The Parameterized Complexity of Domination-type Problems and Application to Linear Codes

We study the parameterized complexity of domination-type problems. (sigma,rho)-domination is a general and unifying framework introduced by Telle: a set D of vertices of a graph G is (sigma,rho)-dominating if for any v in D, |N(v)\cap D| in sigma and for any $v\notin D, |N(v)\cap D| in rho. We mainly show that for any sigma and rho the problem of (sigma,rho)-domination is W[2] when parameterized by the size of the dominating set. This general statement is optimal in the sense that several particular instances of (sigma,rho)-domination are W[2]-complete (e.g. Dominating Set). We also prove that (sigma,rho)-domination is W[2] for the dual parameterization, i.e. when parameterized by the size of the dominated set. We extend this result to a class of domination-type problems which do not fall into the (sigma,rho)-domination framework, including Connected Dominating Set. We also consider problems of coding theory which are related to domination-type problems with parity constraints. In particular, we prove that the problem of the minimal distance of a linear code over Fq is W[2] for both standard and dual parameterizations, and W[1]-hard for the dual parameterization. To prove W[2]-membership of the domination-type problems we extend the Turing-way to parameterized complexity by introducing a new kind of non deterministic Turing machine with the ability to perform `blind' transitions, i.e. transitions which do not depend on the content of the tapes. We prove that the corresponding problem Short Blind Multi-Tape Non-Deterministic Turing Machine is W[2]-complete. We believe that this new machine can be used to prove W[2]-membership of other problems, not necessarily related to dominationComment: 19 pages, 2 figure

Matching Dynamics with Constraints

We study uncoordinated matching markets with additional local constraints that capture, e.g., restricted information, visibility, or externalities in markets. Each agent is a node in a fixed matching network and strives to be matched to another agent. Each agent has a complete preference list over all other agents it can be matched with. However, depending on the constraints and the current state of the game, not all possible partners are available for matching at all times. For correlated preferences, we propose and study a general class of hedonic coalition formation games that we call coalition formation games with constraints. This class includes and extends many recently studied variants of stable matching, such as locally stable matching, socially stable matching, or friendship matching. Perhaps surprisingly, we show that all these variants are encompassed in a class of "consistent" instances that always allow a polynomial improvement sequence to a stable state. In addition, we show that for consistent instances there always exists a polynomial sequence to every reachable state. Our characterization is tight in the sense that we provide exponential lower bounds when each of the requirements for consistency is violated. We also analyze matching with uncorrelated preferences, where we obtain a larger variety of results. While socially stable matching always allows a polynomial sequence to a stable state, for other classes different additional assumptions are sufficient to guarantee the same results. For the problem of reaching a given stable state, we show NP-hardness in almost all considered classes of matching games.Comment: Conference Version in WINE 201

On a Vizing-type integer domination conjecture

Given a simple graph $G$, a dominating set in $G$ is a set of vertices $S$ such that every vertex not in $S$ has a neighbor in $S$. Denote the domination number, which is the size of any minimum dominating set of $G$, by $\gamma(G)$. For any integer $k\ge 1$, a function $f : V (G) \rightarrow \{0, 1, . . ., k\}$ is called a \emph{$\{k\}$-dominating function} if the sum of its function values over any closed neighborhood is at least $k$. The weight of a $\{k\}$-dominating function is the sum of its values over all the vertices. The $\{k\}$-domination number of $G$, $\gamma_{\{k\}}(G)$, is defined to be the minimum weight taken over all $\{k\}$-domination functions. Bre\v{s}ar, Henning, and Klav\v{z}ar (On integer domination in graphs and Vizing-like problems. \emph{Taiwanese J. Math.} {10(5)} (2006) pp. 1317--1328) asked whether there exists an integer $k\ge 2$ so that $\gamma_{\{k\}}(G\square H)\ge \gamma(G)\gamma(H)$. In this note we use the Roman $\{2\}$-domination number, $\gamma_{R2}$ of Chellali, Haynes, Hedetniemi, and McRae, (Roman $\{2\}$-domination. \emph{Discrete Applied Mathematics} {204} (2016) pp. 22-28.) to prove that if $G$ is a claw-free graph and $H$ is an arbitrary graph, then $\gamma_{\{2\}}(G\square H)\ge \gamma_{R2}(G\square H)\ge \gamma(G)\gamma(H)$, which also implies the conjecture for all $k\ge 2$.Comment: 8 page

Distal and non-distal NIP theories

We study one way in which stable phenomena can exist in an NIP theory. We start by defining a notion of 'pure instability' that we call 'distality' in which no such phenomenon occurs. O-minimal theories and the p-adics for example are distal. Next, we try to understand what happens when distality fails. Given a type p over a sufficiently saturated model, we extract, in some sense, the stable part of p and define a notion of stable-independence which is implied by non-forking and has bounded weight. As an application, we show that the expansion of a model by traces of externally definable sets from some adequate indiscernible sequence eliminates quantifiers

Edge Roman domination on graphs

An edge Roman dominating function of a graph $G$ is a function $f\colon E(G) \rightarrow \{0,1,2\}$ satisfying the condition that every edge $e$ with $f(e)=0$ is adjacent to some edge $e'$ with $f(e')=2$. The edge Roman domination number of $G$, denoted by $\gamma'_R(G)$, is the minimum weight $w(f) = \sum_{e\in E(G)} f(e)$ of an edge Roman dominating function $f$ of $G$. This paper disproves a conjecture of Akbari, Ehsani, Ghajar, Jalaly Khalilabadi and Sadeghian Sadeghabad stating that if $G$ is a graph of maximum degree $\Delta$ on $n$ vertices, then $\gamma_R'(G) \le \lceil \frac{\Delta}{\Delta+1} n \rceil$. While the counterexamples having the edge Roman domination numbers $\frac{2\Delta-2}{2\Delta-1} n$, we prove that $\frac{2\Delta-2}{2\Delta-1} n + \frac{2}{2\Delta-1}$ is an upper bound for connected graphs. Furthermore, we provide an upper bound for the edge Roman domination number of $k$-degenerate graphs, which generalizes results of Akbari, Ehsani, Ghajar, Jalaly Khalilabadi and Sadeghian Sadeghabad. We also prove a sharp upper bound for subcubic graphs. In addition, we prove that the edge Roman domination numbers of planar graphs on $n$ vertices is at most $\frac{6}{7}n$, which confirms a conjecture of Akbari and Qajar. We also show an upper bound for graphs of girth at least five that is 2-cell embeddable in surfaces of small genus. Finally, we prove an upper bound for graphs that do not contain $K_{2,3}$ as a subdivision, which generalizes a result of Akbari and Qajar on outerplanar graphs