Abstract
We introduce the NP-hard graph-based data clustering problem s-Plex Cluster Vertex Deletion, where the task is to delete at most k vertices from a graph so that the connected components of the resulting graph are s-plexes. In an s-plex, every vertex has an edge to all but at most s−1 other vertices; cliques are 1-plexes. We propose a new method based on “approximation and tidying” for kernelizing vertex deletion problems whose goal graphs can be characterized by forbidden induced subgraphs. The method exploits polynomial-time approximation results and thus provides a useful link between approximation and kernelization. Employing “approximation and tidying”, we develop data reduction rules that, in O(ksn 2) time, transform an s-Plex Cluster Vertex Deletion instance with n vertices into an equivalent instance with O(k 2 s 3) vertices, yielding a problem kernel. To this end, we also show how to exploit structural properties of the specific problem in order to significantly improve the running time of the proposed kernelization method.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Abu-Khzam, F.N.: A kernelization algorithm for d-hitting set. J. Comput. Syst. Sci. 76(7), 524–531 (2010)
Alba, R.D.: A graph-theoretic definition of a sociometric clique. J. Math. Sociol. 3, 3–113 (1973)
Balasundaram, B., Butenko, S., Hicks, I.V.: Clique relaxations in social network analysis: The maximum k-plex problem. Operations Research (2011, to appear)
Bodlaender, H.L.: Kernelization: New upper and lower bound techniques. In: Proceedings of the 4th International Workshop on Parameterized and Exact Computation (IWPEC ’09). Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 5917, pp. 17–37. Springer, Berlin (2009)
Bodlaender, H.L., Downey, R.G., Fellows, M.R., Hermelin, D.: On problems without polynomial kernels. J. Comput. Syst. Sci. 75(8), 423–434 (2009)
Chesler, E.J., Lu, L., Shou, S., Qu, Y., Gu, J., Wang, J., Hsu, H.C., Mountz, J.D., Baldwin, N.E., Langston, M.A., Threadgill, D.W., Manly, K.F., Williams, R.W.: Complex trait analysis of gene expression uncovers polygenic and pleiotropic networks that modulate nervous system function. Nat. Genet. 37(3), 233–242 (2005)
Cook, V.J., Sun, S.J., Tapia, J., Muth, S.Q., Argüello, D.F., Lewis, B.L., Rothenberg, R.B., McElroy, P.D., The Network Analysis Project Team: Transmission network analysis in tuberculosis contact investigations. J. Infect. Dis. 196, 1517–1527 (2007)
Díaz, J., Thilikos, D.M.: Fast FPT-algorithms for cleaning grids. In: Proceedings of the 23rd International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS ’06). Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 3884, pp. 361–371. Springer, Berlin (2006)
Dom, M., Lokshtanov, D., Saurabh, S.: Incompressibility through colors and IDs. In: Proceedings of the 36th International Colloquium on Automata, Languages, and Programming (ICALP ’09). Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 5555, pp. 378–389. Springer, Berlin (2009)
Downey, R.G., Fellows, M.R.: Parameterized Complexity. Springer, Berlin (1999)
Fellows, M.R., Guo, J., Komusiewicz, C., Niedermeier, R., Uhlmann, J.: Graph-based data clustering with overlaps. Discrete Optim. (2010). doi:10.1016/j.disopt.2010.09.006
Flum, J., Grohe, M.: Parameterized Complexity Theory. Springer, Berlin (2006)
Guo, J., Niedermeier, R.: Invitation to data reduction and problem kernelization. SIGACT News 38(1), 31–45 (2007)
Guo, J., Moser, H., Niedermeier, R.: Iterative compression for exactly solving NP-hard minimization problems. In: Algorithmics of Large and Complex Networks. Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 5515, pp. 65–80. Springer, Berlin (2009)
Guo, J., Komusiewicz, C., Niedermeier, R., Uhlmann, J.: A more relaxed model for graph-based data clustering: s-plex cluster editing. SIAM J. Discrete Math. 24(4), 1662–1683 (2010)
Hüffner, F., Niedermeier, R., Wernicke, S.: Techniques for practical fixed-parameter algorithms. Comput. J. 51(1), 7–25 (2008)
Hüffner, F., Komusiewicz, C., Moser, H., Niedermeier, R.: Fixed-parameter algorithms for cluster vertex deletion. Theory Comput. Syst. 47(1), 196–217 (2010)
Kolaitis, P.G., Thakur, M.N.: Logical definability of NP optimization problems. Inf. Comput. 115(2), 321–353 (1994)
Kratsch, S.: Polynomial kernelizations for MIN F+Π1 and MAX NP. In: Proceedings of the 26th International Symposium on Theoretical Aspects of Computer Science (STACS ’09), IBFI Dagstuhl, Germany, pp. 601–612 (2009)
Lewis, J.M., Yannakakis, M.: The node-deletion problem for hereditary properties is NP-complete. J. Comput. Syst. Sci. 20(2), 219–230 (1980)
Marx, D., Schlotter, I.: Parameterized graph cleaning problems. Discrete Appl. Math. 157(15), 3258–3267 (2009)
McClosky, B., Hicks, I.: Combinatorial algorithms for the maximum k-plex problem. J. Comb. Optim. (2011). doi:10.1007/s10878-010-9338-2
Memon, N., Kristoffersen, K.C., Hicks, D.L., Larsen, H.L.: Detecting critical regions in covert networks: A case study of 9/11 terrorists network. In: Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Availability, Reliability and Security (ARES ’07), pp. 861–870. IEEE Comput. Soc., Los Alamitos (2007)
Mokken, R.J.: Cliques, clubs and clans. Qual. Quant. 13, 161–173 (1979)
Moser, H., Niedermeier, R., Sorge, M.: Algorithms and experiments for clique relaxations—finding maximum s-plexes. In: Proceedings of the 8th International Symposium on Experimental Algorithms (SEA ’09). Lecture Notes in Computer Science, vol. 5526, pp. 233–244. Springer, Berlin (2009)
Niedermeier, R.: Invitation to Fixed-Parameter Algorithms. Oxford University Press, Oxford (2006)
Reed, B., Smith, K., Vetta, A.: Finding odd cycle transversals. Oper. Res. Lett. 32(4), 299–301 (2004)
Schaeffer, S.E.: Graph clustering. Comput. Sci. Rev. 1(1), 27–64 (2007)
Seidman, S.B., Foster, B.L.: A graph-theoretic generalization of the clique concept. J. Math. Sociol. 6, 139–154 (1978)
Shamir, R., Sharan, R., Tsur, D.: Cluster graph modification problems. Discrete Appl. Math. 144(1–2), 173–182 (2004)
Wu, B., Pei, X.: A parallel algorithm for enumerating all the maximal k-plexes. In: Emerging Technologies in Knowledge Discovery and Data Mining. Lecture Notes in Artificial Intelligence, vol. 4819, pp. 476–483. Springer, Berlin (2007)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Additional information
Supported by the DFG, project AREG, NI 369/9. An extended abstract of this paper appeared under the title “Kernelization Through Tidying—A Case-Study Based on s-Plex Cluster Vertex Deletion” in Proceedings of the 9th Latin American Theoretical Informatics Symposium (LATIN’10), Oaxaca, México, April 2010, volume 6034 of Lecture Notes in Computer Science, pages 528–539, Springer, 2010. Whereas in the extended abstract the proofs focused on 2-Plex Cluster Vertex Deletion, here we present the kernelization for the general s-plex cluster vertex deletion set problem, which is only slightly more technical.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
van Bevern, R., Moser, H. & Niedermeier, R. Approximation and Tidying—A Problem Kernel for s-Plex Cluster Vertex Deletion. Algorithmica 62, 930–950 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00453-011-9492-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00453-011-9492-7