  We study derivations and Fredholm modules on metric spaces with a local
regular conservative Dirichlet form. In particular, on finitely ramified
fractals, we show that there is a non-trivial Fredholm module if and only if
the fractal is not a tree (i.e. not simply connected). This result relates
Fredholm modules and topology, and refines and improves known results on p.c.f.
fractals. We also discuss weakly summable Fredholm modules and the Dixmier
trace in the cases of some finitely and infinitely ramified fractals (including
non-self-similar fractals) if the so-called spectral dimension is less than 2.
In the finitely ramified self-similar case we relate the p-summability question
with estimates of the Lyapunov exponents for harmonic functions and the
behavior of the pressure function.
