Weak convergence and weak compactness in the space of almost periodic functions on the real line

We give necessary and sufficient conditions for sequences in the space AP(R) of continuous almost periodic functions on the real line to converge in the weak topology. The abstract results are illustrated by a number of examples which show that weak convergence seems to be a rare phenomenon. We also characterize the weakly compact subsets in AP(R). In particular, earlier statements made in the monograph by Dunford and Schwartz are refined and completed. We close with some open problems.     

Strong continuity of the relative rearrangement maps and application to a Galerkin approach for nonlocal problems

We study the strong continuity of the map u   (b_*u, b_*u(| > u(·)|)). Here,

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for σ]0 means Ω[, u_* (respectively, (b|_{u=u*(σ)})*) denotes the decreasing rearrangement of u (respectively b restricted to the set {u = u_*(σ)}) and |E| denotes the Lebesgue measure of a set E included in a domain Ω. The results are useful for solving plasmas physics equations or any nonlocal problems involving the monotone rearrangement, its inverse or its derivatives.     

Estimates for the Lebesgue functions and the Nevai formula for the sinc-approximations of continuous functions on an interval

We obtain some upper and lower estimates for the sequences of the Lebesgue functions and constants of the Whittaker operators

$L_n (f,x) = \sum\limits_{k = 0}^n {\frac{{\sin (nx - k\pi )}}{{nx - k\pi }}} f\left( {\frac{{k\pi }}{n}} \right)$

for continuous functions. We give an analog of Nevai’s formula for the Lagrange-Chebyshev and Lagrange-Laguerre interpolation polynomials for the operators under consideration. Its “local” version is established.

     

Neighborhood assignments and cardinal functions: a unified approach to metrization and uniformity

We use neighborhood assignments and cardinal functions to give a unified approach to metrizability and uniformity. This leads to a number of characterizations of m(X), the metrizability degree of X, u(X), the uniform weight of X, and w(X), the weight of X. For X normal (and regular), m(X) = u(X); it is unknown whether this result extends to completely regular spaces.     

A three-year perspective on conceptions of and orientations to learning mathematics of prospective teachers and first year university students

The paper reports a compilation of results from three studies conducted over three years to determine students' conceptions of mathematics, and orientations they follow in learning the subject. Respondents were 459 first year mathematics students from four universities and one teacher college. Results indicated that more than half the sample reported mathematics to be a subject made of numbers and formulae that could be memorized. This suggests a shallow emphasis when learning the subject, with no intention to understand. However, most students passed their examinations. It was concluded that there was no statistically significant relationship between examinations results and students' learning orientations. It is recommended that lecturers should foster students' meta-learning capabilities and an awareness of different learning strategies.     

On the best approximation of vector valued functions by polynomials with coefficients in vector spaces

In this paper, we prove some basic results concerning the best approximation of vector-valued functions by algebraic and trigonometric polynomials with coefficients in normed spaces, called generalized polynomials. Thus we obtain direct and inverse theorems for the best approximation by generalized polynomials and results concerning the existence (and uniqueness) of best approximation generalized polynomials. This paper was written during the 2005 Spring Semester when the second author (S.G. Gal) was a Visiting Professor at the Department of Mathematical Sciences, The University of Memphis, TN, USA. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000) 41A65, 41A17, 41A27     

On the periodicity of trigonometric functions generalized to quotient rings of R[x]

We apply a method of Euler to algebraic extensions of sets of numbers with compound additive inverse which can be seen as quotient rings of R[x]. This allows us to evaluate a generalization of Riemann’s zeta function in terms of the period of a function which generalizes the function sin z. It follows that the functions generalizing the trigonometric functions on these sets of numbers are not periodic.     

A topological structure on a set of continous functions with various domains

We construct a topological space of continuous functions which generalizes the previously studied space of functions defined on closed intervals. For the new space, metrizability properties are studied. The results can be applied in the topological theory of ordinary differential equations. Translated fromMatematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 66, No. 1, pp. 76–88, July, 1999.     

Two-point Taylor expansions in the asymptotic approximation of double integrals. Application to the second and fourth Appell functions

The main difficulty in Laplace's method of asymptotic expansions of double integrals is originated by a change of variables. We consider a double integral representation of the second Appell function F₂(a,b,b^′,c,c^′;x,y) and illustrate, over this example, a variant of Laplace's method which avoids that change of variables and simplifies the computations. Essentially, the method only requires a Taylor expansion of the integrand at the critical point of the phase function. We obtain in this way an asymptotic expansion of F₂(a,b,b^′,c,c^′;x,y) for large b, b^′, c and c^′. We also consider a double integral representation of the fourth Appell function F₄(a,b,c,d;x,y). We show, in this example, that this variant of Laplace's method is uniform when two or more critical points coalesce or a critical point approaches the boundary of the integration domain. We obtain in this way an asymptotic approximation of F₄(a,b,c,d;x,y) for large values of a,b,c and d. In this second example, the method requires a Taylor expansion of the integrand at two points simultaneously. For this purpose, we also investigate in this paper Taylor expansions of two-variable analytic functions with respect to two points, giving Cauchy-type formulas for the coefficients of the expansion and details about the regions of convergence.     

Analysis of the Bernstein basis functions: an approach to combinatorial sums involving binomial coefficients and Catalan numbers

We give some alternative forms of the generating functions for the Bernstein basis functions. Using these forms,we derive a collection of functional equations for the generating functions. By applying these equations, we prove some identities for the Bernstein basis functions. Integrating these identities, we derive a variety of identities and formulas, some old and some new, for combinatorial sums involving binomial coefficients, Pascal's rule, Vandermonde's type of convolution, the Bernoulli polynomials, and the Catalan numbers. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.