Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106099
Jing Xu , Tatsuro Ito , Shuang-Dong Li
For the Weisfeiler-Leman stabilization, we introduce a concept, which we call the coherent length, to measure how long it takes. We show that the coherent length is at most 8 for trees, using the structures of their T-algebras and of the centralizer algebras of their automorphism groups.
{"title":"The Weisfeiler-Leman stabilization of a tree","authors":"Jing Xu , Tatsuro Ito , Shuang-Dong Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106099","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106099","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>For the Weisfeiler-Leman stabilization, we introduce a concept, which we call the coherent length, to measure how long it takes. We show that the coherent length is at most <em>8</em> for trees, using the structures of their <em>T</em>-algebras and of the centralizer algebras of their automorphism groups.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106099"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144828429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106096
Jia-Li Du , Yan-Quan Feng , Binzhou Xia , Da-Wei Yang
Extending the well-studied concept of graphical regular representations to bipartite graphs, a Haar graphical representation (HGR) of a group G is a bipartite graph whose automorphism group is isomorphic to G and acts semiregularly with the orbits giving the bipartition. The question of which groups admit an HGR was inspired by a closely related question of Estélyi and Pisanski in 2016, as well as Babai's work in 1980 on poset representations, and has been recently solved by Morris and Spiga. In this paper, we introduce the m-Haar graphical representation (m-HGR) as a natural generalization of HGR to m-partite graphs for , and explore the existence of m-HGRs for any fixed group. This inquiry represents a more robust version of the existence problem of GmSRs as addressed by Du, Feng and Spiga in 2020. Our main result is a complete classification of finite groups G without m-HGRs.
{"title":"The existence of m-Haar graphical representations","authors":"Jia-Li Du , Yan-Quan Feng , Binzhou Xia , Da-Wei Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106096","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106096","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Extending the well-studied concept of graphical regular representations to bipartite graphs, a Haar graphical representation (HGR) of a group <em>G</em> is a bipartite graph whose automorphism group is isomorphic to <em>G</em> and acts semiregularly with the orbits giving the bipartition. The question of which groups admit an HGR was inspired by a closely related question of Estélyi and Pisanski in 2016, as well as Babai's work in 1980 on poset representations, and has been recently solved by Morris and Spiga. In this paper, we introduce the <em>m</em>-Haar graphical representation (<em>m</em>-HGR) as a natural generalization of HGR to <em>m</em>-partite graphs for <span><math><mi>m</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>2</mn></math></span>, and explore the existence of <em>m</em>-HGRs for any fixed group. This inquiry represents a more robust version of the existence problem of G<em>m</em>SRs as addressed by Du, Feng and Spiga in 2020. Our main result is a complete classification of finite groups <em>G</em> without <em>m</em>-HGRs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106096"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144770884","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-29DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106104
Hacène Belbachir , László Major , László Németh , László Szalay
The study of self-avoiding walks (SAWs) on integer lattices has been an area of active research for several decades. In this paper, we investigate the number of SAWs between two diagonally opposite corners in a finite rectangular subgraph of the integer lattice, subject to certain constraints. In the two–dimensional case, we provide an explicit formula for the number of SAWs of a prescribed length, restricted to three-step directions. In addition, we develop an algorithm that produces faster computational results than the explicit formula. For some special cases, we present detailed counts of the SAWs in question. For rectangular grid graphs of higher dimensions, we provide a formula to count the number of SAWs that are exactly two steps longer than the shortest walks.
{"title":"Step-constrained self-avoiding walks on finite grids","authors":"Hacène Belbachir , László Major , László Németh , László Szalay","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106104","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106104","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The study of self-avoiding walks (SAWs) on integer lattices has been an area of active research for several decades. In this paper, we investigate the number of SAWs between two diagonally opposite corners in a finite rectangular subgraph of the integer lattice, subject to certain constraints. In the two–dimensional case, we provide an explicit formula for the number of SAWs of a prescribed length, restricted to three-step directions. In addition, we develop an algorithm that produces faster computational results than the explicit formula. For some special cases, we present detailed counts of the SAWs in question. For rectangular grid graphs of higher dimensions, we provide a formula to count the number of SAWs that are exactly two steps longer than the shortest walks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106104"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144913210","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-09-18DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106117
Wenjuan Luo, Jing Xu
The Polycirculant conjecture asserts that every vertex-transitive digraph has a semiregular automorphism whose cycles all have the same length. Similarly, in [11] the authors asked if every connected regular edge-transitive graph admits a semiregular automorphism. In this paper we prove that edge-transitive graphs of odd prime valency have a semiregular automorphism.
{"title":"Existences of semiregular automorphisms of edge-transitive graphs of odd prime valency","authors":"Wenjuan Luo, Jing Xu","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Polycirculant conjecture asserts that every vertex-transitive digraph has a semiregular automorphism whose cycles all have the same length. Similarly, in <span><span>[11]</span></span> the authors asked if every connected regular edge-transitive graph admits a semiregular automorphism. In this paper we prove that edge-transitive graphs of odd prime valency have a semiregular automorphism.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106117"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145094909","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-24DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106124
Rui Wang, Han Chao, Jiangtao Peng
Let G be a finite abelian group and S a sequence with elements of G. Let denote the length of S and the set of all the distinct terms in S. For an integer k with , let denote the set of group elements which can be expressed as a sum of a subsequence of S with length k. Let and . It is known that if , then . In this paper, we determine the structure of a sequence S satisfying and . As a consequence, we can give a counterexample of a conjecture of Gao, Grynkiewicz, and Xia. Moreover, we prove that if and , then . Then we can give an alternative proof of a conjecture of Hamidoune, which was first proved by Gao, Grynkiewicz, and Xia.
{"title":"On the number of subsequence sums related to the support of a sequence in finite abelian groups","authors":"Rui Wang, Han Chao, Jiangtao Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106124","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106124","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Let <em>G</em> be a finite abelian group and <em>S</em> a sequence with elements of <em>G</em>. Let <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo></math></span> denote the length of <em>S</em> and <span><math><mrow><mi>supp</mi></mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> the set of all the distinct terms in <em>S</em>. For an integer <em>k</em> with <span><math><mi>k</mi><mo>∈</mo><mo>[</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>,</mo><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>]</mo></math></span>, let <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>⊂</mo><mi>G</mi></math></span> denote the set of group elements which can be expressed as a sum of a subsequence of <em>S</em> with length <em>k</em>. Let <span><math><mi>Σ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><msubsup><mrow><mo>∪</mo></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi><mo>=</mo><mn>1</mn></mrow><mrow><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo></mrow></msubsup><msub><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> and <span><math><msub><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>=</mo><msubsup><mrow><mo>∪</mo></mrow><mrow><mi>t</mi><mo>=</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo></mrow></msubsup><msub><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>t</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>. It is known that if <span><math><mn>0</mn><mo>∉</mo><mi>Σ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>, then <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>Σ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>≥</mo><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>+</mo><mo>|</mo><mrow><mi>supp</mi></mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. In this paper, we determine the structure of a sequence <em>S</em> satisfying <span><math><mn>0</mn><mo>∉</mo><mi>Σ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> and <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>Σ</mi><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>=</mo><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>+</mo><mo>|</mo><mrow><mi>supp</mi></mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>−</mo><mn>1</mn></math></span>. As a consequence, we can give a counterexample of a conjecture of Gao, Grynkiewicz, and Xia. Moreover, we prove that if <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>></mo><mi>k</mi></math></span> and <span><math><mn>0</mn><mo>∉</mo><msub><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>∪</mo><mrow><mi>supp</mi></mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span>, then <span><math><mo>|</mo><msub><mrow><mi>Σ</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>≥</mo><mi>k</mi></mrow></msub><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo><mo>≥</mo><mo>|</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>−</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>+</mo><mo>|</mo><mrow><mi>supp</mi></mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>S</mi><mo>)</mo><mo>|</mo></math></span>. Then we can give an alternative proof of a conjecture of Hamidoune, which was first proved by Gao, Grynkiewicz, and Xia.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106124"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145361864","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-10-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106125
Shuang Li , Yuefeng Yang , Kaishun Wang
A digraph is semicomplete multipartite if its underlying graph is a complete multipartite graph. As a special case of semicomplete multipartite digraphs, Jørgensen et al. [7] initiated the study of doubly regular team tournaments. As a natural extension, we introduce doubly regular team semicomplete multipartite digraphs and show that such digraphs fall into three types. Furthermore, we give a characterization of all semicomplete multipartite commutative weakly distance-regular digraphs.
如果一个有向图的底图是一个完全多部图,那么它就是半完全多部图。作为半完全多部有向图的特例,Jørgensen et al. b[7]发起了双常规团队比赛的研究。作为一种自然推广,我们引入了双正则团队半完全多部有向图,并证明了这类有向图可分为三种类型。进一步,我们给出了所有半完全多部可交换弱距离正则有向图的一个刻画。
{"title":"Semicomplete multipartite weakly distance-regular digraphs","authors":"Shuang Li , Yuefeng Yang , Kaishun Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106125","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106125","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A digraph is semicomplete multipartite if its underlying graph is a complete multipartite graph. As a special case of semicomplete multipartite digraphs, Jørgensen et al. <span><span>[7]</span></span> initiated the study of doubly regular team tournaments. As a natural extension, we introduce doubly regular team semicomplete multipartite digraphs and show that such digraphs fall into three types. Furthermore, we give a characterization of all semicomplete multipartite commutative weakly distance-regular digraphs.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106125"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145383237","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106103
Benjamin Brindle
We derive an explicit formula for the quasi–shuffle product satisfied by Schlesinger–Zudilin Multiple q-Zeta Values, expressed in terms of partition data. To achieve this, we interpret Schlesinger–Zudilin Multiple q-Zeta Values as generating series of distinguished marked partitions, which are partitions whose Young diagrams have certain rows and columns marked. Together with the description of duality using marked partitions in [4], and Bachmann's conjecture ([1]) that all linear relations among Multiple q-Zeta Values are implied by duality and the stuffle product, this paper completes the description of the conjectural structure of Multiple q-Zeta Values using marked partitions.
{"title":"Combinatorial interpretation of the Schlesinger–Zudilin stuffle product","authors":"Benjamin Brindle","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106103","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106103","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>We derive an explicit formula for the quasi–shuffle product satisfied by Schlesinger–Zudilin Multiple <em>q</em>-Zeta Values, expressed in terms of partition data. To achieve this, we interpret Schlesinger–Zudilin Multiple <em>q</em>-Zeta Values as generating series of distinguished marked partitions, which are partitions whose Young diagrams have certain rows and columns marked. Together with the description of duality using marked partitions in <span><span>[4]</span></span>, and Bachmann's conjecture (<span><span>[1]</span></span>) that all linear relations among Multiple <em>q</em>-Zeta Values are implied by duality and the stuffle product, this paper completes the description of the conjectural structure of Multiple <em>q</em>-Zeta Values using marked partitions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106103"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144908606","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-01Epub Date: 2025-11-04DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106126
V. Gladkova
In 2019, Fox, Tidor and Zhao [7] proved an induced arithmetic removal lemma for linear patterns of complexity 1 in vector spaces over a fixed finite field. With no further assumptions on the pattern, this induced removal lemma cannot guarantee a fully pattern-free recolouring of the space, as some ‘non-generic’ instances must necessarily remain. On the other hand, Bhattacharyya, Fischer, H. Hatami, P. Hatami, and Lovett [3] showed in 2012 that in the case of translation-invariant patterns, it is possible to obtain recolourings that eliminate the given pattern completely, with no exceptions left behind. This paper demonstrates that such complete removal can be achieved for all partition-regular patterns of complexity 1.
在2019年,Fox, Tidor和Zhao[7]证明了在固定有限域上向量空间中复杂度为1的线性模式的诱导算法去除引理。由于没有对图案的进一步假设,这种诱导去除引理不能保证空间完全无图案的重新着色,因为一些“非一般”实例必须保留。另一方面,Bhattacharyya, Fischer, H. Hatami, P. Hatami和Lovett[3]在2012年表明,对于平移不变模式,可以获得完全消除给定模式的再着色,没有任何例外。本文证明了对于复杂度为1的所有分区规则模式都可以实现这种完全去除。
{"title":"Induced arithmetic removal for partition-regular patterns of complexity 1","authors":"V. Gladkova","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106126","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106126","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In 2019, Fox, Tidor and Zhao <span><span>[7]</span></span> proved an induced arithmetic removal lemma for linear patterns of complexity 1 in vector spaces over a fixed finite field. With no further assumptions on the pattern, this induced removal lemma cannot guarantee a fully pattern-free recolouring of the space, as some ‘non-generic’ instances must necessarily remain. On the other hand, Bhattacharyya, Fischer, H. Hatami, P. Hatami, and Lovett <span><span>[3]</span></span> showed in 2012 that in the case of translation-invariant patterns, it is possible to obtain recolourings that eliminate the given pattern completely, with no exceptions left behind. This paper demonstrates that such complete removal can be achieved for all partition-regular patterns of complexity 1.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"218 ","pages":"Article 106126"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145434665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-08-01DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106095
Dongang He , Anshui Li , Biao Wu , Huajun Zhang
Two families and are called nontrivial cross-t-intersecting if for all , and . In this paper we will determine the upper bound of for nontrivial cross-t-intersecting families and for positive integers n, k, ℓ and t such that and . The structures of the extremal families attaining the upper bound are also characterized. As a byproduct of the main result in this paper, one product version of Erdős–Ko–Rado Theorem for two families of cross-t-intersecting can be easily obtained which gives a confirmative answer to one conjecture by Tokushige.
{"title":"On nontrivial cross-t-intersecting families","authors":"Dongang He , Anshui Li , Biao Wu , Huajun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106095","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106095","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Two families <span><math><mi>A</mi><mo>⊆</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>k</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mi>B</mi><mo>⊆</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>ℓ</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> are called nontrivial cross-<em>t</em>-intersecting if <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>∩</mo><mi>B</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>≥</mo><mi>t</mi></math></span> for all <span><math><mi>A</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>A</mi></math></span>, <span><math><mi>B</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>B</mi></math></span> and <span><math><mo>|</mo><msub><mrow><mo>⋂</mo></mrow><mrow><mi>A</mi><mo>∈</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>∪</mo><mi>B</mi></mrow></msub><mi>A</mi><mo>|</mo><mo><</mo><mi>t</mi></math></span>. In this paper we will determine the upper bound of <span><math><mo>|</mo><mi>A</mi><mo>|</mo><mo>|</mo><mi>B</mi><mo>|</mo></math></span> for nontrivial cross-<em>t</em>-intersecting families <span><math><mi>A</mi><mo>⊆</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>k</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> and <span><math><mi>B</mi><mo>⊆</mo><mrow><mo>(</mo><mtable><mtr><mtd><mrow><mo>[</mo><mi>n</mi><mo>]</mo></mrow></mtd></mtr><mtr><mtd><mi>ℓ</mi></mtd></mtr></mtable><mo>)</mo></mrow></math></span> for positive integers <em>n</em>, <em>k</em>, <em>ℓ</em> and <em>t</em> such that <span><math><mi>n</mi><mo>≥</mo><mi>max</mi><mo></mo><mo>{</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>t</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>t</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>,</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>t</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>(</mo><mi>ℓ</mi><mo>−</mo><mi>t</mi><mo>+</mo><mn>1</mn><mo>)</mo><mo>}</mo></math></span> and <span><math><mi>t</mi><mo>≥</mo><mn>3</mn></math></span>. The structures of the extremal families attaining the upper bound are also characterized. As a byproduct of the main result in this paper, one product version of Erdős–Ko–Rado Theorem for two families of cross-<em>t</em>-intersecting can be easily obtained which gives a confirmative answer to one conjecture by Tokushige.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106095"},"PeriodicalIF":1.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144748719","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-01Epub Date: 2025-07-02DOI: 10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106092
Sherry H.F. Yan , Xubo Yang , Zhicong Lin
The -Eulerian polynomials were introduced as ascent polynomials over k-inversion sequences by Savage and Viswanathan. The bi-γ-positivity of the -Eulerian polynomials was known but to give a combinatorial interpretation of the corresponding bi-γ-coefficients still remains open. The study of the theme of bi-γ-positivity from a purely combinatorial aspect was proposed by Athanasiadis. In this paper, we provide a combinatorial interpretation for the bi-γ-coefficients of by using the model of certain ordered labeled forests. Our combinatorial approach consists of three main steps:
•
construct a bijection between k-Stirling permutations and certain forests that are named increasing pruned even k-ary forests;
•
introduce a generalized Foata–Strehl action on increasing pruned even k-ary trees which implies the longest ascent-plateau polynomials over k-Stirling permutations with initial letter 1 are γ-positive, a result that may have independent interest;
•
develop two crucial transformations on increasing pruned even k-ary forests to conclude our combinatorial interpretation.
{"title":"Combinatorics on bi-γ-positivity of 1/k-Eulerian polynomials","authors":"Sherry H.F. Yan , Xubo Yang , Zhicong Lin","doi":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106092","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jcta.2025.106092","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The <span><math><mn>1</mn><mo>/</mo><mi>k</mi></math></span>-Eulerian polynomials <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> were introduced as ascent polynomials over <em>k</em>-inversion sequences by Savage and Viswanathan. The bi-<em>γ</em>-positivity of the <span><math><mn>1</mn><mo>/</mo><mi>k</mi></math></span>-Eulerian polynomials <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> was known but to give a combinatorial interpretation of the corresponding bi-<em>γ</em>-coefficients still remains open. The study of the theme of bi-<em>γ</em>-positivity from a purely combinatorial aspect was proposed by Athanasiadis. In this paper, we provide a combinatorial interpretation for the bi-<em>γ</em>-coefficients of <span><math><msubsup><mrow><mi>A</mi></mrow><mrow><mi>n</mi></mrow><mrow><mo>(</mo><mi>k</mi><mo>)</mo></mrow></msubsup><mo>(</mo><mi>x</mi><mo>)</mo></math></span> by using the model of certain ordered labeled forests. Our combinatorial approach consists of three main steps:<ul><li><span>•</span><span><div>construct a bijection between <em>k</em>-Stirling permutations and certain forests that are named increasing pruned even <em>k</em>-ary forests;</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>introduce a generalized Foata–Strehl action on increasing pruned even <em>k</em>-ary trees which implies the longest ascent-plateau polynomials over <em>k</em>-Stirling permutations with initial letter 1 are <em>γ</em>-positive, a result that may have independent interest;</div></span></li><li><span>•</span><span><div>develop two crucial transformations on increasing pruned even <em>k</em>-ary forests to conclude our combinatorial interpretation.</div></span></li></ul></div></div>","PeriodicalId":50230,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Combinatorial Theory Series A","volume":"217 ","pages":"Article 106092"},"PeriodicalIF":0.9,"publicationDate":"2026-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144522733","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"数学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}