Table of contents : Straightening laws on modules and their symmetric algebras....Pages 1-20 On short graded algebras....Pages 21-31 A homological approach to symbolic powers....Pages 32-46 Generic residual intersections....Pages 47-60 Subalgebra bases....Pages 61-87 Flatness and ideal-transforms of finite type....Pages 88-97 Topics in rees algebras of special ideals....Pages 98-114 Symmetric algebras....Pages 115-160