We consider the class of algebras of rank 4 equipped with a standard involution over an arbitrary base ring. In particular, we characterize quaternion rings, those algebras defined by the construction of the even Clifford algebra. A quaternion algebra is a central simple algebra of dimension 4 over a field F . Generalizations of the notion of quaternion algebra to other commutative base rings R...

If ∗ : G → G is an involution on the finite group G, then ∗ extends to an involution on the integral group ring Z[G]. In this paper, we consider whether bicyclic units u ∈ Z[G] exist with the property that the group 〈u, u∗〉, generated by u and u∗, is free on the two generators. If this occurs, we say that (u, u∗) is a free bicyclic pair. It turns out that the existence of u depends strongly upo...

There were investigated 22 cases from which the thymic tissue was removed either during surgery for cardiovascular malformations (n = 14), or for myasthenia gravis (n = 8). Histological sections were stained with routine morphologic methods, and immunohistochemistry was performed for cytokeratin, CD20, CD3, and S100 protein. Aspects characteristic for thymus involution were found in 11 cases wi...