Multivariable connected sums and multiple polylogarithms

We introduce the multivariable connected sum which is a generalization of Seki–Yamamoto’s connected sum and prove the fundamental identity for these sums by series manipulation. This identity yields explicit procedures for evaluating multivariable connected sums and for giving relations among special values of multiple polylogarithms. In particular, our class of relations contains Ohno’s relations for multiple polylogarithms.

Connected sum of virtual knots and F-polynomials

It is known that connected sum of two virtual knots is not uniquely determined and depends on knot diagrams and choosing the points to be connected. But different connected sums of the same virtual knots cannot be distinguished by Kauffman’s affine index polynomial. For any pair of virtual knots [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] with [Formula: see text]-dwrithe [Formula: see text] we construct an infinite family of different connected sums of [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] which can be distinguished by [Formula: see text]-polynomials.