Rota-Baxter $C^{ast}$-algebras

This paper introduces the notion of Rota-Baxter $C^{ast}$-algebras. Here a Rota-Baxter $C^{ast}$-algebra is a $C^{ast}$-algebra with a Rota-Baxter operator. Symmetric Rota-Baxter operators, as special cases of Rota-Baxter operators on $C^{ast}$-algebra, are defined and studied. A theorem of Rota-Baxter operators on concrete $C^{ast}$-algebras is given, deriving the relationship between two kinds of Rota-Baxter algebras. As a corollary, some connection between $ast$-representations and Rota-Baxter operators is given. The notion of representations of Rota-Baxter $C^{ast}$-algebras are constructed, and a theorem of representations of direct sums of Rota-Baxter representations is derived. Finally using Rota-Baxter operators, the notion of quasidiagonal operators on $C^{ast}$-algebra is reconstructed.

A note on the sum of finite multiple harmonic $q$-series on $rtext{-}(r+1)$ indices

We study the sum of the finite multiple harmonic $q$-series on $rtext{-}(r+1)$ indices at roots of unity with $r=1,2,3$. And we give the equivalent conditions of two conjectures regarding cyclic sums of finite multiple harmonic $q$-series on $1text{-}2text{-}3$ indices at roots of unity, posed recently by Kh. Pilehrood, T. Pilehrood and R. Tauraso.

On Mendelian Randomization Mixed-Scale Treatment Effect Robust Identification (MR MiSTERI) and Estimation for Causal Inference

Standard Mendelian randomization analysis can produce biased results if the genetic variant defining the instrumental variable (IV) is confounded and/or has a horizontal pleiotropic effect on the outcome of interest not mediated by the treatment. We provide novel identification conditions for the causal effect of a treatment in presence of unmeasured confounding, by leveraging an invalid IV for which both the IV independence and exclusion restriction assumptions may be violated. The proposed Mendelian Randomization Mixed-Scale Treatment Effect Robust Identification (MR MiSTERI) approach relies on (i) an assumption that the treatment effect does not vary with the invalid IV on the additive scale; and (ii) that the selection bias due to confounding does not vary with the invalid IV on the odds ratio scale; and (iii) that the residual variance for the outcome is heteroscedastic and thus varies with the invalid IV. We formally establish that their conjunction can identify a causal effect even with an invalid IV subject to pleiotropy. MiSTERI is shown to be particularly advantageous in presence of pervasive heterogeneity of pleiotropic effects on additive scale, a setting in which two recently proposed robust estimation methods MR GxE and MR GENIUS can be severely biased. In order to incorporate multiple, possibly correlated and weak IVs, a common challenge in MR studies, we develop a MAny Weak Invalid Instruments (MR MaWII MiSTERI) approach for strengthened identification and improved accuracy MaWII MiSTERI is shown to be robust to horizontal pleiotropy, violation of IV independence assumption and weak IV bias. Both simulation studies and real data analysis results demonstrate the robustness of the proposed MR MiSTERI methods.

On a conjecture of Kaneko and Ohno

Let $X_0^{star}(k,n,s)$ denote the sum of all multiple zeta-star values of weight $k$, depth $n$ and height $s$. Kaneko and Ohno conjecture that for any positive integers $m,n,s$ with $m,ngeqslant s$, the difference $(-1)^mX_0^{star}(m+n+1,n+1,s)-(-1)^nX_0^{star}(m+n+1,m+1,s)$ can be expressed as a polynomial of zeta values with rational coefficients. We give a proof of this conjecture in this paper.

On harmonic sums and alternating Euler sums

The explicit formulas expressing harmonic sums via alternating Euler sums (colored multiple zeta values) are given, and some explicit evaluations are given as applications.