On the All-Farthest-Segments problem for a planar set of points

In this note, we outline a very simple algorithm for the following problem: Given a set S of n points p₁,p₂,p₃,…,pn in the plane, we have O(n²) segments implicitly defined on pairs of these n points. For each point pi, find a segment from this set of implicitly defined segments that is farthest from pi. The time complexity of our algorithm is in O(nh+nlogn), where n is the number of input points, and h is the number of vertices on the convex hull of S.     

A strengthened analysis of a local algorithm for the minimum dominating set problem in planar graphs

In recent years growing interest in local distributed algorithms has widely been observed. This results from their high resistance to errors and damage, as well as from their good performance, which is independent of the size of the network. A local deterministic distributed algorithm finding an approximation of a Minimum Dominating Set in planar graphs has been presented by Lenzen et al., and they proved that the algorithm returns a 130-approximation of the Minimum Dominating Set. In this article we will show that the algorithm is two times more effective than was previously assumed, and we prove that the algorithm by Lenzen et al. outputs a 52-approximation to a Minimum Dominating Set. Therefore the gap between the lower bound and the approximation ratio of the best yet local deterministic distributed algorithm is reduced by half.     

Finding a dominating set on bipartite graphs

Finding a dominating set of minimum cardinality is an NP-hard graph problem, even when the graph is bipartite. In this paper we are interested in solving the problem on graphs having a large independent set. Given a graph G with an independent set of size z, we show that the problem can be solved in time O^∗(²n−z), where n is the number of vertices of G. As a consequence, our algorithm is able to solve the dominating set problem on bipartite graphs in time O^∗(²n/2). Another implication is an algorithm for general graphs whose running time is O(n^1.7088).     

Kernels for below-upper-bound parameterizations of the hitting set and directed dominating set problems

In the Hitting Set problem, we are given a collection F of subsets of a ground set V and an integer p, and asked whether V has a p-element subset that intersects each set in F. We consider two parameterizations of Hitting Set below tight upper bounds, p=m−k and p=n−k. In both cases k is the parameter. We prove that the first parameterization is fixed-parameter tractable, but has no polynomial kernel unless coNP ⊆ NP/poly. The second parameterization is W[1]-complete, but the introduction of an additional parameter, the degeneracy of the hypergraph H=(V,F), makes the problem not only fixed-parameter tractable, but also one with a linear kernel. Here the degeneracy of H=(V,F) is the minimum integer d such that for each X⊂V the hypergraph with vertex set V?X and edge set containing all edges of F without vertices in X, has a vertex of degree at most d.In Nonblocker (Directed Nonblocker), we are given an undirected graph (a directed graph) G on n vertices and an integer k, and asked whether G has a set X of n−k vertices such that for each vertex y∉X there is an edge (arc) from a vertex in X to y. Nonblocker can be viewed as a special case of Directed Nonblocker (replace an undirected graph by a symmetric digraph). Dehne et al. (Proc. SOFSEM 2006) proved that Nonblocker has a linear-order kernel. We obtain a linear-order kernel for Directed Nonblocker.     

On the fixed-parameter tractability of parameterized model-checking problems

In this note, we show, through the use of examples, how generic results for proving fixed-parameter tractability which apply to restricted classes of structures can sometimes be more widely applied.     

Parameterized approximation of dominating set problems

A problem open for many years is whether there is an FPT algorithm that given a graph G and parameter k, either: (1) determines that G has no k-Dominating Set, or (2) produces a dominating set of size at most g(k), where g(k) is some fixed function of k. Such an outcome is termed an FPT approximation algorithm. We describe some results that begin to provide some answers. We show that there is no such FPT algorithm for g(k) of the form k+c (where c is a fixed constant, termed an additive FPT approximation), unless FPT=W[2]. We answer the analogous problem completely for the related Independent Dominating Set (IDS) problem, showing that IDS does not admit an FPT approximation algorithm, for any g(k), unless FPT=W[2].     

Constant ratio fixed-parameter approximation of the edge multicut problem

The input of the Edge Multicut problem consists of an undirected graph G and pairs of terminals {s₁,t₁},…,{sm,tm}; the task is to remove a minimum set of edges such that si and ti are disconnected for every 1?i?m. The parameterized complexity of the problem, parameterized by the maximum number k of edges that are allowed to be removed, is currently open. The main result of the paper is a parameterized 2-approximation algorithm: in time f(k)⋅nO(1), we can either find a solution of size 2k or correctly conclude that there is no solution of size k.The proposed algorithm is based on a transformation of the Edge Multicut problem into a variant of the parameterized Max-2SAT problem, where the parameter is related to the number of clauses that are not satisfied. It follows from previous results that the latter problem can be 2-approximated in a fixed-parameter time; on the other hand, we show here that it is W[1]-hard. Thus the additional contribution of the present paper is introducing the first natural W[1]-hard problem that is constant-ratio fixed-parameter approximable.     

Computational complexity of queries based on itemsets

We investigate determining the exact bounds of the frequencies of conjunctions based on frequent sets. Our scenario is an important special case of some general probabilistic logic problems that are known to be intractable. We show that despite the limitations our problems are also intractable, namely, we show that checking whether the maximal consistent frequency of a query is larger than a given threshold is NP-complete and that evaluating the Maximum Entropy estimate of a query is PP-hard. We also prove that checking consistency is NP-complete.     

Fast algorithms for the dominating set problem on permutation graphs

AnO(n log logn) (resp.O(n² log² n)) algorithm is presented to solve the minimum cardinality (resp. weight) dominating set problem on permutation graphs, assuming the input is a permutation. The best-known previous algorithm was given by FÄrber and Keil, where they use dynamic programming to get anO(n² (resp.O(n³)) algorithm. Our improvement is based on the following three factors: (1) an observation on the order among the intermediate terms in the dynamic programming, (2) a new construction formula for the intermediate terms, and (3) efficient data structures for manipulating these terms.This research was supported in part by the National Science Foundation under Grant CCR-8905415 to Northwestern University.     

Computational modeling of city formation

Although a burst of recent research in economics has examined how industries form, a majority of it considers highly simplified models. In this paper, we use computational modeling techniques to expand from traditional, simple, analytically tractable economic models to more complex two dimensional landscapes. Using the basic theories developed in earlier research, we examine what factors cause cities to emerge, including: transportation costs, the percentage of workers in a population, and the elasticity of substitution. These three factors should cause workers and firms to agglomerate, causing cities to emerge out of a scattered population.     

Linear self-stabilizing algorithms for the independent and dominating set problems using an unfair distributed scheduler

This paper presents distributed self-stabilizing algorithms for the maximal independent and the minimal dominating set problems. Using an unfair distributed scheduler the algorithms stabilizes in at most max{3n−5,2n} resp. 9n moves. All previously known algorithms required O(n²) moves.     

Ad hoc网络中基于权值的连通支配集算法

移动Ad hoe网络是一种多跳,自组织网络,在该网络中可以通过构建虚拟骨干网来减少参与路由计算的节点数量,虚拟骨干网可以由近似的最小连接主节点集(MCDS)组成.提出了一种考虑节点权值的分布式近似MCDS查找算法,在网络拓扑结构发生变化时对MCDS进行维护.与几种经典的分布式近似MCDS查找算法相比较,结果表明,该算法具有更好的性能.     

Two fixed-parameter algorithms for Vertex Covering by Paths on Trees

Vertex Covering by Paths on Trees with applications in machine translation is the task to cover all vertices of a tree T=(V,E) by choosing a minimum-weight subset of given paths in the tree. The problem is NP-hard and has recently been solved by an exact algorithm running in O(C⁴⋅²|V|) time, where C denotes the maximum number of paths covering a tree vertex. We improve this running time to O(C²⋅C⋅|V|). On the route to this, we introduce the problem Tree-like Weighted Hitting Set which might be of independent interest. In addition, for the unweighted case of Vertex Covering by Paths on Trees, we present an exact algorithm using a search tree of size O(k²⋅k!), where k denotes the number of chosen covering paths. Finally, we briefly discuss the existence of a size-O(k²) problem kernel.     

Maximum weight k-independent set problem on permutation graphs

Based on a Directed Acyclic Graph approach, an O(kn ²) time sequential algorithm is presented to solve the maximum weight k-independent set problem on weighted-permutation graphs. The weights considered here are all non-negative and associated with each of the n vertices of the graph. This problem has many applications in practical problems like k-machines job scheduling problem, k-colourable subgraph problem, VLSI design and routing problem.     

Computational forces in the SAGE benchmark

Dimensional analysis applied to a complicated timing formula for the SAGE benchmark yields new insight into the limits to scalability. A single surface, defined by two curvilinear coordinates, describes the parallel efficiency of the benchmark. Each machine, as a function of the number of processors, follows its own path on the surface determined by dimensionless ratios of hardware forces to software forces. Two machines with the same ratios follow the same path and are self-similar, even though the numerical value of each individual force may be different. For this benchmark, latency effects are unimportant relative to bandwidth effects because of the slab decomposition used to distribute the problem across processors. To a good first-order approximation, a single force ratio describes the efficiency as a function of the number of processors. A simpler model, with a single dimensionless exponent, describes the first-order behavior of the computational power as a function of the number of processors.     

Synthesis on forward kinematics problem algebraic modeling for the planar parallel manipulator: displacement-based equation systems

Based on a proven exact method which solves the forward kinematics problem (FKP) this article investigates the FKP formulation specifically applied to planar parallel manipulators. It focuses on the displacement-based equation systems. The majority of planar tripods can modeled by the 3-RPR parallel manipulator, which is a tripod constituted by a fixed base and a triangular mobile platform attached to three kinematics chains with linear (prismatic) actuators located between two revolute joints. In order to implement the algebraic method, the parallel manipulator kinematics are formulated as polynomial equation systems where the number of equations is equal to or exceeds the number of unknowns. Three geometrical formulations are derived to model the difficult FKP. The selected proven algebraic method uses Gröbner bases from which it constructs an equivalent univariate system. Then, the real roots are isolated using this last system. Each real solution exactly corresponds to one manipulator assembly mode, which is also called a manipulator posture. The FKP resolution of the planar 3-RPR parallel manipulator outputs six complex solutions which become a proven real solution number upper bound. In several typical examples, the resolution performances (computation times and memory usage) are given. It is then possible to compare the models and to reject one. Moreover, a number of real solutions are obtained and the corresponding postures drawn. The algebraic method is exact and produces certified results.     

Computational complexity of counting problems on 3-regular planar graphs

A variety of counting problems on 3-regular planar graphs are considered in this paper. We give a sufficient condition which guarantees that the coefficients of a homogeneous polynomial can be uniquely determined by its values on a recurrence sequence. This result enables us to use the polynomial interpolation technique in high dimension to prove the #P-completeness of problems on graphs with special requirements. Using this method, we show that #3-Regular Bipartite Planar Vertex Covers is #P-complete. Furthermore, we use Valiant’s Holant Theorem to construct a holographic reduction from it to #2,3-Regular Bipartite Planar Matchings, establishing the #P-completeness of the latter. Finally, we completely classify the problems #Planar Read-twice 3SAT with different ternary symmetric relations according to their computational complexity, by giving several more applications of holographic reduction in proving the #P-completeness of the corresponding counting problems.     

An in-place algorithm for Klee's measure problem in two dimensions

We present the first in-place algorithm for solving Klee's measure problem for a set of n axis-parallel rectangles in the plane. Our algorithm runs in O(n3/2logn) time and uses O(1) extra words in addition to the space needed for representing the input. The algorithm is surprisingly simple and thus very likely to yield an implementation that could be of practical interest. As a byproduct, we develop an optimal algorithm for solving Klee's measure problem for a set of n intervals; this algorithm runs in optimal time O(nlogn) and uses O(1) extra space.