On double bound graphs and forbidden subposets

For a poset P=(X,≤_P), the double bound graph (DB-graph) of P is the graph DB(P)=(X,E_DB(P)), where xy∈E_DB(P) if and only if x≠y and there exist n,m∈X such that n≤_Px,y≤_Pm. We obtain that for a subposet Q of a poset P,Q is an (n, m)-subposet of P if and only if DB(Q) is an induced subgraph DB(P). Using this result, we show some characterizations of split double bound graphs, threshold double bound graphs and difference double bound graphs in terms of (n, m)-subposets and double canonical posets.     

A characterization of cycle-free unit probe interval graphs

A graph is a probe interval graph (PIG) if its vertices can be partitioned into probes and nonprobes with an interval assigned to each vertex so that vertices are adjacent if and only if their corresponding intervals overlap and at least one of them is a probe. PIGs are a generalization of interval graphs introduced by Zhang for an application concerning the physical mapping of DNA in the human genome project. PIGs have been characterized in the cycle-free case by Sheng, and other miscellaneous results are given by McMorris, Wang, and Zhang. Johnson and Spinrad give a polynomial time recognition algorithm for when the partition of vertices into probes and nonprobes is given. The complexity for the general recognition problem is not known. Here, we restrict attention to the case where all intervals have the same length, that is, we study the unit probe interval graphs and characterize the cycle-free graphs that are unit probe interval graphs via a list of forbidden induced subgraphs.     

A forbidden induced subgraph characterization of distance-hereditary 5-leaf powers

A graph G is a k-leaf power if there is a tree T such that the vertices of G are the leaves of T and two vertices are adjacent in G if and only if their distance in T is at most k. In this situation T is called a k-leaf root of G. Motivated by the search for underlying phylogenetic trees, the notion of a k-leaf power was introduced and studied by Nishimura, Ragde and Thilikos and subsequently in various other papers. While the structure of 3- and 4-leaf powers is well understood, for k≥5 the characterization of k-leaf powers remains a challenging open problem.In the present paper, we give a forbidden induced subgraph characterization of distance-hereditary 5-leaf powers. Our result generalizes known characterization results on 3-leaf powers since these are distance-hereditary 5-leaf powers.     

On bipartite distance-regular graphs with a strongly closed subgraph of diameter three

Let Γ denote a distance-regular graph with a strongly closed regular subgraph Y. Hosoya and Suzuki [R. Hosoya, H. Suzuki, Tight distance-regular graphs with respect to subsets, European J. Combin. 28 (2007) 61-74] showed an inequality for the second largest and least eigenvalues of Γ in the case Y is of diameter 2. In this paper, we study the case when Γ is bipartite and Y is of diameter 3, and obtain an inequality for the second largest eigenvalue of Γ. Moreover, we characterize the distance-regular graphs with a completely regular strongly closed subgraph H(3,2).     

Forbidden ordered subgraph vs. forbidden subgraph characterizations of graph classes

We show that the minimum set of unordered graphs that must be forbidden to get the same graph class characterized by forbidding a single ordered graph is infinite. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Graph Theory 30: 71–76, 1999     

Polarity of chordal graphs

Polar graphs are a common generalization of bipartite, cobipartite, and split graphs. They are defined by the existence of a certain partition of vertices, which is NP-complete to decide for general graphs. It has been recently proved that for cographs, the existence of such a partition can be characterized by finitely many forbidden subgraphs, and hence tested in polynomial time. In this paper we address the question of polarity of chordal graphs, arguing that this is in essence a question of colourability, and hence chordal graphs are a natural restriction. We observe that there is no finite forbidden subgraph characterization of polarity in chordal graphs; nevertheless we present a polynomial time algorithm for polarity of chordal graphs. We focus on a special case of polarity (called monopolarity) which turns out to be the central concept for our algorithms. For the case of monopolar graphs, we illustrate the structure of all minimal obstructions; it turns out that they can all be described by a certain graph grammar, permitting our monopolarity algorithm to be cast as a certifying algorithm.     

A new forbidden pair for 6-contractible edges

An edge of a $k$-connected graph is said to be $k$-contractible if the contraction of the edge results in a $k$-connected graph. If every $k$-connected graph with no $k$-contractible edge has either $H_1$ or $H_2$ as a subgraph, then an unordered pair of graphs $\{H_1,H_2\}$ is said to be a forbidden pair for $k$-contractible edges. We prove that $\{K_1+3K_2,K_1+(P_3\cup K_2)\}$ is a forbidden pair for 6-contractible edges, which is an extension of a previous result due to Ando and Kawarabayashi.     

ON THE ASCENDING SUBGRAPH DECOMPOSITIONS OF REGULAR GRAPHS

The definition of the ascending suhgraph decomposition was given by Alavi. It has been conjectured that every graph of positive size has an ascending subgraph decomposition. In this paper it is proved that the regular graphs under some conditions do have an ascending subgraph decomposition.     

A characterization of cycle-forced bipartite graphs

A forced cycle$C$ of a graph $G$ is a cycle in $G$ such that $G?V\left(C\right)$ has a unique perfect matching. A graph $G$ is a cycle-forced graph if every cycle in $G$ is a forced cycle. In this paper, we give a characterization of cycle-forced hamiltonian bipartite graphs.     

On the forbidden induced subgraph sandwich problem

We consider the sandwich problem, a generalization of the recognition problem introduced by Golumbic et al. (1995) [15], with respect to classes of graphs defined by excluding induced subgraphs. We prove that the sandwich problem corresponding to excluding a chordless cycle of fixed length k is NP-complete. We prove that the sandwich problem corresponding to excluding K_r?e for fixed r is polynomial. We prove that the sandwich problem corresponding to 3PC(⋅,⋅)-free graphs is NP-complete. These complexity results are related to the classification of a long-standing open problem: the sandwich problem corresponding to perfect graphs.     

Maximum bipartite subgraphs of cubic triangle-free planar graphs

Thomassen recently proved, using the Tutte cycle technique, that if G is a 3-connected cubic triangle-free planar graph then G contains a bipartite subgraph with at least edges, improving the previously known lower bound . We extend Thomassen’s technique and further improve this lower bound to .     

Mock threshold graphs

Mock threshold graphs are a simple generalization of threshold graphs that, like threshold graphs, are perfect graphs. Our main theorem is a characterization of mock threshold graphs by forbidden induced subgraphs. Other theorems characterize mock threshold graphs that are claw-free and that are line graphs. We also discuss relations with chordality and well-quasi-ordering as well as algorithmic aspects.     

The rainbow number of matchings in regular bipartite graphs

Given a graph G and a subgraph H of G, let rb(G,H) be the minimum number r for which any edge-coloring of G with r colors has a rainbow subgraph H. The number rb(G,H) is called the rainbow number of H with respect to G. Denote as mK₂ a matching of size m and as B_n,k the set of all the k-regular bipartite graphs with bipartition (X,Y) such that X=Y=n and k≤n. Let k,m,n be given positive integers, where k≥3, m≥2 and n>3(m−1). We show that for every GB_n,k, rb(G,mK₂)=k(m−2)+2. We also determine the rainbow numbers of matchings in paths and cycles.     

2-Tree probe interval graphs have a large obstruction set

Probe interval graphs (PIGs) are used as a generalization of interval graphs in physical mapping of DNA. G=(V,E) is a probe interval graph (PIG) with respect to a partition (P,N) of V if vertices of G correspond to intervals on a real line and two vertices are adjacent if and only if their corresponding intervals intersect and at least one of them is in P; vertices belonging to P are called probes and vertices belonging to N are called non-probes. One common approach to studying the structure of a new family of graphs is to determine if there is a concise family of forbidden induced subgraphs. It has been shown that there are two forbidden induced subgraphs that characterize tree PIGs. In this paper we show that having a concise forbidden induced subgraph characterization does not extend to 2-tree PIGs; in particular, we show that there are at least 62 minimal forbidden induced subgraphs for 2-tree PIGs.     

Note on upper bound graphs and forbidden subposets

In the upper bound graph of a poset P, the vertex set is V(P) and xy is an edge if there exists an m∈V(P) with x,y≤_Pm. We show some characterizations on split upper bound graphs, threshold upper bound graphs and difference upper bound graphs in terms of m-subposets and canonical posets.