A complete axiomatisation of reversible Kleene lattices

We consider algebras of languages over the signature of reversible Kleene lattices, that is the regular operations (empty and unit languages, union, concatenation and Kleene star) together with intersection and mirror image. We provide a complete set of axioms for the equational theory of these algebras. This proof was developed in the proof assistant Coq

Demonic Kleene Algebra

Nous rappelons d’abord le concept d’algèbre de Kleene avec domaine (AKD). Puis, nous expliquons comment utiliser les opérateurs des AKD pour définir un ordre partiel appelé raffinement démoniaque ainsi que d’autres opérateurs démoniaques (plusieurs de ces définitions proviennent de la littérature). Nous cherchons à comprendre comment se comportent les AKD munies des opérateurs démoniaques quand on exclut les opérateurs angéliques usuels. C’est ainsi que les propriétés de ces opérateurs démoniaques nous servent de base pour axiomatiser une algèbre que nous appelons Algèbre démoniaque avec domaine et opérateur t-conditionnel (ADD-[opérateur t-conditionnel]). Les lois des ADD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] qui ne concernent pas l’opérateur de domaine correspondent à celles présentées dans l’article Laws of programming par Hoare et al. publié dans la revue Communications of the ACM en 1987. Ensuite, nous étudions les liens entre les ADD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] et les AKD munies des opérateurs démoniaques. La question est de savoir si ces structures sont isomorphes. Nous démontrons que ce n’est pas le cas en général et nous caractérisons celles qui le sont. En effet, nous montrons qu’une AKD peut être transformée en une ADD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] qui peut être transformée à son tour en l’AKD de départ. Puis, nous présentons les conditions nécessaires et suffisantes pour qu’une ADD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] puisse être transformée en une AKD qui peut être transformée à nouveau en l’ADD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] de départ. Les conditions nécessaires et suffisantes mentionnées précédemment font intervenir un nouveau concept, celui de décomposition. Dans un contexte démoniaque, il est difficile de distinguer des transitions qui, à partir d’un même état, mènent à des états différents. Le concept de décomposition permet d’y arriver simplement. Nous présentons sa définition ainsi que plusieurs de ses propriétés.We first recall the concept of Kleene algebra with domain (KAD). Then we explain how to use the operators of KAD to define a demonic refinement ordering and demonic operators (many of these definitions come from the literature). We want to know how do KADs with the demonic operators but without the usual angelic ones behave. Then, taking the properties of the KAD-based demonic operators as a guideline, we axiomatise an algebra that we call Demonic algebra with domain and t-conditional (DAD-[opérateur t-conditionnel]). The laws of DAD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] not concerning the domain operator agree with those given in the 1987 Communications of the ACM paper Laws of programming by Hoare et al. Then, we investigate the relationship between DAD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] and KAD-based demonic algebras. The question is whether every DAD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] is isomorphic to a KAD-based demonic algebra. We show that it is not the case in general. However, we characterise those that are. Indeed, we demonstrate that a KAD can be transformed into a DAD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] which can be transformed back into the initial KAD. We also establish necessary and sufficient conditions for which a DAD-[opérateur t-conditionnel] can be transformed into a KAD which can be transformed back into the initial DAD-[opérateur t-conditionnel]. Finally, we define the concept of decomposition. This notion is involved in the necessary and sufficient conditions previously mentioned. In a demonic context, it is difficult to distinguish between transitions that, from a given state, go to different states. The concept of decomposition enables to do it easily. We present its definition together with some of its properties

Testing data types implementations from algebraic specifications

Algebraic specifications of data types provide a natural basis for testing data types implementations. In this framework, the conformance relation is based on the satisfaction of axioms. This makes it possible to formally state the fundamental concepts of testing: exhaustive test set, testability hypotheses, oracle. Various criteria for selecting finite test sets have been proposed. They depend on the form of the axioms, and on the possibilities of observation of the implementation under test. This last point is related to the well-known oracle problem. As the main interest of algebraic specifications is data type abstraction, testing a concrete implementation raises the issue of the gap between the abstract description and the concrete representation. The observational semantics of algebraic specifications bring solutions on the basis of the so-called observable contexts. After a description of testing methods based on algebraic specifications, the chapter gives a brief presentation of some tools and case studies, and presents some applications to other formal methods involving datatypes

Inequality, Entropy and Goodness of Fit

Specific functional forms are often used in economic models of distributions; goodness-of-fit measures are used to assess whether a functional form is appropriate in the light of real-world data. Standard approaches use a distance criterion based on the EDF, an aggregation of differences in observed and theoretical cumulative frequencies. However, an economic approach to the problem should involve a measure of the information loss from using a badly-fitting model. This would involve an aggregation of, for example, individual income discrepancies between model and data. We provide an axiomatisation of an approach and applications to illustrate its importance.goodness of fit; discrepancy; income distribution; inequality measurement

Optimal methods for reasoning about actions and plans in multi-agent systems

Cet travail présente une solution au problème du décor inférenciel. Nous réalisons cela en donnant une éducation polynomiale d'un fragment du calcul des situations vers la logique épistémique dynamique (DEL). En suite, une nouvelle méthode de preuve pour DEL, dont la complexité algorithmique est inférieure à celle de la méthode de Reiter pour le calcul de situations, est proposée. Ce travail présente aussi une nouvelle logique pour raisonner sur les actions. Cette logique permet d'exprimer formellement "qu'il existe une suite d'action conduisant au but". L'idée étant que, avec la quantification sur les actions, la planification devient un problème de validité. Une axiomatisation et quelques résultats d'expressivité sont donnés, ainsi qu'une méthode de preuve basée sur les tableaux sémantiques.This work presents a solution to the inferential frame problem. We do so by providing a polynomial reduction from a fragment of situation calculus to espistemic dynamic logic (DEL). Then, a novel proof method for DEL, such that the computational complexity is much lower than that of Retier's proof method for situation caluculs, is proposed. This work also presents a new logic for reasoning about actions. This logic allows to formally express that "there exists a sequence of actions that leads to the goal". The idea is that, with quantification over actions, planning can become a validity problem. An axiomatisation and some expressivity results are provided, as well as a proof method based on sematic tableaux

New Directions in Categorical Logic, for Classical, Probabilistic and Quantum Logic

Intuitionistic logic, in which the double negation law not-not-P = P fails, is dominant in categorical logic, notably in topos theory. This paper follows a different direction in which double negation does hold. The algebraic notions of effect algebra/module that emerged in theoretical physics form the cornerstone. It is shown that under mild conditions on a category, its maps of the form X -> 1+1 carry such effect module structure, and can be used as predicates. Predicates are identified in many different situations, and capture for instance ordinary subsets, fuzzy predicates in a probabilistic setting, idempotents in a ring, and effects (positive elements below the unit) in a C*-algebra or Hilbert space. In quantum foundations the duality between states and effects plays an important role. It appears here in the form of an adjunction, where we use maps 1 -> X as states. For such a state s and a predicate p, the validity probability s |= p is defined, as an abstract Born rule. It captures many forms of (Boolean or probabilistic) validity known from the literature. Measurement from quantum mechanics is formalised categorically in terms of `instruments', using L\"uders rule in the quantum case. These instruments are special maps associated with predicates (more generally, with tests), which perform the act of measurement and may have a side-effect that disturbs the system under observation. This abstract description of side-effects is one of the main achievements of the current approach. It is shown that in the special case of C*-algebras, side-effect appear exclusively in the non-commutative case. Also, these instruments are used for test operators in a dynamic logic that can be used for reasoning about quantum programs/protocols. The paper describes four successive assumptions, towards a categorical axiomatisation of quantitative logic for probabilistic and quantum systems

Co-construction de sens en situation de conception d ’un outil didactique

In the article, the author defends a thesis on the necessity of application in psychology and other cognitive sciences of a methodology based on the interactive theory. Therefore, it is postulated that analysis from the perspective of a monologue be replaced by the analysis from the interactive perspective. The article consists of two parts. In the first part a model of mutual understanding is presented, which was devised at the Psychological Laboratory of the Nancy University 2, and in the other, a proposal of application of this model for the developing of didactic aids of a multimedial character is discussed

Topological Foundations of Cognitive Science

A collection of papers presented at the First International Summer Institute in Cognitive Science, University at Buffalo, July 1994, including the following papers: ** Topological Foundations of Cognitive Science, Barry Smith ** The Bounds of Axiomatisation, Graham White ** Rethinking Boundaries, Wojciech Zelaniec ** Sheaf Mereology and Space Cognition, Jean Petitot ** A Mereotopological Definition of 'Point', Carola Eschenbach ** Discreteness, Finiteness, and the Structure of Topological Spaces, Christopher Habel ** Mass Reference and the Geometry of Solids, Almerindo E. Ojeda ** Defining a 'Doughnut' Made Difficult, N .M. Gotts ** A Theory of Spatial Regions with Indeterminate Boundaries, A.G. Cohn and N.M. Gotts ** Mereotopological Construction of Time from Events, Fabio Pianesi and Achille C. Varzi ** Computational Mereology: A Study of Part-of Relations for Multi-media Indexing, Wlodek Zadrozny and Michelle Ki

Sequential Two-Player Games with Ambiguity

If players' beliefs are strictly non-additive, the Dempster-Shafer updating rule can be used to define beliefs off the equilibrium path. We define an equilibrium concept in sequential two-person games where players update their beliefs with the Dempster-Shafer updating rule. We show that in the limit as uncertainty tends to zero, our equilibrium approximates Bayesian Nash equilibrium by imposing context-dependent constraints on beliefs under uncertainty.