Locally convex hypersurfaces immersed in $H^n times R$

We prove a theorem of Hadamard-Stoker type: a connected locally convex complete hypersurface immersed in $H^n times R$ (n>1), where $H^n$ is n-dimensional hyperbolic space, is embedded and homeomorphic either to the n-sphere or to $R^n$. In the latter case it is either a vertical graph over a convex domain in $H^n$ or has what we call a simple end.

Manifolds that are not leaves of codimension one foliations

We present new open manifolds that are not homeomorphic to leaves of any C^0 codimension one foliation of a compact manifold. Among them are simply connected manifolds of dimension 5 or greater that are non-periodic in homotopy or homology, namely in their 2-dimensional homotopy or homology groups.

Normal subgroups of diffeomorphism and homeomorphism groups of R^n and other open manifolds

We determine all the normal subgroups of the group of C^r diffeomorphisms of R^n, r = 1,2,...,infinity, except when r=n+1 or n=4, and also of the group of homeomorphisms of R^n (r=0). We also study the group A_0 of diffeomorphisms of an open manifold M that are isotopic to the identity. If M is the interior of a compact manifold with nonempty boundary, then the quotient of A_0 by the normal subgroup of diffeomorphisms that coincide with the identity near to a given end e of M is simple.