An upper bound for permanents of nonnegative matrices

A recent conjecture of Caputo, Carlen, Lieb, and Loss, and, independently, of the author, states that the maximum of the permanent of a matrix whose rows are unit vectors in lp is attained either for the identity matrix I or for a constant multiple of the all-1 matrix J.The conjecture is known to be true for p=1 (I) and for p?2 (J).We prove the conjecture for a subinterval of (1,2), and show the conjectured upper bound to be true within a subexponential factor (in the dimension) for all 1<p<2. In fact, for p bounded away from 1, the conjectured upper bound is true within a constant factor.     

Two-Sided Optimal Bounds for Green Functions of Half-Spaces for Relativistic <Emphasis Type="Italic">α</Emphasis>-Stable Process

The purpose of this paper is to find optimal estimates for the Green function of a half-space of the relativistic α -stable process with parameter m on ℝ ^d space. This process has an infinitesimal generator of the form mI–(m ^2/α I–Δ) ^α/2, where 0<α<2, m>0, and reduces to the isotropic α-stable process for m=0. Its potential theory for open bounded sets has been well developed throughout the recent years however almost nothing was known about the behaviour of the process on unbounded sets. The present paper is intended to fill this gap and we provide two-sided sharp estimates for the Green function for a half-space. As a byproduct we obtain some improvements of the estimates known for bounded sets. Our approach combines the recent results obtained in Byczkowski et al. (Bessel Potentials, Hitting Distributions and Green Functions (2006) (preprint). ), where an explicit integral formula for the m-resolvent of a half-space was found, with estimates of the transition densities for the killed process on exiting a half-space. The main result states that the Green function is comparable with the Green function for the Brownian motion if the points are away from the boundary of a half-space and their distance is greater than one. On the other hand for the remaining points the Green function is somehow related the Green function for the isotropic α-stable process. For example, for d≥3, it is comparable with the Green function for the isotropic α-stable process, provided that the points are close enough. Research supported by KBN Grants.     

Tree spanners in planar graphs

A tree t-spanner of a graph G is a spanning subtree T of G in which the distance between every pair of vertices is at most t times their distance in G. Spanner problems have received some attention, mostly in the context of communication networks. It is known that for general unweighted graphs, the problem of deciding the existence of a tree t-spanner can be solved in polynomial time for t=2, while it is NP-hard for any t⩾4; the case t=3 is open, but has been conjectured to be hard. In this paper, we consider tree spanners in planar graphs. We show that even for planar unweighted graphs, it is NP-hard to determine the minimum t for which a tree t-spanner exists. On the other hand, we give a polynomial algorithm for any fixed t that decides for planar unweighted graphs with bounded face length whether there is a tree t-spanner. Furthermore, we prove that it can be decided in polynomial time whether a planar unweighted graph has a tree t-spanner for t=3.     

Superconvergence analysis of splitting positive definite nonconforming mixed finite element method for pseudo-hyperbolic equations

In this paper, a new splitting positive definite nonconforming mixed finite element method is proposed for pseudo-hyperbolic equations, in which a quasi-Wilson quadrilateral element is used for the flux p, and the bilinear element is used for u. Superconvergence results in ｜｜·｜｜div,h norm for p and optimal error estimates in L2 norm for u are derived for both semi-discrete and fully discrete schemes under almost uniform meshes.     

Reduktionsverfahren für Differenzengleichungen bei Randwertaufgaben II

Summary In a recent paper [11], two of the authors investigated a fast reduction method for solving difference equations which approximate certain boundary value problems for Poisson's equation. In this second paper, we prove the numerical stability of the reduction method, and also report on further developments of the method. For the general case, the provided bounds for the numerical errors behave roughly like the condition numberO(n ²) of the linear system; for more realistic model problems estimates of order less thanO(n) are obtained (n ^–1=h=mesh width). The number of operations required for the reduction method isO(n ² ), for the usual five-point difference formula, as well as for the common nine-point formula with discretization error of orderh ⁴.     

The rate of convergence of q-Bernstein polynomials for

In the note, we obtain the estimates for the rate of convergence for a sequence of q-Bernstein polynomials {B_n,q(f)} for 0<q<1 by the modulus of continuity of f, and the estimates are sharp with respect to the order for Lipschitz continuous functions. We also get the exact orders of convergence for a family of functions , and the orders do not depend on α, unlike the classical case.     

An intermediate value theorem for graphs with given automorphism group

For a positive integer n and a finite group G, let the symbols e(G, n) and E(G, n) denote, respectively, the smallest and the greatest number of lines among all n-point graphs with automorphism group G. We say that the Intermediate Value Theorem (IVT) holds for G and n, if for each e satisfying e(G, n)≤e≤E(G, n), there exists an n-point graph with group G and e lines. The main result of this paper states that for every group G the IVT holds for all sufficiently large n. We also prove that the IVT holds for the identity group and all n, and exhibit examples of groups for which the IVT fails to hold for small values of n.     

Uniform estimates for spherical functions on complex semisimple Lie groups

We prove new estimates for spherical functions and their derivatives on complex semisimple Lie groups, establishing uniform polynomial decay in the spectral parameter. This improves the customary estimate arising from Harish-Chandra's series expansion, which gives only a polynomial growth estimate in the spectral parameter. In particular, for arbitrary positive-definite spherical functions on higher rank complex simple groups, we establish estimates for which are of the form in the spectral parameter and have uniform exponential decay in regular directions in the group variable a _t . Here is an explicit constant depending on G, and may be singular, for instance.?The uniformity of the estimates is the crucial ingredient needed in order to apply classical spectral methods and Littlewood—Paley—Stein square functions to the analysis of singular integrals in this context. To illustrate their utility, we prove maximal inequalities in L ^p for singular sphere averages on complex semisimple Lie groups for all p in . We use these to establish singular differentiation theorems and pointwise ergodic theorems in L ^p for the corresponding singular spherical averages on locally symmetric spaces, as well as for more general measure preserving actions. Submitted: May 2000, Revised version: October 2000.     

On equivalence of moduli of smoothness of polynomials in ,

It is well known that for functions , 1p∞. For general functions fL_p, it does not hold for 0<p<1, and its inverse is not true for any p in general. It has been shown in the literature, however, that for certain classes of functions the inverse is true, and the terms in the inequalities are all equivalent. Recently, Zhou and Zhou proved the equivalence for polynomials with p=∞. Using a technique by Ditzian, Hristov and Ivanov, we give a simpler proof to their result and extend it to the L_p space for 0<p∞. We then show its analogues for the Ditzian–Totik modulus of smoothness and the weighted Ditzian–Totik modulus of smoothness for polynomials with .     

Gauss-Hermite quadratures for functions from Hilbert spaces with Gaussian reproducing kernels

We study univariate integration with the Gaussian weight for a positive variance α. This is done for the reproducing kernel Hilbert space with the Gaussian kernel for a positive shape parameter γ. We study Gauss-Hermite quadratures, although this choice of quadratures may be questionable since polynomials do not belong to this space of functions. Nevertheless, we provide the explicit formula for the error of the Gauss-Hermite quadrature using n function values. In particular, for 2αγ ²<1 we have an exponential rate of convergence, and for 2αγ ²=1 we have no convergence, whereas for 2αγ ²>1 we have an exponential divergence.     

On finite lattice coverings

We consider finite lattice coverings of strictly convex bodies K. For planar centrally symmetric K we characterize the finite arrangements C _n such that conv , where C _n is a subset of a covering lattice for K (which satisfies some natural conditions). We prove that for a fixed lattice the optimal arrangement (measured with the parametric density) is either a sausage, a so-called double sausage or tends to a Wulff-shape, depending on the parameter. This shows that the Wulff-shape plays an important role for packings as well as for coverings. Further we give a version of this result for variable lattices. For the Euclidean d-ball we characterize the lattices, for which the optimal arrangement is a sausage, for large parameter. Received 19 May 1999.     

Lyapunov,Bézout,and Hankel

Given a polynomial f of degree n, we denote by C its companion matrix, and by S the truncated shift operator of order n. We consider Lyapunov-type equations of the form X?SXC=>W and X?CXS=W. We derive some properties of these equations which make it possible to characterize Bezoutian matrices as solutions of the first equation with suitable right-hand sides W (similarly for Hankel and the second equation) and to write down explicit expressions for these solutions. This yields explicit factorization formulae for polynomials in C, for the Schur-Cohn matrix, and for matrices satisfying certain intertwining relations, as well as for Bezoutian matrices.     

Graph classes and the complexity of the graph orientation minimizing the maximum weighted outdegree

Given an undirected graph with edge weights, we are asked to find an orientation, that is, an assignment of a direction to each edge, so as to minimize the weighted maximum outdegree in the resulted directed graph. The problem is called MMO, and is a restricted variant of the well-known minimum makespan problem. As in previous studies, it is shown that MMO is in P for trees, weak NP-hard for planar bipartite graphs, and strong NP-hard for general graphs. There are still gaps between those graph classes. The objective of this paper is to show tighter thresholds of complexity: We show that MMO is (i) in P for cactus graphs, (ii) weakly NP-hard for outerplanar graphs, and also (iii) strongly NP-hard for graphs which are both planar and bipartite. This implies the NP-hardness for P₄-bipartite, diamond-free or house-free graphs, each of which is a superclass of cactus. We also show (iv) the NP-hardness for series-parallel graphs and multi-outerplanar graphs, and (v) present a pseudo-polynomial time algorithm for graphs with bounded treewidth.     

Freshwater inflow requirements for the protection of the critical habitat and the drinking water sources in the Yangtze River Estuary,China

Freshwater inflow requirements (FIRs for short), which considered the requirements for protection of drinking water sources as well as the first-grade state protection wildlife (Acipenser sinensis) in larval periods, were analyzed in this paper for the Yangtze River Estuary, China. Based on the different levels of salinity objectives and the relationship between salinity and the freshwater inflows, the FIRs for the Yangtze River Estuary were determined. The estuary FIRs were determined based on the habitat ecosystem health from April to November with minimum and medium levels, from March to December with high level; and on the requirement of protection of drinking water sources in other months of the year, accordingly. Combined the salinity objectives of drinking water sources and critical habitat in the Yangtze River Estuary, the FIRs for the estuary are calculated to be 938.2 × 10⁹, 729.4 × 10⁹ and 615.5 × 10⁹ m³ in the whole year with different levels, which is equal to 100.8%, 78.4% and 66.2% of the average annual river discharge for the Yangtze River Estuary, respectively. Annual river discharges can satisfy the medium and minimum levels of FIRs for the estuary. However, the temporal variation of the actual runoff has distinct difference from the FIRs for the estuary in critical periods (May, July and August) for the habitat ecosystem, 5% of the FIRs for the estuary should be maintained from December to February for protection of drinking water sources.     

Global solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible flow with density-dependent viscosity and discontinuous initial data

In this paper, we study the evolutions of the interfaces between the gas and the vacuum for viscous one-dimensional isentropic gas motions. We prove the global existence and uniqueness for discontinuous solutions of the Navier-Stokes equations for compressible flow with density-dependent viscosity coefficient. Precisely, the viscosity coefficient μ is proportional to ρ^θ with 0<θ<1. Specifically, we require that the initial density be piecewise smooth with arbitrarily large jump discontinuities, bounded above and below away from zero, in the interior of gas. We show that the discontinuities in the density persist for all time, and give a decay result for the density as t→+∞.     

A priori bounds and weak solutions for the nonlinear Schrödinger equation in Sobolev spaces of negative order

Solutions to the Cauchy problem for the one-dimensional cubic nonlinear Schrödinger equation on the real line are studied in Sobolev spaces Hs, for s negative but close to 0. For smooth solutions there is an a priori upper bound for the Hs norm of the solution, in terms of the Hs norm of the datum, for arbitrarily large data, for sufficiently short time. Weak solutions are constructed for arbitrary initial data in Hs.     

On the modulus of continuity for spectral measures in substitution dynamics

The paper gives first quantitative estimates on the modulus of continuity of the spectral measure for weak mixing suspension flows over substitution automorphisms, which yield information about the “fractal” structure of these measures. The main results are, first, a Hölder estimate for the spectral measure of almost all suspension flows with a piecewise constant roof function; second, a log-Hölder estimate for self-similar suspension flows; and, third, a Hölder asymptotic expansion of the spectral measure at zero for such flows. Our second result implies log-Hölder estimates for the spectral measures of translation flows along stable foliations of pseudo-Anosov automorphisms. A key technical tool in the proof of the second result is an “arithmetic-Diophantine” proposition, which has other applications. In Appendix A this proposition is used to derive new decay estimates for the Fourier transforms of Bernoulli convolutions.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">K</Emphasis><Subscript>4</Subscript>-free subgraphs of random graphs revisited

In Combinatorica 17(2), 1997, Kohayakawa, ?uczak and Rödl state a conjecture which has several implications for random graphs. If the conjecture is true, then, for example, an application of a version of Szemerédi’s regularity lemma for sparse graphs yields an estimation of the maximal number of edges in an H-free subgraph of a random graph G _{n, p} . In fact, the conjecture may be seen as a probabilistic embedding lemma for partitions guaranteed by a version of Szemerédi’s regularity lemma for sparse graphs. In this paper we verify the conjecture for H = K ₄, thereby providing a conceptually simple proof for the main result in the paper cited above.     

Interpolation error estimates in W 1,p for degenerate Q 1 isoparametric elements

Optimal order error estimates in H ¹, for the Q ₁ isoparametric interpolation were obtained in Acosta and Durán (SIAM J Numer Anal37, 18–36, 1999) for a very general class of degenerate convex quadrilateral elements. In this work we show that the same conlusions are valid in W ^1,p for 1≤ p < 3 and we give a counterexample for the case p ≥ 3, showing that the result cannot be generalized for more regular functions. Despite this fact, we show that optimal order error estimates are valid for any p ≥ 1, keeping the interior angles of the element bounded away from 0 and π, independently of the aspect ratio. We also show that the restriction on the maximum angle is sharp for p ≥ 3.     

A New Lower Bound on the Number of Odd Values of the Ordinary Partition Function

The parity of p(n), the ordinary partition function, has been studied for at least a century, yet it still remains something of a mystery. Although much work has been done, the known lower bounds for the number of even and odd values of p(n) for n ≤ N still appear to have a great deal of room for improvement. In this paper, we use classical methods to give a new lower bound for the number of odd values of p(n).