On the measurability of functions with quasi-continuous and upper semi-continuous vertical sections

Let f: ?² → ? be a function with upper semicontinuous and quasi-continuous vertical sections f _x (t) = f(x, t), t, x ∈ ?. It is proved that if the horizontal sections f ^y (t) = f(t, y), y, t ∈ ?, are of Baire class α (resp. Lebesgue measurable) [resp. with the Baire property] then f is of Baire class α + 2 (resp. Lebesgue measurable and sup-measurable) [resp. has Baire property].     

The motion of a cylinder-rod system on a horizontal plane: Path controllability and closed-loop control

This work deals with the guidance and control of a system which is composed of a rolling cylinder and a controlled slender rod that is pivoted, through its center of mass, about the cylinder's center. Given a finite time interval [0, t_f], and let P₁ and P₂ be two points in the (X, Y)-plane. The problem dealt with here is to find a closed-loop control law for the cylinder-rod system such that:

• 1.(i) the cylinder center will move from P₁ to P₂ during [0, t_f] and will come to rest at P₂, and
• 2.(ii) the rod will rotate from an angle ψ21 to ψ22 during [0, t_f] and will stop to rotate at t = t_f.

By introducing the concept of path controllability, a closed-loop control law for the solution of the above-posed problem is proposed and its efficiency is demonstrated by solving numerically some examples.     

Positive solutions of a nonlinear initial-value problem on half-line

The nonlinear initial-value problemu″(t)+f(t,u(t))=0,u(t ₀)+bu′(t ₀)=c,t ₀≥0,b≤0,c≥0, is considered for positive solutions on [t ₀, ∞). Existence of positive solutions is proved without the hypothesis thatf(t, ω)≥0 (or ≤0), using the lattice fixed point theorem. A monotonicity condition inf(t, ω) is used to prove the uniqueness of the solution of the initial-value problem. Whenf(t, ω)≥0 (or ≤0), uniqueness is also obtained under a sublinearity condition onf(t, ω).     

Navigation and control of the motion of a riderless bicycle by using a simplified dynamic model

This work deals with the guidance and control of a riderless bicycle (see Figure 1). Given two points P₁ and p₂ in the horizontal plane and a finite time interval [0, t_f]. Denote by (x₁,y₁,z₁) the coordinates of the center of the bicycle's rear wheel. Based on a simplified dynamical model of the bicycle, and by using the concept of path controllability, control laws are derived for the bicycle's pedalling moment and directional moment such that (x₁,y₁) will move from p₁ to P₂ during the time interval [0, t_f].     

Almost periodic solutions of second-order neutral delay-differential equations with piecewise constant arguments

In this paper, we present an existence theorem of almost periodic solutions of second-order neutral delay-differential equations with piecewise constant arguments of the form (x(t)+x(t−1))″=qx([t])+f(t), where [·] denotes the greatest integer function, q is a nonzero constant, and f(t) is almost periodic.     

Lipschitz lower sigma-exponents of linear differential systems

For the lower sigma-exponent of the linear differential system ? = A(t)x, x ∈ R ⁿ , t ≥ 0, defined by the formula Δ_σ(A) ≡ inf_λ[Q]≤-σ λ ₁(A + Q), σ > 0, on the basis of the lower characteristic exponents λ ₁(A+Q) of perturbed linear systems with Lyapunov exponents λ[Q] ≤ ?σ < 0 of perturbations Q, we prove the following general form as a function of the parameter σ > 0. For any nondecreasing bounded function f(σ) of the parameter σ ∈ (0,+∞) that coincides with a constant on some infinite interval (σ ₀,+∞), σ ₀ ≥ 0, and satisfies the Lipschitz condition on the complementary interval (0, σ ₀], we prove the existence of a linear system with coefficient matrix A _f (t) bounded on the half-line [0,+∞) whose lower sigma-exponent Δ_σ(A _f ) coincides with the function f(σ) on the entire interval (0,+∞).     

Second-order neutral delay-differential equations with piecewise constant time dependence

We find conditions for the existence and uniqueness of almost periodic solutions of second-order neutral delay-differential equations with almost periodic time dependence of the form (x(t)+px(t−1))″=qx([t])+f(t); here [·] is the greatest integer function, p and q are nonzero constants, and f(t) is Bohr almost periodic.     

Weak subordination for convex univalent harmonic functions

For two complex-valued harmonic functions f and F defined in the open unit disk Δ with f(0)=F(0)=0, we say f is weakly subordinate to F if f(Δ)⊂F(Δ). Furthermore, if we let E be a possibly infinite interval, a function with f(⋅,t) harmonic in Δ and f(0,t)=0 for each t∈E is said to be a weak subordination chain if f(Δ,t₁)⊂f(Δ,t₂) whenever t₁,t₂∈E and t₁<t₂. In this paper, we construct a weak subordination chain of convex univalent harmonic functions using a harmonic de la Vallée Poussin mean and a modified form of Pommerenke's criterion for a subordination chain of analytic functions.     

Lyapunov exponents of solutions to linear differential equations with periodic forcing functions

We give Lyapunov exponents of solutions to linear differential equations of the form x^′=Ax+f(t), where A is a complex matrix and f(t) is a τ-periodic continuous function. Notice that f(t) is not “small” as t→∞. The proof is essentially based on a representation [J. Kato, T. Naito, J.S. Shin, A characterization of solutions in linear differential equations with periodic forcing functions, J. Difference Equ. Appl. 11 (2005) 1-19] of solutions to the above equation.     

Liouville-Green asymptotic approximation for a class of matrix differential equations and semi-discretized partial differential equations

A Liouville-Green (or WKB) asymptotic approximation theory is developed for the class of linear second-order matrix differential equations Y^″=[f(t)A+G(t)]Y on [a,+∞), where A and G(t) are matrices and f(t) is scalar. This includes the case of an “asymptotically constant” (not necessarily diagonalizable) coefficient A (when f(t)≡1). An explicit representation for a basis of the right-module of solutions is given, and precise computable bounds for the error terms are provided. The double asymptotic nature with respect to both t and some parameter entering the matrix coefficient is also shown. Several examples, some concerning semi-discretized wave and convection-diffusion equations, are given.     

A remark on Schrödinger operators

We study the almost everythere convergence to the initial dataf(x)=u(x, 0) of the solutionu(x, t) of the two-dimensional linear Schrödinger equation Δu=i? _t u. The main result is thatu(x, t) →f(x) almost everywhere fort → 0 iff ∈H ^p (R²), wherep may be chosen <1/2. To get this result (improving on Vega’s work, see [6]), we devise a strategy to capture certain cancellations, which we believe has other applications in related problems.     

Singular Volterra integral equations

Existence results are presented for the singular Volterra integral equation y(t) = h(t) + ∫₀^t k(t, s) f(s, y(s)) ds, for t ∈ [0,T]. Here f may be singular at y = 0. As a consequence new results are presented for the n^th order singular initial value problem.     

Oscillation of solutions of second-order neutral delay differential equations with integrable coefficients

Some necessary conditions are established for the nonoscillation of solutions of the second-order neutral delay differential equation [a(t)(x (t) + p(t)x(t − τ)′]′ + q(t)f(x(t − σ)) = 0. Using these results, we obtain some oscillation criteria for the above equation.     

Diameter vulnerability of graphs by edge deletion

Let f(t,k) be the maximum diameter of graphs obtained by deleting t edges from a (t+1)-edge-connected graph with diameter k. This paper shows for t≥4, which corrects an improper result in [C. Peyrat, Diameter vulnerability of graphs, Discrete Appl. Math. 9 (3) (1984) 245-250] and also determines f(2,k)=3k−1 and f(3,k)=4k−2 for k≥3.     

行和列和为常量的(0,1)-矩阵的计数

Let fs,t(m,n) be the number of (0,1) - matrices of size m x n such that each row has exactly s ones and each column has exactly t ones (sm = nt). How to determine fs,t(m,n)? As R. P. Stanley has observed (Enumerative CombinatoricsⅠ(1997), Example 1.1.3), the determination of fs,t(m, n) is an unsolved problem, except for very small s, t. In this paper the closed formulas for f2,2(n,n), f3,2(m,n), f4,2(m,n) are given. And recursion formulas and generating functions are discussed.     

Newton-type methods of high order and domains of semilocal and global convergence

We present the geometric construction of some classical iterative methods that have global convergence and “infinite” speed of convergence when they are applied to solve certain nonlinear equations f(t)=0. In particular, for nonlinear equations with the degree of logarithmic convexity of f^′, L_f^′(t)=f^′(t)f^?(t)/f^″(t)², is constant, a family of Newton-type iterative methods of high orders of convergence is constructed. We see that this family of iterations includes the classical iterative methods. The convergence of the family is studied in the real line and the complex plane, and domains of semilocal and global convergence are located.     

Oscillation theorems for second-order nonlinear differential equations with damped term

Several oscillation criteria are given for the second-order damped nonlinear differential equation (a(t)[y′(t)]^σ′i +p(t)[y′(t)]^σ +q(t)f(y(t)) = 0, where σ > 0 is any quotient of odd integers, a ϵ C(R, (0, ∞)), p(t) and q(t) are allowed to change sign on [t_o, ∞), and f ϵ Cl (R, R) such that xf (x) > 0 for x≠0. Our results improve and extend some known oscillation criteria. Examples are inserted to illustrate our results.     

Existence of nonoscillatory solutions to neutral dynamic equations on time scales

In this paper, we give an analogue of the Arzela-Ascoli theorem on time scales. Then, we establish the existence of nonoscillatory solutions to the neutral dynamic equation Δ[x(t)+p(t)x(g(t))]+f(t,x(h(t)))=0 on a time scale. To dwell upon the importance of our results, three interesting examples are also included.