On combinatorial properties of spheres in euclidean spaces

For λ>√2 there exists a triangle-free graphG such that for nod canG be imbedded into thed-dimensional unit sphere with two points joined if and only if their distance is >λ.     

On an isomorphism problem on the closed-set lattice of a graph

Let (G) and V(G) be, respectively, the closed-set lattice and the vertex set of a graph G. Any lattice isomorphism : V(G)(G) induces a bijection : V(G)V(G) such that for each x in V(G), (x)=x' in V(G') iff ({x})={x'}. A graph G is strongly sensitive if for any graph G' and any lattice isomorphism : (G)(G), the bijection induced by is a graph isomorphism of G onto G'. In this paper we present some sufficient conditions for graphs to be strongly sensitive and prove in particular that all C ₄-free graphs and all covering graphs of finite lattices are strongly sensitive.     

Random generators of given orders and the smallest simple Moufang loop

The probability that m randomly chosen elements of a finite power associative loop have prescribed orders and generate is calculated in terms of certain constants related to the action of Aut( ) on the subloop lattice of . As an illustration, all meaningful probabilities of random generation by elements of given orders are found for the smallest nonassociative simple Moufang loop.     

On the roots of independence polynomials of almost all very well-covered graphs

If s_k denotes the number of stable sets of cardinality k in graph G, and α(G) is the size of a maximum stable set, then is the independence polynomial of G [I. Gutman, F. Harary, Generalizations of the matching polynomial, Utilitas Math. 24 (1983) 97-106]. A graph G is very well-covered [O. Favaron, Very well-covered graphs, Discrete Math. 42 (1982) 177-187] if it has no isolated vertices, its order equals 2α(G) and it is well-covered, i.e., all its maximal independent sets are of the same size [M.D. Plummer, Some covering concepts in graphs, J. Combin. Theory 8 (1970) 91-98]. For instance, appending a single pendant edge to each vertex of G yields a very well-covered graph, which we denote by G^*. Under certain conditions, any well-covered graph equals G^* for some G [A. Finbow, B. Hartnell, R.J. Nowakowski, A characterization of well-covered graphs of girth 5 or greater, J. Combin. Theory Ser B 57 (1993) 44-68].The root of the smallest modulus of the independence polynomial of any graph is real [J.I. Brown, K. Dilcher, R.J. Nowakowski, Roots of independence polynomials of well-covered graphs, J. Algebraic Combin. 11 (2000) 197-210]. The location of the roots of the independence polynomial in the complex plane, and the multiplicity of the root of the smallest modulus are investigated in a number of articles.In this paper we establish formulae connecting the coefficients of I(G;x) and I(G^*;x), which allow us to show that the number of roots of I(G;x) is equal to the number of roots of I(G^*;x) different from -1, which appears as a root of multiplicity α(G^*)-α(G) for I(G^*;x). We also prove that the real roots of I(G^*;x) are in [-1,-1/2α(G^*)), while for a general graph of order n we show that its roots lie in |z|>1/(2n-1).Hoede and Li [Clique polynomials and independent set polynomials of graphs, Discrete Math. 125 (1994) 219-228] posed the problem of finding graphs that can be uniquely defined by their clique polynomials (clique-unique graphs). Stevanovic [Clique polynomials of threshold graphs, Univ. Beograd Publ. Elektrotehn. Fac., Ser. Mat. 8 (1997) 84-87] proved that threshold graphs are clique-unique. Here, we demonstrate that the independence polynomial distinguishes well-covered spiders among well-covered trees.     

Comparability graphs of lattices

A theorem of N. Terai and T. Hibi for finite distributive lattices and a theorem of Hibi for finite modular lattices (suggested by R.P. Stanley) are equivalent to the following: if a finite distributive or modular lattice of rank d contains a complemented rank 3 interval, then the lattice is (d+1)-connected.In this paper, the following generalization is proved: Let L be a (finite or infinite) semimodular lattice of rank d that is not a chain (d∈N₀). Then the comparability graph of L is (d+1)-connected if and only if L has no simplicial elements, where z∈L is simplicial if the elements comparable to z form a chain.     

Designs and partial geometries over finite fields

Let be a finite field, and let (, B) be a nontrivial 2-(n, k, 1)-design over . Then each point induces a (k–1)-spread S on /. (, B) is said to be a geometric design if S is a geometric spread on / for each . In this paper, we prove that there are no geometric designs over any finite field .Research partially supported by NSF grant DMS-8703229.     

On a combinatorial property of choice functions of finite sets

We consider choice functions k[X]→X, where X is a finite set and k[X] denotes the set of all k-subsets of X. We define a property of domination for such maps generalizing the classical case k=2 (tournaments) and prove the existence of a dominating element generalizing the existence of a 2-root (king) in the classical case.     

Convex partitions of a finite lattice

The purpose of this paper is to introduce the lattice of convex partitions for a lattice L. Then we will show some properties of this lattice. Finally, we will show that if the convex partition lattice of L is finite and modular if and only if L is a finite chain. Presented by R. McKenzie. Received December 16, 2004; accepted in final form March 7, 2006.     

Strongly inequivalent representations and Tutte polynomials of matroids

We develop constructive techniques to show that non-isomorphic 3-connected matroids that are representable over a fixed finite field and that have the same Tutte polynomial abound. In particular, for most prime powers q, we construct infinite families of sets of 3-connected matroids for which the matroids in a given set are non-isomorphic, are representable over GF(q), and have the same Tutte polynomial. Furthermore, the cardinalities of the sets of matroids in a given family grow exponentially as a function of rank, and there are many such families.In Memory of Gian-Carlo Rota     

On the contraction of vectorial lattice representations

For modular lattices of finite length, vector space representations are shown to give rise to contracted representations of homomorphic imagesDedicated to the memory of Alan Day     

Rothberger's property in all finite powers

A space X has the Rothberger property in all finite powers if, and only if, its collection of ω-covers has Ramseyan properties.     

Projective mappings between projective lattice geometries

The concept of projective lattice geometry generalizes the classical synthetic concept of projective geometry, including projective geometry of modules.In this article we introduce and investigate certain structure preserving mappings between projective lattice geometries. Examples of these so-calledprojective mappings are given by isomorphisms and projections; furthermore all linear mappings between modules induce projective mappings between the corresponding projective geometries.     

On infinite tournaments with regular automorphism groups

Atournament regular representation (TRR) of an abstract groupG is a tournamentT whose automorphism group is isomorphic toG and is a regular permutation group on the vertices ofT. L. Babai and W. Imrich have shown that every finite group of odd order exceptZ ₃ ×Z ₃ admits a TRR. In the present paper we give several sufficient conditions for an infinite groupG with no element of order 2 to admit a TRR. Among these are the following: (1)G is a cyclic extension byZ of a finitely generated group; (2)G is a cyclic extension byZ _2n+1 of any group admitting a TRR; (3)G is a finitely generated abelian group; (4)G is a countably generated abelian group whose torsion subgroup is finite.     

On the algorithmic complexity of coloring simple hypergraphs and steiner triple systems

In this paper we establish that decidingt-colorability for a simplek-graph whent≧3,k≧3 is NP-complete. Next, we establish that if there is a polynomial time algorithm for finding the chromatic number of a Steiner Triple system then there exists a polynomial time “approximation” algorithm for the chromatic number of simple 3-graphs. Finally, we show that the existence of such an approximation algorithm would imply that P=NP. Dedicated to Paul Erdős on his seventieth birthday     

On the sharpness of a theorem of B. segre

The theorem of B. Segre mentioned in the title states that a complete arc of PG(2,q),q even which is not a hyperoval consists of at mostq−√q+1 points. In the first part of our paper we prove this theorem to be sharp forq=s ² by constructing completeq−√q+1-arcs. Our construction is based on the cyclic partition of PG(2,q) into disjoint Baer-subplanes. (See Bruck [1]). In his paper [5] Kestenband constructed a class of (q−√q+1)-arcs but he did not prove their completeness. In the second part of our paper we discuss the connections between Kestenband’s and our constructions. We prove that these constructions result in isomorphic (q−√q+1)-arcs. The proof of this isomorphism is based on the existence of a traceorthogonal normal basis in GF(q ³) over GF(q), and on a representation of GF(q)³ in GF(q ³)³ indicated in Jamison [4].     

On a class of isometric subgraphs of a graph

In a graphG, which has a loop at every vertex, a connected subgraphH=(V(H),E(H)) is a retract if, for anya, b ∈V(H) and for any pathsP, Q inG, both joininga tob, and satisfying |Q|≧ ≧|P|, thenP ⫅V(H) wheneverQ ⫅V(H). As such subgraphs can be described by a closure operator we are led to the investigation of the corresponding complete lattice of “closed” subgraphs. For example, in this complete lattice every element is the infimum of an irredundant family of infimum irreducible elements. The work presented here was supported in part by N.S.E.R.C. Operating Grant No. A4077.     

The Frattini sublattice of a finite distributive lattice

Frattini sublattices of finite distributive lattices are characterized and several applications are given thereof.Presented by J. Berman.The support of Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Técnicas de la República Argentina is gratefully acknowledged.     

Polar Graphs and Corresponding Involution Sets, Loops and Steiner Triple Systems

A 1-factorization (or parallelism) of the complete graph with loops is called polar if each 1-factor (parallel class) contains exactly one loop and for any three distinct vertices x₁, x₂, x₃, if {x₁} and {x₂, x₃} belong to a 1-factor then the same holds for any permutation of the set {1, 2, 3}. To a polar graph there corresponds a polar involution set , an idempotent totally symmetric quasigroup (P, *), a commutative, weak inverse property loop (P, + ) of exponent 3 and a Steiner triple system . We have: satisfies the trapezium axiom is self-distributive ⇔ (P, + ) is a Moufang loop is an affine triple system; and: satisfies the quadrangle axiom is a group is an affine space.     

Local Recognition Of Non-Incident Point-Hyperplane Graphs

Let be a projective space. By H() we denote the graph whose vertices are the non-incident point-hyperplane pairs of , two vertices (p,H) and (q,I) being adjacent if and only if p I and q H. In this paper we give a characterization of the graph H() (as well as of some related graphs) by its local structure. We apply this result by two characterizations of groups G with PSL _n ( )GPGL _n ( ), by properties of centralizers of some (generalized) reflections. Here is the (skew) field of coordinates of .     

On weak lattice and frame homomorphisms

In the context of distributive lattices, frames, or -frames, a join homomorphism preserving the unit and those binary meets which are zero often preserves all binary meets. This paper analyzes this phenomenon.