In this thesis, we consider a robust state estimation problem for discrete-time, homogeneous, first-order, finite-state finite-alphabet hidden Markov models (HMMs). Based on Kolmogorov's Theorem on the existence of a process, we first present the Kolmogorov model for the HMMs under consideration. A new change of measure is introduced. The statistical properties of the Kolmogorov representation of an HMM are discussed on the canonical probability space. A special Kolmogorov measure is constructed. Meanwhile, the ergodicity of two expanded Markov chains is investigated. In order to describe the uncertainty of HMMs, we study probability distance problems based on the Kolmogorov model of HMMs. Using a change of measure technique, the relative entropy and the relative entropy rate as probability distances between HMMs, are given in terms of the HMM parameters. Also, we obtain a new expression for a probability distance considered in the existing literature such that we can use an information state method to calculate it. Furthermore, we introduce regular conditional relative entropy as an a posteriori probability distance to measure the discrepancy between HMMs when a realized observation sequence is given. A representation of the regular conditional relative entropy is derived based on the Radon-Nikodym derivative. Then a recursion for the regular conditional relative entropy is obtained using an information state method. Meanwhile, the well-known duality relationship between free energy and relative entropy is extended to the case of regular conditional relative entropy given a sub-[special character]-algebra. Finally, regular conditional relative entropy constraints are defined based on the study of the probability distance problem. Using a Lagrange multiplier technique and the duality relationship for regular conditional relative entropy, a finite horizon robust state estimator for HMMs with regular conditional relative entropy constraints is derived. A complete characterization of the solution to the robust state estimation problem is also presented.

In this thesis, we consider a robust state estimation problem for discrete-time, homogeneous, first-order, finite-state finite-alphabet hidden Markov models (HMMs). Based on Kolmogorov's Theorem on the existence of a process, we first present the Kolmogorov model for the HMMs under consideration. A new change of measure is introduced. The statistical properties of the Kolmogorov representation of an HMM are discussed on the canonical probability space. A special Kolmogorov measure is constructed. Meanwhile, the ergodicity of two expanded Markov chains is investigated. In order to describe the uncertainty of HMMs, we study probability distance problems based on the Kolmogorov model of HMMs. Using a change of measure technique, the relative entropy and the relative entropy rate as probability distances between HMMs, are given in terms of the HMM parameters. Also, we obtain a new expression for a probability distance considered in the existing literature such that we can use an information state method to calculate it. Furthermore, we introduce regular conditional relative entropy as an a posteriori probability distance to measure the discrepancy between HMMs when a realized observation sequence is given. A representation of the regular conditional relative entropy is derived based on the Radon-Nikodym derivative. Then a recursion for the regular conditional relative entropy is obtained using an information state method. Meanwhile, the well-known duality relationship between free energy and relative entropy is extended to the case of regular conditional relative entropy given a sub-[special character]-algebra. Finally, regular conditional relative entropy constraints are defined based on the study of the probability distance problem. Using a Lagrange multiplier technique and the duality relationship for regular conditional relative entropy, a finite horizon robust state estimator for HMMs with regular conditional relative entropy constraints is derived. A complete characterization of the solution to the robust state estimation problem is also presented.

Zugl.: Bern, Univ., Diss., 2006

Chemnitz, Techn. Univ., Masterarb., 2008.

Zugl.: Basel, Univ., Diss., 2007 / Erscheinungsjahr auf der Haupttitels.: 2007

Freiburg i. Br., Univ., Diss., 2005.

Master-Arbeit Univ. St. Gallen, 2004.

Zugl.: Berlin, Humboldt-Univ., Diss., 2008

Bilinguals have been posited to have, compared to monolinguals, enhanced cognitive control, consequently exhibiting greater cognitive reserve, which is thought to subsequently delay the onset of clinical expression of dementia. Based on recent evidence suggesting that the more languages one manages the greater cognitive reserve, and that trilinguals undergo greater exercise in language control than bilinguals, this thesis investigated the effects of trilingualism and ageing on cognitive control, in young adults to older adults. As the thesis investigated the novel field of trilingualism and cognitive control, task complexity, the age of second and third language acquisition, language use, and physical and cognitive activity were also, importantly, assessed, as these are possible influencing factors in test performance. The participants completed several cognitive tasks; namely the Simon task, the Inhibition of return task, the Stroop task (inhibition) and the N-back task (working memory). The novel discovery of a trilingual (and bilingual) disadvantage was observed, which could explain some previous inconsistent findings in the bilingualism literature, where trilingualism may influence bilinguals’ test performance, as trilinguals and multilinguals are often mixed in with the bilingual group. Furthermore, the results suggest that second language acquisition and language use does not consistently predict performance in trilinguals (and bilinguals), nor does cognitive activity, although physical activity may modulate language group differences. Importantly, the results from this novel investigation of the effects of trilingualism and ageing on cognitive control suggest that trilingualism (and bilingualism) can, in some cases, be detrimental to cognitive control.

Dans cette thèse on étudie les (super)fonctions de corrélation à plusieurs points et à plusieursboucle du multiplets demi-BPS en théorie N = 4 super-Yang-Mills. Les fonctions de corrélationsont des objets dynamiques naturels à considérer dans toutes les théories conformes des champs.Elles sont des quantités finies et leur symétrie (super)conforme n’est pas brisée par des divergences.Elles contiennent des informations sur de nombreuses autres intéressantes quantités dynamiques dela théorie. Le produit opératoire engendre les règles de somme pour les fonctions à trois points et lesdimensions anormales. Dans la limite du cône de lumière, elles coïncident avec les boucles de Wilsonde lumière et avec des superamplitudes de diffusion. Cette dualité tient tant au niveau des intégralesdivergentes régularisés que au niveau de leurs intégrandes rationnels finis.La partie principale de la thèse est consacrée aux super-corrélateurs à plusieurs points au niveau Born du supermultiplet du tenseur de stress. Pour les étudier on utilise les règles de Feynman qui préservent une quantité de la supersymétrie. Donc, on reformule la théorie N = 4 SYM dans le superespace harmonique de Lorentz. On s’occupe de l’espace euclidien et on harmonise la moitié du groupe de Lorentz SU(2) × SU(2). La théorie est formulée en termes de deux demi-superchamps chiraux-analytique. L’action de la théorie est une somme de deux termes : l’action de Chern-Simons et une action non-polynomiale qui prend en compte les interactions. Puisque la formulation de l’action est chiral, la Ǭ-supersymétrie est réalisée d’un façon non-linéaire sur la paire de champs. L’action se simplifie considérablement dans la jauge axiale. On obtient les propagateurs correspondants et on formule les règles de Feynman en superspace harmonique de Lorentz. Afin d’étudier super-corrélateurs non-chiraux du supermultiplet de tenseur de stress on formule l’opérateur composite pertinent en termes de demi-superchamps chiraux-analytique ainsi. Au niveau chiral, on propose la construction par R-vertex du super-corrélateur chiral. Afin d’élucider la structure du super-corrélateur on réorganise les règles de Feynman harmoniques qui introduisent une nouvelle classe des invariants hors-shell nilpotent analytique qui sont des blocs de construction élémentaires de la super-corrélateur. Ensuite, on procède au secteur non-chiral et on constate que la dépendance de Ɵ̅ est pris en compte par une légère modification du R-vertex qui consiste à une modification des variables spatio-temporelles de la base chirale à la base analytique. Ainsi, le corrélateur non-chiral est exprimée en termes d’une classe assez particulière des invariants nilpotents non-chiraux. Dans la dernière partie de la thèse, on étudie les fonctions de corrélation à quatre points des opérateurs demi-BPS dans l’approximation de trois boucle dans la limite planaire. Cette étude est motivée par une conjecture basée sur intégrabilité pour les constantes de structure. A l’ordre de trois boucles toutes les approches de graphes de Feynman connus sont extrêmement inefficaces. Le principal obstacle est un grand nombre de diagrammes de Feynman pertinents. Cependant, le corrélateur est presque complètement fixé par ses propriétés élémentaires comme symétries, singularités et planairité. La structure de pôle et la symétrie super-conforme spécifient les intégrandes rationnelles des corrélateurs à un nombre de coefficients numériques. Les coefficients sont fixés par la planairité, la symétrie de croisement et le produit opératoire en cône de lumière des intégrandes avec diverses configurations de poids dans la limite par rapport à une paire de points. / In the present thesis we study the multi-point multi-loop (super)correlation functions of half-BPSmultiplets in N = 4 super-Yang-Mills theory. Correlation functions are natural dynamical objectsto consider in any Conformal Field Theory. They are finite quantities and their (super)conformalsymmetry is not broken by divergences. They contain information about many others interestingdynamical quantities of the theory. The Operator Product Expansion being applied to them producessum rules for three-point functions and anomalous dimensions. In the light-cone limit they coincidewith the light-like Wilson loops and scattering superamplitudes. This duality holds both at the levelof the regularized divergent integrals and at the level of their finite rational integrands.The main part of the thesis is devoted to multi-point Born level super-correlators of the stress-tensor supermultiplet. There exists a number of hints that such super-correlators are remarkable dynamicalquantities in N = 4 SYM. Studying the supercorrelators it is convenient to use the Feynman rulespreserving an amount of the supersymmetry. So, we reformulate the N = 4 SYM in the Lorentzharmonic superspace. We deal with Euclidean space and harmonize one half of the Lorentz groupSU(2) x SU(2). The theory is formulated in terms of two chiral-analytic semi-superfields one ofwhich is scalar and the other one is spinor. The action of the theory is a sum of two terms: theChern-Simons action describing the self-dual N = 4 SYM theory and a non-polynomial action whichtakes into account interactions. Since the formulation of the action is chiral the Ǭ-supersymmetry isnon-linearly realized on the pair of fields. The action considerably simplifies in the axial gauge. Wework out corresponding propagators and formulate Lorentz harmonic superspace Feynman rules. Inorder to study nonchiral supercorrelators of the stress-tensor supermultiplet we formulate the relevant composite operator in terms of the chiral-analytic semi-superfields as well.At the chiral level we propose the R-vertex construction of the chiral supercorrelator which turnsout to be rational at the Born level by construction. In order to elucidate the structure of thesupercorrelator we rearrange harmonic Feynman rules introducing a new class of off-shell analyticnilpotent (Grassmann degree two). They are simple building blocks of the super-correlator. Thenwe proceeded to the nonchiral sector and and that the dependence on Ɵ̅ is taken into account by aslight modification of the R-vertices. This modification of the R-vertices is equivalent to a change of the space-time variables from the chiral to analytic bases. So the non-chiral correlator is expressed in terms of a rather special class of non-chiral nilpotent invariants.In the last part of the thesis we study four-point correlation functions of half-BPS operators inthe three-loop approximation in the planar limit. This study is motivated by an integrability basedconjecture for the structure constants. At the three-loop order all known Feynman graph approachesare extremely inefficient. The main obstacle is a huge number of relevant Feynman diagrams andthe complexity of the corresponding loop integrals. However the correlator is almost completely fixedby its elementary properties like symmetries, singularities and planarity. The pole structure andthe super-conformal symmetry specify the rational integrands of the correlators up to a number ofnumerical coefficients. We fix these coefficients using planarity, the crossing symmetry and comparingthe light-cone OPE of the correlator integrands with various weight configurations in the light-likelimit with respect to a pair of points.