Let E be a band and ε a compatible partition on it. If S is an orthodox semigroup with band of idempotents E such that there exists a congruence on S inducing the partition ε then we define a homomorphism of S into a Hall semigroup whose kernel is the greatest congruence on S inducing the partition ε. On the other hand, we define a subsemigroup of the Hall semigroup WE possessing the property that S is an othodox semigroup with band of idempotents E which has a congruence inducing ε if and only if the range of the Hall homomoprhism of S into WE is contained in .

We say that a regulär semigroup S is a coetension of a (regular) semigroup T by rectangular bands if there is a homomorphism ϕ: S → T from S onto T such that, for each e = e2 ∈ S, e(ϕ ϕ-1) is a rectangular band. Regular semigroups which are coextesions of pseudo-inverse semigroups by rectangular bands may be characterized as those regular semigroups S with the property that, for each e = e2 ∈ S, ω(e) = {f = f2 ∈ S: ef = f} and ωl(e) = {f = f2 ∈ S: fe = f} are bands: this paper is concerned with a study of such semigroups.

In this paper we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions on a regular semigroup in order that it should be an idempotent separating homomorphic image of a full subsemigroup of the direct product of a group and a fundamental or combinatorial regular semigroup. The main tool used is the concept of a prehomomrphism θ: S → T between regular semigroups. This is a mapping such that (ab) θ ≦ aθ bθ in the natural partial order on T.

Let Out (RG) be the set of all outer R-automorphisms of a group ring RG of arbitrary group G over a commutative ring R with 1. It is proved that there is a bijective correspondence between the set Out (RG) and a set consisting of R(G × G)-isomorphism classes of R-free R(G × G)-modules of a certain type. For the case when G is finite and R is the ring of algebraic integers of an algebraic number field the above result implies that there are only finitely many conjugacy classes of group bases in RG. A generalization of a result due to R. Sandling is also provided.

The main theorem of this paper shows that the lattice of congruences contained is some equivalence π on a semigroup S can be decomposed into a subdirect product of sublattices of the congruence lattices on the ‘prinipal π-facotrsρ of S—the semigroups formed by adjoining zeroes to the π-classes—whenever these are well-defined. The theorem is then applied to various equavalences and classes of semigroups to give some new results and alternative proofs of known ones.

If L is any semilattice, let TL denote the Munn semigroup of L, and Aut (L) the automorphism group of L.

We show that every semilattice L can be isomorphically embedded as a convex subsemilattice in a semilattice L' which has a transitive automorphism group in such a way that (i) every partial isomorphism α of L can be extended to an automorphism of L', (ii) every partial isomorphism: α: eL → fL of L can be extended to a partial isomorphism αL′: eL′ → fL′ of L′ such that TL → TL′, α → αL′ embeds TL' isomorphically in TL′, (iii) every automorphism γ of L can be extended to an automorphism γL′ of L′ such that Aut (L) → Aut (L′), γ → γL embeds Aut (L) isomorphically in Aut (L′).

The main result is that d(Ssm) = n+2 for every finite non-abelian two-generator simple group S of order s and every integer n > 0. This is applied to give a very close estimate on d(Gn) for any finite group G whose simple images are two-generator. The article is based on the author's previous papers with similar titles.

A group G is termed conjugacy separable (c.s.) if any pair of distinct conjugacy classes may be mapped to distinct conjugacy classes in some finite epimorph of G. The free product of A and B with cyclic amalgamated subgroup H is shown to be c.s. if A and B are both free, or are both finitely generated nilpotent groups. Further, one-relator groups with nontrivial center and HNN extensions with c.s. base group and finite associated subgroups are also c.s.

If w is a group word in n variables, x1,…,xn, then R. Horowitz has proved that under an arbitrary mapping of these variables into a two-dimensional special linear group, the trace of the image of w can be expressed as a polynomial with integer coefficients in traces of the images of 2n−1 products of the form xσ1xσ2…xσm 1 ≤ σ1 < σ2 <… <σm ≤ n. A refinement of this result is proved which shows that such trace polynomials fall into 2n classes corresponding to a division of n-variable words into 2n classes. There is also a discussion of conditions which two words must satisfy if their images have the same trace for any mapping of their variables into a two-dimensional special linear group over a ring of characteristic zero.

Let P be a partially-ordered set in which every two elements have a common lower bound. It is proved that there exists a lower semilattice L whose elements are labelled with elements of P in such a way that (i) comparable elements of L are labelled with elements of P in the same strict order relation; (ii) each element of P is used as a label and every two comparable elements of P are labels of comparable elements of L; (iii) for any two elements of L with the same label, there is a label-preserving isomorphism between the corresponding principal ideals. Such a structure is called a full, uniform P-labelled semilattice.

The completions of certain nilpotent groups with respect to some ascending sequences of integral domains are constructed. These completions are generalizations of Lazard completions for the groups under consideration and they are Lie algebras over the first integral domain in the sequence. The construction is possible in particular for finite p-groups of exponent p and class < p.

Let k be an algebraically closed field of characteristic p, and G a finite group. Let M be an indecomposable kG-module with vertex V and source X, and let P be a Sylow p-subgroup of G containing V. Theorem: If dimkX is prime to p and if NG(V) is p-solvable, then the p-part of dimkM equals [P:V]; dimkX is prime to p if V is cyclic.

Let G/G' be finitely generated and let G = B1 x A1 = B2 x A2 = … = Bi x Ai = … with each Bi isomorphic to a fixed group B which obeys the maximal condition for normal subgroups. Then the Ai represent only finitely many isomorphism classes. We give an example with B infinite cyclic, G/G' free abelian of infinite (countable) rank and such that G is decomposed as above with no two Ai isomorphic.

It is proved that a finite metabelian group G is determined by its group ring KG where the ring K satisfies the following conditions.

In this paper we generalize a recent result of Freedman (1973) concerning the cardinality of the type set of a rank two torsion-free abelian group. We show that if A is such a group and A supports a non-trivial associative ring then the type set of A contains at most three elements.

Commutative idempotent quasigroups with a sharply transitive automorphism group G are described in terms of so-called Room maps of G. Orthogonal Room maps and skew Room maps are used to construct Room squares and skew Room squares. Very general direct and recursive constructions for skew Room maps lead to the existence of skew Room maps of groups of order prime to 30. Also some nonexistence results are proved.

Lyndon's axiomatic methods are used in [1] to show, among other things, that a group G with an integer valued length function satisfying certain conditions is free. At the end of his paper [2] Lyndon gives a method of embedding such a group in a free group whose natural length function extends the function on G. We construct here a simpler embedding with the same property.

Let g be a connected reductive linear algebraic group, and let G = gσ be the finite subgroup of fixed points, where σ is the generalized Frobenius endomorphism of g. Let x be a regular semisimple element of G and let w be a corresponding element of the Weyl group W. In this paper we give a formula for the number of right cosets of a parabolic subgroup of G left fixed by x, in terms of the corresponding action of w in W. In case G is untwisted, it turns out thta x fixes exactly as many cosets as does W in the corresponding permutation representation.

The free product of two Hopfian groups (in the category of groups) need not be Hopfian. We prove, by elementary methods, that the free product of two simple Hopfian inverse semigroups is Hopfian. In particular the free product of any two Hopfian groups, in the category of inverse semigroups, is again Hopfian. In fact the same is true in the category of all semigroups.

The conjugacy of Cartan subalgebras of a Lie algebra L over an algebraically closed field under the connected automorphism group G of L is inherited by those G-stable ideals B for which B/Ci is restrictable for some hypercenter Ci of B. Concequently, if L is a restrictable Lie algebra such that L/Ci restrictable for some hypercenter Ci of L, and if the Lie algebra of Aut L contains ad L, then the Cartan subalgebras of L are conjugate under G. (The techniques here apply in particular to Lie algebras of characteristic 0 and classical Lie algebras, showing how the conjugacy of Cartan subgroups of algebraic groups leads quickly in these cases to the conjugacy of Cartan subalgebras.)