Let $R$ be a strongly $\mathbb {Z}^2$-graded ring, and let $C$ be a bounded chain complex of finitely generated free $R$-modules. The complex $C$ is $R_{(0,0)}$-finitely dominated, or of type $FP$ over $R_{(0,0)}$, if it is chain homotopy equivalent to a bounded complex of finitely generated projective $R_{(0,0)}$-modules. We show that this happens if and only if $C$ becomes acyclic after taking tensor product with a certain eight rings of formal power series,  the graded analogues of classical Novikov rings. This extends results of Ranicki,  Quinn and the first author on Laurent polynomial rings in one and two indeterminates.

We study a Morita-equivalent version of the Zariski cancellation problem.

Quasi-hereditary algebras were introduced by Cline-Parshall-Scott (see [CPS] or [PS]) to deal with highest weight categories which occur in the study of semi-simple complex Lie algebras and algebraic groups. In fact, the quasi-hereditary algebras which appear in these applications enjoy a number of additional properties. The objective of this brief note is to describe a class of lean quasi-hereditary algebras [ADL] which possess such typical characteristics. A study of these questions originated in collaboration with C. M. Ringel (see [DR]).