We study boundary value problems for linear elliptic differential operators of order one. The underlying manifold may be noncompact, but the boundary is assumed to be compact. We require a symmetry property of the principal symbol of the operator along the boundary. This is satisfied by Dirac type operators, for instance. We provide a selfcontained introduction to (nonlocal) elliptic boundary conditions, boundary regularity of solutions, and index theory. In particular, we simplify and generalize the traditional theory of elliptic boundary value problems for Dirac type operators. We also prove a related decomposition theorem, a general version of Gromov and Lawson's relative index theorem and a generalization of the cobordism theorem.

Let $M$ be a smooth compact manifold equipped with a co-oriented subbundle $E\subset TM$. We suppose that a compact Lie group $G$ acts on $M$ preserving $E$, such that the $G$-orbits are transverse to $E$. If the fibres of $E$ are equipped with a complex structure then it is possible to construct a $G$-invariant Dirac operator $\dirac$ in terms of the resulting almost CR structure. We show that there is a canonical equivariant differential form with generalized coefficients $\mathcal{J}(E,X)$ defined on $M$ that depends only on the $G$-action and the co-oriented subbundle $E$. Moreover, the group action is such that $\dirac$ is a $G$-transversally elliptic operator in the sense of Atiyah \cite{AT}. Its index is thus defined as a generalized function on $G$. Beginning with the equivariant index formula of Paradan and Vergne \cite{PV3}, we obtain an index formula for $\dirac$ computed as an integral over $M$ that is free of choices and growth conditions. This formula necessarily involves equivariant differential forms with generalized coefficients and we show that the only such form required is the canonical form $\mathcal{J}(E,X)$. In certain cases the index of $\dirac$ can be interpreted in terms of a CR analogue of the space of holomorphic sections, allowing us to view our index formula as a character formula for the $G$-equivariant quantization of the almost CR manifold $(M,E)$. In particular, we obtain the ``almost CR'' quantization of a contact manifold, in a manner directly analogous to the almost complex quantization of a symplectic manifold.

University of Macau / Faculty of Science and Technology / Department of Mathematics

Let $M$ be a smooth compact manifold equipped with a co-oriented subbundle $E\subset TM$. We suppose that a compact Lie group $G$ acts on $M$ preserving $E$, such that the $G$-orbits are transverse to $E$. If the fibres of $E$ are equipped with a complex structure then it is possible to construct a $G$-invariant Dirac operator $\dirac$ in terms of the resulting almost CR structure. We show that there is a canonical equivariant differential form with generalized coefficients $\mathcal{J}(E,X)$ defined on $M$ that depends only on the $G$-action and the co-oriented subbundle $E$. Moreover, the group action is such that $\dirac$ is a $G$-transversally elliptic operator in the sense of Atiyah \cite{AT}. Its index is thus defined as a generalized function on $G$. Beginning with the equivariant index formula of Paradan and Vergne \cite{PV3}, we obtain an index formula for $\dirac$ computed as an integral over $M$ that is free of choices and growth conditions. This formula necessarily involves equivariant differential forms with generalized coefficients and we show that the only such form required is the canonical form $\mathcal{J}(E,X)$. In certain cases the index of $\dirac$ can be interpreted in terms of a CR analogue of the space of holomorphic sections, allowing us to view our index formula as a character formula for the $G$-equivariant quantization of the almost CR manifold $(M,E)$. In particular, we obtain the ``almost CR'' quantization of a contact manifold, in a manner directly analogous to the almost complex quantization of a symplectic manifold.

El concepte d'igualtat és fonamental en qualsevol teoria donat que és una noció essencial a l'hora de discernir entre els elements objecte del seu estudi i possibilitar la definició de mecanismes de classificació.Quan totes les propietats són perfectament precises (absència d'incertesa), hom obtè la igualtat clàssica a on dos objectes són considerats iguals si i només si comparteixen el mateix conjunt de propietats. Però, què passa quan considerem l'aparició d'incertesa, com en el cas a on els objectes compleixen una determinada propietat només fins a un cert grau?. Llavors, donat que alguns objectes seran més similars entre si que d'altres, sorgeix la necessitat de una noció gradual del concepte d'igualtat.Aquestes consideracions refermen la idea de que certs contextos requereixen una definició més flexible, que superi la rigidesa de la noció clàssica d'igualtat. Els operadors de T-indistingibilitat semblen bons candidats per aquest nou tipus d'igualtat que cerquem.D'altra banda, La Teoria de l'Evidència de Dempster-Shafer, com a marc pel tractament d'evidències, defineix implícitament una noció d'indistingibilitat entre els elements del domini de discurs basada en la seva compatibilitat relativa amb l'evidència considerada. El capítol segon analitza diferents mètodes per definir l'operador de T-indistingibilitat associat a una evidència donada.En el capítol tercer, després de presentar un exhaustiu estat de l'art en mesures d'incertesa, ens centrem en la qüestió del còmput de l'entropia quan sobre els elements del domini s'ha definit una relació d'indistingibilitat. Llavors, l'entropia hauria de ser mesurada no en funció de l'ocurrència d'events diferents, sinó d'acord amb la variabilitat percebuda per un observador equipat amb la relació d'indistingibilitat considerada. Aquesta interpretació suggereix el "paradigma de l'observador" que ens porta a la introducció del concepte d'entropia observacional.La incertesa és un fenomen present al món real. El desenvolupament de tècniques que en permetin el tractament és doncs, una necessitat. La 'computació amb paraules' ('computing with words') pretén assolir aquest objectiu mitjançant un formalisme basat en etiquetes lingüístiques, en contrast amb els mètodes numèrics tradicionals. L'ús d'aquestes etiquetes millora la comprensibilitat del llenguatge de representació delconeixement, a l'hora que requereix una adaptació de les tècniques inductives tradicionals.En el quart capítol s'introdueix un nou tipus d'arbre de decisió que incorpora les indistingibilitats entre elements del domini a l'hora de calcular la impuresa dels nodes. Hem anomenat arbres de decisió observacionals a aquests nou tipus, donat que es basen en la incorporació de l'entropia observacional en la funció heurística de selecció d'atributs. A més, presentem un algorisme capaç d'induir regles lingüístiques mitjançant un tractament adient de la incertesa present a les etiquetes lingüístiques o a les dades mateixes. La definició de l'algorisme s'acompanya d'una comparació formal amb altres algorismes estàndards. / The concept of equality is a fundamental notion in any theory since it is essential to the ability of discerning the objects to whom it concerns, ability which in turn is a requirement for any classification mechanism that might be defined. When all the properties involved are entirely precise, what we obtain is the classical equality, where two individuals are considered equal if and only if they share the same set of properties. What happens, however, when imprecision arises as in the case of properties which are fulfilled only up to a degree? Then, because certain individuals will be more similar than others, the need for a gradual notion of equality arises.These considerations show that certain contexts that are pervaded with uncertainty require a more flexible concept of equality that goes beyond the rigidity of the classic concept of equality. T-indistinguishability operators seem to be good candidates for this more flexible and general version of the concept of equality that we are searching for.On the other hand, Dempster-Shafer Theory of Evidence, as a framework for representing and managing general evidences, implicitly conveys the notion of indistinguishability between the elements of the domain of discourse based on their relative compatibility with the evidence at hand. In chapter two we are concerned with providing definitions for the T-indistinguishability operator associated to a given body of evidence.In chapter three, after providing a comprehensive summary of the state of the art on measures of uncertainty, we tackle the problem of computing entropy when an indistinguishability relation has been defined over the elements of the domain. Entropy should then be measured not according to the occurrence of different events, but according to the variability perceived by an observer equipped with indistinguishability abilities as defined by the indistinguishability relation considered. This idea naturally leads to the introduction of the concept of observational entropy.Real data is often pervaded with uncertainty so that devising techniques intended to induce knowledge in the presence of uncertainty seems entirely advisable.The paradigm of computing with words follows this line in order to provide a computation formalism based on linguistic labels in contrast to traditional numerical-based methods.The use of linguistic labels enriches the understandability of the representation language, although it also requires adapting the classical inductive learning procedures to cope with such labels.In chapter four, a novel approach to building decision trees is introduced, addressing the case when uncertainty arises as a consequence of considering a more realistic setting in which decision maker's discernment abilities are taken into account when computing node's impurity measures. This novel paradigm results in what have been called --observational decision trees' since the main idea stems from the notion of observational entropy in order to incorporate indistinguishability concerns. In addition, we present an algorithm intended to induce linguistic rules from data by properly managing the uncertainty present either in the set of describing labels or in the data itself. A formal comparison with standard algorithms is also provided.

This paper identifies subjects which are relevant for Swedish suppliers of tourism services beforeapproaching foreign markets. Most suppliers are micro, small or medium sized companies anduse intermediaries, such as tour operators, for internationalization. The research considers theopinion of British and German tour operators, which require some criteria beforehand in orderto simplify both the initialization and the development of cooperation. Destination marketingorganizations (DMOs) are hereby the go-betweens since they not only represent small-scalesuppliers on international markets, but also initiate first encounters between suppliers and touroperators. Suppliers need to provide DMOs with accurate information in order to ensure thebest possible representation. After initializing collaboration, business relationships are sought todevelop in order to facilitate long-term cooperation. Proper preparation forms therefore the basefor strengthening the competitiveness of Swedish tourism prior approaching internationalmarkets. The enhancement of distributing Swedish tourism services on foreign markets appearedto be a profitable way to enable further growth, which is strongly limited on the domestic market.Increasing the export share therefore secures and further facilitates tourism’s valuablecontributions to the Swedish economy.

In this thesis we study the essential spectrum of composition operators on the Hardy space of the unit disc and of the upper half-plane. Our starting point is the spectral analysis of the composition operators induced by translations of the upper half-plane. We completely characterize the essential spectrum of a class of composition operators that are induced by perturbations of translations

The eigenvalue gaps and eigenvalue ratios of the Sturm-Liouville systems have been studied in many papers. Recently, Lavine proved an optimal lower estimate of first eigenvalue gaps for Schrodinger operators with convex potentials. His method uses a variational approach with detailed analysis on different integrals. In 1999, (M.J.) Huang adopted his method to study eigenvalue ratios of vibrating strings. He proved an optimal lower estimate of first eigenvalue ratios with nonnegative densities. In this thesis, we want to generalize the above optimal estimate. The work of Ashbaugh and Benguria helps in attaining our objective. They introduced an approach involving a modified Prufer substitution and a comparison theorem to study the upper bounds of Dirichlet eigenvalue ratios for Schrodinger operators with nonnegative potentials. It is interesting to see that the counterpart of their result is also valid. By Liouville substitution and an approximation theorem, the vibrating strings with concave and positive densities can be transformed to a Schrodinger operator with nonpositive potentials. Thus we have the generalization of Huang's result.

<p>In this thesis, which consists of four papers, we study the discrete spectrum of Schrödinger operators in waveguides. In these domains the quadratic form of the Dirichlet Laplacian operator does not satisfy any Hardy inequality. If we include an attractive electric potential in the model or curve the domain, then bound states will always occur with energy below the bottom of the essential spectrum. We prove that a magnetic field stabilises the threshold of the essential spectrum against small perturbations. We deduce this fact from a magnetic Hardy inequality, which has many interesting applications in itself.</p><p>In Paper I we prove the magnetic Hardy inequality in a two-dimensional waveguide. As an application, we establish that when a magnetic field is present, a small local deformation or a small local bending of the waveguide will not create bound states below the essential spectrum.</p><p>In Paper II we study the Dirichlet Laplacian operator in a three-dimensional waveguide, whose cross-section is not rotationally invariant. We prove that if the waveguide is locally twisted, then the lower edge of the spectrum becomes stable. We deduce this from a Hardy inequality.</p><p>In Paper III we consider the magnetic Schrödinger operator in a three-dimensional waveguide with circular cross-section. If we include an attractive potential, eigenvalues may occur below the bottom of the essential spectrum. We prove a magnetic Lieb-Thirring inequality for these eigenvalues. In the same paper we give a lower bound on the ground state of the magnetic Schrödinger operator in a disc. This lower bound is used to prove a Hardy inequality for the magnetic Schrödinger operator in the original waveguide setting.</p><p>In Paper IV we again study the two-dimensional waveguide. It is known that if the boundary condition is changed locally from Dirichlet to magnetic Neumann, then without a magnetic field bound states will occur with energies below the essential spectrum. We however prove that in the presence of a magnetic field, there is a critical minimal length of the magnetic Neumann boundary condition above which the system exhibits bound states below the threshold of the essential spectrum. We also give explicit bounds on the critical length from above and below.</p>

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2000. / Typescript. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 133-147). Also available on the Internet.