The period function of Liénard systems ẋ = −y + F(x), ẏ = g(x) associated with a centre is considered and sufficient conditions are presented for the period function to be strictly and globally monotone increasing and to have at least one critical point. Examples of applications and remarks on related work are also given.

The Fibonacci groups F(r, n) have been studied by various authors, chiefly in order to determine which ones are finite. This article contains a summary of the known results about this problem, followed by some further results obtained by the author. In particular, the orders of the groups F(r, 3) for r ≡ 2 (mod 3) and F(r, 4) for r ≡ 2 (mod 4) are determined, and various other Fibonacci groups are proved infinite by methods similar to those of Chalk and Johnson.

In this paper we consider the nonlinear elliptic problem −Δu + αu = g(∣∇u∣) + λh(x) in Ω, u = 0 on ∂Ω, where Ω is a smooth bounded domain of ℝN, α ≥ 0, g is an arbitrary C1 increasing function and h ∈ C1() is non-negative. We completely analyse the existence and non-existence of (positive) classical solutions in terms of the parameter λ. We show that there exist solutions for every λ when α = 0 and the integral 1/g(s)ds = ∞, or when α > 0 and the integral s/g(s)ds = ∞. Conversely, when the respective integrals converge and h is non-trivial on ∂Ω, existence depends on the size of λ. Moreover, non-existence holds for large λ. Our proofs mainly rely on comparison arguments, and on the construction of suitable supersolutions in annuli. Our results include some cases where the function g is superquadratic and existence still holds without assuming any smallness condition on λ.

The asymptotic behaviour of solutions of second-order quasilinear elliptic partial differential equations defined on unbounded domains in Rn contained in strips (when n = 2) or slabs (when n > 2) is investigated when such solutions satisfy Dirichlet boundary conditions and the Dirichlet boundary data have appropriate asymptotic behaviour at infinity. We prove Phragmèn–Lindelöf theorems for large classes of elliptic operators, including uniformly elliptic operators and operators with well-defined genre, establish exponential decay estimates for uniformly elliptic operators when the Dirichlet boundary data vanish outside a compact set, establish the uniqueness of solutions, and give examples of solutions for non-uniformly elliptic operators which decay but do not decay exponentially. Our principal theorems are proven using special barrier functions; these barriers are constructed by considering an operator associated to our original operator.

We introduce the totally multiplicatively prime algebras as those normed algebras for which there exists a positive number K such that K‖F‖‖a‖ ≤ ‖WF,a‖ for all F in M(A) (the multiplication algebra of A) and a in A, where WF,a denotes the operator from M(A) into A defined by WF,a(T) = FT(a) for all T in M(A). These algebras are totally prime and their multiplication algebra is ultraprime. We get the stability of the class of totally multiplicatively prime algebras by taking central closure. We prove that prime H*-algebras are totally multiplicatively prime and that the ℓ1-norm is the only classical norm on the free non-associative algebras for which these are totally multiplicatively prime.

We introduce the notion of a double MS-algebra (L, 0, +) as an MS-algebra (L, 0) whose dual isan MS-algebra (Ld, +), with certain linking conditions concerning the operations x↦x0 and x↦x+. We determine necessary and sufficient conditions whereby an MS-algebra can be made into a double MS-algebra and show that this, when possible, can be done in one and only one way. We also consider the notion of a bistable subvariety of MS-algebras, namely a subvariety R with the property that, for every double MS-algebra (L, 0, +), whenever L, 0 ↦ R, we have (Ld,+)↦ R. Finally, we determine those subvarieties R of MS that are dense (in the sense that every MS-algebra L ↦ R can be made into a double MS-algebra), and those that are sparse (in the sense that if L ↦ R can be made into a double MS-algebra then it belongs to a proper subclass of R).

In this paper we study the convexity of the integral over the space . We isolate a necessary condition on f and we find necessary and sufficient conditions in the case where f(x, u, u′) = a(u)u′2n or g(u) + h(u′).

In this paper, we determine the semigroup End D of endomorphisms of the infinite dihedral group D, and give a multiplication table for it. We determine the additive structure of the near-rings E(D) generated by the endomorphisms of D, A(D) generated by the automorphisms of D and I(D) generated by the inner automorphisms of D, and determine their radicals and all their maximal right ideals.

Using a variational approach we obtain the existence of at least three periodic solutions for discontinuous perturbations of the vector p-Laplacian operator .

Two closely related classes X(n) and Y(n) of two generator two relation groups are studied. The group presentations arise from an investigation of a Fibonacci type group of order 1512. The Reidemeister-Schreier algorithm is used to show that the groups X(n) are finite and not metabelian. The orders of these groups are determined and shown to be divisible by powers of Fibonacci numbers or by powers of Lucas numbers. In addition these groups add to the relatively few examples of non-metabelian two generator two relation groups whose orders are known precisely.

The first boundary value problem for a linear second order parabolic equation is studied under the assumption that the inhomogeneous term is continuous in space and time and Hölder-continuous only with respect to the space variables.

Linear second order differential equations of the form d2w/dz2 − {u2f(u, z) + g(z)}w = 0 are studied, where |u| → ∞ and z lies in a complex bounded or unbounded domain D. If f(u, z) and g(z) are meromorphic in D, and f(u, z) has no zeros, the classical Liouville-Green/WKBJ approximation provides asymptotic expansions involving the exponential function. The coefficients in these expansions either multiply the exponential or in an alternative form appear in the exponent. The latter case has applications to the simplification of turning point expansions as well as certain quantum mechanics problems, and new computable error bounds are derived. It is shown how these bounds can be sharpened to provide realistic error estimates, and this is illustrated by an application to modified Bessel functions of complex argument and large positive order. Explicit computable error bounds are also derived for asymptotic expansions for particular solutions of the nonhomogeneous equations of the form d2w/dz2 − {u2f(z) + g(z)}w = p(z).

In this paper we establish Perron and Krein–Rutman-like theorems for an operator mapping a cone into the interior of the cone, by considering the discrete dynamical system for the induced operator on the projective space (= sphere). Existence of a positive eigenvector reduces to showing that the ω-limit set of the induced operator consists of a single equilibrium. A special feature of our approach is that the convexity of the cone is needed only for establishing the non-emptiness of the w-limit set. This allows us in finite dimensions to establish an abstract Perron Theorem for non-convex cones.

We study Berman's problem

subjects to the conditions f(0) =f″(0) = f′(1) = f(1)− 1 = 0, which arises from the study of laminar flows in channels with porous walls. Positive (negative) Re denotes the case of suction (injection) flows. Preliminary numerical studies indicated the existence of three different types of solutions and a small portion of mathematical evidence was provided. In this paper, we are able to show that there exist connected sets in the Re-K plane on which different types of solutions occur. In particular, our result verifies that the problem possesses all three types of suction solutions for sufficiently large Re. Moreover, the limiting injection solution is also obtained.

The Grunsky map is known to be holomorphic on the universal Teichmüller space. In this paper it is proved that the Grunsky map induces a holomorphic map on the asymptotic Teichmüller space. The Caratháodory and Kobayashi metrics on the asymptotic Teichmüller space are studied as applications.

In a forthcoming paper, N. M. Khan gives a condition for a variety of commutative semigroups V to be saturated in the sense of Howie and Isbell (1967) (i.e. epis are onto for each S ∈ V). We show the necessity of the condition by constructing a non-saturated semigroup which is a member of every commutative variety not satisfying Khan's condition. This determination of the saturated varieties of commutative semigroups enables us then to prove that these varieties form a sublattice of the lattice of varieties of all commutative semigroups.

The paper presents sufficient conditions on the coefficients of second and fourth order differential equations to ensure that there exists at least one pair of conjugate points on an interval (a, b), −∞≦ a <b ≦ ∞. Oscillation criteria related to the equation (p(x)y″)″ + q(x)y = 0, 0 < x < ∞, are proved with no sign restrictions on q(x).

We prove optimal lower bounds for arbitrary eigenvalue ratios (μm/μn) of the Sturm–Liouville operator with Dirichlet and Neumann boundary conditions. These imply optimal bounds for the eigenvalue gaps (μm – μn) of the corresponding problem. The method can be generalised to consider general separated endpoint boundary conditions.

Using the viscosity vanishing method, we obtain the existence of a smooth solution to the inhomogeneous Heisenberg chain equations in one dimension. The uniqueness of the solution to the viscosity equation is also given.