Manifolds with almost equal diameter and injectivity radius (Q1059875)

A Blaschke manifold is a Riemannian manifold whose injectivity radius equals its diameter. A pointed Blaschke manifold is one for which there is a point whose tangent cut locus is spherical, i.e. a Blaschke manifold is a pointed Blaschke manifold for each of its points. Provided the curvature is bounded from above such manifolds are well understood at least homologically [cf. \textit{H. Nakaga} and \textit{K. Shiohama}, Tôhoku Math. J., II. Ser. 22, 14-23 (1970; Zbl 0192.586), 357-361 (1970; Zbl 0203.544)]. In terms of (necessary) curvature bounds the author obtains a number of interesting topological restrictions on manifolds that are ''almost (pointed) Blaschke manifolds.'' His proofs and methods are based on comparison theory.