1979, pp. 1058–1064

It is shown that on the basis of certain simplifications induced in the physical and geometrical dependences, such a “stratification” of a shell can be achieved for which the fibers of each of two layers will be deformed just as thin rods whose axes agree with the lines of principal curvature of the shell middle surface. The approach to analyzing shells on the basis of the relationships to be obtained below is called the “stratification method”.     

Mathematical modelling of the development of mechanical instability in fracturing systems

The dynamics of processes accompanying a loss of stability in a mechanical system are investigated. The mechanical system is in the form of an elastic rod, stretched by an axial load, with one of its lateral surfaces “glued” to a rigid wall. The “glue” is a low-strength elastic material which is subject to brittle fracture at a certain value of the load acting on it. In a fractured segment, the rod surface slides over the wall surface under the action of a dry friction force which is less than the breaking stress. The high sensitivity of the process of the development of instability to small perturbations which initiate the development of instability is established. The system considered is the simplest model of the zone of contact between lithospheric plates which generate earthquakes.     

Drawing series parallel digraphs symmetrically

In this paper we present algorithms for drawing series parallel digraphs with as much symmetry as possible. The first step is to compute a certain kind of automorphism, called an “upward planar automorphism” for an input series parallel digraph. The next step uses these automorphisms to construct a symmetric drawing of the graph. We present several variations of the second step, with visibility drawings, “bus-orthogonal” drawings, and polyline drawings. All algorithms run in linear time.     

Comparing Fleming-Viot and Dawson-Watanabe processes

Fleming-Viot processes and Dawson-Watanabe processes are two classes of “superprocesses” that have received a great deal of attention in recent years. These processes have many properties in common. In this paper, we prove a result that helps to explain why this is so. It allows one to prove certain theorems for one class when they are true for the other. More specifically, we show that product moments of a Fleming-Viot process can be bounded above by the corresponding moments of the Dawson-Watanabe process with the same “underlying particle motion”, and vice versa except for a multiplicative constant. As an application, we establish existence and continuity properties of local time for certain Fleming-Viot processes.     

Multi-step quasi-Newton methods for optimization

Quasi-Newton methods update, at each iteration, the existing Hessian approximation (or its inverse) by means of data deriving from the step just completed. We show how “multi-step” methods (employing, in addition, data from previous iterations) may be constructed by means of interpolating polynomials, leading to a generalization of the “secant” (or “quasi-Newton”) equation. The issue of positive-definiteness in the Hessian approximation is addressed and shown to depend on a generalized version of the condition which is required to hold in the original “single-step” methods. The results of extensive numerical experimentation indicate strongly that computational advantages can accrue from such an approach (by comparison with “single-step” methods), particularly as the dimension of the problem increases.     

On generalized formulation of the equilibrium problem of an elastic strip

A “nonenergetic” formulation of the boundary value problems of statics of an elastic strip based on the principle of admissible displacements, is studied. The formulation makes possible, in particular, the study of problems concerning the strips of infinite energy, while retaining the external form of the “energetic” formulation /1–3/, and produces unique solvability of the problem under weaker restrictions imposed on the external loads. Such a formulation is also possible for other problems of the theory of elasticity.     

The Borda rule and Pareto stability: a further comment

In their paper “The Borda rule and Pareto stability: a comment” published in 1979 by Econometrica, Farkas and Nitzan revealed the “intimate relationship” between the Borda rule and the Pareto criterion. The idea was the following: in a profile of total orders, when there is a candidate who obviously wins under unanimous agreement of the voters, that candidate should be in the choice set. In a profile where there is no obvious winner, the candidates that are the closest to unanimity should be chosen. According to this principle, they defined a choice rule called “closeness to unanimity” and they showed that it is equivalent to the Borda rule. In our paper, we give an equivalent result for a ranking rule. Then we try to obtain similar results when aggregating profiles of tournaments, weak orders, semiorders, fuzzy relations, … and we show that the definition of an obvious winner is no more obvious.     

Statistical learning control of uncertain systems: theory and algorithms

It has recently become clear that many control problems are too difficult to admit analytic solutions. New results have also emerged to show that the computational complexity of some “solved” control problems is prohibitive. Many of these control problems can be reduced to decidability problems or to optimization questions. Even though such questions may be too difficult to answer analytically, or may not be answered exactly given a reasonable amount of computational resources, researchers have shown that we can “approximately” answer these questions “most of the time”, and have “high confidence” in the correctness of the answers.     

A quantum mechanical approach to a fuzzy theory

Recently, we proposed a general measurement theory for classical and quantum systems (i.e., “objective fuzzy measurement theory”). In this paper, we propose “subjective fuzzy measurement theory”, which is characterized as the statistical method of the objective fuzzy measurement theory. Our proposal of course has a lot of advantages. For example, we can directly see “membership functions” (= “fuzzy sets”) in this theory. Therefore, we can propose the objective and the subjective methods of membership functions. As one of the consequences, we assert the objective (i.e., individualistic) aspect of Zadeh's theory. Also, as a quantum application, we clarify Heisenberg's uncertainty relation.     

A natural prior probability distribution derived from the propositional calculus

A σ-additive probability measure on the real interval [0, 1] is defined by considering the expected values of “randomly chosen” large formulae of the propositional calculus, where the propositional variables are treated as independent random variables on {0, 1} with expected value . Although arising naturally from logical and/or cognitive considerations, this measure is extremely complex and displays certain formally pathological features, including infinite density at all points of a certain dense subset of [0, 1]. Certain variantsof the construction are also considered. The introduction includes an account of motivation for the study of such measures arising from a fundamental problem in inexact reasoning.     

The Dempster–Shafer calculus for statisticians

The Dempster–Shafer (DS) theory of probabilistic reasoning is presented in terms of a semantics whereby every meaningful formal assertion is associated with a triple (p, q, r) where p is the probability “for” the assertion, q is the probability “against” the assertion, and r is the probability of “don’t know”. Arguments are presented for the necessity of “don’t know”. Elements of the calculus are sketched, including the extension of a DS model from a margin to a full state space, and DS combination of independent DS uncertainty assessments on the full space. The methodology is applied to inference and prediction from Poisson counts, including an introduction to the use of join-tree model structure to simplify and shorten computation. The relation of DS theory to statistical significance testing is elaborated, introducing along the way the new concept of “dull” null hypothesis.     

Levy and set theory

Azriel Levy (1934–) did fundamental work in set theory when it was transmuting into a modern, sophisticated field of mathematics, a formative period of over a decade straddling Cohen’s 1963 founding of forcing. The terms “Levy collapse”, “Levy hierarchy”, and “Levy absoluteness” will live on in set theory, and his technique of relative constructibility and connections established between forcing and definability will continue to be basic to the subject. What follows is a detailed account and analysis of Levy’s work and contributions to set theory.     

Quasilinear conflict-controlled processes with additional restrictions

A class of conflict-controlled processes [1–3] with additional (“phase” type) restrictions on the state of the evader is considered. A similar unrestricted problem was considered in [4]. Unlike [5, 6] the boundary of the “phase” restrictions is not a “death line” for the evader. Sufficient conditions for the solvability of the pursuit and evasion problems are obtained, which complement a range of well-known results [5–10].^‡     

Construction of the value function in a pursuit-evasion game with three pursuers and one evader

A differential pursuit-evasion game is considered with three pursuers and one evader. It is assumed that all objects (players) have simple motions and that the game takes place in a plane. The control vectors satisfy geometrical constraints and the evader has a superiority in control resources. The game time is fixed. The value functional is the distance between the evader and the nearest pursuer at the end of the game. The problem of determining the value function of the game for any possible position is solved.

Three possible cases for the relative arrangement of the players at an arbitrary time are studied: “one-after-one”, “two-after-one”, “three-after-one-in-the-middle” and “three-after-one”. For each of the relative arrangements of the players a guaranteed result function is constructed. In the first three cases the function is expressed analytically. In the fourth case a piecewise-programmed construction is presented with one switchover, on the basis of which the value of the function is determined numerically. The guaranteed result function is shown to be identical with the game value function. When the initial pursuer positions are fixed in an arbitrary manner there are four game domains depending on their relative positions. The boundary between the “three-after-one-in-the-middle” domain and the “three-after-one” domain is found numerically, and the remaining boundaries are interior Nicomedean conchoids, lines and circles. Programs are written that construct singular manifolds and the value function level lines.     

Factors Influencing the Outcomes of Collaborative Mathematical Problem Solving: An Introduction

This study is an investigation of the factors that influence the effectiveness of collaboration on open-ended mathematical tasks. Students in Grades 3, 6, and 9 worked in groups of 3 on 2 chance and data tasks-1 related to fair dice and the other related to associations among variables presented on data cards. The groups' outcomes and the types of collaboration observed are investigated in relation to issues raised in the literature. Various phenomena are identified that influence cognitive “lifting,” “hovering,” and “falling,” that is, improvement, no change, and reduction in levels of functioning, respectively. These phenomena include cognitive factors, social or interpersonal factors, and external factors.     

Right-hand solutions of the differential equations of dynamics for mechanical systems with sliding friction

As a further development of Painlevé's theory [1], the existence, continuability and uniqueness of righ-hand solutions of the differential equations of dynamics, and, under certain additional conditions, of the equations of motion of holonomic mechanical systems with sliding friction [2] are considered. In classical mechanics, acceleration is essentially defined as the right-hand derivative of velocity (see [3, 4]). Hence the most meaningful definition of the “solution of a differential equation” in problems of the dynamics of mechanical systems with sliding friction is that using the concept of right derivative [5].     

Long-wave-short-wave interaction in bubbly liquids

The interaction of long and short waves in a rarefied monodisperse mixture of a weakly compressible liquid containing bubbles of gas is considered. It is shown that the equations describing the dynamics of the perturbations in the bubbly liquid admit of the existence of short-wave-long-wave Benney-Zakharov resonance. A special modification of the multiple-scale method is employed to derive the interaction equations. In the non-resonant case, the interaction equations reduce to the non-linear Schrödinger equation in the form of the short-wave envelope while, in the resonance case, they reduce to the well-known system of Zakharov equations. The characteristics of long-wave-short-wave interaction in a bubbly liquid lie in the fact that, at certain values of the frequency of the short wave, the interaction coefficients vanish (“interaction degeneracy”). A class of new interaction models is constructed in the case of “degeneracy”. Degenerate resonance interaction in a bubbly liquid is investigated numerically using these models.     

Global stability of the attracting set of an enzyme-catalysed reaction system

The essential feature of enzymatic reactions is a nonlinear dependency of reaction rate on metabolite concentration taking the form of saturation kinetics. Recently, it has been shown that this feature is associated with the phenomenon of “loss of system coordination” [1]. In this paper, we study a system of ordinary differential equations representing a branched biochemical system of enzyme-mediated reactions. We show that this system can become very sensitive to changes in certain maximum enzyme activities. In particular, we show that the system exhibits three distinct responses: a unique, globally-stable steady-state, large amplitude oscillations, and asymptotically unbounded solutions, with the transition between these states being almost instantaneous. It is shown that the appearance of large amplitude, stable limit cycles occurs due to a “false” bifurcation or canard explosion. The subsequent disappearance of limit cycles corresponds to the collapse of the domain of attraction of the attracting set for the system and occurs due to a global bifurcation in the flow, namely, a saddle connection. Subsequently, almost all nonnegative data become unbounded under the action of the dynamical system and correspond exactly to loss of system coordination. We discuss the relevance of these results to the possible consequences of modulating such systems.