New exact solutions are presented for nonlinear diffusion and convection on a finite domain 0 ≤ z ≤ 1. These solutions are developed for the conditions of constant fluxes at both boundaries z = 0 and z = 1. In particular, solutions for the flux QL at the lower boundary z = 1, being a multiple of the flux Qs at the surface z = 0, (that is QL = aQs, where a = constant), are presented. Solutions for any constant, a, are given for an initial condition which is independent of space z. For the special cases (i) a = 1, and (ii) Qs = 0 and hence QL = 0, solutions are given for an initial condition which has an arbitrary dependence on z.

This paper is devoted to the study of the solvability of certain one-and multidimensional Abel-type integral equations involving the Gauss hypergeometric function as their kernels in the space of summable functions. The multidimensional equations are considered over certain pyramidal domains and the results obtained are used to present the multidimensional pyramidal analogues of generalized fractional calculus operators and their properties.

We provide an introduction to enumerating and constructing invariants of group representations via character methods. The problem is contextualized via two case studies, arising from our recent work: entanglement invariants for characterizing the structure of state spaces for composite quantum systems; and Markov invariants, a robust alternative to parameter-estimation intensive methods of statistical inference in molecular phylogenetics.

Generalizations of the Green-Lanford-Dollard theorem on scattering into cones and Ruelle-Amerin-Georgescu theorem characterizing bound states and scattering states are derived. The first is shown to be an easy consequence of the Kato-Trotter theorem on semi-group convergence whilst the latter is corollary of Wiener's version of the mean ergodic theorem.

The art of asymptotology is a powerful tool in applied mathematics and theoretical physics, but can lead to erroneous conclusions if misapplied. A seemingly paradoxical case is presented in which a local analysis of an exactly solvable problem appears to find solutions to an eigenvalue problem over a continuous range of the eigenvalue, whereas the spectrum is known to be discrete. The resolution of the paradox involves the Stokes phenomenon. The example illustrates two of Kruskal's Principles of Asymptotology.

The existence and selection of steady-state travelling planar fronts in a set of typical phase field equations for solidification are investigated by a combination of numerical and analytical methods. Such solutions are conjectured to exist only for a unique velocity of propagation and to be unique except for translation. This behaviour is in marked contrast to the situation in conventional Stefan models in which travelling fronts exist for all velocities. The value of the steady-state velocity depends upon the various material parameters which enter the phase field equations. Numerical and, in certain tractable limits, analytical results for the velocity are presented for a number of physical situations.

The Kirchhoff approximation is widely used to describe the scatter of elastodynamic waves. It simulates the scattered field as the convolution of the free-space Green’s tensor with the geometrical elastodynamics approximation to the total field on the scatterer surface and, therefore, cannot be used to describe nongeometrical phenomena, such as head waves. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that an alternative approximation, the convolution of the far-field asymptotics of the Lamb’s Green’s tensor with incident surface tractions, has no such limitation. This is done by simulating the scatter of a critical Gaussian beam of transverse motions from an infinite plane. The results are of interest in ultrasonic nondestructive testing.

Equations are derived to approximately describe the propagation of small amplitude surface and interfacial waves across small irregularities in depth in a two-layer fluid. When the irregularities are sinusoidal, Bragg interaction effects between an incident surface wave and the bottom corrugations can lead to a large-amplitude reflected interfacial wave or a large-amplitude transmitted interfacial wave if the incident surface wave is relatively long and the lower layer shallow in comparison with the upper layer.

It is shown that a problem which arose in the scheduling of two simultaneous competitions between a number of golf clubs may be reduced to that of 4- colouring the edges of a certain bipartite graph which has 4 edges meeting at each vertex. This colouring problem is solved by an analysis in terms of directed cycles, which is simple to carry through in a practical case and is easily extended to the problem with 4 replaced by 2m. The more general colouring problem with 4 replaced by any positive integer is solved by relating it to the marriage problem enunciated by Philip Hall and to the latin multiplication technique of Kaufmann but, in practical applications, this approach involves severe computational difficulties.

Tensor identities for finite dimensional representations of arbitrary semi-simple Lie algebras are derived and are applied to the construction of left-projection operators which project out the shift components of tensor operators from the left. The corresponding adjoint identities are also derived and are used for the construction of right-projection operators. It is also shown that, on a finite dimensional irreducible representation, these identities may be considerably reduced. Commutation relations between the shift tensors of a tensor operator are also computed in terms of the roots appearing in the tensor identities.

This paper describes a SQP-type algorithm for solving a constrained maximum likelihood estimation problem that incorporates a number of novel features. We call it MLESOL. MLESOL maintains the use of an estimate of the Fisher information matrix to the Hessian of the negative log-likelihood but also encompasses a secant approximation S to the second-order part of the augmented Lagrangian function along with tests for when to use this information. The local quadratic model used has a form something like that of Tapia's SQP augmented scale BFGS secant method but explores the additional structure of the objective function. The step choice algorithm is based on minimising a local quadratic model subject to the linearised constraints and an elliptical trust region centred at the current approximate minimiser. This is accomplished using the Byrd and Omojokun trust region approach, together with a special module for assessing the quality of the step thus computed. The numerical performance of MLESOL is studied by means of an example involving the estimation of a mixture density.

The steady, axisymmetric flow induced by a point sink (or source) submerged in an unbounded inviscid fluid is computed. The resulting deformation of the free surface is obtained, and a limit of steady solutions is found that is quite different to those obtained in past work. More accurate solutions indicate that the old limiting flow rate was too high and, in fact, the breakdown of steady solutions at a lower flow rate is characterized by the appearance of spurious wavelets at the free surface.

The one-dimensional, non-linear theory of pulse propagation in large arteries is examined in the light of the analogy which exists with gas dynamics. Numerical evidence for the existence of shock-waves in current one-dimensional blood-flow models is presented. Some methods of suppressing shock-wave development in these models are indicated.

This paper is aimed at establishing sufficient computable criteria for the Euclidean null controllability of an infinite neutral differential system, when the controls are essentially bounded measurable functions on finite intervals, with values in a compact subset U of an m-dimensional Euclidean space with zero in its interior. Our results are obtained by exploiting the stability of the free system and the rank criterion for properness of the controlled system. An example is also given.

This paper is concerned with the injection moulding process, in which hot molten plastic is injected under high pressure into a thin cold mould. Assuming that the velocity and temperature profiles across the mould maintain their shape, a simple steady state model to describe the behaviour of a Newtonian fluid during the filling stage is developed. Various phenomena of the process are examined, including the formation of a layer of solid plastic along the walls of the mould, and the relationship between the flux of liquid plastic through the mould and the average pressure gradient along the mould. In any given situation, it is shown that there is a range of pressures and injection temperatures which will give satisfactory results.

We examine the dynamics of fermentation process in a yeast cell. Our investigation focuses on the main branch pathway: pyruvate and acetaldehyde branch points. We formulate the kinetics for all enzymatic reactions as Michaelis–Menten models. Since the activity of an enzyme mainly depends on the conformational changes of the enzyme structure, the enzyme requires a certain period of time to reset its structure, until it is ready to bind substrates again. For this situation, a rate-limiting step exists, for which the catalytic process suffers a delay. Since all conversion processes are catalysed by enzymes, each reaction can experience a delay at a different time. To investigate how the delay affects the reaction processes, especially at the branch points, we propose that the rate-limiting step takes place at the first reaction. For this reason, a discrete time delay is introduced to the first kinetic model. We find a bifurcation diagram for the delay that depends on the rate of glucose supply and kinetic parameters of the first enzyme. By comparison, our analysis agrees with the numerical solution. Our numerical simulations also show that there is a certain glucose supply that may optimize ethanol production.

The problem of an anisotropic elastic slab containing two arbitrarily-oriented coplanar cracks in its interior is considered. Using a Fourier integral transform technique, we reduce the problem to a system of simultaneous finite-part singular integral equations which can be solved numerically. Once the integral equations are solved, relevant quantities such as the crack energy can be readily computed. Numerical results for specific examples are obtained.

In this paper, we consider a linear program with only equality constraints but containing interval and random coefficients. We first address the linear program with interval coefficients, and establish some structural properties of this linear program. On this basis, a solution method is proposed. We then move on to consider the linear program with random coefficients. Using the chance constraint approach and a new approach, the satisfaction degree approach, we obtain the two respective deterministic equivalent formulations. Then the results and the numerical solution methods obtained for these two linear models are applied to the original linear problem which contains both interval and random coefficients. By way of illustration, we consider a practical problem, where the optimal mixing proportions need to be determined for the mix slurry in the production process of aluminium with sintering. This gives rise to a linear program with interval and random coefficients. Its deterministic equivalent formulations are presented. Preliminary numerical examples show that the proposed models and the solution methods are promising.

The leading-order interaction of short gravity waves with a dominant long-wave swell is calculated by means of Zakharov's [7] spectral formulation. Results are obtained both for a discrete train of short waves and for a localised wave packet comprising a spectrum of short waves.

The results for a discrete wavetrain agree with previous work of Longuet-Higgins & Stewart [5], and general agreement is found with parallel work of Grimshaw [4] which employed a very different wave-action approach.

In the framework of Mond-Weir duality a new equivalence between nonlinear programming and a matrix game is given. Finally, certain conclusions about convex programming with nested maxima and matrix games are also included.