On the relation between minimizers of a Γ-limit energy and optimal lifting in BV-space

We study the minimizers of an energy functional which is obtained as the Γ-limit of a family of functionals depending on a small parameter ε > 0, associated with a function u ∈ BV(Ω, S1) and a positive parameter p. We find necessary and sufficient conditions on p and the dimension under which these minimizers coincide with the optimal liftings of u, for every u ∈ BV(Ω, S1)

On a planar Liouville-type problem in the study of selfgravitating strings

Motivated by the construction of selfgravitating strings (cf Yang, 2001, 1994 [22,23]), we analyze a Liouville-type equation on the plane, derived in Yang (1994) [23]. We establish sharp existence and uniqueness properties for the corresponding radial solutions. We investigate also when the problem allows for non-radial solutions. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

On Singular Liouville Systems

A Tribute to Bernhard Ruf on the Occasion of his 60th Birthda

On Singular Liouville Systems

A Tribute to Bernhard Ruf on the Occasion of his 60th Birthda

The 'mechanism' of human cognitive variation

The theory of psychosis and autism as diametrical disorders offers a tractable and testable view of normal and abnormal human cognitive variation as a function of opposing traits grouped by their selection for maternal and paternal reproductive fitness. The theory could be usefully rooted and developed with reference to the lower-level perceptual and attentional phenomena from which social cognitive modules are developmentally refined