Two formulas for the multiplicity of the fiber cone $F(I)=\bigoplus_{n=0}^{\infty} I^n/\m I^n$ of an $\m$-primary ideal of a $d$-dimensional Cohen--Macaulay local ring $(R,\m)$ are derived in terms of the mixed multiplicity $e_{d-1}(\m | I)$, the multiplicity $e(I)$, and superficial elements. As a consequence, the Cohen--Macaulay property of $F(I)$ when $I$ has minimal mixed multiplicity or almost minimal mixed multiplicity is characterized in terms of the reduction number of $I$ and lengths of certain ideals. We also characterize the Cohen--Macaulay and Gorenstein properties of fiber cones of $\m$-primary ideals with a $d$-generated minimal reduction $J$ satisfying $\ell(I^2/JI)=1$ or $\ell(I\m/J\m)=1.$

We study the Hilbert functions of fat points in $\popo$. If $Z \subseteq \popo$ is an arbitrary fat point scheme, then it can be shown that for every $i$ and $j$ the values of the Hilbert function $_{Z}(l,j)$ and $H_{Z}(i,l)$ eventually become constant for $l \gg 0$. We show how to determine these eventual values by using only the multiplicities of the points, and the relative positions of the points in $\popo$. This enables us to compute all but a finite number values of $H_{Z}$ without using the coordinates of points. We also characterize the ACM fat point schemes sing our description of the eventual behaviour. In fact, n the case that $Z \subseteq \popo$ is ACM, then the entire Hilbert function and its minimal free resolution depend solely on knowing the eventual values of the Hilbert function.

Let $X$ be a separated finite type scheme over a noetherian base ring $\mathbb{K}$. There is a complex $\widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X)$ of topological $\mathcal{O}_X$-modules, called the complete Hochschild chain complex of $X$. To any $\mathcal{O}_X$-module $\mathcal{M}$---not necessarily quasi-coherent---we assign the complex $\mathcal{H}om^{\cont}_{\mathcal{O}_X} \bigl( \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X), \mathcal{M} \bigr)$ of continuous Hochschild cochains with values in $\mathcal{M}$. Our first main result is that when $X$ is smooth over $\mathbb{K}$ there is a functorial isomorphism $$ \mathcal{H}om^{\cont}_{\mathcal{O}_X} \bigl( \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X), \mathcal{M} \bigr) \cong \R \mathcal{H}om_{\mathcal{O}_{X^2}} (\mathcal{O}_X, \mathcal{M}) $$ in the derived category $\mathsf{D} (\Mod \mathcal{O}_{X^2})$, where $X^2 := X \times_{\mathbb{K}} X$. The second main result is that if $X$ is smooth of relative dimension $n$ and $n!$ is invertible in $\mathbb{K}$, then the standard maps $\pi \colon \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{-q} (X) \to \Omega^q_{X/ \mathbb{K}}$ induce a quasi-isomorphism $$ \mathcal{H}om_{\mathcal{O}_X} \Bigl( \bigoplus_q \Omega^q_{X/ \mathbb{K}} [q], \mathcal{M} \Bigr) \to \mathcal{H}om^{\cont}_{\mathcal{O}_X} \bigl( \widehat{\mathcal{C}}^{\cdot} (X), \mathcal{M} \bigr). $$ When $\mathcal{M} = \mathcal{O}_X$ this is the quasi-isomorphism underlying the Kontsevich Formality Theorem. Combining the two results above we deduce a decomposition of the global Hochschild cohomology $$ \Ext^i_{\mathcal{O}_{X^2}} (\mathcal{O}_X, \mathcal{M}) \cong \bigoplus_q \H^{i-q} \Bigl( X, \bigl( \bigwedge^q_{\mathcal{O}_X} \mathcal{T}_{X/\mathbb{K}} \bigr) \otimes_{\mathcal{O}_X} \mathcal{M} \Bigr), $$ where $\mathcal{T}_{X/\mathbb{K}}$ is the relative tangent sheaf.

The abstract Witt rings which are Gorenstein have been classified when the dimension is one and the classification problem for those of dimension zero has been reduced to the case of socle degree three. Here we classifiy the Gorenstein Witt rings of fields with dimension zero and socle degree three. They are of elementary type.