Hamiltonian Cycles in Almost Claw-Free Graphs

 Some known results on claw-free graphs are generalized to the larger class of almost claw-free graphs. In this paper, we prove the following two results and conjecture that every 5-connected almost claw-free graph is hamiltonian. (1). Every 2-connected almost claw-free graph G∉J on n≤ 4 δ vertices is hamiltonian, where J is the set of all graphs defined as follows: any graph G in J can be decomposed into three disjoint connected subgraphs G ₁, G ₂ and G ₃ such that E _G (G _i , G _j ) = {u _i , u _j , v _i v _j } for i≠j and i,j = 1, 2, 3 (where u _i ≠v _i ∈V(G _i ) for i = 1, 2, 3). Moreover the bound 4δ is best possible, thereby fully generalizing several previous results. (2). Every 3-connected almost claw-free graph on at most 5δ−5 vertices is hamiltonian, hereby fully generalizing the corresponding result on claw-free graphs. Received: September 21, 1998 Final version received: August 18, 1999     

On the b-Coloring of Cographs and <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis><Subscript>4</Subscript>-Sparse Graphs

A b-coloring of a graph is a coloring such that every color class admits a vertex adjacent to at least one vertex receiving each of the colors not assigned to it. The b-chromatic number of a graph G, denoted by χ _b (G), is the maximum number t such that G admits a b-coloring with t colors. A graph G is b-continuous if it admits a b-coloring with t colors, for every . We define a graph G to be b-monotonic if χ _b (H ₁) ≥ χ _b (H ₂) for every induced subgraph H ₁ of G, and every induced subgraph H ₂ of H ₁. In this work, we prove that P ₄-sparse graphs (and, in particular, cographs) are b-continuous and b-monotonic. Besides, we describe a dynamic programming algorithm to compute the b-chromatic number in polynomial time within these graph classes. Flavia Bonomo: Partially supported by ANPCyT PICT-2007-00533 and PICT-2007-00518, and UBACyT Grants X069 and X606 (Argentina). Guillermo Durán: Partially supported by FONDECyT Grant 1080286 and Millennium Science Institute “Complex Engineering Systems” (Chile), and ANPCyT PICT-2007-00518 and UBACyT Grant X069 (Argentina). Javier Marenco: Partially supported by ANPCyT PICT-2007-00518 and UBACyT Grant X069 (Argentina).     

Paired-Domination in <Emphasis Type="Italic">P</Emphasis><Subscript>5</Subscript>-Free Graphs

A set S of vertices in a graph G is a paired-dominating set of G if every vertex of G is adjacent to some vertex in S and if the subgraph induced by S contains a perfect matching. The paired-domination number of G, denoted by , is the minimum cardinality of a paired-dominating set of G. In [1], the authors gave tight bounds for paired-dominating sets of generalized claw-free graphs. Yet, the critical cases are not claws but subdivided stars. We here give a bound for graphs containing no induced P ₅, which seems to be the critical case.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>-Colorings of some graphs of <Emphasis Type="Italic">f</Emphasis>-class 1

An f-coloring of a graph G is an edge-coloring of G such that each color appears at each vertex v V（G） at most f（v） times. The minimum number of colors needed to f-color G is called the f-chromatic index of G and is denoted by X′f（G）. Any simple graph G has the f-chromatic index equal to △f（G） or △f（G） ＋ 1, where △f（G） =max v V（G）{[d（v）/f（v）]}. If X′f（G） = △f（G）, then G is of f-class 1; otherwise G is of f-class 2. In this paper, a class of graphs of f-class 1 are obtained by a constructive proof. As a result, f-colorings of these graphs with △f（G） colors are given.     

On <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-pairable graphs from trees

The concept of the k-pairable graphs was introduced by Zhibo Chen (On k-pairable graphs, Discrete Mathematics 287 (2004), 11–15) as an extension of hypercubes and graphs with an antipodal isomorphism. In the same paper, Chen also introduced a new graph parameter p(G), called the pair length of a graph G, as the maximum k such that G is k-pairable and p(G) = 0 if G is not k-pairable for any positive integer k. In this paper, we answer the two open questions raised by Chen in the case that the graphs involved are restricted to be trees. That is, we characterize the trees G with p(G) = 1 and prove that p(G □ H) = p(G) + p(H) when both G and H are trees.     

Hamiltonian connected hourglass free line graphs

Thomassen [Reflections on graph theory, J. Graph Theory 10 (1986) 309-324] conjectured that every 4-connected line graph is hamiltonian. An hourglass is a graph isomorphic to K₅-E(C₄), where C₄ is a cycle of length 4 in K₅. In Broersma et al. [On factors of 4-connected claw-free graphs, J. Graph Theory 37 (2001) 125-136], it is shown that every 4-connected line graph without an induced subgraph isomorphic to the hourglass is hamiltonian connected. In this note, we prove that every 3-connected, essentially 4-connected hourglass free line graph, is hamiltonian connected.     

Some results on distance two labelling of outerplanar graphs

Let G be an outerplanar graph with maximum degree △. Let χ（G^2） and A（G） denote the chromatic number of the square and the L（2, 1）-labelling number of G, respectively. In this paper we prove the following results： （1） χ（G^2） = 7 if △= 6; （2） λ（G） ≤ △ ＋5 if △ ≥ 4, and ）,（G）≤ 7 if △ = 3; and （3） there is an outerplanar graph G with △ = 4 such that ）λ（G） = 7. These improve some known results on the distance two labelling of outerplanar graphs.     

Results on <Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis>-continuous graphs

For any nontrivial connected graph F and any graph G, the F-degree of a vertex v in G is the number of copies of F in G containing v. G is called F-continuous if and only if the F-degrees of any two adjacent vertices in G differ by at most 1; G is F-regular if the F-degrees of all vertices in G are the same. This paper classifies all P ₄-continuous graphs with girth greater than 3. We show that for any nontrivial connected graph F other than the star K _1,k , k ⩾ 1, there exists a regular graph that is not F-continuous. If F is 2-connected, then there exists a regular F-continuous graph that is not F-regular.      

Hamiltonian connectedness in 3-connected line graphs

We investigate graphs G such that the line graph L(G) is hamiltonian connected if and only if L(G) is 3-connected, and prove that if each 3-edge-cut contains an edge lying in a short cycle of G, then L(G) has the above mentioned property. Our result extends Kriesell’s recent result in [M. Kriesell, All 4-connected line graphs of claw free graphs are hamiltonian-connected, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 82 (2001) 306-315] that every 4-connected line graph of a claw free graph is hamiltonian connected. Another application of our main result shows that if L(G) does not have an hourglass (a graph isomorphic to K₅−E(C₄), where C₄ is an cycle of length 4 in K₅) as an induced subgraph, and if every 3-cut of L(G) is not independent, then L(G) is hamiltonian connected if and only if κ(L(G))≥3, which extends a recent result by Kriesell [M. Kriesell, All 4-connected line graphs of claw free graphs are hamiltonian-connected, J. Combin. Theory Ser. B 82 (2001) 306-315] that every 4-connected hourglass free line graph is hamiltonian connected.     

Removable edges in cycles of a <Emphasis Type="Italic">k</Emphasis>-connected graph

An edge e of a k-connected graph G is said to be a removable edge if G ⊖ e is still k-connected, where G ⊖ e denotes the graph obtained from G by deleting e to get G − e, and for any end vertex of e with degree k − 1 in G − e, say x, delete x, and then add edges between any pair of non-adjacent vertices in N _G−e (x). The existence of removable edges of k-connected graphs and some properties of 3-connected graphs and 4-connected graphs have been investigated. In the present paper, we investigate some properties of k-connected graphs and study the distribution of removable edges on a cycle in a k-connected graph (k ≥ 4).     

A new multivariable <Subscript><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">6</Emphasis></Subscript><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">ψ</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">6</Emphasis></Subscript> summation formula

By multidimensional matrix inversion, combined with an A _r extension of Jackson’s ₈ φ ₇ summation formula by Milne, a new multivariable ₈ φ ₇ summation is derived. By a polynomial argument this ₈ φ ₇ summation is transformed to another multivariable ₈ φ ₇ summation which, by taking a suitable limit, is reduced to a new multivariable extension of the nonterminating ₆ φ ₅ summation. The latter is then extended, by analytic continuation, to a new multivariable extension of Bailey’s very-well-poised ₆ ψ ₆ summation formula. Partly supported by FWF Austrian Science Fund grants P17563-N13, and S9607 (the second is part of the Austrian National Research Network “Analytic Combinatorics and Probabilistic Number Theory”).     

Quasirecognition by prime graph of the simple group <Superscript>2</Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">F</Emphasis><Subscript>4</Subscript>(<Emphasis Type="Italic">q</Emphasis>)

As the main result, we show that if G is a finite group such that Γ(G) = Γ(² F ₄(q)), where q = 2^2m+1 for some m ≧ 1, then G has a unique nonabelian composition factor isomorphic to ² F ₄(q). We also show that if G is a finite group satisfying |G| =|² F ₄(q)| and Γ(G) = Γ(² F ₄(q)), then G ≅ ² F ₄(q). As a consequence of our result we give a new proof for a conjecture of W. Shi and J. Bi for ² F ₄(q). The third author was supported in part by a grant from IPM (No. 87200022).     

Connected domination critical graphs with respect to relative complements

A dominating set in a graph G is a connected dominating set of G if it induces a connected subgraph of G. The minimum number of vertices in a connected dominating set of G is called the connected domination number of G, and is denoted by γ _c (G). Let G be a spanning subgraph of K _s,s and let H be the complement of G relative to K _s,s ; that is, K _s,s = G ⊕ H is a factorization of K _s,s . The graph G is k-γ _c -critical relative to K _s,s if γ _c (G) = k and γ _c (G + e) < k for each edge e ∈ E(H). First, we discuss some classes of graphs whether they are γ _c -critical relative to K _s,s . Then we study k-γ _c -critical graphs relative to K _s,s for small values of k. In particular, we characterize the 3-γ _c -critical and 4-γ _c -critical graphs.     

On a graph property generalizing planarity and flatness

We introduce a topological graph parameter σ(G), defined for any graph G. This parameter characterizes subgraphs of paths, outerplanar graphs, planar graphs, and graphs that have a flat embedding as those graphs G with σ(G)≤1,2,3, and 4, respectively. Among several other theorems, we show that if H is a minor of G, then σ(H)≤σ(G), that σ(K _n )=n−1, and that if H is the suspension of G, then σ(H)=σ(G)+1. Furthermore, we show that μ(G)≤σ(G) + 2 for each graph G. Here μ(G) is the graph parameter introduced by Colin de Verdière in [2].     

A New Inequality for Weakly （K1, K2）-Quasiregular Mappings

We obtain a new inequality for weakly （K1,K2）-quasiregular mappings by using the McShane extension method. This inequality can be used to derive the self-improving regularity of （K1, K2）-Quasiregular Mappings.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Superscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis></Superscript> approximation capability of RBF neural networks

L ^p approximation capability of radial basis function (RBF) neural networks is investigated. If g: R ₊¹ → R ¹ and ∈ L _loc ^p (R ⁿ ) with 1 ≤ p < ∞, then the RBF neural networks with g as the activation function can approximate any given function in L ^p (K) with any accuracy for any compact set K in R ⁿ , if and only if g(x) is not an even polynomial. Partly supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (10471017)     

On representation theorem of <Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>-expectations and paths of <Emphasis Type="Italic">G</Emphasis>-Brownian motion

We give a very simple and elementary proof of the existence of a weakly compact family of probability measures {Pθ ： θ∈θ} representing an important sublinear expectation- G-expectation E[·]. We also give a concrete approximation of a bounded continuous function X（ω） by an increasing sequence of cylinder functions Lip（Ω） in order to prove that Cb（Ω） belongs to the completion of Lip（Ω） under the natural norm E[｜·｜].     

A Lower Bound of <Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis></Subscript> Norms in the CLT for Strongly Mixing Random Variables

We derive a lower bound of L _p norms, 1 ⩽ p ⩽ ∞, in the central limit theorem for strongly mixing random variables X ₁,..., X _n with under the boundedness condition ℙ{|X _i | ⩽ M} = 1 with a nonrandom constantM > 0 and condition ∑ _r⩾1 r ²α(r) < ∞, where α(r) are the Rosenblatt strong mixing coefficients. __________ Translated from Lietuvos Matematikos Rinkinys, Vol. 45, No. 4, pp. 587–602, October–December, 2005.     

A note on <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis>-groups of order ≤ <Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis><Superscript>4</Superscript>

In [1], we defined c(G), q(G) and p(G). In this paper we will show that if G is a p-group, where p is an odd prime and |G| ≤ p ⁴, then c(G) = q(G) = p(G). However, the question of whether or not there is a p-group G with strict inequality c(G) = q(G) < p(G) is still open.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">L</Emphasis><Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">p</Emphasis></Subscript> discrepancy of generalized two-dimensional Hammersley point sets

We determine the L _p discrepancy of the two-dimensional Hammersley point set in base b. These formulas show that the L _p discrepancy of the Hammersley point set is not of best possible order with respect to the general (best possible) lower bound on L _p discrepancies due to Roth and Schmidt. To overcome this disadvantage we introduce permutations in the construction of the Hammersley point set and show that there always exist permutations such that the L _p discrepancy of the generalized Hammersley point set is of best possible order. For the L ₂ discrepancy such permutations are given explicitly. F.P. is supported by the Austrian Science Foundation (FWF), Project S9609, that is part of the Austrian National Research Network “Analytic Combinatorics and Probabilistic Number Theory”.