One problem concerning the universal relation assumption is the inability of known methods to obtain a database scheme design in the general case, where the real-world constraints are given by a set of dependencies that includes embedded multivalued dependencies. We propose a simpler method of describing the real world, where constraints are given by functional dependencies and a single join dependency. The relationship between this method of defining the real world and the classical methods is

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... exposed. We characterize in terms of hypergrapbs those multivalued dependencies that are the consequence of a given join dependency. Also characterized in terms of hypergraphs are those join dependencies that are equivalent to a set of multivalued dependencies.