Lengths of words in transformation semigroups generated by digraphs

Given a simple digraph D on n vertices (with \(n\ge 2\)), there is a natural construction of a semigroup of transformations \(\langle D\rangle \). For any edge (a, b) of D, let \(a\rightarrow b\) be the idempotent of rank \(n-1\) mapping a to b and fixing all vertices other than a; then, define \(\langle D\rangle \) to be the semigroup generated by \(a \rightarrow b\) for all \((a,b) \in E(D)\). For \(\alpha \in \langle D\rangle \), let \(\ell (D,\alpha )\) be the minimal length of a word in E(D) expressing \(\alpha \). It is well known that the semigroup \(\mathrm {Sing}_n\) of all transformations of rank at most \(n-1\) is generated by its idempotents of rank \(n-1\). When \(D=K_n\) is the complete undirected graph, Howie and Iwahori, independently, obtained a formula to calculate \(\ell (K_n,\alpha )\), for any \(\alpha \in \langle K_n\rangle = \mathrm {Sing}_n\); however, no analogous non-trivial results are known when \(D \ne K_n\). In this paper, we characterise all simple digraphs D such that either \(\ell (D,\alpha )\) is equal to Howie–Iwahori’s formula for all \(\alpha \in \langle D\rangle \), or \(\ell (D,\alpha ) = n - \mathrm {fix}(\alpha )\) for all \(\alpha \in \langle D\rangle \), or \(\ell (D,\alpha ) = n - \mathrm {rk}(\alpha )\) for all \(\alpha \in \langle D\rangle \). We also obtain bounds for \(\ell (D,\alpha )\) when D is an acyclic digraph or a strong tournament (the latter case corresponds to a smallest generating set of idempotents of rank \(n-1\) of \(\mathrm {Sing}_n\)). We finish the paper with a list of conjectures and open problems.     

Revisiting Fryszkowski’s problem

Professor Andrzej Fryszkowski formulated, at the 2nd Symposium on Nonlinear Analysis in Toruń, September 13–17, 1999, the following problem: given \(\alpha \in (0,1)\), an arbitrary non-empty set \(\Omega \) and a set-valued mapping \(F:\Omega \rightarrow 2^{\Omega }\), find necessary and (or) sufficient conditions for the existence of a (complete) metric d on \(\Omega \) having the property that F is a Nadler set-valued \(\alpha \)-contraction with respect to d. Com?neci (Stud. Univ. Babe?-Bolyai Math. 62:537–542, 2017) provided necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a complete and bounded metric d on \(\Omega \) having the property that F is a Nadler set-valued \(\alpha \)-contraction with respect to d, in case that \(\alpha \in (0,\frac{1}{2})\) and there exists \(z\in \Omega \) such that \(F(z)=\{z\}\) . We improve Com?neci’s result by allowing \(\alpha \) to belong to the interval (0, 1). In addition, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a complete and bounded metric d on \(\Omega \) such that F is a Nadler set-valued \(\alpha \)-similarity with respect to d, in case that \(\alpha \in (0,1)\), there exists \(z\in \Omega \) such that \(F(z)=\{z\}\) and F is non-overlapping.     

Toroidal Geometry Stabilizing a Latitudinal Ring of Point Vortices on a Torus

We carry out the linear stability analysis of a polygonal ring configuration of N point vortices, called an N-ring, along the line of latitude \(\theta _0\) on a torus with the aspect ratio \(\alpha \). Deriving a criterion for the stability depending on the parameters N, \(\theta _0\) and \(\alpha \), we reveal how the aspect ratio \(\alpha \) contributes to the stability of the N-ring. While the N-ring necessarily becomes unstable when N is sufficiently large for fixed \(\alpha \), the stability is closely associated with the geometric property of the torus for variable \(\alpha \); for low aspect ratio \(\alpha \sim 1\), \(N=7\) is a critical number determining the stability of the N-ring when it is located along a certain range of latitudes, which is an analogous result to those in a plane and on a sphere. On the other hand, the stability is determined by the sign of curvature for high aspect ratio \(\alpha \gg 1\). That is to say, the N-ring is neutrally stable if it is located on the inner side of the toroidal surface with a negative curvature, while the N-ring on its outer side with a positive curvature is unstable. Furthermore, based on the linear stability analysis, we describe nonlinear evolution of the N-ring when it becomes unstable. It is difficult to deal with this problem, since the evolution equation of the N point vortices is formulated as a Hamiltonian system with N degrees of freedom, which is in general non-integrable. Thus, we reduce the Hamiltonian system to a simple integrable system by introducing a cyclic symmetry. Owing to this reduction, we successfully find some periodic orbits in the reduced system, whose local bifurcations and global transitions for variable \(\alpha \) are characterized in terms of the fundamental group of the torus.     

Few associative triples,isotopisms and groups

Let Q be a quasigroup. For \(\alpha ,\beta \in S_Q\) let \(Q_{\alpha ,\beta }\) be the principal isotope \(x*y = \alpha (x)\beta (y)\). Put \(\mathbf a(Q)= |\{(x,y,z)\in Q^3;\) \(x(yz)) = (xy)z\}|\) and assume that \(|Q|=n\). Then \(\sum _{\alpha ,\beta }\mathbf a(Q_{\alpha ,\beta })/(n!)^2 = n^2(1+(n-1)^{-1})\), and for every \(\alpha \in S_Q\) there is \(\sum _\beta \mathbf a(Q_{\alpha ,\beta })/n! = n(n-1)^{-1}\sum _x(f_x^2-2f_x+n)\ge n^2\), where \(f_x=|\{y\in Q;\) \( y = \alpha (y)x\}|\). If G is a group and \(\alpha \) is an orthomorphism, then \(\mathbf a(G_{\alpha ,\beta })=n^2\) for every \(\beta \in S_Q\). A detailed case study of \(\mathbf a(G_{\alpha ,\beta })\) is made for the situation when \(G = \mathbb Z_{2d}\), and both \(\alpha \) and \(\beta \) are “natural” near-orthomorphisms. Asymptotically, \(\mathbf a(G_{\alpha ,\beta })>3n\) if G is an abelian group of order n. Computational results: \(\mathbf a(7) = 17\) and \(\mathbf a(8) \le 21\), where \(\mathbf a(n) = \min \{\mathbf a(Q);\) \( |Q|=n\}\). There are also determined minimum values for \(\mathbf a(G_{\alpha ,\beta })\), G a group of order \(\le 8\).     

Asymptotic diophantine approximation: the multiplicative case

Let \(\alpha \) and \(\beta \) be irrational real numbers and \(0<\varepsilon <1/30\). We prove a precise estimate for the number of positive integers \(q\le Q\) that satisfy \(\Vert q\alpha \Vert \cdot \Vert q\beta \Vert <\varepsilon \). If we choose \(\varepsilon \) as a function of Q, we get asymptotics as Q gets large, provided \(\varepsilon Q\) grows quickly enough in terms of the (multiplicative) Diophantine type of \((\alpha ,\beta )\), e.g., if \((\alpha ,\beta )\) is a counterexample to Littlewood’s conjecture, then we only need that \(\varepsilon Q\) tends to infinity. Our result yields a new upper bound on sums of reciprocals of products of fractional parts and sheds some light on a recent question of Lê and Vaaler.     

The Terwilliger algebra of the incidence graph of the Hamming graph

Let \(\varGamma \) be a distance-semiregular graph on Y, and let \(D^Y\) be the diameter of \(\varGamma \) on Y. Let \(\varDelta \) be the halved graph of \(\varGamma \) on Y. Fix \(x \in Y\). Let T and \(T'\) be the Terwilliger algebras of \(\varGamma \) and \(\varDelta \) with respect to x, respectively. Assume, for an integer i with \(1 \le 2i \le D^Y\) and for \(y,z \in \varGamma _{2i}(x)\) with \(\partial _{\varGamma }(y,z)=2\), the numbers \(|\varGamma _{2i-1}(x) \cap \varGamma (y) \cap \varGamma (z)|\) and \(|\varGamma _{2i+1}(x) \cap \varGamma (y) \cap \varGamma (z)|\) depend only on i and do not depend on the choice of y, z. The first goal in this paper is to show the relations between T-modules of \(\varGamma \) and \(T'\)-modules of \(\varDelta \). Assume \(\varGamma \) is the incidence graph of the Hamming graph H(D, n) on the vertex set Y and the set \({\mathcal {C}}\) of all maximal cliques. Then, \(\varGamma \) satisfies above assumption and \(\varDelta \) is isomorphic to H(D, n). The second goal is to determine the irreducible T-modules of \(\varGamma \). For each irreducible T-module W, we give a basis for W the action of the adjacency matrix on this basis and we calculate the multiplicity of W.     

On the Skitovich–Darmois theorem for some locally compact Abelian groups

Let X be a locally compact Abelian group, \(\alpha _{j}, \beta _j\) be topological automorphisms of X. Let \(\xi _1, \xi _2\) be independent random variables with values in X and distributions \(\mu _j\) with non-vanishing characteristic functions. It is known that if X contains no subgroup topologically isomorphic to the circle group \(\mathbb {T}\), then the independence of the linear forms \(L_1=\alpha _1\xi _1+\alpha _2\xi _2\) and \(L_2=\beta _1\xi _1+\beta _2\xi _2\) implies that \(\mu _j\) are Gaussian distributions. We prove that if X contains no subgroup topologically isomorphic to \(\mathbb {T}^2\), then the independence of \(L_1\) and \(L_2\) implies that \(\mu _j\) are either Gaussian distributions or convolutions of Gaussian distributions and signed measures supported in a subgroup of X generated by an element of order 2. The proof is based on solving the Skitovich–Darmois functional equation on some locally compact Abelian groups.     

On the Diophantine equation $$X^{2N}+2^{2\alpha }5^{2\beta }{p}^{2\gamma } = Z^5$$

We prove that for each prime p, positive integer \(\alpha \), and non-negative integers \(\beta \) and \(\gamma \), the Diophantine equation \(X^{2N} + 2^{2\alpha }5^{2\beta }{p}^{2\gamma } = Z^5\) has no solution with N, X, \(Z\in \mathbb {Z}^+\), \(N > 1\), and \(\gcd (X,Z) = 1\).     

Spectral density estimates with partial symmetries and an application to Bahri–Lions-type results

We are concerned with the existence of infinitely many solutions for the problem \(-\Delta u=|u|^{p-2}u+f\) in \(\Omega \), \(u=u_0\) on \(\partial \Omega \), where \(\Omega \) is a bounded domain in \(\mathbb {R}^N\), \(N\ge 3\). This can be seen as a perturbation of the problem with \(f=0\) and \(u_0=0\), which is odd in u. If \(\Omega \) is invariant with respect to a closed strict subgroup of O(N), then we prove infinite existence for all functions f and \(u_0\) in certain spaces of invariant functions for a larger range of exponents p than known before. In order to achieve this, we prove Lieb–Cwikel–Rosenbljum-type bounds for invariant potentials on \(\Omega \), employing improved Sobolev embeddings for spaces of invariant functions.     

Packing chromatic number versus chromatic and clique number

The packing chromatic number \(\chi _{\rho }(G)\) of a graph G is the smallest integer k such that the vertex set of G can be partitioned into sets \(V_i\), \(i\in [k]\), where each \(V_i\) is an i-packing. In this paper, we investigate for a given triple (a, b, c) of positive integers whether there exists a graph G such that \(\omega (G) = a\), \(\chi (G) = b\), and \(\chi _{\rho }(G) = c\). If so, we say that (a, b, c) is realizable. It is proved that \(b=c\ge 3\) implies \(a=b\), and that triples \((2,k,k+1)\) and \((2,k,k+2)\) are not realizable as soon as \(k\ge 4\). Some of the obtained results are deduced from the bounds proved on the packing chromatic number of the Mycielskian. Moreover, a formula for the independence number of the Mycielskian is given. A lower bound on \(\chi _{\rho }(G)\) in terms of \(\Delta (G)\) and \(\alpha (G)\) is also proved.     

Closed range and nonclosed range adjointable operators on Hilbert $$C^*$$-modules

In this paper, we show that for a positive operator A on a Hilbert \(C^*\)-module \( \mathscr {E} \), the range \( \mathscr {R}(A) \) of A is closed if and only if \( \mathscr {R}(A^\alpha ) \) is closed for all \(\alpha \in (0,1)\cup (1,+\,\infty )\), and this occurs if and only if \( \mathscr {R}(A)=\mathscr {R}(A^\alpha ) \) for all \(\alpha \in (0,1)\cup (1,+\,\infty )\). As an application, we prove that for an adjontable operator A if \(\mathscr {R}(A)\) is nonclosed, then \(\dim \left( \overline{\mathscr {R}(A)}/\mathscr {R}(A)\right) =+\,\infty \). Finally, we show that for an adjointable operator A if \( \overline{\mathscr {R}(A^*) } \) is orthogonally complemented in \( \mathscr {E} \), then under certain coditions there exists an idempotent C and a unique operator X such that \( XAX=X, AXA=CA, AX=C \) and \( XA=P_{A^*} \), where \( P_{A^*} \) is the orthogonal projection of \( \mathscr {E} \) onto \( \overline{\mathscr {R}(A^*)}\).     

Pairs of Semisimple Lie Algebras and their Maximal Reductive Subalgebras

Let \(\mathfrak g\) be a semisimple Lie algebra over a field \(\mathbb K\), \(\text{char}\left( \mathbb{K} \right)=0\), and \(\mathfrak g_1\) a subalgebra reductive in \(\mathfrak g\). Suppose that the restriction of the Killing form B of \(\mathfrak g\) to \(\mathfrak g_1 \times \mathfrak g_1\) is nondegenerate. Consider the following statements: ( 1) For any Cartan subalgebra \(\mathfrak h_1\) of \(\mathfrak g_1\) there is a unique Cartan subalgebra \(\mathfrak h\) of \(\mathfrak g\) containing \(\mathfrak h_1\); ( 2) \(\mathfrak g_1\) is self-normalizing in \(\mathfrak g\); ( 3) The B-orthogonal \(\mathfrak p\) of \(\mathfrak g_1\) in \(\mathfrak g\) is simple as a \(\mathfrak g_1\)-module for the adjoint representation. We give some answers to this natural question: For which pairs \((\mathfrak g,\mathfrak g_1)\) do ( 1), ( 2) or ( 3) hold? We also study how \(\mathfrak p\) in general decomposes as a \(\mathfrak g_1\)-module, and when \(\mathfrak g_1\) is a maximal subalgebra of \(\mathfrak g\). In particular suppose \((\mathfrak g,\sigma )\) is a pair with \(\mathfrak g\) as above and σ its automorphism of order m. Assume that \(\mathbb K\) contains a primitive m-th root of unity. Define \(\mathfrak g_1:=\mathfrak g^{\sigma}\), the fixed point algebra for σ. We prove the following generalization of a well known result for symmetric Lie algebras, i.e., for m=2: (a) \((\mathfrak g,\mathfrak g_1)\) satisfies ( 1); (b) For m prime, \((\mathfrak g,\mathfrak g_1)\) satisfies ( 2).     

Counting exceptional points for rational numbers associated to the Fibonacci sequence

If \(\alpha \) is a non-zero algebraic number, we let \(m(\alpha )\) denote the Mahler measure of the minimal polynomial of \(\alpha \) over \(\mathbb Z\). A series of articles by Dubickas and Smyth, and later by the author, develop a modified version of the Mahler measure called the t-metric Mahler measure, denoted \(m_t(\alpha )\). For fixed \(\alpha \in \overline{\mathbb Q}\), the map \(t\mapsto m_t(\alpha )\) is continuous, and moreover, is infinitely differentiable at all but finitely many points, called exceptional points for \(\alpha \). It remains open to determine whether there is a sequence of elements \(\alpha _n\in \overline{\mathbb Q}\) such that the number of exceptional points for \(\alpha _n\) tends to \(\infty \) as \(n\rightarrow \infty \). We utilize a connection with the Fibonacci sequence to formulate a conjecture on the t-metric Mahler measures. If the conjecture is true, we prove that it is best possible and that it implies the existence of rational numbers with as many exceptional points as we like. Finally, with some computational assistance, we resolve various special cases of the conjecture that constitute improvements to earlier results.     

An Aumann–Shapley type operator in Pseudo-D-lattices

Let L be a \(\sigma \)-complete pseudo-D-lattice and let BV be the Banach space of all real-valued, vanishing at zero, functions of bounded variation on L endowed with the variation norm. We prove the existence of a continuous Aumann–Shapley type operator \(\phi \) on the closed subspace of BV spanned by powers of nonatomic \(\sigma \)-additive positive modular measures on L. Moreover we give an integral representation of \(\phi \) on a class of functions that correspond to measure games.     

Restriction semigroups and $$\lambda $$-Zappa-Szép products

The aim of this paper is to study \(\lambda \)-semidirect and \(\lambda \)-Zappa-Szép products of restriction semigroups. The former concept was introduced for inverse semigroups by Billhardt, and has been extended to some classes of left restriction semigroups. The latter was introduced, again in the inverse case, by Gilbert and Wazzan. We unify these concepts by considering what we name the scaffold of a Zappa-Szép product \(S\bowtie T\) where S and T are restriction. Under certain conditions this scaffold becomes a category. If one action is trivial, or if S is a semilattice and T a monoid, the scaffold may be ordered so that it becomes an inductive category. A standard technique, developed by Lawson and based on the Ehresmann-Schein-Nambooripad result for inverse semigroups, allows us to define a product on our category. We thus obtain restriction semigroups that are \(\lambda \)-semidirect products and \(\lambda \)-Zappa-Szép products, extending the work of Billhardt and of Gilbert and Wazzan. Finally, we explicate the internal structure of \(\lambda \)-semidirect products.     

New lower bounds for the Shannon capacity of odd cycles

The Shannon capacity of a graph G is defined as \(c(G)=\sup _{d\ge 1}(\alpha (G^d))^{\frac{1}{d}},\) where \(\alpha (G)\) is the independence number of G. The Shannon capacity of the cycle \(C_5\) on 5 vertices was determined by Lovász in 1979, but the Shannon capacity of a cycle \(C_p\) for general odd p remains one of the most notorious open problems in information theory. By prescribing stabilizers for the independent sets in \(C_p^d\) and using stochastic search methods, we show that \(\alpha (C_7^5)\ge 350\), \(\alpha (C_{11}^4)\ge 748\), \(\alpha (C_{13}^4)\ge 1534\), and \(\alpha (C_{15}^3)\ge 381\). This leads to improved lower bounds on the Shannon capacity of \(C_7\) and \(C_{15}\): \(c(C_7)\ge 350^{\frac{1}{5}}> 3.2271\) and \(c(C_{15})\ge 381^{\frac{1}{3}}> 7.2495\).     

On some constacyclic codes over $$\mathbb {Z}_{4}\left[ u\right] /\left\langle u^{2}-1\right\rangle $$, their $$\mathbb {Z}_4$$Z4 images,and new codes

In this paper, we study \(\lambda \)-constacyclic codes over the ring \(R=\mathbb {Z}_4+u\mathbb {Z}_4\) where \(u^{2}=1\), for \(\lambda =3+2u\) and \(2+3u\). Two new Gray maps from R to \(\mathbb {Z}_4^{3}\) are defined with the goal of obtaining new linear codes over \(\mathbb {Z}_4\). The Gray images of \(\lambda \)-constacyclic codes over R are determined. We then conducted a computer search and obtained many \(\lambda \)-constacyclic codes over R whose \(\mathbb {Z}_4\)-images have better parameters than currently best-known linear codes over \(\mathbb {Z}_4\).     

The continuum disordered pinning model

Any renewal processes on \({\mathbb {N}}_0\) with a polynomial tail, with exponent \(\alpha \in (0,1)\), has a non-trivial scaling limit, known as the \(\alpha \)-stable regenerative set. In this paper we consider Gibbs transformations of such renewal processes in an i.i.d. random environment, called disordered pinning models. We show that for \(\alpha \in \left( \frac{1}{2}, 1\right) \) these models have a universal scaling limit, which we call the continuum disordered pinning model (CDPM). This is a random closed subset of \({\mathbb {R}}\) in a white noise random environment, with subtle features:

• Any fixed a.s. property of the \(\alpha \)-stable regenerative set (e.g., its Hausdorff dimension) is also an a.s. property of the CDPM, for almost every realization of the environment.
• Nonetheless, the law of the CDPM is singular with respect to the law of the \(\alpha \)-stable regenerative set, for almost every realization of the environment.

The existence of a disordered continuum model, such as the CDPM, is a manifestation of disorder relevance for pinning models with \(\alpha \in \left( \frac{1}{2}, 1\right) \).

     

Geometric Properties of the Shifted Hypergeometric Functions

We will provide sufficient conditions for the shifted hypergeometric function \(z_2F_1(a,b;c;z)\) to be a member of a specific subclass of starlike functions in terms of the complex parameters a, b and c. For example, we study starlikeness of order \(\alpha ,\) \(\lambda \)-spirallikeness of order \(\alpha \) and strong starlikeness of order \(\alpha .\) In particular, those properties lead to univalence of the shifted hypergeometric functions on the unit disk.