On-line k-Truck Problem and Its Competitive Algorithms

In this paper, based on the Position Maintaining Strategy (PMS for short), on-line scheduling of k-truck problem, which is a generalization of the famous k-server problem, is originally presented by our team. We proposed several competitive algorithms applicable under different conditions for solving the on-line k-truck problem. First, a competitive algorithm with competitive ratio 2k+1/ is given for any 1. Following that, if (c+1)/(c-1) holds, then there must exist a (2k-1)-competitive algorithm for k-truck problem, where c is the competitive ratio of the on-line algorithm about the relevant k-server problem. And then a greedy algorithm with competitive ratio 1+/, where lambda is a parameter related to the structure property of a given graph, is given. Finally, competitive algorithms with ratios 1+1/ are given for two special families of graphs.     

Convolution semigroups and central limit theorem associated with a dual convolution structure

We consider hypergroups associated with Jacobi functions ⁽⁾ (x), (–1/2). We prove the existence of a dual convolution structure on [0,+[i(]0,s ₀]{{) =++1,s ₀=min(,–+1). Next we establish a Lévy-Khintchine type formula which permits to characterize the semigroup and the infinitely divisible probabilities associated with this dual convolution, finally we prove a central limit theorem.     

Cross-monotone subsequences

Two finite real sequences (a ₁,...,a _k ) and (b ₁,...,b _k ) are cross-monotone if each is nondecreasing anda _i+1–a _i b _i+1–b _i for alli. A sequence (₁,..., _n ) of nondecreasing reals is in class CM(k) if it has disjointk-term subsequences that are cross-monotone. The paper shows thatf(k), the smallestn such that every nondecreasing (₁,..., _n ) is in CM(k), is bounded between aboutk ²/4 andk ₂/2. It also shows thatg(k), the smallestn for which all (₁,..., _n ) are in CM(k)and eithera _k b ₁ orb _k a ₁, equalsk(k–1)+2, and thath(k), the smallestn for which all (₁,..., _n ) are in CM(_k)and eithera ₁b ₁...a _k b _k orb ₁a ₁...b _k a _k , equals 2(k–1)²+2.The results forf andg rely on new theorems for regular patterns in (0, 1)-matrices that are of interest in their own right. An example is: Every upper-triangulark ²×k ² (0, 1)-matrix has eitherk 1's in consecutive columns, each below its predecessor, ork 0's in consecutive rows, each to the right of its predecessor, and the same conclusion is false whenk ² is replaced byk ²–1.     

On a family of quasi-arithmetic means

Summary The main goal of this paper is to solve the idempotency equationF(x, x) = x, x [0, 1] for a class of functions of the type convex linear combination of at-norm and at-conorm. In the non-strict Archimedean case and for eachk (0, 1), we obtain a unique solutionF _k for this equation. While these functionsF _k are not associative, we also prove that they satisfy the bisymmetry condition.     

Concerning a sufficient condition of sidon for the integrability of trigonometric series

We consider problems concerning integrability and convergence in the metric L of trigonometric series, the coefficientsa _k of which satisfy the conditions:a _k 0, there exist numbers A_k such that A_k 0, < , and ¦¦ A_k. The integrability of a series in cosines under these conditions is equivalent to a theorem of Sidon.Translated from Matematicheskie Zametki, Vol. 14, No. 3, pp. 317–328, September, 1973.     

The maximum number of edges in a 3-graph not containing a given star

Suppose that is a collection of 3-subsets of{1, 2,..., n} which does not contain ak-star (i.e.,k 3-sets any two of which intersect in the same singleton). Fork 3 andn n ₀ (k), the collections having largest possible sizes are determined.     

Extremes of a Gaussian Process and the Constant H α

Consider a triangular array of standard Gaussian random variables {_n,i, i 0, n 1} such that {_n,i, i 0} is a stationary normal sequence for each n 1. Let _n,k = corr(_n,i,_n,i+k). If (1-_n,k)log n _k (0,) as n for some k, then the locations where the extreme values occur cluster and the limiting distribution of the maxima is still the Gumbel distribution as in the stationary or i.i.d. case, but shifted by a parameter measuring the clustering. Triangular arrays of Gaussian sequences are used to approximate a continuous Gaussian process X(t), t 0. The cluster behavior of the random sequence refers to the behavior of the extremes values of the continuous process. The relation is analyzed. It reveals a new definition of the constants H used for the limiting distribution of maxima of continuous Gaussian processes and provides further understanding of the limit result for these extremes.     

Connected and alternating vectors: Polyhedra and algorithms

Given a graphG = (V, E), leta ^S, S L, be the edge set incidence vectors of its nontrivial connected subgraphs.The extreme points of = {x R ^E: a^sx |V(S)| - |S|, S L} are shown to be integer 0/± 1 and characterized. They are the alternating vectorsb ^k, k K, ofG. WhenG is a tree, the extreme points ofB 0,b ^kx 1,k K} are shown to be the connected vectors ofG together with the origin. For the four LP's associated with andA, good algorithms are given and total dual integrality of andA proven.On leave from Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich.     

A Long-Step, Cutting Plane Algorithm for Linear and Convex Programming

A cutting plane method for linear programming is described. This method is an extension of Atkinson and Vaidya's algorithm, and uses the central trajectory. The logarithmic barrier function is used explicitly, motivated partly by the successful implementation of such algorithms. This makes it possible to maintain primal and dual iterates, thus allowing termination at will, instead of having to solve to completion. This algorithm has the same complexity (O(nL ²) iterations) as Atkinson and Vaidya's algorithm, but improves upon it in that it is a long-step version, while theirs is a short-step one in some sense. For this reason, this algorithm is computationally much more promising as well. This algorithm can be of use in solving combinatorial optimization problems with large numbers of constraints, such as the Traveling Salesman Problem.     

An infinite dimensional analogue of the Albeverio-Röckner's theorem on Fukushima's conjecture

LetX be the solution of the SDE:dX _t = (X _t)dB _t +b(X _t)dt, with andb C _b (R) such that >0 for some constant , andB a real Brownian motion. Let be the law ofX onE=C([0, 1],R) andk E* – {0}, whereE* is the topological dual space ofE. Consider the classical form: _k (u, v)=u / kv / kd, whereu andv are smooth functions onE. We prove that, if _k is closable for anyk in a dense subset ofE* and if the smooth functions are contained in the domain of the generator of the closure of _k , must be a constant function.     

D λ -cycles in 3-cyclable graphs

Letk and be positive integers, andG a 2-connected graph of ordern with minimum degree and independence number. A cycleC ofG is called aD -cycle if every component ofG – V(C) has order smaller than. The graphG isk-cyclable if anyk vertices ofG lie on a common cycle. A previous result of the author is that if k 2, G isk-connected and every connected subgraphH ofG of order has at leastn +k ² + 1/k + 1 – vertices outsideH adjacent to at least one vertex ofH, thenG contains aD -cycle. Here it is conjectured that k-connected can be replaced by k-cyclable, and this is proved fork = 3. As a consequence it is shown that ifn 4 – 6, or ifG is triangle-free andn 8 – 10, thenG contains aD ₃-cycle orG , where denotes a well-known class of nonhamiltonian graphs of connectivity 2. As an analogue of a result of Nash-Williams it follows that ifn 4 – 6 and – 1, thenG is hamiltonian orG . The results are all best possible and compare favorably with recent results on hamiltonicity of graphs which are close to claw-free.     

On generalized gamma functions related to the Laurent coefficients of the Riemann zeta function

Summary We study a class of generalized gamma functions _k (z) which relate to the generalized Euler constants _k (basically the Laurent coefficients of(s)) as (z) does to the Euler constant. A new series expansion for _k is derived, and the constant term in the asymptotic expansion for log _k (z) is studied in detail. These and related constants are numerically computed for 1 k 15.     

The Parameters of Bipartite Q-polynomial Distance-Regular Graphs

Let denote a bipartite distance-regular graph with diameter D 3 and valency k 3. Suppose ₀, ₁, ..., _D is a Q-polynomial ordering of the eigenvalues of . This sequence is known to satisfy the recurrence _{i – 1} – _i + _{i + 1} = 0 (0 > i > D), for some real scalar . Let q denote a complex scalar such that q + q ^–1 = . Bannai and Ito have conjectured that q is real if the diameter D is sufficiently large.We settle this conjecture in the bipartite case by showing that q is real if the diameter D 4. Moreover, if D = 3, then q is not real if and only if ₁ is the second largest eigenvalue and the pair (, k) is one of the following: (1, 3), (1, 4), (1, 5), (1, 6), (2, 4), or (2, 5). We observe that each of these pairs has a unique realization by a known bipartite distance-regular graph of diameter 3.     

Subalgebras that are cyclic as submodules

Let R be an associative, commutative, unital ring. By a R-algebra we mean a unital R-module A together with a R-module homomorphism : _R ⁿ AA (n2). We raise the question whether such an algebra possesses either an idempotent or a nilpotent element. In section 1 an affirmative answer is obtained in case R=k is an algebraically closed field and dim_kA<, as well as in case R=, dimS<, and n0(2). Section 2 deals with the case of reduced rings R and R-algebras which are finitely generated and projective as R-modules. In section 3 we show that the generic algebra over an integral domain D fails to have nilpotent elements in any integral domain extending its base ring D_n,m, and thus acquires an idempotent element in some integral domain extending D_n,m.Partially supported by National Science Foundation Grant GP-38229.     

Subsets with Restricted Movement

Let G be a finite permutation group on a set with no fixed points in and let m and k be integers with 0 < m < k. For a finite subset of the movement of is defined as move() = max_gG| ^g \ |. Suppose further that G is not a 2-group and that p is the least odd prime dividing |G| and move() m for all k-element subsets of . Then either || k + m or k (7m – 5) / 2, || (9m – 3)/2. Moreover when || > k + m, then move() m for every subset of .     

Analysis of a class of fractional programming problems

We propose a solution strategy for fractional programming problems of the form max _xx g(x)/ (u(x)), where the function satisfies certain convexity conditions. It is shown that subject to these conditions optimal solutions to this problem can be obtained from the solution of the problem max _xx g(x) + u(x), where is an exogenous parameter. The proposed strategy combines fractional programming andc-programming techniques. A maximal mean-standard deviation ratio problem is solved to illustrate the strategy in action.     

Two combinatorial problems on posets

Bialostocki proposed the following problem: Let nk2 be integers such that k|n. Let p(n, k) denote the least positive integer having the property that for every poset P, |P|p(n, k) and every Z _k -coloring f: P Z _k there exists either a chain or an antichain A, |A|=n and _aA f(a) 0 (modk). Estimate p(n, k). We prove that there exists a constant c(k), depends only on k, such that (n+k–2)²–c(k) p(n, k) (n+k–2)²+1. Another problem considered here is a 2-dimensional form of the monotone sequence theorem of Erdös and Szekeres. We prove that there exists a least positive integer f(n) such that every integral square matrix A of order f(n) contains a square submatrix B of order n, with all rows monotone sequences in the same direction and all columns monotone sequences in the same direction (direction means increasing or decreasing).     

Cutting disjoint disks by straight lines

Fork>0 letf(k) denote the minimum integerf such that, for any family ofk pairwise disjoint congruent disks in the plane, there is a direction such that any line having direction intersects at mostf of the disks. We determine the exact asymptotic behavior off(k) by proving that there are two positive constantsd ₁,d ₂ such thatd ₁k logkf(k)d ₂k logk. This result has been motivated by problems dealing with the separation of convex sets by straight lines.The work of the first author was supported in part by the Allon Fellowship, by the Bat Sheva de Rothschild Foundation, by the Fund for Basic Research administered by the Israel Academy of Sciences, and by the Center for Absorbtion in Science. Work by the second author was supported by the Technion V. P.R. Fund, Grant No. 100-0679. The third author's work was supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council, Canada, and the joint project Combinatorial Optimization of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), Canada, and the German Research Association (Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft, SFB 303).