Alexander-Conway invariants of tangles

We consider an algebra of (classical or virtual) tangles over an ordered circuit operad and introduce Conway-type invariants of tangles which respect this algebraic structure. The resulting invariants contain both the coefficients of the Conway polynomial and the Milnor's mu-invariants of string links as partial cases. The extension of the Conway polynomial to virtual tangles satisfies the usual Conway skein relation and its coefficients are GPV finite type invariants. As a by-product, we also obtain a simple representation of the braid group which gives the Conway polynomial as a certain twisted trace.Comment: 14 pages, many figure

Renormalization, isogenies and rational symmetries of differential equations

We give an example of infinite order rational transformation that leaves a linear differential equation covariant. This example can be seen as a non-trivial but still simple illustration of an exact representation of the renormalization group.Comment: 36 page