The induced path function, monotonicity and betweenness

The geodesic interval function I of a connected graph allows an axiomatic characterization involving axioms on the function only, without any reference to distance, as was shown by Nebeský [20]. Surprisingly, Nebeský [23] showed that, if no further restrictions are imposed, the induced path function J of a connected graph G does not allow such an axiomatic characterization. Here J(u,v) consists of the set of vertices lying on the induced paths between u and v. This function is a special instance of a transit function. In this paper we address the question what kind of restrictions could be imposed to obtain axiomatic characterizations of J. The function J satisfies betweenness if w∈J(u,v), with w≠u, implies u∉J(w,v) and x∈J(u,v) implies J(u,x)⊆J(u,v). It is monotone if x,y∈J(u,v) implies J(x,y)⊆J(u,v). In the case where we restrict ourselves to functions J that satisfy betweenness, or monotonicity, we are able to provide such axiomatic characterizations of J by transit axioms only. The graphs involved can all be characterized by forbidden subgraphs.     

Kernels in quasi-transitive digraphs

Let D be a digraph, V(D) and A(D) will denote the sets of vertices and arcs of D, respectively.A kernel N of D is an independent set of vertices such that for every w∈V(D)-N there exists an arc from w to N. A digraph is called quasi-transitive when (u,v)∈A(D) and (v,w)∈A(D) implies (u,w)∈A(D) or (w,u)∈A(D). This concept was introduced by Ghouilá-Houri [Caractérisation des graphes non orientés dont on peut orienter les arrêtes de maniere à obtenir le graphe d’ un relation d’ordre, C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris 254 (1962) 1370-1371] and has been studied by several authors. In this paper the following result is proved: Let D be a digraph. Suppose D=D₁∪D₂ where D_i is a quasi-transitive digraph which contains no asymmetrical infinite outward path (in D_i) for i∈{1,2}; and that every directed cycle of length 3 contained in D has at least two symmetrical arcs, then D has a kernel. All the conditions for the theorem are tight.     

Distance-hereditary graphs and signpost systems

An ordered pair (U,R) is called a signpost system if U is a finite nonempty set, R⊆U×U×U, and the following axioms hold for all u,v,w∈U: (1) if (u,v,w)∈R, then (v,u,u)∈R; (2) if (u,v,w)∈R, then (v,u,w)∉R; (3) if u≠v, then there exists t∈U such that (u,t,v)∈R. (If F is a (finite) connected graph with vertex set U and distance function d, then U together with the set of all ordered triples (u,v,w) of vertices in F such that d(u,v)=1 and d(v,w)=d(u,w)−1 is an example of a signpost system). If (U,R) is a signpost system and G is a graph, then G is called the underlying graph of (U,R) if V(G)=U and xy∈E(G) if and only if (x,y,y)∈R (for all x,y∈U). It is possible to say that a signpost system shows a way how to travel in its underlying graph. The following result is proved: Let (U,R) be a signpost system and let G denote the underlying graph of (U,R). Then G is connected and every induced path in G is a geodesic in G if and only if (U,R) satisfies axioms (4)-(8) stated in this paper; note that axioms (4)-(8)-similarly as axioms (1)-(3)-can be formulated in the language of the first-order logic.     

Ultracritical and hypercritical binary structures

A binary structure is an arc-coloured complete digraph, without loops, and with exactly two coloured arcs (u,v) and (v,u) between distinct vertices u and v. Graphs, digraphs and partial orders are all examples of binary structures. Let B be a binary structure. With each subset W of the vertex set V(B) of B we associate the binary substructure B[W] of B induced by W. A subset C of V(B) is a clan of B if for any c,d∈C and v∈V(B)?C, the arcs (c,v) and (d,v) share the same colour and similarly for (v,c) and (v,d). For instance, the vertex set V(B), the empty set and any singleton subset of V(B) are clans of B. They are called the trivial clans of B. A binary structure is primitive if all its clans are trivial.With a primitive and infinite binary structure B we associate a criticality digraph (in the sense of [11]) defined on V(B) as follows. Given v≠w∈V(B), (v,w) is an arc of the criticality digraph of B if v belongs to a non-trivial clan of B[V(B)?{w}]. A primitive and infinite binary structure B is finitely critical if B[V(B)?F] is not primitive for each finite and non-empty subset F of V(B). A finitely critical binary structure B is hypercritical if for every v∈V(B), B[V(B)?{v}] admits a non-trivial clan C such that |V(B)?C|≥3 which contains every non-trivial clan of B[V(B)?{v}]. A hypercritical binary structure is ultracritical whenever its criticality digraph is connected.The ultracritical binary structures are studied from their criticality digraphs. Then a characterization of the non-ultracritical but hypercritical binary structures is obtained, using the generalized quotient construction originally introduced in [1].     

On a cyclic connectivity property of directed graphs

Let us call a digraph D cycle-connected if for every pair of vertices u,v∈V(D) there exists a cycle containing both u and v. In this paper we study the following open problem introduced by Ádám. Let D be a cycle-connected digraph. Does there exist a universal edge in D, i.e., an edge e∈E(D) such that for every w∈V(D) there exists a cycle C such that w∈V(C) and e∈E(C)?In his 2001 paper Hetyei conjectured that cycle-connectivity always implies the existence of a universal edge. In the present paper we prove the conjecture of Hetyei for bitournaments.     

Induced path transit function, monotone and Peano axioms

The induced path transit function J(u,v) in a graph consists of the set of all vertices lying on any induced path between the vertices u and v. A transit function J satisfies monotone axiom if x,y∈J(u,v) implies J(x,y)⊆J(u,v). A transit function J is said to satisfy the Peano axiom if, for any u,v,w∈V,x∈J(v,w), y∈J(u,x), there is a z∈J(u,v) such that y∈J(w,z). These two axioms are equivalent for the induced path transit function of a graph. Planar graphs for which the induced path transit function satisfies the monotone axiom are characterized by forbidden induced subgraphs.     

On distance two graphs of upper bound graphs

For a poset P=(X,≤), the upper bound graph (UB-graph) of P is the graph U=(X,E_U), where uv∈E_U if and only if u≠v and there exists m∈X such that u,v≤m. For a graph G, the distance two graph DS₂(G) is the graph with vertex set V(DS₂(G))=V(G) and u,v∈V(DS₂(G)) are adjacent if and only if d_G(u,v)=2. In this paper, we deal with distance two graphs of upper bound graphs. We obtain a characterization of distance two graphs of split upper bound graphs.     

Domination with exponential decay

Let G be a graph and S⊆V(G). For each vertex u∈S and for each v∈V(G)−S, we define to be the length of a shortest path in 〈V(G)−(S−{u})〉 if such a path exists, and ∞ otherwise. Let v∈V(G). We define if v⁄∈S, and w_S(v)=2 if v∈S. If, for each v∈V(G), we have w_S(v)≥1, then S is an exponential dominating set. The smallest cardinality of an exponential dominating set is the exponential domination number, γ_e(G). In this paper, we prove: (i) that if G is a connected graph of diameter d, then γ_e(G)≥(d+2)/4, and, (ii) that if G is a connected graph of order n, then .     

On the eccentric distance sum of trees and unicyclic graphs

Let G be a simple connected graph with the vertex set V(G). The eccentric distance sum of G is defined as ξd(G)=_∑v∈V(G)ε(v)DG(v), where ε(v) is the eccentricity of the vertex v and DG(v)=_∑u∈V(G)d(u,v) is the sum of all distances from the vertex v. In this paper we characterize the extremal unicyclic graphs among n-vertex unicyclic graphs with given girth having the minimal and second minimal eccentric distance sum. In addition, we characterize the extremal trees with given diameter and minimal eccentric distance sum.     

Small alliances in a weighted graph

We extend the notion of a defensive alliance to weighted graphs. Let (G,w) be a weighted graph, where G is a graph and w be a function from V(G) to the set of positive real numbers. A non-empty set of vertices S in G is said to be a weighted defensive alliance if ∑_{x∈NG(v)∩S}w(x)+w(v)≥∑_{x∈NG(v)−S}w(x) holds for every vertex v in S. Fricke et al. (2003) [3] have proved that every graph of order n has a defensive alliance of order at most . In this note, we generalize this result to weighted defensive alliances. Let G be a graph of order n. Then we prove that for any weight function w on V(G), (G,w) has a defensive weighted alliance of order at most . We also extend the notion of strong defensive alliance to weighted graphs and generalize a result in Fricke et al. (2003) [3].     

Strict Betweennesses Induced by Posets as well as by Graphs

For a finite poset P = (V, ≤ ), let _s(P){\cal B}_s(P) consist of all triples (x,y,z) ∈ V ³ such that either x < y < z or z < y < x. Similarly, for every finite, simple, and undirected graph G = (V,E), let B_s(G){\cal B}_s(G) consist of all triples (x,y,z) ∈ V ³ such that y is an internal vertex on an induced path in G between x and z. The ternary relations B_s(P){\cal B}_s(P) and B_s(G){\cal B}_s(G) are well-known examples of so-called strict betweennesses. We characterize the pairs (P,G) of posets P and graphs G on the same ground set V which induce the same strict betweenness relation B_s(P)=B_s(G){\cal B}_s(P)={\cal B}_s(G).     

Unique response Roman domination in graphs

A function f:V(G)→{0,1,2} is a Roman dominating function if every vertex u for which f(u)=0 is adjacent to at least one vertex v for which f(v)=2. A function f:V(G)→{0,1,2} with the ordered partition (V₀,V₁,V₂) of V(G), where V_i={v∈V(G)∣f(v)=i} for i=0,1,2, is a unique response Roman function if x∈V₀ implies |N(x)∩V₂|≤1 and x∈V₁∪V₂ implies that |N(x)∩V₂|=0. A function f:V(G)→{0,1,2} is a unique response Roman dominating function if it is a unique response Roman function and a Roman dominating function. The unique response Roman domination number of G, denoted by u_R(G), is the minimum weight of a unique response Roman dominating function. In this paper we study the unique response Roman domination number of graphs and present bounds for this parameter.     

A note on Roman domination in graphs

Let G=(V,E) be a simple graph. A subset S⊆V is a dominating set of G, if for any vertex u∈V-S, there exists a vertex v∈S such that uv∈E. The domination number of G, γ(G), equals the minimum cardinality of a dominating set. A Roman dominating function on graph G=(V,E) is a function f:V→{0,1,2} satisfying the condition that every vertex v for which f(v)=0 is adjacent to at least one vertex u for which f(u)=2. The weight of a Roman dominating function is the value f(V)=∑_v∈Vf(v). The Roman domination number of a graph G, denoted by γ_R(G), equals the minimum weight of a Roman dominating function on G. In this paper, for any integer k(2?k?γ(G)), we give a characterization of graphs for which γ_R(G)=γ(G)+k, which settles an open problem in [E.J. Cockayne, P.M. Dreyer Jr, S.M. Hedetniemi et al. On Roman domination in graphs, Discrete Math. 278 (2004) 11-22].     

Constructing and classifying neighborhood anti-Sperner graphs

For a simple graph G let N_G(u) be the (open) neighborhood of vertex u∈V(G). Then G is neighborhood anti-Sperner (NAS) if for every u there is a v∈V(G)?{u} with N_G(u)⊆N_G(v). And a graph H is neighborhood distinct (ND) if every neighborhood is distinct, i.e., if N_H(u)≠N_H(v) when u≠v, for all u and v∈V(H).In Porter and Yucas [T.D. Porter, J.L. Yucas. Graphs whose vertex-neighborhoods are anti-sperner, Bulletin of the Institute of Combinatorics and its Applications 44 (2005) 69-77] a characterization of regular NAS graphs was given: ‘each regular NAS graph can be obtained from a host graph by replacing vertices by null graphs of appropriate sizes, and then joining these null graphs in a prescribed manner’. We extend this characterization to all NAS graphs, and give algorithms to construct all NAS graphs from host ND graphs. Then we find and classify all connected r-regular NAS graphs for r=0,1,…,6.     

A note on the weakly convex and convex domination numbers of a torus

The distanced_G(u,v) between two vertices u and v in a connected graph G is the length of the shortest (u,v) path in G. A (u,v) path of length d_G(u,v) is called a (u,v)-geodesic. A set X⊆V is called weakly convex in G if for every two vertices a,b∈X, exists an (a,b)-geodesic, all of whose vertices belong to X. A set X is convex in G if for all a,b∈X all vertices from every (a,b)-geodesic belong to X. The weakly convex domination number of a graph G is the minimum cardinality of a weakly convex dominating set of G, while the convex domination number of a graph G is the minimum cardinality of a convex dominating set of G. In this paper we consider weakly convex and convex domination numbers of tori.     

Minimum cost homomorphisms to semicomplete multipartite digraphs

For digraphs D and H, a mapping f:V(D)→V(H) is a homomorphism ofDtoH if uv∈A(D) implies f(u)f(v)∈A(H). For a fixed directed or undirected graph H and an input graph D, the problem of verifying whether there exists a homomorphism of D to H has been studied in a large number of papers. We study an optimization version of this decision problem. Our optimization problem is motivated by a real-world problem in defence logistics and was introduced recently by the authors and M. Tso.Suppose we are given a pair of digraphs D,H and a cost c_i(u) for each u∈V(D) and i∈V(H). The cost of a homomorphism f of D to H is ∑_u∈V(D)c_f(u)(u). Let H be a fixed digraph. The minimum cost homomorphism problem for H, MinHOMP(H), is stated as follows: For input digraph D and costs c_i(u) for each u∈V(D) and i∈V(H), verify whether there is a homomorphism of D to H and, if it does exist, find such a homomorphism of minimum cost. In our previous paper we obtained a dichotomy classification of the time complexity of when H is a semicomplete digraph. In this paper we extend the classification to semicomplete k-partite digraphs, k≥3, and obtain such a classification for bipartite tournaments.     

On the computation of the hull number of a graph

Let G be a graph. If u,v∈V(G), a u-vshortest path of G is a path linking u and v with minimum number of edges. The closed interval I[u,v] consists of all vertices lying in some u-v shortest path of G. For S⊆V(G), the set I[S] is the union of all sets I[u,v] for u,v∈S. We say that S is a convex set if I[S]=S. The convex hull of S, denoted I_h[S], is the smallest convex set containing S. A set S is a hull set of G if I_h[S]=V(G). The cardinality of a minimum hull set of G is the hull number of G, denoted by hn(G). In this work we prove that deciding whether hn(G)≤k is NP-complete.We also present polynomial-time algorithms for computing hn(G) when G is a unit interval graph, a cograph or a split graph.     

The complexity of the minimum cost homomorphism problem for semicomplete digraphs with possible loops

For digraphs D and H, a mapping f:V(D)→V(H) is a homomorphism of D to H if uv∈A(D) implies f(u)f(v)∈A(H). For a fixed digraph H, the homomorphism problem is to decide whether an input digraph D admits a homomorphism to H or not, and is denoted as HOM(H).An optimization version of the homomorphism problem was motivated by a real-world problem in defence logistics and was introduced in Gutin, Rafiey, Yeo and Tso (2006) [13]. If each vertex u∈V(D) is associated with costs c_i(u),i∈V(H), then the cost of the homomorphism f is ∑_u∈V(D)c_f(u)(u). For each fixed digraph H, we have the minimum cost homomorphism problem forH and denote it as MinHOM(H). The problem is to decide, for an input graph D with costs c_i(u),u∈V(D),i∈V(H), whether there exists a homomorphism of D to H and, if one exists, to find one of minimum cost.Although a complete dichotomy classification of the complexity of MinHOM(H) for a digraph H remains an unsolved problem, complete dichotomy classifications for MinHOM(H) were proved when H is a semicomplete digraph Gutin, Rafiey and Yeo (2006) [10], and a semicomplete multipartite digraph Gutin, Rafiey and Yeo (2008) [12] and [11]. In these studies, it is assumed that the digraph H is loopless. In this paper, we present a full dichotomy classification for semicomplete digraphs with possible loops, which solves a problem in Gutin and Kim (2008) [9].     

Every cycle-connected multipartite tournament has a universal arc

A digraph D is cycle-connected if for every pair of vertices u,v∈V(D) there exists a directed cycle in D containing both u and v. In 1999, Ádám [A. Ádám, On some cyclic connectivity properties of directed graphs, Acta Cybernet. 14 (1) (1999) 1-12] posed the following problem. Let D be a cycle-connected digraph. Does there exist a universal arc in D, i.e., an arc e∈A(D) such that for every vertex w∈V(D) there is a directed cycle in D containing both e and w?A c-partite or multipartite tournament is an orientation of a complete c-partite graph. Recently, Hubenko [A. Hubenko, On a cyclic connectivity property of directed graphs, Discrete Math. 308 (2008) 1018-1024] proved that each cycle-connected bipartite tournament has a universal arc. As an extension of this result, we show in this note that each cycle-connected multipartite tournament has a universal arc.     

Hamilton cycles in digraphs of unitary matrices

A set S⊆V is called a q⁺-set (q^--set, respectively) if S has at least two vertices and, for every u∈S, there exists v∈S,v≠u such that N⁺(u)∩N⁺(v)≠∅ (N^-(u)∩N^-(v)≠∅, respectively). A digraph D is called s-quadrangular if, for every q⁺-set S, we have |∪{N⁺(u)∩N⁺(v):u≠v,u,v∈S}|?|S| and, for every q^--set S, we have |∪{N^-(u)∩N^-(v):u,v∈S)}?|S|. We conjecture that every strong s-quadrangular digraph has a Hamilton cycle and provide some support for this conjecture.