On the oscillation of a second-order delay equation

The oscillatory nature of two equations (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₁(t)y(t) = f(t), (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₂(t) y(t ? τ(t))= 0, is compared when positive functions p₁ and p₂ are not “too close” or “too far apart.” Then the main theorem states that if h(t) is eventually negative and a twice continuously differentiable function which satisfies (r(t) h′(t))′ + p₁(t) h(t) ? 0, then this inequality is necessary and sufficient for every bounded solution of (r(t) y′(t))′ + p₂(t) y(t ? τ(t)) = 0 to be nonoscillatory.     

Periodic forcing of solutions of a boundary value problem for a second-order differential equation in Hilbert space

We show that if u is a bounded solution on $\text{R}$⁺ of u″(t) ?Au(t) + f(t), where A is a maximal monotone operator on a real Hilbert space H and f∈L_loc²($\text{R}$⁺;H) is periodic, then there exists a periodic solution ω of the differential equation such that u(t) ? ω(t)   0 and u′(t) ? ω′(t) → 0 as t → ∞. We also show that the two-point boundary value problem for this equation has a unique solution for boundary values in $\text{D(A)}$ and that a smoothing effect takes place.     

A nonlinear three-point boundary value problem

We consider the differential equation ?(py′)′ + qy + λay + μby + f(x, y, y′) = 0, x? (α, γ) subject to the boundary conditions cos(α₁) y(α) ? sin(α₁) y′(α) = 0cos(β₁) y(β) ? sin(β₁) y′(β) = 0 β? (α, γ)cos(γ₁) y(γ) ? sin(γ₁) y′(γ) = 0. The functions p, g, a, b, and f are well-behaved functions of x; f is smooth and of “higher order” in y and y′; the scalars λ and μ are eigenparameters. With mild restrictions on a and b it is known that the linearized problem, f ≡ 0, has eigensolutions, ($\text{λ}{}^1\text{, μ}{}^1\text{, ψ}{}^1$). In this paper we use an Implicit Function Theorem argument to establish the existence of a local branch of solutions, bifurcating from ($\text{λ}{}^1\text{, μ}{}^1\text{, 0}$), to the above nonlinear two-parameter eigenvalue problem.     

A Noumerov-type method with minimal phase-lag for the integration of second order periodic initial-value problems

We consider a one-parameter family of Noumerov-type methods for the integration of second order periodic initial-value problems: y″ = f(t, y), y(t₀) = y₀, y′(t₀) = y′₀. By applying these methods to the test equation: y″ + λ²y = 0, we determine the parameter of the family so that the phase-lag (frequency distortion) for the method is minimal. The resulting method has a very small phase-lag of size $\text{1}\text{12096}\text{λ}{}^6\text{h}{}^6$ (h is the step-size); interestingly, this method also possesses an interval of periodicity of size 2.71. Noumerov's method has a phase-lag of size $\text{1}\text{480}\text{λ}{}^4\text{h}{}^4$ and an interval of periodicity of size 2.449. The superiority of our method over Noumerov's method is illustrated by two examples.     

A general approach to optimal control of a regression experiment

Let $\text{θ}\text{θ}\text{?}$ = ($\text{θ}\text{θ}\text{?}$₁, $\text{θ}\text{θ}\text{?}$₂, …, $\text{θ}\text{θ}\text{?}$_n)′ be the least-squares estimator of θ = (θ₁, θ₂, …, θ_n)′ by the realization of the process y(t) = Σ_{k = 1}ⁿθ_kf_k(t) + ξ(t) on the interval T = [a, b] with f = (f₁, f₂, …, f_n)′ belonging to a certain set X. The process satisfies E(ξ(t))≡0 and has known continuous covariance r(s, t) = E(ξ(s)ξ(t)) on T × T. In this paper, A-, D-, and D_s-optimality are used as criteria for choosing f in X. A-, D-, and D_s-optimal models can be constructed explicitly by means of r.     

Oscillation theorems for second-order nonlinear differential equations with damped term

Several oscillation criteria are given for the second-order damped nonlinear differential equation (a(t)[y′(t)]^σ′i +p(t)[y′(t)]^σ +q(t)f(y(t)) = 0, where σ > 0 is any quotient of odd integers, a ϵ C(R, (0, ∞)), p(t) and q(t) are allowed to change sign on [t_o, ∞), and f ϵ Cl (R, R) such that xf (x) > 0 for x≠0. Our results improve and extend some known oscillation criteria. Examples are inserted to illustrate our results.     

Oscillatory and asymptotic behavior of solutions of differential equations with deviating arguments

The oscillatory and asymptotic behavior of solutions of a class of nth order nonlinear differential equations, with deviating arguments, of the form (E, δ) L_nx(t) + δq(t) f(x[g₁(t)],…, x[g_m(t)]) = 0, where δ = ± 1 and L₀x(t) = x(t), L_kx(t) = a_k(t)(L_{k ? 1}x(t))^., $\text{k = 1, 2,…, n (}{}^{\mathrm{.}}\text{=}\text{d}\text{dt}\text{)}$, is examined. A classification of solutions of (E, δ) with respect to their behavior as t → ∞ and their oscillatory character is obtained. The comparisons of (E, 1) and (E, ?1) with first and second order equations of the form y^.(t) + c₁(t) f(y[g₁(t)],…, y[g_m(t)]) = 0 and (a_{n ? 1}(t)z^.(t))^. ? c₂(t) f(z[g₁(t)],…, z[g_m(t)]) = 0, respectively, are presented. The obtained results unify, extend and improve some of the results by Graef, Grammatikopoulos and Spikes, Philos and Staikos.     

Approximate solutions of functional differential equations

The author discusses the best approximate solution of the functional differential equation x′(t) = F(t, x(t), x(h(t))), 0 < t < l satisfying the initial condition x(0) = x₀, where x(t) is an n-dimensional real vector. He shows that, under certain conditions, the above initial value problem has a unique solution y(t) and a unique best approximate solution $\text{p}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{(t)}$ of degree k (cf. [1]) for a given positive integer k. Furthermore, $\text{sup}{}_{\mathrm{0?t?l}}\text{¦}\text{p}\text{?}{}_{\mathrm{k}}\text{(t) ? y(t)¦ → 0}\text{as}\text{k → ∞}$, where ¦ · ¦ is any norm in Rⁿ.     

Potential theory associated with Uhlenbeck-Ornstein process

Some parallel results of Gross' paper (Potential theory on Hilbert space, J. Functional Analysis1 (1967), 123–181) are obtained for Uhlenbeck-Ornstein process U(t) in an abstract Wiener space (H, B, i). Generalized number operator $\text{N}$ is defined by $\text{N}$f(x) = ?lim_∈←0{E[f($\text{U}$(τ^∈_ξ))] ? f(x)}/E[τ^∈_ξ, where τ_x^? is the first exit time of U(t) starting at x from the ball of radius ? with center x. It is shown that $\text{N}$f(x) = ?trace D²f(x)+〈Df(x),x〉 for a large class of functions f. Let r_t(x, dy) be the transition probabilities of U(t). The λ-potential G_λf, λ > 0, and normalized potential Rf of f are defined by G_λf(X) = ∫₀^∞e^?λtr_tf(x) dt and Rf(x) = ∫₀^∞ [r_tf(x) ? r_tf(0)] dt. It is shown that if f is a bounded Lip-1 function then trace D²G_λf(x) ? 〈DG_λf(x), x〉 = ?f(x) + λG_λf(x) and trace D²Rf(x) ? 〈DRf(x), x〉 = ?f(x) + ∫_Bf(y)p₁(dy), where p₁ is the Wiener measure in B with parameter 1. Some approximation theorems are also proved.     

A combinatorial interpretation for two transformations of series that commute with compositional inversion

For a formal power series $\text{g(t) =}\text{1}\text{[1 + ∑}{}_{\mathrm{n=1}}{}^{\mathrm{\infty }}\text{h}{}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{t}{}^{\mathrm{n}}\text{]}$ with nonnegative integer coefficients, the compositional inverse $\text{f}\text{(t) = t · f(t)}$ of $\text{g}\text{(t) = t · g(t)}$ is shown to be the generating function for the colored planted plane trees in which each vertex of degree i + 1 is colored one of h_i colors. Since the compositional inverse of the Euler transformation of f(t) is the star transformation [[g(t)]^?1 ? 1]^?1 of g(t), [2], it follows that the Euler transformation of f(t) is the generating function for the colored planted plane trees in which each internal vertex of degree i + 1 is colored one of h_i colors for i > 1, and h₁ ? 1 colors for i = 1.     

On moment-discretization and least-squares solutions of linear integral equations of the first kind

Let K(s, t) be a continuous function on [0, 1] × [0, 1], and let $\text{K}$ be the linear integral operator induced by the kernel K(s, t) on the space $\text{L}$₂[0, 1]. This note is concerned with moment-discretization of the problem of minimizing 6K_x?y6 in the $\text{L}$₂-norm, where y is a given continuous function. This is contrasted with the problem of least-squares solutions of the moment-discretized equation: ∝₀¹K(s_i, t) x(t) dt = y(s_i), i = 1, 2,h., n. A simple commutativity result between the operations of “moment-discretization” and “least-squares” is established. This suggests a procedure for approximating $\text{K2y}$ (where $\text{K}$² is the generalized inverse of $\text{K}$), without recourse to the normal equation $\text{K1Kx = K1y}$, that may be used in conjunction with simple numerical quadrature formulas plus collocation, or related numerical and regularization methods for least-squares solutions of linear integral equations of the first kind.     

Classes of orderings of measures and related correlation inequalities. I. Multivariate totally positive distributions

A function f(x) defined on $\text{X}$ = $\text{X}$₁ × $\text{X}$₂ × … × $\text{X}$_n where each $\text{X}$_i is totally ordered satisfying f(x ∨ y) f(x ∧ y) ≥ f(x) f(y), where the lattice operations ∨ and ∧ refer to the usual ordering on $\text{X}$, is said to be multivariate totally positive of order 2 (MTP₂). A random vector Z = (Z₁, Z₂,…, Z_n) of n-real components is MTP₂ if its density is MTP₂. Classes of examples include independent random variables, absolute value multinormal whose covariance matrix Σ satisfies ?DΣ^?1D with nonnegative off-diagonal elements for some diagonal matrix D, characteristic roots of random Wishart matrices, multivariate logistic, gamma and F distributions, and others. Composition and marginal operations preserve the MTP₂ properties. The MTP₂ property facilitate the characterization of bounds for confidence sets, the calculation of coverage probabilities, securing estimates of multivariate ranking, in establishing a hierarchy of correlation inequalities, and in studying monotone Markov processes. Extensions on the theory of MTP₂ kernels are presented and amplified by a wide variety of applications.     

A limit theorem for perturbed operator semigroups with applications to random evolutions

Let U(t) and S(t) be strongly continuous contraction semigroups on a Banach space L with infinitesimal operators A and B, respectively. Suppose the closure of A + αB generates a semigroup T_α(t). The behavior of T_α(t) as α goes to infinity is examined. In particular, suppose S(t) converges strongly to P. If the closure of PA generates a semigroup T(t) on $\text{R}$(P), then T_α(t) goes to T(t) on $\text{R}$(P). If PA = 0 and if BVf = ?f for fε$\text{N}$(P), conditions are given that imply T_α(αt) converges on $\text{R}$(P) to a semigroup generated by the closure of PAVA.The results are used to obtain new and known limit theorems for random evolutions, which in turn give approximation theorems for diffusion processes.     

A new inequality for symmetric functions

Let x_i ≥ 0, y_i ≥ 0 for i = 1,…, n; and let a_j(x) be the elementary symmetric function of n variables given by a_j(x) = ∑_{1 ≤ ii < … <ij ≤ n}x_ii … x_ij. Define the partical ordering x <y if a_j(x) ≤ a_j(y), j = 1,… n. We show that $\text{x}\text{\$}\text{?}\text{y ? x}{}^{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{\$}\text{?}\text{y}{}^{\mathrm{\alpha }}\text{, 0}\text{\$}\text{?}\text{α ≤ 1}$, where {x^α}_i = x^α_i. We also give a necessary and sufficient condition on a function f(t) such that x <y ? f(x) <f(y). Both results depend crucially on the following: If x <y there exists a piecewise differentiable path z(t), with z_i(t) ≥ 0, such that z(0) = x, z(1) = y, and z(s) <z(t) if 0 ≤ s ≤ t ≤ 1.     

Subsequent to a theorem of Markoff

Let f(x, y) be an indefinite binary quadratic form, d(f) its discriminant, m(f) the infimum of |f(x, y)| over all integers x, y not both zero, and put $\text{μ(f) = m(f)d(f)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>?1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$. In this paper we prove the existence of countably many disjoint open intervals I_j contained in $\text{0 ≤ x ≤}\text{1}\text{3}$ such that there is no f with μ(f) in I_j (j = 1, 2,…) and such that for any interval I containing two intervals I_j, I_k there is an f with μ(f) in I.     

Oscillation theorems for second-order functional differential equations

This paper presents some comparison theorems on the oscillatory behavior of solutions of second-order functional differential equations. Here we state one of the main results in a simplified form: Let q, τ₁, τ₂ be nonnegative continuous functions on (0, ∞) such that τ₁ ? τ₂ is a bounded function on [1, ∞) and t ? τ₁(t) → ∞ if t → ∞. Then $\text{y}\text{?}\text{(t) + q(t) y(t ? τ}{}_1\text{(t)) = 0}$ is oscillatory if and only if $\text{y}\text{?}\text{(t) + q(t) y(t ? τ}{}_2\text{(t)) = 0}$ is oscillatory.     

The existence,uniqueness, and instability of spherically symmetric solutions of a system of reaction—Diffusion equations

The system $\text{?x}\text{?t}\text{= Δx + F(x,y),}\text{?y}\text{?t}\text{= G(x,y)}$ is investigated, where x and y are scalar functions of time (t ? 0), and n space variables $\text{(ξ}{}_1\text{,…, ξ}{}_{\mathrm{n}}\text{), Δx ≡ ∑}{}_{\mathrm{i\; =\; 1}}{}^{\mathrm{n}}\text{?}{}^2\text{x}\text{?ξ}{}_{\mathrm{i}}{}^2$, and F and G are nonlinear functions. Under certain hypotheses on F and G it is proved that there exists a unique spherically symmetric solution $\text{(x(r),y(r)),}\text{where}\text{r = (ξ}{}_1{}^2\text{+ … + ξ}{}_{\mathrm{n}}{}^2\text{)}{}^{\mathrm{<mtext>1</mtext><mtext>2</mtext>}}$, which is bounded for r ? 0 and satisfies x(0) >x₀, y(0) > y₀, x′(0) = 0, y′(0) = 0, and x′ < 0, y′ > 0, ?r > 0. Thus, (x(r), y(r)) represents a time independent equilibrium solution of the system. Further, the linearization of the system restricted to spherically symmetric solutions, around (x(r), y(r)), has a unique positive eigenvalue. This is in contrast to the case n = 1 (i.e., one space dimension) in which zero is an eigenvalue. The uniqueness of the positive eigenvalue is used in the proof that the spherically symmetric solution described is unique.     

Two transformations of series that commute with compositional inversion

It is shown that the compositional inverse of either of two transformations of a given series can be determined from the compositional inverse of the series. Specifically, if t · f(t) and t · g(t) are compositional inverses, then so are t · f_k(t) and $\text{t · g}{}_{\mathrm{k}}{}^1\text{(t)}$, where f_k(t) is the kth Euler transformation of f(t) and $\text{g}{}_{\mathrm{k}}{}^1\text{(t) =}\text{g(t)}\text{(1 ? kt · g(t))}$.