Convex hull realizations of the multiplihedra

We present a simple algorithm for determining the extremal points in Euclidean space whose convex hull is the nth polytope in the sequence known as the multiplihedra. This answers the open question of whether the multiplihedra could be realized as convex polytopes. We use this realization to unite the approach to An-maps of Iwase and Mimura to that of Boardman and Vogt. We include a review of the appearance of the nth multiplihedron for various n in the studies of higher homotopy commutativity, (weak) n-categories, A_∞-categories, deformation theory, and moduli spaces. We also include suggestions for the use of our realizations in some of these areas as well as in related studies, including enriched category theory and the graph-associahedra.     

A categorical characterization of strong Steiner ω-categories

Strong Steiner ω-categories are a class of ω-categories that admit algebraic models in the form of chain complexes, whose formalism allows for several explicit computations. The conditions defining strong Steiner ω-categories are traditionally expressed in terms of the associated chain complex, making them somewhat disconnected from the ω-categorical intuition. The purpose of this paper is to characterize this class as the class of ω-categories generated by polygraphs that satisfy a loop-freeness condition that does not make explicit use of the associated chain complex and instead relies on the categorical features of ω-categories.     

On the existence of maximal ω-limit sets for dendrite maps

For interval maps and also for graph maps, every ω-limit set is a subset of a maximal one. In this note we construct a continuous map on a dendrite with no maximal ω-limit set. Moreover, the set of branch points is nowhere dense, every ω-limit set of the map is nowhere dense, the set of periodic points and the set of recurrent points are equal and the set of ω-limit points is not closed (an example with the last property was constructed by the authors already in [Ko?an Z, Kornecká-Kurková V, Málek M. On the centre and the set of omega-limit points of continuous maps on dendrites. Topol Appl 2009;156:2923-2931]).     

Graph maps whose periodic points form a closed set

A continuous map f from a graph G to itself is called a graph map. Denote by P(f), R(f), ω(f), Ω(f) and CR(f) the sets of periodic points, recurrent points, ω-limit points, non-wandering points and chain recurrent points of f respectively. It is well known that P(f)⊂R(f)⊂ω(f)⊂Ω(f)⊂CR(f). Block and Franke (1983) [5] proved that if f:I→I is an interval map and P(f) is a closed set, then CR(f)=P(f). In this paper we show that if f:G→G is a graph map and P(f) is a closed set, then ω(f)=R(f). We also give an example to show that, for general graph maps f with P(f) being a closed set, the conclusion ω(f)=R(f) cannot be strengthened to Ω(f)=R(f) or ω(f)=P(f).     

Asymptotically stable sets and the stability of ω-limit sets

Let C be the collection of continuous self-maps of the unit interval I=[0,1] to itself. For f∈C and x∈I, let ω(x,f) be the ω-limit set of f generated by x, and following Block and Coppel, we take Q(x,f) to be the intersection of all the asymptotically stable sets of f containing ω(x,f). We show that Q(x,f) tells us quite a bit about the stability of ω(x,f) subject to perturbations of either x or f, or both. For example, a chain recurrent point y is contained in Q(x,f) if and only if there are arbitrarily small perturbations of f to a new function g that give us y as a point of ω(x,g). We also study the structure of the map Q taking (x,f)∈I×C to Q(x,f). We prove that Q is upper semicontinuous and a Baire 1 function, hence continuous on a residual subset of I×C. We also consider the map given by x?Q(x,f), and find that this map is continuous if and only if it is a constant map; that is, only when the set is a singleton.     

A folk model structure on omega-cat

The primary aim of this work is an intrinsic homotopy theory of strict ω-categories. We establish a model structure on ωCat, the category of strict ω-categories. The constructions leading to the model structure in question are expressed entirely within the scope of ωCat, building on a set of generating cofibrations and a class of weak equivalences as basic items. All objects are fibrant while free objects are cofibrant. We further exhibit model structures of this type on n-categories for arbitrary n∈N, as specializations of the ω-categorical one along right adjoints. In particular, known cases for n=1 and n=2 nicely fit into the scheme.     

Ordinal subdivision and special pasting in quasicategories

Quasicategories are simplicial sets with properties generalising those of the nerve of a category. They model weak (ω,1)-categories. Using a combinatorially defined ordinal subdivision, we examine composition rules for certain special pasting diagrams in quasicategories. The subdivision is of combinatorial interest in its own right and is linked with various combinatorial constructions.     

Weak complicial sets I. Basic homotopy theory

This paper develops the foundations of a simplicial theory of weak ω-categories, which builds upon the insights originally expounded by Ross Street in his 1987 paper on oriented simplices. The resulting theory of weak complicial sets provides a common generalisation of the theories of (strict) ω-categories, Kan complexes and Joyal's quasi-categories. We generalise a number of results due to the current author with regard to complicial sets and strict ω-categories to provide an armoury of well behaved technical devices, such as joins and Gray tensor products, which will be used to study the weak ω-category theory of these structures in a series of companion papers. In particular, we establish their basic homotopy theory by constructing a Quillen model structure on the category of stratified simplicial sets whose fibrant objects are the weak complicial sets. As a simple corollary of this work we provide an independent construction of Joyal's model structure on simplicial sets for which the fibrant objects are the quasi-categories.     

Symmetric K-Theory Spectra of C*-Categories

We define K-theory groups and symmetric K-theory spectra associated to ₂-graded C ^*-categories and show that the exterior product of K-theory groups can be expressed in terms of the smash product of symmetric spectra.     

Existence of positive periodic solutions of nonlinear first-order delayed differential equations

We consider the existence of positive ω-periodic solutions for the equation

u^′(t)=a(t)g(u(t))u(t)−λb(t)f(u(t−τ(t))),     

On ω-limit sets of ordinary differential equations in Banach spaces

Let X be an infinite-dimensional real Banach space. We classify ω-limit sets of autonomous ordinary differential equations x^′=f(x), x(0)=x₀, where f:X→X is Lipschitz, as being of three types I-III. We denote by SX the class of all sets in X which are ω-limit sets of a solution to (1), for some Lipschitz vector field f and some initial condition x₀∈X. We say that S∈SX is of type I if there exists a Lipschitz function f and a solution x such that S=Ω(x) and . We say that S∈SX is of type II if it has non-empty interior. We say that S∈SX is of type III if it has empty interior and for every solution x (of Eq. (1) where f is Lipschitz) such that S=Ω(x) it holds . Our main results are the following: S is a type I set in SX if and only if S is a closed and separable subset of the topological boundary of an open and connected set U⊂X. Suppose that there exists an open separable and connected set U⊂X such that , then S is a type II set in SX. Every separable Banach space with a Schauder basis contains a type III set. Moreover, in all these results we show that in addition f may be chosen Ck-smooth whenever the underlying Banach space is Ck-smooth.     

Nonlinear problems arising in electrostatic actuation in MEMS

In this paper we study the nonlinear problem arising in electrostatic actuation of MEMS. We show that the existence and non-existence of the solution of this problem depend on the value of the physical parameters of the equation. In addition we consider the corresponding initial value problem and we derived the existence of periodic solution, stability of steady states and the ω-limit set.     

Orientals as free weak ω-categories

The orientals are the free strict ω-categories on the simplices introduced by Street. The aim of this paper is to show that they are also the free weak ω-categories on the same generating data. More precisely, we exhibit the complicial nerves of the orientals as fibrant replacements of the simplices in Verity's model structure for weak complicial sets.     

Reflexivity of prodiscrete topological groups

We study the duality properties of two rather different classes of subgroups of direct products of discrete groups (protodiscrete groups): P-groups, i.e., topological groups such that countable intersections of its open subsets are open, and protodiscrete groups of countable pseudocharacter (topological groups in which the identity is the intersection of countably many open sets). It was recently shown by the same authors that the direct product Π of an arbitrary family of discrete Abelian groups becomes reflexive when endowed with the ω-box topology. This was the first example of a non-discrete reflexive P-group. Here we present a considerable generalization of this theorem and show that every product of feathered (equivalently, almost metrizable) Abelian groups equipped with the P-modified topology is reflexive. In particular, every locally compact Abelian group with the P-modified topology is reflexive. We also examine the reflexivity of dense subgroups of products Π with the P-modified topology and obtain the first examples of non-complete reflexive P-groups. We find as well that the better behaved class of prodiscrete groups (complete protodiscrete groups) of countable pseudocharacter contains non-reflexive members—any uncountable bounded torsion Abelian group G of cardinality ω² supports a topology τ such that (G,τ) is a non-reflexive prodiscrete group of countable pseudocharacter.     

A topological characterization of the ω-limit sets for analytic flows on the plane, the sphere and the projective plane

In this paper the ω-limit sets for analytic and polynomial differential equations on the plane are characterized up to homeomorphisms. The analogous problem is solved in full detail for analytic flows on the sphere and the projective plane. We also explain how to carry on the same program for analytic flows defined on open subsets of these surfaces.     

Nondiscrete P-groups can be reflexive

We present the first examples of nondiscrete reflexive P-groups (topological groups in which countable intersections of open sets are open) as well as of noncompact reflexive ω-bounded groups (precompact groups in which the closure of every countable set is compact). Our main result implies that every product of discrete Abelian groups equipped with the P-modified topology is reflexive. Taking uncountably many nontrivial factors, we thus answer a question posed by P. Nickolas and solve a problem raised by Ardanza-Trevijano, Chasco, Domínguez, and Tkachenko.New examples of non-reflexive P-groups are also given which are based on a further development of Leptin's technique going back to 1955.     

On generalized Erd?s spaces

During the last years both Erd?s space and complete Erd?s space were topologically characterized by Dijkstra and van Mill. Applications include results about Erd?s type spaces in ?p-spaces as well as results about Polishable ideals on ω. We present an unifying theorem in terms of sets with a reflexive relation that among other things contains these apparently dissimilar results as special cases.     

Accessible aspects of 2-category theory

Categorical structures and their pseudomaps rarely form locally presentable 2-categories in the sense of Cat-enriched category theory. However, we show that if the categorical structure in question is sufficiently weak (such as the structure of monoidal, but not strict monoidal, categories) then the 2-category in question is accessible. Furthermore, we explore the flexible limits that such 2-categories possess and their interaction with filtered colimits.