Another proof of the end curve theorem for normal surface singularities (Q2269715)

Neumann and Wahl introduced the notion of splice-quotient singularities, which is a broad generalization of quasihomogeneous singularities with rational homology sphere links. They proved the End Curve Theorem, that characterizes splice-quotient singularities, applying a theory of numerical semigroups. In this paper, the author gives a different proof of the End Curve Theorem, using combinatorics of monomial cycles and basic ring theory.