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.

Hirobumi Mizuno1, Iwao Sato2
1Department of Computer Science and Information Mathematics University of Electro-Communications 1-5-1, Chofugaoka, Chofu Tokyo 182 Japan
2Oyama National College of Technology Oyama Tochigi 323 Japan
Abstract:

Let \(D\) be a connected symmetric digraph, \(A\) a finite abelian group with some specified property and \(g \in A\). We present a characterization for two \(g\)-cyclic \(A\)-covers of \(D\) to be isomorphic with respect to a group \(\Gamma\) of automorphisms of \(D\), for any \(g\) of odd order. Furthermore, we consider the number of \(\Gamma\)-isomorphism classes of \(g\)-cyclic \(A\)-covers of \(D\) for an element \(g\) of odd order. We enumerate the number of isomorphism classes of \(g\)-cyclic \({Z}_{p^n}\)-covers of \(D\) with respect to the trivial group of automorphisms of \(D\), for any prime \(p (> 2)\), where \(\mathbb{Z}_{p^n}\) is the cyclic group of order \(p^n\). Finally, we count \(\Gamma\)-isomorphism classes of cyclic \({F}_p\)-covers of \(D\).

H. L. Fu1, C. A. Rodger2, D. G. Sarvate3
1Department of Applied Mathematics National Chiao-Tung University Hsin-Chu, Taiwan Republic of China
2Department of Discrete and Statistical Sciences 120 Math Annex Auburn University, Alabama USA 36849-5307
3Department of Mathematics University of Charleston Charleston, SC 29424
Abstract:

We completely settle the existence problem for group divisible designs with first and second associates in which the block size is \(3\), and with \(m\) groups each of size \(n\), where \(n, m \geq 3\).

Wun-Seng Chou1, Peter Jau-Shyong Shiue2
1Institute of Mathematics, Academia Sinica, Nankang, Taipei, Taiwan 11529, R.O.C.
2Department of Mathematical Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas, Las Vegas, NV 89154, U.S.A.
Abstract:

We give a new and simple proof for the cyclic group of line crossings on the \(2-D\) torus.

Robert C.Brigham1, Julie R.Carrington2, Richard P.Vitray2
1Department of Mathematics, University of Central Florida
2Department of Mathematical Sciences, Rollins College
Abstract:

An abdiff-tolerance competition graph, \(G = (V, E)\), is a graph for which each vertex \(i\) can be assigned a non-negative integer \(t_i\); and at most \(|V|\) subsets \(S_j\) of \(V\) can be found such that \(xy \in E\) if and only if \(x\) and \(y\) lie in at least \(|t_x – t_y|\) of the sets \(S_j\). If \(G\) is not an abdiff-tolerance competition graph, it still is possible to find \(r > |V|\) subsets of \(V\) having the above property. The integer \(r – |V|\) is called the abdiff-tolerance competition number. This paper determines those complete bipartite graphs which are abdiff-tolerance competition graphs and finds an asymptotic value for the abdiff-tolerance competition number of \(K_{l,n}\).

H.L. Fu1, C.A. Rodger1
1Department of Discrete and Statistical Sciences 120 Math Annex Auburn University, Alabama USA 36849-5307
Abstract:

Let \(m \equiv 3 \pmod{6}\). We show that there exists an almost resolvable directed \(m\)-cycle system of \(D_n\) if and only if \(n \equiv 1 \pmod{m}\), except possibly if \(n \in \{3m+1, 6m+1\}\).

Heping Zhang1, Fuji Zhang2
1Department of Mathematics Lanzhou University Lanzhou, Gansu 730000 P. R. China
2Department of Mathematics Xiamen University Xiamen, Fujian 361005 P. R. China
Abstract:

Let \(G\) be a connected plane bipartite graph. The \({Z}\)-transformation graph \({Z}(G)\) is a graph where the vertices are the perfect matchings of \(G\) and where two perfect matchings are joined by an edge provided their symmetric difference is the boundary of an interior face of \(G\). For a plane elementary bipartite graph \(G\) it is shown that the block graph of \({Z}\)-transformation graph \({Z}(G)\) is a path. As an immediate consequence, we have that \({Z}(G)\) has at most two vertices of degree one.

Bridget S.Webb1
1Department of Pure Mathematics, The Open University, Walton Hall, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, United Kingdom.
Abstract:

Block’s Lemma states that every automorphism group of a finite \(2-(v,k,\lambda)\) design acts with at least as many block orbits as point orbits: this is not the case for infinite designs. Evans constructed a block transitive \(2-(v,4,14)\) design with two point orbits using ideas from model theory and Camina generalized this method to construct a family of block transitive designs with two point orbits. In this paper, we generalize the method further to construct designs with \(n\) point orbits and \(l\) block orbits with \(l < n\), where both \(n\) and \(l\) are finite. In particular, we prove that for \(k \geq 4\) and \(n \leq k/2\), there exists a block transitive \(2-(v,k,\lambda)\) design, for some finite \(\lambda\), with \(n\) point orbits. We also construct \(2-(v, 4, \lambda)\) designs with automorphism groups acting with \(n\) point orbits and \(l\) block orbits, \(l < n\), for every permissible pair \((n, l)\).

Dragan M.Acketa1, Vojislavy Mudrinski1
1Institute of Mathematics, University of Novi Sad, Trg D. Obradoviéa 4, 21000 Novi Sad, Serbia, Yugoslavia
Abstract:

Using a modification of the Kramer-Mesner method, \(4-(38,5,\lambda)\) designs are constructed with \(\text{PSL}(2,37)\) as an automorphism group and with \(\lambda\) in the set \(\{6,10,12,16\}\). It turns out also that there exists a \(4-(38,5,16)\) design with \(\text{PGL}(2,37)\) as an automorphism group.

Toru Araki1, Yukio Shibata1
1Department of Computer Science, Gunma University Kiryu, Gunma, 376-8515 Japan
Abstract:

Block’s Lemma states that every automorphism group of a finite \(2-(v,k,\lambda)\) design acts with at least as many block orbits as point orbits: this is not the case for infinite designs. Evans constructed a block transitive \(2-(v,4,14)\) design with two point orbits using ideas from model theory and Camina generalized this method to construct a family of block transitive designs with two point orbits. In this paper, we generalize the method further to construct designs with \(n\) point orbits and \(l\) block orbits with \(l < n\), where both \(n\) and \(l\) are finite. In particular, we prove that for \(k \geq 4\) and \(n \leq k/2\), there exists a block transitive \(2-(v,k,\lambda)\) design, for some finite \(\lambda\), with \(n\) point orbits. We also construct \(2-(v, 4, \lambda)\) designs with automorphism groups acting with \(n\) point orbits and \(l\) block orbits, \(l < n\), for every permissible pair \((n, l)\).

J.L. Ramfrez-Alfonsin1
1Universite Pierre et Marie Curie, Paris VI Equipe Combinatoire Case Postal 189 4, Place Jussieu 75252 Paris Cedex 05 France
Abstract:

We investigate whether replicated paths and replicated cycles are graceful. We also investigate the number of different graceful labelings of the complete bipartite graph .