Legendrian Links, Causality, and the Low Conjecture

Let (X ^m+1, g) be a globally hyperbolic spacetime with Cauchy surface diffeomorphic to an open subset of ${\mathbb{R}^{m}}Let (X ^m+1, g) be a globally hyperbolic spacetime with Cauchy surface diffeomorphic to an open subset of \mathbbR^m{\mathbb{R}^{m}} . The Legendrian Low conjecture formulated by Natário and Tod says that two events x, y ? X{x, y \in X} are causally related if and only if the Legendrian link of spheres \mathfrakS_x, \mathfrakS_y{{\mathfrak{S}_x,\,\mathfrak{S}_y}} whose points are light geodesics passing through x and y is non-trivial in the contact manifold of all light geodesics in X. The Low conjecture says that for m = 2 the events x, y are causally related if and only if \mathfrakS_x, \mathfrakS_y{{\mathfrak{S}_x,\,\mathfrak{S}_y}} is non-trivial as a topological link. We prove the Low and the Legendrian Low conjectures. We also show that similar statements hold for any globally hyperbolic (X ^m+1, g) such that a cover of its Cauchy surface is diffeomorphic to an open domain in \mathbbR^m{\mathbb{R}^{m}} .     

A krasnosel'skii-type theorem in the plane involving polygonal n-paths

It is shown that thenth order kernel of a compact simply connected subsetS ofR ² is nonempty if and only if every three boundary points ofS are visible via polygonaln-paths from a common point inS.     

On Martos' and Chaehes-Coopeb's approach vis-a-vis

In this paper a linear fractional programming problem is studied in presence of “singular-points”. It is proved that “singular points”, if present, exist at an extreme point of S: = {x ? R ⁿ | Ax = b, x ≧0}

It is also shown that a “singular point” is adjacent to an optimal point of S and a characterization of a non-basic vector is obtained, whose entry into the optimal basis in Martos' approach yields the “singular point”.     

ℒ2 sets which are almost starshaped

Let S be a subset of R ^d . The set S is said to be an set if and only if for every two points x and y of S, there exists some z S such that [x, z] [z, y] S. Clearly every starshaped set is an set, yet the converse is false and introduces an interesting question: Under what conditions will an set S be almost starshaped; that is, when will there exist a convex subset C of S such that every point of S sees some point of C via SThis paper provides one answer to the question above, and we have the following result: Let S be a closed planar set, S simply connected, and assume that the set Q of points of local nonconvexity of S is finite. If some point p of S see each member of Q via S, then there is a convex subset C of S such that every point of S sees some point of C via S.     

The Relative Brauer Group of an Affine Double Plane

We study algebra classes and divisor classes on a normal affine surface of the form z ² = f(x, y). The affine coordinate ring is T = k[x, y, z]/(z ² ? f), and if R = k[x, y][f ^?1] and S = R[z]/(z ² ? f), then S is a quadratic Galois extension of R. If the Galois group is G, we show that the natural map H¹(G, Cl(T)) → H¹(G, Pic(S)) factors through the relative Brauer group B(S/R) and that all of the maps are onto. Sufficient conditions are given for H¹(G, Cl(T)) to be isomorphic to B(S/R). The groups and maps are computed for several examples.     

Product recurrent properties, disjointness and weak disjointness

Let F be a collection of subsets of ℝ₊ and (X, T) be a dynamical system; x ∈ X is F-recurrent if for each neighborhood U of x, {n ∈ ℝ₊: T ⁿ x ∈ U} ∈ F; x is F-product recurrent if (x, y) is recurrent for any F-recurrent point y in any dynamical system (Y, S). It is well known that x is {infinite}-product recurrent if and only if it is minimal and distal. In this paper it is proved that the closure of a {syndetic}-product recurrent point (i.e., weakly product recurrent point) has a dense minimal points; and a {piecewise syndetic}-product recurrent point is minimal. Results on product recurrence when the closure of an F-recurrent point has zero entropy are obtained.     

Characterizations of generalized quadrangles by generalized homologies

Let S = (P, B, I) be a generalized quadrangle of order (s, t). For x, y P, x y, let (x, y) be the group of all collineations of S fixing x and y linewise. If z {x, y}, then the set of all points incident with the line xz (resp. yz) is denoted by (resp. ). The generalized quadrangle S = (P, B, I) is said to be (x, y)-transitive, x y, if (x, y) is transitive on each set and . If S = (P, B, I) is a generalized quadrangle of order (s, t), s > 1 and t > 1, which is (x, y)-transitive for all x, y P with x y, then it is proved that we have one of the following: (i) S W(s), (ii) S Q(4, s), (iii) S H(4, s), (iv) S Q(5, s), (v) s = t² and all points are regular.     

The Semilattice of Annihilator Classes in a Reduced Commutative Ring

Let R be a reduced commutative ring with 1 ≠ 0. Let R _E be the set of equivalence classes for the equivalence relation on R given by x ～ y if and only if ann _R (x) = ann _R (y). Then R _E is a (meet) semilattice with respect to the order [x] ≤ [y] if and only if ann _R (y) ? ann _R (x). In this paper, we investigate when R _E is a lattice and relate this to when R is weakly complemented or satisfies the annihilator condition. We also consider when R is a (meet) semilattice with respect to the Abian order defined by x ≤ y if and only if xy = x ².     

An algorithm for Gauss harmonic formulas

LetD be an open, bounded, simply-connected region inR ² with boundaryB. Let (x*,y*) be an arbitrary point ofD. This paper constructs an algorithm for computing Gauss harmonic formulas forD and the point (x*,y*). Such formulas approximate a harmonic function at (x*,y*) in terms of a linear combination of its boundary values. Such formulas are useful for approximating the solution of the Dirichlet problem, especially when the problem is to be solved many times at the same point with different boundary values.     

A note on strongly π-regular rings

Let R be an associative ring with unit and let N(R) denote the set of nilpotent elements of R. R is said to be stronglyπ-regular if for each x∈R, there exist a positive integer n and an element y∈R such that x ⁿ=x ^{n +1} y and xy=yx. R is said to be periodic if for each x∈R there are integers m,n≥ 1 such that m≠n and x ^m=x ⁿ. Assume that the idempotents in R are central. It is shown in this paper that R is a strongly π-regular ring if and only if N(R) coincides with the Jacobson radical of R and R/N(R) is regular. Some similar conditions for periodic rings are also obtained. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Multiplicativity factors for seminorms. II

Let S be a seminorm on an algebra . In this paper we study multiplicativity and quadrativity factors for S, i.e., constants μ > 0 and λ > 0 for which S(xy) μS(x)S(y) and S(x²) λS(x)² for all x, y A. We begin by investigating quadrativity factors in terms of the kernel of S. We then turn to the question, under what conditions does S have multiplicativity factors if it has quadrativity factors? We show that if is commutative then quadrativity factors imply multiplicativity factors. We further show that in the noncommutative case there exist both proper seminorms and norms that have quadrativity factors but no multiplicativity factors.     

Strong commutativity-preserving generalized derivations on semiprime rings

Let R be a ring with a subset S. A mapping of R into itself is called strong commutativitypreserving （scp） on S, if [f（x）, f（y）] = [x, y] for all x, y ∈ S. The main purpose of this paper is to describe the structure of the generalized derivations which are scp on some ideals and right ideals of a prime ring, respectively. The semiprime case is also considered.     

Interval orders and circle orders

A finite poset is an interval order if its point can be mapped into real intervals so that x in the poset precisely when x's interval lies wholly to the left of y's; the poset is a circle order if its points can be mapped into circular disks in the plane so that x precisely when x's circular disk is properly included in y's. This note proves that every finite interval order is a circle order.     

Resolution of singularities in two dimensions and the stability of integrals

For a small disk D centered at the origin in R², a smooth real-valued function S(x,y) on D, and a positive epsilon, we consider the measure of the points in D where |S(x,y)|<?, as well as oscillatory integral analogues. Specifically, we consider the effect of perturbing S(x,y) on these quantities. Besides being of intrinsic interest, these questions are important in the analysis of Fourier transforms of surface-supported measures. Complex and higher-dimensional analogues of these questions are also connected to various issues in algebraic and complex geometry. For real-analytic S(x,y), this question has been investigated for example by Karpushkin, using versal deformation theory, and by Phong–Stein–Sturm, who developed a method often referred to as the method of algebraic estimates.In this paper, we show how the use of resolution of singularities algorithms in two dimensions, along with some one-dimensional Van der Corput-type lemmas, provides another method for dealing with such questions. As a result, we prove new estimates and theorems for these and related quantities. Furthermore, since these algorithms apply to all smooth functions, the theorems will hold for all smooth functions as opposed to the earlier real-analytic results.     

Valuation and Pseudovaluation Subrings of an Integral Domain

Let R, S be two rings. We say that R is a valuation subring of S (R is a VD in S, for short) if R is a proper subring of S and whenever x ∈ S, we have x ∈ R or x ^?1 ∈ R. We denote by Nu(R) the set of all nonunit elements of a ring R. We say that R is a pseudovaluation subring of S (R is a PV in S, for short) if R is a proper subring of S and x ^?1 a ∈ R, for each x ∈ S?R, a ∈ Nu(R). This article deals with the study of valuation subrings and pseudovaluation subrings of a ring; interactions between the two notions are also given. Let R be a PV in S; the Krull dimension of the polynomial ring on n indetrminates over R is also computed.     

Centres of Convex Sets inLMetrics

It is shown that for each convex bodyARⁿthere exists a naturally defined family _AC(Sⁿ⁻¹) such that for everyg _A, and every convex functionf: R→Rthe mappingy∫_Sⁿ⁻¹ f(g(x)−y, x) dσ(x) has a minimizer which belongs toA. As an application, approximation of convex bodies by balls with respect toL^pmetrics is discussed.     

Some Remarks on the Graph Γ I (R)

Let R be a commutative ring with nonzero identity and Z(R) its set of zero-divisors. The zero-divisor graph of R is Γ(R), with vertices Z(R)?{0} and distinct vertices x and y are adjacent if and only if xy = 0. For a proper ideal I of R, the ideal-based zero-divisor graph of R is Γ _I (R), with vertices {x ∈ R?I | xy ∈ I for some y ∈ R?I} and distinct vertices x and y are adjacent if and only if xy ∈ I. In this article, we study the relationship between the two graphs Γ(R) and Γ _I (R). We also determine when Γ _I (R) is either a complete graph or a complete bipartite graph and investigate when Γ _I (R) ? Γ(S) for some commutative ring S.     

Criteria for farthest points on convex surfaces

We provide a sharp, sufficient condition to decide if a point y on a convex surface S is a farthest point (i.e., is at maximal intrinsic distance from some point) on S, involving a lower bound π on the total curvature ω_y at y, ω_y ≥ π. Further consequences are obtained when ω_y > π, and sufficient conditions are derived to guarantee that a convex cap contains at least one farthest point. A connection between simple closed quasigeodesics O of S, points y ∈ S\O with ω_y > π, and the set ?? of all farthest points on S, is also investigated (© 2009 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)