Let G be a reductive algebraic group over a field of positive characteristic and denote by C(G) the category of rational G-modules. In this note, we investigate the subcategory of C(G) consisting of those modules whose composition factors all have highest weights linked to the Steinberg weight. This subcategory is denoted ST and called the Steinberg component. We give an explicit equivalence between ST and C(G) and we derive some consequences. In particular, our result allows us to relate the Frobenius contracting functor to the projection functor from C(G) onto ST.

In this paper we start the classification of strongly bracket-generated sub-symmetric spaces. We prove a structure theorem and analyze the nilpotent case.

We discuss the problem of deciding when a metrisable topological group G has a canonically defined local Lipschitz geometry. This naturally leads to the concept of minimal metrics on G, that we characterise intrinsically in terms of a linear growth condition on powers of group elements. Combining this with work on the large scale geometry of topological groups, we also identify the class of metrisable groups admitting a canonical global Lipschitz geometry. In turn, minimal metrics connect with Hilbert’s fifth problem for completely metrisable groups and we show, assuming that the set of squares is sufficiently rich, that every element of some identity neighbourhood belongs to a 1-parameter subgroup.

We study the multiplicative Hilbert matrix, i.e. the infinite matrix with entries (mn−−−√log(mn))−1 for m,n≥2. This matrix was recently introduced within the context of the theory of Dirichlet series, and it was shown that the multiplicative Hilbert matrix has no eigenvalues and that its continuous spectrum coincides with [0,π]. Here we prove that the multiplicative Hilbert matrix has no singular continuous spectrum and that its absolutely continuous spectrum has multiplicity one. Our argument relies on spectral perturbation theory and scattering theory. Finding an explicit diagonalisation of the multiplicative Hilbert matrix remains an interesting open problem.

It is shown for the non-centered Hardy–Littlewood maximal operator M that ∥DMf∥1≤Cn∥Df∥1 for all radial functions in W1,1(Rn).