Let $\Lambda$ be a finite dimensional algebra and $G$ be a finite group whose elements act on $\Lambda$ as algebra automorphisms. Under the assumption that $\Lambda$ has a complete set $E$ of primitive orthogonal idempotents, closed under the action of a Sylow $p$-subgroup $S \leqslant G$, we show that the skew group algebra $\Lambda G$ and $\Lambda$ have the same finitistic dimension and the same strong global dimension if the action of $S$ on $E$ is free. Using a homological characterization of piecewise hereditary algebras proved by Happel and Zacharia, we deduce that $\Lambda G$ is piecewise hereditary if and only if $S$ acts freely on $E$ and $\Lambda$ is piecewise hereditary as well.

Earlier, for an action of a finite group$G$on a germ of an analytic variety, an equivariant$G$-Poincaré series of a multi-index filtration in the ring of germs of functions on the variety was defined as an element of the Grothendieck ring of$G$-sets with an additional structure. We discuss to which extent the$G$-Poincaré series of a filtration defined by a set of curve or divisorial valuations on the ring of germs of analytic functions in two variables determines the (equivariant) topology of the curve or of the set of divisors.

Some uniform theorems on the artinianness of certain local cohomology modules are proven in a general situation. They generalize and imply previous results about the artinianness of some special local cohomology modules in the graded case.