In the paper, we characterize Jordan $*$-derivations of a $2$-torsion free, finite-dimensional semiprime algebra $R$ with involution $*$. To be precise, we prove the theorem: Let $deltacolon R o R$ be a Jordan $*$-derivation. Then there exists a $*$-algebra decomposition $R=Uoplus V$ such that both $U$ and $V$ are invariant under $delta$. Moreover, $*$ is the identity map of $U$ and $delta,|_U$ is a derivation, and the Jordan $*$-derivation $delta,|_V$ is inner. We also prove the theorem: Let $R$ be a noncommutative, centrally closed prime algebra with involution $*$, $operatorname{char},R e 2$, and let $delta$ be a nonzero Jordan $*$-derivation of $R$. If $delta$ is an elementary operator of $R$, then $operatorname{dim}_CRlt infty$ and $delta$ is inner.

Let $R$ be a semiprime ring with center $Z(R)$. For $x,y\in R$, we denote by $[x,y]=xy-yx$ the commutator of $x$ and $y$. If $\sigma$ is a non-identity automorphism of $R$ such that $$ \Big[\big[\dots\big[[\sigma(x^{n_0}),x^{n_1}],x^{n_2}\big],\dots\big],x^{n_k}\Big]=0 $$ for all $x \in R$, where $n_{0},n_{1},n_{2},\dots,n_{k}$ are fixed positive integers, then there exists a map $\mu\colon R\rightarrow Z(R)$ such that $\sigma(x)=x+\mu(x)$ for all $x\in R$. In particular, when $R$ is a prime ring, $R$ is commutative.

We investigate the behavior of the quasi-Baer and the right FI-extending right ring hulls under various ring extensions including group ring extensions, full and triangular matrix ring extensions, and infinite matrix ring extensions. As a consequence, we show that for semiprime rings $R$ and $S$, if $R$ and $S$ are Morita equivalent, then so are the quasi-Baer right ring hulls $\widehat{Q}_{\mathfrak{qB}}(R)$ and $\widehat{Q}_{\mathfrak{qB}}(S)$ of $R$ and $S$, respectively. As an application, we prove that if unital $C^*$-algebras $A$ and $B$ are Morita equivalent as rings, then the bounded central closure of $A$ and that of $B$ are strongly Morita equivalent as $C^*$-algebras. Our results show that the quasi-Baer property is always preserved by infinite matrix rings, unlike the Baer property. Moreover, we give an affirmative answer to an open question of Goel and Jain for the commutative group ring $A[G]$ of a torsion-free Abelian group $G$ over a commutative semiprime quasi-continuous ring $A$. Examples that illustrate and delimit the results of this paper are provided.

Maps preserving certain algebraic properties of elements are often studied in Functional Analysis and Linear Algebra. The goal of this paper is to discuss the relationships among these problems from the ring-theoretic point of view.

We construct a countably infinite family of pairwise non-isomorphic maximal ${\mathbb Q}[X]$-orders such that the full $2$ by $2$ matrix rings over these orders are all isomorphic.

Let $R$ be a non-GPI prime ring with involution and characteristic $\neq 2,3$. Let $K$ denote the skew elements of $R$, and $C$ denote the extended centroid of $R$. Let $\delta$ be a Lie derivation of $K$ into itself. Then $\delta=\rho+\epsilon$ where $\epsilon$ is an additive map into the skew elements of the extended centroid of $R$ which is zero on $[K,K]$, and $\rho$ can be extended to an ordinary derivation of $\langle K\rangle$ into $RC$, the central closure.

The class of rings studied in this paper properly contains the class of right distributive rings which have at least one completely prime ideal in the Jacobson radical. Amongst other results we study prime and semiprime ideals, right noetherian rings with comparability and prove a structure theorem for rings with comparability. Several examples are also given.

For each $n\geq 4$ we construct a class of examples of a minimal $C$-dependent set of $n$ automorphisms of a prime ring $R$, where $C$ is the extended centroid of $R$. For $n=4$ and $n=5$ it is shown that the preceding examples are completely general, whereas for $n=6$ an example is given which fails to enjoy any of the nice properties of the above example.

We construct a ring $R$ which is a sum of two subrings $A$ and $B$ such that the Levitzki radical of $R$ does not contain any of the hyperannihilators of $A$ and $B$. This answers an open question asked by Kegel in 1964.

The main result shows that if $R$ is a semiprime ring satisfying a polynomial identity, and if $Z(R)$ is the center of $R$, then $\card R \leq 2^{\card Z(R)}$. Examples show that this bound can be achieved, and that the inequality fails to hold for rings which are not semiprime.