Let $F$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero, and let $A$ be an associative unitary $F$-algebra graded by a group of prime order. We prove that if $A$ is finite dimensional then the graded exponent of $A$ exists and is an integer.

Let $G$ be an arbitrary finite abelian group. We describe all possible $G$-gradings on upper block triangular matrix algebras over an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero.

Let $R=\bigoplus_{i=1}^{\infty}R_{i}$ be a graded nil ring. It is shown that primitive ideals in $R$ are homogeneous. Let $A=\bigoplus_{i=1}^{\infty}A_{i}$ be a graded non-PI just-infinite dimensional algebra and let $I$ be a prime ideal in $A$. It is shown that either $I=\{0\}$ or $I=A$. Moreover, $A$ is either primitive or Jacobson radical.

In this paper we study simple associative algebras with finite $\mathbb{Z}$-gradings. This is done using a simple algebra $F_g$ that has been constructed in Morita theory from a bilinear form $g\colon U\times V\to A$ over a simple algebra $A$. We show that finite $\mathbb{Z}$-gradings on $F_g$ are in one to one correspondence with certain decompositions of the pair $(U,V)$. We also show that any simple algebra $R$ with finite $\mathbb{Z}$-grading is graded isomorphic to $F_g$ for some bilinear from $g\colon U\times V \to A$, where the grading on $F_g$ is determined by a decomposition of $(U,V)$ and the coordinate algebra $A$ is chosen as a simple ideal of the zero component $R_0$ of $R$. In order to prove these results we first prove similar results for simple algebras with Peirce gradings.

Let $\Phi$ be an algebraically closed field of characteristic zero, $G$ a finite, not necessarily abelian, group. Given a $G$-grading on the full matrix algebra $A = M_n(\Phi)$, we decompose $A$ as the tensor product of graded subalgebras $A = B\otimes C$, $B\cong M_p (\Phi)$ being a graded division algebra, while the grading of $C\cong M_q (\Phi)$ is determined by that of the vector space $\Phi^n$. Now the grading of $A$ is recovered from those of $A$ and $B$ using a canonical ``induction'' procedure.

Quantum tori with graded involution appear as coordinate algebras of extended affine Lie algebras of type $\rmA_1$, $\rmC$ and $\BC$. We classify them in the category of algebras with involution. From this, we obtain precise information on the root systems of extended affine Lie algebras of type $\rmC$.