In a previous paper the authors described an algorithm to determine whether a group of matrices over a finite field, generated by a given set of matrices, contains one of the classical groups or the special linear group. The algorithm was designed to work for all sufficiently large field sizes and dimensions of the matrix group. However, it did not apply to certain small cases. Here we present an algorithm to handle the remaining cases. The theoretical background of the algorithm presented in this paper is a substantial extension of that needed for the original algorithm.

Nonoscillatory solutions of a nonlinear neutral type higher order difference equations are classified by means of their asymptotic behaviors. Existence criteria are then provided for justification of such classficiation.

Nonsingular derivations of modular Lie algebras which have finite multiplicative order play a role in the coclass theory for pro-p groups and Lie algebras. We study the orders of nonsingular derivations of finite-dimensional non-nilpotent Lie algebras of characteristic p > 0. The methods are essentially number-theoretic.

1991 Mathematics subject classification (Amer. Math. Soc): primary 17B50; secondary 12E20.

We survey the current state of knowledge of bounds in the restricted Burnside problem. We make two conjectures which are related to the theory of PI-algebras.

In previous work [2] calculations of subquadratic second order Dehn functions for various groups were carried out. In this paper we obtain estimates for upper and lower bounds of second order Dehn functions of HNN-extensions, and use these to exhibit an infinite number of different superquadratic second order Dehn functions. At the end of the paper several open questions concerning second order Dehn functions of groups are discussed.