This paper deals with a class of discrete-time Markov chains for which the invariant measures can be expressed in terms of generalized continued fractions. The representation covers a wide class of stochastic models and is well suited for numerical applications. The results obtained can easily be extended to continuous-time Markov chains.

In this paper, we consider a class of strong symmetric distributions, which we refer to as the strong c-symmetric distributions. We provide, as the main result of this paper, conditions satisfied by the recurrence relations of certain polynomials associated with these distributions.

Let S(p) be the family of holomorphic functions f defined on the unit disk D, normalized by f(0) = f1(0) – 1 = 0 and univalent in every hyperbolic disk of radius p. Let C(p) be the subfamily consisting of those functions which are convex univalent in every hyperbolic disk of radius p. For p = ∞ these become the classical families S and C of normalized univalent and convex functions, respectively. These families are linearly invariant in the sense of Pommerenke; a natural problem is to calculate the order of these linearly invariant families. More precisely, we give a geometrie proof that C(p) is the universal linearly invariant family of all normalized locally schlicht functions of order at most coth(2p). This gives a purely geometric interpretation for the order of a linearly invariant family. In a related matter, we characterize those locally schlicht functions which map each hyperbolically k-convex subset of D onto a euclidean convex set. Finally, we give upper and lower bounds on the order of the linearly invariant family S(p) and prove that this class is not equal to the universal linearly invariant family of any order.

Abstract. Let Φ be in the disc algebra H∞ ∩ C(T) with its restriction to T in the Zygmund space of smooth functions λ*(T). If P(Φ') ⊂ T is the set of Plessner points of Φ' and if F = Φ + Ψ, where Ψ∈C1(T), it is shown that F(P(Φ')) ⊆ C is a set of zero linear Hausdorff measure. Applications are given to the spectral theory of multiplication operators.

Fifty years ago Marcinkiewicz and Zygmund studied the circular structure of the limit points of the partial sums for (C, 1) summable Taylor series. More specifically, let

be a power series with complex coefficients, let

be the partial sums, and let

be the Cesàro averages. When the sequence σn(z) converges to a finite limit σ(Z), we say that the Taylor series is (C, 1) summable and σ(z) is the (C, 1) sum of the series. Concerning (C, 1) summable Taylor series Marcinkiewicz and Zygmund ([5], [6] Vol. II, p. 178) established the following theorem.

Let be the class of normalized univalent functions in the unit disk. For f ∈ let Sf be the set of all star center points of f. Let 0 = where is the interior of Sf. The influence that the size of the set has on the Taylor coefficients of a function f ∈ 0 is examined, and estimates of these coefficients depending only on , as well as other results, are obtained.

Let R(z, w) be a rational function of w with meromorphic coefficients. It is shown that if the Schwarzian equation possesses an admissible solution, then , where αj, are distinct complex constants. In particular, when R(z, w) is independent of z, it is shown that if (*) possesses an admissible solution w(z), then by some Möbius transformation u = (aw + b) / (cw + d) (ad – bc ≠ 0), the equation can be reduced to one of the following forms: where τj (j = 1, … 4) are distinct constants, and σj (j = 1, … 4) are constants, not necessarily distinct.

An Eisenstein-like criterion is proved for power series with algebraic coefficients satisfying algebraic differential equations of a certain general kind. The proof is elementary and the result extends earlier results of Hurwitz, Pólya and Popken

Integrals related to Cauchy's integral formula and Huygens' principle are used to establish a link between domains of holomorphy in n complex variables and cells of harmonicity in one higher dimension. These integrals enable us to determine domains to which analytic functions on real analytic surface in Rn+1 may be extended to solutions to a Dirac equation.

We answer two conjectures suggested by Zalman Rubinstein. We prove his Conjecture 1, that is, we construct convergent iterative sequences for with an arbitrary initial point, where with m ≥ 2. We also show by several counterexamples that Rubinstein's Conjecture 2 is generally false.

We investigate a family consisting of functions whose convolution with is starlike of order α 0 ≤ α < 1. We determine extreme points, inclusion relations, and show how this family acts under various linear operators.

In this note the L2-angle between two concentric rings and between the ring and the exterior of the disc in the complex plane are calculated. In the second part we prove that the L2-angles between domains A and B and between A × C and B × C are equal. We give also some examples of discontinuity of the L2-angle between domains.

We introduce the class of Harnack domains in which a Harnack type inequality holds for positive harmonic functions with bounds given in terms of the distance to the domain's boundary. We give conditions connecting Harnack domains with several different complete metrics. We characterize the simply connected plane domains which are Harnack and discuss associated topics. We extend classical results to Harnack domains and give applications concerning the rate of growth of various functions defined in Harnack domains. We present a perhaps new characterization for quasidisks.

The first and last papers of Harald Bohr deal with ordinary Dirichlet series and their order (or Lindelöf) function μ(σ) (= inf{α;f(σ + it) + 0(|t|α)}). The Lindelöf hypothesis is μ(σ) = inf(0, ½ − t) when an = (−1)n. Are there ordinary Dirichlet series with −l < μ′ (σ) < 0 for some σ? A negative answer would imply Lindelöf's hypothesis. This is the last problem of Harald Bohr. This paper gives (1) a review on Bohr's results on ordinary Dinchlet series; (2) a review on results of the author and of Queffelec on “almost sure” and “quasi sure” properties of series with the solution of a previous problem of Bohr; (3) the following answer to the last problem: μ′(σ) can approach − ½, and necessarily μ(σ + μ(σ) + ½) = 0. The characterization of the order functions of ordinary Dirichlet series remains an open question.

Let W+ denote the Banach algebra of all absolutely convergent Taylor series in the open unit disc. We characterize the finitely generated closed and prime ideals in W+. Finally, we solve a problem of Rubel and McVoy by showing that W+ is not coherent.

The main purpose of this article is to outline for non-compact Riemann surfaces the development of a theory of T-invariant algebras similar to that developed by T. W. Gamelin [7] in the case of the plane. The main idea is to introduce, using the global local uniformizer of R. C. Gunning and R. Narashimhan, a Cauchy transform operator for the Riemann surface which operates on measures and solves an inhomogeneous -equation. This, in turn, can be used, analogously to the Cauchy transform on the plane, to develop meromorphic (rational) approximation theory. We sketch the path of the development but omit most of the details when they are very much similar to the planar case. Our presentation follows closely that of [7]. The original motivation for this study was to obtain more information on Gleason parts useful in the study of Carleman (tangential) approximation theory (see [5]).

We have defined and studied some pseudogroups of local diffeomorphisms which generalise the complex analytic pseudogroups. A 4-dimensional (or 8-dimensional) manifold modelled on these ‘Further pseudogroups’ turns out to be a quaternionic (respectively octonionic) manifold.

We characterise compact Further manifolds as being products of compact Riemann surfaces with appropriate dimensional spheres. It then transpires that a connected compact quaternionic (H) (respectively O) manifold X, minus a finite number of circles (its ‘real set’), is the orientation double covering of the product Y × P2, (respectively Y×P6), where Y is a connected surface equipped with a canonical conformal structure and Pn is n-dimensonal real projective space.

A corollary is that the only simply-connected compact manifolds which can allow H (respectively O) structure are S4 and S2 × S2 (respectively S8 and S2×S6).

Previous authors, for example Marchiafava and Salamon, have studied very closely-related classes of manifolds by differential geometric methods. Our techniques in this paper are function theoretic and topological.

For α≥0 and β≥0 we denote by K (α, β) the Kaplan classes of functions f analytic and non-zero in the open unit disk U = {z: |z| < 1} such that f ∈ K(α, β), if, and only if, for θ1 < θ2 < θ1 + 2π and 0 < r < 1,

Where

In this paper we determine the lower bound on |z| = r < 1 for the functional Re{αp(z) + β zp′(z)/p(z)}, α ≧0, β ≧ 0, over the class Pk (A, B). By means of this result, sharp bounds for |F(z)|, |F',(z)| in the family and the radius of convexity for are obtained. Furthermore, we establish the radius of starlikness of order β, 0 ≦ β < 1, for the functions F(z) = λf(Z) + (1-λ) zf′ (Z), |z| < 1, where ∞ < λ <1, and .

Convergent iterative sequences are constructed for the polynomials fm = z + zm, m ≧ 2, with initial point the lemniscate {z: |fm (z)| ≦1}. In the particular case m = 2 convergent iterative sequences are constructed also for f-1m, (z) with an arbitrary initial point. The method is based on a certain variational principle which allows reducing the problem to the well known situation of an analytic function mapping a simply connected domain into a proper subset of itself and possessing a fixed point in the domain.