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Singular degree of a rational matrix pseudodifferential operator

In our previous work we studied minimal fractional decompositions of a rational matrix pseudodifferential operator: H=A/B, where A and B are matrix differential operators, and B is non-degenerate of minimal possible degree deg(B). In the present paper we introduce the singular degree sdeg(H)=deg(B), and show that for an arbitrary rational expression H=sum_a (A^a_1)/(B^a_1)...(A^a_n)/(B^a_n), we have that sdeg(H) is less than or equal to sum_{a,i} deg(B^a_i). If the equality holds, we call such an expression minimal. We study the properties of the singular degree and of minimal rational expressions. These results are important for the computations involved in the Lenard-Magri scheme of integrability.