On minimization of axiom sets characterizing covering-based approximation operators

Rough set theory was proposed by Pawlak to deal with the vagueness and granularity in information systems. The classical relation-based Pawlak rough set theory has been extended to covering-based generalized rough set theory. The rough set axiom system is the foundation of the covering-based generalized rough set theory, because the axiomatic characterizations of covering-based approximation operators guarantee the existence of coverings reproducing the operators. In this paper, the equivalent characterizations for the independent axiom sets of four types of covering-based generalized rough sets are investigated, and more refined axiom sets are presented.     

Minimization of axiom sets on fuzzy approximation operators

Axiomatic characterization of approximation operators is an important aspect in the study of rough set theory. In this paper, we examine the independence of axioms and present the minimal axiom sets characterizing fuzzy rough approximation operators and rough fuzzy approximation operators.     

On generalized intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators

In rough set theory, the lower and upper approximation operators defined by binary relations satisfy many interesting properties. Various generalizations of Pawlak’s rough approximations have been made in the literature over the years. This paper proposes a general framework for the study of relation-based intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators within which both constructive and axiomatic approaches are used. In the constructive approach, a pair of lower and upper intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators induced from an arbitrary intuitionistic fuzzy relation are defined. Basic properties of the intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators are then examined. By introducing cut sets of intuitionistic fuzzy sets, classical representations of intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators are presented. The connections between special intuitionistic fuzzy relations and intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators are further established. Finally, an operator-oriented characterization of intuitionistic fuzzy rough sets is proposed, that is, intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators are defined by axioms. Different axiom sets of lower and upper intuitionistic fuzzy set-theoretic operators guarantee the existence of different types of intuitionistic fuzzy relations which produce the same operators.     

Generalized rough sets over fuzzy lattices

This paper studies generalized rough sets over fuzzy lattices through both the constructive and axiomatic approaches. From the viewpoint of the constructive approach, the basic properties of generalized rough sets over fuzzy lattices are obtained. The matrix representation of the lower and upper approximations is given. According to this matrix view, a simple algorithm is obtained for computing the lower and upper approximations. As for the axiomatic approach, a set of axioms is constructed to characterize the upper approximation of generalized rough sets over fuzzy lattices.     

On axiomatic characterizations of three pairs of covering based approximation operators

Rough set theory is a useful tool for dealing with inexact, uncertain or vague knowledge in information systems. The classical rough set theory is based on equivalence relations and has been extended to covering based generalized rough set theory. This paper investigates three types of covering generalized rough sets within an axiomatic approach. Concepts and basic properties of each type of covering based approximation operators are first reviewed. Axiomatic systems of the covering based approximation operators are then established. The independence of axiom set for characterizing each type of covering based approximation operators is also examined. As a result, two open problems about axiomatic characterizations of covering based approximation operators proposed by Zhu and Wang in (IEEE Transactions on Knowledge and Data Engineering 19(8) (2007) 1131-1144, Proceedings of the Third IEEE International Conference on Intelligent Systems, 2006, pp. 444-449) are solved.     

The algebraic structures of generalized rough set theory

Rough set theory is an important technique for knowledge discovery in databases, and its algebraic structure is part of the foundation of rough set theory. In this paper, we present the structures of the lower and upper approximations based on arbitrary binary relations. Some existing results concerning the interpretation of belief functions in rough set backgrounds are also extended. Based on the concepts of definable sets in rough set theory, two important Boolean subalgebras in the generalized rough sets are investigated. An algorithm to compute atoms for these two Boolean algebras is presented.     

Invertible approximation operators of generalized rough sets and fuzzy rough sets

This paper studies the classes of rough sets and fuzzy rough sets. We discuss the invertible lower and upper approximations and present the necessary and sufficient conditions for the lower approximation to coincide with the upper approximation in both rough sets and fuzzy rough sets. We also study the mathematical properties of a fuzzy rough set induced by a cyclic fuzzy relation.     

区间值Fuzzy集分解定理上的近似算子研究

将广义粗糙模糊下、上近似算子拓展到区间上,并利用区间值模糊集分解定理给出一组新的广义区间值粗糙模糊下、上近似算子,证明二者在由任意二元经典关系构成的广义近似空间中是等价的,最后讨论了在一般二元关系下,两组近似算子的性质。     

On characterization of intuitionistic fuzzy rough sets based on intuitionistic fuzzy implicators

This paper presents a general framework for the study of relation-based (I,T)-intuitionistic fuzzy rough sets by using constructive and axiomatic approaches. In the constructive approach, by employing an intuitionistic fuzzy implicator I and an intuitionistic fuzzy triangle norm T, lower and upper approximations of intuitionistic fuzzy sets with respect to an intuitionistic fuzzy approximation space are first defined. Properties of (I,T)-intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators are examined. The connections between special types of intuitionistic fuzzy relations and properties of intuitionistic fuzzy approximation operators are established. In the axiomatic approach, an operator-oriented characterization of (I,T)-intuitionistic fuzzy rough sets is proposed. Different axiom sets characterizing the essential properties of intuitionistic fuzzy approximation operators associated with various intuitionistic fuzzy relations are explored.     

Generalized fuzzy rough sets determined by a triangular norm

The theory of rough sets has become well established as an approach for uncertainty management in a wide variety of applications. Various fuzzy generalizations of rough approximations have been made over the years. This paper presents a general framework for the study of T-fuzzy rough approximation operators in which both the constructive and axiomatic approaches are used. By using a pair of dual triangular norms in the constructive approach, some definitions of the upper and lower approximation operators of fuzzy sets are proposed and analyzed by means of arbitrary fuzzy relations. The connections between special fuzzy relations and the T-upper and T-lower approximation operators of fuzzy sets are also examined. In the axiomatic approach, an operator-oriented characterization of rough sets is proposed, that is, T-fuzzy approximation operators are defined by axioms. Different axiom sets of T-upper and T-lower fuzzy set-theoretic operators guarantee the existence of different types of fuzzy relations producing the same operators. The independence of axioms characterizing the T-fuzzy rough approximation operators is examined. Then the minimal sets of axioms for the characterization of the T-fuzzy approximation operators are presented. Based on information theory, the entropy of the generalized fuzzy approximation space, which is similar to Shannon’s entropy, is formulated. To measure uncertainty in T-generalized fuzzy rough sets, a notion of fuzziness is introduced. Some basic properties of this measure are examined. For a special triangular norm T = min, it is proved that the measure of fuzziness of the generalized fuzzy rough set is equal to zero if and only if the set is crisp and definable.     

二元关系的复合与近似算子的合成

定义了各种类型的经典二元关系和模糊二元关系,讨论了二元关系的合成及其性质.给出了两个近似空间合成的概念,并讨论合成前的近似空间所导出的近似算子与合成后的近似空间所导出的近似算子之间的关系.证明了合成后的近似空间所导出的近似算子恰好是两个近似空间所导出的近似算子的合成.     

基于覆盖的粗糙近似算子

研究Bonikowski覆盖近似算子。借助覆盖近似空间的代表元,证明了下近似算子保交、上近似算子保并、以及上近似算子单调等是相互等价的,另外给出了上、下近似算子对偶的等价条件。     

Approximations and reducts with covering generalized rough sets

The covering generalized rough sets are an improvement of traditional rough set model to deal with more complex practical problems which the traditional one cannot handle. It is well known that any generalization of traditional rough set theory should first have practical applied background and two important theoretical issues must be addressed. The first one is to present reasonable definitions of set approximations, and the second one is to develop reasonable algorithms for attributes reduct. The existing covering generalized rough sets, however, mainly pay attention to constructing approximation operators. The ideas of constructing lower approximations are similar but the ideas of constructing upper approximations are different and they all seem to be unreasonable. Furthermore, less effort has been put on the discussion of the applied background and the attributes reduct of covering generalized rough sets. In this paper we concentrate our discussion on the above two issues. We first discuss the applied background of covering generalized rough sets by proposing three kinds of datasets which the traditional rough sets cannot handle and improve the definition of upper approximation for covering generalized rough sets to make it more reasonable than the existing ones. Then we study the attributes reduct with covering generalized rough sets and present an algorithm by using discernibility matrix to compute all the attributes reducts with covering generalized rough sets. With these discussions we can set up a basic foundation of the covering generalized rough set theory and broaden its applications.     

覆盖粗糙集的公理化

粗糙集的公理系统是粗糙集理论与应用的基础.覆盖粗糙集是粗糙集理论的自然的有意义的推广.基于Xu等提出的新的覆盖粗糙集模型,研究了新模型的公理系统,用4条简洁且相互独立的公理刻画了覆盖粗糙集.这些研究有助于覆盖粗糙集理论研究的深入和完善.     

Topological properties of generalized approximation spaces

Rough set theory is a powerful mathematical tool for dealing with inexact, uncertain or vague information. The core concepts of rough set theory are information systems and approximation operators of approximation spaces. Approximation operators draw close links between rough set theory and topology. This paper concerns generalized approximation spaces via topological methods and studies topological properties of rough sets. Classical separation axioms, compactness and connectedness for topological spaces are extended to generalized approximation spaces. Relationships among separation axioms for generalized approximation spaces and relationships between topological spaces and their induced generalized approximation spaces are investigated. An example is given to illustrate a new approach to recover missing values for incomplete information systems by regularity of generalized approximation spaces.     

Characterization of rough set approximations in Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy set theory

The primitive notions in rough set theory are lower and upper approximation operators defined by a fixed binary relation and satisfying many interesting properties. Many types of generalized rough set models have been proposed in the literature. This paper discusses the rough approximations of Atanassov intuitionistic fuzzy sets in crisp and fuzzy approximation spaces in which both constructive and axiomatic approaches are used. In the constructive approach, concepts of rough intuitionistic fuzzy sets and intuitionistic fuzzy rough sets are defined, properties of rough intuitionistic fuzzy approximation operators and intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators are examined. Different classes of rough intuitionistic fuzzy set algebras and intuitionistic fuzzy rough set algebras are obtained from different types of fuzzy relations. In the axiomatic approach, an operator-oriented characterization of rough sets is proposed, that is, rough intuitionistic fuzzy approximation operators and intuitionistic fuzzy rough approximation operators are defined by axioms. Different axiom sets of upper and lower intuitionistic fuzzy set-theoretic operators guarantee the existence of different types of crisp/fuzzy relations which produce the same operators.     

A new extension of fuzzy sets using rough sets: R-fuzzy sets

This paper presents a new extension of fuzzy sets: R-fuzzy sets. The membership of an element of a R-fuzzy set is represented as a rough set. This new extension facilitates the representation of an uncertain fuzzy membership with a rough approximation. Based on our definition of R-fuzzy sets and their operations, the relationships between R-fuzzy sets and other fuzzy sets are discussed and some examples are provided.     

Aspects of generalized orthopair fuzzy sets

We introduce the idea of orthopair membership grades and the related idea of general orthopair fuzzy sets. It is noted that these generalize the intuitionistic and Pythagorean fuzzy sets by allowing the support for and against membership to be almost anywhere in [0, 1] × [0, 1], giving systems modelers great freedom in capturing human knowledge. The aggregation of generalized orthopair fuzzy sets is considered with particular concern for the OWA and Choquet aggregation. The concepts of possibility and certainty as well as plausibility and belief are investigated in this general orthopair environment. We study arithmetic operations on general orthopair fuzzy sets. We show how to obtain associated interval valued fuzzy sets from general orthopair fuzzy sets.     

The further investigation of covering-based rough sets: Uncertainty characterization, similarity measure and generalized models

The notion of rough sets was originally proposed by Pawlak. In Pawlak’s rough set theory, the equivalence relation or partition plays an important role. However, the equivalence relation or partition is restrictive for many applications because it can only deal with complete information systems. This limits the theory’s application to a certain extent. Therefore covering-based rough sets are derived by replacing the partitions of a universe with its coverings. This paper focuses on the further investigation of covering-based rough sets. Firstly, we discuss the uncertainty of covering in the covering approximation space, and show that it can be characterized by rough entropy and the granulation of covering. Secondly, since it is necessary to measure the similarity between covering rough sets in practical applications such as pattern recognition, image processing and fuzzy reasoning, we present an approach which measures these similarities using a triangular norm. We show that in a covering approximation space, a triangular norm can induce an inclusion degree, and that the similarity measure between covering rough sets can be given according to this triangular norm and inclusion degree. Thirdly, two generalized covering-based rough set models are proposed, and we employ practical examples to illustrate their applications. Finally, relationships between the proposed covering-based rough set models and the existing rough set models are also made.     

粗糙集近似与信息粒度

用粗糙集近似描述了三类常见信息系统(即Pawlak信息系统、不完备信息系统、不完备模糊信息系统)中对象的基本信息粒度.通过信息系统中对象属性值关于对象属性近似空问的上近似可以得到与对象具有相同或相似信息的对象集,即利用对象属性值关于对象属性近似空间的上近似将对象属性值信息变换成为对象的基本信息粒度. .所得结论对信息系统中基本信息粒度的物理意义有了比较清楚和更加合理的解释.