We study locally compact quantum groups $\mathbb{G}$ through the convolution algebras $L_1(\mathbb{G})$ and $(T(L_2(\mathbb{G})), \triangleright)$. We prove that the reduced quantum group $C^*$-algebra $C_0(\mathbb{G})$ can be recovered from the convolution $\triangleright$ by showing that the right $T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$-module $\langle K(L_2(\mathbb{G}) \triangleright T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))\rangle$ is equal to $C_0(\mathbb{G})$. On the other hand, we show that the left $T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$-module $\langle T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))\triangleright K(L_2(\mathbb{G})\rangle$ is isomorphic to the reduced crossed product $C_0(\widehat{\mathbb{G}}) \,_r\!\ltimes C_0(\mathbb{G})$, and hence is a much larger $C^*$-subalgebra of $B(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$. We establish a natural isomorphism between the completely bounded right multiplier algebras of $L_1(\mathbb{G})$ and $(T(L_2(\mathbb{G})), \triangleright)$, and settle two invariance problems associated with the representation theorem of Junge-Neufang-Ruan (2009). We characterize regularity and discreteness of the quantum group $\mathbb{G}$ in terms of continuity properties of the convolution $\triangleright$ on $T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$. We prove that if $\mathbb{G}$ is semi-regular, then the space $\langle T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))\triangleright B(L_2(\mathbb{G}))\rangle$ of right $\mathbb{G}$-continuous operators on $L_2(\mathbb{G})$, which was introduced by Bekka (1990) for $L_{\infty}(G)$, is a unital $C^*$-subalgebra of $B(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$. In the representation framework formulated by Neufang-Ruan-Spronk (2008) and Junge-Neufang-Ruan, we show that the dual properties of compactness and discreteness can be characterized simultaneously via automatic normality of quantum group bimodule maps on $B(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$. We also characterize some commutation relations of completely bounded multipliers of $(T(L_2(\mathbb{G})), \triangleright)$ over $B(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$.

Let $K$ denote a compact real symmetric subset of $\mathbb{C}$ and let $A_{\mathbb R}(K)$ denote the real Banach algebra of all real symmetric continuous functions on $K$ that are analytic in the interior $K^\circ$ of $K$, endowed with the supremum norm. We characterize all unimodular pairs $(f,g)$ in $A_{\mathbb R}(K)^2$ which are reducible. In addition, for an arbitrary compact $K$ in $\mathbb C$, we give a new proof (not relying on Banach algebra theory or elementary stable rank techniques) of the fact that the Bass stable rank of $A(K)$ is $1$. Finally, we also characterize all compact real symmetric sets $K$ such that $A_{\mathbb R}(K)$, respectively $C_{\mathbb R}(K)$, has Bass stable rank $1$.