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We study Kauffman's model of folded ribbon knots: knots made of a thin strip of paper folded flat in the plane. The folded ribbonlength is the length to width ratio of such a folded ribbon knot. The folded ribbon knot is also a framed knot, and the ribbon linking number is the linking number of the knot and one boundary component of the ribbon. We find the minimum folded ribbonlength for 3 -stick unknots with ribbon linking numbers ± 1 and ± 3 , and we prove that the minimum folded ribbonlength for n -gons with obtuse interior angles is achieved when the n -gon is regular. Among other results, we prove that the minimum folded ribbonlength of any folded ribbon unknot which is a topological annulus with ribbon linking number ± n is bounded from above by 2 n. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We say a null-homologous knot K in a 3-manifold Y has Property G, if the Thurston norm and fiberedness of the complement of K is preserved under the zero surgery on K. In this paper, we will show that, if the smooth 4-genus of K\times \{0\} (in a certain homology class) in (Y\times [0,1])\#N\overline {\mathbb CP^2}, where Y is a rational homology sphere, is smaller than the Seifert genus of K, then K has Property G. When the smooth 4-genus is 0, Y can be taken to be any closed, oriented 3-manifold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we consider the Reshetikhin-Turaev invariants of knots in the three-sphere obtained from a twisted Drinfeld double of a Hopf algebra, or equivalently, the relative Drinfeld center of the crossed product \text {Rep}(H)\rtimes \text {Aut}(H). These are quantum invariants of knots endowed with a homomorphism of the knot group to \text {Aut}(H). We show that, at least for knots in the three-sphere, these invariants provide a non-involutory generalization of the Fox-calculus-twisted Kuperberg invariants of sutured manifolds introduced previously by the author, which are only defined for involutory Hopf algebras. In particular, we describe the SL(n,\mathbb {C})-twisted Reidemeister torsion of a knot complement as a Reshetikhin-Turaev invariant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The deep connection among braids, knots and topological physics has provided valuable insights into studying topological states in various physical systems. However, identifying distinct braid groups and knot topology embedded in non-Hermitian systems is challenging and requires significant efforts. Here, we demonstrate that an unsupervised learning with the representation basis of su(n) Lie algebra on n-fold extended non-Hermitian bands can fully classify braid group and knot topology therein, without requiring any prior mathematical knowledge or any pre-defined topological invariants. We demonstrate that the approach successfully identifies different topological elements, such as unlink, unknot, Hopf link, Solomon ring, trefoil, and so on, by employing generalized Gell-Mann matrices in non-Hermitian models with n=2 and n=3 energy bands. Moreover, since eigenstate information of non-Hermitian bands is incorporated in addition to eigenvalues, the approach distinguishes the different parity-time symmetry and breaking phases, recognizes the opposite chirality of braids and knots, and identifies out distinct topological phases that were overlooked before. Our study shows significant potential of machine learning in classification of knots, braid groups, and non-Hermitian topological phases. The topology of braids and knots plays a central role in the understanding of many physical systems. In this paper, the authors demonstrate that unsupervised learning can be used to fully classify the braid group and knot topology associated with the bands of non-Hermitian systems, without requiring any prior information such as mathematical knowledge of topological invariants [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In a recent paper, the first author and his collaborator developed a method to compute an upper bound of the dimension of instanton Floer homology via Heegaard diagrams of 3 -manifolds. In this paper, for a knot inside S 3 , we further introduce an algorithm that computes an upper bound of the dimension of instanton knot homology from knot diagrams. We test the algorithm with all knots up to seven crossings as well as a more complicated knot 1 0 1 5 3 . In the second half of the paper, we show that if the instanton knot Floer homology of a knot has a specified form, then the knot must be an instanton L-space knot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to realize the techniques of picture-valued invariants and invariants valued in free groups for long knots in the full torus. Such knots and links are of particular interest because of their relation to Legendrian knots, knotoids, 3 -manifolds and many other objects. Invariants constructed in the paper are powerful and easy to compare. This paper is a sequel of [V. O. Manturov, A free-group valued invariant of free knots, preprint (2020), arXiv:2012.15571v2]. Long knots naturally appear in the study of classical knots [T. Fiedler, More 1 -cocycles for classical knots, preprint (2020), arXiv:2004.04624; A. Mortier, A Kontsevich integral of order 1 , preprint (2018), arXiv:1810.05747]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper is devoted to a lower bound for the number of critical points of the Lyapunov function for Morse–Smale 3-diffeomorphisms with fixed points with pairwise distinct indices. It is known that, in the presence of a single noncompact heteroclinic curve, the supporting manifold of the diffeomorphisms under consideration is a 3-sphere, and the class of topological conjugacy of such a diffeomorphism is completely determined by the equivalence class (there exist infinitely many of them) of the Hopf knot , which is a knot in the generating class of the fundamental group of the manifold . Moreover, any Hopf knot is realized by some diffeomorphism of the class under consideration. It is known that the diffeomorphisms defined by the standard Hopf knot have an energy function, which is a Lyapunov function whose set of critical points coincides with the chain recurrent set. However, the set of critical points of any Lyapunov function of a diffeomorphism with a nonstandard Hopf knot is strictly greater than the chain recurrent set of the diffeomorphism. In the present paper, for the diffeomorphisms defined by generalized Mazur knots, a quasi-energy function has been constructed, which is a Lyapunov function with a minimum number of critical points. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we give a complete characterization of those knotted toroidal sets that can be realized as attractors for discrete or continuous dynamical systems globally defined in R 3 . We also see that the techniques used to solve this problem can be used to give sufficient conditions to ensure that a wide class of subcompacta of R 3 that are attractors for homeomorphisms must also be attractors for flows. In addition we study certain attractor-repeller decompositions of S 3 which arise naturally when considering toroidal sets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper gives a geometric interpretation of bordered Heegaard Floer homology for manifolds with torus boundary. If M is such a manifold, we show that the type D structure \widehat {CFD}(M) may be viewed as a set of immersed curves decorated with local systems in \partial M. These curves-with-decoration are invariants of the underlying three-manifold up to regular homotopy of the curves and isomorphism of the local systems. Given two such manifolds and a homeomorphism h between the boundary tori, the Heegaard Floer homology of the closed manifold obtained by gluing with h is obtained from the Lagrangian intersection Floer homology of the curve-sets. This machinery has several applications: We establish that the dimension of \widehat {HF} decreases under a certain class of degree one maps (pinches) and we establish that the existence of an essential separating torus gives rise to a lower bound on the dimension of \widehat {HF}. In particular, it follows that a prime rational homology sphere Y with \widehat {HF}(Y)<5 must be geometric. Other results include a new proof of Eftekhary's theorem that L-space homology spheres are atoroidal; a complete characterization of toroidal L-spaces in terms of gluing data; and a proof of a conjecture of Hom, Lidman, and Vafaee on satellite L-space knots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we develop a braid theoretic approach for computing the Kauffman bracket skein module of the lens spaces L (p , q) , KBSM(L (p , q)), for q ≠ 0. For doing this, we introduce a new concept, that of an unoriented braid. Unoriented braids are obtained from standard braids by ignoring the natural top-to-bottom orientation of the strands. We first define the generalized Temperley–Lieb algebra of type B, TL 1 , n , which is related to the knot theory of the solid torus ST, and we obtain the universal Kauffman bracket-type invariant, V , for knots and links in ST, via a unique Markov trace constructed on TL 1 , n . The universal invariant V is equivalent to the KBSM(ST). For passing now to the KBSM(L (p , q)), we impose on V relations coming from the band moves (or slide moves), that is, moves that reflect isotopy in L (p , q) but not in ST, and which reflect the surgery description of L (p , q) , obtaining thus, an infinite system of equations. By construction, solving this infinite system of equations is equivalent to computing KBSM(L (p , q)). We first present the solution for the case q = 1 , which corresponds to obtaining a new basis, ℬ p , for KBSM(L (p , 1)) with (⌊ p / 2 ⌋ + 1) elements. We note that the basis ℬ p is different from the one obtained by Hoste and Przytycki. For dealing with the complexity of the infinite system for the case q > 1 , we first show how the new basis ℬ p of KBSM(L (p , 1)) can be obtained using a diagrammatic approach based on unoriented braids, and we finally extend our result to the case q > 1. The advantage of the braid theoretic approach that we propose for computing skein modules of c.c.o. 3-manifolds, is that the use of braids provides more control on the isotopies of knots and links in the manifolds, and much of the diagrammatic complexity is absorbed into the proofs of the algebraic statements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 1979, Hartley and Kawauchi proved that the Conway polynomial of a strongly negative amphichiral knot factors as f (z)f (-z). In this paper, we normalize the factor f (z) to define the half-Conway polynomial. First, we prove that the half-Conway polynomial satisfies an equivariant skein relation, giving the first feasible computational method, which we use to compute the half-Conway polynomial for knots with 12 or fewer crossings. This skein relation also leads to a diagrammatic interpretation of the degree-one coefficient, from which we obtain a lower bound on the equivariant unknotting number. Second, we completely characterize polynomials arising as half-Conway polynomials of knots in S3, answering a problem of Hartley-Kawauchi. As a special case, we construct the first examples of non-slice strongly negative amphichiral knots with determinant one, answering a question of Manolescu. The double branched covers of these knots provide potentially non-trivial torsion elements in the homology cobordism group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the first of this series of papers, we looked at various generalized knot theories. In this follow up paper, we look at the theory of generalized braids and show how they are related to generalized knots. The twin groups are related to the theory of planar doodles and we prove a Markov-type theorem for them. An example and invariants are given to show that this is best possible. We also give conditions for when an exchange move is dependent on the other moves. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the present paper is to construct series of invariants of free knots (flat virtual knots, virtual knots) valued in free groups (and also free products of cyclic groups). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we investigate the properties of timelike and spacelike shifted-knots Bézier surfaces in Minkowski space- E13. These surfaces are commonly used in mathematical models for surface formation in computer science for computer-aided geometric design and computer graphics, as well as in other fields of mathematics. Our objective is to analyze the characteristics of timelike and spacelike shifted-knots Bézier surfaces in Minkowski space- E13. To achieve this, we compute the fundamental coefficients of shifted-knots Bézier surfaces, including the Gauss-curvature, mean-curvature, and shape-operator of the surface. Furthermore, we present numerical examples of timelike and spacelike bi-quadratic (m = n = 2) and bi-cubic (m = n = 3) shifted-knots Bézier surfaces in Minkowski space- E13 to demonstrate the applicability of the technique in Minkowski space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Consider two parallel lines ℓ 1 and ℓ 2 in ℝ 3 . A rail arc is an embedding of an arc in ℝ 3 such that one endpoint is on ℓ 1 , the other is on ℓ 2 , and its interior is disjoint from ℓ 1 ∪ ℓ 2 . Rail arcs are considered up to rail isotopies, ambient isotopies of ℝ 3 with each self-homeomorphism mapping ℓ 1 and ℓ 2 onto themselves. When the manifolds and maps are taken in the piecewise linear category, these rail arcs are called stick rail arcs. The stick number of a rail arc class is the minimum number of sticks, line segments in a p.l. arc, needed to create a representative. This paper calculates the stick number of rail arcs classes with a crossing number at most 2 and uses a winding number invariant to calculate the stick numbers of infinitely many rail arc classes. Each rail arc class has two canonically associated knot classes, its under and over companions. This paper also introduces the rail stick number of knot classes, the minimum number of sticks needed to create a rail arcs whose under or over companion is the knot class. The rail stick number is calculated for 29 knot classes with crossing number at most 9. The stick number of multi-component rail arcs classes is considered as well as the lattice stick number of rail arcs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, mosaic tiles have been used to build knots and define invariants since they were introduced by Lomonaco and Kauffman to describe quantum knots. In this paper, we propose a modified set of tiles to describe the front projections of Legendrian knots. We explore the effect of stabilization on the mosaic number of a Legendrian knot by defining and classifying "two-cell" stabilizations. Inspired by a construction of Ludwig et al. in 2013, we provide an infinite family of Legendrian unknots whose mosaic numbers are realized only in non-reduced projections. Finally, we provide a census of known mosaic numbers for Legendrian unknots and trefoils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The role of audiences in mathematical proof has largely been neglected, in part due to misconceptions like those in Perelman and Olbrechts-Tyteca (The new rhetoric: A treatise on argumentation, University of Notre Dame Press, Notre Dame, 1969) which bar mathematical proofs from bearing reflections of audience consideration. In this paper, I argue that mathematical proof is typically argumentation and that a mathematician develops a proof with his universal audience in mind. In so doing, he creates a proof which reflects the standards of reasonableness embodied in his universal audience. Given this framework, we can better understand the introduction of proof methods based on the mathematician's likely universal audience. I examine a case study from Alexander and Briggs's work on knot invariants to show that we can fruitfully reconstruct mathematical methods in terms of audiences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charts are oriented labeled graphs in a disk. Any simple surface braid (2-dimensional braid) can be described by using a chart. Also, a chart represents an oriented closed surface (called a surface-link) embedded in 4-space. In this paper, we investigate surface-links by using charts. In [T. Nagase and A. Shima, The structure of a minimal n -chart with two crossings I: Complementary domains of Γ 1 ∪ Γ n − 1 , J. Knot Theory Ramifactions27(14) (2018) 1850078; T. Nagase and A. Shima, The structure of a minimal n -chart with two crossings II: Neighbourhoods of Γ 1 ∪ Γ n − 1 , Revista de la Real Academia de Ciencias Exactas, Fiskcas y Natrales. Serie A. Math.113 (2019) 1693–1738, arXiv:1709.08827v2 ] we gave an enumeration of the charts with two crossings. In particular, there are two classes for 4-charts with two crossings and eight black vertices. The first class represents surface-links each of which is connected. The second class represents surface-links each of which is exactly two connected components. In this paper, by using quandle colorings, we shall show that the charts in the second class represent different surface-links. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In [B. Kwon and S. Kang, Rectangle conditions and families of 3-bridge prime knots, Topol. Appl. 291 (2021) 107453], using the set E A T k of all essential alternating rational 3-tangles for positive integer k , the authors showed that all knot diagrams in the numerator closure set C N (E A T 2 l + 1) and the denominator closure set C D (E A T 2 l + 2) with l > 0 are 3-bridge prime knot diagrams. In this paper, for n > 4 we construct a set A A T 4 n of additions of alternating rational tangles in E A T 4 . The set A A T 4 n generalizes E A T k and contains it as a subset for some k. We show that any closure set C (A A T 4 n) on A A T 4 n so that the resulting diagrams are reduced and alternating knot diagrams represent alternating 3-bridge prime knot diagrams. Since a tangle diagram in A A T 4 n + 1 is constructed inductively from a tangle diagram in A A T 4 n by adding only one crossing positively, the result of this paper supports the conjecture that 3-bridge property is preserved under one-crossing alternating addition positively to alternating 3-bridge knots in 3-bridge representations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper discusses some geometric ideas associated with knots in real projective 3-space ℝ P 3 . These ideas are borrowed from classical knot theory. Since knots in ℝ P 3 are classified into three disjoint classes: affine, class- 0 non-affine and class- 1 knots, it is natural to wonder in which class a given knot belongs to. In this paper we attempt to answer this question. We provide a structure theorem for these knots which helps in describing their behavior near the projective plane at infinity. We propose a procedure called space bending surgery, on affine knots to produce several examples of knots. We later show that this operation can be extended on an arbitrary knot in ℝ P 3 . We then study the notion of companionship of knots in ℝ P 3 and using it we provide geometric criteria for a knot to be affine. We also define a notion of "genus" for knots in ℝ P 3 and study some of its properties. We prove that this genus detects knottedness in ℝ P 3 and gives some criteria for a knot to be affine and of class- 1. We also prove a "non-cancellation" theorem for space bending surgery using the properties of genus. Then we show that a knot can have genus 1 if and only if it is a cable knot with a class-1 companion. We produce examples of class- 0 non-affine knots with genus 1. Thus we highlight that, ℝ P 3 admits a knot theory with a truly different flavor than that of S 3 or ℝ 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the connected sum of trivial knots is trivial in classical knot theory, there is a nontrivial connected sum of trivial knots in virtual knot theory. In this paper, we give connected sum formulae of the intersection polynomials of virtual knots introduced in the preceding paper [6]. As an application, we show that there are infinitely many connected sums of any pair of virtual knots. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knot theory is a distinct branch of topology. In recent years, exciting new application of knot theory to biology and chemistry, especially to DNA structures are being developed. Alexander polynomial is very closely connected with the topological properties of knots. In this paper we have determined the solution of Ak and & knots using the condition of Alexander polynomial and Jones polynomial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we will present some ideas to use 3D topology for quantum computing extending ideas from a previous paper. Topological quantum computing used "knotted" quantum states of topological phases of matter, called anyons. But anyons are connected with surface topology. But surfaces have (usually) abelian fundamental groups and therefore one needs non-Abelian anyons to use it for quantum computing. But usual materials are 3D objects which can admit more complicated topologies. Here, complements of knots do play a prominent role and are in principle the main parts to understand 3-manifold topology. For that purpose, we will construct a quantum system on the complements of a knot in the 3-sphere (see T. Asselmeyer-Maluga, Quantum Rep. 3 (2021) 153, arXiv:2102.04452 for previous work). The whole system is designed as knotted superconductor, where every crossing is a Josephson junction and the qubit is realized as flux qubit. We discuss the properties of this systems in particular the fluxion quantization by using the A-polynomial of the knot. Furthermore, we showed that 2-qubit operations can be realized by linked (knotted) superconductors again coupled via a Josephson junction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An nθ graph is an n‐valent graph with two vertices. From symmetry considerations, it has vertex–edge transitivity 1 1. Here, they are considered extended with divalent vertices added to the edges to explore the simplest piecewise‐linear tangled embeddings with straight, non‐intersecting edges (sticks). The simplest tangles found are those with 3n sticks, transitivity 2 2, and with 2⌊(n − 1)/2⌋ ambient‐anisotopic tangles. The simplest finite and 1‐, 2‐ and 3‐periodic decussate structures (links and tangles) are described. These include finite cubic and icosahedral and 1‐ and 3‐periodic links, all with minimal transitivity. The paper also presents the simplest tangles of extended tetrahedra and their linkages to form periodic polycatenanes. A vertex‐ and edge‐transitive embedding of a tangled srs net with tangled and polycatenated θ graphs and vertex‐transitive tangled diamond (dia) nets are described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we observe that the hat version of the Heegaard Floer invariant of Legendrian knots in contact three-manifolds defined by Lisca-Ozsváth-Stipsicz-Szabó can be combinatorially computed. We rely on Plamenevskaya's combinatorial description of the Heegaard Floer contact invariant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we deal with the notion of singquandles introduced in [I. R. U. Churchill, M. Elhamdadi, M. Hajij and S. Nelson, Singular knots and involutive quandles, J. Knot Theory Ramifications 26(14) (2017) 1750099]. This is an algebraic structure that naturally axiomatizes Reidemeister moves for singular links, similarly to what happens for ordinary links and quandles. We present a new axiomatization that shows different algebraic aspects and simplifies applications. We also reformulate and simplify the axioms for affine singquandles (in particular in the idempotent case). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to present a new periodicity criterion. For that purpose, we study the HOMFLY-PT polynomial and the Kauffman polynomial of cables of periodic links. Furthermore, we exhibit a couple of examples for which our criterion is stronger than many previously known criteria, among which is the Khovanov homology criterion of Borodzik and the second author. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suppose K is a knot in a 3-manifold Y, and that Y admits a pair of distinct contact structures. Assume that K has Legendrian representatives in each of these contact structures, such that the corresponding Thurston-Bennequin framings are equivalent. This paper provides a method to prove that the contact structures resulting from Legendrian surgery along these two representatives remain distinct. Applying this method to the situation where the starting manifold is - Σ (2 , 3 , 6 m + 1) and the knot is a singular fiber, together with convex surface theory we can classify the tight contact structures on certain families of Seifert fiber spaces. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the set of connected surfaces in the 4‐ball with boundary a fixed knot in the 3‐sphere. We define the stabilization distance between two surfaces as the minimal g$g$ such that we can get from one to the other using stabilizations and destabilizations through surfaces of genus at most g$g$. Similarly, we consider a double‐point distance between two surfaces of the same genus that is the minimum over all regular homotopies connecting the two surfaces of the maximal number of double points appearing in the homotopy. To many of the concordance invariants defined using Heegaard Floer homology, we construct an analogous invariant for a pair of surfaces. We show that these give lower bounds on the stabilization distance and the double‐point distance. We compute our invariants for some pairs of deform‐spun slice disks by proving a trace formula on the full infinity knot Floer complex, and by determining the action on knot Floer homology of an automorphism of the connected sum of a knot with itself that swaps the two summands. We use our invariants to find pairs of slice disks with arbitrarily large distance with respect to many of the metrics we consider in this paper. We also answer a slice‐disk analog of Problem 1.105 (B) from Kirby's problem list by showing the existence of non‐0‐cobordant slice disks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knot filtered embedded contact homology was first introduced by Hutchings in 2015; it has been computed for the standard transverse unknot in irrational ellipsoids by Hutchings and for the Hopf link in lens spaces L(n,n−1)$L(n,n-1)$ via a quotient by Weiler. While toric constructions can be used to understand the ECH chain complexes of many contact forms adapted to open books with binding the unknot and Hopf link, they do not readily adapt to general torus knots and links. In this paper, we generalize the definition and invariance of knot filtered embedded contact homology to allow for degenerate knots with rational rotation numbers. We then develop new methods for understanding the embedded contact homology chain complex of positive torus knotted fibrations of the standard tight contact 3‐sphere in terms of their presentation as open books and as Seifert fiber spaces. We provide Morse–Bott methods, using a doubly filtered complex and the energy filtered perturbed Seiberg–Witten Floer theory developed by Hutchings and Taubes, and use them to compute the T(2,q)$T(2,q)$ knot filtered embedded contact homology, for q$q$ odd and positive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we introduce a bi-variate case of a new kind of -Bernstein-Kantorovich type operator with shifted knots defined by Rahman et al. [ 31 ]. The rate of convergence of the bi-variate operators is obtained in terms of the complete and partial moduli of continuity. Next, we give an error estimate in the approximation of a function in the Lipschitz class and establish a Voronovskaja type theorem. Also, we define the associated GBS(Generalized Boolean Sum) operators and study the degree of approximation of Bögel continuous and Bögel differentiable functions by these operators with the aid of the mixed modulus of smoothness. Finally, we show the rate of convergence of the bi-variate operators and their GBS case for certain functions by illustrative graphics and tables using MATLAB algorithms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper assumes the success of arguments against the view that informal mathematical proofs secure rational conviction in virtue of their relations with corresponding formal derivations. This assumption entails a need for an alternative account of the logic of informal mathematical proofs. Following examination of case studies by Manders, De Toffoli and Giardino, Leitgeb, Feferman and others, this paper proposes a framework for analysing those informal proofs that appeal to the perception or modification of diagrams or to the inspection or imaginative manipulation of mental models of mathematical phenomena. Proofs relying on diagrams can be rigorous if (a) it is easy to draw a diagram that shares or otherwise indicates the structure of the mathematical object, (b) the information thus displayed is not metrical and (c) it is possible to put the inferences into systematic mathematical relation with other mathematical inferential practices. Proofs that appeal to mental models can be rigorous if the mental models can be externalised as diagrammatic practice that satisfies these three conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies cobordism and concordance for virtual knots. We define the affine index polynomial, prove that it is a concordance invariant for knots and links (explaining when it is defined for links), show that it is also invariant under certain forms of labeled cobordism and study a number of examples in relation to these phenomena. Information on determinations of the four-ball genus of some virtual knots is obtained by via the affine index polynomial in conjunction with results on the genus of positive virtual knots using joint work with Dye and Kaestner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we obtain the crosscap number of any alternating knots by using our recently-introduced diagrammatic knot invariant (Theorem 1). The proof is given by properties of chord diagrams (Kindred proved Theorem 1 independently via other techniques). For non-alternating knots, we give Theorem 2 that generalizes Theorem 1. We also improve known formulas to obtain upper bounds of the crosscap number of knots (alternating or non-alternating) (Theorem 3). As a corollary, this paper connects crosscap numbers and our invariant with other knot invariants such as the Jones polynomial, twist number, crossing number, and hyperbolic volume (Corollaries 1–7). In Appendix A, using Theorem 1, we complete giving the crosscap numbers of the alternating knots with up to 11 crossings including those of the previously unknown values for 1 9 3 knots (Tables A.1). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the Lorenz equations, a system of three-dimensional ordinary differential equations modeling atmospheric convection. These equations are chaotic and hard to study even numerically, and so a simpler "geometric model" has been introduced in the seventies. One of the classical problems in dynamical systems is to relate the original equations to the geometric model. This has been achieved numerically by Tucker for the classical parameter values and remains open for general values. In this paper, we establish analytically a relation to the geometric model for a different set of parameter values that we prove must exist. This is facilitated by finding a way to apply topological tools developed for the study of surface dynamics to the more intricate case of three-dimensional flows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we discuss the applications of knotoids to modelling knots in open curves and produce new knotoid invariants. We show how invariants of knotoids generally give rise to well-behaved measures of how much an open curve is knotted. We define biframed planar knotoids, and construct new invariants of these objects that can be computed in polynomial time. As an application of these invariants we improve the classification of planar knotoids with up to five crossings by distinguishing two pairs of prime knotoids that were conjectured to be distinct by Goundaroulis et al. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is an introduction to combinatorial knot theory via state summation models for the Jones polynomial and its generalizations. It is also a story about the developments that ensued in relation to the discovery of the Jones polynomial and a remembrance of Vaughan Jones and his mathematics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dielectric function representation by B-splines became quite popular and widely used in the context of spectroscopic ellipsometry data interpretation. B-splines are defined by a polynomial degree and a sequence of knots (i.e., the number and positions of knots). Defining the knot sequence is non-trivial, and this task has a significant effect on the actual effectiveness of the B-spline parameterization in spectroscopic ellipsometry data analysis. In this paper, we propose a simple, practical, and systematic knot placement scheme that improves ordinary trial-and-error technique in establishing the knot spacing. The approach suggested here is based on an integral span, a measure introduced in this work. The proposed procedure provides a possibility to determine the knot locations automatically (or, at least, semi-automatically) and excludes widespread modeling ambiguities associated with uncertain knot vector. Moreover, our approach guarantees the absence of non-monotonic behavior of the mean-squared-error function and thereby improves the accuracy of our analysis. The performance of the proposed method has been tested for several real cases of the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This paper explores the emergence and shift in critical theories and problems-of-practice over the last 50 years. Design/methodology/approach: Quipu is an Incan record-keeping system used across the Andes. Using multiple strings of different colors, hundreds of different knots were used to count, record historical events. The underlying idea of Quipu was that the intersection of knots and strings is a way of making memory tangible. I use the image of Quipu as a framework to organize my analytic memories and interpretation of research on school organization across spaces, people and generations. Findings: I explore my own research and that of others who have influenced me, linking the strings of organizational theory to the knots representing changes in the educational environment that motivate research. Originality/value: The paper is, in part, not only a reflective review of the literature but also a summation of the problems-of-practice that have engaged me and other scholars over a relatively long period of time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a localized boundary knot method is adopted to solve two-dimensional inverse Cauchy problems, which are controlled by a second-order linear differential equation. The localized boundary knot method is a numerical method based on the local concept of the localization method of the fundamental solution. The approach is formed by combining the classical boundary knot method with the localization method. It has the potential to solve many complex engineering problems. Generally, in an inverse Cauchy problem, there are no boundary conditions in specific boundaries. Additionally, in order to be close to the actual engineering situation, a certain level of noise is added to the known boundary conditions to simulate the measurement error. The localized boundary knot method can be used to solve two-dimensional Cauchy problems more stably and is truly free from mesh and numerical quadrature. In this paper, the stability of the method is verified by using multi-connected domain and simply connected domain examples in Laplace equations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We consider the question of how knots and their reverses are related in the concordance group \mathcal {C}. There are examples of knots for which K \ne K^r \in \mathcal {C}. This paper studies the cobordism distance, d(K, K^r). If K \ne K^r \in \mathcal {C}, then d(K, K^r) >0 and it is elementary to see that for all K, d(K, K^r) \le 2g_4(K), where g_4(K) denotes the four-genus. Here we present a proof that for non-slice knots satisfying g_3(K) = g_4(K), one has d(K,K^r) \le 2g_4(K) -1. This family includes all strongly quasi-positive knots and all non-slice genus one knots. We also construct knots K of arbitrary four-genus for which d(K,K^r) = g_4(K). Finding knots for which d(K,K^r) > g_4(K) remains an open problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we discuss two general models of random simplicial complexes which we call the lower and the upper models. We show that these models are dual to each other with respect to combinatorial Alexander duality. The behavior of the Betti numbers in the lower model is characterized by the notion of critical dimension, which was introduced by Costa and Farber in [Large random simplicial complexes III: The critical dimension, J. Knot Theory Ramifications26 (2017) 1740010]: random simplicial complexes in the lower model are homologically approximated by a wedge of spheres of dimension equal the critical dimension. In this paper, we study the Betti numbers in the upper model and introduce new notions of critical dimension and spread. We prove that (under certain conditions) an upper random simplicial complex is homologically approximated by a wedge of spheres of the critical dimension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]