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Eulerian polynomials are fundamental in combinatorics and algebra. In this paper we study the linear transformation \mathcal {A}: \mathbb {R}[t] \to \mathbb {R}[t] defined by \mathcal {A}(t^n) = A_n(t), where A_n(t) denotes the n-th Eulerian polynomial. We give combinatorial, topological and Ehrhart theoretic interpretations of the operator \mathcal {A}, and investigate questions of unimodality and real-rootedness. In particular, we disprove a conjecture by Brenti (1989) concerning the preservation of real zeros, and generalize and strengthen recent results of Haglund and Zhang (2019) on binomial Eulerian polynomials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In algebraic, topological, and geometric combinatorics, inequalities among the coefficients of combinatorial polynomials are frequently studied. Recently, a notion called the alternatingly increasing property, which is stronger than unimodality, was introduced. In this paper, we relate the alternatingly increasing property to real-rootedness of the symmetric decomposition of a polynomial to develop a systematic approach for proving the alternatingly increasing property for several classes of polynomials. We apply our results to strengthen and generalize real-rootedness, unimodality, and alternatingly increasing results pertaining to colored Eulerian and derangement polynomials, Ehrhart |$h^\ast$| -polynomials for lattice zonotopes, |$h$| -polynomials of barycentric subdivisions of doubly Cohen–Macaulay level simplicial complexes, and certain local |$h$| -polynomials for subdivisions of simplices. In particular, we prove two conjectures of Athanasiadis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this note we settle two open problems in the theory of permanents by using recent results from other areas of mathematics. Both problems were recently discussed in Bapat’s survey [[2]R.B. Bapat, Recent developments and open problems in the theory of permanents, Math. Student 76 (2007) 55–69.]. Bapat conjectured that certain quotients of permanents, which generalize symmetric function means, are concave. We prove this conjecture by using concavity properties of hyperbolic polynomials. Motivated by problems on random point processes, Shirai and Takahashi raised the problem: Determine all real numbers for which the -permanent (or -determinant) is nonnegative for all positive semidefinite matrices. We give a complete solution to this problem by using recent results of Scott and Sokal on completely monotone functions. It turns out that the conjectured answer to the problem is false. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We study the effect on the zeros of generating functions of sequences under certain non-linear transformations. Characterizations of Pólya-Schur type are given of the transformations that preserve the property of having only real and non-positive zeros. In particular, if a polynomial a0 + a1 z + ⋯⋯ + anzn has only real and non-positive zeros, then so does the polynomial . This confirms a conjecture of Fisk, McNamara-Sagan and Stanley, respectively. A consequence is that if a polynomial has only real and non-positive zeros, then its Taylor coefficients form an infinitely log-concave sequence. We extend the results to transcendental entire functions in the Laguerre-Pólya class, and discuss the consequences to problems on iterated Turán inequalities, studied by Craven and Csordas. Finally, we propose a new approach to a conjecture of Boros and Moll. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There has recently been ample interest in the question of which sets can be represented by linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). A necessary condition is that the set is rigidly convex, and it has been conjectured that rigid convexity is also sufficient. To this end Helton and Vinnikov conjectured that any real zero polynomial admits a determinantal representation with symmetric matrices. We disprove this conjecture. By relating the question of finding LMI representations to the problem of determining whether a polymatroid is representable over the complex numbers, we find a real zero polynomial such that no power of it admits a determinantal representation. The proof uses recent results of Wagner and Wei on matroids with the half-plane property, and the polymatroids associated to hyperbolic polynomials introduced by Gurvits. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Murota et al. have recently developed a theory of discrete convex analysis which concerns M-convex functions on jump systems. We introduce here a family of M-concave functions arising naturally from polynomials (over a field of generalized Puiseux series) with prescribed non-vanishing properties. This family contains several of the most well studied M-concave functions in the literature. In the language of tropical geometry, we study the tropicalization of the space of polynomials with the half-plane property and show that it is strictly contained in the space of M-concave functions. We also provide a short proof of Speyer's "hive theorem" which he used to give a new proof of Horn's conjecture on eigenvalues of sums of Hermitian matrices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The majorization order on induces a natural partial ordering on the space of univariate hyperbolic polynomials of degree n. We characterize all linear operators on polynomials that preserve majorization, and show that it is sufficient (modulo obvious degree constraints) to preserve hyperbolicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We prove that the symmetrizer of a permutation group preserves stability if and only if the group is orbit homogeneous. A consequence is that the hypothesis of permutation invariance in the Grace-Walsh-Szegő Coincidence Theorem cannot be relaxed. In the process we obtain a new characterization of the Grace-like polynomials, introduced by D. Ruelle, and prove that the class of such polynomials can be endowed with a natural multiplication. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A polynomial f is said to have the half-plane property if there is an open half-plane , whose boundary contains the origin, such that f is non-zero whenever all the variables are in H. This paper answers several open questions relating multivariate polynomials with the half-plane property to matroid theory. [(1)] We prove that the support of a multivariate polynomial with the half-plane property is a jump system. This answers an open question posed by Choe, Oxley, Sokal and Wagner and generalizes their recent result claiming that the same is true whenever the polynomial is also homogeneous. [(2)] We prove that a multivariate multi-affine polynomial has the half-plane property (with respect to the upper half-plane) if and only if for all and . This is used to answer two open questions posed by Choe and Wagner regarding strongly Rayleigh matroids. [(3)] We prove that the Fano matroid is not the support of a polynomial with the half-plane property. This is the first instance of a matroid which does not appear as the support of a polynomial with the half-plane property and answers a question posed by Choe et al. We also discuss further directions and open problems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The Narayana numbers are N(n,k)=(1/n)n/kn/k+1n/k+1. There are several natural statistics on Dyck paths with a distribution given by N(n,k). We show the equidistribution of Narayana statistics by computing the flag h-vector of J(2×n) in different ways. In the process we discover new Narayana statistics and provide co-statistics for the Narayana statistics so that the bi-statistics have a distribution given by Fu¨rlinger and Hofbauer's q-Narayana numbers. We interpret the flag h-vector in terms of semi-standard Young tableaux, which enables us to express the q-Narayana numbers in terms of Schur functions. We also introduce what we call pre-shellings of simplicial complexes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]