In finite desarguesian projective planes of prime power order \(q\), we consider the MDS codes obtained from ovals and generate new codes for the purpose of permutation decoding. We show that those new codes are \([q^2-1,3,(q-1)^2]_q\) codes and have \(s\)-PD-sets for \(s\le q-1\).

In this paper, we explore the enumerative combinatorics of American-style crossword puzzle grids under modified answer length requirements. While standard American-style crossword rules have a minimum answer length of three cells, we generalize this constraint to a minimum length \(m\) for an \(n\times n\) grid. We define \(\lvert Puz (n,m)\rvert\) as the number of such grids satisfying the standard structural rules of connectivity, \(180^\circ\) rotational symmetry, keyed squares, and full dimensionality. We prove that for \(m>\frac{n}{2}\), the number of valid grids is invariant under the transformation \(\lvert Puz (n,m)\rvert=\lvert Puz (n+1,m+1)\rvert\). Furthermore, we establish a closed-form formula for \(\lvert Puz (n,m)\rvert\) when \(m>\frac{n}{2}\). We also verify some counts for smaller grid dimensions verifying previously conjectured values.

Let \(G\) be a graph of order \(n\), maximum degree at most \(\Delta\), and no component of order 2. Inspired by the famous 1-2-3-conjecture, Bensmail, Marcille, and Orenga define a proper pushing scheme of \(G\) as a function \(\rho : V(G) \to \mathbb{N}_{0}\) for which \[\sigma : V(G) \to \mathbb{N}_{0} : u \mapsto (1+\rho(u)) d_G(u) + \sum\limits_{v\in N_G(u)} \rho(v),\] is a vertex coloring, that is, adjacent vertices receive different values under \(\sigma\). They show the existence of a proper pushing scheme \(\rho\) with \(\max\{\rho(u) : u \in V(G)\} \leq \Delta^2\) and conjecture that this upper bound can be improved to \(\Delta\). We show their conjecture for cubic graphs and regular bipartite graphs. Furthermore, we show the existence of a proper pushing scheme \(\rho\) with \(\sum\limits_{u\in V(G)} \rho(u) \leq (2\Delta^2+\Delta)n/6\).

A strongly connected digraph \(D\) is primitive provided the greatest common divisor of the lengths of its directed cycles equals 1. The scrambling index of a primitive digraph \(D\) is the smallest positive integer \(k\) such that for every pair of vertices \(u\) and \(v\), there is a vertex \(w\) such that we can get to \(w\) from \(u\) and \(v\) in \(D\) by directed walks of length \(k\). In this paper, we characterize those primitive doubly symmetric digraphs with the largest scrambling index.

By eliminating the win condition in the game of Connect Four and extending the board to infinite height, a rich state space of positions is obtained. We investigate the number of positions reachable on an \(n\)-column board after \(k\) color-alternating moves. For fixed \(k\) we demonstrate polynomiality, derive a partial formula for the polynomial coefficients, and precisely characterize the asymptotic behavior as \(n \to \infty\). We then turn our attention to the fixed-\(n\) case and show that, under a natural addition operation, positions reachable in an even number of moves form a monoid with a highly symmetric finite generating set; by examining certain free submonoids, we bound the exponential growth rate as \(k \to \infty\).

Sterboul’s theorem characterizes non-Kőnig–Egerváry graphs by the presence, relative to a maximum matching, of a flower or a posy. In this paper we translate that obstruction into the language of perfect flowers and the core of the graph. We introduce core-defective perfect flowers: perfect flowers whose alternating path contains a vertex at odd distance from the blossom base that does not belong to the core. We prove first that every Kőnig–Egerváry graph is core-rigid: in every perfect flower, all odd-distance vertices of the attaching path lie in the core. Conversely, if \(G\) is connected and is not an odd cycle, then \(G\) is non-Kőnig–Egerváry if and only if \(G\) contains a core-defective perfect flower. Thus, among connected graphs different from an odd cycle, the Kőnig–Egerváry graphs are exactly the graphs with no core-defective perfect flower. In the matchable case the statement strengthens: if \(G\) has a perfect matching, then being non-Kőnig–Egerváry is equivalent to the existence of a core-defective perfect flower for some maximum matching, and also equivalent to the existence of one for every maximum matching. We include examples and counterexamples showing why odd cycles, disconnected graphs, and the universal quantifier over maximum matchings require separate treatment.

In this paper, we consider the relationship between toughness and the existence of \((g,f)\)-factors with inclusion/exclusion properties. We obtain that if \(t(G) \geq \frac{(a+b)^{2}+2(b-a)-3}{4(a+1)}\) with \(b > a \geq 2\) and \(a \leq g(x) < f(x) \leq b\) where \(a\), \(b\) are two integers, then for any two given edges \(e_{1}\) and \(e_{2}\), there exists a \((g,f)\)-factor including \(e_{1}\), \(e_{2}\); and a \((g,f)\)-factor including \(e_{1}\) and excluding \(e_{2}\); as well as a \((g,f)\)-factor excluding \(e_{1}\), \(e_{2}\).