First Order Dynamic Logic

First-Order Dynamic Logic

Dynamic Logic

This book provides the first comprehensive introduction to Dynamic Logic. Among the many approaches to formal reasoning about programs, Dynamic Logic enjoys the singular advantage of being strongly related to classical logic. Its variants constitute natural generalizations and extensions of classical formalisms. For example, Propositional Dynamic Logic (PDL) can be described as a blend of three complementary classical ingredients: propositional calculus, modal logic, and the algebra of regular events. In First-Order Dynamic Logic (DL), the propositional calculus is replaced by classical first-order predicate calculus. Dynamic Logic is a system of remarkable unity that is theoretically rich as well as of practical value. It can be used for formalizing correctness specifications and proving rigorously that those specifications are met by a particular program. Other uses include determining the equivalence of programs, comparing the expressive power of various programming constructs, and synthesizing programs from specifications. This book provides the first comprehensive introduction to Dynamic Logic. It is divided into three parts. The first part reviews the appropriate fundamental concepts of logic and computability theory and can stand alone as an introduction to these topics. The second part discusses PDL and its variants, and the third part discusses DL and its variants. Examples are provided throughout, and exercises and a short historical section are included at the end of each chapter.

GABCOM & GABMET

The scientific literature in chemistry and physics abounds with abbreviations of chemical compounds, physical methods and mathematical procedures. Unfortunately, many authors take it for granted that the reader knows the meaning of an abbreviation, something quite trivial for a specialist. For the less informed reader, these abbreviations thus present definite communication problems. The Gmelin Institute of Inorganic Chemistry of the Max Planck Society has collected more than 4000 abbreviations for methods and terms from chemistry, physics and mathematics and more than 4000 chemical compounds (mostly ligands in coordination chemistry and standard reagents for physical and analytical methods). GABCOM and GABMET provide an overview enabling readers and authors to check the definition of an abbreviation used by an author and to see whether this abbreviation is already being used for other purposes. GABCOM and GABMET are also in preparation in electronic form (data file and search software) for IBM-PC or compatible computers.