Given a group G and a finite generating set G, we take pG: G → Z to be the function which counts the number of geodesics for each group element g. This generalizes Pascal's triangle. We compute pG for word hyperbolic and describe generic behaviour in abelian groups.

The representation theory of Clifford algebras has been used to obtain information on the possible orders of amicable pairs of orthogonal designs on given numbers of variables. If, however, the same approach is tried on more complex systems of orthogonal designs, such as product designs and amicable triples, algebras which properly generalize the Clifford algebras are encountered. In this paper a theory of such generalizations is developed and applied to the theory of systems of orthogonal designs, and in particular to the theory of product designs.

A permutation π of the set {1, 2, …, n} is four-discordant if π(i) ≢ i, i+ 1, i + 2, i +3 (mod n) for 1 ≦i ≦ n. Generating functions for rook polynomials associated with four-discordant permutations are derived. Hit polynomials associated with four-discordant permutations are studied. Finally, it is shown that the leading coefficients of these rook polynomials form a “tribonacci” sequence which is a generalized Fibonacci sequence.

It is well known that in any (v, b, r, k, λ) resolvable balanced incomplete block design that b≧ ν + r − l with equality if and only if the design is affine resolvable. In this paper, we show that a similar inequality holds for resolvable regular pairwise balanced designs ((ρ, λ)-designs) and we characterize those designs for which equality holds. From this characterization, we deduce certain results about block intersections in (ρ, λ)-designs.

Alspach and Sutcliffe call a graph X(S, q, F) 2-circulant if it consists of two isomorphic copies of circulant graphs X(p, S) and X(p, qS) on p vertices with “cross-edges” joining one another in a prescribed manner. In this paper, we enumerate the nonisomorphic classes of 2-circulant graphs X(S, q, F) such that |S| = m and |F| = k. We also determine a necessary and sufficient condition for a 2-circulant graph to be a GRR. The nonisomorphic classes of GRR on 2p vertices are also enumerated.

We distribute the points and lines of PG(2, 2n+1) according to a special structure that we call the daisy structure. This distribution is intimately related to a special block design which turns out to be isomorphic to PG(n, 2).

We show a blocking set of 3q points in PG(2, 2n+1)that intersects each line in at least two points and we apply this to find a lower bound for the heterochromatic number of the projective plane.

In this paper, linear embeddings of partial designs into designs are found where no repeated blocks are introduced in the embedding process. Triple systems, pure cyclic triple systems, cyclic and directed triple systems are considered. In particular, a partial triple system with no repeated triples is embedded linearly in a triple system with no repeated triples.

Mathématical and computational techniques are described for constructing and enumerating generalized Bhaskar Rao designs (GBRD's). In particular, these methods are applied to GBRD(k + 1, k, 1(k − 1); G)'s for 1 ≥ 1. Properties of the enumerated designs, such as automorphism groups, resolutions and contracted designs are tabulated. Also described are applications to group divisible designs, multi-dimensional Howell cubes, generalized Room squares, equidistant permutation arrays, and doubly resolvable two-fold triple systems.

Some generalizations of Sperner's theorem and of the LYM inequality are given to the case when A1,… At are t families of subsets of {1,…,m} such that a set in one family does not properly contain a set in another.

An undirected simple graph G is called chordal if every circle of G of length greater than 3 has a chord. For a chordal graph G, we prove the following: (i) If m is an odd positive integer, Gm is chordal. (ii) If m is an even positive integer and if Gm is not chordal, then none of the edges of any chordless cycle of Gm is an edge of Gr, r < m.

A close connection is uncovered between the lower central series of the free associative algebra of countable rank and the descending Loewy series of the direct sum of all Solomon descent algebras Δn, n ∈ ℕ0. Each irreducible Δn-module is shown to occur in at most one Loewy section of any principal indecomposable Δn-module.A precise condition for his occurence and formulae for the Cartan numbers are obtained.

We determine the limiting distribution of the distance from the root of a tree to any nearest endnode of the tree (other than the root) for certain families of rooted trees.

The purpose of this note is to determine the automorphism group of the doubly regular tournament of Szekeres type, and to use it to show that the corresponding skew Hadamard matrix H of order 2(q + 1), where q ≡5(mod 8) and q > 5, is not equivalent to the skew Hadamard matrix H(2q + 1) of quadratic residue type when 2q + 1 is a prime power.

In this note it is proved that a BIB(ν, k, l) implies N(ν −4) ≧ min (N(k–2), N(k–1) –1, N(k)–1) and that N(69)≧6.

The simple twills on n harnesses can be classified according to the number of breaks that they possess. An algorithm is detailed for determining these twills and some sample listings given. A formula is derived which evaluates the total number of n-harness twills with a specified number of breaks, and hence also the total possible number of twills on n harnesses. Also the balanced twills on n harnesses are enumerated.

The k-profile of an Hadamard matrix of order n is a function defined on the integers 0, 1,…,n. If k is even, k-profile of an Hadamard matrix of order n (k even) has non-zero terms only in every eighth position. If k is divisible by 4, the non-zero positions are those congruent to n (modulo 8).

An eulerian chain in a directed graph is a continuous directed route which traces every arc of the digraph exactly once. Such a route may be finite or infinite, and may have 0, 1 or 2 end vertices. For each kind of eulerian chain, there is a characterization of those diagraphs possessing such a route. In this survey paper we strealine these characterizations, and then synthesize them into a single description of all digraphs having some eulerian chain. Similar work has been done for eulerian chains in undirected graphs, so we are able to compare corresponding results for graphs and digraphs.

New amicable orthogonal designs of order eight are given and they are used to construct ne orthogonal designs of order 32.

It has been known for over twenty years that every planar graph is Pfaffian. Recently a characterisation of planar graphs in terms of strict maximal odd rings has been discovered. This paper attempts to elucidate the connection between the Pfaffian property and planarity by characterising Pfaffian bipartite graphs in terms of maximal odd rings.

A number of constructions are given for arc-transitive digraphs, based on modifications of permutation representations of finite groups. In particular, it is shown that for every positive integer s and for any transitive permutation group p of degree k, there are infinitely many examples of a finite k-regular digraph with a group of automorphisms acting transitively on s-arcs (but not on (s + 1)-arcs), such that the stabilizer of a vertex induces the action of P on the out-neighbour set.