Straightening laws on modules and their symmetric algebras -- On short graded algebras -- A homological approach to symbolic powers -- Generic residual intersections -- Subalgebra bases -- Flatness and ideal-transforms of finite type -- Topics in rees algebras of special ideals -- Symmetric algebras.

The central theme of this volume is commutative algebra, with emphasis on special graded algebras, which are increasingly of interest in problems of algebraic geometry, combinatorics and computer algebra. Most of the papers have partly survey character, but are research-oriented, aiming at classification and structural results.