Strong Connectivity in Directed Graphs under Failures, with Application

In this paper, we investigate some basic connectivity problems in directed graphs (digraphs). Let $G$ be a digraph with $m$ edges and $n$ vertices, and let $G\setminus e$ be the digraph obtained after deleting edge $e$ from $G$. As a first result, we show how to compute in $O(m+n)$ worst-case time: $(i)$ The total number of strongly connected components in $G\setminus e$, for all edges $e$ in $G$. $(ii)$ The size of the largest and of the smallest strongly connected components in $G\setminus e$, for all edges $e$ in $G$. Let $G$ be strongly connected. We say that edge $e$ separates two vertices $x$ and $y$, if $x$ and $y$ are no longer strongly connected in $G\setminus e$. As a second set of results, we show how to build in $O(m+n)$ time $O(n)$-space data structures that can answer in optimal time the following basic connectivity queries on digraphs: $(i)$ Report in $O(n)$ worst-case time all the strongly connected components of $G\setminus e$, for a query edge $e$. $(ii)$ Test whether an edge separates two query vertices in $O(1)$ worst-case time. $(iii)$ Report all edges that separate two query vertices in optimal worst-case time, i.e., in time $O(k)$, where $k$ is the number of separating edges. (For $k=0$, the time is $O(1)$). All of the above results extend to vertex failures. All our bounds are tight and are obtained with a common algorithmic framework, based on a novel compact representation of the decompositions induced by the $1$-connectivity (i.e., $1$-edge and $1$-vertex) cuts in digraphs, which might be of independent interest. With the help of our data structures we can design efficient algorithms for several other connectivity problems on digraphs and we can also obtain in linear time a strongly connected spanning subgraph of $G$ with $O(n)$ edges that maintains the $1$-connectivity cuts of $G$ and the decompositions induced by those cuts.Comment: An extended abstract of this work appeared in the SODA 201

Incremental 22-Edge-Connectivity in Directed Graphs

In this paper, we initiate the study of the dynamic maintenance of $2$-edge-connectivity relationships in directed graphs. We present an algorithm that can update the $2$-edge-connected blocks of a directed graph with $n$ vertices through a sequence of $m$ edge insertions in a total of $O(mn)$ time. After each insertion, we can answer the following queries in asymptotically optimal time: (i) Test in constant time if two query vertices $v$ and $w$ are $2$-edge-connected. Moreover, if $v$ and $w$ are not $2$-edge-connected, we can produce in constant time a "witness" of this property, by exhibiting an edge that is contained in all paths from $v$ to $w$ or in all paths from $w$ to $v$. (ii) Report in $O(n)$ time all the $2$-edge-connected blocks of $G$. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first dynamic algorithm for $2$-connectivity problems on directed graphs, and it matches the best known bounds for simpler problems, such as incremental transitive closure.Comment: Full version of paper presented at ICALP 201

Approximating the Smallest Spanning Subgraph for 2-Edge-Connectivity in Directed Graphs

Let $G$ be a strongly connected directed graph. We consider the following three problems, where we wish to compute the smallest strongly connected spanning subgraph of $G$ that maintains respectively: the $2$-edge-connected blocks of $G$ (\textsf{2EC-B}); the $2$-edge-connected components of $G$ (\textsf{2EC-C}); both the $2$-edge-connected blocks and the $2$-edge-connected components of $G$ (\textsf{2EC-B-C}). All three problems are NP-hard, and thus we are interested in efficient approximation algorithms. For \textsf{2EC-C} we can obtain a $3/2$-approximation by combining previously known results. For \textsf{2EC-B} and \textsf{2EC-B-C}, we present new $4$-approximation algorithms that run in linear time. We also propose various heuristics to improve the size of the computed subgraphs in practice, and conduct a thorough experimental study to assess their merits in practical scenarios

Dynamic Dominators and Low-High Orders in DAGs

We consider practical algorithms for maintaining the dominator tree and a low-high order in directed acyclic graphs (DAGs) subject to dynamic operations. Let G be a directed graph with a distinguished start vertex s. The dominator tree D of G is a tree rooted at s, such that a vertex v is an ancestor of a vertex w if and only if all paths from s to w in G include v. The dominator tree is a central tool in program optimization and code generation, and has many applications in other diverse areas including constraint programming, circuit testing, biology, and in algorithms for graph connectivity problems. A low-high order of G is a preorder of D that certifies the correctness of D, and has further applications in connectivity and path-determination problems. We first provide a practical and carefully engineered version of a recent algorithm [ICALP 2017] for maintaining the dominator tree of a DAG through a sequence of edge deletions. The algorithm runs in O(mn) total time and O(m) space, where n is the number of vertices and m is the number of edges before any deletion. In addition, we present a new algorithm that maintains a low-high order of a DAG under edge deletions within the same bounds. Both results extend to the case of reducible graphs (a class that includes DAGs). Furthermore, we present a fully dynamic algorithm for maintaining the dominator tree of a DAG under an intermixed sequence of edge insertions and deletions. Although it does not maintain the O(mn) worst-case bound of the decremental algorithm, our experiments highlight that the fully dynamic algorithm performs very well in practice. Finally, we study the practical efficiency of all our algorithms by conducting an extensive experimental study on real-world and synthetic graphs

Thermal bioclimate analysis for Europe and Italy

Thermal bioclimate indexes (as thermal comfort or heat stress indexes) are one of the main issues concerning tourism and health conditions especially for expected climate change. The Mediterranean area and countries such as Italy, Spain, France, Turkey and Greece, whose economies are markedly dependent on tourism, are vulnerable regions concerning climate change. In the present study thermal comfort and heat stress (here with the thermal index physiologically equivalent temperature—PET) are analysed in order to quantify the monthly conditions in this area. Additionally, based on climate change scenarios, the seasonal pattern of PET for the period 2070-2100 has been calculated. The results show that the expected conditions of thermal comfort especially for the Mediterranean and Italy will be higher, during summer, about two to three classes of thermal stress for the “business as usual” climate scenarios, and one class of thermal stress for winter. Adaptation and mitigation strategies are hence required for the protection of human health and tourism state and potentialities

Computing the 4-Edge-Connected Components of a Graph: An Experimental Study

The notions of edge-cuts and k-edge-connected components are fundamental in graph theory with numerous practical applications. Very recently, the first linear-time algorithms for computing all the 3-edge cuts and the 4-edge-connected components of a graph have been introduced. In this paper we present carefully engineered implementations of these algorithms and evaluate their efficiency in practice, by performing a thorough empirical study using both real-world graphs taken from a variety of application areas, as well as artificial graphs. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first experimental study for these problems, which highlights the merits and weaknesses of each technique. Furthermore, we present an improved algorithm for computing the 4-edge-connected components of an undirected graph in linear time. The new algorithm uses only elementary data structures, and is implementable in the pointer machine model of computation

Understanding chronic pain in the ubiquitous community: the role of open data

The combined use of social media, open data, and Artificial Intelligence has the potential to support practitioners and empower patients/citizens living with persistent pain, both as local and online communities. Given the wide availability of digital technology today, both practitioners and interested individuals can be connected with virtual communities and can support each other from the comfort of their homes. Digital means may represent new avenues for exploring the complexity of the pain experience. Online interactions of patients, data on effective treatments, and data collected by wearable devices may represent an incredible source of psychological, sociological, and physiological pain-related information. Digital means might provide several solutions that enhance inclusiveness and motivate patients to share personal experiences, limiting the sense of isolation in both rural and metropolitan areas. Building on the consensus of the usefulness of social media in enhancing the understanding of persistent pain and related subjective experiences via online communities and networks, we provide relevant scenarios where the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare delivery might be improved by the adoption of the digital technologies mentioned above and repeated subsequently. The aim of this perspective paper is to explore the potential of open data, social media, and Artificial Intelligence in improving the prevention and management of persistent pain by adopting innovative non-biomedical approaches

Computing vertex-edge cut-pairs and 2-edge cuts in practice

4sìopenWe consider two problems regarding the computation of connectivity cuts in undirected graphs, namely identifying vertex-edge cut-pairs and identifying 2-edge cuts, and present an experimental study of efficient algorithms for their computation. In the first problem, we are given a biconnected graph G and our goal is to find all vertices v such that G v is not 2-edge-connected, while in the second problem, we are given a 2-edge-connected graph G and our goal is to find all edges e such that G e is not 2-edge-connected. These problems are motivated by the notion of twinless strong connectivity in directed graphs but are also of independent interest. Moreover, the computation of 2-edge cuts is a main step in algorithms that compute the 3-edge-connected components of a graph. In this paper, we present streamlined versions of two recent linear-time algorithms of Georgiadis and Kosinas that compute all vertex-edge cut-pairs and all 2-edge cuts, respectively. We compare the empirical performance of our vertex-edge cut-pairs algorithm with an alternative linear-time method that exploits the structure of the triconnected components of G. Also, we compare the empirical performance of our 2-edge cuts algorithm with the algorithm of Tsin, which was reported to be the fastest one among the previously existing for this problem. To that end, we conduct a thorough experimental study to highlight the merits and weaknesses of each technique.openGeorgiadis L.; Giannis K.; Italiano G.F.; Kosinas E.Georgiadis, L.; Giannis, K.; Italiano, G. F.; Kosinas, E