Ars Combinatoria

ISSN 0381-7032 (print), 2817-5204 (online)

Ars Combinatoria is the oldest Canadian journal of combinatorics, established in 1976, dedicated to advancing combinatorial mathematics through the publication of high-quality, peer-reviewed research papers. Over the decades, it has built a strong international reputation and continues to serve as a leading platform for significant contributions to the field.
Open Access:  The journal follows the Diamond Open Access model—completely free for both authors and readers, with no article processing charges (APCs)
Publication Frequency: From 2024 onward, Ars Combinatoria publishes four issues annually—in March, June, September, and December.
Scope: Publishes research in all areas of combinatorics, including graph theory, design theory, enumeration, algebraic combinatorics, combinatorial optimization and related fields.
Indexing & Abstracting:  Indexed in MathSciNet, Zentralblatt MATH, and EBSCO, ensuring wide visibility and scholarly reach.
Rapid Publication: Submissions are processed efficiently, with accepted papers published promptly in the next available issue.
Print & Online Editions: Issues are available in both print and online formats to serve a broad readership.

Hajime Matsumura1
1Department of Mathematics Keio University Yokohama. 223-8522, Japan
Abstract:

We call a cycle whose length is at most \(5\) a short cycle. In this paper, we consider the packing of short cycles in a graph with specified edges. A minimum degree condition is obtained, which is slightly weaker than that of the result in \([1]\).

Jiansheng Cai1, Guizhen Liu1
1School of Mathematics and System Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan 250100, P. R. China
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a graph with vertex set \(V(G)\) and let \(f\) be a nonnegative integer-valued function defined on \(V(G)\). A spanning subgraph \(F\) of \(G\) is called a fractional \(f\)-factor if \(d_G^{h}(x) = f(x)\) for every \(x \in V(F)\). In this paper, we prove that if \(\delta(G) \geq b\) and \(\alpha(G) \leq \frac{4a(\delta-b)}{(b+1)^2}\), then \(G\) has a fractional \(f\)-factor. Where \(a\) and \(b\) are integers such that \(0 \leq a \leq f(x) \leq b\) for every \(x \in V(G)\). Therefore, we prove that the fractional analogue of Conjecture in \([2]\) is true.

Iwao Sato1, Jaeun Lee2
1Oyama National College of Technology Oyama, Tochigi 323, JAPAN
2Department of Mathematics Yeungnam University, Kyongsan, 712-749 KOREA
Abstract:

Let \(D\) be a connected symmetric digraph, \(A\) a finite abelian group, \(g \in A\) and \(\Gamma\) a group of automorphisms of \(D\). We consider the number of \(T\)-isomorphism classes of connected \(g\)-cyclic \(A\)-covers of \(D\) for an element \(g\) of odd order. Specifically, we enumerate the number of \(I\)-isomorphism classes of connected \(g\)-cyclic \(A\)-covers of \(D\) for an element \(g\) of odd order and the trivial automorphism group \(\Gamma\) of \(D\), when \(A\) is the cyclic group \({Z}_{p^n}\) and the direct sum of \(m\) copies of \({Z}_p\) for any prime number \(p (> 2)\).

Lionel Levine1
1Department of Mathematics University of California Berkeley, CA, 94720
Abstract:

The Grundy number of an impartial game \(G\) is the size of the unique Nim heap equal to \(G\). We introduce a new variant of Nim, Restricted Nim, which restricts the number of stones a player may remove from a heap in terms of the size of the heap. Certain classes of Restricted Nim are found to produce sequences of Grundy numbers with a self-similar fractal structure. Extending work of C. Kimberling, we obtain new characterizations of these “fractal sequences” and give a bijection between these sequences and certain upper-triangular arrays. As a special case, we obtain the game of Serial Nim, in which the Nim heaps are ordered from left to right, and players can move only in the leftmost nonempty heap.

Flavia Bonomo1, Guillermo Duran2, Marina Groshaus3, Jayme L Szwarcfiter4
1Dep. de Computacién, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Atres, Argentina.
2Dep. de Ingenieria Industrial, Facultad de Ciencias Fisicas y Matemdticas, Universidad de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
3Dep, de Computacién, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
4 Institulo de Matemdtica, NCE and COPPE, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Caira Postal 2324, 20001-970 Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
Abstract:

A graph \(G\) is clique-perfect if the cardinality of a maximum clique-independent set of \(H\) is equal to the cardinality of a minimum clique-transversal of \(H\), for every induced subgraph \(H\) of \(G\). When equality holds for every clique subgraph of \(G\), the graph is \(c\)-clique-perfect. A graph \(G\) is \(K\)-perfect when its clique graph \(K(G)\) is perfect. In this work, relations are described among the classes of perfect, \(K\)-perfect, clique-perfect and \(c\)-clique-perfect graphs. Besides, partial characterizations of \(K\)-perfect graphs using polyhedral theory and clique subgraphs are formulated.

Florian Luca1
1Mathematical Institute, UNAM Ap. Postal 61-3 (Xangari) C.P. 58 089 Morelia, Michoacin, MEXICO
Abstract:

In this note, we investigate arithmetic properties of the Motzkin numbers. We prove that for large \(n\), the product of the first \(n\) Motzkin numbers is divisible by a large prime. The proofs use the Deep Subspace Theorem.

Mirko Hornak1, Norma Zagaglia Salvi2
1 INSTITUTE OF MATHEMaTICS, P. J. SAFARIK UNIVERSITY, JESENNA 5, 041 54 KoSIce, SLOVAKIA
2DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS, POLITECNICO DI MILANO, P.ZaA L. DA VINCI 32, 20133 MILANO, ITALY
Abstract:

The point-distinguishing chromatic index of a graph \(G\), denoted by \(\chi_o(G)\), is the smallest number of colours in a (not necessarily proper) edge colouring of \(G\) such that any two distinct vertices of \(G\) are distinguished by sets of colours of their adjacent edges. The exact value of \(\chi_o(K_{m,n})\) is found if either \(m \leq 10\) or \(n \geq 8m^2 – 2m + 1\).

Eddie Cheng1, Laszlo Liptak2
1DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, OAKLAND UNIVER- SITY, ROCHESTER, MI 48309.
2DEPARTMENT OF MATHEMATICS AND STATISTICS, OAKLAND UNIVER- sITY, ROCHESTER, MI 48309.
Abstract:

Star graphs were introduced by \([1]\) as a competitive model to the \(n\)-cubes. Then hyper-stars were introduced in \([9]\) to be a competitive model to both \(n\)-cubes and star graphs. In this paper, we discuss strong connectivity properties and orientability of the hyper-stars.

Hui-Chuan Lu1, Dung-Ming Lee1
1National United University Miaoli, Taiwan, R.O.C
Abstract:

In this paper, three methods for constructing larger harmonious graphs from one or a set of harmonious graphs are provided.

(Ben) Pak Ching Li1, Michel Toulouse1
1Department of Computer Science University of Manitoba Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2, Canada
Abstract:

The complexity of determining if a Steiner triple system on \(v = 6n + 3\) points contains a parallel class is currently unknown. In this paper, we show that the problem of determining if a partial Steiner triple system on \(v = 6n + 3\) points contains a parallel class is NP-complete. We also consider the problem of determining the chromatic index of a partial Steiner triple system and show that this problem is NP-hard.