VUCA n+1. To the Infinity and Beyond!

Starting from the observation that nowadays, the need to operate in a world described by Horney et al. (2010) as a world characterized by its volatility, uncertainties, complexity, and ambiguity has become more evident than ever, we aim at identifying and reveal the need for a ceaseless VUCA model. During the last decade, the term VUCA has easily migrated in other areas, being transformed into a common expression due to rapid change manifested in the technological, political, financial, and administrative fields (Sarkar, 2016). In this context, we have analyzed the existing VUCA models and proposed the n+1 version of them. Within the current stream of events, including Brexit and especially the COVID-19 pandemic, the way managers addressed the ever-changing business environment has become less efficient in the current disruptive type of period we are facing. Therefore, the VUCA 2.0 model was developed. The model comprising the same acronym is based on the following elements: vision, understanding, courage, and adaptability (George, 2017). But, in the last years, technology has accelerated the VUCA world and, in 2020, the VUCA 3.0 popped out (Day, 2020). As the results of the analysis pointed out, the incredible pace and amplitude of change, together with the associated disruption in the way businesses are managed, call for the constant development of a never-ending VUCA n+1 model. With a wider spread of automatization, cyber systems, and artificial intelligence, a new VUCA model will soon be necessary. This framework invites the reader to think not only about a potential but to a factual infinite sequence of VUCA models.

Emptiness formation in polytropic quantum liquids

We study large deviations in interacting quantum liquids with the polytropic equation of state P (ρ) ∼ ργ, where ρ is density and P is pressure. By solving hydrodynamic equations in imaginary time we evaluate the instanton action and calculate the emptiness formation probability (EFP), the probability that no particle resides in a macroscopic interval of a given size. Analytic solutions are found for a certain infinite sequence of rational polytropic indexes γ and the result can be analytically continued to any value of γ ≥ 1. Our findings agree with (and significantly expand on) previously known analytical and numerical results for EFP in quantum liquids. We also discuss interesting universal spacetime features of the instanton solution.

On Singularities of Certain Non-linear Second-Order Ordinary Differential Equations

The method of blowing up points of indeterminacy of certain systems of two ordinary differential equations is applied to obtain information about the singularity structure of the solutions of the corresponding non-linear differential equations. We first deal with the so-called Painlevé example, which passes the Painlevé test, but the solutions have more complicated singularities. Resolving base points in the equivalent system of equations we can explain the complicated structure of singularities of the original equation. The Smith example has a solution with non-isolated singularity, which is an accumulation point of algebraic singularities. Smith’s equation can be written as a system in two ways. We show that the sequence of blow-ups for both systems can be infinite. Another example that we consider is the Painlevé-Ince equation. When the usual Painlevé analysis is applied, it possesses both positive and negative resonances. We show that for three equivalent systems there is an infinite sequence of blow-ups and another one that terminates, which further gives a Laurent expansion of the solution around a movable pole. Moreover, for one system it is even possible to obtain the general solution after a sequence of blow-ups.

Random World and Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics (QM) predicts probabilities on the fundamentallevel which are, via Born probability law, connected to the formal randomnessof infinite sequences of QM outcomes. Recently it has been shown thatQM is algorithmic 1-random in the sense of Martin-L¨of. We extend this resultand demonstrate that QM is algorithmic ω-random and generic, precisely asdescribed by the ’miniaturisation’ of the Solovay forcing to arithmetic. Thisis extended further to the result that QM becomes Zermelo–Fraenkel Solovayrandom on infinite-dimensional Hilbert spaces. Moreover, it is more likely thatthere exists a standard transitive ZFC model M, where QM is expressed in reality,than in the universe V of sets. Then every generic quantum measurementadds to M the infinite sequence, i.e. random real r ∈ 2ω, and the model undergoesrandom forcing extensions M[r]. The entire process of forcing becomesthe structural ingredient of QM and parallels similar constructions applied tospacetime in the quantum limit, therefore showing the structural resemblanceof both in this limit. We discuss several questions regarding measurability andpossible practical applications of the extended Solovay randomness of QM.The method applied is the formalization based on models of ZFC; however,this is particularly well-suited technique to recognising randomness questionsof QM. When one works in a constant model of ZFC or in axiomatic ZFCitself, the issues considered here remain hidden to a great extent.

On the locations of maxima and minima in a sequence of exchangeable random variables

We show for a finite sequence of exchangeable random variables that the locations of the maximum and minimum are independent from every symmetric event. In particular they are uniformly distributed on the grid without the diagonal. Moreover, for an infinite sequence we show that the extrema and their locations are asymptotically independent. Here, in contrast to the classical approach we do not use affine-linear transformations. Moreover it is shown how the new transformations can be used in extreme value statistics.

A theorem of Roe and Strichartz on homogeneous trees

Let 𝔛 {\mathfrak{X}} be a homogeneous tree and let ℒ {\mathcal{L}} be the Laplace operator on 𝔛 {\mathfrak{X}} . In this paper, we address problems of the following form: Suppose that { f k } k ∈ ℤ {\{f_{k}\}_{k\in\mathbb{Z}}} is a doubly infinite sequence of functions in 𝔛 {\mathfrak{X}} such that for all k ∈ ℤ {k\in\mathbb{Z}} one has ℒ ⁢ f k = A ⁢ f k + 1 {\mathcal{L}f_{k}=Af_{k+1}} and ∥ f k ∥ ≤ M {\lVert f_{k}\rVert\leq M} for some constants A ∈ ℂ {A\in\mathbb{C}} , M > 0 {M>0} and a suitable norm ∥ ⋅ ∥ {\lVert\,\cdot\,\rVert} . From this hypothesis, we try to infer that f 0 {f_{0}} , and hence every f k {f_{k}} , is an eigenfunction of ℒ {\mathcal{L}} . Moreover, we express f 0 {f_{0}} as the Poisson transform of functions defined on the boundary of 𝔛 {\mathfrak{X}} .

A graph operation and its applications in generating orderenergetic and equienergetic graphs

A general graph operation is defined and some of its applications are given in this paper. The adjacency spectrum of any graph generated by this operation is given. A method for generating integral graphs using this operation is discussed. Corresponding to any given graph, we can generate an infinite sequence of pair of equienergetic non-cospectral graphs using this graph operation. Given an orderenergetic graph, it is shown that we can construct two different sequences of orderenergetic graphs. A condition for generating orderenergetic graphs from non-orderenergetic graphs are also derived. This method of constructing connected orderenergetic graphs solves one of the open problem stated in the paper by Akbari et al.(2020).

A SOUNDNESS ANALYSIS OF ZENO’S OF ELEA DICHOTOMY

We are studying three basic interpretations of the Dichotomy aporia, in which Zeno tries to prove the impossibility of movement. In all these interpretations, the key assumption is the dubious statement about the impossibility of performing an infinite sequence of actions in a finite time. However, we show that in the two interpretations of the Dichotomy it is possible to get rid of the dubious key assumption, replacing it with the seemingly much more reliable assumption that covering the distance is representable as a sequence of displacements. Our approach is based on the thesis proved by P. Benacerraf that completing an infinite sequence of movements in an interpretation of the Dichotomy is not sufficient to arrive to the end of the distance.

Generalised holonomies and K(E9)

The involutory subalgebra K($$ \mathfrak{e} $$ e 9) of the affine Kac-Moody algebra $$ \mathfrak{e} $$ e 9 was recently shown to admit an infinite sequence of unfaithful representations of ever increasing dimensions [1]. We revisit these representations and describe their associated ideals in more detail, with particular emphasis on two chiral versions that can be constructed for each such representation. For every such unfaithful representation we show that the action of K($$ \mathfrak{e} $$ e 9) decomposes into a direct sum of two mutually commuting (‘chiral’ and ‘anti-chiral’) parabolic algebras with Levi subalgebra $$ \mathfrak{so} $$ so (16)+ ⊕ $$ \mathfrak{so} $$ so (16)−. We also spell out the consistency conditions for uplifting such representations to unfaithful representations of K($$ \mathfrak{e} $$ e 10). From these results it is evident that the holonomy groups so far discussed in the literature are mere shadows (in a Platonic sense) of a much larger structure.

A Decomposition That Does Not Shrink

‘A Decomposition That Does Not Shrink’ gives a nontrivial example of a decomposition of the 3-sphere such that the corresponding quotient space is not homeomorphic to the 3-sphere. The decomposition in question is called the Bing-2 decomposition. Similar to the Bing decomposition from the previous chapter, it consists of the connected components of the intersection of an infinite sequence of nested solid tori. However, unlike the Bing decomposition, the Bing-2 decomposition does not shrink. This indicates the subtlety of the question of which decompositions shrink. The question of when certain decompositions of the 3-sphere shrink is central to the proof of the disc embedding theorem.