Frequency–energy plots of steady-state solutions for forced and damped systems,and vibration isolation by nonlinear mode localization

We study the structure of the periodic steady-state solutions of forced and damped strongly nonlinear coupled oscillators in the frequency–energy domain by constructing forced and damped frequency – energy plots (FEPs). Specifically, we analyze the steady periodic responses of a two degree-of-freedom system consisting of a grounded forced linear damped oscillator weakly coupled to a strongly nonlinear attachment under condition of 1:1 resonance. By performing complexification/averaging analysis we develop analytical approximations for strongly nonlinear steady-state responses. As an application, we examine vibration isolation of a harmonically forced linear oscillator by transferring and confining the steady-state vibration energy to the weakly coupled strongly nonlinear attachment, thereby drastically reducing its steady-state response. By comparing the nonlinear steady-state response of the linear oscillator to its corresponding frequency response function in the absence of a nonlinear attachment we demonstrate the efficacy of drastic vibration reduction through steady-state nonlinear targeted energy transfer. Hence, our study has practical implications for the effective passive vibration isolation of forced oscillators.     

Numerical proof of stability of roll waves in the small-amplitude limit for inclined thin film flow

We present a rigorous numerical proof based on interval arithmetic computations categorizing the linearized and nonlinear stability of periodic viscous roll waves of the KdV–KS equation modeling weakly unstable flow of a thin fluid film on an incline in the small-amplitude KdV limit. The argument proceeds by verification of a stability condition derived by Bar–Nepomnyashchy and Johnson–Noble–Rodrigues–Zumbrun involving inner products of various elliptic functions arising through the KdV equation. One key point in the analysis is a bootstrap argument balancing the extremely poor sup norm bounds for these functions against the extremely good convergence properties for analytic interpolation in order to obtain a feasible computation time. Another is the way of handling analytic interpolation in several variables by a two-step process carving up the parameter space into manageable pieces for rigorous evaluation. These and other general aspects of the analysis should serve as blueprints for more general analyses of spectral stability.     

Lagrangian distributions and connections in multisymplectic and polysymplectic geometry

We discuss the interplay between lagrangian distributions and connections in (generalized) symplectic geometry, beginning with the traditional case of symplectic manifolds and then passing to the more general context of poly- and multisymplectic structures on fiber bundles, which is relevant for the covariant hamiltonian formulation of classical field theory. In particular, we generalize Weinstein?s tubular neighborhood theorem for symplectic manifolds carrying a (simple) lagrangian foliation to this situation. In all cases, the Bott connection, or an appropriately extended version thereof, plays a central role.     

A distance on curves modulo rigid transformations

We propose a geometric method for quantifying the difference between parametrized curves in Euclidean space by introducing a distance function on the space of parametrized curves up to rigid transformations (rotations and translations). Given two curves, the distance between them is defined as the infimum of an energy functional which, roughly speaking, measures the extent to which the jet field of the first curve needs to be rotated to match up with the jet field of the second curve. We show that this energy functional attains a global minimum on the appropriate function space, and we derive a set of first-order ODEs for the minimizer.     

Dynamical analysis and control strategies on malware propagation model

A variable infection rate is more realistic to forecast dynamical behaviors of malware (malicious software) propagation. In this paper, we propose a time-delayed SIRS model by introducing temporal immunity and the variable infection rate. The basic reproductive number R₀ which determines whether malware dies out is obtained. Furthermore, using time delay as a bifurcation parameter, some necessary and sufficient conditions ensuring Hopf bifurcation to occur for this model are derived. Finally, numerical simulations verify the correctness of theoretical results. Most important of all, we investigate the effect of the variable infection rate on the scale of malware prevalence and compare our model with stationary analytical model by simulation. According to simulating results, some strategies that control malware rampant are given, which may be incorporated into cost-effective antivirus policies for organizations to work quite well in practice.     

Prospective elementary teachers’ claiming in responses to false generalizations

When faced with a false generalization and a counterexample, what types of claims do prospective K-8 teachers make, and what factors influence the type and prudence of their claims relative to the data, observations, and arguments reported? This article addresses that question. Responses to refutation tasks and cognitive interviews were used to explore claiming. It was found that prospective K-8 teachers’ claiming can be influenced by knowledge of argumentation; knowledge and use of the mathematical practice of exception barring; perceptions of the task; use of natural language; knowledge of, use of, and skill with the mathematics register; and abilities to technically handle data or conceptual insights. A distinction between technical handlings for developing claims and technical handlings for supporting claims was made. It was found that prudent claims can arise from arguer-developed representations that afford conceptual insights, even when searching for support for a different claim.     

Integral geometry of translation invariant functionals,II: The case of general convex bodies

In continuation of Part I, we study translative integral formulas for certain translation invariant functionals, which are defined on general convex bodies. Again, we consider local extensions and use these to show that the translative formulas extend to arbitrary continuous and translation invariant valuations. Then, we discuss applications to Poisson particle processes and Boolean models which contain, as a special case, some new results for flag measures.     

Projective embeddings of dual polar spaces arising from a class of alternative division rings

We discuss some recent results of us regarding a class of polar spaces which includes the nonembeddable polar spaces introduced by Tits [Tits, J., “Buildings of spherical type and finite BN-pairs,” Lecture Notes in Mathematics 386, Springer-Verlag, Berlin-New York, 1974]. These results include an elementary construction of the polar space, a construction of a polarized embedding of the corresponding dual polar space and the determination whether this projective embedding is universal and unique (as a polarized embedding).