Let $H^\infty $ be the algebra of bounded holomorphic functions on the open unit disk, and let $\mathfrak M$ be its maximal ideal space. Let $\mathfrak M_a$ be the union of nontrivial Gleason parts (analytic disks) of $\mathfrak M$. In this paper, we study the problem of extensions of bounded Banach-valued holomorphic functions and holomorphic maps with values in Oka manifolds from Gleason parts of $\mathfrak M_a\setminus \mathbb {D}$. The resulting extensions satisfy the uniform boundedness principle in the sense that their norms are bounded by constants that do not depend on the choice of the Gleason part. The results extend fundamental results of D. Suárez on the characterization of the algebra of restrictions of Gelfand transforms of functions in $H^\infty $ to Gleason parts of $ \mathfrak M_a\setminus \mathbb {D}$. The proofs utilize our recent advances on $\bar \partial $-equations on quasi-interpolating sets and Runge-type approximations.

Let $H^\infty ({\mathbb {D}}\times {\mathbb {N}})$ be the Banach algebra of bounded holomorphic functions defined on the disjoint union of countably many copies of the open unit disk ${\mathbb {D}}\subset {{\mathbb C}}$ . We show that the dense stable rank of $H^\infty ({\mathbb {D}}\times {\mathbb {N}})$ is $1$ and, using this fact, prove some nonlinear Runge-type approximation theorems for $H^\infty ({\mathbb {D}}\times {\mathbb {N}})$ maps. Then we apply these results to obtain a priori uniform estimates of norms of approximating maps in similar approximation problems for the algebra $H^\infty ({\mathbb {D}})$ .

In this paper we survey recent developments in the classical theory of minimal surfaces in Euclidean spaces which have been obtained as applications of both classical and modern complex analytic methods; in particular, Oka theory, period dominating holomorphic sprays, gluing methods for holomorphic maps, and the Riemann–Hilbert boundary value problem. Emphasis is on results pertaining to the global theory of minimal surfaces, in particular, the Calabi–Yau problem, constructions of properly immersed and embedded minimal surfaces in $\mathbb{R}^{n}$ and in minimally convex domains of $\mathbb{R}^{n}$, results on the complex Gauss map, isotopies of conformal minimal immersions, and the analysis of the homotopy type of the space of all conformal minimal immersions from a given open Riemann surface.