In this paper two theorems are proved that give a partial answer to a question posed by G. Behrendt and P. Neumann. Firstly, the existence of a group of cardinality ℵ1 with exactly ℵ1 normal subgroups, yet having a subgroup of index 2 with 2ℵ1 normal subgroups, is consistent with ZFC (the Zermelo-Fraenkel axioms for set theory together with the Axiom of Choice). Secondly, the statement “Every metabelian-by-finite group of cardinality ℵ1 has 2ℵ1 normal subgroups” is consistent with ZFC.

An infinite family of 2-groups is produced. These groups have no direct factors and have a non-abelian automorphism group in which all automorphisms are central.

Using the theory of the Satake diagrams associated with the non-compact simple Lie algebras over the real number field R, we shall construct a family of simple groups over a field K which are called the simple groups associated with the Satake diagrams. The list of these simple groups includes all Chevalley groups and twisted groups, and all simple algebraic groups of adjoint type defined over R if K is the complex number field C (except two types given by Table II′). Furthermore, the simple groups associated with the Satake diagrams of type AIII, BI, DI are identified with the simple groups obtained from the unitary or orthogonal groups of non-zero indices. The quasi-Bruhat decomposition of the “non-split” simple groups associated with the Satake diagrams which are not Chevalley groups or twisted groups will be given in this paper.

It is shown that if {Gn: n = 1, 2,…} is a countable family of Hausdorff kω-topological groups with a common closed subgroup A, then the topological amalgamated free product *AGn exists and is a Hausdorff kω-topological group with each Gn as a closed subgroup. A consequence is the theorem of La Martin that epimorphisms in the category of kω-topological groups have dense image.

We give a survey of some of the realisations that have been given of monogenic inverse semigroups and discuss their relation to one another. We then analyse the representations by bijections, combined under composition, of monogenic inverse semigroups, and classify these into isomorphism types. This provides a particularly easy way of classifying monogenic inverse semigroups into isomorphism types. Of interest is that we find two quite distinct representations by bijections of free monogenic inverse semigroups and show that all such representations must contain one of these two representations. We call a bijection of the form ai ↦ ai+1, i = 1,2,…, r − 1, a finite link of length r, and one of the form ai ↦ ai+1, i = 1,2…, a forward link. The inverse of a forward link we call a backward link. Two bijections u: A → B and r: C → D are said to be strongly disjoint if A ∩ C, A ∩ D, B ∩ C and B ∩ D are each empty. The two distinct representations of a free monogenic inverse semigroup, that we have just referred to, are first, such that its generator is the union of a counbtable set os finite links that are pairwise storongly disjoint part of any representation of a free monogenic inverse semigroup, the remaining part not affecting the isomorphism type. Each representation of a monogenic inverse semigroup that is not free contains a strongly disjoint part, determining it to within isomorphism, that is generated by either the strongly disjoint union of a finite link and a permutation or the strongly disjoint union of a finite and a forward link.

Let G be a finite group and let Aut(G) be its automorphism group. Then G is called a k-orbit group if G has k orbits (equivalence classes) under the action of Aut(G). (For g, hG, we have g ~ h if ga = h for some Aut(G).) It is shown that if G is a k-orbit group, then kGp + 1, where p is the least prime dividing the order of G. The 3-orbit groups which are not of prime-power order are classified. It is shown that A5 is the only insoluble 4-orbit group, and a structure theorem is proved about soluble 4-orbit groups.

We characterize rings whose multiplicative subsemigroups containing 0 and the additive inverse of each element are subrings. In addition we consider commutative rings for which every non-constant multiplicative endormorphism that preserves additive inverses is a ring endomorphism, and we show that they belong to one of three easily-described classes of rings.

Let G be a group acting faithfully on a homogeneous tree of order p + 1, p > 1. Let be the space of functions on the Poission boundary ω, of zero mean on ω. When p is a prime. G is a discrete subgroup of PGL2(Qp) of finite covolume. The representations of the special series of PGL2(Qp), Which are irreducible and unitary in an appropriate completion of , are shown to be reducible when restricted to G. It is proved that these representations of G are algebraically reducible on and topologically irreducible on endowed with the week topology.

Generalised wreath products of permutation groups were discussed in a paper by Bailey and us. This note determines the orbits of the action of a generalised wreath product group on m–tuples (m ≥ 2) of elements of the product of the base sets on the assumption that the action on each component is m–transitive. Certain related results are also provided.

Let be a finitely generated subgroup of SL (2, ℱ), where ℱ is the ring; of holomorphic functions on the open unit disc Δ. For each point z0 in Δ we can evaluate all matrix entries of at z0, to obtain a subgroup {z0} of SL (2, ℂ) and a surjective representation → {z0}. If this representation is not faithful, then contains a nontrivial element W such that W evaluated; at z0 is trivial. But W can evaluate to the identity only on a countable subset) of Δ, and there are only countably many choices for W in Consequently there are at most countably many points zk in Δ such that {zk} is not isomorphic to Δ. Our main result can now be stated as follows.

Four properties of congruences on a regular semigroup S are studied and compared. Let R, L and D denote Green's relations and let V = {(a, b) ∈ S × S|a and b are mutually inverse}. A congruence ρ on S is (1) rectangular provided ρ ∩ D = (ρ ∩ L) ° (ρ ∩ R), (2) V-commuting provided ρ ° V = V ° ρ, (3) (L, R)-commuting provided L ° ρ = ρ ° L, and R ° ρ = ρ ° R, and (4) idempotent-regular provided each idempotent ρ-class is a regular subsemigroup of S.

A rectangular congruence is (L, R)-commuting and a V-commuting congruence is idempotent-regular. If ρ is idempotent-regular and (L, R)-commuting then ρ is V-commuting. Examples and conditions are given to show what other implications among the four properties hold. In addition to characterizations of the properties, these are studied in the presence of other conditions on S. For example, if S is a stable regular semigroup, then each congruence under D is rectangular.

In this paper “a map” denotes an arbitrary (everywhere defined, or partial, or even multi-valued) mapping. A map is constant if any two elements belonging to its domain have precisely the same images under this map. We characterize those semigroups which can be isomorphic to semigroups of constant maps or to involuted semigroups of constant maps.

Let G be a p–group with cyclic L(G) = Z. Then L(G) = {Z < H ≦ G|H′ ∩ Z = (1)}, a poset ordered under inclusion. Then the associated simplicial complex |L(G)| is homotopic to a bouquet of spheres. A subgroup E of G is called a CES if CG (E) = Z = L(E) and if E/Z is elementary. Then |L(G)| is homotopic to the one-point union of the |L(E)| for all CES's E in G. If |E/Z| = p2n then |L(E)| is homotopic to a one-point union of pn2 (n– 1)-spheres.

Rational abelian groups, that is, torsion-free abelian groups of rank one, are characterized by their types. This paper characterizes rational nilpotent groups of class two, that is, nilpotent groups of class two in which the center and central factor group are direct sums of rational abelian groups. This characterization is done according to the types of the summands of the center and the central factor group. Using these types and some cohomological techniques it is possible to determine the automorphism group of the nilpotent group in question by performing essentially matrix computations.

In particular, the automorphism groups of rational nilpotent groups of class two and rank three are completely described. Specific examples are given of semicomplete and pseudocomplete nilpotent groups.

Let A be a commutative Banach algebra with identity of norm 1, X a Banach A-module and G a locally compact abeian group with Haar measure. Then the multipliers from an A -valued function algebra into an X-valued function space is studied. We characterize the multiplier spaces as the following isometrically isomorphic relations under some appropriate conditions:

A regular semigroup S is said to be locally inverse if each local submonoid eSe, with e an idempotent, is an inverse semigroup. In this paper we apply known covering theorems for inverse semigroups and a covering theorem for locally inverse semigroups due to the author to obtain some covering theorems for locally inverse semigroups. The techniques developed here permit us to give an alternative proof for, and sligbt strengthening of, an important covering theorem for locally inverse semigroups due to F. Pastijn.

If CS(respectively, O) denotes the class of all completely simple semigroups (respectively, semigroups that are orthodox unions of groups) then CS(respectively, O) is a variety of algebras with respect to the operations of multiplication and inversion. The main result shows that the lattice of subvarieties of is a precisely determined subdirect product of the lattice of subvarieties of CSand the lattice of subvarieties of O. A basis of identities is obtained for any variety in terms of bases of identities for . Several operators on the lattice of subvarieties of are also introduced and studied.

The classification of the nilpotent orbits in the Lie algebra of a reductive algebraic group (over an algebraically closed field) is given in all the cases where it was not previously known (E7 and E8 in bad characteristic, F4 in characteristic 3). The paper exploits the tight relation with the corresponding situation over a finite field. A computer is used to study this case for suitable choices of the finite field.

In this paper periodic modules over group rings and algebras are considered. A new lower bound for the p-part of the rank of a periodic module with abeian vertex is given, and results on periodic modules with odd/even and small periods are obtained. In particular, it is shown that characters afforded by periodic lattices of odd period satisfy strong properties and that irreducible periodic lattices are always of even period.

Let Gq be the group of permutations of the finite field Fq of odd order q that can be represented by polynomials of the form ax(q+1)/2 + bx with a, b ∈ Fq. It is shown that Gq is isomorphic to the regular wreath product of two cyclic groups. The structure of Gq can also be described in terms of cyclic, dicyclic, and dihedral groups. It also turns out that Gq is isomorphic to the dymmetry group of a regular complex polygon.