Hsio-Fu Tuan is a Chinese mathematician who has made important contributions to the theories of both finite groups and Lie groups. He has also had a great influence on the development of algebra, and particularly group theory in China. The present volume consists of a collection of essays on various aspects of group theory written by some of his former students and colleagues in honour of his eightieth birthday. The papers contain the main general results, as well as recent ones, on certain topics within this discipline. The chief editor, Zhe-Xian Wan, is a leading algebraist in China. Audience: This volume will be of interest to mathematicians specialising in group theory, graph theory, algebraic K-theory and Lie algebras, and those wishing to gain insight in the development and prospects of group theory in China.

A large portion of the book can be used as a textbook for graduate and upper level undergraduate students in mathematics, communication engineering, computer science and other fields. The remaining part can be used as references for specialists. Explicit construction and computation of finite fields are emphasized. In particular, the construction of irreducible polynomials and normal basis of finite field is included. A detailed treatment of optimal normal basis and Galoi's rings is included. It is the first time that the galois rings are in book form.

'Et moi, ..., si j'avait su comment en revenir, One service methematics has rendered the je n'y serais point aile.' human race. It has put common sense back JulesVerne where it belongs, on the topmost shelf next to the dusty canister labelled 'discarded non The series is divergent; therefore we may be seese'. able to do something with it. Eric T. Bell O.Heaviside Mathematics is a tool for thought. A highly necessary tool in a world where both feedback and nonlinearities abound. Similarly, all kinds of parts of mathematics serve as tools for other parts and for other sciences. Applying a simple rewriting rule to the quote on the right above one finds such state ments as: 'One service topology has rendered mathematical physics .. .'; 'One service logic has rendered computer science .. .'; 'One service category theory has rendered mathematics .. .'. All arguable true. And all statements obtainable this .way form part of the raison d'etre of this series."

This book deals with the basic subjects of design theory. It begins with balanced incomplete block designs, various constructions of which are described in ample detail. In particular, finite projective and affine planes, difference sets and Hadamard matrices, as tools to construct balanced incomplete block designs, are included. Orthogonal latin squares are also treated in detail. Zhu's simpler proof of the falsity of Euler's conjecture is included. The construction of some classes of balanced incomplete block designs, such as Steiner triple systems and Kirkman triple systems, are also given. T-designs and partially balanced incomplete block designs (together with association schemes), as generalizations of balanced incomplete block designs, are included. Some coding theory related to Steiner triple systems are clearly explained. The book is written in a lucid style and is algebraic in nature. It can be used as a text or a reference book for graduate students and researchers in combinatorics and applied mathematics. It is also suitable for self-study.