Utilitas Algorithmica (UA)

ISSN: xxxx-xxxx (print)

Utilitas Algorithmica (UA) is a premier, open-access international journal dedicated to advancing algorithmic research and its applications. Launched to drive innovation in computer science, UA publishes high-impact theoretical and experimental papers addressing real-world computational challenges. The journal underscores the vital role of efficient algorithm design in navigating the growing complexity of modern applications. Spanning domains such as parallel computing, computational geometry, artificial intelligence, and data structures, UA is a leading venue for groundbreaking algorithmic studies.

Donald L.Kreher1
1Department of Mathematical Sciences Michigan Technological University Houghton, Michigan 49931-1295 U.S.A.
C. A. Barefoot1
1Department of Mathematics and Statistics New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology Socorro, New Mexico 87801
Abstract:

The basic interpolation theorem states that if graph \(G\) contains spanning trees having \(m\) and \(n\) leaves, with \(m < n\), then for each integer \(k\) such that \(m < k < n\), \(G\) contains a spanning tree having \(k\) leaves. Various generalizations and related topics will be discussed.

Peter Adams1, Elizabeth J.Billington1, C. A. Rodger2
1Centre for Combinatorics Department of Mathematics The University of Queensland Queensland 4072 Australia
2Department of Discrete and Statistical Sciences 120 Mathematics Annex Auburn University Auburn, Alabama U.S.A. 36849-5307
Abstract:

We find the set of integers \(v\) for which \(\lambda K_v\) may be decomposed into sets of four triples forming Pasch configurations, for all \(\lambda\). We also remove the remaining exceptional values of \(v\) for decomposing \(K_v\) into sets of other four-triple configurations.

D. V. Chopra1
1Wichita State University Wichita, Kansas 67260-0033 U.S.A.
Abstract:

In this paper, we consider some combinatorial structures called balanced arrays (\(B\)-arrays) with a finite number of elements, and we derive some necessary conditions in the form of inequalities for the existence of these arrays. The results obtained here make use of the Holder Inequality.

N. Chandrasekharan1, Sridhar Hannenhalli1
1Department of Computer Science University of Central Florida Orlando, FL 32816
Abstract:

We present efficient algorithms for computing the matching polynomial and chromatic polynomial of a series-parallel graph in \(O(n^{3})\) and \(O(n^2)\) time respectively. Our algorithm for computing the matching polynomial generalizes and improves the result in \([13]\) from \(O(n^3 \log n)\) time for trees and the chromatic polynomial algorithm improves the result in \([18]\) from \(O(n^4)\) time. The salient features of our results are the following:
Our techniques for computing the graph polynomials can be applied to certain other graph polynomials and other classes of graphs as well. Furthermore, our algorithms can also be parallelized into NC algorithms.

K. M. Koh1, K. Vijayan2
1Department of Mathematics National University of Singapore Singapore
2Department of Mathematics The University of Western Australia Western Australia
Abstract:

Given positive integers \(p\) and \(q\), a \((p, q)\)-colouring of a graph \(G\) is a mapping \(\theta: V(G) \rightarrow \{1, 2, \ldots, q\}\) such that \(\theta(u) \neq \theta(v)\) for all distinct vertices \(u, v\) in \(G\) whose distance \(d(u, v) \leq p\). The \(p\)th order chromatic number \(\chi^{(p)}(G)\) of \(G\) is the minimum value of \(q\) such that \(G\) admits a \((p, q)\)-colouring. \(G\) is said to be \((p, q)\)-maximally critical if \(\chi^{(p)}(G) = q\) and \(\chi^{(p)}(G + e) > q\) for each edge \(e\) not in \(G\).
In this paper, we study the structure of \((2, q)\)-maximally critical graphs. Some necessary or sufficient conditions for a graph to be \((2, q)\)-maximally critical are obtained. Let \(G\) be a \((2, q)\)-maximally critical graph with colour classes \(V_1, V_2, \ldots, V_q\). We show that if \(|V_1| = |V_2| = \cdots = |V_k| = 1\) and \(|V_{k+1}| = \cdots = |V_q| = h \geq 1\) for some \(k\), where \(1 \leq k \leq q-1\), then \(h \leq h^*\), where

\[h^* = \max \left\{k, \min\{q – 1, 2(q – 1 – k)\}\right\}.\]

Furthermore, for each \(h\) with \(1 \leq h \leq h^*\), we are able to construct a \((2, q)\)-maximally critical connected graph with colour classes \(V_1, V_2, \ldots, V_q\) such that \(|V_1| = |V_2| = \cdots = |V_k| = 1\) and \(|V_{k+1}| = \cdots = |V_q| = h\).

Peter Adams1, Elizabeth J.Billington1
1 Department of Mathematics The University of Queensland Queensland 4072 Australia
Abstract:

A decomposition of \(K_v\) into \(2\)-perfect \(8\)-cycles is shown to exist if and only if \(v \equiv 1 (\mod 16\)).

Talmage James Reid1
1 Department of Mathematics The University of Mississippi University, MS U.S.A. 38677
Abstract:

The binary matroids with no three- and four-wheel minors were characterized by Brylawski and Oxley, respectively. The importance of these results is that, in a version of Seymour’s Splitter Theorem, Coullard showed that the three- and four-wheel matroids are the basic building blocks of the class of binary matroids. This paper determines the structure of a class of binary matroids which almost have no four-wheel minor. This class consists of matroids \(M\) having a four-wheel minor and an element \(e\) such that both the deletion and contraction of \(e\) from \(M\) have no four-wheel minor.

Mordechai Lewin 1
1 Department of Mathematics Technion, Israel Institute of Technology Haifa 32000
A.M. Hamel1, W.H. Mills2, R.C. Mullin3, Rolf Rees4, D.R. Stinson 5, Jianxing Yin6
1 Dept. of Combinatorics and Optimization, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont. N2L 3G1i
2Institute for Defense Analyses, Princeton, N.J. 08540
3 Dept. of Combinatorics and Optimization, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ont. N2L 3G1
4 Memorial University, St. John’s, Newfoundland
5University of Nebraska, Lincoln, Nebraska
6Dept. of Math, Univ. of Suzhou, Suzhou, 215006, P.R. of China
Abstract:

A pairwise balanced design (PBD) of index \(I\) is a pair \((V,{A})\) where \(V\) is a finite set of points and \(A\) is a set of subsets (called blocks) of \(V\), each of cardinality at least two, such that every pair of distinct points of \(V\) is contained in exactly one block of \(A\). We may further restrict this definition to allow precisely one block of a given size, and in this case the design is called a PBD \((\{K, k^*\},v)\) where \(k\) is the unique block size, \(K\) is the set of other allowable block sizes, and \(v\) is the number of points in the design.

It is shown here that a PBD \((\{5, 9^*\},v)\) exists for all \(v \equiv 9\) or 17 mod 20, \(v \geq 37\), with the possible exception of \(49\), and that a PBD \((\{5, 13^*\},v)\) exists for all \(v \equiv 13 \mod 20\), \(v \geq 53\).

Special Issues

The Combinatorial Press Editorial Office routinely extends invitations to scholars for the guest editing of Special Issues, focusing on topics of interest to the scientific community. We actively encourage proposals from our readers and authors, directly submitted to us, encompassing subjects within their respective fields of expertise. The Editorial Team, in conjunction with the Editor-in-Chief, will supervise the appointment of Guest Editors and scrutinize Special Issue proposals to ensure content relevance and appropriateness for the journal. To propose a Special Issue, kindly complete all required information for submission;