Mathematics Commons^™

On Morrey Spaces In The Calculus Of Variations, Kyle Fey

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We prove some global Morrey regularity results for almost minimizers of functionals of the form u → ∫_Ω f(x, u, ∇u)dx. This regularity is valid up to the boundary, provided the boundary data are sufficiently regular. The main assumption on f is that for each x and u, the function f(x, u, ·) behaves asymptotically like the function h(|·|)^α(x), where h is an N-function.

Following this, we provide a characterization of the class of Young measures that can be generated by a sequence …

On A Family Of Generalized Wiener Spaces And Applications, Ian Pierce

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We investigate the structure and properties of a variety of generalized Wiener spaces. Our main focus is on Wiener-type measures on spaces of continuous functions; our generalizations include an extension to multiple parameters, and a method of adjusting the distribution and covariance structure of the measure on the underlying function space.

In the second chapter, we consider single-parameter function spaces and extend a fundamental integration formula of Paley, Wiener, and Zygmund for an important class of functionals on this space. In the third chapter, we discuss measures on very general function spaces and introduce the specific example of a generalized …

Packings And Realizations Of Degree Sequences With Specified Substructures, Tyler Seacrest

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

This dissertation focuses on the intersection of two classical and fundamental areas in graph theory:  graph packing and degree sequences.  The question of packing degree sequences lies naturally in this intersection, asking when degree sequences have edge-disjoint realizations on the same vertex set.  The most significant result in this area is Kundu's k-Factor Theorem, which characterizes when a degree sequence packs with a constant sequence.  We prove a series of results in this spirit, and we particularly search for realizations of degree sequences with edge-disjoint 1-factors.  

Perhaps the most fundamental result in degree sequence theory is the Erdos-Gallai Theorem, characterizing …

Extremal Trees And Reconstruction, Andrew Ray

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Problems in two areas of graph theory will be considered.

First, I will consider extremal problems for trees. In these questions we examine the trees that maximize or minimize various invariants. For instance the number of independent sets, the number of matchings, the number of subtrees, the sum of pairwise distances, the spectral radius, and the number of homomorphisms to a fixed graph. I have two general approaches to these problems. To find the extremal trees in the collection of trees on n vertices with a fixed degree bound I use the certificate method. The certificate is a branch invariant, …

Annihilators Of Local Cohomology Modules, Laura Lynch

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In many important theorems in the homological theory of commutative local rings, an essential ingredient in the proof is to consider the annihilators of local cohomology modules. We examine these annihilators at various cohomological degrees, in particular at the cohomological dimension and at the height or the grade of the defining ideal. We also investigate the dimension of these annihilators at various degrees and we refine our results by specializing to particular types of rings, for example, Cohen Macaulay rings, unique factorization domains, and rings of small dimension.

Adviser: Thomas Marley

The Theory Of Discrete Fractional Calculus: Development And Application, Michael T. Holm

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

The author's purpose in this dissertation is to introduce, develop and apply the tools of discrete fractional calculus to the arena of fractional difference equations. To this end, we develop the Fractional Composition Rules and the Fractional Laplace Transform Method to solve a linear, fractional initial value problem in Chapters 2 and 3. We then apply fixed point strategies of Krasnosel'skii and Banach to study a nonlinear, fractional boundary value problem in Chapter 4.

Adviser: Lynn Erbe and Allan Peterson

Formalizing Categorical And Algebraic Constructions In Operator Theory, William Benjamin Grilliette

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this work, I offer an alternative presentation theory for C*-algebras with applicability to various other normed structures. Specifically, the set of generators is equipped with a nonnegative-valued function which ensures existence of a C*-algebra for the presentation. This modification allows clear definitions of a "relation" for generators of a C*-algebra and utilization of classical algebraic tools, such as Tietze transformations.

How Do Neurons Work Together? Lessons From Auditory Cortex, Kenneth D. Harris, Peter Bartho, Paul Chadderton, Carina Curto, Jaime De La Rocha, Liad Hollender, Vladimir Itskov, Artur Luczak, Stephan Marguet, Alfonso Renart, Shuzo Sakata

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Recordings of single neurons have yielded great insights into the way acoustic stimuli are represented in auditory cortex. However, any one neuron functions as part of a population whose combined activity underlies cortical information processing. Here we review some results obtained by recording simultaneously from auditory cortical populations and individual morphologically identified neurons, in urethane-anesthetized and unanesthetized passively listening rats. Auditory cortical populations produced structured activity patterns both in response to acoustic stimuli, and spontaneously without sensory input. Population spike time patterns were broadly conserved across multiple sensory stimuli and spontaneous events, exhibiting a generally conserved sequential organization lasting approximately …

On The Betti Number Of Differential Modules, Justin Devries

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Let R = k[x₁, ..., x_n] with k a field. A multi-graded differential R-module is a multi-graded R-module D with an endomorphism d such that d² = 0. This dissertation establishes a lower bound on the rank of such a differential module when the underlying R-module is free. We define the Betti number of a differential module and use it to show that when the homology ker d/im d of D is non-zero and finite dimensional over k then there is an inequality rank_R D ≥ 2ⁿ. This …

Extremal Problems For Independent Set Enumeration, Jonathan Cutler, A. J. Radcliffe

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

The study of the number of independent sets in a graph has a rich history. Recently, Kahn proved that disjoint unions of Kr,r’s have the maximum number of independent sets amongst r-regular bipartite graphs. Zhao extended this to all r-regular graphs. If we instead restrict the class of graphs to those on a fixed number of vertices and edges, then the Kruskal-Katona theorem implies that the graph with the maximum number of independent sets is the lex graph, where edges form an initial segment of the lexicographic ordering. In this paper, we study three related questions. Firstly, we …

An Entropy Proof Of The Kahn-Lovasz Theorem, Jonathan Cutler, A. J. Radcliffe

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Bregman [2], gave a best possible upper bound for the number of perfect matchings in a balanced bipartite graph in terms of its degree sequence. Recently Kahn and Lovasz [8] extended Bregman’s theorem to general graphs. In this paper, we use entropy methods to give a new proof of the Kahn-Lovasz theorem. Our methods build on Radhakrishnan’s [9] use of entropy to prove Bregman’s theorem.

Short-Term Facilitation May Stabilize Parametric Working Memory Trace, Vladimir Itskov, David Hansel, Misha Tsodyks

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Networks with continuous set of attractors are considered to be a paradigmatic model for parametric working memory (WM), but require fine tuning of connections and are thus structurally unstable. Here we analyzed the network with ring attractor, where connections are not perfectly tuned and the activity state therefore drifts in the absence of the stabilizing stimulus. We derive an analytical expression for the drift dynamics and conclude that the network cannot function as WM for a period of several seconds, a typical delay time in monkey memory experiments. We propose that short-term synaptic facilitation in recurrent connections significantly improves the …

The Cohomology Of Modules Over A Complete Intersection Ring, Jesse Burke

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

We investigate the cohomology of modules over commutative complete intersection rings. The first main result is that if M is an arbitrary module over a complete intersection ring R, and if one even self-extension module of M vanishes then M has finite projective dimension. The second main result gives a new proof of the fact that the support variety of a Cohen-Macaulay module whose completion is indecomposable is projectively connected.

Applications Of Linear Programming To Coding Theory, Nathan Axvig

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Maximum-likelihood decoding is often the optimal decoding rule one can use, but it is very costly to implement in a general setting. Much effort has therefore been dedicated to find efficient decoding algorithms that either achieve or approximate the error-correcting performance of the maximum-likelihood decoder. This dissertation examines two approaches to this problem.

In 2003 Feldman and his collaborators defined the linear programming decoder, which operates by solving a linear programming relaxation of the maximum-likelihood decoding problem. As with many modern decoding algorithms, is possible for the linear programming decoder to output vectors that do not correspond to codewords; such …

Vanishing Of Ext And Tor Over Complete Intersections, Olgur Celikbas

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Let (R,m) be a local complete intersection, that is, a local ring whose m-adic completion is the quotient of a complete regular local ring by a regular sequence. Let M and N be finitely generated R-modules. This dissertation concerns the vanishing of Tor(M, N) and Ext(M, N). In this context, M satisfies Serre's condition (S_{n}) if and only if M is an nth syzygy. The complexity of M is the least nonnegative integer r such that the nth Betti number of M is bounded by a polynomial of degree r-1 for all sufficiently large n. We use this notion of …

Properties Of The Generalized Laplace Transform And Transport Partial Dynamic Equation On Time Scales, Chris R. Ahrendt

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In this dissertation, we first focus on the generalized Laplace transform on time scales. We prove several properties of the generalized exponential function which will allow us to explore some of the fundamental properties of the Laplace transform. We then give a description of the region in the complex plane for which the improper integral in the definition of the Laplace transform converges, and how this region is affected by the time scale in question. Conditions under which the Laplace transform of a power series can be computed term-by-term are given. We develop a formula for the Laplace transform for …

Bass’ Nk Groups And Cd H-Fibrant Hochschild Homology, G. Cortiñas, C. Haesemeyer, Mark E. Walker, C. Weibel

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

The K-theory of a polynomial ring R[t ] contains the K-theory of R as a summand. For R commutative and containing Q, we describe K∗(R[t ])/K∗(R) in terms of Hochschild homology and the cohomology of Kähler differentials for the cdh topology.

We use this to address Bass’ question, whether K_n(R) = K_n(R[t ]) implies K_n(R) = K_n(R[t₁, t₂]). The answer to this question is affirmative when R is essentially of …

Generalized Fourier-Feynman Transforms, Convolution Products, And First Variations On Function Space, Seung Jun Chang, Jae Gil Choi, David Skough

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

In this paper we examine the various relationships that exist among the first variation, the convolution product and the Fourier-Feynman transform for functionals of the form F(x) = f((α₁, x), . . . , (α_n, x)) with x in a very general function space C_a,b[0,T].

Population Coding Of Tone Stimuli In Auditory Cortex: Dynamic Rate Vector Analysis, Peter Bartho, Carina Curto, Artur Luczak, Stephan L. Marguet, Kenneth D. Harris

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Neural representations of even temporally unstructured stimuli can show complex temporal dynamics. In many systems, neuronal population codes show “progressive differentiation,” whereby population responses to different stimuli grow further apart during a stimulus presentation. Here we analyzed the response of auditory cortical populations in rats to extended tones. At onset (up to 300 ms), tone responses involved strong excitation of a large number of neurons; during sustained responses (after 500 ms) overall firing rate decreased, but most cells still showed a statistically significant difference in firing rate. Population vector trajectories evoked by different tone frequencies expanded rapidly along an initially …

A Simple Model Of Cortical Dynamics Explains Variability And State Dependence Of Sensory Responses In Urethane-Anesthetized Auditory Cortex, Carina Curto, Shuzo Sakata, Stephan Marguet, Vladimir Itskov, Kenneth D. Harris

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

The responses of neocortical cells to sensory stimuli are variable and state dependent. It has been hypothesized that intrinsic cortical dynamics play an important role in trial-to-trial variability; the precise nature of this dependence, however, is poorly understood. We show here that in auditory cortex of urethane-anesthetized rats, population responses to click stimuli can be quantitatively predicted on a trial-by-trial basis by a simple dynamical system model estimated from spontaneous activity immediately preceding stimulus presentation. Changes in cortical state correspond consistently to changes in model dynamics, reflecting a nonlinear, self-exciting system in synchronized states and an approximately linear system in …

Fan Cohomology And Equivariant Chow Rings Of Toric Varieties, Mu-Wan Huang

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Toric varieties are varieties equipped with a torus action and constructed from cones and fans. In the joint work with Suanne Au and Mark E. Walker, we prove that the equivariant K-theory of an affine toric variety constructed from a cone can be identified with a group ring determined by the cone. When a toric variety X(Δ) is smooth, we interpret equivariant K-groups as presheaves on the associated fan space Δ. Relating the sheaf cohomology groups to equivariant K-groups via a spectral sequence, we provide another proof of a theorem of Vezzosi and Vistoli: equivariant K …

The Monty Hall Problem, Brian Johnson

Department of Mathematics: Master of Arts in Teaching, Exam Expository Papers

In the game show "Let's Make a Deal", host Monty Hall would present a contestant with three doors. Behind one door is a car and behind the other two doors are goats. The contestant picks one door, after which Monty opens one of the other doors, showing a goat. Monty then offers the contestant the opportunity to keep the same door or switch to the other unopened door; the contestant will get to keep whatever is behind that door. Should the contestant switch?

Advisor: Gordon Woodward

Fan Cohomology And Its Application To Equivariant K-Theory Of Toric Varieties, Suanne Au

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

Mu-Wan Huang, Mark Walker and I established an explicit formula for the equivariant K-groups of affine toric varieties. We also recovered a result due to Vezzosi and Vistoli, which expresses the equivariant K-groups of a smooth toric variety in terms of the K-groups of its maximal open affine toric subvarieties. This dissertation investigates the situation when the toric variety X is neither affine nor smooth. In many cases, we compute the Čech cohomology groups of the presheaf K_q^T on X endowed with a topology. Using these calculations and Walker's Localization Theorem for equivariant K-theory, we give explicit formulas …

Combinatorial And Commutative Manipulations In Feynman's Operational Calculi For Noncommuting Operators, Duane Einfeld

Department of Mathematics: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In Feynman's Operational Calculi, a function of indeterminates in a commutative space is mapped to an operator expression in a space of (generally) noncommuting operators; the image of the map is determined by a choice of measures associated with the operators, by which the operators are 'disentangled.' Results in this area of research include formulas for disentangling in particular cases of operators and measures. We consider two ways in which this process might be facilitated. First, we develop a set of notations and operations for handling the combinatorial arguments that tend to arise. Second, we develop an intermediate space for …

Parameterizing The Growth-Decline Boundary For Uncertain Population Projection Models, Joan Lubben, Derek Boeckner, Richard Rebarber, Stuart Townley, Brigitte Tenhumberg

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

We consider discrete time linear population models of the form n(t + 1) = An(t) where A is a population projection matrix or integral projection operator, and represents a structured population at time t. It is well known that the asymptotic growth or decay rate of n(t) is determined by the leading eigenvalue of A. In practice, population models have substantial parameter uncertainty, and it might be difficult to quantify the effect of this uncertainty on the leading eigenvalue. For a large class of matrices and integral operators A, we …

Analysis Of Connections Between Pseudocodewords, Nathan Axvig, Deanna Dreher, Katherine Morrison, Eric T. Psota, Lance C. Pérez, Judy L. Walker

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

The role of pseudocodewords in causing noncodeword outputs in linear programming (LP) decoding, graph cover decoding, and iterative message-passing decoding is investigated. The three main types of pseudocodewords in the literature — linear programming pseudocodewords, graph cover pseudocodewords, and computation tree pseudocodewords — are reviewed and connections between them are explored. Some discrepancies in the literature on minimal and irreducible pseudocodewords are highlighted and clarified, and a value for the minimal degree cover necessary to realize an LP pseudocodeword is found. Additionally, some conditions for the existence of connected realizations of graph cover pseudocodewords are given. This allows for further …

Connections Between Computation Trees And Graph Covers, Deanna Dreher, Judy L. Walker

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Connections between graph cover pseudocodewords and computation tree pseudocodewords are investigated with the aim of bridging the gap between the theoretically attractive analysis of graph covers and the more intractable analysis of iterative message-passing algorithms that are intuitively linked to graph covers. Both theoretical results and numerous examples are presented.

Cell Groups Reveal Structure Of Stimulus Space, Carina Curto, Vladimir Itskov

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

An important task of the brain is to represent the outside world. It is unclear how the brain may do this, however, as it can only rely on neural responses and has no independent access to external stimuli in order to ‘‘decode’’ what those responses mean. We investigate what can be learned about a space of stimuli using only the action potentials (spikes) of cells with stereotyped—but unknown—receptive fields. Using hippocampal place cells as a model system, we show that one can (1) extract global features of the environment and (2) construct an accurate representation of space, up to an …

Supplementary Text To Accompany “Cell Groups Reveal Structure Of Stimulus Space”, Carina Curto, Vladimir Itskov

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

Here we present a brief exposition of some material from algebraic topology that we use in our methods. We include it for completeness, as it may not be familiar for many readers. In particular, we define simplicial complexes, simplicial homology groups, and state the theorem cited in the Results section. See [Bott and Tu, 1982, Ewald, 1996, Hatcher, 2002] for more details.

Threefold Flops Via Matrix Factorization, Carina Curto, David R. Morrison

Department of Mathematics: Faculty Publications

The structure of birational maps between algebraic varieties becomes increasingly complicated as the dimension of the varieties increases. There is no birational geometry to speak of in dimension one: if two complete algebraic curves are birationally isomorphic then they are biregularly isomorphic. In dimension two we encounter the phenomenon of the blowup of a point, and every birational isomorphism can be factored into a sequence of blowups and blowdowns. In dimension three, however, we first encounter birational maps which are biregular outside of a subvariety of codimension two (called the center of the birational map). When the center has a …