Clique-transversal sets in 4-regular claw-free graphs

A clique-transversal set D of a graph G is a set of vertices of G such that D meets all cliques of G. The clique-transversal number, denoted by τ _c (G), is the minimum cardinality of a clique-transversal set in G. In this paper we give the exact value of the clique-transversal number for the line graph of a complete graph. Also, we give a lower bound on the clique-transversal number for 4-regular claw-free graphs and characterize the extremal graphs achieving the lower bound.     

On product-cordial index sets and friendly index sets of 2-regular graphs and generalized wheels

A vertex labeling f : V → Z2 of a simple graph G = (V, E) induces two edge labelings f+ , f*: E → Z2 defined by f+ (uv) = f(u)+f(v) and f*(uv) = f(u)f(v). For each i∈Z2 , let vf(i) = |{v ∈ V : f(v) = i}|, e+f(i) = |{e ∈ E : f+(e) = i}| and e*f(i)=|{e∈E:f*(e)=i}|. We call f friendly if |vf(0)-vf(1)|≤ 1. The friendly index set and the product-cordial index set of G are defined as the sets{|e+f(0)-e+f(1)|:f is friendly} and {|e*f(0)-e*f(1)| : f is friendly}. In this paper we study and determine the connection between the friendly index sets and product-cordial index sets of 2-regular graphs and generalized wheel graphs.     

On 4-connected 4-regular graphs without even cycle decompositions

An even cycle decomposition of a graph is a partition of its edges into even cycles. Markström constructed infinitely many 2-connected 4-regular graphs without even cycle decompositions. Má?ajová and Mazák then constructed an infinite family of 3-connected 4-regular graphs without even cycle decompositions. In this note, we further show that there exists an infinite family of 4-connected 4-regular graphs without even cycle decompositions.     

On friendly index sets of 2-regular graphs

Let G be a graph with vertex set V and edge set E, and let A be an abelian group. A labeling f:V→A induces an edge labeling f^∗:E→A defined by f^∗(xy)=f(x)+f(y). For i∈A, let v_f(i)=card{v∈V:f(v)=i} and e_f(i)=card{e∈E:f^∗(e)=i}. A labeling f is said to be A-friendly if |v_f(i)−v_f(j)|≤1 for all (i,j)∈A×A, and A-cordial if we also have |e_f(i)−e_f(j)|≤1 for all (i,j)∈A×A. When A=Z₂, the friendly index set of the graph G is defined as {|e_f(1)−e_f(0)|:the vertex labelingf is Z₂-friendly}. In this paper we completely determine the friendly index sets of 2-regular graphs. In particular, we show that a 2-regular graph of order n is cordial if and only if n?2 (mod 4).     

Randomized on-line algorithms and lower bounds for computing large independent sets in disk graphs

We study the on-line version of the maximum independent set problem, for the case of disk graphs which are graphs resulting from intersections of disks on the plane. In particular, we investigate whether randomization can be used to break known lower bounds for deterministic on-line independent set algorithms and present new upper and lower bounds.     

On independent sets in random graphs

The independence number of a sparse random graph G(n,m) of average degree d = 2m/n is well‐known to be with high probability, with in the limit of large d. Moreover, a trivial greedy algorithm w.h.p. finds an independent set of size , i.e., about half the maximum size. Yet in spite of 30 years of extensive research no efficient algorithm has emerged to produce an independent set with size for any fixed (independent of both d and n). In this paper we prove that the combinatorial structure of the independent set problem in random graphs undergoes a phase transition as the size k of the independent sets passes the point . Roughly speaking, we prove that independent sets of size form an intricately rugged landscape, in which local search algorithms seem to get stuck. We illustrate this phenomenon by providing an exponential lower bound for the Metropolis process, a Markov chain for sampling independent sets. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Random Struct. Alg., 47, 436–486, 2015     

On the Clique-Transversal Number in （Claw,K4）-Free 4-Regular Graphs

A clique-transversal set D of a graph G is a set of vertices of G such that D meets all cliques of G.The clique-transversal number,denoted by τC(G),is the minimum cardinality of a clique-transversal set in G.In this paper,we first present a lower bound on τC(G) and characterize the extremal graphs achieving the lower bound for a connected(claw,K4)-free 4-regular graph G.Furthermore,we show that for any 2-connected(claw,K4)-free 4-regular graph G of order n,its clique-transversal number equals to [n/3].     

Finding large cycles in Hamiltonian graphs

We show how to find in Hamiltonian graphs a cycle of length n^{Ω(1/loglogn)}=exp(Ω(logn/loglogn)). This is a consequence of a more general result in which we show that if G has a maximum degree d and has a cycle with k vertices (or a 3-cyclable minor H with k vertices), then we can find in O(n³) time a cycle in G of length k^Ω(1/logd). From this we infer that if G has a cycle of length k, then one can find in O(n³) time a cycle of length k^{Ω(1/(log(n/k)+loglogn))}, which implies the result for Hamiltonian graphs. Our results improve, for some values of k and d, a recent result of Gabow (2004) [11] showing that if G has a cycle of length k, then one can find in polynomial time a cycle in G of length . We finally show that if G has fixed Euler genus g and has a cycle with k vertices (or a 3-cyclable minor H with k vertices), then we can find in polynomial time a cycle in G of length f(g)k^Ω(1), running in time O(n²) for planar graphs.     

Polar graphs and maximal independent sets

We study two central problems of algorithmic graph theory: finding maximum and minimum maximal independent sets. Both problems are known to be NP-hard in general. Moreover, they remain NP-hard in many special classes of graphs. For instance, the problem of finding minimum maximal independent sets has been recently proven to be NP-hard in the class of so-called (1,2)-polar graphs. On the other hand, both problems can be solved in polynomial time for (1,1)-polar, also known as split graphs. In this paper, we address the question of distinguishing new classes of graphs admitting polynomial-time solutions for the two problems in question. To this end, we extend the hierarchy of (α,β)-polar graphs and study the computational complexity of the problems on polar graphs of special types.     

Maximal independent sets in caterpillar graphs

A caterpillar graph is a tree in which the removal of all pendant vertices results in a chordless path. In this work, we determine the number of maximal independent sets (mis) in caterpillar graphs. For a general graph, this problem is #P—complete. We provide a polynomial time algorithm to generate the whole family of mis in a caterpillar graph. We also characterize the independent graph (intersection graph of mis) and the clique graph (intersection graph of cliques) of complete caterpillar graphs.     

On 3-regular 4-ordered graphs

A simple graph G is k-ordered (respectively, k-ordered hamiltonian), if for any sequence of k distinct vertices v₁,…,v_kof G there exists a cycle (respectively, hamiltonian cycle) in G containing these k vertices in the specified order. In 1997 Ng and Schultz introduced these concepts of cycle orderability and posed the question of the existence of 3-regular 4-ordered (hamiltonian) graphs other than K₄ and K_3,3. Ng and Schultz observed that a 3-regular 4-ordered graph on more than 4 vertices is triangle free. We prove that a 3-regular 4-ordered graph G on more than 6 vertices is square free,and we show that the smallest graph that is triangle and square free, namely the Petersen graph, is 4-ordered. Furthermore, we prove that the smallest graph after K₄ and K_3,3 that is 3-regular 4-ordered hamiltonianis the Heawood graph. Finally, we construct an infinite family of 3-regular 4-ordered graphs.     

NEIGHBORHOOD UNION OF INDEPENDENT SETS AND HAMILTONICITY OF CLAW-FREE GRAPHS

Let G be a graph,for any u∈V(G),let N(u) denote the neighborhood of u and d(u)=|N(u)| be the degree of u. For any U V(G) ,let N(U)=Uu,∈UN(u), and d(U)=|N(U)|.A graph G is called claw-free if it has no induced subgraph isomorphic to K1.3. One of the fundamental results concerning cycles in claw-free graphs is due to Tian Feng,et al. : Let G be a 2-connected claw-free graph of order n,and d(u) d(v) d(w)≥n-2 for every independent vertex set {u,v,w} of G, then G is Hamiltonian. It is proved that, for any three positive integers s ,t and w,such that if G is a (s t w-1)connected claw-free graph of order n,and d(S) d(T) d(W)＞n-(s t w) for every three disjoint independent vertex sets S,T,W with |S |=s, |T|=t, |W|=w,and S∪T∪W is also independent ,then G is Hamiltonian. Other related results are obtained too.     

Two problems on independent sets in graphs

Let i_t(G) denote the number of independent sets of size t in a graph G. Levit and Mandrescu have conjectured that for all bipartite G the sequence (i_t(G))_t≥0 (the independent set sequence of G) is unimodal. We provide evidence for this conjecture by showing that this is true for almost all equibipartite graphs. Specifically, we consider the random equibipartite graph G(n,n,p), and show that for any fixed p∈(0,1] its independent set sequence is almost surely unimodal, and moreover almost surely log-concave except perhaps for a vanishingly small initial segment of the sequence. We obtain similar results for .We also consider the problem of estimating i(G)=∑_t≥0i_t(G) for G in various families. We give a sharp upper bound on the number of independent sets in an n-vertex graph with minimum degree δ, for all fixed δ and sufficiently large n. Specifically, we show that the maximum is achieved uniquely by K_δ,n−δ, the complete bipartite graph with δ vertices in one partition class and n−δ in the other.We also present a weighted generalization: for all fixed x>0 and δ>0, as long as n=n(x,δ) is large enough, if G is a graph on n vertices with minimum degree δ then ∑_t≥0i_t(G)x^t≤∑_t≥0i_t(K_δ,n−δ)x^t with equality if and only if G=K_δ,n−δ.     

Tutte sets in graphs I: Maximal tutte sets and D‐graphs

A well‐known formula of Tutte and Berge expresses the size of a maximum matching in a graph G in terms of what is usually called the deficiency of G. A subset X of V(G) for which this deficiency is attained is called a Tutte set of G. While much is known about maximum matchings, less is known about the structure of Tutte sets. In this article, we study the structural aspects of maximal Tutte sets in a graph G. Towards this end, we introduce a related graph D(G). We first show that the maximal Tutte sets in G are precisely the maximal independent sets in its D‐graph D(G), and then continue with the study of D‐graphs in their own right, and of iterated D‐graphs. We show that G is isomorphic to a spanning subgraph of D(G), and characterize the graphs for which G?D(G) and for which D(G)?D²(G). Surprisingly, it turns out that for every graph G with a perfect matching, D³(G)?D²(G). Finally, we characterize bipartite D‐graphs and comment on the problem of characterizing D‐graphs in general. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 55: 343–358, 2007     

A revision and extension of results on 4-regular, 4-connected, claw-free graphs

In 1995, Plummer (1992) [6] published a paper in which he gave a characterization of 4-regular, 4-connected, claw-free graphs. Based on that work, Hartnell and Plummer (1996) [5] published a paper on 4-connected, claw-free, well-covered graphs a year later. However, in his 1995 paper, Plummer inadvertently omitted some of the graphs with odd order. In this paper, we will complete Plummer’s characterization of all 4-connected, 4-regular, claw-free graphs, and then show the implications this has on the well-covered graphs he and Hartnell determined. In addition, we will characterize 4-connected, 4-regular, claw-free, well-dominated graphs.     

The maximum number of maximal independent sets in unicyclic connected graphs

In this paper, we determine the maximum number of maximal independent sets in a unicyclic connected graph. We also find a class of graphs achieving this maximum value.     

Counting independent sets in Riordan graphs

The notion of a Riordan graph was introduced recently, and it is a far-reaching generalization of the well-known Pascal graphs and Toeplitz graphs. However, apart from a certain subclass of Toeplitz graphs, nothing was known on independent sets in Riordan graphs.In this paper, we give exact enumeration and lower and upper bounds for the number of independent sets for various classes of Riordan graphs. Remarkably, we offer a variety of methods to solve the problems that range from the structural decomposition theorem to methods in combinatorics on words. Some of our results are valid for any graph.     

Maximal independent sets in graphs with at most r cycles

We find the maximum number of maximal independent sets in two families of graphs. The first family consists of all graphs with n vertices and at most r cycles. The second family is all graphs of the first family which are connected and satisfy n ≥ 3r. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 53: 270–282, 2006     

Upper bounds on the bisection width of 3- and 4-regular graphs

We derive new upper bounds on the bisection width of graphs which have a regular vertex degree. We show that the bisection width of sufficiently large 3-regular graphs with |V| vertices is at most , ε>0. For the bisection width of sufficiently large 4-regular graphs we show an upper bound of , ε>0.