On complete representations and minimal completions in algebraic logic, both positive and negative results

Fix a finite ordinal \(n\geq 3\) and let \(\alpha\) be an arbitrary ordinal. Let \(\mathsf{CA}_n\) denote the class of cylindric algebras of dimension \(n\) and \(\sf RA\) denote the class of relation algebras. Let \(\mathbf{PA}_{\alpha}(\mathsf{PEA}_{\alpha})\) stand for the class of polyadic (equality) algebras of dimension \(\alpha\). We reprove that the class \(\mathsf{CRCA}_n\) of completely representable \(\mathsf{CA}_n$s, and the class \(\sf CRRA\) of completely representable \(\mathsf{RA}\)s are not elementary, a result of Hirsch and Hodkinson. We extend this result to any variety \(\sf V\) between polyadic algebras of dimension \(n\) and diagonal free \(\mathsf{CA}_n\)s. We show that that the class of completely and strongly representable algebras in \(\sf V\) is not elementary either, reproving a result of Bulian and Hodkinson. For relation algebras, we can and will, go further. We show the class \(\sf CRRA\) is not closed under \(\equiv_{\infty,\omega}\). In contrast, we show that given \(\alpha\geq \omega\), and an atomic \(\mathfrak{A}\in \mathsf{PEA}_{\alpha}\), then for any \(n<\omega\), \(\mathfrak{Nr}_n\A\) is a completely representable \(\mathsf{PEA}_n\). We show that for any \(\alpha\geq \omega\), the class of completely representable algebras in certain reducts of \(\mathsf{PA}_{\alpha}\)s, that happen to be varieties, is elementary. We show that for \(\alpha\geq \omega\), the the class of polyadic-cylindric algebras dimension \(\alpha\), introduced by Ferenczi, the completely representable algebras (slightly altering representing algebras) coincide with the atomic ones. In the last algebras cylindrifications commute only one way, in a sense weaker than full fledged commutativity of cylindrifications enjoyed by classical cylindric and polyadic algebras. Finally, we address closure under Dedekind-MacNeille completions for cylindric-like algebras of dimension \(n\) and \(\mathsf{PA}_{\alpha}\)s for \(\alpha\) an infinite ordinal, proving negative results for the first and positive ones for the second.

From Relation Algebra to Semi-join Algebra: An Approach to Graph Query Optimization

Many graph query languages rely on composition to navigate graphs and select nodes of interest, even though evaluating compositions of relations can be costly. Often, this need for composition can be reduced by rewriting toward queries using semi-joins instead, resulting in a significant reduction of the query evaluation cost. We study techniques to recognize and apply such rewritings. Concretely, we study the relationship between the expressive power of the relation algebras, which heavily rely on composition, and the semi-join algebras, which replace composition in favor of semi-joins. Our main result is that each fragment of the relation algebras where intersection and/or difference is only used on edges (and not on complex compositions) is expressively equivalent to a fragment of the semi-join algebras. This expressive equivalence holds for node queries evaluating to sets of nodes. For practical relevance, we exhibit constructive rules for rewriting relation algebra queries to semi-join algebra queries and prove that they lead to only a well-bounded increase in the number of steps needed to evaluate the rewritten queries. In addition, on sibling-ordered trees, we establish new relationships among the expressive power of Regular XPath, Conditional XPath, FO-logic and the semi-join algebra augmented with restricted fixpoint operators.

Non-representable relation algebras from vector spaces

Extending a construction of Andreka, Givant, and Nemeti (2019), we construct some finite vector spaces and use them to build finite non-representable relation algebras. They are simple, measurable, and persistently finite, and they validate arbitrary finite sets of equations that are valid in the variety RRA of representable relation algebras. It follows that there is no finitely axiomatisable class of relation algebras that contains RRA and validates every equation that is both valid in RRA and preserved by completions of relation algebras. Consequently, the variety generated by the completions of representable relation algebras is not finitely axiomatisable. This answers a question of Maddux (2018).