In this paper we study the uniqueness of positive solutions as well as the non existence of sign changing solutions for Dirichlet problems of the form $$\eqalign{\Delta u + g(\lambda,\ u) &= 0\quad\rm in\ \Omega,\cr u &= 0\quad\rm on\ \partial\Omega,}$$where $\Delta$ is the Laplace operator, $\Omega$ is a region in $\IR\sp{N}$, and $\lambda>0$ is a real parameter. For the particular function $g(\lambda,\ u)=\vert u\vert\sp{p}u+\lambda$, where $p={4\over N-2}$, and $\Omega$ is the unit ball in $\IR\sp{N}$ for $N\ge3$, we show that there are no sign changing solutions for small $\lambda$ and also we show that there are no large sign changing solutions for $\lambda$ in a compact set. We also prove uniqueness of positive solutions for $\lambda$ large when $g(\lambda,\ u)=\lambda f(u)$, where f is an increasing, sublinear, concave function with f(0) $<$ 0, and the exterior boundary of $\Omega$ is convex. In establishing our results we use a number of methods from non-linear functional analysis such as rescaling arguments, methods of order, estimation near the boundary, and moving plane arguments.

In this dissertation, we study fractal sets and their properties, especially the open set condition, Hausdorff dimensions and Hausdorff measures for certain fractal constructions.

Let F denote the field of real numbers, complex numbers, or a finite algebraic extension of the p-adic field. We prove that the special linear group SLn(F) with the usual topology induced by F is a minimal topological group. This is accomplished by first proving the minimality of the upper triangular group in SLn(F). The proof for the upper triangular group uses an induction argument on a chain of upper triangular subgroups and relies on general results for locally compact topological groups, quotient groups, and subgroups. Minimality of SLn(F) is concluded by appealing to the associated Lie group decomposition as the product of a compact group and an upper triangular group. We also prove the universal minimality of homeomorphism groups of one dimensional manifolds, and we give a new simple proof of the universal minimality of S∞.

In this paper, the study of k-fold branched coverings for which the branch set is a stratified set is considered. First of all, the existence of universal k-fold branched coverings over CW-complexes with stratified branch set is proved using Brown's Representability Theorem. Next, an explicit construction of universal k-fold branched coverings over manifolds is given. Finally, some homotopy and homology groups are computed for some specific examples of Universal k-fold branched coverings.

In this paper, we prove, for a certain class of open billiard dynamical systems, the existence of a family of smooth probability measures on the leaves of the dynamical system's unstable manifold. These measures describe the conditional asymptotic behavior of forward trajectories of the system. Furthermore, properties of these families are proven which are germane to the PYC programme for these systems. Strong sufficient conditions for the uniqueness of such families are given which depend upon geometric properties of the system's phase space. In particular, these results hold for a fairly nonrestrictive class of triangular configurations of scatterers.

The dissertation focuses on the structure of π-regular (regular) rings.

A Polish space is a separable topological space that can be metrized by means of a complete metric. A subset A of a Polish space X is analytic if there is a Polish space Z and a continuous function f : Z —> X such that f(Z)= A. After proving that each uncountable Polish space contains a non-Borel analytic subset we conclude that there exists a universally measurable non-Borel set.

In this paper we consider the question of uniqueness of positive solutions for Dirichlet problems of the form - Δ u(x)= g(λ,u(x)) in B, u(x) = 0 on ϑB, where A is the Laplace operator, B is the unit ball in RˆN, and A>0. We show that if g(λ,u)=uˆ(N+2)/(N-2) + λ, that is g has "critical growth", then large positive solutions are unique. We also prove uniqueness of large solutions when g(λ,u)=A f(u) with f(0) < 0, f "superlinear" and monotone. We use a number of methods from nonlinear functional analysis such as variational identities, Sturm comparison theorems and methods of order. We also present a regularity result on linear elliptic equation where a coefficient has critical growth.

The primary result from this dissertation is following inequality: d(B) ≤ min(2^< wd(B),sup{λ^c(B): λ < wd(B)}) in ZFC, where B is a homogeneous complete Boolean algebra, d(B) is the density, wd(B) is the weak density, and c(B) is the cellularity of B. Chapter II of this dissertation is a general overview of homogeneous complete Boolean algebras. Assuming the existence of a weakly inaccessible cardinal, we give an example of a homogeneous complete Boolean algebra which does not attain its cellularity. In chapter III, we prove that for any integer n > 1, wd_2(B) = wd_n(B). Also in this chapter, we show that if X⊂B is κ—weakly dense for 1 < κ < sat(B), then sup{wd_κ(B):κ < sat(B)} = d(B). In chapter IV, we address the following question: If X is weakly dense in a homogeneous complete Boolean algebra B, does there necessarily exist b € B\{0} such that {x∗b: x ∈ X} is dense in B|b = {c € B: c ≤ b}? We show that the answer is no for collapsing algebras. In chapter V, we give new proofs to some well known results concerning supporting antichains. A direct consequence of these results is the relation c(B) < wd(B), …

The interplay between generalizations of Riezs' famous representation theorem and Radon-Nikodým type theorems has a long history. This paper will explore certain aspects of the theory of bounded linear operators on continuous function spaces, Radon-Nikodým type properties, and their connections.

This thesis studies the existence, multiplicity, bifurcation and the stability of the solutions to semilinear elliptic boundary value problems. These problems are motivated both by the mathematical structure and the numerous applications in fluid mechanics chemical reactions, nuclear reactors, Riemannian geometry and elasticity theory. This study considers the problem for different classes of nonlinearities and obtain the existence and multiplicity of positive solutions.

The purpose of this paper is to generalize a theorem that characterizes absolute continuity of bounded finitely additive set functions in the form of an integral approximation. We show that his integral exists if the condition of absolute continuity is removed.

This dissertation focuses on the properties of a domain which has the property that each ideal is a finite intersection of a π-ideal, the properties of a domain which have the property that each ideal is a finite product of π-ideal, and the containment relations of the resulting classes of ideals. Chapter 1 states definitions which are needed in later chapters. Chapters 2 and 3 focuses on domains which have the property that each ideal in D is a finite intersection of π-ideals while Chapter 4 focuses on domains with the property that each ideal is a finite product of π-ideals. Chapter 5 discusses the containment relations which occur as a result of Chapters 2 and 3.

The method of steepest descent is used to solve partial differential equations of mixed type. In the main hypothesis for this paper, H, L, and S are Hilbert spaces, T: H -> L and B: H -> S are functions with locally Lipshitz Fréchet derivatives where T represents a differential equation and B represents a boundary condition. Define ∅(u) = 1/2 II T(u) II^2. Steepest descent is applied to the functional ∅. A new smoothing technique is developed and applied to Tricomi type equations (which are of mixed type). Finally, the graphical outputs on some test boundary conditions are presented in the table of illustrations.

The results from this dissertation are a computation of ultrapowers by supercompactness measures and concepts related to such measures. The second chapter gives an overview of the basic ideas required to carry out the computations. Included are preliminary ideas connected to measures, and the supercompactness measures. Order type results are also considered in this chapter. In chapter III we give an alternate characterization of 2 using the notion of iterated ordinal measures. Basic facts related to this characterization are also considered here. The remaining chapters are devoted to finding bounds fwith arguments taking place both inside and outside the ultrapowers. Conditions related to the upper bound are given in chapter VI.

The dissertation uses a number of mathematical formula including de Rham cohomology with complex coefficients to state and prove extension of Brieskorn's Lemma theorem.

We present the results from three papers concerning partitions of vector spaces V over the set R of reals and of the set of lines in V.

This paper is the result of a study of the power method to find dominant eigenvalues of square matrices. It introduces ideas basic to the study and shows the development of the power method for the most well-behaved matrices possible, and it explores exactly which other types of matrices yield to the power method. The paper also discusses a type of matrix typically considered impossible for the power method, along with a modification of the power method which works for this type of matrix. It gives an overview of common extensions of the power method. The appendices contain BASIC versions of the power method and its modification.

This thesis investigates various theorems on polynomials over the rationals, algebraic numbers, algebraic integers, and quadratic fields. The material selected in this study is more of a number theoretical aspect than that of an algebraic structural aspect. Therefore, the topics of divisibility, unique factorization, prime numbers, and the roots of certain polynomials have been chosen for primary consideration.

In this paper, we use the following scheme to construct a continuous, nowhere-differentiable function 𝑓 which is the uniform limit of a sequence of sawtooth functions 𝑓ₙ : [0, 1] → [0, 1] with increasingly sharp teeth. Let 𝑋 = [0, 1] x [0, 1] and 𝐹(𝑋) be the Hausdorff metric space determined by 𝑋. We define contraction maps 𝑤₁ , 𝑤₂ , 𝑤₃ on 𝑋. These maps define a contraction map 𝑤 on 𝐹(𝑋) via 𝑤(𝐴) = 𝑤₁(𝐴) ⋃ 𝑤₂(𝐴) ⋃ 𝑤₃(𝐴). The iteration under 𝑤 of the diagonal in 𝑋 defines a sequence of graphs of continuous functions 𝑓ₙ. Since 𝑤 is a contraction map in the compact metric space 𝐹(𝑋), 𝑤 has a unique fixed point. Hence, these iterations converge to the fixed point-which turns out to be the graph of our continuous, nowhere-differentiable function 𝑓. Chapter 2 contains the background we will need to engage our task. Chapter 3 includes two results from the Baire Category Theorem. The first is the well known fact that the set of continuous, nowhere-differentiable functions on [0,1] is a residual set in 𝐶[0,1]. The second fact is that the set of continuous functions on [0,1] which have a dense set …

The purpose of this thesis is to examine certain questions concerning the Cantor ternary set. The second chapter deals with proving that the Cantor ternary set is equivalent to the middle thirds set of [0,1], closed, compact, and has Lebesgue measure zero. Further a proof that the Cantor ternary set is a locally compact, Hausdorff topological group is given. The third chapter is concerned with establishing the existence of a Haar integral on certain topological groups. In particular if G is a locally compact and Hausdorff topological group, then there is a non-zero translation invariant positive linear form on G. The fourth chapter deals with proving that for any Haar integral I on G there exists a unique Haar measure on G that represents I.

This thesis investigates some of the properties of power series rings. The material is divided into three chapters. In Chapter I, some of the basic concepts of rings which are a prerequisite to an understanding of the definitions and theorems which follow are stated. Simple properties of power series rings are developed in Chapter II. Many properties of a ring R are preserved when we attach the indeterminant x to form the power series ring R[[x]]. Further results of power series rings are examined in Chapter III. An important result illustrated in this chapter is that power series rings possess some of the properties of rings of polynomials.

The purpose of this paper is to explore certain properties of Banach spaces. The first chapter begins with basic definitions, includes examples of Banach spaces, and concludes with some properties of continuous linear functionals. In the second chapter, dimension is discussed; then one version of the Hahn-Banach Theorem is presented. The third chapter focuses on dual spaces and includes an example using co, RI, and e'. The role of locally convex spaces is also explored in this chapter. In the fourth chapter, several more theorems concerning dual spaces and related topologies are presented. The final chapter focuses on reflexive spaces. In the main theorem, the relation between compactness and reflexivity is examined. The paper concludes with an example of a non-reflexive space.

In 1935, Philip Hall developed a formula for finding the number of ways of generating the group of symmetries of the icosahedron from a given number of its elements. In doing so, he defined a generalized Eulerian function. This thesis uses Hall's generalized Eulerian function to calculate generalized Eulerian functions for specific groups, namely: cyclic groups, dihedral groups, and p- groups.