Regular Coverings - Structure and Complexity Michaela Seifrtová The thesis consists of two main parts, the first concentrated on the struc- ture of graph coverings, where different properties of regular graph coverings are presented, and the second dealing with computational complexity of the covering problem. Favorable results have been achieved in this area, proving the problem is solvable in polynomial time for all graphs whose order is a prime multiple of the order of the covered graph. 1

Traditional statistical analysis starts with computing the basic statisti- cal characteristics such as the population mean E, population variance V , cova- riance and correlation. In computing these characteristics, it is usually assumed that the corresponding data values are known exactly. In real life there are many situations in which a more complete information can be achieved by describing a set of statistical units in terms of interval data. For example, daily tempera- tures registered as minimum and maximum values offer a more realistic view on the weather conditions variations with respect to the simple average values. In environmental analysis, we observe a pollution level x(t) in a lake at different mo- ments of time t, and we would like to estimate standard statistical characteristics such as mean, variance and correlation with other measurements. Another exam- ple can be given by financial series. The minimum and the maximum transaction prices recorded daily for a set of stocks represent a more relevant information for experts in order to evaluate the stocks tendency and volatility in the same day. We must therefore modify the existing statistical algorithms to process such interval data. In this work we will analyze algorithms and their modifications for computing various statistics under...

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Neste trabalho consideramos um problema da Antropologia. A modelagem de sociedades e casamentos de indivíduos é feita com grafos mistos e encontrar caminhos disjuntos é uma questão central no problema. O problema é NP-completo e, quando visto como um problema parametrizado, ele é W[1]-difícil. Alguns subproblemas que surgem durante o processo de obter uma solução para o problema, envolvem caminhos disjuntos e podem ser resolvidos em tempo polinomial. Implementamos algoritmos polinomiais que são usados em uma ferramenta desenvolvida para solucionar o problema na Antropologia considerado. Nossa solução funcionou bem para as sociedades fornecidas pelos nossos parceiros. / In this work we consider a problem from the Anthropology. The model of the societies and the marriages of individuals is done with mixed graphs and to find disjoint paths is a central question in the problem. The problem is NP-complete and W[1]-hard when it is considered a parameterized problem. Some subproblems that arise during the process to obtain a solution for the problem, involve disjoint paths and can be solved in polynomial time. We implemented some polynomial algorithms that are used in a tool developed to solve the problem in the Anthropology considered. Our solution worked well for the societies provided by our partners.

This research addresses the need for increased interoperability between the varied access control systems in use today, and for a secure means of providing access to remote physical devices over untrusted networks. The Universal Physical Access Control System (UPACS) is an encryption-enabled security protocol that provides a standard customizable device control mechanism that can be used to control the behavior of a wide variety of physical devices, and provide users the ability to securely access those physical devices over untrusted networks. / Includes bibliography. / Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2015. / FAU Electronic Theses and Dissertations Collection

Recentemente, Barak et al. (2004) exibiram construções de extratores e dispersores determinísticos (funções computáveis em tempo polinomial) com parâmetros melhores do que era anteriormente possível. Introduziremos os conceitos envolvidos em tal trabalho e mencionaremos suas aplicações; em particular, veremos como é possível obter cotas muito melhores para o problema Ramsey bipartido (um problema bem difícil) utilizando as construções descritas no artigo. Também apresentamos resultados originais para melhorar tais construções. Tais idéias são inspiradas no trabalho de Anup Rao (2005) e utilizam o recente êxito de Jean Bourgain (2005) em obter extratores que quebram a \"barreira 1/2\". / Recently, Barak et al. (2004) constructed explicit deterministic extractors and dispersers (these are polynomial-time computable functions) with much better parameters than what was known before. We introduce the concepts involved in such a construction and mention some of its applications; in particular, we describe how it is possible to obtain much better bounds for the bipartite Ramsey problem (a very hard problem) using the machinery developed in that paper. We also present some original results that improve on these constructions. They are inspired by the work of Anup Rao (2005) and uses the recent breakthrough of Jean Bourgain (2005) in obtaining 2-source extractors that break the \"1/2-barrier\".

Les modèles géométriques de calcul permettent d’effectuer des calculs à l’aide de primitives géométriques. Parmi eux, le modèle des machines à signaux se distingue par sa simplicité, ainsi que par sa puissance à réaliser efficacement de nombreux calculs. Nous nous proposons ici d’illustrer et de démontrer cette aptitude, en particulier dans le cas de processus massivement parallèles. Nous montrons d’abord à travers l’étude de fractales que les machines à signaux sont capables d’une utilisation massive et parallèle de l’espace. Une méthode de programmation géométrique modulaire est ensuite proposée pour construire des machines à partir de composants géométriques de base les modules munis de certaines fonctionnalités. Cette méthode est particulièrement adaptée pour la conception de calculs géométriques parallèles. Enfin, l’application de cette méthode et l’utilisation de certaines des structures fractales résultent en une résolution géométrique de problèmes difficiles comme les problèmes de satisfaisabilité booléenne SAT et Q-SAT. Ceux-ci, ainsi que plusieurs de leurs variantes, sont résolus par machines à signaux avec une complexité en temps intrinsèque au modèle, appelée profondeur de collisions, qui est polynomiale, illustrant ainsi l’efficacité et le pouvoir de calcul parallèle des machines a signaux. / Geometrical models of computation allow to compute by using geometrical elementary operations. Among them, the signal machines model distinguishes itself by its simplicity, along with its power to realize efficiently various computations. We propose here an illustration and a study of this ability, especially in the case of massively parallel processes. We show first, through a study of fractals, that signal machines are able to make a massive and parallel use of space. Then, a framework of geometrical modular programmation is proposed for designing machines from basic geometrical components —called modules— supplied with given functionnalities. This method fits particulary with the conception of geometrical parallel computations. Finally, the joint use of this method and of fractal structures provides a geometrical resolution of difficult problems such as the boolean satisfiability problems SAT and Q-SAT. These ones, as well as several variants, are solved by signal machines with a model-specific time complexity, called collisions depth, which is polynomial, illustrating thus the efficiency and the parallel computational abilities of signal machines.

Nesta tese, nós estudamos a classe de problemas de blocos-móveis. Um problema de blocos-móveis consiste em k blocos móveis dispostos em um labirinto em grade quadrangular onde há um bloco móvel adicional chamado de o homem, que é o único bloco que pode ser movido diretamente. Em particular, cada problema de blocos-móveis é definido pelo conjunto de movimentos disponíveis, pela descrição do objetivo e pelo o que acontece quando o homem tenta mover um bloco. Sokoban é o problema de blocos-móveis mais conhecido e pesquisado. Nós investigamos a complexidade computacional de problemas de blocos-móveis. Antes desta tese, a maior parte da literatura cientifica abordou problemas de blocos-móveis apenas com movimentos de EMPURRAR, na maioria dos casos provando que esses problemas são PSPACE-complete. Nós consideramos dois conjuntos de problemas: apenas movimentos de PUXAR, e movimentos de EMPURRAR e PUXAR combinados. Nossas reduções usam a Lógica de Restrições Não Determinística. Nós provamos que muitos problemas apenas com movimentos de PUXAR são PSPACE-complete. Além disso, nós provamos que o conjunto de problemas com movimentos de EMPURRAR e PUXAR é PSPACE-complete. A nossa contribuição nessa linha de pesquisa é aprimorar o conhecimento sobre o panorama da complexidade de problemas de blocos-móveis. Nosso principal objetivo com essa tese é resolver otimamente problemas de blocos-móveis com foco em Sokoban. Métodos baseados em busca heurística e heurísticas de abstrações como banco de dados de padrões são as abordagens mais efetivas para resolver otimamente esses problemas. Nós fazemos muitas contribuições nessa linha de pesquisa. Nós introduzimos novas funções heurísticas usando bancos de dados padrão com a ideia de estados objetivos intermediários. Propomos uma técnica baseada em bancos de dados padrão para detectar impasses. Propomos regras de desempate que exploram a estrutura do problema. Usando estas funções heurísticas e regras de desempate nós aumentamos o número de instâncias resolvidas de forma ótima de Sokoban e outros problemas em comparação com os métodos anteriores. / In this thesis, we study the class of moving-blocks problems. A moving-blocks problem consists of k movable blocks placed on a grid-square maze where there is an additional movable block called the man, which is the only block that can be moved directly. In particular, each moving-blocks problem is defined by the set of moves available, by the goal description and by what happens when the man attempts to move a block. Sokoban is the best known and researched moving-blocks problem. We study moving-blocks problems in theory and practice. We investigate the computational complexity of problems of moving-blocks. Prior to this thesis, most of the scientific literature addressed moving-blocks problems with PUSH moves only, in most of the cases proving that these problems are PSPACE-complete. We consider two sets of problems: PULL moves only, and PUSH and PULL moves combined. Our reductions are from Nondeterministic Constraint Logic. We prove that many problems with PULL moves only are PSPACE-complete. In addition, we prove that the entire set of PUSH and PULL moves is PSPACE-complete. Our contribution in this research line is to enhance the knowledge on the complexity landscape of moving-blocks problems. Our main objective in this thesis is to optimally solve moving-blocks problems with a focus on Sokoban. Methods based on heuristic search and abstraction heuristics such as pattern databases are the most effective approaches to optimally solve these problems. We make many contributions in this research line. We introduce novel heuristic functions using pattern databases with the idea of intermediate goal states. We propose a technique based on pattern databases to detect deadlocks. We propose tie-breaking rules that exploit the structure of the problem. Using these heuristic functions and tie-breaking rules we increase the number of optimally solved instances of Sokoban and other problems compared to previous methods.

Interval graphs, intersection graphs of segments on a real line (intervals), play a key role in the study of algorithms and special structural properties. Unit interval graphs, their proper subclass, where each interval has a unit length, has also been extensively studied. We study mixed unit interval graphs-a generalization of unit interval graphs where each interval has still a unit length, but intervals of more than one type (open, closed, semi-closed) are allowed. This small modification captures a much richer class of graphs. In particular, mixed unit interval graphs are not claw-free, compared to unit interval graphs. Heggernes, Meister, and Papadopoulos defined a representation of unit interval graphs called the bubble model which turned out to be useful in algorithm design. We extend this model to the class of mixed unit interval graphs. The original bubble model was used by Boyaci, Ekim, and Shalom for proving the polynomiality of the MaxCut problem on unit interval graphs. However, we found a significant mistake in the proof which seems to be hardly repairable. Moreover, we demonstrate advantages of such model by providing a subexponential-time algorithm solving the MaxCut problem on mixed unit interval graphs using our extended version of the bubble model. In addition, it gives us a polynomial-time...

Most signal processing methods were developed for continuous signals. Digital devices, such as the computer, process only discrete signals. This dissertation proposes new techniques to accurately define and efficiently implement an important signal processing method---the time--frequency distribution (TFD)---using discrete signals. The TFD represents a signal in the joint time--frequency domain. Because these distributions are a function of both time and frequency they, unlike traditional signal processing methods, can display frequency content that changes over time. TFDs have been used successfully in many signal processing applications as almost all real-world signals have time-varying frequency content. Although TFDs are well defined for continuous signals, defining and computing a TFD for discrete signals is problematic. This work overcomes these problems by making contributions to the definition, computation, and application of discrete TFDs. The first contribution is a new discrete definition of TFDs. A discrete TFD (DTFD) should be free from the sampling-related distortion known as aliasing and satisfy all the important mathematical properties that the continuous TFD satisfies. Many different DTFD definitions exist but none come close to attaining this ideal. I propose three new components which make up the DTFD: 1) a new discrete Wigner--Ville distribution (DWVD) definition which satisfies all properties, 2) a new discrete analytic signal which minimises aliasing in the DWVD, and 3) a new method to define and convolve the discrete kernel with the DWVD to produce the DTFD. The result: a DTFD definition that, relative to the existing definitions, better approximates the ideal DTFD. The second contribution is two sets of computationally efficient algorithms to compute the proposed DTFD. The first set of algorithms computes the DTFD exactly; the second set requires less memory than the first set by computing time- and, or frequency-decimated versions of the DTFD. Both sets of algorithms reduce the computational load by exploiting symmetries in the DTFD and by constructing kernel-specific algorithms for four different kernel types. The third, and final, contribution is a biomedical application for the proposed DTFD and algorithms. This application is to accurately detect seizure events in newborn electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Existing detection methods do not perform well enough for use in a clinical setting. I propose a new method which is more robust than existing methods and show how using the proposed DTFD, comparative to an existing DTFD, improves detection performance for this method. In summary, this dissertation makes practical contributions to the area of time--frequency signal processing by proposing an improved DTFD definition, efficient DTFD algorithms, and an improved newborn EEG seizure detection method using DTFDs.