It is a classical result of Sobolev spaces that any $H^1$ function has a well-defined $H^{1/2}$ trace on the boundary of a sufficient regular domain. In this work, we present stronger and more general versions of such a trace theorem in a new nonlocal function space $\cS(\Omega)$ satisfying $H^1(\Omega)\subset \cS(\Omega)\subset L^2(\Omega)$. The new space $\cS(\Omega)$ is associated with a nonlocal norm characterized by a nonlocal interaction kernel that is defined heterogeneously with a special localization feature on the boundary. Through the heterogeneous localization, we are able to show that the $H^{1/2}$ norm of the trace on the boundary can be controlled by the nonlocal norm that are weaker than the classical $H^1$ norm. In fact, the trace theorems can be essentially shown without imposing any extra regularity of the function in the interior of the domain other than being square integrable. Implications of the new trace theorems to the coupling of local and nonlocal equations and possible further generalizations are also discussed.

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We study the wave propagation speed problem on metric measure spaces, emphasizing on self-similar sets that are not postcritically finite. We prove that a sub-Gaussian lower heat kernel estimate leads to infinite propagation speed, extending a result of Y.-T. Lee to include bounded and unbounded generalized Sierpi\'nski carpets as well as some fractal blowups. We also formulate conditions under which a Gaussian upper heat kernel estimate leads to finite propagation speed, and apply this result to two classes of iterated function systems with overlaps, including those defining the classical infinite Bernoulli convolutions.