MFDBS 87 1st Symposium on Mathematical Fundamentals of Database Systems, Dresden, GDR, January 19-23, 1987. Proceedings

This volume contains the 13 best of the 18 papers presented at the first MFDBS conference held in Dresden, GDR, January 19-23, 1987. A short summary of the two panel discussions is also included. The volume is intended to be a reflection of the current state of knowledge and a guide to further development in database theory. The main topics covered are: theoretical fundaments of the relational data model (dependency theory, design theory, null values, query processing, complexity theory), and of its extensions (graphical representations, NF2-models), conceptual modelling of distributed database management systems and the relationship between logic and databases.

Information measurement in relational databases.- On hierarchical normal forms.- Data manipulation languages for the universal relation view DURST.- The equivalence problem for relational database schemes.- On global context dependencies and their properties.- Functional dependency implications, inducing horizontal decompositions.- Extremal combinatorial problems of database models.- A formal model for distributed information systems.- A theory of reference graphs in relational databases.- Modal logic and incomplete information.- Designing alpha-acyclic BCNF-database schemes.- Design tools for large relational database systems.- Searching and retrieval in databases by trees.- Database models, where they are going now?.- Open problems in database theory.