Exact and fixed-parameter algorithms for metro-line crossing minimization problems

A metro-line crossing minimization problem is to draw multiple lines on an underlying graph that models stations and rail tracks so that the number of crossings of lines becomes minimum. It has several variations by adding restrictions on how lines are drawn. Among those, there is one with a restriction that line terminals have to be drawn at a verge of a station, and it is known to be NP-hard even when underlying graphs are paths. This paper studies the problem in this setting, and propose new exact algorithms. We first show that a problem to decide if lines can be drawn without crossings is solved in polynomial time, and propose a fast exponential algorithm to solve a crossing minimization problem. We then propose a fixed-parameter algorithm with respect to the multiplicity of lines, which implies that the problem is FPT.Comment: 19 pages, 15 figure

Local topology of the free complex of a two-dimensional generalized convex shelling

AbstractA generalized convex shelling was introduced by Kashiwabara et al. for their representation theorem of convex geometries. Motivated by the work by Edelman and Reiner, we study local topology of the free complex of a two-dimensional separable generalized convex shelling. As a result, we prove a deletion of an element from such a complex is homotopy equivalent to a single point or two distinct points, depending on the dependency of the element to be deleted. Our result resolves an open problem by Edelman and Reiner for this case, and it can be seen as a first step toward the complete resolution from the viewpoint of a representation theorem for convex geometries by Kashiwabara et al

Submodularity of some classes of the combinatorial optimization games

Abstract.: Submodularity (or concavity) is considered as an important property in the field of cooperative game theory. In this article, we characterize submodular minimum coloring games and submodular minimum vertex cover games. These characterizations immediately show that it can be decided in polynomial time that the minimum coloring game or the minimum vertex cover game on a given graph is submodular or not. Related to these results, the Shapley values are also investigate

Not All Saturated 3-Forests Are Tight

A basic statement in graph theory is that every inclusion-maximal forest is connected, i.e. a tree. Using a definiton for higher dimensional forests by Graham and Lovasz and the connectivity-related notion of tightness for hypergraphs introduced by Arocha, Bracho and Neumann-Lara in, we provide an example of a saturated, i.e. inclusion-maximal 3-forest that is not tight. This resolves an open problem posed by Strausz

Shortest Reconfiguration of Perfect Matchings via Alternating Cycles

Motivated by adjacency in perfect matching polytopes, we study the shortest reconfiguration problem of perfect matchings via alternating cycles. Namely, we want to find a shortest sequence of perfect matchings which transforms one given perfect matching to another given perfect matching such that the symmetric difference of each pair of consecutive perfect matchings is a single cycle. The problem is equivalent to the combinatorial shortest path problem in perfect matching polytopes. We prove that the problem is NP-hard even when a given graph is planar or bipartite, but it can be solved in polynomial time when the graph is outerplanar