Iowa State University Mathematics Colloquium
Spring 2007

Schedule of Talks

 Location: 232 Carver Hall

Time: 4:10-5p.m. Tuesday

Date

Speaker

Title (Click on the title of a talk for the abstract if available).

Jan 9,Tuesday

Sang-Gu Lee, Sungkyunkwan University

On a three color sigma+ game

Jan. 16, Tuesday

Luiz Antonio Peresi, University of Sao Paulo, Brazil

Polynomial Identities of RA and RA2 Loop Algebras

Jan. 23, Tuesday

Jason Boggess, Abir Qamhiyah, Heather Thompson, Wolfgang Kliemann, Iowa State University

Spatial Understanding: Pedagogical concerns, representational tools, and industrial applications related to three dimensional shapes

Feb. 1, Thursday

Jonathan Farley, University of the West Indies

Maximal Sublattices of Finite Distributive Lattices: A Problem from the 1984 Banff Conference on Graphs and Order

Feb. 2, Friday, 2:10-3p.m.

202 Carver Hall

Kira Adaricheva, Harold Washington College, Chicago

Realization of abstract convex geometries by point configurations

Feb. 6, Tuesday

Santiago Schnell, Indiana University (Cancelled)

A new model for the specification of the vertebral precursors

Feb. 8, Thursday, 4:10-5p.m.

Alexander Roitershtein, UBC Canada

 

Transient random walks on a strip in a random environment.

Feb. 12, Monday, 4:10-5p.m. at 204 Carver

Jason Swanson, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Stochastic integration with respect to a quartic variation process

Feb. 20, Tuesday

Jing Shi, University of North Carolina, Charlotte

Multidimensional quantum tunneling: numerical instanton method with application to polyatomic molecules

Feb. 21, Wednesday, 4:10-5p.m.

Steven M. Wise, UC, Irvine

(Cancelled)

Modeling Solid Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis: The Effect of the Microenvironment

Feb. 23, Friday, 3:10-4p.m.

Christoph Walker, Vanderbilt University

Global well-posedness of a haptotaxis model with spatial and age structure

Feb. 27, Tuesday

Ales Drapal, Charles University/University of Wisconsin

Multilinear forms via polarization and conjugacy closedness

Mar. 6, Tuesday

Bin Zhang, Sichuan University, China

Renormalization on Multiple Zeta Values

Mar. 13, Tuesday

Spring break

 

Mar. 20, Tuesday

Yevgenia Kashina, De Paul University

From Groups to Semisimple Hopf Algebras

Mar. 27, Tuesday

Neal Koblitz, University of Washington

(LAS distinguished Miller lecture series)

The Strange Relation of Mathematics to Cryptography

Apr. 2, Monday
 4:10pm at Durham 171

Shili Lin,  Ohio State University

Modeling and Analysis of SAGE Cerebellum Libraries

Apr. 3, Tuesday

Matt Papanikolas, Texas A&M

Hypergeometric functions over finite fields, counting points, and modular forms

April 10, Tuesday

Rob Lipton, Louisiana State University

Homogenization and field concentrations in heterogeneous media

April 12, Thursday

Yang Kuang, Arizona State University

Resource quality dynamics and its ecological implications

Apr. 17, Tuesday

Paul-Hermann Zieschang, University of Texas, Brownsville

An Algebraic Approach to Twin Buildings

Apr. 24, Tuesday

Yu Chen, New York University

FM approach vs AM approach to sensing and imaging

 

 

January 9, Tuesday, Sang-Gu Lee, Sungkyunkwan Univ., Korea
Title: On a three color sigma+ game
Abstract:
After we cover some recent linear preserver problems that has been solved. We will start to introduce a linear algebraic solution of the 3 by 3 Blackout game. Then we introduce a concept of sigma+ game which is a generalization of the Blackout game, and show its relationship with automata theory. Finally we will generalize the game on n by n board with 3 colors and will show our tools in and JAVA that shows the optimal strategy to win the game.

February 2, Friday, 2:10-3p.m. at 202 Carver Hall Kira Adaricheva, Harold Washington College
Title: Realization of abstract convex geometries by point configurations (joint work with Marcel Wild, University of Stellenbosch, South Africa)
Abstract:
Convex geometries are closure systems with the anti-exchange axiom. The Edelman-Jamison Problem asks to characterize finite convex geometries which are representable by relatively convex sets of finite point configurations on a plane.
   Our work in progress gives a solution to the problem for those convex geometries that are representable by either configurations of 2 points in n-gon, or by at most 6-point configurations.
   We also investigate the complexity of the problem by relating it to the problem of realization of an order-type, which is known to be NP-hard. We show that, under some additional assumptions on convex geometry and order type, these two problems are polynomial-time equivalent.

February 6, Tuesday, Santiago Schnell, Indiana University (Cancelled)
Title: A new model for the specification of the vertebral precursors
Abstract:
Somites are transient blocks of cells that form sequentially along the antero-posterior axis of vertebrate embryos. They give rise to the vertebrae, ribs and other associated features of the trunk. In this seminar we show and analyse a mathematical formulation of a version of the Clock and Wavefront model for somite formation, where the clock controls when the boundaries of the somites form and the wavefront determines where they form. Our analysis indicates that this interaction between a segmentation clock and a wavefront can explain the periodic pattern of somites observed in normal embryos.We can also show that a simplification of the model provides a mechanism for predicting the anomalies resulting from perturbation of the wavefront.

February 8, Thursday, Alexander Roitershtein, University of British Columbia
Titlte: Transient random walks on a strip in a random environment.
Abstract: We will discuss a strong law of large numbers, an annealed CLT, and the limit law of the ``environment viewed from the particle" for transient random walks on a strip (product of Z with a finite set) in a random environment. The model was introduced by Bolthausen and Goldsheid and includes in particular RWRE with bounded jumps on the line as well as some one-dimensional RWRE with a memory

February 12, Monday, 4:10-5p.m. at 204 CarverJason Swanson, University of Wisconsin-Madison
Title: Stochastic integration with respect to a quartic variation process
Abstract:
Brownian motion (BM) is used to model a wide array of stochastic phenomena in a variety of scientific disciplines. Typically, this is done by using BM as a driving term in a stochastic differential equation (SDE). We are able to define and study these SDEs using Ito's stochastic calculus. Similarly, stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs) are often used to model stochastic phenomena. In this talk, we consider a very simple example of a stochastic heat equation. The solution to this SPDE, when regarded as a process indexed by time, has a nontrivial 4-variation. It follows that we cannot use the traditional methods of the Ito calculus to define an SDE driven by this process.
    In this talk, I will describe work in progress toward constructing a stochastic integral with respect to this process and a corresponding Ito-like change-of-variables formula. The integral being constructed is a limit of discrete Riemann sums. It turns out that the process we are considering has a very close relationship to a certain "flavor" of fractional Brownian motion (FBM). The quest for a calculus for FBM has led researchers in several different directions and there is a large body of literature on the topic. I will discuss some of the connections between our integral and an analogous approach for FBM.Part of this project is joint work with Chris Burdzy.

February 20, Tuesday, Jing Shi, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Title: Multidimensional quantum tunneling: numerical instanton method with application to polyatomic molecules
Abstract:
Quantum tunneling plays a crucial role at the nano scale. Multidimensional tunneling appears in the study of many problems ranging from quantum field to enzyme catalysis. The high dimensionality of the potential energy surface (e.g. many degrees of freedom) poses a great challenge in both theoretical and numerical description of tunneling.
    Numerical simulation based on Schrodinger equation is often prohibitvely expensive. We propose an efficient and accurate numerical method to calculate the tunneling splitting and decay rate. The method is based on path integral formalism ('instanton' and 'bounce' approach) and free from any further ad hoc assumptions on potential energy surface. The application to proton tunneling between isomers of polyatomic molecule is demonstrated.

February 21, Wednesday, Steven Wise, University of California-Irvine
Title: Modeling Solid Tumor Growth and Angiogenesis: The Effect of the Microenvironment.
Abstract:
I present and investigate models for solid tumor growth that incorporate features of the tumor microenvironment, including coupled, tumor-induced angiogenesis. Tumor growth is formulated as a free boundary problem, and I compare sharp and diffuse interface descriptions. Using analysis and efficient 2D and 3D nonlinear simulations, I explore the effects of the interaction between the genetic characteristics of the tumor and the tumor microenvironment on the resulting tumor progression. It is found that tumor morphological evolution is qualitatively similar across a broad range of parameters that govern the tumor genetic characteristics. Our findings demonstrate the importance of the impact of microenvironment on tumor growth and morphology and are consistent with recent experiments. I discuss possible implications for some cancer therapy protocols.

February 23 Friday Christoph Walker, Vanderbilt University.
Title: Global well-posedness of a haptotaxis model with spatial and age structure
Abstract:
A system of non-linear partial differential equations modeling tumor invasion into surrounding healthy tissue is analyzed.
The model focuses on key components involved in tumor cell migration and takes into account cell motility and haptotaxis, that is, the directed migratory response of tumor cells to the extracellular environment. Individual cell processes are modeled according to cell age. The equation for the tumor cell density thus incorporates second-order (parabolic) terms representing diffusion and taxis as well as a first-order (hyperbolic) part due to cell aging. Global existence and uniqueness of non-negative solutions is shown.

February 27, Tuesday, Ales Drapal, Charles University/University of Wisconsin
Title: Multilinear forms via polarization and conjugacy closedness
Abstract:
Let V be a vector space over a field F, and let f be a symmetric multilinear form of degree n on V.
    If f vanishes whenever two arguments coincide, then either f = 0, or char F = 2. We shall observe that a similar phenomenon exists also when p = char F > 2 if one considers symmetric multilinear forms f such that f vanishes whenever p arguments coincide.
    All such forms can be derived by a polarization process from mappings of V to F that are analogues of quadratic forms. If n = p = 3, then the forms f can be obtained as the associator mappings of conjugacy closed loops. That is similar to the case n = p = 2 since in that case one can get quadratic forms as commutators in groups.

March 6, Tuesday, Bin Zhang, Sichuan University, China
Title: Renormalization on Multiple Zeta Values
Abstract:
This is joint work with Li Guo (Rutgers, Newark). In this talk, we adapt a renormalization procedure in quantum field theory (QFT) to define the values of multiple zeta functions ζ(s1,...,sk) at (s1,...,sk). In this talk, we will first review the renormalization procedure of quantum field theory which was put in the framework of Hopf algebra and Rota-Baxter algebra by the recent works of Connes and Kreimer, then we use a regularization of infinite series that has occurred in the study of Todd classes for toric varieties to define multiple zeta values at singular points of multiple zeta functions. The key property of these multiple zeta values is the stuffle relation.

March 20, Tuesday, Yevgenia Kashina, De Paul University
Title: From Groups to Semisimple Hopf Algebras.
Abstract:
In this talk we will discuss how to generalize certain concepts and notions, such as power, exponent, order of an element, normal subgroup, from group theory to Hopf algebras. We will see what properties of these generalized notions still hold for semisimple Hopf algebras, and what properties are not true anymore. We will also discuss some classification results for semisimple Hopf algebras.

March 27, Tuesday, (001 Carver Hall) Neal Koblitz, University of Washington
Title: The Strange Relation of Mathematics to Cryptography
Abstract:
Starting in 1984, when Hendrik Lenstra introduced his elliptic curve factoring algorithm, the level of sophistication of the mathematics used in cryptography has risen dramatically. Many concepts from number theory and algebraic geometry have been applied to the study of elliptic and hyperelliptic curve cryptosystems, the number field sieve method for factoring, and other topics. More recently, though, mathematics has been used to give formal assurances of security, and this has raised some difficult questions and some suspicions that math is being misused. I will discuss the controversy surrounding ``provable security'' and give some examples that illustrate the need for caution and skepticism.

Monday April 2, 2007 4:10pm at Durham 171, Shili Lin, Department of Statistics, The Ohio State University,
Title: Modeling and Analysis of SAGE Cerebellum Libraries
Abstract:
A Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) library is a collection of thousands of small DNA "tags", each of which represents a distinct mRNA transcript. Existing methods have been proposed for analyzing single library data (i.e., one library per group) or one tag at a time. The practice of lumping all libraries together (in a multi-library setting) to form a "mega" library for each group is obviously unsatisfactory, but nonetheless performed frequently due to the lack of alternative methods. Since the tag counts within each library are inter-related as they are drawn from a multinomial distribution, analyzing thousands of tags one at a time is undoubtedly inadequate. Not only does such a practice ignore the dependency, but it also faces with the multiple testing adjustment issue. In this talk, I will describe a method that attempts to address both of these issues so that all tags from multi-library groups can be analyzed together. The method proposed also gears toward multi-group data.
    Focusing on the problem of identifying genes that are differentially expressed, a Bayesian formulation is established. Under this formulation, the problem of separating the differentially expressed genes from the majority of similarly expressed ones is treated as a model selection problem, and the reversible jump Markov chain Monte Carlo method is adapted for this purpose. The method is applied to a set of mouse libraries to uncover genes that are associated with the process of aging in the cerebellum. Our Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of the genes selected classifies them into several GO categories, which appear to be functionally relevant to aging. This is joint work with Dr. Zailong Wang.

Tuesday April 3, 2007,Matt Papanikolas, Texas A&M
Title: Hypergeometric functions over finite fields, counting points, and modular forms
Abstract:
First studied by Greene and Stanton in the 1980's, finite field hypergeometric functions are constructed as certain sums of products of Jacobi sums. Work of Ahlgren, Koike, Ono, and others have shown in certain examples that values of these hypergeometric functions are closely related to counting points on some Calabi-Yau manifolds over finite fields as well as to Fourier coefficients of modular forms. Our overall goal is to explain these phenomena, and we consider additional examples of values of 4F3-hypergeometric functions and investigate how they count points on families of varieties whose Picard-Fuchs equations are essentially hypergeometric. Joint work with S. Frechette.

April 10 Tuesday, Rob Lipton, Louisiana State University
Title: Homogenization and field concentrations in heterogeneous media
Abstract:
A multi-scale characterization of the field concentrations inside composite and polycrystalline media is developed. The talk focuses on gradient fields associated with solutions of second order elliptic PDE with measurable coefficients. A rigorous mathematical theory for assessing the $L^p$ integrability of gradient fields inside micro-structured media is developed. The results are described in terms of the $p^{th}$ order moments of the solution of two-scale corrector problems. Examples are provided that illustrate the theory and its application.

April 12 Thursday, Yang Kuang, Arizona State University
Title: Resource quality dynamics and its ecological implications
Abstract:
Mathematical biologists have built on variants of the Lotka–Volterra equations and in almost all cases have adopted the pure physical science's single-currency (energy) approach to understanding population dynamics. However, biomass production requires more than just energy. It is crucially dependent on the chemical compositions of both the consumer species and food resources. In this talk, we explore how depicting organisms as built of more than one thing (for example, C and an important nutrient, such as P) in stoichiometrically explicit models results in qualitatively different and realistic predictions about the resulting dynamics. Specifically, stoichiometric models incorporate both food quantity and food quality effects in a single framework, appear to stabilize predator–prey systems while simultaneously producing rich dynamics with alternative domains of attraction and occasionally counterintuitive outcomes, such as coexistence of more than one predator species on a single-prey item and decreased herbivore performance in response to increased plant growth rate. Stoichiometric theory has tremendous potential for both quantitative and qualitative improvements in the predictive power of mathematical population models in the study of both ecological and evolutional dynamics.

April 24 Tuesday, Yu Chen, New York University
Title: FM approach vs AM approach to sensing and imaging
Abstract:
No large amount of information can be long continued in space without being carried by waves. Representations and transformations with wave functions $e^{ikx}$ or $e^{i\omega t}$ as the basis thus play an important part in sensing and imaging. The first fundamental theorem and tool for imaging is undoubtedly the Fourier transform, in all its forms. If Joseph Fourier(1768 - 1830) initiated the use of Fourier transform, his contemporary compatriot Gaspard de Prony (1755-1839) discovered a method, the Prony's method for spectral analysis. While the Fourier transform is a linear process, Prony's method is a nonlinear Fourier analysis, both performed on the signal or scattering data in which the image or information sought is encoded.
    The Fourier transform is extremely powerful and desirable for sensing and imaging due to its well known analytical and numerical properties. This attractiveness of the Fourier transform is pervasive and appears to have concealed a fundamental flaw or limitation to its universal utility in imaging. It seems that the Fourier transform leads to the so-called AM model of imaging, as opposed to the FM model of imaging supported by Prony's method.
    In telecommunication frequency modulation (FM) has several major advantages over amplitude modulation (AM). In this talk we will characterize the FM and AM approaches to sensing and imaging. We will illustrate similar gains and new capabilities of the FM approach over the AM approach.

Contact Information:

boushaba@iastate.edu or linglong@iastate.edu