We aim to maximize the number of first-quadrant lattice points in a convex domain with respect to reciprocal stretching in the coordinate directions. The optimal domain is shown to be asymptotically balanced, meaning that the stretch factor approaches 1 as the “radius” approaches infinity. In particular, the result implies that among all p-ellipses (or Lamé curves), the p-circle encloses the most first-quadrant lattice points as the radius approaches infinity, for 1<p<∞. The case p=2 corresponds to minimization of high eigenvalues of the Dirichlet Laplacian on rectangles, and so our work generalizes a result of Antunes and Freitas. Similarly, we generalize a Neumann eigenvalue maximization result of van den Berg, Bucur and Gittins. Further, Ariturk and Laugesen recently handled 0<p<1 by building on our results here. The case p=1 remains open, and is closely related to minimizing energy levels of harmonic oscillators: which right triangles in the first quadrant with two sides along the axes will enclose the most lattice points, as the area tends to infinity?

We characterize mappings$S$_{$i$}and$T$_{$i$}, not necessarily linear, from sets $\mathcal {J}_{i}$ ,$i$=1,2, onto multiplicative subsets of function algebras, subject to the following conditions on the peripheral spectra of their products:$σ$_{$π$}($S$_{1}($a$)$S$_{2}($b$))⊂$σ$_{$π$}($T$_{1}($a$)$T$_{2}($b$)) and$σ$_{$π$}($S$_{1}($a$)$S$_{2}($b$))∩$σ$_{$π$}($T$_{1}($a$)$T$_{2}($b$))≠∅, $a\in \mathcal {J}_{1}$ , $b\in \mathcal {J}_{2}$ . As a direct consequence we obtain a large number of previous results about mappings subject to various spectral conditions.

We construct inner amenable groups$G$with infinite conjugacy classes and such that the associated II_{1}factor has no non-trivial asymptotically central elements, i.e. does not have property Gamma of Murray and von Neumann. This solves a problem posed by Effros in 1975.

Quon language is a 3D picture language that we can apply to simulate mathematical concepts. We introduce the surface algebras as an extension of the notion of planar algebras to higher genus surface. We prove that there is a unique one-parameter extension. The 2D defects on the surfaces are quons, and surface tangles are transformations. We use quon language to simulate graphic states that appear in quantum information, and to simulate interesting quantities in modular tensor categories. This simulation relates the pictorial Fourier duality of surface tangles and the algebraic Fourier duality induced by the S matrix of the modular tensor category. The pictorial Fourier duality also coincides with the graphic duality on the sphere. For each pair of dual graphs, we obtain an algebraic identity related to the S matrix. These identities include well-known ones, such as the Verlinde formula; partially known ones, such as the 6j-symbol self-duality; and completely new ones.

We study the control systems governed by abstract Volterra equations without uniqueness in a Banach space. By using the technique of the theory of condensing maps and multivalued analysis tools, we obtain the existence result, investigate the topological structure of the solution set, and prove the invariance of a reachability set of the control system under nonlinear perturbations. Examples concerning fractional order differential equations and first order evolution equations with multiple delays are proposed to demonstrate the applications to approximate controllability results.