Let k be a field of characteristic zero and let $\Omega_{A/k}$ be the universally finite differential module of a k-algebra A, which is the local ring of a closed point of an algebraic or algebroid curve over k. A notorious open problem, known as Berger’s Conjecture, predicts that A must be regular if $\Omega_{A/k}$ is torsion-free. In this paper, assuming the hypotheses of the conjecture and observing that the module ${\rm Hom}_A(\Omega_{A/k}, \Omega_{A/k})$ is then isomorphic to an ideal of A, say $\mathfrak{h}$, we show that A is regular whenever the ring $A/a\mathfrak{h}$ is Gorenstein for some parameter a (and conversely). In addition, we provide various characterizations for the regularity of A in the context of the conjecture.

In this article, we prove a strong version of the local Bertini theorem for normality on local rings in mixed characteristic. The main result asserts that a generic hyperplane section of a normal, Cohen–Macaulay, and complete local domain of dimension at least 3 is normal. Applications include the study of characteristic ideals attached to torsion modules over normal domains, which is fundamental in the study of Euler system theory, Iwasawa's main conjectures, and the deformation theory of Galois representations.

We give a characterization of contact manifolds in terms of symplectic Lie–Rinehart–Jacobi algebras. We also give a sufficient condition for a Jacobi manifold to be a contact manifold.

Differentially simple local noetherian Q -algebras are shown to be always (a certain type of) subrings of formal power series rings. The result is established as an illustration of a general theory of differential filtrations and differential completions.