Deformation Quantization of Algebraic Varieties

The paper is devoted to peculiarities of the deformation quantization in the algebro-geometric context. A direct application of the formality theorem to an algebraic Poisson manifold gives a canonical sheaf of categories deforming coherent sheaves. The global category is very degenerate in general. Thus, we introduce a new notion of a semiformal deformation, a replacement in algebraic geometry of an actual deformation (versus a formal one). Deformed algebras obtained by semiformal deformations are Noetherian and have polynomial growth. We propose constructions of semiformal quantizations of projective and affine algebraic Poisson manifolds satisfying certain natural geometric conditions. Projective symplectic manifolds (e.g. K3 surfaces and Abelian varieties) do not satisfy our conditions, but projective spaces with quadratic Poisson brackets and Poisson–Lie groups can be semiformally quantized.     

On a theorem of Tate

We study applications of divisibility properties of recurrence sequences to Tate’s theory of abelian varieties over finite fields.      

Determination of phenolic compounds in modern and old varieties of durum wheat using liquid chromatography coupled with time-of-flight mass spectrometry

An evaluation of the grain functional components of Italian durum wheat cultivars was conducted. The raw material was obtained from the field trial performed in 2006–2007 at the Experimental Farm of the University of Bologna, (Bologna, Italy). The aim of this study was to define the phytochemical profile of ten varieties, comprised of old and modern durum wheat genotypes, including quantitative and qualitative phenolic and flavonoid content (free and bound forms). The results showed that mean values of total phenolic compound and total flavonoid content in old wheat varieties (878.2 ± 19.0 μmol gallic acid equivalent/100 g of grain and 122.6 ± 25.4 μmol catechin equivalent/100 g of grain, respectively) did not differ significantly from those detected in modern genotypes (865.9 ± 128.9 μmol gallic acid equivalent/100 g and 123.5 ± 20.6 μmol catechin equivalent/100 g, respectively). However, the HPLC–ESI-TOF-MS analysis highlighted remarkable differences between modern and old cultivars. The interpretation of the mass spectra allowed the identification of 70 phenolic compounds, including coumarins, phenolic acids, anthocyanins, flavones, isoflavones, proanthocyanidins, stilbenes and lignans. The free extracts of ancient wheat varieties showed the presence of a mean number of phenolic compounds and isomer forms (8.7 ± 2.5 and 7.7 ± 4.7 respectively) significantly higher than in modern genotypes (4.4 ± 2.9 and 2.0 ± 2.4, respectively). A similar trend was observed also for the bound phenolic fraction. Moreover, the phytochemical profiles showed the presence of unique phenolic compounds in both free and bound fractions of some of the investigated wheat genotypes. Results highlighted that investigated old wheat cultivars may offer unique nutraceutical values for their peculiar contents in bioactive phytochemicals, suggesting their uses into a wide range of regular and specialty products naturally enriched with health-promoting compounds.     

Cohomology of the Orlik–Solomon Algebras and Local Systems

The paper provides a combinatorial method to decide when the space of local systems with nonvanishing first cohomology on the complement to an arrangement of lines in a complex projective plane has as an irreducible component a subgroup of positive dimension. Partial classification of arrangements having such a component of positive dimension and a comparison theorem for cohomology of Orlik–Solomon algebra and cohomology of local systems are given. The methods are based on Vinberg–Kac classification of generalized Cartan matrices and study of pencils of algebraic curves defined by mentioned positive dimensional components.     

Hilbert function spaces and the Nevanlinna-Pick problem on the polydisc

In [4], Agler and McCarthy (2005) used Hilbert function spaces to study the uniqueness properties of the Nevanlinna-Pick problem on the bidisc. In this work we give a geometric procedure for constructing a Nevanlinna-Pick problem on Dn with a specified set of uniqueness. On the way to establishing this procedure, we prove a result about Hilbert function spaces and partially answer a question posed by Agler and McCarthy.     

Hamiltonian torus actions on symplectic orbifolds and toric varieties

In the first part of the paper, we build a foundation for further work on Hamiltonian actions on symplectic orbifolds. Most importantly, we prove the orbifold versions of the abelian connectedness and convexity theorems. In the second half, we prove that compact symplectic orbifolds with completely integrable torus actions are classified by convex simple rational polytopes with a positive integer attached to each open facet and that all such orbifolds are algebraic toric varieties.

     

On the Milnor K-theory of the function fields of quasihomogeneous cones

Let V be a quasihomogeneous normal variety. The aim of this paper is to describe the Milnor K-theory of the function field of V in terms of the second residue homomorphisms associated with subvarieties and resolution data of V.Supported by KBN, 2 P301 010 06.     

New integrable cases of a Cremona transformation: a finite-order orbits analysis

We analyse the properties of a particular birational mapping of two variables (Cremona transformation) depending on two free parameters ( and ), associated with the action of a discrete group of non-linear (birational) transformations on the entries of a q × q matrix. This mapping originates from the analysis of birational transformations obtained from very simple algebraic calculations, namely taking the inverse of q × q matrices and permuting some of the entries of these matrices. It has been seen to yield weak chaos and integrability. We have found new integrable cases of this Cremona transformation, corresponding to the values of = 0 when , besides the already known values = 0 and = −1, and also arbitrary when = 0. For these cases, one has a foliation of the parameter space in elliptic curves. We give the equations of these elliptic curves. Based on this very example we show how one can find these integrability cases of the Cremona transformation and actually integrate it using a method based on the systematic study of the finite-order conditions of the Cremona transformation. The method is shown to be efficient and straightforward. The various integrability cases are revisited using many different representations of this very mapping (birational transformations, recursion in one variable, …).     

Severi varieties on blow-ups of the symmetric square of an elliptic curve

We prove that certain Severi varieties of nodal curves of positive genus on general blow-ups of the twofold symmetric product of a general elliptic curve are nonempty and smooth of the expected dimension. This result, besides its intrinsic value, is an important preliminary step for the proof of nonemptiness of Severi varieties on general Enriques surfaces.