On feedback vertex sets and nonseparating independent sets in cubic graphs

Let G be an undirected connected graph with n nodes. A subset F of nodes of G is a feedback vertex set (fvs) if G ? F is a forest and a subset J of nodes of G is a nonseparating independent set (nsis) if no two nodes of J are adjacent and G ? J is connected. f(G), z(G) denote the cardinalities of a minimum fvs and a maximum nsis, respectively, of G. The equation f(G) = n/2 ? z(G) + 1 and two new upper bounds on f(G) are derived for cubic graphs G.     

Smallest defining sets of directed triple systems

A directed triple system of order v, , is a pair (V,B) where V is a set of v elements and B is a collection of ordered triples of distinct elements of V with the property that every ordered pair of distinct elements of V occurs in exactly one triple as a subsequence. A set of triples in a D is a defining set for D if it occurs in no other on the same set of points. A defining set for D is a smallest defining set for D if D has no defining set of smaller cardinality. In this paper we are interested in the quantity

     

Self-converse large sets of pure Mendelsohn triple systems

A Mendelsohn triple system of order v （MTS（v）） is a pair （X,B） where X is a v-set and 5g is a collection of cyclic triples on X such that every ordered pair of X belongs to exactly one triple of B. An MTS（v） （X,B） is called pure and denoted by PMTS（v） if （x, y, z） ∈ B implies （z, y, x） ∈B. A large set of MTS（v）s （LMTS（v）） is a collection of v - 2 pairwise disjoint MTS（v）s on a v-set. A self-converse large set of PMTS（v）s, denoted by LPMTS＊ （v）, is an LMTS（v） containing [ v-2/2] converse pairs of PMTS（v）s. In this paper, some results about the existence and non-existence for LPMTS＊ （v） are obtained.     

Self-converse large sets of pure directed triple systems

An $LPDTS(v,\lambda )$ is a collection of $\frac{3(v?2)}{\lambda }$ pairwise disjoint $PDTS(v,\lambda )s$ on the same set of v elements. An $LPDT{S}^{?}(v)$ is a special $LPDTS(v,1)$ which contains exactly $\frac{v?2}{2}$ converse hexads of $PDTS(v)s$. In this paper, we mainly discuss the existence of an $LPDT{S}^{?}(v)$ and get the following conclusions: (1) there exists an $LPDT{S}^{?}(v)$ if and only if $v\equiv 0,4\mathrm{mod 6},v\ge 4$ except possibly $v=30$. (2) There exists an $LPDTS(v,\lambda )$ with index $\lambda \equiv 2,4\mathrm{mod 6}$ if and only if $v\equiv 0,4\mathrm{mod 6},v\ge 2\lambda +2,v\equiv 2\mathrm{mod}\mathit{\lambda }$ except possibly $v=30$.     

On large sets of disjoint Kirkman triple systems

In this paper, we introduce LR(u) designs and use these designs together with large sets of Kirkman triple systems (LKTS) and transitive KTS (TKTS) of order v to construct an LKTS(uv). Our main result is that there exists an LKTS(v) for v∈{3nm(2·13k+1)t;n?1,k?1,t=0,1,m∈{1,5,11,17,25,35,43}}.     

Self-converse large sets of pure hybrid triple systems

Acta Mathematicae Applicatae Sinica, English Series - A hybrid triple system of order v, briefly by HTS (v), is a pair (X, B) where X is a v-set and B is a collection of cyclic and transitive...     

Further results on overlarge sets of Kirkman triple systems

In this paper, we introduce a new concept -- overlarge sets of generalized Kirkman systems （OLGKS）, research the relation between it and OLKTS, and obtain some new results for OLKTS. The main conclusion is： If there exist both an OLKF（6^k） and a 3-OLGKS（6^k-1,4） for all k ∈{6,7,...,40}／{8,17,21,22,25,26}, then there exists an OLKTS（v） for any v ≡ 3 （mod 6）, v ≠ 21. As well, we obtain the following result： There exists an OLKTS（6u ＋ 3） for u = 2^2n-1 - 1, 7^n, 31^n, 127^n, 4^r25^s, where n ≥ 1,r＋s≥ 1.     

Further results on large sets of Kirkman triple systems

An LR design is introduced by the second author in his recent paper and it plays a very important role in the construction of LKTS (a large set of disjoint Kirkman triple system). In this paper, we generalize it and introduce a new design RPICS. Some constructions for these two designs are also presented. With the relationship between them and LKTS, we obtain some new LKTSs.     

Existence of good large sets of Steiner triple systems

The concept of good large set of Steiner triple systems (or GLS in short) was introduced by Lu in his paper “on large sets of disjoint Steiner triple systems”, [J. Lu, On large sets of disjoint Steiner triple systems, I-III, J. Combin. Theory (A) 34 (1983) 140-182]. In this paper a doubling construction for GLSs is displayed and some existence results are obtained.     

New results on large sets of Kirkman triple systems

The existence problem on the large sets of Kirkman triple systems (LKTS) was posed by Sylvester in 1850’s as an extension of Kirkman’s 15 schoolgirls problem. An LKTS(15) was constructed by Denniston in 1974. However, up to now the smallest unknown order for the existence of LKTS is still 21. In this paper we construct the two smallest unknown LKTS(v)s with v = 21 and v = 39 by using multiplier automorphism groups. Applying known recursive constructions, we show the existence of more infinite classes of large sets of Kirkman triple systems.     

Another construction for large sets of Kirkman triple systems

A large set of Kirkman triple systems of order v, denoted by LKTS(v), is a collection , where every is a KTS(v) and all form a partition of all triples on X. In this article, we give a new construction for LKTS(6v + 3) via OLKTS(2v + 1) with a special property and obtain new results for LKTS, that is there exists an LKTS(3v) for , where p, q ≥ 0, r _i , s _j ≥ 1, q _i is a prime power and mod 12.      

The spectrum for overlarge sets of directed triple systems

A directed triple system of order v,denoted by DTS(v,λ),is a pair(X,B)where X is a v- set and B is a collection of transitive triples on X such that every ordered pair of X belongs toλtriples of B.An overlarge set of disjoint DTS(v,λ),denoted by OLDTS(v,λ),is a collection{(Y\{y},A_i)}_i, such that Y is a(v 1)-set,each(Y\{y},A_i)is a DTS(v,λ)and all A_i's form a partition of all transitive triples of Y.In this paper,we shall discuss the existence problem of OLDTS(v,λ)and give the following conclusion:there exists an OLDTS(v,λ)if and only if eitherλ=1 and v≡0,1(mod 3),orλ=3 and v≠2.     

The spectrum for overlarge sets of hybrid triple systems

A hybrid triple system of order v and index λ,denoted by HTS(v,λ),is a pair(X,B) where X is a v-set and B is a collection of cyclic triples and transitive triples on X,such that every ordered pair of X belongs to λ triples of B. An overlarge set of disjoint HTS(v,λ),denoted by OLHTS(v,λ),is a collection {(Y {y},Ai)}i,such that Y is a(v+1)-set,each(Y {y},Ai) is an HTS(v,λ) and all Ais form a partition of all cyclic triples and transitive triples on Y.In this paper,we shall discuss the existence problem of OLHTS(v,λ) and give the following conclusion: there exists an OLHTS(v,λ) if and only if λ=1,2,4,v ≡ 0,1(mod 3) and v≥4.     

On large sets of disjoint Steiner triple systems II

Let D(v) denote the maximum number of pairwise disjoint Steiner triple systems of order v. In this paper, we prove that if n is an odd number, there exist 12 mutually orthogonal Latin squares of order n and D(1 + 2n) = 2n ? 1, then D(1 + 12n) = 12n ? 1.     

Direct constructions of large sets of Kirkman triple systems

Research on the existence of large sets of Kirkman triple systems (LKTS) extends from the mid-eighteen hundreds to the present. In this paper we review known direct approaches of constructing LKTS and present new ideas of direct constructions. We finally prove the existence of an LKTS(v) where \(v \in \{69,141,165,213,285,309,333\}\). Combining recursive constructions yields several new infinite classes.     

On large sets of disjoint steiner triple systems I

Let D(v) denote the maximum number of pairwise disjoint Steiner triple systems of order v. In this paper, it is proved that if D(2 + n) = n, p is a prime number, p ≡ 7 (mod 8) or p? {5, 17, 19, 2}, and (p, n) ≠ (5, 1), then D(2 + pn) = pn.     

Edge-colorings of cubic graphs with elements of point-transitive Steiner triple systems

A cubic graph G is S-edge-colorable for a Steiner triple system S if its edges can be colored with points of S in such a way that the points assigned to three edges sharing a vertex form a triple in S. We show that a cubic graph is S-edge-colorable for every non-trivial affine Steiner triple system S unless it contains a well-defined obstacle called a bipartite end. In addition, we show that all cubic graphs are S-edge-colorable for every non-projective non-affine point-transitive Steiner triple system S.