1. Given a metric space (X, ρ) a family of subsets of X which includes the empty set Ø, and a non-negative function τ on with τ(Ø)=0, an outer measure μ* may be defined by

where empty infimums have value +∞. It is easily seen that μ* is a metric outer measure [i.e., if ρ(A, B)>0 then μ*(A∪B)=μ*(A)+μ*(B)] and from this it follows that all Borel sets in X are μ*-measurable.

In 1934 Gelfond [2] and Schneider [6] proved, independently, that the logarithm of an algebraic number to an algebraic base, other than 0 or 1, is either rational or transcendental and thereby solved the famous seventh problem of Hilbert. Among the many subsequent developments (cf. [4, 7, 8]), Gelfond [3] obtained, by means of a refinement of the method of proof, a positive lower bound for the absolute value of β1 log α1+β2 log α2, where β1, β2 denote algebraic numbers, not both 0, and α1,α1, denote algebraic numbers not 0 or 1, with log α1/log α2 irrational. Of particular interest is the special case in which β1,β2 denote integers. In this case it is easy to obtain a trivial positive lower bound (cf. [1; Lemma 2]), and the existence of a non-trivial bound follows from the Thue–Siegel–Roth theorem (see [4; Ch. I]). But Gelfond's result improves substantially on the former, and, unlike the latter, it is derived by an effective method of proof. Gelfond [4; p. 177] remarked that an analogous theorem for linear forms in arbitrarily many logarithms of algebraic numbers would be of great value for the solution of some apparently very difficult problems of number theory. It is the object of this paper to establish such a result.

By means of all functions regular in a domain †G ⋐ Cn Carathéodory [1,2] defined a metric in G. As usual, using this metric, we can define spherical shells in G. That is, if DG(t, q) denotes the Carathéodory metric between t, q∈G measured in G, then the Caratheéodory spherical shell S(t, q) passing through q and with centre t is defined by:

With each non-empty compact convex subset K of Ed is associated a Steiner point, s(K), defined by

where u is a variable unit vector, a is a fixed unit vector, H(u, K) is the supporting function of K and dw is an element of surface area of the unit sphere Sd-1 centred at the origin (see [2]). For notational convenience, we put s(Ø) = 0.

A number of oscillating systems have been described in the literature which have proved useful in the study of elastico-viscous liquids. The most common type of system in use is the forced oscillating system of the coaxial-cylinder type; in this, the outer cylinder wall is made to oscillate about its axis with a prescribed frequency, and the resulting motion of the inner solid cylinder (constrained by a torsion wire) is recorded (see, for example, [1]). Another type of oscillating system— a, free oscillating system, also of the coaxial-cylinder type—was considered by the present authors in a previous paper [2]; this latter system is one which may prove to be simpler to design and to control in practice.

Professor Kneser has pointed out to me that the results proved in my paper [3] are not new. To be precise, my Theorem 1 is a special case of the result proved in [2], while the routine argument by which I deduced my Theorem 2 is given in substance in [1; 241]. Then my Theorem 3, though perhaps new, follows almost trivially.

1. A study of the recent papers of Roth and Bombieri on the large sieve has led us to the following simple result on the sum of the squares of the absolute values of a trigonometric polynomial at a finite set of points.

In this paper solutions are given for two problems on the motion of a dusty gas, using the formulation of Saffman [1]. The gas containing a uniform distribution of dust, occupies the semi-infinite space above a rigid plane boundary. The motion induced in the dusty gas is considered in the two cases when the plane moves parallel to itself (i) in simple harmonic motion, and (ii) impulsively from rest with uniform velocity. In case (i) the change in phase velocity and the decay of oscillatory waves are noted as functions of the mass concentration of dust f. In case (ii) the problem is solved by use of the Laplace transform, some velocity distributions are calculated for f=0·2, and it is shown that the shear layer thickness is decreased by the factor (1+f)−1/2 at large times.