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In this paper we compute the Reduced Fox Coloring Group of the diagrams of Wheel Graphs which can also be represented at the closure of the braids $(\sigma_1 \sigma_2^{-1})^n$. In doing so, we utilize Fibonacci numbers and their properties. Following this, we generalize our result to compute the Alexander-Burau-Fox Module over the ring $\mathbb{Z}[t^{\pm 1}]$ for the same class of links. In our computation, Chebyshev polynomials function as a generalization of Fibonacci Numbers., Comment: 21 pages, 7 figures

Unoriented SL(3) foams are two-dimensional CW complexes with generic singularities embedded in 3- and 4-manifolds. They naturally come up in the Kronheimer-Mrowka SO(3) gauge theory for 3-orbifolds and, in the oriented case, in a categorification of the Kuperberg bracket quantum invariant. The present paper studies the more technically complicated case of SL(4) foams. Combinatorial evaluation of unoriented SL(4) foams is defined and state spaces for it are studied. In particular, over a suitably localized ground ring, the state space of any web is free of the rank given by the number of its 4-colorings., Comment: 26 pages, many figures, comments welcome

Our main result has topological, combinatorial and computational flavor. It is motivated by a fundamental conjecture stating that computing Khovanov homology of a closed braid of fixed number of strands has polynomial time complexity. We show that the independence simplicial complex $I(w)$ associated to the 4-braid diagram $w$ (and therefore its Khovanov spectrum at extreme quantum degree) is contractible or homotopy equivalent to either a sphere, or a wedge of 2 spheres (possibly of different dimensions), or a wedge of 3 spheres (at least two of them of the same dimension), or a wedge of 4 spheres (at least three of them of the same dimension). On the algorithmic side we prove that finding the homotopy type of $I(w)$ can be done in polynomial time with respect to the number of crossings in $w$. In particular, we prove the wedge of spheres conjecture for circle graphs obtained from 4-braid diagrams. We also introduce the concept of Khovanov adequate diagram and discuss criteria for a link to have a Khovanov adequate braid diagram with at most 4 strands., Comment: 39 pages, 22 Figures

For a reduced alternating diagram of a knot with a prime determinant $p,$ the Kauffman-Harary conjecture states that every non-trivial Fox $p$-coloring of the knot assigns different colors to its arcs. In this paper, we prove a generalization of the conjecture stated nineteen years ago by Asaeda, Przytycki, and Sikora: for every pair of distinct arcs in the reduced alternating diagram of a prime link with determinant $\delta,$ there exists a Fox $\delta$-coloring that distinguishes them., Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures

In this paper we disprove a twenty-two year old theorem about the structure of the Kauffman bracket skein module of the connected sum of two handlebodies. We achieve this by analysing handle slidings on compressing discs in a handlebody. We find more relations than previously predicted for the Kauffman bracket skein module of the connected sum of handlebodies, when one of them is not a solid torus. Additionally, we speculate on the structure of the Kauffman bracket skein module of the connected sum of two solid tori., Comment: 10 pages, 15 figures

In this article, we adjust the Yang-Baxter operators constructed by Jones for the HOMFLYPT polynomal. Then we compute the second homology for this family of Yang-Baxter operators. It has the potential to yield 2-cocycle invariant for links., Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures, 1 table

We show that the only way of changing the framing of a link by ambient isotopy in an oriented $3$-manifold is when the manifold has a properly embedded non-separating $S^2$. This change of framing is given by the Dirac trick, also known as the light bulb trick. The main tool we use is based on McCullough's work on the mapping class groups of $3$-manifolds. We also relate our results to the theory of skein modules., Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures

W. Rump showed that there exists a one-to-one correspondence between involutive right non-degenerate solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation and Rump right quasigroups. J. S. Carter, M. Elhamdadi, and M. Saito, meanwhile, introduced a homology theory of set-theoretic solutions of the Yang-Baxter equation in order to define cocycle invariants of classical knots. In this paper, we introduce the normalized homology theory of an involutive right non-degenerate solution of the Yang-Baxter equation and prove that the set-theoretic Yang-Baxter homology of certain solutions can be split into the normalized and degenerated parts., Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures

The Gram determinant of type $A$ was introduced by Lickorish in his work on invariants of 3 - manifolds. We generalize the theory of the Gram determinant of type $A$ by evaluating, in the annulus, a bilinear form of non-intersecting connections in the disc. The main result provides a closed formula for this Gram determinant. We conclude the paper by discussing Chen's conjecture about the Gram determinant of type $Mb$ evaluated in the Klein bottle., Comment: 17 pages, 19 figures

We classify incompressible, boundary-incompressible, nonorientable surfaces in punctured-torus bundles over $S^1$. We use the ideas of Floyd, Hatcher, and Thurston. The main tool is to put our surface in the "Morse position" with respect to the projection of the bundle into the basis S^1., Comment: 39 pages, 35 figures, one table, Dedicated to Maite Lozano for her 70th birthday

We define a map from second quandle homology to the Schur multiplier and examine its properties. Furthermore, we express the second homology of Alexander quandles in terms of exterior algebras. Additionally, we present a self-contained proof of its structure and provide some computational examples., Comment: 16 pages

This paper is an extended account of my "Introductory Plenary talk at Knots in Hellas 2016" conference We start from the short introduction to Knot Theory from the historical perspective, starting from Heraclas text (the first century AD), mentioning R.Llull (1232-1315), A.Kircher (1602-1680), Leibniz idea of Geometria Situs (1679), and J.B.Listing (student of Gauss) work of 1847. We spend some space on Ralph H. Fox (1913-1973) elementary introduction to diagram colorings (1956). In the second section we describe how Fox work was generalized to distributive colorings (racks and quandles) and eventually in the work of Jones and Turaev to link invariants via Yang-Baxter operators, here the importance of statistical mechanics to topology will be mentioned. Finally we describe recent developments which started with Mikhail Khovanov work on categorification of the Jones polynomial. By analogy to Khovanov homology we build homology of distributive structures (including homology of Fox colorings) and generalize it to homology of Yang-Baxter operators. We speculate, with supporting evidence, on co-cycle invariants of knots coming from Yang-Baxter homology. Here the work of Fenn-Rourke-Sanderson (geometric realization of pre-cubic sets of link diagrams) and Carter-Kamada-Saito (co-cycle invariants of links) will be discussed and expanded. Dedicated to Lou Kauffman for his 70th birthday., Comment: 35 pages, 31 figures, for Knots in Hellas II Proceedings, Springer, part of the series Proceedings in Mathematics & Statistics (PROMS)

We introduce the notion of partial presimplicial set and construct its geometric realization. We show that any semiadequate diagram yields a partial presimplicial set leading to a geometric realization of the almost-extreme Khovanov homology of the diagram. We give a concrete formula for the homotopy type of this geometric realization, involving wedge of spheres and a suspension of the projective plane., Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables