Let R be a semiprime ring with the extended centroid C and Q the maximal right ring of quotients of R. Set [y, x]1 = [y, x] = yx − xy for x, y ∈ Q and inductively [y, x]k = [[y, x]k−1, x] for k > 1. Suppose that f : R → Q is an additive map satisfying [f(x), x]n = 0 for all x ∈ R, where n is a fixed positive integer. Then it can be shown that there exist λ ∈ C and an additive map μ : R → C such that f(x) = λx + μ(x) for all x ∈ R. This gives the affirmative answer to the unsolved problem of such functional identities initiated by Brešar in 1996.

Let $\mathcal{V}$ be a variety of associative algebras generated by an algebra with 1 over a field of characteristic zero. This paper is devoted to the classification of the varieties $\mathcal{V}$ that are minimal of polynomial growth (i.e., their sequence of codimensions grows like ${{n}^{k}}$, but any proper subvariety grows like ${{n}^{t}}$ with $t\,<\,k$). These varieties are the building blocks of general varieties of polynomial growth.

It turns out that for $k\,\le \,4$ there are only a finite number of varieties of polynomial growth ${{n}^{k}}$, but for each $k\,>\,4$, the number of minimal varieties is at least $\left| F \right|$, the cardinality of the base field, and we give a recipe for their construction.

Let $D$ be a division ring whose group of units satisfies a non-trivial group identity $w$. Let $\alpha$ be the sum of positive degrees of indeterminates occurring in $w$. If the centre of $D$ contains more than $3\alpha$ elements, then $D$ is commutative.

AMS 2000 Mathematics subject classification: Primary 16R50. Secondary 16K20

This paper continues the study of quantised function algebras $\mathcal{O}_{\epsilon}[G]$ of a semisimple group $G$ at an $\ell$th root of unity $\epsilon$. These algebras were introduced by De Concini and Lyubashenko in 1994, and studied further by De Concini and Procesi and by Gordon, amongst others. Our main purpose here is to increase understanding of the finite-dimensional factor algebras $\mathcal{O}_{\epsilon}[G](g)$, for $g \in G$. We determine the representation type and block structure of these factors, and (for many $g$) describe them up to isomorphism. A series of parallel results is obtained for the quantised Borel algebras $U_{\epsilon}^{\geq 0}$ and $U_{\epsilon}^{\leq 0}$.

2000 Mathematical Subject Classification: 16W35, 17B37.