Let $G$ be a split semisimple group over a global function field $K$. Given a cuspidal automorphic representation $\Pi$ of $G$ satisfying a technical hypothesis, we prove that for almost all primes $\ell$, there is a cyclic base change lifting of $\Pi$ along any $\mathbb {Z}/\ell \mathbb {Z}$-extension of $K$. Our proof does not rely on any trace formulas; instead it is based on using modularity lifting theorems, together with a Smith theory argument, to obtain base change for residual representations. As an application, we also prove that for any split semisimple group $G$ over a local function field $F$, and almost all primes $\ell$, any irreducible admissible representation of $G(F)$ admits a base change along any $\mathbb {Z}/\ell \mathbb {Z}$-extension of $F$. Finally, we characterize local base change more explicitly for a class of toral representations considered in work of Chan and Oi.

For a finite group $G$ of not prime power order, Oliver showed that the obstruction for a finite CW-complex $F$ to be the fixed point set of a contractible finite $G$-CW-complex is determined by the Euler characteristic $\chi (F)$. (He also has similar results for compact Lie group actions.) We show that the analogous problem for $F$ to be the fixed point set of a finite $G$-CW-complex of some given homotopy type is still determined by the Euler characteristic. Using trace maps on $K_0$ [2, 7, 18], we also see that there are interesting roles for the fundamental group and the component structure of the fixed point set.

Let W be a real vector space and let V be an orthogonal representation of a group G such that $V^{G} = \{0\}$ (for the set of fixed points of G). Let $S(V)$ be the sphere of V and suppose that $f: S(V) \to W$ is a continuous map. We estimate the size of the $(H, G)$ -coincidences set if G is a cyclic group of prime power order $\mathbb {Z}_{p^k}$ or a p-torus $\mathbb {Z}_p^k$ .

We compute the cohomology rings of smooth real toric varieties and of real toric spaces, which are quotients of real moment-angle complexes by freely acting subgroups of the ambient 2-torus. The differential graded algebra (dga) we present is in fact an equivariant dga model, valid for arbitrary coefficients. We deduce from our description that smooth toric varieties are $\hbox{M}$-varieties.

We show that provided that n is a power of two, any nD measures in ℝn can be bisected by an arrangement of D hyperplanes.

We define a Grothendieck ring of varieties with actions of finite groups and show that the orbifold Euler characteristic and the Euler characteristics of higher orders can be defined as homomorphisms from this ring to the ring of integers. We describe two natural λ-structures on the ring and the corresponding power structures over it and show that one of these power structures is effective. We define a Grothendieck ring of varieties with equivariant vector bundles and show that the generalized (‘motivic’) Euler characteristics of higher orders can be defined as homomorphisms from this ring to the Grothendieck ring of varieties extended by powers of the class of the complex affine line. We give an analogue of the Macdonald type formula for the generating series of the generalized higher-order Euler characteristics of wreath products.

Let E → B be a fibre bundle and let Eʹ → B be a vector bundle. Let G be a compact Lie group acting fibre preservingly and freely on both E and Eʹ – 0, where 0 is the zero section of Eʹ → B. Let f : E → Eʹ be a fibre-preserving G-equivariant map and let Zf = {x ∈ E | f(x) = 0} be the zero set of f. In this paper we give a lower bound for the cohomological dimension of the zero set Zf when a fibre of E → B is a real Stiefel manifold with a free ℤ/2-action or a complex Stiefel manifold with a free 𝕊1-action. This generalizes a well-known result of Dold for sphere bundles equipped with free involutions.

Let $G=\left( \mathbb{Z}/a\rtimes \mathbb{Z}/b \right)\times \text{S}{{\text{L}}_{2}}\left( {{\mathbb{F}}_{p}} \right)$, and let $X\left( n \right)$ be an $n$-dimensional $CW$-complex of the homotopy type of an $n$-sphere. We study the automorphism group $\text{Aut}\left( G \right)$ in order to compute the number of distinct homotopy types of spherical space forms with respect to free and cellular $G$-actions on all $CW$-complexes $X\left( 2dn-1 \right)$, where $2d$ is the period of $G$. The groups $\varepsilon \left( X\left( 2dn-1 \right)/\mu \right)$ of self homotopy equivalences of space forms $X\left( 2dn-1 \right)/\mu$ associated with free and cellular $G$-actions $\mu$ on $X\left( 2dn-1 \right)$ are determined as well.

A ${{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}}$-action with “maximal number of isolated fixed points” (i.e., with only isolated fixed points such that ${{\dim}_{k}}\left( {{\oplus }_{i}}{{H}^{i}}\left( M;k \right) \right)\,\,=\,\,\left| {{M}^{{{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}}}} \right|,\,k\,=\,\left. {{\mathbb{F}}_{2}} \right)$ on a 3-dimensional, closed manifold determines a binary self-dual code of $\text{length}\,\text{=}\,\left| {{M}^{{{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}}}} \right|$. In turn this code determines the cohomology algebra ${{H}^{*}}\,\left( M;k \right)$ and the equivariant cohomology $H_{{{\mathbb{Z}}_{2}}}^{*}\,\left( M;k \right)$. Hence, from results on binary self-dual codes one gets information about the cohomology type of 3-manifolds which admit involutions with maximal number of isolated fixed points. In particular, “most” cohomology types of closed 3-manifolds do not admit such involutions. Generalizations of the above result are possible in several directions, e.g., one gets that “most” cohomology types (over ${{\mathbb{F}}_{2}}$) of closed 3-manifolds do not admit a non-trivial involution.

Given a continuous map δ from the circle S to itself we want to find all self-maps σ: S → S for which δ o σ. If the degree r of δ is not zero, the transformations σ form a subgroup of the cyclic group Cr. If r = 0, all such invertible transformations form a group isomorphic either to a cyclic group Cn or to a dihedral group Dn depending on whether all such transformations are orientation preserving or not. Applied to the tangent image of planar closed curves, this generalizes a result of Bisztriczky and Rival [1]. The proof rests on the theorem: Let Δ: ℝ → ℝ be continuous, nowhere constant, and limx→−∞ Δ(x) = −∞, limx→−∞ Δ(xx) = +∞; then the only continuous map Σ: R → R such that Δ o Σ = Δ is the identity Σ = idℝ.

Let Vn, k denote the Stiefel manifold of k-frames in ℝn. There is a free action on Vn, k by the group . We show that if acts freely on and

then l≤k