Positive derivations on Archimedean almost \(f\)-rings (Q1810811)

The notion of an \(f\)-ring was first introduced by \textit{G. Birkhoff} and \textit{R. S. Pierce} [``Lattice-ordered rings'', Anais Acad. Brasil. Ci. 28, 41-69 (1956; Zbl 0070.26602)]. In 1977, \textit{P. Colville}, \textit{G. Davis} and \textit{K. Keimel} proved that if \(R\) is an Archimedean \(f\)-ring then a positive group endomorphism \(D\) on \(R\) is a derivation if and only if the range of \(D\) is contained in \(N(R)\) and the kernel of \(D\) contains \(R^2\), where \(N(R)\) is the set of all nilpotent elements in \(R\) and \(R^2\) is the set of all products \(uv\) in \(R\) [J. Aust. Math. Soc., Ser. A 23, 371-375 (1977; Zbl 0376.06021)]. In the present paper the author establishes a result corresponding to the Colville-Davis-Keimel theorem using techniques similar to that in his earlier paper [Algebra Univers. 43, 347-367 (2000; Zbl 1012.06022)]. The author proves that if \(R\) is an Archimedean almost \(f\)-ring then a positive group endomorphism \(D\) on \(R\) is a derivation if and only if the range of \(D\) is contained in \(N(R)\) and the kernel of \(D\) contains \(R^3\), where \(R^3\) is the set of all products \(uvw\) in \(R\). Finally, the author produces some examples to illustrate that the converse is in general false and the third power is the best possible.