On the algorithmic construction of classifying spaces and the isomorphism problem for biautomatic groups

We show that the isomorphism problem is solvable in the class of central extensions of word-hyperbolic groups,and that the isomorphism problem for biautomatic groups reduces to that for biautomatic groups with finite centre.We describe an algorithm that,given an arbitrary finite presentation of an automatic group Γ,will construct explicit finite models for the skeleta of K(Γ,1) and hence compute the integral homology and cohomology of Γ.     

A HYPERBOLIC SYSTEM OF CONSERVATION LAWS FOR FLUID FLOWS THROUGH COMPLIANT AXISYMMETRIC VESSELS

We are concerned with the derivation and analysis of one-dimensional hyperbolic systems of conservation laws modelling fluid flows such as the blood flow through compliant axisymmetric vessels.Early models derived are nonconservative and/or nonhomogeneous with measure source terms,which are endowed with infinitely many Riemann solutions for some Riemann data.In this paper,we derive a one-dimensional hyperbolic system that is conservative and homogeneous.Moreover,there exists a unique global Riemann solution for the Riemann problem for two vessels with arbitrarily large Riemann data,under a natural stability entropy criterion.The Riemann solutions may consist of four waves for some cases.The system can also be written as a 3×3 system for which strict hyperbolicity fails and the standing waves can be regarded as the contact discontinuities corresponding to the second family with zero eigenvalue.