We prove theorems on the structure of the fundamental group of a compact riemannian manifold of non-positive curvature. In particular, a conjecture of J. Wolf [<i>J. Differential Geometry</i>, 2, 421-446 (1968)] is proved.

Let φ∈C^0∩W_{1,2}(Σ,X) where Σ is a compact Riemann surface, X is a compact locally CAT(1) space, and W_{1,2}(Σ,X) is defined as in Korevaar-Schoen. We use the technique of harmonic replacement to prove that either there exists a harmonic map u: Σ → X homotopic to φ or there exists a nontrivial conformal harmonic map v: S^2 → X. To complete the argument, we prove compactness for energy minimizers and a removable singularity theorem for conformal harmonic maps.

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In this paper we investigate the convergence for the mean curvature flow of closed submanifolds with arbitrary codimension in space forms. Particularly, we prove that the mean curvature flow deforms a closed submanifold satisfying a pinching condition in a hyperbolic space form to a round point in finite time.

We give a proof of the Hard Lefschetz Theorem for orbifolds that does not involve intersection homology. We use a foliated version of the Hard Lefschetz Theorem due to El Kacimi.