Self-intersections of curves on surfaces

Let M be a compact orientable surface with nonempty boundary (x(M)<0) and fundamental group . Let be a geodesic on M (with a fixed hyperbolic structure), and let W be a (cyclically reduced) word in a fixed set of generators of which represents . In this paper, we give an algorithm to count the number of self-intersections of in terms of W, generalizing a result of Birman and Series, where an algorithm was given to decide if was simple. Some applications of the algorithm to surfaces with one boundary and the Markoff spectrum are also given.     

Theq-harmonic oscillator and the Al-Salam and Carlitz polynomials

One more model of aq-harmonic oscillator based on theq-orthogonal polynomials of Al-Salam and Carlitz is discussed. The explicit form ofq-creation andq-annihilation operators,q-coherent states and an analog of the Fourier transformation are established. A connection of the kernel of this transform with a family of self-dual biorthogonal rational functions is observed.     

A perturbation bound for the generalized polar decomposition

LetA be anm×n complex matrix. A decompositionA=QH is termed ageneralized polar decomposition ofA ifQ is anm×n subunitary matrix (sometimes also called a partial isometry) andH a positive semidefinite Hermitian matrix. It was proved that a nonzero matrixA ^m×n has a unique generalized polar decompositionA=QH with the property (Q ^H )=(H), whereQ ^H denotes the conjugate transpose ofQ and (H) the column space ofH. The main result of this note is a perturbation bound forQ whenA is perturbed.     

Perturbation analysis of the orthogonal procrustes problem

Given two arbitrary real matricesA andB of the same size, the orthogonal Procrustes problem is to find an orthogonal matrixM such that the Frobenius norm MA – B is minimized. This paper treats the common case when the orthogonal matrixM is required to have a positive determinant. The stability of the problem is studied and supremum results for the perturbation bounds are derived.     

Functional connectedness and Darboux property of multivalued functions

To 80^th birthday of Paul Erds     

The algebra of directed complexes

The theory of directed complexes is a higher-dimensional generalisation of the theory of directed graphs. In a directed graph, the simple directed paths form a subset of the free category which they generate; if the graph has no directed cycles, then the simple directed paths constitute the entire category. Generalising this, in a directed complex there is a class of split subsets which is contained in and generates a free -category; when a simple loop-freeness condition is satisfied, the split sets constitute the entire -category. The class of directed complexes is closed under the natural product and join constructions. The free -categories generated by directed complexes include the important examples associated to cubes and simplexes.     

Perturbed unstable variational inequalities with unbounded operators on approximately given sets

The stability and convergence of the solutions of perturbed and regularized variational inequality to the solutions of the primary (unstable a priori) variational inequality with proper monotone operator are investigated. All the objects of inequality: the operatorA, the right-hand partf and the set of constrains are to be perturbed. At the same time no assumptions of boundedness and smoothness of the operatorA are used. The connection between the parameters of perturbations, which guarantees strong convergence of approximate solutions, is established. It is proved that the existence of the solution to the unperturbed variational inequality is necessary and sufficient condition for convergence of the regularized perturbed inequality solutions.This research was supported in part by the Ministry of Science Grant 3481-1-91 and by the Ministry of Absorption Center for Absorption in Science.     

Banach algebras of singular integral operators with piecewise continuous coefficients. General contour and weight

The Banach algebra generated by one-dimensional linear singular integral operators with matrix valued piecewise continuous coefficients in the spaceL _p (,) with an arbitrary weight is studied. The contour consists of a finite number of closed curves and open arcs with satisfy the Carleson condition. The contour may have a finite number of points of selfintersection. The symbol calculus in this algebra is the main result of the paper.     

First synthesis of 1,9-dideoxyforskolin from ptychantin A

1,9-Dideoxyforskolin 2 has been synthesized starting from ptychantin A 3.     

Counterexamples in optimal quadrature

It is widely believed that order of exactness is a good measure of the quality of an algorithm for numerical quadrature. We show that this is not the case, by exhibiting a situation in which the optimal algorithm does not even integrate constants exactly. We also show that there are situations in which the penalty for using equidistant nodes is unbounded. Finally, we show that the complexity of obtaining an -approximation can be an arbitrary function of , i.e., there is no hardest quadrature problem.