The 7th International Workshop in Analysis and its Applications (IWAA) was held at the University of Maine, June 1-6, 1997 and featured approxi- mately 60 mathematicians. The principal theme of the workshop shares the title of this volume and the latter is a direct outgrowth of the workshop. IWAA was founded in 1984 by Professor Caslav V. Stanojevic. The first meeting was held in the resort complex Kupuri, Yugoslavia, June 1-10, 1986, with two pilot meetings preceding. The Organization Committee to- gether with the Advisory Committee (R. P. Boas, R. R. Goldberg, J. P. Kahne) set forward the...