Sieve-equivalence and explicit bijections

Suppose A₁,…, A_n are subsets of a finite set A, and B₁,…, B_n are subsets of a finite set B. For each subset S of N = {1, 2,…, n}, let A_s = ∩_i?SA_i and B_S = ∩_i?SB_i. It is shown that if explicit bijections f_S:A_S → B_S for each S ? N are given, an explicit bijection h:A-∪_i=1A_i→B-∪_i=1B_i can be constructed. The map h is independent of any ordering of the elements of A and B, and of the order in which the subsets A_i and B_i are listed.     

On separating systems whose elements are sets of at most k elements

A system A₁,…,A_m of subsets of X?{1,…,n} is called a separating system if for any two distinct elements of X there is a set A_i (1?i?m) that contains exactly one of the two elements. We investigate separating systems where each set A_i has at most k elements and we are looking for minimal separating systems, that means separating systems with the least number of subsets. We call this least number m(n,k). Katona has proved good bounds on m(n,k) but his proof is very complicated. We give a shorter and easier proof. In doing so we slightly improve the upper bound of Katona.     

Group of units of group algebras

By a right (left resp.) S_2n-polynomial we mean a multilinear polynomial f(X₁,…, X_t) over the ring of integers with noncommuting in-determinates X_isuch that for any prime ring R if f( X₁,…, X _t) is a PI of some nonzero right (left resp.) ideal of R, then R satisfies S_2nthe standard identity of degree 2n. In this paper we prove the theorem:Let R be a prime ring, d a nonzero derivation of R, L a noncommutative Lie ideal of R and f(X₁,…, X_t) a right or left S_2n-polynomial. Suppose that f(d( u₁)ⁿ¹,…,d(u_t)^nt)=0 for all u_iu,_i[d] L, where n₁,…,n_tare fixed positive integers. Then R satisfies S_2n+2. Also, the one-sided version of the theorem is given.     

On the posterior distribution of a dirichlet process given randomly right censored observations

The purpose of this note is to show that the conditional distribution of a Dirichlet process P given n independent observations X₁… X_n from P and belonging to measurable sets A₁,… A_n with A₁ ? A₁₊₁ for i=1,… n=1 is a mixture of Dirichlet processes as introduced by Antoniak. It is also shown that this result is applicable in Bayesin decision problems concerning a random survival distribution under Dirichlet process priors.     

A generalized coupon collecting model as a parsimonious optimal stochastic assignment model

There is a given set of n boxes, numbered 1 thru n. Coupons are collected one at a time. Each coupon has a binary vector x ₁,…,x _n attached to it, with the interpretation being that the coupon is eligible to be put in box i if x _i =1,i=1…,n. After a coupon is collected, it is put in a box for which it is eligible. Assuming the successive coupon vectors are independent and identically distributed from a specified joint distribution, the initial problem of interest is to decide where to put successive coupons so as to stochastically minimize N, the number of coupons needed until all boxes have at least one coupon. When the coupon vector X ₁,…,X _n is a vector of independent random variables, we show, if P(X _i =1) is nondecreasing in i, that the policy π that always puts an arriving coupon in the smallest numbered empty box for which it is eligible is optimal. Efficient simulation procedures for estimating P _π (N>r) and E _π [N] are presented; and analytic bounds are determined in the independent case. We also consider the problem where rearrangements are allowed.     

On a characterization of irreducibility of a non-negative matrix

Let A denote an n×n matrix with all its elements real and non-negative, and let r_i be the sum of the elements in the ith row of A, i=1,…,n. Let B=A?D(r₁,…,r_n), where D(r₁,…,r_n) is the diagonal matrix with r_i at the position (i,i). Then it is proved that A is irreducible if and only if rank B=n?1 and the null space of B^T contains a vector d whose entries are all non-null.     

Subsets of a finite set that intersect each other in at most one element

In this paper we study de Bruijn-Erdös type theorems that deal with the foundations of finite geometries. The following theorem is one of our main conclusions. Let S₁,…, S_n be n subsets of an n-set S. Suppose that |S_i| ? 3 (i = 1,…,n) and that |S_i ∩ S_j| ? 1 (i ≠ j;i,j = 1,…,n). Suppose further that each S_i has nonempty intersection with at least n ? 2 of the other subsets. Then the subsets S₁,…,S_n of S are one of the following configurations. (1) They are a finite projective plane. (2) They are a symmetric group divisible design and each subset has nonempty intersection with exactly n ? 2 of the other subsets. (3) We have n = 9 or n = 10 and in each case there exists a unique configuration that does not satisfy (1) or (2).     

Cross-intersecting sub-families of hereditary families

Families A₁,A₂,…,Ak of sets are said to be cross-intersecting if for any i and j in {1,2,…,k} with i≠j, any set in Ai intersects any set in Aj. For a finite set X, let X² denote the power set of X (the family of all subsets of X). A family H is said to be hereditary if all subsets of any set in H are in H; so H is hereditary if and only if it is a union of power sets. We conjecture that for any non-empty hereditary sub-family H≠{∅} of X² and any k?|X|+1, both the sum and the product of sizes of k cross-intersecting sub-families A₁,A₂,…,Ak (not necessarily distinct or non-empty) of H are maxima if A₁=A₂=?=Ak=S for some largest starSofH (a sub-family of H whose sets have a common element). We prove this for the case when H is compressed with respect to an element x of X, and for this purpose we establish new properties of the usual compression operation. As we will show, for the sum, the condition k?|X|+1 is sharp. However, for the product, we actually conjecture that the configuration A₁=A₂=?=Ak=S is optimal for any hereditary H and any k?2, and we prove this for a special case.     

Exponential sums and rectangular partitions

Let F denote a finite field with q=p^f elements, and let σ(A) equal the trace of the square matrix A. This paper evaluates exponential sums of the form S(E,X₁,…,X_n)e{?σ(CX₁?X_nE)}, where S(E,X₁,…,X_n) denotes a summation over all matrices E,X₁,…,X_n of appropriate sizes over F, and C is a fixed matrix. This evaluation is then applied to the problem of counting ranked solutions to matrix equations of the form U₁?U_αA+DV₁?V_β=B where A,B,D are fixed matrices over F.     

Presentations of alternating semigroups

One presentation of the alternating groupA _n hasn?2 generatorss ₁,…,s_n?2 and relationss ₁ ³ =s _i ² =(s_1?1s_i)³=(s_js_k)²=1, wherei>1 and |j?k|>1. Against this backdrop, a presentation of the alternating semigroupA _n ^c )A _n is introduced: It hasn?1 generatorss ₁,…,S _n?2,e, theA _n-relations (above), and relationse ²=e, (es ₁)⁴, (es _j)²=(es _j)⁴,es _i=s _i s ₁ ^-1 es ₁, wherej>1 andi≥1.     

General theorems on rates of convergence in distribution of random variables I. General limit theorems

Let (X_n)_n?$\text{N}$ be a sequence of real, independent, not necessarily identically distributed random variables (r.v.) with distribution functions F_Xn, and S_n = Σ_i=1ⁿX_i. The authors present limit theorems together with convergence rates for the normalized sums ?(n)S_n, where ?: $\text{N}$ → $\text{R}$⁺, ?(n) → 0, n → ∞, towards appropriate limiting r.v. X, the convergence being taken in the weak (star) sense. Thus higher order estimates are given for the expression ∝_$\text{R}$f(x) d[F_?(n)Sn(x) ? F_X(x)] which depend upon the normalizing function ?, decomposability properties of X and smoothness properties of the function f under consideration. The general theorems of this unified approach subsume O- and o-higher order error estimates based upon assumptions on associated moments. These results are also extended to multi-dimensional random vectors.     

An extremal problem among subsets of a set

We determine the maximum size of a family of subsets in {1, 2,…, n} with the property that if A₁, A₂, A₃,… are any members of the family with $\text{∩A}{}_{\mathrm{i}}\text{= ?}$, then ∪A_i = {1, 2,…, n}.     

Proof of Gromov’s theorem on homogeneous nilpotent approximation for vector fields of class C 1

The article is devoted to the asymptotic properties of the vector fields $\tilde X_i^g $ , i = 1, …, N, θ _g -connected with C ¹-smooth basis vector fields {X _i } _i=1,…,N satisfying condition (+ deg). We prove a theorem of Gromov on the homogeneous nilpotent approximation for vector fields of classC ¹. Nontrivial examples are constructed of quasimetrics induced by vector fields {X _i } _{i=1, …, N} .     

Intersection patterns of convex sets

LetK ₁,…K_n be convex sets inR ^d. For 0≦i denote byf _ithe number of subsetsS of {1,2,…,n} of cardinalityi+1 that satisfy ∩{K _i∶i∈S}≠Ø. We prove:Theorem.If f _d+r=0 for somer r>=0, then {fx161-1} This inequality was conjectured by Katchalski and Perles. Equality holds, e.g., ifK ₁=…=K_r=R^d andK _r+1,…,K_n aren?r hyperplanes in general position inR ^d. The proof uses multilinear techniques (exterior algebra). Applications to convexity and to extremal set theory are given.     

Permanence and Positive Periodic Solutions for Kolmogorov Competing Species Systems

We prove the existence of periodic solutions in a compact attractor of (R⁺)ⁿ for the Kolmogorov system x′_i = x_if_i(t, x₁, …, x_n), i = l, …, n in the competitive case. Extension to differential delay equations are con- sidered too. Applications are given to Lotka-Volterra systems with periodic coefficients.     

On maximal antichains consisting of sets and their complements

Let 1 ? k₁ ? k₂ ? … ? k_n be integers and let S denote the set of all vectors x = (x₁, x₂, …, x_n) with integral coordinates satisfying 0 ? x_i ? k_i, i = 1, 2, …, n. The complement of x is (k₁ ? x₁, k₂ ? x₂, …, k_n ? x_n) and a subset X of S is an antichain provided that for any two distinct elements x, y of X, the inequalities x_i ? y_i, i = 1, 2, …, n, do not all hold. We determine an LYM inequality and the maximal cardinality of an antichain consisting of vectors and its complements. Also a generalization of the Erdös-Ko-Rado theorem is given.     

Multiplicative infinite loop space theory

Let G be a finitely presented group given by its pre-abelian presentation <X1,…,Xm; Xe11ζ1,…,Xemmζ,ζm+1,…>, where ei≥0 for i = 1,…, m and ζj?G′ for j≥1. Let N be the subgroup of G generated by the normal subgroups [xeii, G] for i = 1,…, m. Then Dn+2(G)≡γn+2(G) (modNG′) for all n≥0, where G” is the second commutator subgroup of G,γn+2(G) is the (n+2)th term of the lower central series of G and Dn+2(G) = G∩(1+△n+2(G)) is the (n+2)th dimension subgroup of G.     

Some comments on fuzzy variables

Nahmias introduced the concept of a fuzzy variable as a possible axiomatic framework from which a rigorous theory of fuzziness may be constructed. In this paper we attempt to shed more light on fuzzy variables in analogy with random variables. In particular, we study the problem: if X₁, X₂,…,X_n are mutually unrelated fuzzy variables with common membership function μ and α₁, α₂,…,α_n are real numbers satisfying α_i ? o for every i and Σ_i=1ⁿα_i=1, when does does Z = Σ_{i = 1}ⁿα_iX_i have the same membership function μ?     

Sperner systems consisting of pairs of complementary subsets

It was proved by Erdös, Ko, and Radó (Intersection theorems for systems of finite sets, Quart. J. Math. Oxford Ser.12 (1961), 313–320.) that if $\text{A}$ = {;A₁,…, A_l}; consists of k-subsets of a set with n > 2k elements such that A_i ∩ A_j ≠ ? for all i, j then l ? (_k?1^n?1). Schönheim proved that if A₁, …, A_l are subsets of a set S with n elements such that A_i ? A_j, A_i ∩ A_j ≠ ø and A_i ∪ A_j ≠ S for all i ≠ j then $\text{l ? (}{}_{\mathrm{<mtext>[</mtext><mtext>n</mtext><mtext>2</mtext><mtext>]\; ?\; 1</mtext>}}{}^{\mathrm{n\; ?\; 1}}\text{)}$. In this note we prove a common strengthening of these results.     

Frame cellular automata: Configurations, generating sets and related matroids

We introduce a frame cellular automaton as a broad generalization of an earlier study on quasigroup-defined cellular automata. It consists of a triple (F,R,E_F) where, for a given finite set X of cells, the frame F is a family of subsets of X (called elementary frames, denoted S_i, i=1,…,n), which is a cover of X. A matching configuration is a map which attributes to each cell a state in a finite set G under restriction of a set of local rules R={R_i∣i=1,…n}, where R_i holds in the elementary frame S_i and is determined by an (|S_i|-1)-ary quasigroup over G. The frame associated map E_F models how a matching configuration can be grown iteratively from a certain initial cell-set. General properties of frames and related matroids are investigated. A generating set S⊂X is a set of cells such that there is a bijection between the collection of matching configurations and G^S. It is shown that for certain frames, the algebraically defined generating sets are bases of a related geometric-combinatorially defined matroid.