Calculating the Mordell-Weil rank of elliptic threefolds and the cohomology of singular hypersurfaces

Abstract: In this paper we give a method for calculating the rank of a general elliptic curve over the field of rational functions in two variables. We reduce this problem to calculating the cohomology of a singular hypersurface in a weighted projective 4-space. We then give a method for calculating the cohomology of a certain class of singular hypersurfaces, extending work of Dimca for the isolated singularity case.


Triangle packings and 1-factors in oriented graphs

Abstract: An oriented graph is a directed graph which can be obtained from a simple undirected graph by orienting its edges. In this paper we show that any oriented graph G on n vertices with minimum indegree and outdegree at least (1/2-o(1))n contains a packing of cyclic triangles covering all but at most 3 vertices. This almost answers a question of Cuckler and Yuster and is best possible, since for n = 3 mod 18 there is a tournament with no perfect triangle packing and with all indegrees and outdegrees (n-1)/2 or (n-1)/2 \pm 1. Under the same hypotheses, we also show that one can embed any prescribed almost 1-factor, i.e. for any sequence n_1,...,n_t with n_1+...+n_t < n-O(1) we can find a vertex-disjoint collection of directed cycles with lengths n_1,...,n_t. In addition, under quite general conditions on the n_i we can remove the O(1) additive error and find a prescribed 1-factor.


Unique mixing of the shift on the C*--algebras generated by the q--canonical commutation relations

Abstract: The shift on the C^*--algebras generated by the Fock representation of the q--commutation relations has the strong ergodic property of unique mixing, when |q|<1.


Moduli Spaces of Semistable Sheaves on Singular Genus One Curves

Abstract: We find some equivalences of the derived category of coherent sheaves on a Gorenstein genus one curve that preserve the (semi)-stability of pure dimensional sheaves. Using them we establish new identifications between certain Simpson moduli spaces of semistable sheaves on the curve. For rank zero, the moduli spaces are symmetric powers of the curve whilst for a fixed positive rank there are only a finite number of non-isomorphic spaces. We prove similar results for the relative semistable moduli spaces on an arbitrary genus one fibration with no conditions either on the base or on the total space. For a cycle $E_N$ of projective lines, we show that the unique degree 0 stable sheaves are the line bundles having degree 0 on every irreducible component and the sheaves $\mathcal{O}(-1)$ supported on one irreducible component. We also prove that the connected component of the moduli space that contains vector bundles of rank $r$ is isomorphic to the $r$-th symmetric product of the rational curve with one node.


A commuting derivations theorem on UFDs

Abstract: Let $A$ be the polynomial ring over $k$ (a field of characteristic zero) in $n+1$ variables. The commuting derivations conjecture states that $n$ commuting locally nilpotent derivations on $A$, linearly independent over $A$, must satisfy $A^{D_1,...,D_m}=k[f]$ where $f$ is a coordinate. The conjecture can be formulated as stating that a $(G_m)^n$-action on $k^{n+1}$ must have invariant ring $k[f]$ where $f$ is a coordinate. In this paper we prove a statement (theorem \ref{CDH2}) where we assume less on $A$ ($A$ is a {\sc UFD} over $k$ of transcendence degree $n+1$ satisfying $A^*=k$) and prove less ($A/(f-\alpha)$ is a polynomial ring for all but finitely many $\alpha$). Under certain additional conditions (the $D_i$ are linearly independent modulo $(f-\alpha)$ for each $\alpha\in k$) we prove that $A$ is a polynomial ring itself and $f$ is a coordinate. This statement is proven even more generally by replacing ``free unipotent action of dimension $n$'' for ``$G_a^n$-action''. We make links with the (Abhyankar-)Sataye conjecture and give a new equivalent formulation of the Sataye conjecture.


Stochastic calculus for symmetric Markov processes

Abstract: Using time-reversal, we introduce a stochastic integral for zero-energy additive functionals of symmetric Markov processes, extending earlier work of S. Nakao. Various properties of such stochastic integrals are discussed and an It\^{o} formula for Dirichlet processes is obtained.


Classification of quasi-trigonometric solutions of the classical Yang-Baxter equation

Abstract: It was proved by Montaner and Zelmanov that up to classical twisting Lie bialgebra structures on $\mathfrak{g}[u]$ fall into four classes. Here $\mathfrak{g}$ is a simple complex finite-dimensional Lie algebra. It turns out that classical twists within one of these four classes are in a one-to-one correspondence with the so-called quasi-trigonometric solutions of the classical Yang-Baxter equation. In this paper we give a complete list of the quasi-trigonometric solutions in terms of sub-diagrams of the certain Dynkin diagrams related to $\mathfrak{g}$. We also explain how to quantize the corresponding Lie bialgebra structures.


Local structure of Brill-Noether strata in the moduli space of flat stable bundles

Abstract: We study the Brill-Noether stratification of the coarse moduli space of locally free stable and flat sheaves of a compact Kahler manifold, proving that these strata have quadratic algebraic singularities.


A Method of Classifying Simple Laced Root Systems

Abstract: A root system in which all roots have same norm is known as a simply laced root system. We present a simple method of classifying all simply laced root systems.


Switching Game of Backward Stochastic Differential Equations and Associated System of Obliquely Reflected Backward Stochastic Differential Equations

Abstract: This paper is concerned with the switching game of a one-dimensional backward stochastic differential equation (BSDE). The associated Bellman-Isaacs equation is a system of matrix-valued BSDEs living in a special unbounded convex domain with reflection on the boundary along an oblique direction. In this paper, we show the existence of an adapted solution to this system of BSDEs with oblique reflection by the penalization method, the monotone convergence, and the a priori estimates.


On the distance between separatrices for the discretized pendulum equation

Abstract: We consider the discretization q(t+\epsilon)+q(t-\epsilon)-2q(t)=\epsilon^{2}\sin\big(q(t)\big), $\epsilon>0$ a small parameter, of the pendulum equation $ q '' = \sin (q) $; in system form, we have the discretization q(t+\epsilon)-q(t)=\epsilon p(t+\epsilon), p(t+\epsilon)-p(t)=\epsilon\sin\big(q(t)\big). of the system q'=p, p'=\sin(q). The latter system of ordinary differential equations has two saddle points at $A=(0,0)$, $B=(2\pi, 0)$ and near both, there exist stable and unstable manifolds. It also admits a heteroclinic orbit connecting the stationary points $B$ and $A$ parametrised by $q_0(t)=4\arctan\big(e^{-t}\big)$ and which contains the stable manifold of this system at $A$ as well as its unstable manifold at $B$. We prove that the stable manifold of the point $A$ and the unstable manifold of the point $B$ do not coincide for the discretization. More precisely, we show that the vertical distance between these two manifolds is exponentially small but not zero and in particular we give an asymptotic estimate of this distance. For this purpose we use a method adapted from the article of Sch\"afke-Volkmer \cite{SV} using formal series and accurate estimates of the coefficients. Our result is similar to that of Lazutkin et. al. \cite{LS}; our method of proof, however, is quite different.


Values of the t-invariant for small Seifert manifolds

Abstract: The t-invariant can be considered as the Turaev-Viro invariant of order 5 computed for integer colors only. We compute all values of the t-invariant for Seifert manifolds with base sphere and three singular fibers. As a result we show that the manifolds parameters modulo five define the value of the t-invariant. Partially we show that there are 12 distinct values of the t-invariant for these manifolds. Some examples show that the t-invariant for these manifolds is not defined by the first homology group.


A note on the span of Hadamard products of vectors

Abstract: We give a new proof of Theorem 6 in [L. Qiu and X. Zhan, On the span of Hadamard products of vectors, Linear Algebra Appl. 422 (2007) 304--307].


Distinguishing Primitive Permutation Groups

Abstract: Let $G$ be a permutation group acting on a set $V$. A partition $\pi$ of $V$ is distinguishing if the only element of $G$ that fixes each cell of $\pi$ is the identity. The distinguishing number of $G$ is the minimum number of cells in a distinguishing partition. We prove that if $G$ is a primitive permutation group and $|V|\ge336$, its distinguishing number is two.


$C^{1+\alpha}$-Regularity for Two-Dimensional Almost-Minimal Sets in $\R^n$

Abstract: We give a new proof and a partial generalization of Jean Taylor's result [Ta] that says that Almgren almost-minimal sets of dimension 2 in $\R^3$ are locally $C^{1+\alpha}$-equivalent to minimal cones. The proof is rather elementary, but uses a local separation result proved in [D3] and an extension of Reifenberg's parameterization theorem [DDT]. The key idea is still that if $X$ is the cone over an arc of small Lipschitz graph in the unit sphere, but $X$ is not contained in a disk, we can use the graph of a harmonic function to deform $X$ and diminish substantially its area. The local separation result is used to reduce to unions of cones over arcs of Lipschitz graphs. A good part of the proof extends to minimal sets of dimension 2 in $\R^n$, but in this setting our final regularity result on $E$ may depend on the list of minimal cones obtained as blow-up limits of $E$ at a point.


Closure properties of solutions to heat inequalities

Abstract: We prove that if $u_1,u_2 : (0,\infty) \times \R^d \to (0,\infty)$ are sufficiently well-behaved solutions to certain heat inequalities on $\R^d$ then the function $u: (0,\infty) \times \R^d \to (0,\infty)$ given by $u^{1/p}=u_1^{1/p_1} * u_2^{1/p_2}$ also satisfies a heat inequality of a similar type provided $\tfrac{1}{p_1} + \tfrac{1}{p_2} = 1 + \tfrac{1}{p}$. On iterating, this result leads to an analogous statement concerning $n$-fold convolutions. As a corollary, we give a direct heat-flow proof of the sharp $n$-fold Young convolution inequality and its reverse form.


Factorizations of EP operators

Abstract: In this paper we characterize EP operators through the existence of different types of factorizations. Our results extend to EP operators existing characterizations for EP matrices and give new characterizations both for EP matrices and EP operators.


Tools for working with multiplier Hopf algebras

Abstract: Let $(A,\Delta)$ be a multiplier Hopf algebra. In general, the underlying algebra $A$ need not have an identity and the coproduct $\Delta$ does not map $A$ into $A\otimes A$ but rather into its multiplier algebra $M(A\otimes A)$. In this paper, we study {\it some tools} that are frequently used when dealing with such multiplier Hopf algebras and that are typical for working with algebras without identity in this context. The {\it basic ingredient} is a unital left $A$-module $X$. And the basic construction is that of extending the module by looking at linear maps $\rho:A\to X$ satisfying $\rho(aa')=a\rho(a')$ where $a,a'\in A$. We write the module action as multiplication. Of course, when $x\in X$, and when $\rho(a)=ax$, we get such a linear map. And if $A$ has an identity, all linear maps $\rho$ have this form for $x=\rho(1)$. However, the point is that in the case of a non-unital algebra, the space of such maps is in general strictly bigger than $X$ itself. We get an {\it extended module}, denoted by $\bar X$ (for reasons that will be explained in the paper). We study all sorts of more complicated situations where such extended modules occur and we illustrate all of this with {\it several examples}, from very simple ones to more complex ones where iterated extensions come into play. We refer to cases that appear in the literature. We use this basic idea of extending modules to explain, in a more rigorous way, the so-called {\it covering technique}, which is needed when using {\it Sweedler notations} for coproducts and coactions. Again, we give many examples and refer to the existing literature where this technique is applied.


The Limiting Distributions of the Coefficients of the q-Derangement Numbers

Abstract: We show that the distribution of the coefficients of the q-derangement numbers is asymptotically normal. We also show that this property holds for the q-derangement numbers of type B.


Log canonical thresholds of smooth Fano threefolds. With an appendix by Jean-Pierre Demailly

Abstract: We compute global log canonical thresholds of some smooth Fano threefolds.


The index of a vector field on an orbifold with boundary

Abstract: A Poincar\'{e}-Hopf theorem in the spirit of Pugh is proven for compact orbifolds with boundary. The theorem relates the index sum of a smooth vector field in generic contact with the boundary orbifold to the Euler-Satake characteristic of the orbifold and a boundary term. The boundary term is expressed as a sum of Euler characteristics of tangency and exit-region orbifolds. As a corollary, we express the index sum of the vector field induced on the inertia orbifold to the Euler characteristics of the associated underlying topological spaces.


On the excedance sets of colored permutations

Abstract: We define the excedence set and the excedance word on $G_{r,n}$, generalizing a work of Ehrenborg and Steingrimsson and use the inclusion-exclusion principle to calculate the number of colored permutations having a prescribed excedance word. We show some symmetric properties as Log concavity and unimodality of a specific sequence of excedance words.


Bloch-Kato exponential maps for local fields with imperfect residue fields

Abstract: In this paper, we generalise the construction of the Bloch-Kato exponential map to complete discrete valuation fields of mixed characteristic (0,p) whose residue fields have a finite p-basis. As an application we prove an explicit reciprocity law, extending a result of Cherbonnier and Colmez in the classical case. This result relies on the calculation of the Galois cohomology of a p-adic representation V in terms of its (phi,G)-module.


Affine algebraic groups with periodic components

Abstract: A connected component of an affine algebraic group is called periodic if all its elements have finite order. We give a characterization of periodic components in terms of automorphisms with finite number of fixed points. It is also discussed which connected groups have finite extensions with periodic components. The results are applied to the study of the normalizer of a maximal torus in a simple algebraic group.


The vanishing-off subgroup

Abstract: In this paper, we define the vanishing-off subgroup of a nonabelian group. We study the structure of the quotient of this subgroup and a central series obtained from this subgroup.


Twisted Alexander polynomials, symplectic 4-manifolds and surfaces of minimal complexity

Abstract: Let M be a 4-manifold which admits a free circle action. We use twisted Alexander polynomials to study the existence of symplectic structures and the minimal complexity of surfaces in M. The results on the existence of symplectic structures summarize previous results of the authors in [FV08a,FV08,FV07]. The results on surfaces of minimal complexity are new.


Freyd's generating hypothesis with almost split sequences

Abstract: Freyd's generating hypothesis for the stable module category of a non-trivial finite group G is the statement that a map between finitely generated kG-modules that belongs to the thick subcategory generated by k factors through a projective if the induced map on Tate cohomology is trivial. In this paper we show that Freyd's generating hypothesis fails for kG when the Sylow p-subgroup of G has order at least 4 using almost split sequences. By combining this with our earlier work, we obtain a complete answer to Freyd's generating hypothesis for the stable module category of a finite group. We also derive some consequences of the generating hypothesis.


On knot Floer homology and cabling II

Abstract: We continue our study of the knot Floer homology invariants of cable knots. For large |n|, we prove that many of the filtered subcomplexes in the knot Floer homology filtration associated to the (p,pn+1) cable of a knot, K, are isomorphic to those of K. This result allows us to obtain information about the behavior of the Ozsvath-Szabo concordance invariant under cabling, which has geometric consequences for the cabling operation. Applications considered include quasipositivity in the braid group, the knot theory of complex curves, smooth concordance, and lens space (or, more generally, L-space) surgeries.


From particle to kinetic and hydrodynamic descriptions of flocking

Abstract: We discuss the Cucker-Smale's (C-S) particle model for flocking, deriving precise conditions for flocking to occur when pairwise interactions are sufficiently strong long range. We then derive a Vlasov-type kinetic model for the C-S particle model and prove it exhibits time-asymptotic flocking behavior for arbitrary compactly supported initial data. Finally, we introduce a hydrodynamic description of flocking based on the C-S Vlasov-type kinetic model and prove flocking behavior \emph{without} closure of higher moments.


Asymptotic analysis of a boundary-value problem with the nonlinear boundary multiphase interactions in a perforated domain

Abstract: We consider a boundary-value problem for the second order elliptic differential operator with rapidly oscillating coefficients in a domain $\Omega_{\epsilon}$ that is $\epsilon-$periodically perforated by small holes. The holes are divided into two $\epsilon-$periodical sets depending on the boundary interaction at their surfaces. Therefore, two different nonlinear Robin boundary conditions $\sigma_\epsilon (u_\epsilon) + \epsilon \kappa_{m} (u_\epsilon) = \epsilon g^{(m)}_\epsilon, m=1, 2,$ are given on the corresponding boundaries of the small holes. The asymptotic analysis of this problem is made as $\epsilon\to0,$ namely the convergence theorem both for the solution and for the energy integral is proved without using extension operators, the asymptotic approximations both for the solution and for the energy integral are constructed and the corresponding error estimates are obtained.


Explicit Constructions of the non-Abelian $p^3$-Extensions Over $\QQ$

Abstract: Let $p$ be an odd prime. Let $F/k$ be a cyclic extension of degree $p$ and of characteristic different from $p$. The explicit constructions of the non-abelian $p^{3}$-extensions over $k$, are induced by certain elements in ${F(\mu_{p})}^{*}$. In this paper we let $k=\QQ$ and present sufficient conditions for these elements to be suitable for the constructions. Polynomials for the non-abelian groups of order 27 over $\QQ$ are constructed.


Improved Likelihood Inference in Birnbaum-Saunders Regressions

Abstract: The Birnbaum-Saunders regression model is commonly used in reliability studies. We address the issue of performing inference in this class of models when the number of observations is small. We show that the likelihood ratio test tends to be liberal when the sample size is small, and we obtain a correction factor which reduces the size distortion of the test. The correction makes the error rate of he test vanish faster as the sample size increases. The numerical results show that the modified test is more reliable in finite samples than the usual likelihood ratio test. We also present an empirical application.


Invariant measure for the continual Cartan subgroup

Abstract: We construct and study the one-parameter semigroup of $\sigma$-finite measures ${\cal L}^{\theta}$, $\theta>0$, on the space of Schwartz distributions that have an infinite-dimensional abelian group of linear symmetries; this group is a continual analog of the classical Cartan subgroup of diagonal positive matrices of the group $SL(n,R)$. The parameter $\theta$ is the degree of homogeneity with respect to homotheties of the space, we prove uniqueness theorem for measures with given degree of homogeneity, and call the measure with degree of homogeneity equal to one the infinite-dimensional Lebesgue measure $\cal L$. The structure of these measures is very closely related to the so-called Poisson--Dirichlet measures $PD(\theta)$, and to the well-known gamma process. The nontrivial properties of the Lebesgue measure are related to the superstructure of the measure PD(1), which is called the conic Poisson--Dirichlet measure -- $CPD$. This is the most interesting $\sigma$-finite measure on the set of positive convergent monotonic real series.


The oriented swap process

Abstract: Particles labelled $1,...,n$ are initially arranged in increasing order. Subsequently, each pair of neighboring particles that is currently in increasing order swaps according to a Poisson process of rate 1. We analyze the asymptotic behavior of this process as $n\to\infty$. We prove that the space--time trajectories of individual particles converge (when suitably scaled) to a certain family of random curves with two points of non-differentiability, and that the permutation matrix at a given time converges to a certain deterministic measure with absolutely continuous and singular parts. The absorbing state (where all particles are in decreasing order) is reached at time $(2+o(1))n$. The finishing times of individual particles converge to deterministic limits, with fluctuations asymptotically governed by the Tracy--Widom distribution.


Tree-valued resampling dynamics: Martingale Problems and applications

Abstract: The measure-valued Fleming-Viot process is a diffusion which models the evolution of allele frequencies in a multi-type population. In the neutral setting the Kingman coalescent is known to generate the genealogies of the "individuals" in the population at a fixed time. The goal of the present paper is to replace this static point of view on the genealogies by an analysis of the evolution of genealogies. We encode the genealogy of the population as an (isometry class of an) ultra-metric space which is equipped with a probability measure. The space of ultra-metric measure spaces together with the Gromov-weak topology serves as state space for tree-valued processes. We use well-posed martingale problems to construct the tree-valued resampling dynamics of the evolving genealogies for both the finite population Moran model and the infinite population Fleming-Viot diffusion. We show that sufficient information about any ultra-metric measure space is contained in the distribution of the vector of subtree lengths obtained by sequentially sampled "individuals". We give explicit formulas for the evolution of the Laplace transform of the distribution of finite subtrees under the tree-valued Fleming-Viot dynamics.


Cut and singular loci up to codimension 3

Abstract: We give a new and detailed description of the structure of cut loci, with direct applications to the singular sets of some Hamilton-Jacobi equations. These sets may be non-triangulable, but a local description at all points except for a set of Hausdorff dimension $n-2$ is well known. We go further in this direction by giving a clasification of all points up to a set of Hausdorff dimension $n-3$.


Two interacting Hopf algebras of trees

Abstract: Hopf algebra structures on rooted trees are by now a well-studied object, especially in the context of combinatorics. In this work we consider a Hopf algebra H by introducing a coproduct on a (commutative) algebra of rooted forests, considering each tree of the forest (which must contain at least one edge) as a Feynman-like graph without loops. The primitive part of the graded dual is endowed with a pre-Lie product defined in terms of insertion of a tree inside another. We establish a surprising link between the Hopf algebra H obtained this way and the well-known Connes-Kreimer Hopf algebra of rooted trees by means of a natural H-bicomodule structure on the latter. This enables us to recover recent results in the field of numerical methods for differential equations due to Chartier, Hairer and Vilmart as well as Murua.


A change of variable formula for the 2D fractional Brownian motion of Hurst index bigger or equal to 1/4

Abstract: We prove a change of variable formula for the 2D fractional Brownian motion of index H bigger of equal to 1/4. For H strictly bigger than 1/4, our formula coincides with that obtained by using the rough paths theory. For H=1/4 (the more interesting case), there is an additional term that is a classical Wiener integral against an independent standard Brownian motion.


The initial meadows

Abstract: A \emph{meadow} is a commutative ring with an inverse operator satisfying $0^{-1}=0$. We determine the initial algebra of the meadows of characteristic 0 and show that its word problem is decidable.


Interface evolution: the Hele-Shaw and Muskat problems

Abstract: We study the dynamics of the interface between two incompressible 2-D flows where the evolution equation is obtained from Darcy's law. The free boundary is given by the discontinuity among the densities and viscosities of the fluids. This physical scenario is known as the two dimensional Muskat problem or the two-phase Hele-Shaw flow. We prove local-existence in Sobolev spaces when, initially, the difference of the gradients of the pressure in the normal direction has the proper sign, an assumption which is also known as the Rayleigh-Taylor condition.


Classification of strict wonderful varieties

Abstract: In the setting of strict wonderful varieties we answer positively to Luna's conjecture, saying that wonderful varieties are classified by combinatorial objects, the so-called spherical systems. In particular, we prove that strict wonderful varieties are mostly obtained from symmetric spaces, spherical nilpotent orbits or model spaces. To make the paper self-contained as much as possible, we shall gather some known results on these families and more generally on wonderful varieties.


Moduli spaces of rank 2 ACM bundles on prime Fano threefolds

Abstract: Given a smooth non-hyperelliptic prime Fano threefold X, we prove the existence of all rank 2 ACM vector bundles on X by deformation of semistable sheaves. We show that these bundles move in generically smooth components of the corresponding moduli space. We give applications to pfaffian representations of quartic threefolds in P^4 and cubic hypersurfaces of a smooth quadric of P^5.


Homogeneous para-K\"ahler Einstein manifolds

Abstract: A para-K\"ahler manifold can be defined as a pseudo-Riemannian manifold $(M,g)$ with a parallel skew-symmetric para-complex structures $K$, i.e. a parallel field of skew-symmetric endomorphisms with $ K^2 = \mathrm{Id} $ or, equivalently, as a symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$ with a bi-Lagrangian structure $L^\pm$, i.e. two complementary integrable Lagrangian distributions. A homogeneous manifold $M = G/H$ of a semisimple Lie group $G$ admits an invariant para-K\"ahler structure $(g,K)$ if and only if it is a covering of the adjoint orbit $\mathrm{Ad}_Gh$ of a semisimple element $h.$ We give a description of all invariant para-K\"ahler structures $(g,K)$ on a such homogeneous manifold. Using a para-complex analogue of basic formulas of K\"ahler geometry, we prove that any invariant para-complex structure $K$ on $M = G/H$ defines a unique para-K\"ahler Einstein structure $(g,K)$ with given non-zero scalar curvature. An explicit formula for the Einstein metric $g$ is given. A survey of recent results on para-complex geometry is included.


Holomorphic self-maps of the disk intertwining two linear fractional maps

Abstract: We characterize (in almost all cases) the holomorphic self-maps of the unit disk that intertwine two given linear fractional self-maps of the disk. The proofs are based on iteration and a careful analysis of the Denjoy-Wolff points. In particular, we characterize the maps that commute with a given linear fractional map (in the cases that are not already known) and, as an application, determine all "roots" of such maps in the sense of iteration (if any). This yields as a byproduct a short proof of a recent theorem on the embedding of a linear fractional transformation into a semigroup of holomorphic self-maps of the disk.


The univalent Bloch-Landau constant, harmonic symmetry and conformal glueing

Abstract: By modifying a domain first suggested by Ruth Goodman in 1935 and by exploiting the explicit solution by Fedorov of the Poly\'a-Chebotarev problem in the case of four symmetrically placed points, an improved upper bound for the univalent Bloch-Landau constant is obtained. The domain that leads to this improved bound takes the form of a disk from which some arcs are removed in such a way that the resulting simply connected domain is harmonically symmetric in each arc with respect to the origin. The existence of domains of this type is established, using techniques from conformal welding, and some general properties of harmonically symmetric arcs in this setting are established.


Random ideal triangulations and the Weil-Petersson distance between finite degree covers of punctured Riemann surfaces

Abstract: We prove that any two finite-area non-compact hyperbolic Riemann surfaces S and T have finite covers that are arbitrarily close in the normalized Weil-Petersson metric, where we normalize by dividing the square of the metric by the area of the surface. In the case where T is the modular surface this reduces to showing that S has a finite cover with a proper ideal triangulation where most of the shear coordinates are small; we will construct such a cover out of a random collection of immersed ideal triangles in S.


Erdelyi-Kober integrals on the cone of positive definite matrices and Radon transforms on Grassmann manifolds

Abstract: We introduce bi-parametric fractional integrals of the Erdelyi-Kober type that generalize known Garding-Gindikin constructions associated to the cone of positive definite matrices. It is proved that the Radon transform, which maps a zonal function on the Grassmann manifold $G_{n,m}$ of $m$-dimensional linear subspaces of $R^n$ into a function on the similar manifold $G_{n,k}$, $ 1\leq m<k \leq n-1$, is represented as analytic continuation of the corresponding Erdelyi-Kober integral. This result shows that different Grinberg-Rubin's formulas for such transforms [GR] have, in fact, a common structure.


Bounds for codes and designs in complex subspaces

Abstract: We introduce the concepts of complex Grassmannian codes and designs. Let G(m,n) denote the set of m-dimensional subspaces of C^n: then a code is a finite subset of G(m,n) in which few distances occur, while a design is a finite subset of G(m,n) that polynomially approximates the entire set. Using Delsarte's linear programming techniques, we find upper bounds for the size of a code and lower bounds for the size of a design, and we show that association schemes can occur when the bounds are tight. These results are motivated by the bounds for real subspaces recently found by Bachoc, Coulangeon and Nebe, and the bounds generalize those of Delsarte, Goethals and Seidel for codes and designs on the complex unit sphere.


Special points of the Brownian net

Abstract: The Brownian net, which has recently been introduced by Sun and Swart [SS08], and independently by Newman, Ravishankar and Schertzer [NRS08], generalizes the Brownian web by allowing branching. In this paper, we study the structure of the Brownian net in more detail. In particular, we give an almost sure classification of each point in $R^2$ according to the configuration of the Brownian net paths entering and leaving the point. Along the way, we establish various other structural properties of the Brownian net.


Rapid factorization of structured matrices via randomized sampling

Abstract: Randomized sampling has recently been demonstrated to be an efficient technique for computing approximate low-rank factorizations of matrices for which fast methods for computing matrix vector products are available. This paper describes an extension of such techniques to a wider class of matrices that are not themselves rank-deficient, but have off-diagonal blocks that are. Such matrices arise frequently in numerical analysis and signal processing, and there exist several methods for rapidly performing algebraic operations (matrix-vector multiplications, matrix factorizations, matrix inversion, \textit{etc}) on them once low-rank approximations to all off-diagonal blocks have been constructed. The paper demonstrates that if such a matrix can be applied to a vector in O(N) time, where the matrix is of size $N\times N$, and if individual entries of the matrix can be computed rapidly, then in many cases, the task of constructing approximate low-rank factorizations for all off-diagonal blocks can be performed in $O(N k^{2})$ time, where $k$ is an upper bound for the numerical rank of the off-diagonal blocks.


Delay Analysis for Max Weight Opportunistic Scheduling in Wireless Systems

Abstract: We consider the delay properties of max-weight opportunistic scheduling in a multi-user ON/OFF wireless system, such as a multi-user downlink or uplink. It is well known that max-weight scheduling stabilizes the network (and hence yields maximum throughput) whenever input rates are inside the network capacity region. We show that when arrival and channel processes are independent, average delay of the max-weight policy is order-optimal, in the sense that it does not grow with the number of network links. While recent queue-grouping algorithms are known to also yield order-optimal delay, this is the first such result for the simpler class of max-weight policies. We then consider multi-rate transmission models and show that average delay in this case typically does increase with the network size due to queues containing a small number of "residual" packets.


Rational vertex operator algebras are finitely generated

Abstract: It is proved that any vertex operator algebra for which the image of the Virasoro element in Zhu's algebra is algebraic over complex numbers is finitely generated. In particular, any vertex operator algebra with a finite dimensional Zhu's algebra is finitely generated. As a result, any rational vertex operator algebra is finitely generated.


Formal deformations of Poisson structures in low dimensions

Abstract: In this paper, we study formal deformations of Poisson structures, especially for three families of Poisson varieties in dimensions two and three. For these families of Poisson structures, using an explicit basis of the second Poisson cohomology space, we solve the deformation equations at each step and obtain a large family of formal deformations for each Poisson structure which we consider. With the help of an explicit formula, we show that this family contains, modulo equivalence, all possible formal deformations. We show moreover that, when the Poisson structure is generic, all members of the family are non-equivalent.


A sharp uniform bound for the distribution of sums of Bernoulli trials

Abstract: In this note we establish a uniform bound for the distribution of a sum $S_n=X_1+\cdots+X_n$ of independent non-homogeneous Bernoulli trials. Specifically, we prove that $\sigma_n \mathbb{P}(S_n\!=\!j)\leq\eta$ where $\sigma_n$ denotes the standard deviation of $S_n$ and $\eta$ is a universal constant. We compute the best possible constant $\eta\sim 0.4688$ and we show that the bound also holds for limits of sums and differences of Bernoullis, including the Poisson laws which constitute the worst case and attain the bound. We also investigate the optimal bounds for $n$ and $j$ fixed. An application to estimate the rate of convergence of Mann's fixed point iterations is presented.


A mapping from the unitary to doubly stochastic matrices and symbols on a finite set

Abstract: We prove that the mapping from the unitary to the doubly stochastic matrices that maps a unitary matrix (u_{kl}) to the doubly stochastic matrix (|u_{kl}|^2) is a submersion for almost all unitary matrices. The proof uses the framework of operator symbols on a finite set. We give detailed proofs of the results announced in our earlier preprint.


Cubical cospans and higher cobordisms (Cospans in algebraic topology, III)

Abstract: After two papers on weak cubical categories and {\it collarable} cospans, respectively, we put things together and construct a {\it weak} cubical category of cubical {\it collared} cospans of topological spaces. We also build a second structure, called a {\it quasi} cubical category, formed of arbitrary cubical cospans concatenated by homotopy pushouts. This structure, simpler but weaker, has {\it lax} identities. It contains a similar framework for cobordisms of manifolds with corners and could therefore be the basis to extend the study of TQFT's of Part II to higher cubical degree.


On the zeros of the Riemann zeta function

Abstract: In 2008 I thought I found a proof of the Riemann Hypothesis, but there was an error. In the Spring 2020 I believed to have fixed the error, but it cannot be fixed. I describe here where the error was. It took me several days to find the error in a careful checking before a possible submission to a payable review offered by one leading journal. There were three simple lemmas and one simple theorem, all were correct, yet there was an error: what Lemma 2 proved was not exactly what Lemma 3 needed. So, it was the connection of the lemmas. This paper came out empty, but I have found a different proof of the Riemann Hypothesis and it seems so far correct. In the discussion at the end of this paper I raise a matter that I think is of importance to the review process in mathematics.


On a non-combinatorial definition of Stirling numbers

Abstract: In Combinatorics Stirling numbers may be defined in several ways. One such definition is given in [1], where an extensive consideration of Stirling numbers is presented. In this paper an alternative definition of Stirling numbers of both kind is given. Namely, Stirling numbers of the first kind appear in the closed formula for the n-th derivative of ln x. In the same way Stirling numbers of the second kind appear in the formula for the n-th derivative of f(e^x), where f(x) is an arbitrary smooth real function. This facts allow us to define Stirling numbers within the frame of differential calculus. These definitions may be interesting because arbitrary functions appear in them. Choosing suitable function we may obtain different properties of Stirling numbers by the use of derivatives only. Using simple properties of derivatives we obtain here three important properties of Stirling numbers. First are so called two terms recurrence relations, from which one can easily derive the combinatorial meaning of Stirling numbers. Next we obtain expansion formulas of powers into falling factorials, and vise versa. These expansions usually serve as the definitions of Stirling numbers, as in [1]. Finally, we obtain the exponential generating functions for Stirling and Bell numbers. As a by product the closed formulas for the $n$-th derivative of the functions f(e^x) and f(ln x) are obtained.


Rootless pairs of $EE_8$-lattices

Abstract: We describe a classification of pairs $M, N$ of lattices isometric to $EE_8:=\sqrt 2 E_8$ such that the lattice $M + N$ is integral and rootless and such that the dihedral group associated to them has order at most 12. It turns out that most of these pairs may be embedded in the Leech lattice. Complete proofs will appear in another article. This theory of integral lattices has connections to vertex operator algebra theory and moonshine.


Morrey Spaces and Fractional Integral Operators

Abstract: The present paper is devoted to the boundedness of fractional integral operators in Morrey spaces defined on quasimetric measure spaces. In particular, Sobolev, trace and weighted inequalities with power weights for potential operators are established. In the case when measure satisfies the doubling condition the derived conditions are simultaneously necessary and sufficient for appropriate inequalities.


Fun with $\F_1$

Abstract: We show that the algebra and the endomotive of the quantum statistical mechanical system of Bost--Connes naturally arises by extension of scalars from the "field with one element" to rational numbers. The inductive structure of the abelian part of the endomotive corresponds to the tower of finite extensions of that "field", while the endomorphisms reflect the Frobenius correspondences. This gives in particular an explicit model over the integers for this endomotive, which is related to the original Hecke algebra description. We study the reduction at a prime of the endomotive and of the corresponding noncommutative crossed product algebra.


Asymptotic series for the splitting of separatrices near a Hamiltonian bifurcation

Abstract: This is a proof of an asymptotic formula which describes exponentially small splitting of separatrices in a generic analytic family of area-preserving maps near a Hamiltonian saddle-centre bifurcation. As a particular case and in combination with an earlier work on a Stokes constant for the H\'enon map (Gelfreich, Sauzin (2001)), it implies exponentially small transversality of separatrices in the area-preserving H\'enon family when the multiplicator of the fixed point is close to one.


On the shock wave spectrum for isentropic gas dynamics with capillarity

Abstract: We consider the stability problem for shock layers in Slemrod's model of an isentropic gas with capillarity. We show that these traveling waves are monotone in the weak capillarity case, and become highly oscillatory as the capillarity strength increases. Using a spectral energy estimate we prove that small-amplitude monotone shocks are spectrally stable. We also show, through the use of a novel spectral energy estimate, that monotone shocks have no unstable real spectrum regardless of amplitude; this implies that any instabilities of these monotone traveling waves, if they exist, must occur through a Hopf-like bifurcation, where one or more conjugate pairs of eigenvalues cross the imaginary axis. We then conduct a systematic numerical Evans function study, which shows that monotone and mildly oscillatory profiles in an adiabatic gas are spectrally stable for moderate values of shock and capillarity strengths. In particular, we show that the transition from monotone to non-monotone profiles does not appear to trigger any instabilities.


Compactly supported cohomology of buildings

Abstract: We compute the compactly supported cohomology of the standard realization of any locally finite building.


Canonical RNA pseudoknot structures

Abstract: In this paper we study $k$-noncrossing, canonical RNA pseudoknot structures with minimum arc-length $\ge 4$. Let ${\sf T}_{k,\sigma}^{[4]} (n)$ denote the number of these structures. We derive exact enumeration results by computing the generating function ${\bf T}_{k,\sigma}^{[4]}(z)= \sum_n{\sf T}_{k,\sigma}^{[4]}(n)z^n$ and derive the asymptotic formulas ${\sf T}_{k,3}^{[4]}(n)^{}\sim c_k n^{-(k-1)^2-\frac{k-1}{2}} (\gamma_{k,3}^{[4]})^{-n}$ for $k=3,...,9$. In particular we have for $k=3$, ${\sf T}_{3,3}^{[4]}(n)^{}\sim c_3 n^{-5} 2.0348^n$. Our results prove that the set of biophysically relevant RNA pseudoknot structures is surprisingly small and suggest a new structure class as target for prediction algorithms.


Sharp logarithmic Sobolev inequalities on gradient solitons and applications

Abstract: We show that gradient shrinking, expanding or steady Ricci solitons have potentials leading to suitable reference probability measures on the manifold. For shrinking solitons, as well as expanding soltions with nonnegative Ricci curvature, these reference measures satisfy sharp logarithmic Sobolev inequalities with lower bounds characterized by the geometry of the manifold. The geometric invariant appearing in the sharp lower bound is shown to be nonnegative. We also characterize the expanders when such invariant is zero. In the proof various useful volume growth estimates are also established for gradient shrinking and expanding solitons. In particular, we prove that the {\it asymptotic volume ratio} of any gradient shrinking soliton with nonnegative Ricci curvature must be zero.


Dominating Sets in Plane Triangulations

Abstract: In 1996, Matheson and Tarjan conjectured that any n-vertex triangulation with n sufficiently large has a dominating set of size at most n/4. We prove this for graphs of maximum degree 6.


Developing Bayesian Information Entropy-based Techniques for Spatially Explicit Model Assessment

Abstract: The aim of this paper is to explore and develop advanced spatial Bayesian assessment methods and techniques for land use modeling. The paper provides a comprehensive guide for assessing additional informational entropy value of model predictions at the spatially explicit domain of knowledge, and proposes a few alternative metrics and indicators for extracting higher-order information dynamics from simulation tournaments. A seven-county study area in South-Eastern Wisconsin (SEWI) has been used to simulate and assess the accuracy of historical land use changes (1963-1990) using artificial neural network simulations of the Land Transformation Model (LTM). The use of the analysis and the performance of the metrics helps: (a) understand and learn how well the model runs fits to different combinations of presence and absence of transitions in a landscape, not simply how well the model fits our given data; (b) derive (estimate) a theoretical accuracy that we would expect a model to assess under the presence of incomplete information and measurement; (c) understand the spatially explicit role and patterns of uncertainty in simulations and model estimations, by comparing results across simulation runs; (d) compare the significance or estimation contribution of transitional presence and absence (change versus no change) to model performance, and the contribution of the spatial drivers and variables to the explanatory value of our model; and (e) compare measurements of informational uncertainty at different scales of spatial resolution.


Relations between invasion percolation and critical percolation in two dimensions

Abstract: We study invasion percolation in two dimensions. We compare connectivity properties of the origin's invaded region to those of (a) the critical percolation cluster of the origin and (b) the incipient infinite cluster. To exhibit similarities, we show that for any $k\geq1$, the $k$-point function of the first so-called pond has the same asymptotic behavior as the probability that $k$ points are in the critical cluster of the origin. More prominent, though, are the differences. We show that there are infinitely many ponds that contain many large disjoint $p_c$-open clusters. Further, for $k>1$, we compute the exact decay rate of the distribution of the radius of the $k$th pond and see that it differs from that of the radius of the critical cluster of the origin. We finish by showing that the invasion percolation measure and the incipient infinite cluster measure are mutually singular.


Estimation of conditional laws given an extreme component

Abstract: Let $(X,Y)$ be a bivariate random vector. The estimation of a probability of the form $P(Y\leq y \mid X >t) $ is challenging when $t$ is large, and a fruitful approach consists in studying, if it exists, the limiting conditional distribution of the random vector $(X,Y)$, suitably normalized, given that $X$ is large. There already exists a wide literature on bivariate models for which this limiting distribution exists. In this paper, a statistical analysis of this problem is done. Estimators of the limiting distribution (which is assumed to exist) and the normalizing functions are provided, as well as an estimator of the conditional quantile function when the conditioning event is extreme. Consistency of the estimators is proved and a functional central limit theorem for the estimator of the limiting distribution is obtained. The small sample behavior of the estimator of the conditional quantile function is illustrated through simulations.


Sobolev $W^1_p$-spaces on closed subsets of $R^n$

Abstract: For each $p>n$ we use local oscillations and doubling measures to give intrinsic characterizations of the restriction of the Sobolev space $W_p^1(R^n)$ to an arbitrary closed subset of $R^n$.


Well-posedness of the water-wave problem with surface tension

Abstract: In this paper, we prove the local well-posedness of the water wave problem with surface tension in the case of finite depth by working in the Eulerian setting. For the flat bottom, as surface tension tends to zero, the solution of the water wave problem with surface tension converges to the solution of the water wave problem without surface tension.


Universal structures in some mean field spin glasses, and an application

Abstract: We discuss a spin glass reminiscent of the Random Energy Model, which allows in particular to recast the Parisi minimization into a more classical Gibbs variational principle, thereby shedding some light on the physical meaning of the order parameter of the Parisi theory. As an application, we study the impact of an extensive cavity field on Derrida's REM: Despite its simplicity, this model displays some interesting features such as ultrametricity and chaos in temperature.


On the simply connectedness of non-negatively curved K\"ahler manifolds and applications

Abstract: We study complete noncompact long time solutions $(M, g(t))$ to the K\"ahler-Ricci flow with uniformly bounded nonnegative holomorphic bisectional curvature. We will show that when the Ricci curvature is positive and uniformly pinched, i.e. $ R_\ijb \ge cRg_\ijb$ at $(p,t)$ for all $t$ for some $c>0$, then there always exists a local gradient K\"ahler Ricci soliton limit around $p$ after possibly rescaling $g(t)$ along some sequence $t_i \to \infty$. We will show as an immediate corollary that the injectivity radius of $g(t)$ along $t_i$ is uniformly bounded from below along $t_i$, and thus $M$ must in fact be simply connected. Additional results concerning the uniformization of $M$ and fixed points of the holomorphic isometry group will also be established. We will then consider removing the condition of positive Ricci for $(M, g(t))$. Combining our results with Cao's splitting for K\"ahler Ricci flow \cite{Cao04} and techniques of Ni-Tam \cite{NiTam03}, we show that when the positive eigenvalues of the Ricci curvature are uniformly pinched at some point $p \in M$, then $M$ has a special holomorphic fiber bundle structure. We will treat a special cases, complete K\"ahler manifolds with non-negative holomorphic bisectional and average quadratic curvature decay as well as the case of steady gradient K\"ahler Ricci solitons.


Survey on the Burnside ring of compact Lie groups

Abstract: The definition and basic properties of the Burnside ring of compact Lie groups are presented, with emphasis on the analogy with the construction of the Burnside ring of finite groups.


On Poisson quasi-Nijenhuis Lie algebroids

Abstract: We propose a definition of Poisson quasi-Nijenhuis Lie algebroids as a natural generalization of Poisson quasi-Nijenhuis manifolds and show that any such Lie algebroid has an associated quasi-Lie bialgebroid. Therefore, also an associated Courant algebroid is obtained. We introduce the notion of a morphism of quasi-Lie bialgebroids and of the induced Courant algebroids morphism and provide some examples of Courant algebroid morphisms. Finally, we use paired operators to deform doubles of Lie and quasi-Lie bialgebroids and find an application to generalized complex geometry.


Principal eigenvalues and an anti-maximum principle for homogeneous fully nonlinear elliptic equations

Abstract: We study the fully nonlinear elliptic equation $F(D^2u,Du,u,x) = f$ in a smooth bounded domain $\Omega$, under the assumption the nonlinearity $F$ is uniformly elliptic and positively homogeneous. Recently, it has been shown that such operators have two principal "half" eigenvalues, and that the corresponding Dirichlet problem possesses solutions, if both of the principal eigenvalues are positive. In this paper, we prove the existence of solutions of the Dirichlet problem if both principal eigenvalues are negative, provided the "second" eigenvalue is positive, and generalize the anti-maximum principle of Cl\'{e}ment and Peletier to homogeneous, fully nonlinear operators.


Howe duality and Kostant Homology Formula for infinite-dimensional Lie superalgebras

Abstract: Using Howe duality we compute explicitly Kostant-type homology groups for a wide class of representations of the infinite-dimensional Lie superalgebra $\hat{\frak{gl}}_{\infty|\infty}$ and its classical subalgebras at positive integral levels. We also obtain Kostant-type homology formulas for the Lie algebra $ widehat{\frak{gl}}_\infty$ at negative integral levels. We further construct resolutions in terms of generalized Verma modules for these representations.


On sums of figurate numbers by using techniques of poset representation theory

Abstract: We use representations and differentiation algorithms of posets, in order to obtain results concerning unsolved problems on figurate numbers. In particular, we present criteria for natural numbers which are the sum of three octahedral numbers, three polygonal numbers of positive rank or four cubes with two of them equal. Some identities of the Rogers-Ramanujan type involving this class of numbers are also obtained.


Pell's equation without irrational numbers

Abstract: We solve Pell's equation in a simple way without continued fractions or irrational numbers, and relate the algorithm to the Stern Brocot tree.


The q-WZ Method for Infinite Series

Abstract: Motivated by the telescoping proofs of two identities of Andrews and Warnaar, we find that infinite q-shifted factorials can be incorporated into the implementation of the q-Zeilberger algorithm in the approach of Chen, Hou and Mu to prove nonterminating basic hypergeometric series identities. This observation enables us to extend the q-WZ method to identities on infinite series. As examples, we will give the q-WZ pairs for some classical identities such as the q-Gauss sum, the $_6\phi_5$ sum, Ramanujan's $_1\psi_1$ sum and Bailey's $_6\psi_6$ sum.


Neuberg cubics over finite fields

Abstract: The framework of universal geometry allows us to consider metrical properties of affine views of elliptic curves, even over finite fields. We show how the Neuberg cubic of triangle geometry extends to the finite field situation and provides interesting potential invariants for elliptic curves, focussing on an explicit example over $\mathbb{F}_{23}$. We also prove that tangent conics for a Weierstrass cubic are identical or disjoint.


The sum-product phenomenon in arbitrary rings

Abstract: The \emph{sum-product phenomenon} predicts that a finite set $A$ in a ring $R$ should have either a large sumset $A+A$ or large product set $A \cdot A$ unless it is in some sense "close" to a finite subring of $R$. This phenomenon has been analysed intensively for various specific rings, notably the reals $\R$ and cyclic groups $\Z/q\Z$. In this paper we consider the problem in arbitrary rings $R$, which need not be commutative or contain a multiplicative identity. We obtain rigorous formulations of the sum-product phenomenon in such rings in the case when $A$ encounters few zero-divisors of $R$. As applications we recover (and generalise) several sum-product theorems already in the literature.


Central limit theorems for eigenvalues in a spiked population model

Abstract: In a spiked population model, the population covariance matrix has all its eigenvalues equal to units except for a few fixed eigenvalues (spikes). This model is proposed by Johnstone to cope with empirical findings on various data sets. The question is to quantify the effect of the perturbation caused by the spike eigenvalues. A recent work by Baik and Silverstein establishes the almost sure limits of the extreme sample eigenvalues associated to the spike eigenvalues when the population and the sample sizes become large. This paper establishes the limiting distributions of these extreme sample eigenvalues. As another important result of the paper, we provide a central limit theorem on random sesquilinear forms.


Quenched law of large numbers for branching Brownian motion in a random medium

Abstract: We study a spatial branching model, where the underlying motion is $d$-dimensional ($d\ge1$) Brownian motion and the branching rate is affected by a random collection of reproduction suppressing sets dubbed mild obstacles. The main result of this paper is the quenched law of large numbers for the population for all $d\ge1$. We also show that the branching Brownian motion with mild obstacles spreads less quickly than ordinary branching Brownian motion by giving an upper estimate on its speed. When the underlying motion is an arbitrary diffusion process, we obtain a dichotomy for the quenched local growth that is independent of the Poissonian intensity. More general offspring distributions (beyond the dyadic one considered in the main theorems) as well as mild obstacle models for superprocesses are also discussed.


Geometric torsions and an Atiyah-style topological field theory

Abstract: The construction of invariants of three-dimensional manifolds with a triangulated boundary, proposed earlier by the author for the case when the boundary consists of not more than one connected component, is generalized to any number of components. These invariants are based on the torsion of acyclic complexes of geometric origin. The relevant tool for studying our invariants turns out to be F.A. Berezin's calculus of anti-commuting variables; in particular, they are used in the formulation of the main theorem of the paper, concerning the composition of invariants under a gluing of manifolds. We show that the theory obeys a natural modification of M. Atiyah's axioms for anti-commuting variables.


Homogenization of a singular random one-dimensional PDE

Abstract: This paper deals with the homogenization problem for a one-dimensional parabolic PDE with random stationary mixing coefficients in the presence of a large zero order term. We show that under a proper choice of the scaling factor for the said zero order terms, the family of solutions of the studied problem converges in law, and describe the limit process. It should be noted that the limit dynamics remain random.


Bundles of C*-categories, II: C*-dynamical systems and Dixmier-Douady invariants

Abstract: We introduce a cohomological invariant arising from a class in nonabelian cohomology. This invariant generalizes the Dixmier-Douady class and encodes the obstruction to a C*-algebra bundle being the fixed-point algebra of a gauge action. As an application, the duality breaking for group bundles vs. tensor C*-categories with non-simple unit is discussed in the setting of Nistor-Troitsky gauge-equivariant K-theory: there is a map assigning a nonabelian gerbe to a tensor category, and "triviality" of the gerbe is equivalent to the existence of a dual group bundle. At the C*-algebraic level, this corresponds to studying C*-algebra bundles with fibre a fixed-point algebra of the Cuntz algebra and in this case our invariant describes the obstruction to finding an embedding into the Cuntz-Pimsner algebra of a vector bundle.


The quenched invariance principle for random walks in random environments admitting a bounded cycle representation

Abstract: We derive a quenched invariance principle for random walks in random environments whose transition probabilities are defined in terms of weighted cycles of bounded length. To this end, we adapt the proof for random walks among random conductances by Sidoravicius and Sznitman (Probab. Theory Related Fields 129 (2004) 219--244) to the non-reversible setting.


Torelli theorem for the moduli spaces of pairs

Abstract: Let X be a smooth projective curve of genus at least two over the complex numbers. A pair (E,\phi) over X consists of an algebraic vector bundle E over X and a holomorphic section \phi of E. There is a concept of stability for pairs which depends on a real parameter \tau. Here we prove that the third cohomology groups of the moduli spaces of \tau-stable pairs with fixed determinant and rank at least two are polarised pure Hodge structures, and they are isomorphic to H^1(X) with its natural polarisation (except in very few exceptional cases). This implies a Torelli theorem for such moduli spaces. We recover that the third cohomology group of the moduli space of stable bundles of rank at least two and fixed determinant is a polarised pure Hodge structure, which is isomorphic to H^1(X). We also prove Torelli theorems for the corresponding moduli spaces of pairs and bundles with non-fixed determinant.


Approximate Hermite quasi-interpolation

Abstract: In this paper we derive approximate quasi-interpolants when the values of a function $u$ and of some of its derivatives are prescribed at the points of a uniform grid. As a byproduct of these formulas we obtain very simple approximants which provide high order approximations for solutions to elliptic differential equations with constant coefficients.


Subelliptic Li-Yau estimates on three dimensional model spaces

Abstract: We describe three elementary models in three dimensional subelliptic geometry which correspond to the three models of the Riemannian geometry (spheres, Euclidean spaces and Hyperbolic spaces) which are respectively the SU(2), Heisenberg and SL(2) groups. On those models, we prove parabolic Li-Yau inequalities on positive solutions of the heat equation. We use for that the $\Gamma_{2}$ techniques that we adapt to those elementary model spaces. The important feature developed here is that although the usual notion of Ricci curvature is meaningless (or more precisely leads to bounds of the form $-\infty$ for the Ricci curvature), we describe a parameter $\rho$ which plays the same role as the lower bound on the Ricci curvature, and from which one deduces the same kind of results as one does in Riemannian geometry, like heat kernel upper bounds, Sobolev inequalities and diameter estimates.


On the Small Deviation Problem for Some Iterated Processes

Abstract: We derive general results on the small deviation behavior for some classes of iterated processes. This allows us, in particular, to calculate the rate of the small deviations for $n$-iterated Brownian motions and, more generally, for the iteration of $n$ fractional Brownian motions. We also give a new and correct proof of some results in E. Nane, Laws of the iterated logarithm for $\alpha$-time Brownian motion, Electron. J. Probab. 11 (2006), no. 18, 434--459.


On a class of optimal stopping problems for diffusions with discontinuous coefficients

Abstract: In this paper, we introduce a modification of the free boundary problem related to optimal stopping problems for diffusion processes. This modification allows the application of this PDE method in cases where the usual regularity assumptions on the coefficients and on the gain function are not satisfied. We apply this method to the optimal stopping of integral functionals with exponential discount of the form $E_x\int_0^{\tau}e^{-\lambda s}f(X_s) ds$, $\lambda\ge0$ for one-dimensional diffusions $X$. We prove a general verification theorem which justifies the modified version of the free boundary problem. In the case of no drift and discount, the free boundary problem allows to give a complete and explicit discussion of the stopping problem.


The Weil-Steinberg character of finite classical groups

Abstract: We compute the irreducible constitutents of the product of the Weil character and the Steinberg character in those finite classical groups for which a Weil character is defined, namely the symplectic, unitary and general linear groups. It turns out that this product is multiplicity free for the symplectic and general unitary groups, but not for the general linear groups. As an application we show that the restriction of the Steinberg character of such a group to the subgroup stabilizing a vector in the natural module is multiplicity free. The proof of this result for the unitary groups uses an observation of Brunat, published as an appendix to our paper. As our "Weil character" for the symplectic groups in even characteristic we use the 2-modular Brauer character of the generalized spinor representation. Its product with the Steinberg character is the Brauer character of a projective module. We also determine its indecomposable direct summands.


A Local-Global Criterion for Dynamics on P^1

Abstract: Let K be a number field or a function field, let F:P^1 --> P^1 be a rational map of degree at least two defined over K, let P be a point in P^1(K) having infinite F-orbit, and let Z be a finite subset of Z. We prove a local-global criterion for the intersection of the F-orbit of P and the finite set Z. This is a special case of a dynamical Brauer-Manin criterion suggested by Hsia and Silverman.


A unified framework for utility maximization problems: An Orlicz space approach

Abstract: We consider a stochastic financial incomplete market where the price processes are described by a vector-valued semimartingale that is possibly nonlocally bounded. We face the classical problem of utility maximization from terminal wealth, with utility functions that are finite-valued over $(a,\infty)$, $a\in\lbrack-\infty,\infty)$, and satisfy weak regularity assumptions. We adopt a class of trading strategies that allows for stochastic integrals that are not necessarily bounded from below. The embedding of the utility maximization problem in Orlicz spaces permits us to formulate the problem in a unified way for both the cases $a\in\mathbb{R}$ and $a=-\infty$. By duality methods, we prove the existence of solutions to the primal and dual problems and show that a singular component in the pricing functionals may also occur with utility functions finite on the entire real line.


Connected subgroups of SO(2,n) acting irreducibly on $\R^{2,n}$

Abstract: We classify all connected subgroups of SO(2,n) that act irreducibly on $\R^{2,n}$. Apart from $SO_0(2,n)$ itself these are $U(1,n/2)$, $SU(1,n/2)$, if $n$ even, $S^1\cdot SO(1,n/2)$ if $n$ even and $n\ge 2$, and $SO_0(1,2)$ for $n=3$. Our proof is based on the Karpelevich Theorem and uses the classification of totally geodesic submanifolds of complex hyperbolic space and of the Lie ball. As an application we obtain a list of possible irreducible holonomy groups of Lorentzian conformal structures, namely $SO_0(2,n)$, SU(1,n), and $SO_0(1,2)$.


Group schemes of period p>2

Abstract: For a prime number p>2, we give a direct proof of Breuil's classification of killed by p finite flat group schemes over the valuation ring of a p-adic field with perfect residue field. As application we prove that the Galois modules of geometric points of such group schemes and of their characteristic p analogues coming from Faltings's strict modules can be identified via the Fontaine-Wintenberger field-of-norms functor.


Explicit representation of membership in polynomial ideals

Abstract: We introduce a new division formula on projective space which provides explicit solutions to various polynomial division problems with sharp degree estimates. We consider simple examples as the classical Macaulay theorem as well as a quite recent result by Hickel, related to the effective Nullstellensatz. We also obtain a related result that generalizes Max Noether's classical AF+BG theorem.


The combinatorics of k-marked Durfee symbols

Abstract: Andrews recently introduced k-marked Durfee symbols which are connected to moments of Dyson's rank. By these connections, Andrews deduced their generating functions and some combinatorial properties and left their purely combinatorial proofs as open problems. The primary goal of this article is to provide combinatorial proofs in answer to Andrews' request. We obtain a relation between k-marked Durfee symbols and Durfee symbols by constructing bijections, and all identities on k-marked Durfee symbols given by Andrews could follow from this relation. In a similar manner, we also prove the identities due to Andrews on k-marked odd Durfee symbols combinatorially, which resemble ordinary k-marked Durfee symbols with a modified subscript and with odd numbers as entries.


Canonical toric Fano threefolds

Abstract: An inductive approach to classifying toric Fano varieties is given. As an application of this technique, we present a classification of the toric Fano threefolds with at worst canonical singularities. Up to isomorphism, there are 674,688 such varieties.


Simplicity of vacuum modules over affine Lie superalgebras

Abstract: We prove an explicit condition on the level $k$ for the irreducibility of a vacuum module $V^{k}$ over a (non-twisted) affine Lie superalgebra, which was conjectured by M. Gorelik and V.G. Kac. An immediate consequence of this work is the simplicity conditions for the corresponding minimal W-algebras obtained via quantum reduction, in all cases except when the level $k$ is a non-negative integer.


$H_D$-Quantum Vertex Algebras

Abstract: We discuss a class of quantum vertex algebras where not only the commutativity of the vertex algebra is broken by a braiding map $S^{(\tau)}$, but also the translation covariance is broken by a translation map $S^{(\gamma)}$. The new class of quantum vertex operators satisfy a Braided Jacobi Identity containing both the braiding and the translation maps.


An operator equality involving a continuous field of operators and its norm inequalities

Abstract: Let ${\mathfrak A}$ be a $C^*$-algebra, $T$ be a locally compact Hausdorff space equipped with a probability measure $P$ and let $(A_t)_{t\in T}$ be a continuous field of operators in ${\mathfrak A}$ such that the function $t \mapsto A_t$ is norm continuous on $T$ and the function $t \mapsto \|A_t\|$ is integrable. Then the following equality including Bouchner integrals holds \begin{eqnarray}\label{oi} \int_T|A_t - \int_TA_s{\rm d}P|^2 {\rm d}P=\int_T|A_t|^2{\rm d}P - |\int_TA_t{\rm d}P|^2 . \end{eqnarray} This equality is related both to the notion of variance in statistics and to a characterization of inner product spaces. With this operator equality, we present some uniform norm and Schatten $p$-norm inequalities.


An operator algebraic proof of Agler's factorization theorem

Abstract: We give a short direct proof of Agler's factorization theorem that uses the abstract characterization of operator algebras. the key ingredient of this proof is an operator algebra factorization theorem. Our proof provides some additional information about these factorizations in the case of polynomials.


Bounded Ratios of Products of Principal Minors of Positive Definite Matrices

Abstract: Considered is the multiplicative semigroup of ratios of products of principal minors bounded over all positive definite matrices. A long history of literature identifies various elements of this semigroup, all of which lie in a sub-semigroup generated by Hadamard-Fischer inequalities. Via cone-theoretic techniques and the patterns of nullity among positive semidefinite matrices, a semigroup containing all bounded ratios is given. This allows the complete determination of the semigroup of bounded ratios for 4-by-4 positive definite matrices, whose 46 generators include ratios not implied by Hadamard-Fischer and ratios not bounded by 1. For n > 4 it is shown that the containment of semigroups is strict, but a generalization of nullity patterns, of which one example is given, is conjectured to provide a finite determination of all bounded ratios.


Manifold Learning: The Price of Normalization

Abstract: We analyze the performance of a class of manifold-learning algorithms that find their output by minimizing a quadratic form under some normalization constraints. This class consists of Locally Linear Embedding (LLE), Laplacian Eigenmap, Local Tangent Space Alignment (LTSA), Hessian Eigenmaps (HLLE), and Diffusion maps. We present and prove conditions on the manifold that are necessary for the success of the algorithms. Both the finite sample case and the limit case are analyzed. We show that there are simple manifolds in which the necessary conditions are violated, and hence the algorithms cannot recover the underlying manifolds. Finally, we present numerical results that demonstrate our claims.


Local Procrustes for Manifold Embedding: A Measure of Embedding Quality and Embedding Algorithms

Abstract: We present the Procrustes measure, a novel measure based on Procrustes rotation that enables quantitative comparison of the output of manifold-based embedding algorithms (such as LLE (Roweis and Saul, 2000) and Isomap (Tenenbaum et al, 2000)). The measure also serves as a natural tool when choosing dimension-reduction parameters. We also present two novel dimension-reduction techniques that attempt to minimize the suggested measure, and compare the results of these techniques to the results of existing algorithms. Finally, we suggest a simple iterative method that can be used to improve the output of existing algorithms.


Real Regulators on Self-Products of K3 Surfaces

Abstract: Based on a novel application of an archimedean type pairing to the geometry and deformation theory of $K3$ surfaces, we construct a regulator indecomposable $K_1$-class on a self-product of a $K3$ surface. In the Appendix, we explain how this pairing is a special instance of a general pairing on precycles in the equivalence relation defining Bloch's higher Chow groups.


Symmetric polynomials, p-norm inequalities, and certain functionals related to majorization

Abstract: We study a variant of the majorization relation. In particular we consider inequalities involving some Schur-concave symmetric polynomials related to the multinomial expansion. We also discuss how these topics were motivated by conjectures on sharp Lp inequalities between complex exponential sums conjectured by Hardy and Littlewood (still open problems), and why the usual majorization relation does not hold in that context.


Canonical integral structures on the de Rham cohomology of curves

Abstract: For a smooth and proper curve X over the fraction field K of a discrete valuation ring R, we explain (under very mild hypotheses) how to equip the de Rham cohomology H^1_{dR}(X/K) with a canonical integral structure: i.e. an R-lattice which is functorial in finite (generically etale) K-morphisms of X and which is preserved by the cup-product auto-duality on H^1_{dR}(X/K). Our construction of this lattice uses a certain class of normal proper models of X and relative dualizing sheaves. We show that our lattice naturally contains the lattice furnished by the (truncated) de Rham complex of a regular proper R-model of X and that the index for this inclusion of lattices is a numerical invariant of X (we call it the de Rham conductor). Using work of Bloch and Liu-Saito, we prove that the de Rham conductor of X is bounded above by the Artin conductor, and bounded below by the Efficient conductor. We then study how the position of our canonical lattice inside the de Rham cohomology of X is affected by finite extension of scalars.


Pieri-Type Formulas for the Nonsymmetric Macdonald Polynomials

Abstract: In symmetric Macdonald polynomial theory the Pieri formula gives the branching coefficients for the product of the rth elementary symmetric function and the Macdonald polynomial. In this paper we give the nonsymmetric analogues for the cases r=1 and r=n-1. We do this by first deducing the the decomposition for the product of any nonsymmetric Macdonald polynomial with a linear function in terms of nonsymmetric Macdonald polynomials. As a corollary of finding the branching coefficients of the product of the first elementary function with a nonsymmetric Macdonald polynomial we evaluate the generalised binomial coefficients associated with the nonsymmetric Macdonald polynomials for |u|=|v|+1.


A construction of Einstein-Weyl spaces via LeBrun-Mason type twistor correspondence

Abstract: We construct infinitely many Einstein-Weyl structures on $S^2 \times R$ of signature (-++) which is sufficiently close to the model case of constant curvature, and whose space-like geodesics are all closed. Such structures are obtained from small perturbations of the diagonal of $CP^1 \times CP^1$ using the method of LeBrun-Mason type twistor theory. The geometry of constructed Einstein-Weyl space is well understood from the configuration of holomorphic disks. We also review Einstein-Weyl structures and their properties in the former half of this article.


Note on geodesic rays tamed by simple test configurations

Abstract: In this short note, we give a new proof of a theorem of Arezzo-Tian on the existence of smooth geodesic rays tamed by a special degeneration.


A Theorem of Beurling and H\"ormander on Damek-Ricci Spaces

Abstract: This paper has been withdrawn by the authors, due to the requirement of the Journal where a modified version will be published.


A Morita theorem for dual operator algebras

Abstract: We prove that two dual operator algebras are weak$^*$ Morita equivalent if and only if they have equivalent categories of dual operator modules via completely contractive functors which are also weak$^*$-continuous on appropriate morphism spaces. Moreover, in a fashion similar to the operator algebra case, we characterize such functors as the module normal Haagerup tensor product with an appropriate weak$^*$ Morita equivalence bimodule. We also develop the theory of the $W^*$-dilation, which connects the non-selfadjoint dual operator algebra with the $W^*$-algebraic framework. In the case of weak$^*$ Morita equivalence, this $W^*$-dilation is a $W^*$-module over a von Neumann algebra generated by the non-selfadjoint dual operator algebra. The theory of the $W^*$-dilation is a key part of the proof of our main theorem.


Adaptation of the generic PDE's results to the notion of prevalence

Abstract: Many generic results have been proved, especially concerning the qualitative behaviour of solutions of partial differential equations. Recently, a new notion of "almost always", the prevalence, has been developped for vectorial spaces. This notion is interesting since, for example, prevalence sets are equivalent to the full Lebesgue measure sets in finite dimensional spaces. The purpose of this article is to adapt the generic PDE's results to the notion of prevalence. In particular, we consider the cases where Sard-Smale theorems or arguments of analytic perturbations of the parameters are used.


Generic hyperbolicity of equilibria and periodic orbits of the parabolic equation on the circle

Abstract: In this paper, we show that, for scalar reaction-diffusion equations on the circle S1, the property of hyperbolicity of all equilibria and periodic orbits is generic with respect to the non-linearity . In other words, we prove that in an appropriate functional space of nonlinear terms in the equation, the set of functions, for which all equilibria and periodic orbits are hyperbolic, is a countable intersection of open dense sets. The main tools in the proof are the property of the lap number and the Sard-Smale theorem.


A property of C_p[0,1]

Abstract: We prove that for every finite dimensional compact metric space $X$ there is an open continuous linear surjection from $C_p[0,1]$ onto $C_p(X)$. The proof makes use of embeddings introduced by Kolmogorov and Sternfeld in connection with Hilbert's 13th problem.


Conditionally identically distributed species sampling sequences

Abstract: Conditional identity in distribution (Berti et al. (2004)) is a new type of dependence for random variables, which generalizes the well-known notion of exchangeability. In this paper, a class of random sequences, called Generalized Species Sampling Sequences, is defined and a condition to have conditional identity in distribution is given. Moreover, a class of generalized species sampling sequences that are conditionally identically distributed is introduced and studied: the Generalized Ottawa sequences (GOS). This class contains a '`randomly reinforced'' version of the P\'olya urn and of the Blackwell-MacQueen urn scheme. For the empirical means and the predictive means of a GOS, we prove two convergence results toward suitable mixtures of Gaussian distributions. The first one is in the sense of stable convergence and the second one in the sense of almost sure conditional convergence. In the last part of the paper we study the length of the partition induced by a GOS at time $n$, i.e. the random number of distinct values of a GOS until time $n$. Under suitable conditions, we prove a strong law of large numbers and a central limit theorem in the sense of stable convergence. All the given results in the paper are accompanied by some examples.


Symbolic dynamics for the geodesic flow on locally symmetric orbifolds of rank one

Abstract: We present a strategy for a geometric construction of cross sections for the geodesic flow on locally symmetric orbifolds of rank one. We work it out in detail for $\Gamma\backslash H$, where $H$ is the upper half plane and $\Gamma=\PGamma_0(p)$, $p$ prime. Its associated discrete dynamical system naturally induces a symbolic dynamics on $\R$. The transfer operator produced from this symbolic dynamics has a particularly simple structure.


${L^p}$-variations for multifractal fractional random walks

Abstract: A multifractal random walk (MRW) is defined by a Brownian motion subordinated by a class of continuous multifractal random measures $M[0,t], 0\le t\le1$. In this paper we obtain an extension of this process, referred to as multifractal fractional random walk (MFRW), by considering the limit in distribution of a sequence of conditionally Gaussian processes. These conditional processes are defined as integrals with respect to fractional Brownian motion and convergence is seen to hold under certain conditions relating the self-similarity (Hurst) exponent of the fBm to the parameters defining the multifractal random measure $M$. As a result, a larger class of models is obtained, whose fine scale (scaling) structure is then analyzed in terms of the empirical structure functions. Implications for the analysis and inference of multifractal exponents from data, namely, confidence intervals, are also provided.


A mixed singular/switching control problem for a dividend policy with reversible technology investment

Abstract: We consider a mixed stochastic control problem that arises in Mathematical Finance literature with the study of interactions between dividend policy and investment. This problem combines features of both optimal switching and singular control. We prove that our mixed problem can be decoupled in two pure optimal stopping and singular control problems. Furthermore, we describe the form of the optimal strategy by means of viscosity solution techniques and smooth-fit properties on the corresponding system of variational inequalities. Our results are of a quasi-explicit nature. From a financial viewpoint, we characterize situations where a firm manager decides optimally to postpone dividend distribution in order to invest in a reversible growth opportunity corresponding to a modern technology. In this paper a reversible opportunity means that the firm may disinvest from the modern technology and return back to its old technology by receiving some gain compensation. The results of our analysis take qualitatively different forms depending on the parameters values.


Variance bounding Markov chains

Abstract: We introduce a new property of Markov chains, called variance bounding. We prove that, for reversible chains at least, variance bounding is weaker than, but closely related to, geometric ergodicity. Furthermore, variance bounding is equivalent to the existence of usual central limit theorems for all $L^2$ functionals. Also, variance bounding (unlike geometric ergodicity) is preserved under the Peskun order. We close with some applications to Metropolis--Hastings algorithms.


$EE_8$-lattices and dihedral groups

Abstract: We classify integral rootless lattices which are sums of pairs of $EE_8$-lattices (lattices isometric to $\sqrt 2$ times the $E_8$-lattice) and which define dihedral groups of orders less than or equal to 12. Most of these may be seen in the Leech lattice. Our classification may help understand Miyamoto involutions on lattice type vertex operator algebras and give a context for the dihedral groups which occur in the Glauberman-Norton moonshine theory.


Finitely summable Fredholm modules over higher rank groups and lattices

Abstract: We give a complete classification (up to smooth homotopy) of finitely summable Fredholm representations (Fredholm modules) over higher rank groups and lattices. Our results are a direct consequence of work of Bader, Furman, Gelander and Monod on generalisations of Kazhdan's property T for locally compact groups.


Stochastic Impulse Control of Non-Markovian Processes

Abstract: We consider a class of stochastic impulse control problems of general stochastic processes i.e. not necessarily Markovian. Under fairly general conditions we establish existence of an optimal impulse control. We also prove existence of combined optimal stochastic and impulse control of a fairly general class of diffusions with random coefficients. Unlike, in the Markovian framework, we cannot apply quasi-variational inequalities techniques. We rather derive the main results using techniques involving reflected BSDEs and the Snell envelope.


Central limit theorem for signal-to-interference ratio of reduced rank linear receiver

Abstract: Let $\mathbf{s}_k=\frac{1}{\sqrt{N}}(v_{1k},...,v_{Nk})^T,$ with $\{v_{ik},i,k=1,...\}$ independent and identically distributed complex random variables. Write $\mathbf{S}_k=(\mathbf{s}_1,...,\mathbf {s}_{k-1},\mathbf{s}_{k+1},... ,\mathbf{s}_K),$ $\mathbf{P}_k=\operatorname {diag}(p_1,...,p_{k-1},p_{k+1},...,p_K)$, $\mathbf{R}_k=(\mathbf{S}_k\mathbf{P}_k\mathbf{S}_k^*+\sigma ^2\mathbf{I})$ and $\mathbf{A}_{km}=[\mathbf{s}_k,\mathbf{R}_k\mathbf{s}_k,... ,\mathbf{R}_k^{m-1}\mathbf{s}_k]$. Define $\beta_{km}=p_k\mathbf{s}_k^*\mathbf{A}_{km}(\mathbf {A}_{km}^*\times\ mathbf{R}_k\mathbf{A}_{km})^{-1}\mathbf{A}_{km}^*\mathbf{s}_k$, referred to as the signal-to-interference ratio (SIR) of user $k$ under the multistage Wiener (MSW) receiver in a wireless communication system. It is proved that the output SIR under the MSW and the mutual information statistic under the matched filter (MF) are both asymptotic Gaussian when $N/K\to c>0$. Moreover, we provide a central limit theorem for linear spectral statistics of eigenvalues and eigenvectors of sample covariance matrices, which is a supplement of Theorem 2 in Bai, Miao and Pan [Ann. Probab. 35 (2007) 1532--1572]. And we also improve Theorem 1.1 in Bai and Silverstein [Ann. Probab. 32 (2004) 553--605].


Stable length in stable groups

Abstract: We show that the stable commutator length vanishes for certain groups defined as infinite unions of smaller groups. The argument uses a group-theoretic analogue of the Mazur swindle, and goes back to the works of Anderson, Fisher, and Mather on homeomorphism groups.


Regular Steinhaus graphs of odd degree

Abstract: A Steinhaus matrix is a binary square matrix of size $n$ which is symmetric, with diagonal of zeros, and whose upper-triangular coefficients satisfy $a_{i,j}=a_{i-1,j-1}+a_{i-1,j}$ for all $2\leq i<j\leq n$. Steinhaus matrices are determined by their first row. A Steinhaus graph is a simple graph whose adjacency matrix is a Steinhaus matrix. We give a short new proof of a theorem, due to Dymacek, which states that even Steinhaus graphs, i.e. those with all vertex degrees even, have doubly-symmetric Steinhaus matrices. In 1979 Dymacek conjectured that the complete graph on two vertices $K_2$ is the only regular Steinhaus graph of odd degree. Using Dymacek's theorem, we prove that if $(a_{i,j})_{1\leq i,j\leq n}$ is a Steinhaus matrix associated with a regular Steinhaus graph of odd degree then its sub-matrix $(a_{i,j})_{2\leq i,j\leq n-1}$ is a multi-symmetric matrix, that is a doubly-symmetric matrix where each row of its upper-triangular part is a symmetric sequence. We prove that the multi-symmetric Steinhaus matrices of size $n$ whose Steinhaus graphs are regular modulo 4, i.e. where all vertex degrees are equal modulo 4, only depend on $\lceil \frac{n}{24}\rceil$ parameters for all even numbers $n$, and on $\lceil \frac{n}{30}\rceil$ parameters in the odd case. This result permits us to verify the Dymacek's conjecture up to 1500 vertices in the odd case.


Stationary max-stable fields associated to negative definite functions

Abstract: Let $W_i,i\in{\mathbb{N}}$, be independent copies of a zero-mean Gaussian process $\{W(t),t\in{\mathbb{R}}^d\}$ with stationary increments and variance $\sigma^2(t)$. Independently of $W_i$, let $\sum_{i=1}^{\infty}\delta_{U_i}$ be a Poisson point process on the real line with intensity $e^{-y} dy$. We show that the law of the random family of functions $\{V_i(\cdot),i\in{\mathbb{N}}\}$, where $V_i(t)=U_i+W_i(t)-\sigma^2(t)/2$, is translation invariant. In particular, the process $\eta(t)=\bigvee_{i=1}^{\infty}V_i(t)$ is a stationary max-stable process with standard Gumbel margins. The process $\eta$ arises as a limit of a suitably normalized and rescaled pointwise maximum of $n$ i.i.d. stationary Gaussian processes as $n\to\infty$ if and only if $W$ is a (nonisotropic) fractional Brownian motion on ${\mathbb{R}}^d$. Under suitable conditions on $W$, the process $\eta$ has a mixed moving maxima representation.


Another Correction. Error estimates for Binomial approximations of game options

Abstract: The Annals of Applied Probability 16 (2006) 984--1033 [URL: http://projecteuclid.org/euclid.aoap/1151592257]


Sorting a Permutation by block moves

Abstract: We prove a lower and an upper bound on the number of block moves necessary to sort a permutation. We put our results in contrast with existing results on sorting by block transpositions, and raise some open questions.


Free products, Orbit Equivalence and Measure Equivalence Rigidity

Abstract: We study the analogue in orbit equivalence of free product decomposition and free indecomposability for countable groups. We introduce the (orbit equivalence invariant) notion of freely indecomposable ({\FI}) standard probability measure preserving equivalence relations and establish a criterion to check it, namely non-hyperfiniteness and vanishing of the first $L^2$-Betti number. We obtain Bass-Serre rigidity results, \textit{i.e.} forms of uniqueness in free product decompositions of equivalence relations with ({\FI}) components. The main features of our work are weak algebraic assumptions and no ergodicity hypothesis for the components. We deduce, for instance, that a measure equivalence between two free products of non-amenable groups with vanishing first $\ell^2$-Betti numbers is induced by measure equivalences of the components. We also deduce new classification results in Orbit Equivalence and II$_1$ factors.


Polynomial least squares fitting in the Bernstein basis

Abstract: The problem of polynomial regression in which the usual monomial basis is replaced by the Bernstein basis is considered. The coefficient matrix A of the overdetermined system to be solved in the least squares sense is then a rectangular Bernstein-Vandermonde matrix. In order to use the method based on the QR decomposition of A, the first stage consists of computing the bidiagonal decomposition of the coefficient matrix A. Starting from that bidiagonal decomposition, an algorithm for obtaining the QR decomposition of A is the applied. Finally, a triangular system is solved by using the bidiagonal decomposition of the R-factor of A. Some numerical experiments showing the behavior of this approach are included.


A tight closure approach to a result of G. Faltings

Abstract: Using a result of M. Hochster and C. Huneke on $F$-rational rings a criterion for complete intersection rings of characteristic $p>0$ is presented. As an application, we give a completely different proof for an algebraic result of G. Faltings that was used by Taylor and Wiles in \cite{TW} for a simplification of the proof of the minimal deformation problem.


Strict abnormal extremals in nonholonomic and kinematic control systems

Abstract: In optimal control problems, there exist different kinds of extremals, that is, curves candidates to be solution: abnormal, normal and strictly abnormal. The key point for this classification is how those extremals depend on the cost function. We focus on control systems such as nonholonomic control mechanical systems and the associated kinematic systems as long as they are equivalent. With all this in mind, first we study conditions to relate an optimal control problem for the mechanical system with another one for the associated kinematic system. Then, Pontryagin's Maximum Principle will be used to connect the abnormal extremals of both optimal control problems. An example is given to glimpse what the abnormal solutions for kinematic systems become when they are considered as extremals to the optimal control problem for the corresponding nonholonomic mechanical systems.


Torsional rigidity of submanifolds with controlled geometry

Abstract: We prove explicit upper and lower bounds for the torsional rigidity of extrinsic domains of submanifolds P^m with controlled radial mean curvature in ambient Riemannian manifolds N^n with a pole p and with sectional curvatures bounded from above and from below, respectively. These bounds are given in terms of the torsional rigidities of corresponding Schwarz symmetrizations of the domains in warped product model spaces. Our main results are obtained using methods from previously established isoperimetric inequalities, as found in e.g. [MP4] and [MP5]. As in [MP4] we also characterize the geometry of those situations in which the bounds for the torsional rigidity are actually attained and study the behavior at infinity of the so-called geometric average of the mean exit time for Brownian motion.


Doubly periodic textile patterns

Abstract: Knitted and woven textile structures are examples of doubly periodic structures in a thickened plane made out of intertwining strands of yarn. Factoring out the group of translation symmetries of such a structure gives rise to a link diagram in a thickened torus. Such a diagram on a standard torus is converted into a classical link by including two auxiliary components which form the cores of the complementary solid tori. The resulting link, called a kernel for the structure, is determined by a choice of generators u and v for the group of symmetries. A normalised form of the multi-variable Alexander polynomial of a kernel is used to provide polynomial invariants of the original structure which are essentially independent of the choice of generators. It gives immediate information about the existence of closed curves and other topological features in the original textile structure. Because of its natural algebraic properties under coverings we can recover the polynomial for kernels based on a proper subgroup from the polynomial derived from the full symmetry group of the structure. This enables two structures to be compared at similar scales, even when one has a much smaller minimal repeating cell than the other. Examples of simple traditional structures are given, and their Alexander data polynomials are presented to illustrate the techniques and results.


String topology on Gorenstein spaces

Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to describe a general and simple setting for defining $(g,p+q)$-string operations on a Poincar\'e duality space and more generally on a Gorenstein space. Gorenstein spaces include Poincar\'e duality spaces as well as classifying spaces or homotopy quotients of connected Lie groups. Our presentation implies directly the homotopy invariance of each $(g,p+q)$-string operation as well as it leads to explicit computations.


Supervised functional classification: A theoretical remark and some comparisons

Abstract: The problem of supervised classification (or discrimination) with functional data is considered, with a special interest on the popular k-nearest neighbors (k-NN) classifier. First, relying on a recent result by Cerou and Guyader (2006), we prove the consistency of the k-NN classifier for functional data whose distribution belongs to a broad family of Gaussian processes with triangular covariance functions. Second, on a more practical side, we check the behavior of the k-NN method when compared with a few other functional classifiers. This is carried out through a small simulation study and the analysis of several real functional data sets. While no global "uniform" winner emerges from such comparisons, the overall performance of the k-NN method, together with its sound intuitive motivation and relative simplicity, suggests that it could represent a reasonable benchmark for the classification problem with functional data.


2-step nilpotent Lie groups arising from semisimple modules

Abstract: Every finite dimensional real representation of a compact real semisimple Lie algebra determines a metric 2-step nilpotent Lie algebra and a corresponding simply connected metric 2-step nilpotent Lie group N. We study the differential geometry of N using representation theory of the complexified complex semisimple Lie algebra.