Sums of powers of integers and generalized Stirling numbers of the second kind

Abstract: By applying the Newton-Gregory expansion to the polynomial associated with the sum of powers of integers $S_k(n) = 1^k + 2^k + \cdots + n^k$, we derive a couple of infinite families of explicit formulas for $S_k(n)$. One of the families involves the $r$-Stirling numbers of the second kind $\genfrac{{}{}}{0pt}{}{k}{j}r$, $j=0,1,\ldots,k$, while the other involves their duals $\genfrac{{}{}}{0pt}{}{k}{j}{-r}$, with both families of formulas being indexed by the non-negative integer $r$. As a by-product, we obtain three additional formulas for $S_k(n)$ involving the numbers $\genfrac{{}{}}{0pt}{}{k}{j}{n+m}$, $\genfrac{{}{}}{0pt}{}{k}{j}{n-m}$ (where $m$ is any given non-negative integer), and $\genfrac{{}{}}{0pt}{}{k}{j}{k-j}$, respectively. Moreover, we provide a formula for the Bernoulli polynomials $B_k(x-1)$ in terms of $\genfrac{{}{}}{0pt}{}{k}{j}{x}$ and the harmonic numbers.