Self-organizing lists and independent references: A statistical synergy

Let R₁,…, R_n be a linear list of n elements. We assume the independent reference model, with a fixed but unknown access probability vector. We survey briefly the problem of reorganizing the list dynamically, on the basis of accrued references, with the objective of minimizing the expected access cost. The counter scheme (CS) is known to be asymptotically optimal for this purpose. The paper explores the CS, with the aim of reducing its storage requirements. We start with a detailed exposition of its cost function and then point out that it interacts with the access model to produce some remarkable synergistic effects. These make it possible to use very effective “truncated versions” of the CS, which have very modest space requirements. The versions we consider are: (i) the “limited-counters scheme”, which bounds each of the frequency counters to a maximal value c; (ii) the original CS with a bound on the number of references during which the scheme is active. The bound is chosen so as to achieve a desired level of performance compared with the optimal policy.     

A new approach to the dynamic maintenance of maximal points in a plane

A pointp _i=(x _i, y_i) in thex–y plane ismaximal if there is no pointp _j=(x _j, y_j) such thatx _j>x_i andy _j>y_i. We present a simple data structure, a dynamic contour search tree, which contains all the points in the plane and maintains an embedded linked list of maximal points so thatm maximal points are accessible inO(m) time. Our data structure dynamically maintains the set of points so that insertions takeO(logn) time, a speedup ofO(logn) over previous results, and deletions takeO((logn)²) time.The research of the first author was partially supported by the National Science Foundation under Grant No. DCR-8320214 and by the Office of Naval Research on Contract No. N 00014-86-K-0689. The research of the second author was partially supported by the Office of Naval Research on Contract No. N 00014-86-K-0689.     

Selection in Monotone Matrices and Computingkth Nearest Neighbors

Anm×nmatrix =(a_{i, j}), 1≤i≤mand 1≤j≤n, is called atotally monotonematrix if for alli₁, i₂, j₁, j₂, satisfying 1≤i₁<i₂≤m, 1≤j₁<j₂≤n.[formula]We present an[formula]time algorithm to select thekth smallest item from anm×ntotally monotone matrix for anyk≤mn. This is the first subquadratic algorithm for selecting an item from a totally monotone matrix. Our method also yields an algorithm of the same time complexity for ageneralized row-selection problemin monotone matrices. Given a setS={p₁,…, p_n} ofnpoints in convex position and a vectork={k₁,…, k_n}, we also present anO(n^4/3log^c n) algorithm to compute thek_ith nearest neighbor ofp_ifor everyi≤n; herecis an appropriate constant. This algorithm is considerably faster than the one based on a row-selection algorithm for monotone matrices. If the points ofSare arbitrary, then thek_ith nearest neighbor ofp_i, for alli≤n, can be computed in timeO(n^7/5 log^c n), which also improves upon the previously best-known result.     

On a metric generalization of ramsey’s theorem

An increasing sequence of realsx=〈x _i :i<ω〉 is simple if all “gaps”x _i +1−x _i are different. Two simple sequencesx andy are distance similar ifx _i +1−x _i <x _j +1−x _j if and only ify _i +1−y _i <y _j +1−y _j for alli andj. Given any bounded simple sequencex and any coloring of the pairs of rational numbers by a finite number of colors, we prove that there is a sequencey distance similar tox all of whose pairs are of the same color. We also consider many related problems and generalizations. Partially supported by OTKA-4269. Partially supported by NSF grant STC-91-19999. Partially supported by OTKA-T-020914, NSF grant CCR-9424398 and PSC-CUNY Research Award 663472.     

A degree condition for the circumference of a graph

We present a new condition on the degree sums of a graph that implies the existence of a long cycle. Let c(G) denote the length of a longest cycle in the graph G and let m be any positive integer. Suppose G is a 2-connected graph with vertices x₁,…,x_n and edge set E that satisfies the property that, for any two integers j and k with j < k, x_jx_k ? E, d(x_i) ? j and d(x_k) ? K - 1, we have (1) d(x_i) + d(x_k ? m if j + k ? n and (2) if j + k < n, either m ? n or d(x_j) + d(x_k) ? min(K + 1,m). Then c(G) ? min(m, n). This result unifies previous results of J.C. Bermond and M. Las Vergnas, respectively.     

Bipartite Graphs Whose Edge Algebras Are Complete Intersections

Let R be a monomial subalgebra of k[x₁,…,x_N] generated by square free monomials of degree two. This paper addresses the following question: when is R a complete intersection? For such a k-algebra we can associate a graph G whose vertices are x₁,…,x_N and whose edges are {(x_i, x_j)|x_ix_j  R}. Conversely, for any graph G with vertices {x₁,…,x_N} we define the edge algebra associated with G as the subalgebra of k[x₁,…,x_N] generated by the monomials {x_ix_j|(x_i, x_j) is an edge of G}. We denote this monomial algebra by k[G]. This paper describes all bipartite graphs whose edge algebras are complete intersections.     

A constant factor approximation algorithm for the fault-tolerant facility location problem

We consider a generalization of the classical facility location problem, where we require the solution to be fault-tolerant. In this generalization, every demand point j must be served by r_j facilities instead of just one. The facilities other than the closest one are “backup” facilities for that demand, and any such facility will be used only if all closer facilities (or the links to them) fail. Hence, for any demand point, we can assign nonincreasing weights to the routing costs to farther facilities. The cost of assignment for demand j is the weighted linear combination of the assignment costs to its r_j closest open facilities. We wish to minimize the sum of the cost of opening the facilities and the assignment cost of each demand j. We obtain a factor 4 approximation to this problem through the application of various rounding techniques to the linear relaxation of an integer program formulation. We further improve the approximation ratio to 3.16 using randomization and to 2.41 using greedy local-search type techniques.     

Permanence and global stability in a Lotka-Volterra predator-prey system with delays

Consider the permanence and global asymptotic stability of models governed by the following Lotka-Volterra-type system:

, with initial conditions

x_i(t) = φ_i(t) ≥ o, t ≤ t₀, and φ_i(t₀) > 0. 1 ≤ i ≤n

. We define x₀(t) = x_n+1(t)≡0 and suppose that φ_i(t), 1 ≤ i ≤ n, are bounded continuous functions on [t₀, + ∞) and γ_i, α_i, c_i > 0,γ_i,j ≥ 0, for all relevant i,j.Extending a technique of Saito, Hara and Ma[1] for n = 2 to the above system for n ≥ 2, we offer sufficient conditions for permanence and global asymptotic stability of the solutions which improve the well-known result of Gopalsamy.     

The Number of Permutation Polynomials of a Given Degree Over a Finite Field

We relate the number of permutation polynomials in F_q[x] of degree d≤q−2 to the solutions (x₁,x₂,…,x_q) of a system of linear equations over F_q, with the added restriction that x_i≠0 and x_i≠x_j whenever i≠j. Using this we find an expression for the number of permutation polynomials of degree p−2 in F_p[x] in terms of the permanent of a Vandermonde matrix whose entries are the primitive pth roots of unity. This leads to nontrivial bounds for the number of such permutation polynomials. We provide numerical examples to illustrate our method and indicate how our results can be generalised to polynomials of other degrees.     

Approximation of elements of a generalized Orlicz sequence space by nonlinear, singular kernels

Let l be a generalized Orlicz sequence space generated by a modular (x) = ∑_{i − 0}^∞ _i(¦t_i¦), X = (t_i), with s-convex functions _i, 0 < s 1, and let K_w,j: R₊ → R₊ for j=0,1,2,…, w ε Wwhere is an abstract set of indices. Assuming certain singularity assumptions on the nonlinear kernel K_w,j and setting T_wx = ((T_wx)_i)_{i = 0}^∞, with (T_wx)_i = ∑_{j = 0}ⁱ K_{w,i − j}(¦t_j¦) for x = (t_j), convergence results: T_wx → x in l are obtained (both modular convergence and norm convergence), with respect to a filter of subsets of the set .     

Schauder-type expansions of continuous functions on the unit interval

Let the space of continuous functions on [0, 1] which vanish at 0 be denoted by C. It will be shown that for any complete orthonormal set of functions {α_i(s)} of bounded variation and such that α_i(1) = 0, there is a simply described linear combination of the continuous functions {∝₀^tα_i(s) ds} which converges uniformly to x(t) for almost all x ε C (“almost all” in the sense of Wiener measure).     

Coloring some classes of mixed graphs

We consider the coloring problem for mixed graphs, that is, for graphs containing edges and arcs. A mixed coloring c is a coloring such that for every edge [x_i,x_j], c(x_i)≠c(x_j) and for every arc (x_p,x_q), c(x_p)<c(x_q). We will analyse the complexity status of this problem for some special classes of graphs.     

Induced disjoint paths problem in a planar digraph

As an extension of the disjoint paths problem, we introduce a new problem which we call the induced disjoint paths problem. In this problem we are given a graph G and a collection of vertex pairs {(s₁,t₁),…,(s_k,t_k)}. The objective is to find k paths P₁,…,P_k such that P_i is a path from s_i to t_i and P_i and P_j have neither common vertices nor adjacent vertices for any distinct i,j.The induced disjoint paths problem has several variants depending on whether k is a fixed constant or a part of the input, whether the graph is directed or undirected, and whether the graph is planar or not. We investigate the computational complexity of several variants of the induced disjoint paths problem. We show that the induced disjoint paths problem is (i) solvable in polynomial time when k is fixed and G is a directed (or undirected) planar graph, (ii) NP-hard when k=2 and G is an acyclic directed graph, (iii) NP-hard when k=2 and G is an undirected general graph.As an application of our first result, we show that we can find in polynomial time certain structures called a “hole” and a “theta” in a planar graph.     

More refined enumerations of alternating sign matrices

We study a further refinement of the standard refined enumeration of alternating sign matrices (ASMs) according to their first two rows instead of just the first row, and more general “d-refined” enumerations of ASMs according to the first d rows. For the doubly-refined case of d=2, we derive a system of linear equations satisfied by the doubly-refined enumeration numbers A_n,i,j that enumerate such matrices. We give a conjectural explicit formula for A_n,i,j and formulate several other conjectures about the sufficiency of the linear equations to determine the A_n,i,j's and about an extension of the linear equations to the general d-refined enumerations.     

Lacunary Quadrature Formulae and Interpolation Singularity

Birkholl quadrature formulae (q.f.), which have algebraic degree of precision (ADP) greater than the number of values used, are studied. In particular, we construct a class of quadrature rules of ADP = 2n + 2r + 1 which are based on the information {ƒ^(j)(−1), ƒ^(j)(−1), j = 0, ..., r − 1 ; ƒ(x_i), ƒ^(2m)(x_i), i = 1, ..., n}, where m is a positive integer and r = m, or r = m − 1. It is shown that the corresponding Birkhoff interpolation problems of the same type are not regular at the quadrature nodes. This means that the constructed quadrature formulae are not of interpolatory type. Finally, for each In, we prove the existence of a quadrature formula based on the information {ƒ(x_i), ƒ^(2m)(x_i), i = 1, ..., 2m}, which has algebraic degree of precision 4m + 1.     

Rook numbers and the normal ordering problem

For an element w in the Weyl algebra generated by D and U with relation DU=UD+1, the normally ordered form is w=∑c_i,jUⁱD^j. We demonstrate that the normal order coefficients c_i,j of a word w are rook numbers on a Ferrers board. We use this interpretation to give a new proof of the rook factorization theorem, which we use to provide an explicit formula for the coefficients c_i,j. We calculate the Weyl binomial coefficients: normal order coefficients of the element (D+U)ⁿ in the Weyl algebra. We extend these results to the q-analogue of the Weyl algebra. We discuss further generalizations using i-rook numbers.     

Quadratic algebras of skew type and the underlying monoids

We consider algebras over a field K defined by a presentation Kx₁,…,x_nR, where R consists of square-free relations of the form x_ix_j=x_kx_l with every monomial x_ix_j, i≠j, appearing in one of the relations. Certain sufficient conditions for the algebra to be noetherian and PI are determined. For this, we prove more generally that right noetherian algebras of finite Gelfand–Kirillov dimension defined by homogeneous semigroup relations satisfy a polynomial identity. The structure of the underlying monoid, defined by the same presentation, is described. This is used to derive information on the prime radical and minimal prime ideals. Some examples are described in detail. Earlier, Gateva-Ivanova and van den Bergh, and Jespers and Okni ski considered special classes of such algebras in the contexts of noetherian algebras, Gröbner bases, finitely generated solvable groups, semigroup algebras, and set theoretic solutions of the Yang–Baxter equation.     

On numerical improvement of Gauss–Legendre quadrature rules

Among all integration rules with n points, it is well-known that n-point Gauss–Legendre quadrature rule∫₋₁¹f(x) dx∑_i=1ⁿw_if(x_i)has the highest possible precision degree and is analytically exact for polynomials of degree at most 2n−1, where nodes x_i are zeros of Legendre polynomial P_n(x), and w_i's are corresponding weights.In this paper we are going to estimate numerical values of nodes x_i and weights w_i so that the absolute error of introduced quadrature rule is less than a preassigned tolerance ε₀, say ε₀=10⁻⁸, for monomial functionsf(x)=x^j, j=0,1,…,2n+1.(Two monomials more than precision degree of Gauss–Legendre quadrature rules.) We also consider some conditions under which the new rules act, numerically, more accurate than the corresponding Gauss–Legendre rules. Some examples are given to show the numerical superiority of presented rules.     

Matrices associated with arithmetical functions

Let f be an arithmetical function and S={x ₁,x ₂,…,x_n } a set of distinct positive integers. Denote by [f(x_i ,x_j }] the n×n matrix having f evaluated at the greatest common divisor (x_i ,x_j ) of x_i , and x_j as its i j-entry. We will determine conditions on f that will guarantee the matrix [f(x_i ,x_j )] is positive definite and, in fact, has properties similar to the greatest common divisor (GCD) matrix

[(x_i ,x_j )] where f is the identity function. The set S is gcd-closed if (x_i ,x_j )∈S for 1≤ i j ≤ n. If S is gcd-closed, we calculate the determinant and (if it is invertible) the inverse of the matrix [f(x_i ,x_j )]. Among the examples of determinants of this kind are H. J. S. Smith's determinant det[(i,j)].