An improved product construction for large sets of Kirkman triple systems

It has been shown by Lei, in his recent paper, that there exists a large set of Kirkman triple systems of order uv (LKTS(uv)) if there exist an LKTS(v), a TKTS(v) and an LR(u), where a TKTS(v) is a transitive Kirkman triple system of order v, and an LR(u) is a new kind of design introduced by Lei. In this paper, we improve this product construction by removing the condition “there exists a TKTS(v)”. Our main idea is to use transitive resolvable idempotent symmetric quasigroups instead of TKTS. As an application, we can combine the known results on LKTS and LR-designs to obtain the existence of an LKTS(3ⁿm(2·13^n₁+1)(2·13^n_t+1)) for n1, m{1,5,11,17,25,35,43,67,91,123}{2^2r+125^s+1 : r0,s0}, t0 and n_i1 (i=1,…,t).     

An inequality for non-negative matrices

Let A be an n × n matrix with non-negative entries and no entry in (0, 1). We prove that there exist integers r, s with 0 r s 2ⁿ such that A^r A^s. We prove that 2ⁿ cannot be replaced with e√n log n. We also give an application to the theory of formal languages.     

Asymptotic bounds for some bipartite graph: complete graph Ramsey numbers

The Ramsey number r(H,K_n) is the smallest integer N so that each graph on N vertices that fails to contain H as a subgraph has independence number at least n. It is shown that r(K_2,m,K_n)(m−1+o(1))(n/log n)² and r(C_2m,K_n)c(n/log n)^m/(m−1) for m fixed and n→∞. Also r(K_2,n,K_n)=Θ(n³/log² n) and .     

Prime power divisors of binomial coefficients

It is known that for sufficiently large n and m and any r the binomial coefficient (ⁿ_m) which is close to the middle coefficient is divisible by p^r where p is a ‘large’ prime. We prove the exact divisibility of (ⁿ_m) by p^r for p> c(n). The lower bound is essentially the best possible. We also prove some other results on divisibility of binomial coefficients.     

Convolution integral equations with Gegenbauer function kernel

In this paper we develop a concise and transparent approach for solving Mellin convolution equations where the convolutor is the product of an algebraic function and a Gegenbauer function. Our method is primarily based on

1. the use of fractional integral/differential operators;

2. a formula for Gegenbauer functions which is a fractional extension of the Rodrigues formula for Gegenbauer polynomials (see Theorem 3);

3. an intertwining relation concerning fractional integral/differential operators (see Theorem 1), which in the integer case reads (d/dx)²ⁿ⁺¹ = (x⁻¹ d/dx)ⁿx²ⁿ⁺¹(x⁻¹ d/dx)ⁿ⁺¹.

Thus we cover most of the known results on this type of integral equations and obtain considerable extensions. As a special illustration we present the Gegenbauer transform pair associated to the Radon transformation.     

Flawless 0-sequences and Hilbert functions of Cohen-Macaulay integral domains

Let A = A₀A₁ be a commutative graded ring such that (i) A₀ = k a field, (ii) A = k[A₁] and (iii) dim_k A₁ < ∞. It is well known that the formal power series ∑^∞_{n = 0} (dim_kA_n)λ ⁿ is of the form (h₀ + h₁λ + + h_sλ^s)/(1 − λ)^dimA with each h_iε . We are interested in the sequence (h₀, h₁,…,h_s), called the h-vector of A, when A is a Cohen–Macaulay integral domain. In this paper, after summarizing fundamental results (Section 1), we study h-vectors of certain Gorenstein domains (Section 2) and find some examples of h-vectors arising from integrally closed level domains (Sections 3 and 4).     

On the number of flats spanned by a set of points in PG(d, q)

It is shown that for fixed 1 r s < d and > 0, if X PG(d, q) contains (1 + )q^s points, then the number of r-flats spanned by X is at least c()q^{(r+1)(s+1−r)}, i.e. a positive fraction of the number of r-flats in PG(s + 1,q).     

First passage time for some stationary processes

For a 1-dependent stationary sequence {X_n} we first show that if u satisfies p₁=p₁(u)=P(X₁>u)0.025 and n>3 is such that 88np₁³1, then

P{max(X₁,…,X_n)u}=ν·μⁿ+O{p₁³(88n(1+124np₁³)+561)}, n>3,

where

ν=1−p₂+2p₃−3p₄+p₁²+6p₂²−6p₁p₂,μ=(1+p₁−p₂+p₃−p₄+2p₁²+3p₂²−5p₁p₂)⁻¹

with

p_k=p_k(u)=P{min(X₁,…,X_k)>u}, k1

and

|O(x)||x|.

From this result we deduce, for a stationary T-dependent process with a.s. continuous path {Y_s}, a similar, in terms of P{max_0skTY_s<u}, k=1,2 formula for P{max_0stY_su}, t>3T and apply this formula to the process Y_s=W(s+1)−W(s), s0, where {W(s)} is the Wiener process. We then obtain numerical estimations of the above probabilities.     

ContributionsChromatic Ramsey numbers

Suppose G is a graph. The chromatic Ramsey number r_c(G) of G is the least integer m such that there exists a graph F of chromatic number m for which the following is true: for any 2-colouring of the edges of F there is a monochromatic subgraph isomorphic to G. Let M_n = min[r_c(G): χ(G) = n]. It was conjectured by Burr et al. (1976) that M_n = (n − 1)² + 1. This conjecture has been confirmed previously for n 4. In this paper, we shall prove that the conjecture is true for n = 5. We shall also improve the upper bounds for M₆ and M₇.     

An infinite family of 7-designs

We study designs in the binary affine space invariant under the affine group in its 3-transitive action. The main result is a family 7-(2ⁿ,8,45), n6 of non-simple designs. We also obtain 5-(2ⁿ,6,3) for every n3 and 5-(2ⁿ,7,7(2ⁿ−16)/2) for every even n6.     

A characterization on n-critical economical generalized tic-tac-toe games

There is a so called generalized tic-tac-toe game playing on a finite set X with winning sets A₁, A₂,…, A_m. Two players, F and S, take in turn a previous untaken vertex of X, with F going first. The one who takes all the vertices of some winning set first wins the game. Erd s and Selfridge proved that if |A₁|=|A₂|==|A_m|=n and m<2ⁿ⁻¹, then the game is a draw. This result is best possible in the sense that once m=2ⁿ⁻¹, then there is a family A₁, A₂,…, A_m so that F can win. In this paper we characterize all those sets A₁,…, A_2n−1 so that F can win in exactly n moves. We also get similar result in the biased games.     

On an optimal stopping problem of Gusein-Zade

We study the problem of selecting one of the r best of n rankable individuals arriving in random order, in which selection must be made with a stopping rule based only on the relative ranks of the successive arrivals. For each r up to r=25, we give the limiting (as n→∞) optimal risk (probability of not selecting one of the r best) and the limiting optimal proportion of individuals to let go by before being willing to stop. (The complete limiting form of the optimal stopping rule is presented for each r up to r=10, and for r=15, 20 and 25.) We show that, for large n and r, the optical risk is approximately (1−t^*)^r, where t^*≈0.2834 is obtained as the roof of a function which is the solution to a certain differential equation. The optimal stopping rule τ_r,n lets approximately t^*n arrivals go by and then stops ‘almost immediately’, in the sense that τ_r,n/n→t^* in probability as n→∞, r→∞     

Approximation order of bivariate spline interpolation for arbitrary smoothness

By using the algorithm of Nürnberger and Riessinger (1995), we construct Hermite interpolation sets for spaces of bivariate splines S_q^r(Δ¹) of arbitrary smoothness defined on the uniform type triangulations. It is shown that our Hermite interpolation method yields optimal approximation order for q 3.5r + 1. In order to prove this, we use the concept of weak interpolation and arguments of Birkhoff interpolation.     

New constructions of divisible designs

A construction is given for a (p^2a(p+1),p²,p^2a+1(p+1),p^2a+1,p^2a(p+1)) (p a prime) divisible difference set in the group H×Z²_pa+1 where H is any abelian group of order p+1. This can be used to generate a symmetric semi-regular divisible design; this is a new set of parameters for λ₁≠0, and those are fairly rare. We also give a construction for a (p^a−1+p^a−2+…+p+2,p^a+2, p^a(p^a+p^a−1+…+p+1), p^a(p^a−1+…+p+1), p^a−1(p^a+…+p²+2)) divisible difference set in the group H×Z_p2×Z^a_p. This is another new set of parameters, and it corresponds to a symmetric regular divisible design. For p=2, these parameters have λ₁=λ₂, and this corresponds to the parameters for the ordinary Menon difference sets.     

Nonsolvable groups whose irreducible character degrees have special 2-parts

Let G be a nonsolvable group and Irr(G) the set of irreducible complex characters of G. We consider the nonsolvable groups whose character degrees have special 2-parts and prove that if χ(1)₂ = 1 or |G|₂ for every χ ∈ Irr(G), then there exists a minimal normal subgroup N of G such that N ≅ PSL(2, 2ⁿ) and G/N is an odd order group.     

Polynomial identities from weighted lattice path counting

We give bijective proofs, using weighted lattice paths, of two multinomial identities concerning the generalized h-factorial polynomials of order n.

[x]ⁿ_h:=x(x + h)(x +2h)(x + (n − 1)h)

.

The first-one is the multinomial identity of order s verified by these polynomials. Using this identity (and its proof) as a lemma, we derive the main identity that generalizes previous results of Carlitz (1977), Egorychev (1974) and the classical identity of Banach.     

Homogenization of Elliptic Problems with Neumann Boundary Conditions in Non-smooth Domains

We consider a family of second-order elliptic operators {L_ε} in divergence form with rapidly oscillating and periodic coefficients in Lipschitz and convex domains in R~n. We are able to show that the uniform W~(1,p) estimate of second order elliptic systems holds for 2n/(n+1)-δ p 2n/(n-1)+ δ where δ 0 is independent of ε and the ranges are sharp for n = 2, 3. And for elliptic equations in Lipschitz domains, the W~(1,p) estimate is true for 3/2-δ p 3 + δ if n ≥ 4, similar estimate was extended to convex domains for 1 p ∞.     

Existence of three HMOLS of types h and 23

In this paper, we construct 23 new 3 HMOLS of type hⁿ. We also investigate the existence of 3 HMOLS of type 2ⁿ3¹ and show that the necessary condition n 6 is sufficient for such designs to exist except possibly for 18 values of n, of which n = 31 is the largest. As an application, some improvements for the existence of perfect Mendelsohn designs with block size five are also mentioned.     

Full quadrature sums for pth powers of polynomials with Freud weights

In this paper, we provide a solution of the quadrature sum problem of R. Askey for a class of Freud weights. Let r> 0, b (− ∞, 2]. We establish a full quadrature sum estimate

1 p < ∞, for every polynomial P of degree at most n + rn^1/3, where W² is a Freud weight such as exp(−¦x¦), > 1, λ_jn are the Christoffel numbers, x_jn are the zeros of the orthonormal polynomials for the weight W², and C is independent of n and P. We also prove a generalisation, and that such an estimate is not possible for polynomials P of degree M = m(n) if m(n) = n + ξ_nn^1/3, where ξ_n → ∞ as n → ∞. Previous estimates could sum only over those x_jn with ¦x_jn¦ σx_1n, some fixed 0 < σ < 1.     

Maximal IM-unextendable graphs

A graph G is maximal IM-unextendable if G is not induced matching extendable and, for every two nonadjacent vertices x and y, G+xy is induced matching extendable. We show in this paper that a graph G is maximal IM-unextendable if and only if G is isomorphic to M_r(K_s(K_n1K_n2K_nt)), where M_r is an induced matching of size r, r1, t=s+2, and each n_i is odd.