875 research outputs found
Finding Even Cycles Faster via Capped k-Walks
In this paper, we consider the problem of finding a cycle of length (a
) in an undirected graph with nodes and edges for constant
. A classic result by Bondy and Simonovits [J.Comb.Th.'74] implies that
if , then contains a , further implying that
one needs to consider only graphs with .
Previously the best known algorithms were an algorithm due to Yuster
and Zwick [J.Disc.Math'97] as well as a algorithm by Alon et al. [Algorithmica'97].
We present an algorithm that uses time and finds a
if one exists. This bound is exactly when . For
-cycles our new bound coincides with Alon et al., while for every our
bound yields a polynomial improvement in .
Yuster and Zwick noted that it is "plausible to conjecture that is
the best possible bound in terms of ". We show "conditional optimality": if
this hypothesis holds then our algorithm is tight as well.
Furthermore, a folklore reduction implies that no combinatorial algorithm can
determine if a graph contains a -cycle in time for any
under the widely believed combinatorial BMM conjecture. Coupled
with our main result, this gives tight bounds for finding -cycles
combinatorially and also separates the complexity of finding - and
-cycles giving evidence that the exponent of in the running time should
indeed increase with .
The key ingredient in our algorithm is a new notion of capped -walks,
which are walks of length that visit only nodes according to a fixed
ordering. Our main technical contribution is an involved analysis proving
several properties of such walks which may be of independent interest.Comment: To appear at STOC'1
The European public sphere, the media, and support for European integration
The goal of this study is to find out whether the emergence of a European
public sphere (EPS) contributes to EU support in its affective and evaluative
dimensions. The EPS is conceptualized as an entity resting on Europeanized
national public spheres. The media is seen as the most important place where
Europeanization manifests itself. As an example of Europeanized public
spheres, data on the coverage of the 2004 European Parliament election is
used. The data set involves measures on EU salience in the media and tone of
the messages, and is analyzed together with individual level data on EU
support from the 2004 European Election Study. In contrast to earlier
approaches to similar data of the 1999 EP elections, multilevel analysis is
used to account for the hierarchical structure of the data. In particular,
this study analyzes whether the media exerts an independent effect on
evaluative and affective support. Additionally, it focuses on whether the
impact of cognitive mobilization and egocentric utilitarianism as individual
level predictors for EU support varies depending on the Europeanization of
national public spheres. A positive, significant effect was found between the
tone of the media context and evaluative support. Cross-level interaction
effects revealed that EU salience significantly increases the importance of
class affiliation when it comes to affective and evaluative support.
Utilitarian considerations are found to differentiate people in their EU
support only in the presence of negative EU coverage, but not when coverage is
positive. This study comes to the conclusion that an emerging EPS can have a
positive effect on support for the EU, resulting in a more critical, but also
more alerted public
The European public sphere, the media, and support for European integration
"The goal of this study is to find out whether the emergence of a European public sphere (EPS) contributes to EU support in its affective and evaluative dimensions. The EPS is conceptualized as an entity resting on Europeanized national public spheres. The media is seen as the most important place where Europeanization manifests itself. As an example of Europeanized public spheres, data on the coverage of the 2004 European Parliament election is used. The data set involves measures on EU salience in the media and tone of the messages, and is analyzed together with individual level data on EU support from the 2004 European Election Study. In contrast to earlier approaches to similar data of the 1999 EP elections, multilevel analysis is used to account for the hierarchical structure of the data. In particular, this study analyzes whether the media exerts an independent effect on evaluative and affective support. Additionally, it focuses on whether the impact of cognitive mobilization and egocentric utilitarianism as individual level predictors for EU support varies depending on the Europeanization of national public spheres. A positive, significant effect was found between the tone of the media context and evaluative support. Cross-level interaction effects revealed that EU salience significantly increases the importance of class affiliation when it comes to affective and evaluative support. Utilitarian considerations are found to differentiate people in their EU support only in the presence of negative EU coverage, but not when coverage is positive. This study comes to the conclusion that an emerging EPS can have a positive effect on support for the EU, resulting in a more critical, but also more alerted public." (author's abstract
- …