Hair-triggered instability of radial steady states, spread and extinction in semilinear heat equations

We first study the initial value problem for a general semilinear heat equation. We prove that every bounded nonconstant radial steady state is unstable if the spatial dimension is low (n?10) or if the steady state is flat enough at infinity: the solution of the heat equation either becomes unbounded as t approaches the lifespan, or eventually stays above or below another bounded radial steady state, depending on if the initial value is above or below the first steady state; moreover, the second steady state must be a constant if n?10.Using this instability result, we then prove that every nonconstant radial steady state of the generalized Fisher equation is a hair-trigger for two kinds of dynamical behavior: extinction and spreading. We also prove more criteria on initial values for these types of behavior. Similar results for a reaction-diffusion system modeling an isothermal autocatalytic chemical reaction are also obtained.     

A construction of 2-designs from Steiner systems and extendable designs

We give a construction of a 2-(mn²+1,mn,(n+1)(mn−1)) design starting from a Steiner system S(2,m+1,mn²+1) and an affine plane of order n. This construction is applied to known classes of Steiner systems arising from affine and projective geometries, Denniston designs, and unitals. We also consider the extendability of these designs to 3-designs.     

Asymptotic behavior of spectral functions for elliptic operators with non-smooth coefficients

We consider the asymptotic formula of spectral functions for elliptic operators with non-smooth coefficients of order 2m in . If the coefficients of top order are Hölder continuous of exponent τ∈(0,1], we can derive the remainder estimate of the form O(t^(n−θ)/2m) with any θ∈(0,τ). This result holds without the condition 2m>n, which was always assumed in many papers. We also show that the spectral function is differentiable up to order <m.     

Reliability evaluation of multi-state consecutive k-out-of-r-from-n: G system

This paper proposes a model that generalizes the linear consecutive k-out-of-r-from-n: G system to multi-state case. In this model the system consists of n linearly ordered multi-state components. Both the system and its components can have different states: from complete failure up to perfect functioning. The system is in state j or above if and only if at least k_j components out of r consecutive are in state j or above. An algorithm is provided for evaluating reliability of a special case of multi-state consecutive k-out-of-r-from-n: G system. The algorithm is based on the application of the total probability theorem and on the application of a special case taken from the [Jinsheng Huang, Ming J. Zuo, Member IEEE and Yanhong Wu, Generalized multi-state k-out-of-n: G system, IEEE Trans. Reliab. 49(1) (2000) 105–111.]. Also numerical results of the formerly published test examples and new examples are given.     

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 two-echelon base-stock inventory model with Poisson demand and the sequential processing of orders at the upper echelon

We consider a two-echelon inventory system with a number of non-identical, independent ‘retailers’ at the lower echelon and a single ‘supplier’ at the upper echelon. Each retailer experiences Poisson demand and operates a base stock policy with backorders. The supplier manufactures to order and holds no stock. Orders are produced, in first-come first-served sequence, with a fixed production time. The supplier therefore functions as an M/D/1 queue. We are interested in the performance characteristics (average inventory, average backorder level) at each retailer. By finding the distribution of order lead time and hence the distribution of demand during order lead time, we find the steady state inventory and backorder levels based on the assumption that order lead times are independent of demand during order lead time at a retailer. We also propose two alternative approximation procedures based on assumed forms for the order lead time distribution. Finally we provide a derivation of the steady state inventory and backorder levels which will be exact as long as there is no transportation time on orders between the supplier and retailers. A numerical comparison is made between the exact and approximate measures. We conclude by recommending an approach which is intuitive and computationally straightforward.     

Strong convergence of an iterative method for nonexpansive and accretive operators

Let X be a Banach space and A an m-accretive operator with a zero. Consider the iterative method that generates the sequence {xn} by the algorithm xn+1=αnu+(1−αn)Jrnxn, where {αn} and {rn} are two sequences satisfying certain conditions, and Jr denotes the resolvent ⁻¹(I+rA) for r>0. Strong convergence of the algorithm {xn} is proved assuming X either has a weakly continuous duality map or is uniformly smooth.     

Approximation by light maps and parametric Lelek maps

The class of metrizable spaces M with the following approximation property is introduced and investigated: M∈AP(n,0) if for every ε>0 and a map g:In→M there exists a 0-dimensional map g^′:In→M which is ε-homotopic to g. It is shown that this class has very nice properties. For example, if Mi∈AP(ni,0), i=1,2, then M₁×M₂∈AP(n₁+n₂,0). Moreover, M∈AP(n,0) if and only if each point of M has a local base of neighborhoods U with U∈AP(n,0). Using the properties of AP(n,0)-spaces, we generalize some results of Levin and Kato-Matsuhashi concerning the existence of residual sets of n-dimensional Lelek maps.     

Optimal scaling of average queue sizes in an input-queued switch: an open problem

We review some known results and state a few versions of an open problem related to the scaling of the total queue size (in steady state) in an n×n input-queued switch, as a function of the port number n and the load factor ??. Loosely speaking, the question is whether the total number of packets in queue, under either the maximum weight policy or under an optimal policy, scales (ignoring any logarithmic factors) as O(n/(1???)).     

Bach-flat gradient steady Ricci solitons

In this paper we prove that any n-dimensional (n ≥ 4) complete Bach-flat gradient steady Ricci soliton with positive Ricci curvature is isometric to the Bryant soliton. We also show that a three-dimensional gradient steady Ricci soliton with divergence-free Bach tensor is either flat or isometric to the Bryant soliton. In particular, these results improve the corresponding classification theorems for complete locally conformally flat gradient steady Ricci solitons in Cao and Chen (Trans Am Math Soc 364:2377–2391, 2012) and Catino and Mantegazza (Ann Inst Fourier 61(4):1407–1435, 2011).     

Global hypoellipticity and global solvability in Gevrey classes on the n-dimensional torus

Let P be a linear partial differential operator with coefficients in the Gevrey class G^s(Tⁿ) where Tⁿ is the n-dimensional torus and s?1. We prove that if P is s-globally hypoelliptic in Tⁿ then its transposed operator tP is s-globally solvable in Tⁿ, thus extending to the Gevrey classes the well-known analogous result in the corresponding C^∞ class.     

On extremal k-outconnected graphs

Let G be a minimally k-connected graph with n nodes and m edges. Mader proved that if n?3k-2 then m?k(n-k), and for n?3k-1 an equality is possible if, and only if, G is the complete bipartite graph K_k,n-k. Cai proved that if n?3k-2 then m?⌊(n+k)²/8⌋, and listed the cases when this bound is tight.In this paper we prove a more general theorem, which implies similar results for minimally k-outconnected graphs; a graph is called k-outconnected from r if it contains k internally disjoint paths from r to every other node.     

The spectrum is continuous on the set of quasi-n-hyponormal operators

In this paper it is shown that the spectrum σ, a set-valued function, is continuous when the function is restricted to the set of all ‘quasi-n-hyponormal’ operators acting on an infinite-dimensional separable Hilbert space, where a quasi-n-hyponormal operator is defined to be unitarily equivalent to an n×n upper triangular operator matrix whose diagonal entries are hyponormal operators.     

A note on k-potence preserving maps

Let M_n be the algebra of all n×n complex matrices and Γ_n the set of all k-potent matrices in M_n. Suppose ?:M_n→M_n is a map satisfying A-λB∈Γ_n implies ?(A)-λ?(B)∈Γ_n, where A, B∈M_n, λ∈C. Then either ? is of the form ?(A)=cTAT^-1, A∈M_n, or ? is of the form ?(A)=cTA^tT^-1, A∈M_n, where T∈M_n is an invertible matrix, c∈C satisfies c^k=c.     

The bifurcation of limit cycles in Zn-equivariant vector fields

In this paper, we study the bifurcation of limit cycles from fine focus in Z_n-equivariant vector fields. An approach for investigating bifurcation was obtained. In order to show our work is efficacious, an example on bifurcations behavior is given, namely five order singular points values are given in the seventh degree Z₈-equivariant systems. We discuss their bifurcation behavior of limit cycles, and show that there are eight fine focuses of five order and five small amplitude limit cycles can bifurcate from each. So 40 small amplitude limit cycles can bifurcate from eight fine focuses under a certain condition. In terms of the number of limit cycles for seventh degree Z₈-equivariant systems, our results are good and interesting.     

Soliton solutions for (2 + 1)-dimensional and (3 + 1)-dimensional K(m, n) equations

We consider the nonlinear dispersive K(m,n) equation with the generalized evolution term and derive analytical expressions for some conserved quantities. By using a solitary wave ansatz in the form of sech^p function, we obtain exact bright soliton solutions for (2 + 1)-dimensional and (3 + 1)-dimensional K(m,n) equations with the generalized evolution terms. The results are then generalized to multi-dimensional K(m,n) equations in the presence of the generalized evolution term. An extended form of the K(m,n) equation with perturbation term is investigated. Exact bright soliton solution for the proposed K(m,n) equation having higher-order nonlinear term is determined. The physical parameters in the soliton solutions are obtained as function of the dependent model coefficients.     

A characterization of maximal non-k-factor-critical graphs

A graph G of order p is k-factor-critical,where p and k are positive integers with the same parity, if the deletion of any set of k vertices results in a graph with a perfect matching. G is called maximal non-k-factor-critical if G is not k-factor-critical but G+e is k-factor-critical for every missing edge e∉E(G). A connected graph G with a perfect matching on 2n vertices is k-extendable, for 1?k?n-1, if for every matching M of size k in G there is a perfect matching in G containing all edges of M. G is called maximal non-k-extendable if G is not k-extendable but G+e is k-extendable for every missing edge e∉E(G) . A connected bipartite graph G with a bipartitioning set (X,Y) such that |X|=|Y|=n is maximal non-k-extendable bipartite if G is not k-extendable but G+xy is k-extendable for any edge xy∉E(G) with x∈X and y∈Y. A complete characterization of maximal non-k-factor-critical graphs, maximal non-k-extendable graphs and maximal non-k-extendable bipartite graphs is given.     

Integrability of rotationally symmetric n-harmonic maps

A rotationally symmetric n-harmonic map is a rotationally symmetric p-harmonic map between two n-dimensional model spaces such that p=n. We show that rotationally symmetric n-harmonic maps can be integrated and are n-harmonic diffeomorphism, and apply such results to investigate the asymptotic behaviors of these maps. We also derive this integrability using Lie theory.