Arithmetic partial differential equations, II

We continue the study of arithmetic partial differential equations initiated in [7] by classifying “arithmetic convection equations” on modular curves, and by describing their space of solutions. Certain of these solutions involve the Fourier expansions of the Eisenstein modular forms of weight 4 and 6, while others involve the Serre-Tate expansions (Mori, 1995 [13], Buium, 2003 [4]) of the same modular forms; in this sense, our arithmetic convection equations can be seen as “unifying” the two types of expansions. The theory can be generalized to one of “arithmetic heat equations” on modular curves, but we prove that they do not carry “arithmetic wave equations.” Finally, we prove an instability result for families of arithmetic heat equations converging to an arithmetic convection equation.     

How ordinary elimination became Gaussian elimination

Newton, in notes that he would rather not have seen published, described a process for solving simultaneous equations that later authors applied specifically to linear equations. This method — which Euler did not recommend, which Legendre called “ordinary,” and which Gauss called “common” — is now named after Gauss: “Gaussian” elimination. Gauss’s name became associated with elimination through the adoption, by professional computers, of a specialized notation that Gauss devised for his own least-squares calculations. The notation allowed elimination to be viewed as a sequence of arithmetic operations that were repeatedly optimized for hand computing and eventually were described by matrices.     

Beginners’ progress in early arithmetic in the Swedish compulsory school

This article focuses on spontaneous knowledge-building in the field of “the arithmetic of the child.” The aim is to investigate the conceptual progress of fifteen children during their early school years in the compulsory school. The study is based on the epistemology of radical constructivism and the methodology of “multiple clinical interviews”. A model of “the arithmetic of the child” elucidates mental structures used by the child in solving problems. The individual interviews are video-recorded. The results show that the children's solutions are compatible with the model. When the researcher adapts problems to the children's available concepts to bring out their capability, they all solve them in their own ways. Further, the conceptual levels of the children differ to a great extent at school start and do not all show conceptual progress after 2 years of traditional teaching. An implication for an alternative teaching process is suggested, namely “the arithmetic for the child”, accomplished in a triadic teaching process.     

Interval modeling of dynamics for multibody systems

Modeling of multibody systems is an important though demanding field of application for interval arithmetic. Interval modeling of dynamics is particularly challenging, not least because of the differential equations which have to be solved in the process. Most modeling tools transform these equations into a (non-autonomous) initial value problem, interval algorithms for solving of which are known. The challenge then consists in finding interfaces between these algorithms and the modeling tools. This includes choosing between “symbolic” and “numerical” modeling environments, transforming the usually non-autonomous resulting system into an autonomous one, ensuring conformity of the new interval version to the old numerical, etc. In this paper, we focus on modeling multibody systems’ dynamics with the interval extension of the “numerical” environment MOBILE, discuss the techniques which make the uniform treatment of interval and non-interval modeling easier, comment on the wrapping effect, and give reasons for our choice of MOBILE by comparing the results achieved with its help with those obtained by analogous symbolic tools.     

Integral equations and initial value problems for nonlinear differential equations of fractional order

We discuss the solvability of integral equations associated with initial value problems for a nonlinear differential equation of fractional order. The differential operator is the Caputo fractional derivative and the inhomogeneous term depends on the fractional derivative of lower orders. We obtain the existence of at least one solution for integral equations using the Leray–Schauder Nonlinear Alternative for several types of initial value problems. In addition, using the Banach contraction principle, we establish sufficient conditions for unique solutions. Our approach in obtaining integral equations is the “reduction” of the fractional order of the integro-differential equations based on certain semigroup properties of the Caputo operator.     

Low Mach number limit of viscous polytropic fluid flows

This paper studies the singular limit of the non-isentropic Navier-Stokes equations with zero thermal coefficient in a two-dimensional bounded domain as the Mach number goes to zero. A uniform existence result is obtained in a time interval independent of the Mach number, provided that the initial data satisfy the “bounded derivative conditions”, that is, the time derivatives up to order two are bounded initially, and Navier?s slip boundary condition is imposed.     

Competitive dynamics of e-commerce web sites

The characteristic of “rich gets richer” is much more conspicuous on the Internet, which is the important cause of “power-law” characteristic of the “winner-takes-all” markets. A competitive model of e-commerce web sites is presented in order to explore the effects of competition and the characteristic of “rich gets richer” on Internet economy, and also to investigate how the “winner-takes-all” phenomenon comes forth. Then these ordinary differential equations are qualitatively analyzed and numerically simulated to study the dynamics of competition. The effects of parameters on the dynamic behavior in the model are also discussed.     

Teaching arithmetic to low-performing, low-SES first graders

To develop their logico-mathematical foundation of number as described by Piaget (1947/1950, 1967/1971, 1971/1974), 26 low-performing, low-SES first graders were given physical-knowledge activities (e.g., Pick-Up Sticks and “bowling”) during the math hour instead of math instruction. During the second half of the school year, when they showed “readiness” for arithmetic, the children were given arithmetic games and word problems that stimulated the exchange of viewpoints. At the end of the year, the children in the experimental group were compared with a similar (low-performing, low-SES) group of 20 first graders who received traditional exercises focusing narrowly on number (e.g., counting objects, making one-to-one correspondences, and answering questions like 2 + 2). The experimental group was found to be superior both in mental arithmetic and in logical reasoning as revealed by word problems.     

Homological symbols and the Quillen conjecture

We formulate a “correct” version of the Quillen conjecture on linear group homology for certain arithmetic rings and provide evidence for the new conjecture. In this way we predict that the linear group homology has a direct summand looking like an unstable form of Milnor K-theory and we call this new theory “homological symbols algebra”. As a byproduct, we prove the Quillen conjecture in homological degree two for the rank two and the prime 5.     

Exploring the critical pillars and causal relations within the NRI: An innovative approach

The Global Information Technology Report released by the World Economic Forum (WEF) has employed networked readiness index (NRI) to measure the global competitiveness of a country’s information and communication technologies (ICT) diffusion. The final NRI overall scores were measured by an arithmetic mean aggregation of the composite pillars scores, which implicitly assumed that all the pillars have constant weights. The Report did not explore the critical pillars and causal relations for better decision making. To add values to this Report, the objective of this paper is to propose an innovative approach by using data mining techniques and partial least squares path modeling to scrutinize the critical pillars within the NRI and to further explore the causal relations amongst them. An empirical analysis based on the latest Report (2009-2010) is carried out. The results show that “business usage,” “business readiness,” and “market environment” are the three root drivers—critical pillars to manipulate the NRI overall scores; whereas “government readiness,” which is further mostly affected by the “government usage,” is the foremost enabler to the NRI overall scores. Based on the results, policy makers are suggested to allocate limited resources with priority to the three root drivers and one foremost enabler to frog-leap the global competitiveness of national ICT diffusion.     

Beyond Cartesian limits: Leibniz's passage from algebraic to “transcendental” mathematics

This article deals with Leibniz's reception of Descartes' “geometry.” Leibnizian mathematics was based on five fundamental notions: calculus, characteristic, art of invention, method, and freedom. On the basis of methodological considerations Leibniz criticized Descartes' restriction of geometry to objects that could be given in terms of algebraic (i.e., finite) equations: “Descartes's mind was the limit of science.” The failure of algebra to solve equations of higher degree led Leibniz to develop linear algebra, and the failure of algebra to deal with transcendental problems led him to conceive of a science of the infinite. Hence Leibniz reconstructed the mathematical corpus, created new (transcendental) notions, and redefined known notions (equality, exactness, construction), thus establishing “a veritable complement of algebra for the transcendentals”: infinite equations, i.e., infinite series, became inestimable tools of mathematical research.     

Exchange lemmas 1: Deng's lemma

Deng's lemma gives estimates on the behavior of solutions of ordinary differential equations in the neighborhood of a partially hyperbolic equilibrium. We prove a generalization in which “partially hyperbolic equilibrium” is replaced by “normally hyperbolic invariant manifold.”     

A generalization of gamma functions and Kronecker's limit formulas

We obtain a “Kronecker limit formula” for the Epstein zeta function. This is done by introducing a generalized gamma function attached to the Epstein zeta function. The methods involve generalizing ideas of Shintani and Stark. We first show that a generalized gamma function appears as the value at s=0 of the first derivative of the associated Epstein zeta function. Then this is used to yield Kronecker's limit formula and its “s=0”-version.     

Theory of equations of neutral type

In the paper we present a survey of the investigations on the theory of equations of neutral type, i.e., equations for which the value of the derivative at the present moment depends explicitly on the prehistory of the behavior of the derivative. The paper consists of eleven sections.Translated from Itogi Nauki i Tekhniki, Seriya Matematicheskii Analiz, Vol. 19, pp. 55–126, 1982.     

A regularization for discontinuous differential equations with application to state-dependent delay differential equations of neutral type

We consider a regularization for a class of discontinuous differential equations arising in the study of neutral delay differential equations with state dependent delays. For such equations the possible discontinuity in the derivative of the solution at the initial point may propagate along the integration interval giving rise to so-called “breaking points”, where the solution derivative is again discontinuous. Consequently, the problem of continuing the solution in a right neighborhood of a breaking point is equivalent to a Cauchy problem for an ode with a discontinuous right-hand side (see e.g. Bellen et al., 2009 [4]). Therefore a classical solution may cease to exist.The regularization is based on the replacement of the vector-field with its time average over an interval of length ε>0. The regularized solution converges as ε→⁰⁺ to the classical Filippov solution (Filippov, 1964, 1988 [13] and [14]). Several properties of the solutions corresponding to small ε>0 are presented.     

Polylogarithms,functional equations and more: The elusive essays of William Spence (1777–1815)

The little-known Scottish mathematician William Spence was an able analyst, one of the first in Britain to be conversant with recent continental advances, and having original views. His major work on “logarithmic transcendents” gives the first detailed account of polylogarithms and related functions. A theory of algebraic equations was published just after his early death; and further essays, edited by John Herschel, were published posthumously. The most substantial of these concern an extension of his work on “logarithmic transcendents”, and the general solution of linear differential and difference equations. But awareness of Spence?s works was long delayed by their supposed unavailability. Spence?s life, the story of his “lost” publications, and a summary of all his essays are here described.     

On a structural acoustic model with interface a Reissner-Mindlin plate or a Timoshenko beam

This paper is concerned with a model which describes the interaction of sound and elastic waves in a structural acoustic chamber in which one “wall” is flexible and flat. The model is new in the sense that the composite dynamics of the three-dimensional structure is described by the linearized equations for a gas defined on the interior of the chamber and the Reissner-Mindlin plate equations on the two-dimensional flat wall of the chamber, while, if a two-dimensional acoustic chamber is considered, the Timoshenko beam equations describe the deflections of the one-dimensional “wall.” With a view to achieving uniform stabilization of the structure linear feedback boundary damping is incorporated in the model, viz. in the wave equation for the gas and in the system of equations for the vibrations of the elastic medium. We present the uniform stability result for the case of a two-dimensional chamber and outline the method for the three-dimensional model which shows strong resemblance with the system of dynamic plane elasticity.     

New conservative schemes with discrete variational derivatives for nonlinear wave equations

New conservative finite difference schemes for certain classes of nonlinear wave equations are proposed. The key tool there is “discrete variational derivative”, by which discrete conservation property is realized. A similar approach for the target equations was recently proposed by Furihata, but in this paper a different approach is explored, where the target equations are first transformed to the equivalent system representations which are more natural forms to see conservation properties. Applications for the nonlinear Klein–Gordon equation and the so-called “good” Boussinesq equation are presented. Numerical examples reveal the good performance of the new schemes.     

Heteroclinic and Periodic Cycles in a Perturbed Convection Model

Vivancos and Minzoni (New Choatic behaviour in a singularly perturbed model, preprint) proposed a singularly perturbed rotating convection system to model the Earth's dynamo process. Numerical simulation shows that the perturbed system is rich in chaotic and periodic solutions. In this paper, we show that if the perturbation is sufficiently small, the system can only have simple heteroclinic solutions and two types of periodic solutions near the simple heteroclinic solutions. One looks like a figure “Delta” and the other looks like a figure “Eight”. Due to the fast - slow characteristic of the system, the reduced slow system has a relay nonlinearity (“Asymptotic Method in Singularly Perturbed Systems,” Consultants Bureau, New York and London, 1994) - solutions to the slow system are continuous but their derivative changes abruptly at certain junction surfaces. We develop new types of Melnikov integral and Lyapunov-Schmidt reduction methods which are suitable to study heteroclinic and periodic solutions for systems with relay nonlinearity.     

Finite-size corrections to Poisson approximations in general renewal-success processes

Consider a renewal process, and let K?0 denote the random duration of a typical renewal cycle. Assume that on any renewal cycle, a rare event called “success” can occur. Such successes lend themselves naturally to approximation by Poisson point processes. If each success occurs after a random delay, however, Poisson convergence can be relatively slow, because each success corresponds to a time interval, not a point. If K is an arithmetic variable, a “finite-size correction” (FSC) is known to speed Poisson convergence by providing a second, subdominant term in the appropriate asymptotic expansion. This paper generalizes the FSC from arithmetic K to general K. Genomics applications require this generalization, because they have already heuristically applied the FSC to p-values involving absolutely continuous distributions. The FSC also sharpens certain results in queuing theory, insurance risk, traffic flow, and reliability theory.