Value distribution and potential theory

We describe some results of value distribution theory of holomorphic curves and quasiregular maps, which are obtained using potential theory. Among the results discussed are: extensions of Picard's theorems to quasiregular maps between Riemannian manifolds, a version of the Second Main Theorem of Nevanlinna for curves in projective space and non-linear divisors, description of extremal functions in Nevanlinna theory and results related to Cartan's 1928 conjecture on holomorphic curves in the unit disc omitting hyperplanes

Elementary proof of the B. and M. Shapiro conjecture for rational functions

We give a new elementary proof of the following theorem: if all critical points of a rational function g belong to the real line then there exists a fractional linear transformation L such that L(g) is a real rational function. Then we interpret the result in terms of Fuchsian differential equations whose general solution is a polynomial and in terms of electrostatics.Comment: 21 page

On metrics of curvature 1 with four conic singularities on tori and on the sphere

We discuss conformal metrics of curvature 1 on tori and on the sphere, with four conic singularities whose angles are multiples of pi/2. Besides some general results we study in detail the family of such symmetric metrics on the sphere, with angles (pi/2,3pi/2,pi/2,3pi/2).Comment: 25 pages, 5 figure