In this paper a class of quartic trigonometric Bézier curve, called QT Bézier curve, with two shape parameters is presented. These curves not only inherit most properties of the usual quartic Bézier curves in the polynomial space, but also enjoy some other advantageous properties for shape modelling. The shape of the curve can be adjusted by altering the values of shape parameters while the con...

We show that one can find two nonisomorphic curves over a field K that become isomorphic to one another over two finite extensions of K whose degrees over K are coprime to one another. More specifically, let K0 be an arbitrary prime field and let r > 1 and s > 1 be integers that are coprime to one another. We show that one can find a finite extension K of K0, a degree-r extension L of K, a degr...

This talk gives an introduction into the subject of Seiberg-Witten curves and their relation to integrable systems. We discuss some motivations and origins of this relation and consider explicit construction of various families of Seiberg-Witten curves in terms of corresponding integrable models.

Manjul Bhargava and I have recently proved a result on the average order of the 2-Selmer groups of the Jacobians of hyperelliptic curves of a fixed genus n ≥ 1 over Q, with a rational Weierstrass point [2, Thm 1]. A surprising fact which emerges is that the average order of this finite group is equal to 3, independent of the genus n. This gives us a uniform upper bound of 3 2 on the average ran...

The arithmetic of quaternions is recalled from a constructive point of view. A Hecke module is introduced, defined as a free abelian group on right ideal classes of a quaternion order, together with a natural action of Hecke operators. An equivalent construction in terms of Shimura curves is then introduced, and the quaternion construction is applied to the analysis of specific modular and Shim...

The Incentives for Takeover in Oligopoly* by Roman Inderst and Christian Wey This paper presents a model of takeover incentives in an oligopolistic industry, which, in contrast to previous approaches, takes both insiders' and outsiders' gains from an increase in industry concentration into account. Our main application is to compare takeover incentives in a differentiated Cournot and Bertrand o...

This paper compares Bertrand and Cournot equilibria in a differentiated duopoly with substitute goods and product R&D. I find that R&D expenditure, prices and firms’ net profits are always higher under quantity competition than under price competition. Furthermore, output, consumer surplus and total welfare are higher in the Bertrand equilibrium than in the Cournot equilibrium if either R&D spi...