Uniform modules over serial rings (Q1178881)

[For part II cf. Lect. Notes Math. 1448, 25-32 (1990; Zbl 0725.16005).] Let \(R\) be a serial ring and let \(M\) be a uniform \(R\)-module. In general \(M\) need not be a uniserial module, although this is the case if \(M\) is non-singular. The authors establish some sufficient conditions for \(M\) to be uniserial, thus extending some results of M. H. Wright which were proved with the additional assumption that \(R\) has Krull dimension. The notions of ``almost non-singular ideal'' and ``successor prime ideal'' are introduced and studied. It is also shown that a semi-prime right serial ring is a direct sum of prime rings.