Subsets of an interval whose product is a power

We form squares from the product of integers in a short interval [n, n + t_n], where we include n in the product. If p is prime, p|n, and (₂^p) > n, we prove that p is the minimum t_n. If no such prime exists, we prove t_n √5n when n> 32. If n = p(2p − 1) and both p and 2p − 1 are primes, then t_n = 3p> 3 √n/2. For n(n + u) a square > n², we conjecture that a and b exist where n < a < b < n + u and nab is a square (except n = 8 and N = 392). Let g₂(n) be minimal such that a square can be formed as the product of distinct integers from [n, g₂(n)] so that no pair of consecutive integers is omitted. We prove that g₂(n) 3n − 3, and list or conjecture the values of g₂(n) for all n. We describe the generalization to kth powers and conjecture the values for large n.     

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 ∞.     

Strong Laws of Large Numbers for Double Sums of Banach Space Valued Random Elements

For a double array {V_(m,n), m ≥ 1, n ≥ 1} of independent, mean 0 random elements in a real separable Rademacher type p(1 ≤ p ≤ 2) Banach space and an increasing double array {b_(m,n), m ≥1, n ≥ 1} of positive constants, the limit law ■ and in L_p as m∨n→∞ is shown to hold if ■ This strong law of large numbers provides a complete characterization of Rademacher type p Banach spaces. Results of this form are also established when 0 p ≤ 1 where no independence or mean 0 conditions are placed on the random elements and without any geometric conditions placed on the underlying Banach space.     

On the Equation n_1n_2= n_3n_4 Restricted to Factor Closed Sets

We study the number of solutions N(B,F) of the diophantine equation n_1n_2 = n_3 n_4,where 1 ≤ n_1 ≤ B,1 ≤ n_3 ≤ B,n_2,n_4 ∈ F and F[1,B] is a factor closed set.We study more particularly the case when F={m = p_1~(ε1)···p_k~(εk),ε_j∈{0,1},1 ≤ j ≤ k},p_1,...,p_k being distinct prime numbers.     

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.     

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.     

Almost perfect matchings in random uniform hypergraphs

We consider the following model H_r(n, p) of random r-uniform hypergraphs. The vertex set consists of two disjoint subsets V of size | V | = n and U of size | U | = (r − 1)n. Each r-subset of V × (_r−1^U) is chosen to be an edge of H ε H_r(n, p) with probability p = p(n), all choices being independent. It is shown that for every 0 < < 1 if P = (C ln n)/n^r−1 with C = C() sufficiently large, then almost surely every subset V₁ V of size | V₁ | = (1 − )n is matchable, that is, there exists a matching M in H such that every vertex of V₁ is contained in some edge of M.     

Curves with degenerate general hypersurface sections

Let YPⁿ be a non-degenerate curve such that for a general degree t hypersurface S of Pⁿ, t2, the scheme Y∩S does not span Pⁿ. Here we give a lower bound for n in terms of t and some invariants of Y.     

The thermal equilibrium state of semiconductor devices

The thermal equilibrium state of two oppositely charged gases confined to a bounded domain , m = 1,2 or m = 3, is entirely described by the gases' particle densities p, n minimizing the total energy (p, n). it is shown that for given P, N > 0 the energy functional admits a unique minimizer in {(p, n) ε L²(Ω) x L ²(Ω) : p, n ≥ 0, _Ωp = P, _Ωn = N} and that p, n ε C(Ω) ∩ L^∞(Ω).

The analysis is applied to the hydrodynamic semiconductor device equations. These equations in general possess more than one thermal equilibrium solution, but only the unique solution of the corresponding variational problem minimizes the total energy. It is equivalent to prescribe boundary data for electrostatic potential and particle densities satisfying the usual compatibility relations and to prescribe V^e and P, N for the variational problem.     

Resolutions of Stanley-Reisner rings and Alexander duality

Associated to any simplicial complex Δ on n vertices is a square-free monomial ideal I_Δ in the polynomial ring A = k[x₁, …, x_n], and its quotient k[Δ] = A/I_Δ known as the Stanley-Reisner ring. This note considers a simplicial complex Δ^* which is in a sense a canonical Alexander dual to Δ, previously considered in [1, 5]. Using Alexander duality and a result of Hochster computing the Betti numbers dim_k Tor_i^A (k[Δ],k), it is shown (Proposition 1) that these Betti numbers are computable from the homology of links of faces in Δ^*. As corollaries, we prove that I_Δ has a linear resolution as A-module if and only if Δ^* is Cohen-Macaulay over k, and show how to compute the Betti numbers dim_k Tor_i^A (k[Δ],k) in some cases where Δ^* is wellbehaved (shellable, Cohen-Macaulay, or Buchsbaum). Some other applications of the notion of shellability are also discussed.     

L2-approximation of real-valued functions with interpolatory constraints

We construct the polynomial p_m,n^* of degree m which interpolates a given real-valued function f L²[a, b] at pre-assigned n distinct nodes and is the best approximant to f in the L₂-sense over all polynomials of degree m with the same interpolatory character. It is shown that the L₂-error p_m,n^* − f → 0 as m → ∞ if f C[a, b].     

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.     

A one-dimensional Poisson growth model with non-overlapping intervals

Suppose given a realization of a Poisson process on the line: call the points ‘germs’ because at a given instant ‘grains’ start growing around every germ, stopping for any particular grain when it touches another grain. When all growth stops a fraction e⁻¹ of the line remains uncovered. Let n germs be thrown uniformly and independently onto the circumference of a circle, and let grains grow under a similar protocol. Then the expected fraction of the circle remaining uncovered is the nth partial sum of the usual series for e⁻¹. These results, which sharpen inequalities obtained earlier, have one-sided analogues: the grains on the positive axis alone do not cover the origin with probability e^−1/2, and the conditional probability that the origin is uncovered by these positive grains, given that the germs n and n+1 coincide, is the nth partial sum of the series for e^−1/2. Despite the close similarity of these results to the rencontre, or matching, problem, we have no inclusion–exclusion derivation of them. We give explicitly the distributions for the length of a contiguous block of grains and the number of grains in such a block, and for the length of a grain. The points of the line not covered by any grain constitute a Kingman-type regenerative phenomenon for which the associated p-function p(t) gives the conditional probability that a point at distance t from an uncovered point is also uncovered. These functions enable us to identify a continuous-time Markov chain on the integers for which p(t) is a diagonal transition probability.     

Lower bounds for the size in four families of minimum broadcast graphs

In this paper, we give a lower bound for the size B(n) of a minimum broadcast graph of order n = 2^k − 4, 2^k − 6, 2^k − 5 or 2^k − 3 which is shown to be accurate in the cases when k = 5 and k = 6. This result provides, together with an upper bound obtained by a construction given in Bermond et al. (1992), an estimation of the value B(n) for n = 2^k − 4.     

Enumeration of cubic Cayley graphs on dihedral groups

Let p be an odd prime, and D_2p =<a, b|a^p = b² = 1, bab = a^-1 the dihedral group of order 2p. In this paper, we completely classify the cubic Cayley graphs on D_2p up to isomorphism by means of spectral method. By the way, we show that two cubic Cayley graphs on D_2p are isomorphic if and only if they are cospectral. Moreover, we obtain the number of isomorphic classes of cubic Cayley graphs on D_2p by using Gauss' celebrated law of quadratic reciprocity.     

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.     

Stability of Periodic Orbits and Return Trajectories of Continuous Multi-valued Maps on Intervals

Let I be a compact interval of real axis R, and(I, H) be the metric space of all nonempty closed subintervals of I with the Hausdorff metric H and f : I → I be a continuous multi-valued map. Assume that Pn =(x_0, x_1,..., xn) is a return tra jectory of f and that p ∈ [min Pn, max Pn] with p ∈ f(p). In this paper, we show that if there exist k(≥ 1) centripetal point pairs of f(relative to p)in {(x_i; x_i+1) : 0 ≤ i ≤ n-1} and n = sk + r(0 ≤ r ≤ k-1), then f has an R-periodic orbit, where R = s + 1 if s is even, and R = s if s is odd and r = 0, and R = s + 2 if s is odd and r 0. Besides,we also study stability of periodic orbits of continuous multi-valued maps from I to I.     

On some properties of the series ∑k=0 kx and the Stirling numbers of the second kind

We partially characterize the rational numbers x and integers n 0 for which the sum ∑_k=0^∞ kⁿx^k assumes integers. We prove that if ∑_k=0^∞ kⁿx^k is an integer for x = 1 − a/b with a, b> 0 integers and gcd(a,b) = 1, then a = 1 or 2. Partial results and conjectures are given which indicate for which b and n it is an integer if a = 2. The proof is based on lower bounds on the multiplicities of factors of the Stirling number of the second kind, S(n,k). More specifically, we obtain for all integers k, 2 k n, and a 3, provided a is odd or divisible by 4, where v_a(m) denotes the exponent of the highest power of a which divides m, for m and a> 1 integers.

New identities are also derived for the Stirling numbers, e.g., we show that ∑_k=0²ⁿk! S(2n, k) , for all integers n 1.     

Oscillation criteria for first-order neutral nonlinear difference equations with variable coefficients

Consider the first-order neutral nonlinear difference equation of the form

, where τ > 0, σ_i ≥ 0 (i = 1, 2,…, m) are integers, {p_n} and {q_n} are nonnegative sequences. We obtain new criteria for the oscillation of the above equation without the restrictions Σ_n=0^∞ q_n = ∞ or Σ_n=0^∞ nq_n Σ_j=n^∞ q_j = ∞ commonly used in the literature.     

An infinite family of cubic edge- but not vertex-transitive graphs

An infinite family of cubic edge- but not vertex-transitive graphs is constructed. The graphs are obtained as regular -covers of K_3,3 where n=p₁^e₁p₂^e₂p_k^e_k where p_i are distinct primes congruent to 1 modulo 3, and e_i1. Moreover, it is proved that the Gray graph (of order 54) is the smallest cubic edge- but not vertex-transitive graph.