In this paper we study the Cauchy problem in Rn of general parabolic equations which take the form ut = Δum + ts|x|σup with non-negative initial value. Here s ≧ 0, m > (n − 2)+/n, p > max (1, m) and σ > − 1 if n = 1 or σ > − 2 if n ≧ 2. We prove, among other things, that for p ≦ pc, where pc ≡ m + s(m − 1) + (2 + 2s + σ)/n > 1, every nontrivial solution blows up in finite time. But for p > pc a positive global solution exists.

This report deals with the asymptotic behaviour of solutions of the wave equation in a domain Ω ⊆Rn. The boundary, Γof Ωft consists of two parts. One part reflects all energy while the other part absorbs energy to a degree. If the energy-absorbing part is non-empty we show that the energy tends to zero as t→∞. With stronger assumptions we are able to obtain decay rates for the energy. Certain relationships with controlability are discussed and used to advantage.

In this paper we review many aspects of the well-posedness theory for the Cauchy problem for the continuity and transport equations and for the ordinary differential equation (ODE). In this framework, we deal with velocity fields that are not smooth, but enjoy suitable ‘weak differentiability’ assumptions. We first explore the connection between the partial differential equation (PDE) and the ODE in a very general non-smooth setting. Then we address the renormalization property for the PDE and prove that such a property holds for Sobolev velocity fields and for bounded variation velocity fields. Finally, we present an approach to the ODE theory based on quantitative estimates.

In this paper, the bond-based peridynamic system is analysed as a non-local boundary-value problem with volume constraint. The study extends earlier works in the literature on non-local diffusion and non-local peridynamic models, to include non-positive definite kernels. We prove the well-posedness of both linear and nonlinear variational problems with volume constraints. The analysis is based on some non-local Poincaré-type inequalities and the compactness of the associated non-local operators. It also offers careful characterizations of the associated solution spaces, such as compact embedding, separability and completeness. In the limit of vanishing non-locality, the convergence of the peridynamic system to the classical Navier equations of elasticity with Poisson ratio ¼ is demonstrated.

We establish new existence results for multiple positive solutions of fourth-order nonlinear equations which model deflections of an elastic beam. We consider the widely studied boundary conditions corresponding to clamped and hinged ends and many non-local boundary conditions, with a unified approach. Our method is to show that each boundary-value problem can be written as the same type of perturbed integral equation, in the space $C[0,1]$, involving a linear functional $\alpha[u]$ but, although we seek positive solutions, the functional is not assumed to be positive for all positive $u$. The results are new even for the classic boundary conditions of clamped or hinged ends when $\alpha[u]=0$, because we obtain sharp results for the existence of one positive solution; for multiple solutions we seek optimal values of some of the constants that occur in the theory, which allows us to impose weaker assumptions on the nonlinear term than in previous works. Our non-local boundary conditions contain multi-point problems as special cases and, for the first time in fourth-order problems, we allow coefficients of both signs.

Any solution of the Lamé equation

in which sn u has the modulus k, may be termed a Lamé function, but this paper is devoted mainly to functions of real periods 2K or 4K. We suppose that k2 ≤ 1; the number n is real, but not necessarily an integer, and it is sufficient to take n ≥ − ½. These periodic solutions exist for certain characteristic values of h; a table of such values is included in this paper.

We study a predator–prey system with Holling–Tanner interaction terms. We show that if the saturation rate m is large, spatially inhomogeneous steady-state solutions arise, contrasting sharply with the small-m case, where no such solution could exist. Furthermore, for large m, we give sharp estimates on the ranges of other parameters where spatially inhomogeneous solutions can exist. We also determine the asymptotic behaviour of the spatially inhomogeneous solutions as m → ∞, and an interesting relation between this population model and free boundary problems is revealed.

We consider the Cauchy problem for the quasilinear heat equation

where σ > 0 is a fixed constant, with the critical exponent in the source term β = βc = σ + 1 + 2/N. It is well-known that if β ∈(1,βc) then any non-negative weak solution u(x, t)≢0 blows up in a finite time. For the semilinear heat equation (HE) with σ = 0, the above result was proved by H. Fujita [4].

In the present paper we prove that u ≢ 0 blows up in the critical case β = σ + 1 + 2/N with σ > 0. A similar result is valid for the equation with gradient-dependent diffusivity

with σ > 0, and the critical exponent β = σ + 1 + (σ + 2)/N.

We treat the problem of determining a crack inside a conductor when two pairs of current and voltage boundary measurements are given. We prove a theorem of continuous dependence from the data.

In this paper I extend the analysis of regular problems containing the eigenvalue parameter in the boundary conditions given by Walter (1973) and myself (1977) to singular problems which involve the eigenvalue parameter linearly in a regular or a limit-circle boundary condition at the left endpoint. The formulation of the limit-circle boundary conditions follows that given in another paper by the present author in 1977, and has the advantage that a λ-dependent boundary condition at a regular endpoint becomes a special case of a λ-dependent boundary condition at a limit-circle endpoint. The simplicity of the spectrum is also built into the formulation given, and the spectral function is shown to have bounded total variation over (−∞, ∞) which is known in terms of the parameters of the λ-dependent boundary condition independently of the limit-circle/limit-point classification at the right endpoint. The theory is applied to the constant coefficient equation in [0, ∞) and the Bessel equation of order zero in (0, ∞), explicit formulae for the spectral function being obtained in each case. Finally, the question is posed as to whether the classical Weyl theory for problems not involving λ in the boundary conditions can also be formulated so as to involve spectral functions having bounded total variation.

This paper is concerned with the study of a mathematical model of the injection of fluid into a finite Hele–Shaw cell. The mathematical problem is one of solving Laplace's equation in an unknown region whose boundary changes with time. By a transformation of the dependent variable, an elliptic variational inequality formulation of the moving boundary problem is obtained. The variational inequality is shown to have a unique solution up to the time at which the cell is filled. Regularity results for the solution of the inequality are obtained by studying a penalty approximation of the inequality.

Explicit orthogonality relations are found for the associated Laguerre and Hermite polynomials. One consequence is the construction of the [n − 1/n] Padé approximation to Ψ(a + 1, b; x)/Ψ(a, b; x), where Ψ(a, b; x) is the second solution to the confluent hypergeometric differential equation that does not grow rapidly at infinity.

This paper describes the set GmU of effective conductivity tensors of mixtures generated by two isotropic materials taken in prescribed proportions m1 and m2 We describe microstructures which realise any point of GmU for n-dimensional space.

Two-dimensional differential systems

are considered, where P and Q are polynomials. The question of interest is the maximum possible numberof limit cycles of such systems in terms of the degree of P and Q. An algorithm is described for determining a so-called focal basis; this can be implemented on a computer. Estimates can then be obtained for the number of small-amplitude limit cycles. The technique is applied to certain cubic systems; a class of examples with exactly five small-amplitude limit cycles is constructed. Quadratic systems are also considered.

1. The rate of multiplication of fast-growing micro-organisms is proportional to the number of organisms, and to the concentration of foodstuff.

2. The initial rate of multiplication affords a factor of comparison both of efficiency for media and of reproductive properties of organisms.

3. Vaccines may be prepared in large quantities on the basis that a maximum number of organisms is attained to, this maximum being dependent on the concentration of nutriment, and independent of the amount of culture inoculated.

We consider a mildly nonlinear elliptic boundary value problem depending on a parameter. Given appropriate hypotheses concerning the asymptotic behaviour of the nonlinearity, we derive lower bounds on the number of solutions. The results complement an earlier theorem due to Kazdan and Warner [6].

This paper studies additive properties of the generalized Drazin inverse (g-Drazin inverse) in a Banach algebra and finds an explicit expression for the g-Drazin inverse of the sum a + b in terms of a and b and their g-Drazin inverses under fairly mild conditions on a and b.

In a recent paper (Frazer, Jones, and Skan, 1937) some methods are discussed for the approximate representation of functions by means of polynomials. The coefficients in the polynomials are determined by the equation

where c is the column of coefficients, h is a column of known constants, and M is a matrix which depends on the method of representation adopted. The present paper shows how the reciprocal matrix M-1 can be computed rapidly and simply in the two cases where M is a moment matrix or an alternant matrix.

Systems possessing symmetries often admit robust heteroclinic cycles that persist under perturbations that respect the symmetry. In previous work, we began a systematic investigation into the asymptotic stability of such cycles. In particular, we found a sufficient condition for asymptotic stability, and we gave algebraic criteria for deciding when this condition is also necessary. These criteria are satisfied for cycles in R3.

Field and Swift, and Hofbauer, considered examples in R4 for which our sufficient condition for stability is not optimal. They obtained necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability using a transition-matrix technique.

In this paper, we combine our previous methods with the transition-matrix technique and obtain necessary and sufficient conditions for asymptotic stability for a larger class of heteroclinic cycles. In particular, we obtain a complete theory for ‘simple’ heteroclinic cycles in R4 (thereby proving and extending results for homoclinic cycles that were stated without proof by Chossat, Krupa, Melbourne and Scheel). A partial classification of simple heteroclinic cycles in R4 is also given. Finally, our stability results generalize naturally to higher dimensions and many of the higher-dimensional examples in the literature are covered by this theory.

In this paper, we consider a planar system with two delays:

ẋ1(t) = −a0x1(t) + a1F1 (x1(t − τ1), x2(τ−t2)).

ẋ2(t) = −b0x2(t) + b1F2 (x1(t − τ1), x2(t − τxs2)).

Firstly, linearized stability and local Hopf bifurcations are studied. Then, existence conditions for non-constant periodic solutions are derived using degree theory methods. Finally, a simple neural network model with two delays is analysed as an example.