We consider the zeros on the boundary @­ of a Neumann eigen- function '¸j of a real analytic plane domain ­. We prove that the number of its boundary zeros is O(¸j) where ¡¢'¸j = ¸2j '¸j . We also prove that the number of boundary critical points of either a Neumann or Dirichlet eigenfunction is O(¸j ). It follows that the number of nodal lines of '¸j (components of the nodal set) which touch the boundary is of order ¸j . This upper bound is of the same order of magnitude as the length of the total nodal line, but is the square root of the Courant bound on the number of nodal components in the interior. More generally, the results are proved for piecewise analytic domains.

For a one parameter family of Calabi-Yau threefolds, Green et al. (2009) expressed the total singularities in terms of the degrees of Hodge bundles and Euler number of the general fiber. In this paper, we show that the total singularities can be expressed by the sum of asymptotic values of BCOV (Bershadsky-Cecotti-Ooguri-Vafa) invariants, studied by Fang et al. (2008). On the other hand, by using Yau's Schwarz lemma, we prove Arakelov type inequalities and Euler number bound for Calabi-Yau family over a compact Riemann surface.

We develop some results from [4] on the positivity of direct image bundles in the particular case of a trivial ¯bration over a one-dimensional base. We also apply the results to study variations of KÄahler metrics.

We discuss a method for deriving differential equations for the prepotential and the mirror map arising from a pair of Calabi-Yau manifold. Examples with one Kahler modulus are given. Here we nd that the differential equations we derive almost entirely characterize the prepotential and the mirror map in question. Some of the results here have been announced previously in

We study certain natural differential forms [] and their G equivariant extensions on the space of connections. These forms are defined using the family local index theorem. When the base manifold is symplectic, they define a family of symplectic forms on the space of connections. We will explain their relationships with the Einstein metric and the stability of vector bundles. These forms also determine primary and secondary characteristic forms (and their higher level generalizations).