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By using double branched covers, we prove that there is a 1-1 correspondence between the set of knotoids in the 2-sphere, up to orientation reversion and rotation, and knots with a strong inversion, up to conjugacy. This correspondence…

Four observations compose the main results of this note. The first records the existence of a smoothly embedded 2-sphere $S$ inside $\mathbb{R} P^2\times S^2$ such that performing a Gluck twist on $S$ produces a manifold $Y$ that is…

Here we study two interesting smooth contractible manifolds, whose boundaries have non-trivial mapping class groups. The first one is a non-Stein contractible manifold, such that every self diffeomorphism of its boundary extends inside;…

We consider a homology sphere $M_n(K_1,K_2)$ presented by two knots $K_1,K_2$ with linking number 1 and framing $(0,n)$. We call the manifold {\it Matsumoto's manifold}. We show that there exists no contractible bound of $M_n(T_{2,3},K_2)$…

Let $K\subset S^3$ be a Fox $p$-colored knot and assume $K$ bounds a locally flat surface $S\subset B^4$ over which the given $p$-coloring extends. This coloring of $S$ induces a dihedral branched cover $X\to S^4$. Its branching set is a…

We construct infinite families of topologically isotopic but smoothly distinct knotted spheres in many simply connected 4-manifolds that become smoothly isotopic after stabilizing by connected summing with $S^2 \times S^2$, and as a…

For embedded 2-spheres in a 4-manifold sharing the same embedded transverse sphere homotopy implies isotopy, provided the ambient 4-manifold has no $\BZ_2$-torsion in the fundamental group. This gives a generalization of the classical light…

Watanabe's theta graph diffeomorphism, constructed using Watanabe's clasper surgery construction which turns trivalent graphs in 4-manifolds into parameterized families of diffeomorphisms of 4-manifolds, is a diffeomorphism of $S^4$…

It is known that S^4 is a union of two fishtails, and S^2 x S^2 is a union of two cusps (glued along their boundaries). Here we prove that, for any choice of knots K,L in S^3, performing knot surgery operations to S^4 and S^2 x S^2, along…

Let $X$ be a compact, oriented, smooth, simply-connected $4$-manifold. The mapping class group of $X$ is defined as the group of smooth isotopy classes of diffeomorphisms of $X$. The Torelli group of $X$ is the subgroup of the mapping class…

This note has two related but independent parts. Firstly, we prove a generalisation of a recent result of Gay on the smooth mapping class group of $S^4$. Secondly, we give an alternative proof of a consequence of work of Saeki, namely that…

Loi and Piergallini showed that a smooth compact, connected $4$-manifold $X$ with boundary admits a Stein structure if and only if $X$ is a simple branched cover of a $4$-disk $D^4$ branched along a positive braided surface $S$ in a bidisk…

We prove that there exist infinitely many embedded tori with a common geometric dual in $T^4\#(S^2\times S^2)$ that are homotopic, diffeomorphic, but not isotopic to each other, even after arbitrary many external stabilizations. These…

As shown by H. Gluck in 1962, the diffeotopy group of S^1 \times S^2 is isomorphic to Z_2 + Z_2 + Z_2. Here an alternative proof of this result is given, relying on contact topology. We then discuss two applications to contact topology: (i)…

We give a method for obtaining infinitely many framed knots which represent a diffeomorphic 4-manifold. We also study a relationship between the $n$-shake genus and the 4-ball genus of a knot. Furthermore we give a construction of homotopy…

We show that every closed connected non-orientable PL $4$-manifold $X$ is a simple branched covering of $\RP^4$. We also show that $X$ is a simple branched covering of the twisted $S^3$-bundle $S^1 \simtimes S^3$ if and only if the first…

Let K \subset Y be a knot in a three manifold which admits a longitude-framed surgery such that the surgered manifold has first Betti number greater than that of Y. We find a formula which computes the twisted Floer homology of the surgered…

Building on techniques from complex analysis and topology, we establish a remarkable property of branched covers and formulate a complete criterion for the existence of specific types of branched covers between 2-spheres. Our results extend…

The trace of $n$-framed surgery on a knot in $S^3$ is a 4-manifold homotopy equivalent to the 2-sphere. We characterise when a generator of the second homotopy group of such a manifold can be realised by a locally flat embedded 2-sphere…

We show that any finitely presented group with an index two subgroup is realized as the fundamental group of a closed smooth non-orientable four-manifold that admits an exotic smooth structure, which is obtained by performing a Gluck twist.…