We study finite automata with both nondeterministic and random states (npfa’s). We restrict our attention to those npfa’s that accept their languages with a small probability of error and run in polynomial expected time. Equivalently, we study Arthur-Merlin games where Arthur is limited

This thesis presents CraneTracker, a multi-modal sensing and communication system for monitoring migratory species at the continental level. By exploiting the robust and extensive cellular infrastructure across the continent, traditional mobile wireless sensor networks can be extended to enable reliable, low-cost monitoring of migratory species. The developed multi-tier architecture yields ecologists with unconventional behavior in-formation not furnished by alternative tracking systems at such a large scale and for a low-cost. The simulation, development and implementation of the CraneTracker soft-ware system is presented. The system is shown effective through multiple proxy deploy-

for discussions and advice. I would like to thank Arnaud Durand and Patrice Ossona de Mendez for accepting to review this thesis and for their constructive comments on the earlier versions of this manuscript. Many thanks to Nicole Bidoit and Victor Vianu for accepting to be in my jury. Special thanks go to my

Abstract Basic ideas of rough set theory were proposed by Zdzis law Pawlak [85, 86] in the early 1980’s. In the ensuing years, we have witnessed a systematic, world–wide growth of interest in rough sets and their applications. The main goal of rough set analysis is induction of approximations of con-cepts. This main goal is motivated by the basic fact, constituting also the main problem of KDD, that languages we may choose for knowledge description are incomplete. A fortiori, we have to describe concepts of interest (features, proper-ties, relations etc.) not completely but by means of their reflections (i.e. approx-imations) in the chosen language. The most important issues in this induction process are: – construction of relevant primitive concepts from which approximations of more complex concepts are assembled, – measures of inclusion and similarity (closeness) on concepts, – construction of operations producing complex concepts from the primitive ones.

in partial ful2llment of the requirements for the degree of