Let M be a compact Riemannian manifold, π : \tilde{M} → M be the universal covering and ω be a smooth 2-form on M with π^∗ω cohomologous to zero. Suppose the fundamental group π_1(M) satisfies certain radial quadratic (resp. linear) isoperimetric inequality, we show that there exists a smooth 1-form η on \tilde{M} of linear (resp. bounded) growth such that π^∗ω = dη. As applications, we prove that on a compact Kahler manifold (M,ω) with π^∗ω cohomologous to zero, if π_1(M) is CAT(0) or automatic (resp. hyperbolic), then M is Kahler non-elliptic (resp. Kahler hyperbolic) and the Euler characteristic (−1)^{dim_RM/2χ(M) ≥ 0 (resp. >0).

In this paper, we classify n-dimensional ($n\ge 4$) complete Bach-flat gradient shrinking Ricci solitons. More precisely, we prove that any 4-dimensional Bach-flat gradient shrinking Ricci soliton is either Einstein, or locally conformally flat hence a finite quotient of the Gaussian shrinking soliton R^4 or the round cylinder S^3 x R. More generally, for $n\ge 5$, a Bach-flat gradient shrinking Ricci soliton is either Einstein, or a finite quotient of the Gaussian shrinking soliton $R^n$ or the product $N^{n-1}xR$, where $N^{n-1}$ is Einstein.

By using certain idea developed in minimal submanifold theory we study rigidity problem for self-shrinkers in the present paper. We prove rigidity results for the squared norm of the second fundamental form of self-shrinkers, either under point-wise conditions or under integral conditions.

It is shown that within the Lp-Brunn–Minkowski theory that Aleksandrov’s integral curvature has a natural Lp extension, for all real p. This raises the question of finding necessary and sufficient conditions on a given measure in order for it to be the Lp-integral curvature of a convex body. This problem is solved for positive p and is answered for negative p provided the given measure is even.

We investigate the minimal and isoperimetric surface problems in a large class of sub-Riemannian manifolds, the so-called Vertically Rigid spaces. We construct an adapted connection for such spaces and, using the variational tools of Bryant, Griffiths and Grossman, derive succinct forms of the Euler-Lagrange equations for critical points for the associated variational problems. Using the Euler-Lagrange equations, we show that minimal and isoperimetric surfaces satisfy a constant horizontal mean curvature conditions away from characteristic points. Moreover, we use the formalism to construct a horizontal second fundamental form, II0, for vertically rigid spaces and, as a first application, use II0 to show that minimal surfaces cannot have points of horizontal positive curvature and that minimal surfaces in Carnot groups cannot be locally strictly horizontally geometrically convex. We note that the convexity condition is distinct from others currently in the literature.