For most classical and similitude groups, we show that each element can be written as a product of two transformations that preserve or almost preserve the underlying form and whose squares are certain scalar maps. This generalizes work of Wonenburger and Vinroot. As an application, we re-prove and slightly extend a well-known result of Mœglin, Vignéras, and Waldspurger on the existence of automorphisms of $p$-adic classical groups that take each irreducible smooth representation to its dual.

The main goal is to illustrate that the so-called indirect function of a cooperative game in characteristic function form is applicable to determine the nucleolus for a subclass of coalitional games called compromise stable transferable utility (TU) games. In accordance with the Fenchel–Moreau theory on conjugate functions, the indirect function is known as the dual representation of the characteristic function of the coalitional game. The key feature of a compromise stable TU game is the coincidence of its core with a box prescribed by certain upper and lower core bounds. For the purpose of the determination of the nucleolus, we benefit from the interrelationship between the indirect function and the prekernel of coalitional TU games. The class of compromise stable TU games contains the subclasses of clan games, big boss games and $1$- and $2$-convex $n$-person TU games. As an adjunct, this paper reports the indirect function of clan games for the purpose of determining their nucleolus.