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Daniela Bubboloni

Publications and source records attributed to Daniela Bubboloni.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

The neighbourhood convexity

In this paper, we investigate the neighbourhood convexity ($n$-convexity) on graphs, a new finite convexity space grounded in the common closed neighbourhood closure operator. Unlike standard path-based graph convexities, $n$-convexity shows a non-canonical behaviour, giving rise to compelling structural properties and being almost never hereditary. Focusing on the properties of graphs that form $n$-convex geometries, a parity distinction emerges: an $n$-convex geometry contains a star vertex if and only if the number of its vertices is odd. Every odd-order $n$-convex geometry can be uniquely constructed by attaching a star vertex to an even-order one. We introduce the concept of quasi-stars (vertices of degree $\vert{}V\vert{}-2$) and prove a reduction property that allows systematically reducing an $n$-convex geometry by removing a pair of vertices, one of which is a quasi-star. Finally, we explore the connections between $n$-convexity and $P(G)$, the neighbourhood preorder, demonstrating that $n$-convex sets are upsets of $P(G)$ and that, in star-free $n$-convex geometries, quasi-stars correspond precisely to the maximal elements of $P(G)$. We complete our study by classifying quasi-threshold and threshold $n$-convex geometries.

math.CO

Comparison games and ranking of players

This work addresses the problem of assessing player importance in coalitional settings where the available information concerns the relative strength between pairs of coalitions, rather than the absolute worth of each coalition. We introduce a novel framework that is flexible enough to represent all coalitional pseudo-games and, through the use of coalitional networks, naturally accommodates scenarios with limited or heterogeneous coalition comparisons. Importantly, this framework still enables the computation of semivalues of pseudo-games, such as the Banzhaf and Shapley values, that can be expressed as weighted sums of differences in specific coalition comparisons, thus offering interpretations beyond traditional approaches. Furthermore, for ranking players rather than computing exact numerical attributions, we introduce the concept of a player's score, which simplifies the process of determining rankings based on semivalues, and shifts the perspective from average marginal contribution to average coalitional worth. This turns out to be particularly enlightening for the Banzhaf value.

econ.TH

Enhanced power graphs of finite groups with cograph structure

The enhanced power graph, $\mathcal{E}(G)$, of a group $G$ has vertex set $G$ and two elements are adjacent if they generate a cyclic subgroup. In the case of finite groups, we identify some striking and unexpected properties of these graphs, as well as links between properties of $\mathcal{E}(G)$ and properties of the group $G$. We prove that if $\mathcal{E}(G)$ is a cograph then it is also a chordal graph. Making use of properties of simplicial vertices, we characterise the finite groups $G$ whose enhanced power graph is diamond-free or a block graph. We also characterise the finite groups having enhanced power graph a cograph or a quasi-threshold graph, and those with $C_4$-free enhanced power graph. We use these characterisations to classify the finite nonabelian simple groups whose enhanced power graph is a cograph and give information on the finite simple groups whose enhanced power graph is $C_4$-free. Some open problems are posed.

math.GR

Manipulation of social choice correspondences under incomplete information

We study the manipulability of social choice correspondences in situations where individuals have incomplete information about others' preferences. We propose a general concept of manipulability that depends on the extension rule used to derive preferences over sets of alternatives from preferences over alternatives, as well as on individuals' level of information. We then focus on the manipulability of social choice correspondences when the Kelly extension rule is used, and individuals are assumed to have the capability to anticipate the outcome of the collective decision. Under these assumptions, we introduce some monotonicity and sensitivity properties for social choice correspondences that combined imply manipulability. Then we prove a result of manipulability for unanimous positional social choice correspondences, and present a detailed analysis of the manipulability properties for the Borda, the plurality, the negative plurality and the Copeland social choice correspondences.

econ.TH

Critical groups and partitions of finite groups

We define a class of finite groups based on the properties of the closed twins of their power graphs and study the structure of those groups. As a byproduct, we obtain results about finite groups admitting a partition by cyclic subgroups.

math.GR

A generalization to networks of Young's characterization of the Borda rule

We prove that, for any given set of networks satisfying suitable conditions, the net-oudegree network solution, the net-indegree network solution, and the total network solution are the unique network solutions on that set satisfying neutrality, consistency and cancellation. The generality of the result obtained allows to get an analogous result for social choice correspondences: for any given set of preference profiles satisfying suitable conditions, the net-oudegree social choice correspondence, the net-indegree social choice correspondence and the total social choice correspondence are the unique social choice correspondences on that set satisfying neutrality, consistency and cancellation. Using the notable fact that several well-known voting rules coincide with the restriction of net-oudegree social choice correspondence to appropriate sets of preference profiles, we are able to deduce a variety of new and known characterization theorems for the Borda rule, the Partial Borda rule, the Averaged Borda rule, the Approval Voting, the Plurality rule and the anti-Plurality rule, among which Young's characterization of the Borda rule and Fishburn's characterization of the Approval Voting.

cs.GT

Resolute and symmetric mechanisms for two-sided matching problems

We focus on the one-to-one two-sided matching model with two disjoint sets of agents of equal size, where each agent in a set has preferences on the agents in the other set modeled by a linear order. A matching mechanism associates a set of matchings to each preference profile; resoluteness, that is the capability to select a unique matching, and stability are important properties for a matching mechanism. The two versions of the deferred acceptance algorithm are resolute and stable matching mechanisms but they are unfair since they strongly favor one side of the market. We introduce a property for matching mechanisms that relates to fairness; such property, called symmetry, captures different levels of fairness and generalizes existing notions. We provide several possibility and impossibility results mainly involving the most general notion of symmetry, known as gender fairness, resoluteness, stability, weak Pareto optimality and minimal optimality. In particular, we prove that: resolute, gender fair matching mechanisms exist if and only if each side of the market consists of an odd number of agents; there exists no resolute, gender fair, minimally optimal matching mechanism. Those results are obtained by employing algebraic methods based on group theory, an approach not yet explored in matching theory.

econ.TH

On Computing Optimal Temporal Branchings and Spanning Subgraphs

In this work we extend the concept of out/in-branchings spanning the vertices of a digraph (also called directed spanning trees) to temporal graphs, which are digraphs where arcs are available only at prescribed times. While the literature has focused on minimum weight/earliest arrival time Temporal Out-Branchings (TOB), we solve the problem for other optimization criteria. In particular, we define five different types of TOBs based on the optimization of the travel duration (FT-TOB), of the departure time (LD-TOB), of the number of transfers (MT-TOB), of the total waiting time (MW-TOB), and of the travelling time (ST-TOB). For D$\in \{$LD,MT,ST$\}$, we provide necessary and sufficient conditions for the existence of a spanning D-TOB; when it does not exist, we characterize the maximum vertex set that a D-TOB can span. Moreover, we provide a log linear algorithm for computing such branchings. For D$\in \{$FT,MW$\}$, we prove that deciding the existence of a spanning D-TOB is NP-complete; we also show that the same results hold for optimal temporal in-branchings. Finally, we investigate the related problem of computing a spanning temporal subgraph with the minimum number of arcs and optimizing a chosen criterion D. This problem turns out to be NP-hard for any D. The hardness results are quite surprising, as computing optimal paths between nodes can always be done in polynomial time.

cs.DS

Symmetry groups for social preference functions

We introduce the anonymity group, the neutrality group and the symmetry group of a social preference function. Inspired by a problem posed by Kelly in 1991 and remained unsolved, we investigate the problem of recognizing which permutation groups may arise as anonymity, neutrality and symmetry group of a social preference function. A complete description is found for the neutrality groups and a sufficient condition, which largely encompasses the problem, is found for the anonymity groups. Using the concept of orbit extension of a group $U$, we formulate manageable necessary conditions for being $U$ an anonymity or a symmetry group. Our research deeply interacts with problems of representability by Boolean functions shedding light on them.

math.CO

Critical classes of power graphs and reconstruction of directed power graphs

In a graph $\Gamma=(V,E)$, we consider the common closed neighbourhood of a subset of vertices and use this notion to introduce a Moore closure operator in $V.$ We also consider the closed twin equivalence relation in which two vertices are equivalent if they have the same closed neighbourhood. Those notions are deeply explored when $\Gamma$ is the power graph associated with a finite group $G$. In that case, among the corresponding closed twin equivalence classes, we introduce the concepts of plain, compound and critical classes. The study of critical classes, together with properties of the Moore closure operator, allow us to correct a mistake in the proof of {\rm \cite[Theorem 2 ]{Cameron_2}} and to deduce a simple algorithm to reconstruct the directed power graph of a finite group from its undirected counterpart, as asked in \cite[Question 2]{GraphsOnGroups}.

math.GR

Power Graphs of Finite Groups

The power graph $\mathcal{P}(G)$ of a group $G$ is the graph whose vertex set is $G$, having an edge between two distinct vertices if one is the power of the other. The directed power graph $\vec{\mathcal{P}}(G)$ of a group $G$ is the digraph whose vertex set is $G$, having an arc from $x$ to $y$, with $x\ne y$, whenever $y$ is a power of $x$. We rewrite two Cameron's articles concerning the reconstruction of $\vec{\mathcal{P}}(G)$ from $\mathcal{P}(G)$. We correct mistakes that appear in the papers. In particular, we add missing cases needed to complete the main theorems of these articles. We also study the quotient of the power graph under some equivalence relations. We close the thesis with lower bounds for the maximum length of a cycle in the power graph of a group.

math.GR

Normal $2$-coverings of the finite simple groups and their generalizations

Given a finite group $G$, we say that $G$ has weak normal covering number $γ_w(G)$ if $γ_w(G)$ is the smallest integer with $G$ admitting proper subgroups $H_1,\ldots,H_{γ_w(G)}$ such that each element of $G$ has a conjugate in $H_i$, for some $i\in \{1,\ldots,γ_w(G)\}$, via an element in the automorphism group of $G$. We prove that the weak normal covering number of every non-abelian simple group is at least $2$ and we classify the non-abelian simple groups attaining $2$. As an application, we classify the non-abelian simple groups having normal covering number $2$. We also show that the weak normal covering number of an almost simple group is at least two up to one exception. We determine the weak normal covering number and the normal covering number of the almost simple groups having socle a sporadic simple group. Using similar methods we find the clique number of the invariably generating graph of the almost simple groups having socle a sporadic simple group.

math.GR

Paths and flows for centrality measures in networks

We consider the number of paths that must pass through a subset $X$ of vertices of a network $N$ in a maximum sequence of arc-disjoint paths connecting two vertices $y$ and $z$. We show that when $X$ is a singleton, that number equals the difference between the maximum flow value from $y$ to $z$ in $N$ and the maximum flow value from $y$ to $z$ in the network obtained by $N$ setting to zero the capacities of arcs incident to $X$. That fact theoretically justifies the common identification of those two concepts in network literature. We also show that the same equality does not hold when $|X|\geq 2.$ Consequently, two conceptually different group centrality measures involving paths and flows can naturally be defined, both extending the classic flow betweenness centrality.

math.CO

Coprime partitions and Jordan totient functions

We show that while the number of coprime compositions of a positive integer $n$ into $k$ parts can be expressed as a $\mathbb{Q}$-linear combinations of the Jordan totient functions, this is never possible for the coprime partitions of $n$ into $k$ parts. We also show that the number $p_k'(n)$ of coprime partitions of $n$ into $k$ parts can be expressed as a $\mathbb{C}$-linear combinations of the Jordan totient functions, for $n$ sufficiently large, if and only if $k\in \{2,3\}$ and in a unique way. Finally we introduce some generalizations of the Jordan totient functions and we show that $p_k'(n)$ can be always expressed as a $\mathbb{C}$-linear combinations of them.

math.NT

Breaking ties in collective decision making

Many classical social preference (multiwinner social choice) correspondences are resolute only when two alternatives and an odd number of individuals are considered. Thus, they generally admit several resolute refinements, each of them naturally interpreted as a tie-breaking rule. In this paper we find out conditions which make a social preference (multiwinner social choice) correspondence admit a resolute refinement fulfilling suitable weak versions of the anonymity and neutrality principles, as well as reversal symmetry (immunity to the reversal bias).

math.CO

The flow network method

In this paper we propose an in-depth analysis of a method, called the flow network method, which associates with any network a complete and quasi-transitive binary relation on its vertices. Such a method, originally proposed by Gvozdik (1987), is based on the concept of maximum flow. Given a competition involving two or more teams, the flow network method can be used to build a relation on the set of teams which establishes, for every ordered pair of teams, if the first one did at least as good as the second one in the competition. Such a relation naturally induces procedures for ranking teams and selecting the best $k$ teams of a competition. Those procedures are proved to satisfy many desirable properties.

cs.GT

On some graphs associated with the finite alternating groups

Let $P_0(A_n), \widetilde{P}_0(A_n), P_0(\mathcal{T}(A_n))$ and $\mathcal{O}_0(A_n)$ be respectively the proper power graph, the proper quotient power graph, the proper power type graph and the proper order graph of the alternating group $A_n$, for $n\geq 3.$ We determine the number of the components of those graphs. In particular, we prove that the power graph $P(A_n)$ is $2$-connected if and only if the power type graph $P(\mathcal{T}(A_n))$ is $2$-connected, if and only if either $n = 3$ or none of $n, n-1, n-2, \frac{n}{2}$ and ${\frac{n-1}{2}}$ is a prime. We also give some information on the properties of those components.

math.GR