Axioms — Open Access Journal

Inferring and comparing complex, multivariable probability density functions is fundamental to problems in several fields, including probabilistic learning, network theory, and data analysis. Classification and prediction are the two faces of this class of problem. This study takes an approach that simplifies many aspects of these problems by presenting a structured, series expansion of the Kullback-Leibler divergence—a function central to information theory—and devise a distance metric based on this divergence. Using the Möbius inversion duality between multivariable entropies and multivariable interaction information, we express the divergence as an additive series in the number of interacting variables, which provides a restricted and simplified set of distributions to use as approximation and with which to model data. Truncations of this series yield approximations based on the number of interacting variables. The first few terms of the expansion-truncation are illustrated and shown to lead naturally to familiar approximations, including the well-known Kirkwood superposition approximation. Truncation can also induce a simple relation between the multi-information and the interaction information. A measure of distance between distributions, based on Kullback-Leibler divergence, is then described and shown to be a true metric if properly restricted. The expansion is shown to generate a hierarchy of metrics and connects this work to information geometry formalisms. An example of the application of these metrics to a graph comparison problem is given that shows that the formalism can be applied to a wide range of network problems and provides a general approach for systematic approximations in numbers of interactions or connections, as well as a related quantitative metric. Full article

Using the Kaczmarz algorithm, we prove that for any singular Borel probability measure $\mu$ on $[0,1)$, every $f\in L^2\left(\mu \right)$ possesses a Fourier series of the form $f\left(x\right)={\sum }_{n=0}^{\infty }{c}_n{e}^{2\pi inx}$. We show that the coefficients $c_n$ can be computed in terms of the quantities $\widehat{f}\left(n\right)={\int }_0^{1}f\left(x\right)e^{-2\pi inx}d\mu \left(x\right)$. We also demonstrate a Shannon-type sampling theorem for functions that are in a sense $\mu$-bandlimited. Full article

We make a detailed study of norm retrieval. We give several classification theorems for norm retrieval and give a large number of examples to go with the theory. One consequence is a new result about Parseval frames: If a Parseval frame is divided into two subsets with spans $W_1,W_2$ and $W_1\cap W_2=\left\{0\right\}$, then $W_1\perp W_2$. Full article

The main aim of this contribution is to define the notions of Kullback-Leibler divergence and conditional mutual information in fuzzy probability spaces and to derive the basic properties of the suggested measures. In particular, chain rules for mutual information of fuzzy partitions and for Kullback-Leibler divergence with respect to fuzzy P-measures are established. In addition, a convexity of Kullback-Leibler divergence and mutual information with respect to fuzzy P-measures is studied. Full article

We propose a construction of a Hermite cubic spline-wavelet basis on the interval and hypercube. The basis is adapted to homogeneous Dirichlet boundary conditions. The wavelets are orthogonal to piecewise polynomials of degree at most seven on a uniform grid. Therefore, the wavelets have eight vanishing moments, and the matrices arising from discretization of differential equations with coefficients that are piecewise polynomials of degree at most four on uniform grids are sparse. Numerical examples demonstrate the efficiency of an adaptive wavelet method with the constructed wavelet basis for solving the one-dimensional elliptic equation and the two-dimensional Black–Scholes equation with a quadratic volatility. Full article

The classical Cuntz semigroup has an important role in the study of C*-algebras, being one of the main invariants used to classify recalcitrant C*-algebras up to isomorphism. We consider C*-algebras that have Hopf algebra structure, and find additional structure in their Cuntz semigroups. We show that in many cases, isomorphisms of Cuntz semigroups that respect this additional structure can be lifted to Hopf algebra (bi)isomorphisms, up to a possible flip of the co-product. This shows that the Cuntz semigroup provides an interesting invariant of C*-algebraic quantum groups. Full article

A method for the solution of linear differential equations (DE) of non-integer order and of partial differential equations (PDE) by means of inverse differential operators is proposed. The solutions of non-integer order ordinary differential equations are obtained with recourse to the integral transforms and the exponent operators. The generalized forms of Laguerre and Hermite orthogonal polynomials as members of more general Appèl polynomial family are used to find the solutions. Operational definitions of these polynomials are used in the context of the operational approach. Special functions are employed to write solutions of DE in convolution form. Some linear partial differential equations (PDE) are also explored by the operational method. The Schrödinger and the Black–Scholes-like evolution equations and solved with the help of the operational technique. Examples of the solution of DE of non-integer order and of PDE are considered with various initial functions, such as polynomial, exponential, and their combinations. Full article

We studied physical problems related to heat transport and the corresponding differential equations, which describe a wider range of physical processes. The operational method was employed to construct particular solutions for them. Inverse differential operators and operational exponent as well as operational definitions and operational rules for generalized orthogonal polynomials were used together with integral transforms and special functions. Examples of an electric charge in a constant electric field passing under a potential barrier and of heat diffusion were compared and explored in two dimensions. Non-Fourier heat propagation models were studied and compared with each other and with Fourier heat transfer. Exact analytical solutions for the hyperbolic heat equation and for its extensions were explored. The exact analytical solution for the Guyer-Krumhansl type heat equation was derived. Using the latter, the heat surge propagation and relaxation was studied for the Guyer-Krumhansl heat transport model, for the Cattaneo and for the Fourier models. The comparison between them was drawn. Space-time propagation of a power–exponential function and of a periodic signal, obeying the Fourier law, the hyperbolic heat equation and its extended Guyer-Krumhansl form were studied by the operational technique. The role of various terms in the equations was explored and their influence on the solutions demonstrated. The accordance of the solutions with maximum principle is discussed. The application of our theoretical study for heat propagation in thin films is considered. The examples of the relaxation of the initial laser flash, the wide heat spot, and the harmonic function are considered and solved analytically. Full article

We present a viable geometric solution for the detection of dynamic effects in complex networks. Building on Forman’s discretization of the classical notion of Ricci curvature, we introduce a novel geometric method to characterize different types of real-world networks with an emphasis on peer-to-peer networks. We study the classical Ricci-flow in a network-theoretic setting and introduce an analytic tool for characterizing dynamic effects. The formalism suggests a computational method for change detection and the identification of fast evolving network regions and yields insights into topological properties and the structure of the underlying data. Full article

Quantum quasigroups are algebraic structures providing a general self-dual framework for the nonassociative extension of Hopf algebra techniques. They also have one-sided analogues, which are not self-dual. The paper presents a survey of recent work on these structures, showing how they furnish various solutions to the quantum Yang–Baxter equation. Full article

Motivated by statistical mechanics contexts, we study the properties of the q-Laplace transform, which is an extension of the well-known Laplace transform. In many circumstances, the kernel function to evaluate certain integral forms has been studied. In this article, we establish relationships between q-exponential and other well-known functional forms, such as Mittag–Leffler functions, hypergeometric and H-function, by means of the kernel function of the integral. Traditionally, we have been applying the Laplace transform method to solve differential equations and boundary value problems. Here, we propose an alternative, the q-Laplace transform method, to solve differential equations, such as as the fractional space-time diffusion equation, the generalized kinetic equation and the time fractional heat equation. Full article

Stanisław Leśniewski’s mereology was originally conceived as a theory of foundations of mathematics and it is also for this reason that it has philosophical connotations. The ‘philosophical significance’ of mereology was upheld by Bolesław Sobociński who expressed the view in his correspondence with J.M. Bocheński. As he wrote to Bocheński in 1948: “[...] it is interesting that, being such a simple deductive theory, mereology may prove a number of very general theses reminiscent of metaphysical ontology”. The theses which Sobociński had in mind were related to the mereological notion of “the Universe”. Sobociński listed them in the letter adding his philosophical commentary but he did not give proofs for them and did not specify precisely the theory lying behind them. This is what we want to supply in the first part of our paper. We indicate some connections between the notion of the universe and other specific mereological notions. Motivated by Sobociński’s informal suggestions showing his preference for mereology over the axiomatic set theory in application to philosophy we propose to consider Sobociński’s formalism in a new frame which is the ZFM theory—an extension of Zermelo-Fraenkel set theory by mereological axioms, developed by A. Pietruszczak. In this systematic part we investigate reasons of ’philosophical hopes’ mentioned by Sobociński, pinned on the mereological concept of “the Universe”. Full article

Methods for ordering fuzzy numbers play an important role as decision criteria, with applications in areas such as optimization and data mining, among others. Although there are several proposals for ordering methods in the fuzzy literature, many of them are difficult to apply and present some problems with ranking computation. For that reason, this work proposes an ordering method for fuzzy numbers based on a simple application of a polynomial function. We study some properties of our new method, comparing our results with those generated by other methods previously discussed in literature. Full article

The concept of a real definition worked out by Kazimierz Ajdukiewicz is still important in the theory of definition and can be developed by applying Hilary Putnam’s theory of reference of natural kind terms and Karl Popper’s fallibilism. On the one hand, the definiendum of a real definition refers to a natural kind of things and, on the other hand, the definiens of such a definition expresses actual, empirical, fallible knowledge which can be revised and changed. Full article

Boltzmann introduced in the 1870s a logarithmic measure for the connection between the thermodynamical entropy and the probabilities of the microscopic configurations of the system. His celebrated entropic functional for classical systems was then extended by Gibbs to the entire phase space of a many-body system and by von Neumann in order to cover quantum systems, as well. Finally, it was used by Shannon within the theory of information. The simplest expression of this functional corresponds to a discrete set of W microscopic possibilities and is given by $S_{BG}=-k{\sum }_{i=1}^W{p}_{i}ln{p}_i$ (k is a positive universal constant; BG stands for Boltzmann–Gibbs). This relation enables the construction of BGstatistical mechanics, which, together with the Maxwell equations and classical, quantum and relativistic mechanics, constitutes one of the pillars of contemporary physics. The BG theory has provided uncountable important applications in physics, chemistry, computational sciences, economics, biology, networks and others. As argued in the textbooks, its application in physical systems is legitimate whenever the hypothesis of ergodicity is satisfied, i.e., when ensemble and time averages coincide. However, what can we do when ergodicity and similar simple hypotheses are violated, which indeed happens in very many natural, artificial and social complex systems. The possibility of generalizing BG statistical mechanics through a family of non-additive entropies was advanced in 1988, namely $S_q=k\frac{1-{\sum }_{i=1}^W{p}_i^q}{q-1}$, which recovers the additive $S_{BG}$ entropy in the q→ 1 limit. The index q is to be determined from mechanical first principles, corresponding to complexity universality classes. Along three decades, this idea intensively evolved world-wide (see the Bibliography in http://tsallis.cat.cbpf.br/biblio.htm) and led to a plethora of predictions, verifications and applications in physical systems and elsewhere. As expected, whenever a paradigm shift is explored, some controversy naturally emerged, as well, in the community. The present status of the general picture is here described, starting from its dynamical and thermodynamical foundations and ending with its most recent physical applications. Full article

This paper deals with several problems concerning notion of existential dependence and ontological notions of existence, necessity and fusion. Following some ideas of Eugenia Ginsberg-Blaustein, the notions are treated in reference to objects, in relation to the concepts of state of affairs and subject of state of affairs. It provides an axiomatic characterization of these concepts within the framework of a multi-modal propositional logic and then presents a semantic analysis of these concepts. The semantics are a slight modification to the standard relational semantics for normal modal propositional logic. Full article

This paper starts with an explanation of how the logicist research program can be approached within the framework of Leśniewski’s systems. One nice feature of the system is that Hume’s Principle is derivable in it from an explicit definition of natural numbers. I generalize this result to show that all predicative abstraction principles corresponding to second-level relations, which are provably equivalence relations, are provable. However, the system fails, despite being much neater than the construction of Principia Mathematica (PM). One of the key reasons is that, just as in the case of the system of PM, without the assumption that infinitely many objects exist, (renderings of) most of the standard axioms of Peano Arithmetic are not derivable in the system. I prove that introducing modal quantifiers meant to capture the intuitions behind potential infinity results in the (renderings of) axioms of Peano Arithmetic (PA) being valid in all relational models (i.e. Kripke-style models, to be defined later on) of the extended language. The second, historical part of the paper contains a user-friendly description of Leśniewski’s own arithmetic and a brief investigation into its properties. Full article