For any vertex algebra V and any subalgebra A of V, there is a new subalgebra of V known as the commutant of A in V. This construction was introduced by Frenkel-Zhu, and is a generalization of an earlier construction due to Kac-Peterson and Goddard-Kent-Olive known as the coset construction. In this paper, we interpret the commutant as a vertex algebra notion of invariant theory. We present an approach to describing commutant algebras in an appropriate category of vertex algebras by reducing the problem to a question in commutative algebra. We give an interesting example of a Howe pair (ie, a pair of mutual commutants) in the vertex algebra setting.

In this paper we describe several characterizations of basic finite-dimensional k-algebras A stratified for all linear orders, and classify their graded algebras as tensor algebras satisfying some extra property. We also discuss whether for a given preorder ≼, F(≼Δ), the category of A-modules with ≼Δ-filtrations, is closed under cokernels of monomorphisms, and classify quasi-hereditary algebras satisfying this property.

In this paper we use a homological approach to obtain upper bounds for a few homological invariants of FI_G-modules V. These upper bounds are expressed in terms of the generating degree and torsion degree, which measure the top and socle of V under actions of non-invertible morphisms in the category respectively.

By applying the residue method for period integrals and Langlands-Shahidi’s theory for residues of Eisenstein series, we study the period integrals for six spherical varieties. For each spherical variety, we prove a relation between the period integrals and certain automorphic L-functions. In some cases, we also study the local multiplicity of the spherical varieties.

We study extension spaces, cotorsion pairs and their mutations in the cluster category of a marked surface without punctures. Under the one-to-one correspondence between the curves, valued closed curves in the marked surface and the indecomposable objects in the associated cluster category, we prove that the dimension of extension space of two indecomposable objects in the cluster categories equals to the intersection number of the corresponding curves. By using this result, we prove that there are no non-trivial t-structures in the cluster categories when the surface is connected. Based on this result, we give a classification of cotorsion pairs in these categories. Moreover we define the notion of paintings of a marked surface without punctures and their rotations. They are a geometric model of cotorsion pairs and of their mutations respectively.