We extend the classical notion of standardly stratified k-algebra (stated for finite dimensional k-algebras) to the more general class of rings, possibly without 1, with enough idempotents. We show that many of the fundamental results, which are known for classical standardly stratified algebras, can be generalized to this context. Furthermore, new classes of rings appear as: ideally standardly stratified and ideally quasi-hereditary. In the classical theory, it is known that quasi-hereditary and ideally quasi-hereditary algebras are equivalent notions, but in our general setting, this is no longer true. To develop the theory, we use the well-known connection between rings with enough idempotents and skeletally small categories (ringoids or rings with several objects).

This paper gives a brief overview of some configurations in which high-frequency wave propagation modelled by Helmholtz equation gives rise to solutions that vary rapidly across thin layers. The configurations are grouped according to their mathematical structure and tractability and one of them concerns a famous open problem of mathematical physics.

A module M is called a D4-module if, whenever A and B are submodules of M with M = A ⊕ B and f : A → B is a homomorphism with Imf a direct summand of B, then Kerf is a direct summand of A. The class of D4-modules contains the class of D3-modules, and hence the class of semi-projective modules, and so the class of Rickart modules. In this paper we prove that, over a commutative Dedekind domain R, for an R-module M which is a direct sum of cyclic submodules, M is direct projective (equivalently, it is semi-projective) iff M is D3 iff M is D4. Also we prove that, over a prime PI-ring, for a divisible R-module X, X is direct projective (equivalently, it is Rickart) iff X ⊕ X is D4. We determine some D3-modules and D4-modules over a discrete valuation ring, as well. We give some relevant examples. We also provide several examples on D3-modules and D4-modules via quivers.

Quasiperiodic media is a class of almost periodic media which is generated from periodic media through a ‘cut and project’ procedure. Quasiperiodic media displays some extraordinary optical, electronic and conductivity properties which call for the development of methods to analyse their microstructures and effective behaviour. In this paper, we develop the method of Bloch wave homogenisation for quasiperiodic media. Bloch waves are typically defined through a direct integral decomposition of periodic operators. A suitable direct integral decomposition is not available for almost periodic operators. To remedy this, we lift a quasiperiodic operator to a degenerate periodic operator in higher dimensions. Approximate Bloch waves are obtained for a regularised version of the degenerate operator. Homogenised coefficients for quasiperiodic media are obtained from the first Bloch eigenvalue of the regularised operator in the limit of regularisation parameter going to zero. A notion of quasiperiodic Bloch transform is defined and employed to obtain homogenisation limit for an equation with highly oscillating quasiperiodic coefficients.