A polynomial algorithm to find an independent set of maximum weight in a fork-free graph

The class of fork-free graphs is an extension of claw-free graphs and their subclass of line graphs. The first polynomial-time solution to the maximum weight independent set problem in the class of line graphs, which is equivalent to the maximum matching problem in general graphs, has been proposed by Edmonds in 1965 and then extended to the entire class of claw-free graphs by Minty in 1980. Recently, Alekseev proposed a solution for the larger class of fork-free graphs, but only for the unweighted version of the problem, i.e., finding an independent set of maximum cardinality. In the present paper, we describe the first polynomial-time algorithm to solve the problem for weighted fork-free graphs.     

Maximum weight independent set of circular-arc graph and its application

In this paper, an algorithm is designed to find a maximum weight independent set of a circular-arc graph withn vertices. The weights considered here are all non-negative real numbers and associated with each of the vertex of the graph. The proposed algorithm runs in timeO(n²). Here we shown that the program slots of television channels during 24 hours can be modeled as a circular-arc graph. Each program represents a vertex and number of viewers of that program represents the weight of the corresponding vertex. Two vertices are connected by an edge iff the corresponding program slots have a common program time, i.e., ifI _i andI _j are the program slots of two programsi andj then the corresponding verticesi andj are connected by an edge iffI _i ∩ I_j 6? Φ. We also shown that the non-overlapping program slots with maximum number of viewers can be selected by computing maximum weight independent set on the corresponding circular-arc graph.     

An optimal time algorithm for finding a maximum weight independent set in a tree

The maximum weight independent set problem for a general graph is NP-hard. But for some special classes of graphs, polynomial time algorithms do exist for solving it. Based on the divide-and-conquer strategy, Pawagi has presented anO(|V|log|V|) time algorithm for solving this problem on a tree. In this paper, we propose anO(|V|) time algorithm to improve Pawagi's result. The proposed algorithm is based on the dynamic programming strategy and is time optimal within a constant factor.     

A hybrid iterated local search heuristic for the maximum weight independent set problem

This paper presents a hybrid iterated local search (ILS) algorithm for the maximum weight independent set (MWIS) problem, a generalization of the classical maximum independent set problem. Two efficient neighborhood structures are proposed and they are explored using the variable neighborhood descent procedure. Moreover, we devise a perturbation mechanism that dynamically adjusts the balance between intensification and diversification during the search. The proposed algorithm was tested on two well-known benchmarks (DIMACS-W and BHOSLIB-W) and the results obtained were compared with those found by state-of-the-art heuristics and exact methods. Our heuristic outperforms the best-known heuristic for the MWIS as well as the best heuristics for the maximum weight clique problem. The results also show that the hybrid ILS was capable of finding all known optimal solutions in milliseconds.     

Designs associated with maximum independent sets of a graph

A (v, β _o , μ)-design over regular graph G = (V, E) of degree d is an ordered pair D = (V, B), where |V| = v and B is the set of maximum independent sets of G called blocks such that if i, j ∈ V, i ≠ j and if i and j are not adjacent in G then there are exactly μ blocks containing i and j. In this paper, we study (v, β _o , μ)-designs over the graphs K _n × K _n , T(n)-triangular graphs, L ₂(n)-square lattice graphs, Petersen graph, Shrikhande graph, Clebsch graph and the Schläfli graph and non-existence of (v, β _o , μ)-designs over the three Chang graphs T ₁(8), T ₂(8) and T ₃(8).     

Using critical sets to solve the maximum independent set problem

A method that utilizes the polynomially solvable critical independent set problem for solving the maximum independent set problem on graphs with a nonempty critical independent set is developed. The effectiveness of the proposed approach on large graphs with large independence number is demonstrated through extensive numerical experiments.     

Partition the vertices of a graph into one independent set and one acyclic set

For a given graph G, if the vertices of G can be partitioned into an independent set and an acyclic set, then we call G a near-bipartite graph. This paper studies the recognition of near-bipartite graphs. We give simple characterizations for those near-bipartite graphs having maximum degree at most 3 and those having diameter 2. We also show that the recognition of near-bipartite graphs is NP-complete even for graphs where the maximum degree is 4 or where the diameter is 4.     

Finding a minimum independent dominating set in a permutation graph

We give a linear time reduction of the problem of finding a minimum independent dominating set in a permutation graph, into that of finding a shortest maximal increasing subsequence. We then give an O(n log²n)-time algorithm for solving the second (and hence the first) problem. This improves on the O(n³)-time algorithm given in [4] for solving the problem of finding a minimum independent dominating set in a permutation graph.     

Maximum weight independent set in trees

Computing a maximum independent set, weighted or unweighted, isNP-hard for general as well as planar graphs. However, polynomial time algorithms do exist for solving this problem on special classes of graphs. In this paper we present an efficient algorithm for computing a maximum weight independent set in trees. A divide and conquer approach based on centroid decomposition of trees is used to compute a maximum weight independent set withinO(n logn) time, wheren is the number of vertices in the tree. We introduce a notion of analternating tree which is crucial in obtaining a new independent set from the previous one.     

Fast local search for the maximum independent set problem

Given a graph G=(V,E), the independent set problem is that of finding a maximum-cardinality subset S of V such that no two vertices in S are adjacent. We introduce two fast local search routines for this problem. The first can determine in linear time whether a maximal solution can be improved by replacing a single vertex with two others. The second routine can determine in O(mΔ) time (where Δ is the highest degree in the graph) whether there are two solution vertices than can be replaced by a set of three. We also present a more elaborate heuristic that successfully applies local search to find near-optimum solutions to a wide variety of instances. We test our algorithms on instances from the literature as well as on new ones proposed in this paper.     

Label placement by maximum independent set in rectangles

Motivated by the problem of labeling maps, we investigate the problem of computing a large non-intersecting subset in a set of n rectangles in the plane. Our results are as follows. In O(n log n) time, we can find an O(log n)-factor approximation of the maximum subset in a set of n arbitrary axis-parallel rectangles in the plane. If all rectangles have unit height, we can find a 2-approximation in O(n log n) time. Extending this result, we obtain a (1 + 1/k)-approximation in time O(n log n + n^2k−1) time, for any integer k ≥ 1.     

How to determine the maximum genus of a graph

The maximum genus, γ_M(G), of a connected graph G is the largest genus γ(S) for orientable surfaces S in which G has a 2-cell embedding. In this paper, we define a new combinatorial invariant ξ(G), the Betti deficiency of G, to be ξ(C) = min_C?G{ξ(C) 6 ξ(C) = number of odd components of a cotree C of G (by odd component we mean one with an odd number of edges). We formalize a new embedding technique to obtain the formula:

$\text{γ}{}_{\mathrm{M}}\text{(G)=}\text{1}\text{2}\text{(β(G)?ξ(G))}$

where β(G) denotes the Betti number of G.In a further paper, various consequences will be given.     

The weighted maximum independent set problem in permutation graphs

In this paper, sequential and parallel algorithms are presented to find a maximum independent set with largest weight in a weighted permutation graph. The sequential algorithm, which is designed based on dynamic programming, runs in timeO(nlogn) and requiresO(n) space. The parallel algorithm runs inO(log² n) time usingO(n ³/logn) processors on the CREW PRAM, orO(logn) time usingO(n ³) processors on the CRCW PRAM.     

On hitting all maximum cliques with an independent set

We prove that every graph G for which has an independent set I such that ω(G?I)<ω(G). It follows that a minimum counterexample G to Reed's conjecture satisfies and hence also . This also applies to restrictions of Reed's conjecture to hereditary graph classes, and in particular generalizes and simplifies King, Reed and Vetta's proof of Reed's conjecture for line graphs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 66: 32–37, 2010     

Hitting all maximum cliques with a stable set using lopsided independent transversals

Rabern recently proved that any graph with contains a stable set meeting all maximum cliques. We strengthen this result, proving that such a stable set exists for any graph with . This is tight, i.e. the inequality in the statement must be strict. The proof relies on finding an independent transversal in a graph partitioned into vertex sets of unequal size. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 67:300‐305, 2011     

Using domain decomposition to find graph bisectors

In this paper we introduce a three-step approach to find a vertex bisector of a graph. The first step finds adomain decomposition of the graph, consisting of a set of domains and a multisector. Eachdomain is a connected subgraph, and themultisector contains the remaining vertices that separate the domains from each other. The second step uses a block variant of the Kernighan-Lin scheme to find a bisector that is a subset of the multisector. The third step improves the bisector by bipartite graph matching. Experimental results show this domain decomposition method finds graph partitions that compare favorably with a state-of-the-art multilevel partitioning scheme in both quality and execution time. This research was supported in part by the ARPA Contract DABT63-95-C-0122, and in part by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada under grant A5509.     

Planar graph classes with the independent set problem solvable in polynomial time

The polynomial solvability of the independent set problem is proved for an infinite family of subsets of the class of planar graphs.     

An algorithmic approach to Hermite-Birkhoff-interpolation

Summary This paper deals with an algorithmic approach to the Hermite-Birkhoff-(HB)interpolation problem. More precisely, we will show that Newton's classical formula for interpolation by algebraic polynomials naturally extends to HB-interpolation. Hence almost all reasons which make Newton's method superior to just solving the system of linear equations associated with the interpolation problem may be repeated. Let us emphasize just two: Newton's formula being a biorthogonal expansion has a well known permanence property when the system of interpolation conditions grows. From Newton's formula by an elementary argument due to Cauchy an important representation of the interpolation error can be derived. All of the above extends to HB-interpolation with respect to canonical complete ebyev-systems and naturally associated differential operators [7]. A numerical example is given.