This is joint work with Andrew Ranicki. The difference between the quadratic
L-groups and the
symmetric L-groups of a ring with involution is detected
by generalized Arf
invariants. The special case Z[x] gives a complete set of
invariants for the
Cappell UNil-groups UNil(Z;Z,Z) for the infinite dihedral
group Z2 * Z2,
extending the results of Connolly - Ranicki, and Connolly -
Davis.