Let G be a soluble group of derived length 3. We show in this paper that if G acts as an automorphism group on a compact Riemann surface of genus g ≠ 3,5,6,10 then it has at most 24(g — 1) elements. Moreover, given a positive integer n we show the existence of a Riemann surface of genus g = n4 + 1 that admits such a group of automorphisms of order 24(g — 1), whilst a surface of specified genus can admit such a group of automorphisms of order 48(g — 1), 40(g — 1), 30(g — 1) and 36(g — 1) respectively.

Let E and F be real subspaces of Cn which contain no non trivial complex subspace of Cn and intersecting only at the origin. We prove in a special case that every continuous function on E ∪ F can be asymptotically approximated on E ∪ F by an entire function.

In proving the contractibility of certain hyperspaces J. L. Kelley identified and defined a certain uniformnessproperty which he called Property 3.2. It is known that the classes of locally connected continua, homogeneous continua and hereditarily indecomposable continua have Property 3.2. In this paper we prove that two examples of indecomposable continua developed respectively by the authors have Property 3.2. One is the example of a nonchainable atriodic tree-like continuum with positive span which was defined by the first author, and the other is a nonchainable, noncircle-like continuum which has the cone=hyperspace property which was defined by the second author. Each of the examples is an inverse limit of an inverse system having a single bonding map.

A basic double series is expressed in terms of two 5ϕ4 series which extends Bailey's transformation of an 8ϕ7 series into two 4ϕ3 's. From this formula we derive some quadratic transformations; one of them is a new q-analogue of a transformation due to Whipple. Product formulas as well as Gasper-Rahman's q-Clausen formula are also given as special cases.

A class of weakly coupled systems of semilinear elliptic partial differential equations is considered in an exterior domain in ℝN, N > 3. Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of a positive solution (componentwise) with the asymptotic decay u(x) = O(|x|2-N) as |x| —> ∞. Additional results concern the existence and structure of positive solutions u with finite energy in a neighbourhood of infinity.

We prove that every continuous function on the product of certain curves can be asymptotically approximated by entire functions.

Equivalent norms with best order of Frechet and uniformly Frechet differentiability in Orlicz spaces are constructed. Classes of Orlicz which admit infinitely many times Frechet differentiable equivalent norm are found.

A wavefront set is defined to be an image of Legendrian mapping. In this note we prove that generic wavefront sets have stable local topological structures by using Mather's stratification theory.

Consider a collection of topological spheres in Euclidean space whose intersections are essentially topological spheres. We find a bound for the number of components of the complement of their union and discuss conditions for the bound to be achieved. This is used to give a necessary condition for independence of these sets. A related conjecture of Griinbaum on compact convex sets is discussed.

A ring R is said to be an absolute subretract if for any ring S in the variety generated by R and for any ring monomorphism f from R into S, there exists a ring morphism g from S to R such that gf is the identity mapping. This concept, introduced by Gardner and Stewart, is a ring theoretic version of an injective notion in certain varieties investigated by Davey and Kovacs.

Also recall that a special principal ideal ring is a local principal ring with nonzero nilpotent maximal ideal. In this paper (finite) special principal ideal rings that are absolute subretracts are studied.

Let G be a finite group, let k be a field and let R be a finite dimensional fully G-graded k-algebra. Also let L be a completely reducible R-module and let P be a projective cover of R. We give necessary and sufficient conditions for P|R1 to be a projective cover of L|R1 in Mod (R1). In particular, this happens if and only if L is R1-projective. Some consequences in finite group representation theory are deduced.

This paper studies the group of units U(RD∞) of the group ring of the infinite dihedral group D∞ over a commutative integral domain R. The structures of U(Z2D∞) and U(Z3D∞) are determined, and it is shown that U(ZD∞) is not finitely generated.

We find conditions under which the numerator of the zeta-function of the curve y2+y = xd over Fp, where d — 2g +1 is a prime, d ≠ p, is irreducible over Q. This leads to the generalized Mersenne problem of "almost primality" of the number of points on the jacobian of such a curve over an extension of Fp, which has application to public key cryptography.

We give a description of band varieties by properties of the compatibility of certain quasi-orders λn and ρn.

We deal here with the existence of half-way nonzero divisors for complete intersections and with related properties of their Hilbert functions.

We study two kinds of generalized umbilics on smoothly embedded n-manifolds in ℝn+1. A sectional umbilic occurs where two of the principal curvatures are equal, and a split sectional umbilic is a more general notion.

Piecewise-linear (nonambient) isotopy of classical links may be regarded as link theory modulo knot theory. This note considers an adaptation of new (and old) polynomial link invariants to this theory, obtained simply by dividing a link's polynomial by the polynomials of the individual components. The resulting rational functions are effective in distinguishing isotopy classes of links, and in demonstrating that certain links are essentially knotted in the sense that every link in its isotopy class has a knotted component. We also establish geometric criteria for essential knotting of links.

The following problem is studied. Generalized Fermat's problem: in an n-dimensional Hadamard manifold M, locate a point whose distances from the given k vertices of M have the smallest possible sum.

Let S be a smooth surface contained as an ample divisor in a smooth complex projective threefold X, which is a P1 -bundle, and assume that induces OP1 (1) on the fibres of X. The following fact is proven. The restriction to S of the bundle projection of X is exactly the reduction morphism of the pair provided that this one is not a conic bundle. The proof is very simple and does not involve any consideration on the nefness of the adjoint bundle Some applications of the proof are given.

This is a survey of some recent developments in the theory of elliptic curves. After an informal discussion of the main theorems of the arithmetic side of the theory and the open problems confronting the subject, we describe the recent work of K. Rubin, V. Koly vagin, K. Murty and the author which establishes the finiteness of the Shafarevic-Tate group for modular elliptic curves of rank zero and one.