Global geometrical optics method is a new semi-classical approach for the high frequency linear waves proposed by the author in [13]. In this paper, we rederive it in a more concise way. It is shown that the right candidate of solution ansatz for the high frequency wave equations is the extended WKB function, other than the WKB function used in the classical geometrical optics approximation. A new and main contribution of this paper is an interface analysis for the Helmholtz equation when the incident wave is of extended WKB-type. We derive asymptotic expressions for the reflected and/or transmitted propagating waves in the general case. These expressions are valid even when the incident rays include caustic points.

Two functions Δ and Δ_{$b$}, of interest in combinatorial geometry and the theory of linear programming, are defined and studied. Δ($d, n$) is the maximum diameter of convex polyhedra of dimension$d$with$n$faces of dimension$d$−1; similarly, Δ_{$b$}($d,n$) is the maximum diameter of bounded polyhedra of dimension$d$with$n$faces of dimension$d$−1. The diameter of a polyhedron$P$is the smallest integer$l$such that any two vertices of$P$can be joined by a path of$l$or fewer edges of$P$. It is shown that the bounded$d$-step conjecture, i.e. Δ_{$b$}$(d,2d)=d$, is true for$d$≤5. It is also shown that the general$d$-step conjecture, i.e. Δ($d, 2d$)≤$d$, of significance in linear programming, is false for$d$≥4. A number of other specific values and bounds for Δ and Δ_{$b$}are presented.

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We prove the BMV (Bessis, Moussa, Villani, [1]) conjecture, which states that the function $${t \mapsto \mathop{\rm Tr}\exp(A-tB)}$$ , $${t \geqslant 0}$$ , is the Laplace transform of a positive measure on [0,∞) if$A$and$B$are $${n \times n}$$ Hermitian matrices and$B$is positive semidefinite. A semi-explicit representation for this measure is given.

Adult stem cells, which exist throughout the body, multiply by cell division to replenish dying cells or to promote regeneration to repair damaged tissues. To perform these functions during the lifetime of organs or tissues, stem cells need to maintain their populations in a faithful distribution of their epigenetic states, which are suscepti- ble to stochastic fluctuations during each cell division, unexpected injury, and potential genetic mutations that occur during many cell divisions. However, it remains unclear how the three processes of differentiation, proliferation, and apoptosis in regulating stem cells collectively manage these challenging tasks. Here, without consid- ering molecular details, we propose a genetic optimal control model for adult stem cell regeneration that includes the three fundamental processes, along with cell division and adaptation based on differ- ential fitnesses of phenotypes. In the model, stem cells with a distri- bution of epigenetic states are required to maximize expected performance after each cell division. We show that heteroge- neous proliferation that depends on the epigenetic states of stem cells can improve the maintenance of stem cell distributions to create balanced populations. A control strategy during each cell division leads to a feedback mechanism involving heterogeneous proliferation that can accelerate regeneration with less fluctuation in the stem cell population. When mutation is allowed, apoptosis evolves to maximize the performance during homeostasis after multiple cell divisions. The overall results highlight the importance of cross-talk between genetic and epigenetic regulation and the performance objectives during homeostasis in shaping a desirable heterogeneous distribution of stem cells in epigenetic states.