1·1. We shall write for the class of groups all of whose non-trivial normal subgroups have finite index. Thus, rather obviously, finite groups, simple groups, and the infinite cyclic and dihedral groups all lie in the class . Other examples of -groups are to be found in a variety of contexts. The main result of Mennicke (8) shows that, for n ≥ 3, the factor group of SL(n, Z) by its centre is a -group, where SL(n, Z) denotes the unimodular group of all n × n invertible matrices with integer coefficients and with determinant 1. In McLain(7), an example is given of an infinite, locally finite, locally soluble -group, whose only non-trivial normal subgroups are the terms of its derived series, and in (4), P. Hall discusses an infinite -group, all of whose proper quotients are finite p-groups. If is a class of groups closed under taking homomorphic images, it is easily seen that the existence of an infinite -group satisfying the maximal condition for normal subgroups implies the existence of an infinite -group in the class , so that certain questions concerning the finiteness of groups satisfying the maximal condition for normal subgroups can be interpreted as questions about -groups.

A famous chain of theorems, due originally to de Longchamps (l) and afterwards rediscovered by Pesci(2), Morley(3) and Grace(4), goes as follows:

(1) Given four lines in a plane, the four circumcentres O3 of the triangles formed by omitting each one of the lines in turn lie all on the same circle C4 with centre O4 say.

(2)Given five lines in a plane, the centres O4 of the five circles C4 obtained by omitting each of the five lines in turn lie all on the same circle C6 with centre O5 say.

And in general

(3) Given (n+1) lines in a plane, the (n+1) centres On of the circles Cn+1 formed by omitting each of the lines in turn lie all on the same circle Cn+1 with centre On+1.

1. Tutte(10) has given necessary and sufficient conditions in order that a finite graph have a perfect matching. A different proof was given by Gallai(4). Berge(1) (and Ore (7)) generalized Tutte's result by determining the maximum cardinality of a matching in a finite graph. In his original proof Tutte used the method of skew symmetric determinants (or pfaffians) while Gallai and Berge used the much exploited method of alternating paths. Another proof of Berge's theorem, along with an efficient algorithm for constructing a matching of maximum cardinality, was given by Edmonds (2). In another paper (12) Tutte extended his conditions for a perfect matching to locally finite graphs.

The purpose of this paper is to give two characterizations of scalar-type spectral operators.

Let X be a complex normed space with dual space X′ and let T be a bounded linear operator on X. The numerical range of T is defined as

and the numerical radius is v(T) = sup {|ν: νε V(T)}. Most known results and problems concerning numerical range can be found in the notes by Bonsall and Duncan (5).

Besicovitch's construction(1) of a set of measure zerot containing an infinite straight line in every direction was subsequently adapted (2, 3, 4) to provide the following answer to Kakeya's problem (5): a unit segment can be continuously turned round, so as to return to its original position with the ends reversed, inside an arbitrarily small area. The last word on Kakeya's problem itself seems to be F. Cunningham Jr.'s remarkable result(6)‡ that this can be done inside a simply connected subset of arbitrarily small measure of a unit circle.

The free field equations for particles with spin are invariant under a group SL(2, c) whose transformations correspond to changes of representation of the twocomponent spinor algebra. The generalization of the equations which extends this invariance to a guage invariance in the Yang–Mills sense necessitates the introduction of auxiliary fields (which are also necessary to maintain Lorentz covariance). These fields can be interpreted as the potentials of a spin-2 field, just as the auxiliary fields for the charge gauge group are the potentials of a spin-l field (electromagnetism); this spin-2 field is then self-interacting. The Bargmann–Wigner formulation of the linear spin-2 field, when modified by the proposed self-interaction, yields a non-linear theory of a spin-2 field which is shown to be identical with Einstein's gravitational theory. With this interpretation the auxiliary fields take on an extra role of Yang–Mills field for the general coordinate transformation group – that is, they are the components of the affine connexion.

We consider the steady co-current flow of two immiscible viscous liquids in a horizontal pipe, the fluid interface being ripple-free and plane. It is shown that if the cross-section of the duct is symmetric with respect to the interface, the velocity distribution may be expressed in terms of two separate pipe-flow solutions. One corresponds to the flow of a single fluid occupying the whole of the pipe, and the second to a similar flow in a pipe whose cross-section coincides with that of the region occupied by one fluid in the two-phase motion. Flow rates and other quantities of engineering interest are evaluated, and several particular flows are discussed.

The classical theory of electromagnetism with both electric and magnetic charges is discussed. Following Gamblin(l) we proceed from an action principle and investigate the resulting particle equations. A consistent theory in which electrically and magnetically charged particles interact amongst themselves and with each other, without any constraints, is shown to be possible, in contrast to the conclusions of Gamblin. The introduction of constraints is considered.

The investigation of a recently devised model in which the permittivity profile takes the form of an asymmetrical Epstein layer is adapted for use in a gyrational medium. Reflexion and transmission coefficients for normally incident electromagnetic waves are obtained and resonance properties are discussed.