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.

The concepts nilpotent element, s-prime ideal and s-semi-prime ideal are defined for Ω-groups. The class {G|G is a nil Ω-group} is a Kurosh-Amitsur radical class. The nil radical of an Ω-group coincides with the intersection of all the s-prime ideals. Furthermore an ideal P of G is an s-semi-prime ideal if and only if G/P has no non-zero nil ideals.

Some new classes of finite groups with zero deficiency presentations, that is to say presentations with as few defining relations as generators, are exhibited. The presentations require 3 generators and 3 defining relations; the groups so presented can also be generated by 2 of their elements, but it is not known whether they can be defined by 2 relations in these generators, and it is conjectured that in general they can not. The groups themselves are direct products or central products of binary polyhedral groups with cyclic groups, the order of the cyclic factor being arbitrary.

A Fitting class of finite soluble groups is one closed under the formation of normal subgroups and products of normal subgroups. It is shown that the Fitting classes of metanilpotent groups which are quotient group closed as well are primitive saturated formuations.

A natural equivalence θ on the lattice of congruences λ(S) of a semigroup S is studied. For any eventually regular semigroup S, it is shown that θ is a congruence, each θ-class is a complete sublattice of λ(S) and the maximum element in each θ-class is determined. 1980 Mathematics subject classification (Amer. Math. Soc.): 20 M 10.

We determine which permutative varieties are saturated and classify all nontrivial permutation identities for the class of all globally idempotent semigroups.

Centre-by-metabelian groups with the maximal condition for normal subgroups are exhibited which (a) are residually finite but have quotient groups which are not residually finite; and (b) have all quotients residually finite but are not abelian-by-polycyclic.

Gaschütz has introduced the concept of a product of a Schunck class and a (saturated) formation (differing from the usual product of classes) and has shown that this product is a Schunck class provided that both of its factors consist of finite soluble groups. We investigate the same question in the context of arbitrary finite groups.

We describe the structure of the lower central factors of free centre-by-metabelian groups.

Completely simple semigroups form a variety, , of algebras with the operations of multiplication and inversion. It is known that the mapping , where is the variety of all groups, is an isomorphism of the lattice of all subvarieties of onto a subdirect product of the lattice of subvarieties of and the interval . We consider embeddings of into certain direct products on the above pattern with rectangular bands, rectangular groups and central completely simple semigroups in place of groups.