We introduce a new framework for designing fixed-parameter algorithms with subexponential running time-2 O( √ k) n O(1) . Our results apply to a broad family of graph problems, called bidimensional problems, which includes many domination and problems such as vertex cover, feedback vertex set, minimum maximal matching, dominating set, edge dominating set, disk dimension, and many others restricted to bounded-genus graphs (phrased as bipartite-graph problem). Furthermore, it is fairly straightforward to prove that a problem is bidimensional. In particular, our framework includes, as special cases, all previously known problems to have such subexponential algorithms. Previously, these algorithms applied to planar graphs, single-crossing-minor-free graphs, and/or map graphs; we extend these results to apply to bounded-genus graphs as well. In a parallel development A preliminary version of this article appeared in 867 of combinatorial results, we establish an upper bound on the treewidth (or branchwidth) of a boundedgenus graph that excludes some planar graph H as a minor. This bound depends linearly on the size |V (H )| of the excluded graph H and the genus g(G) of the graph G, and applies and extends the graph-minors work of Robertson and Seymour.Building on these results, we develop subexponential fixed-parameter algorithms for dominating set, vertex cover, and set cover in any class of graphs excluding a fixed graph H as a minor. In particular, this general category of graphs includes planar graphs, bounded-genus graphs, single-crossing-minorfree graphs, and any class of graphs that is closed under taking minors. Specifically, the running time is 2 O( √ k) n h , where h is a constant depending only on H , which is polynomial for k = O(log 2 n). We introduce a general approach for developing algorithms on H -minor-free graphs, based on structural results about H -minor-free graphs at the heart of Robertson and Seymour's graph-minors work. We believe this approach opens the way to further development on problems in H -minor-free graphs.

We develop the algorithmic theory of vertex separators, and its relation to the embeddings of certain metric spaces. Unlike in the edge case, we show that embeddings into L1 (and even Euclidean embeddings) are insufficient, but that the additional structure provided by many embedding theorems does suffice for our purposes.We obtain an O( √ log n) approximation for min-ratio vertex cuts in general graphs, based on a new semidefinite relaxation of the problem, and a tight analysis of the integrality gap which is shown to be Θ( √ log n). We also prove various approximate max-flow/minvertex-cut theorems, which in particular give a constant-factor approximation for min-ratio vertex cuts in any excluded-minor family of graphs. Previously, this was known only for planar graphs, and for general excluded-minor families the best-known ratio was O(log n).These results have a number of applications. We exhibit an O( √ log n) pseudo-approximation for finding balanced vertex separators in general graphs. In fact, we achieve an approximation ratio of O( √ log opt) where opt is the size of an optimal separator, improving over the previous best bound of O(log opt). Likewise, we obtain improved approximation ratios for treewidth: In any graph of treewidth k, we show how to find a tree decomposition of width at most O(k √ log k), whereas previous algorithms yielded O(k log k). For graphs excluding a fixed graph as a minor (which includes, e.g., bounded genus graphs), we give a constantfactor approximation for the treewidth; this can be used to obtain the first polynomial-time approximation schemes for problems like minimum feedback vertex set and minimum connected dominating set in such graphs.

Abstract

We propose weakening the assumption made when studying the price of anarchy: Rather than assume that self-interested players will play according to a Nash equilibrium (which may even be computationally hard to find), we assume only that selfish players play so as to minimize their own regret. Regret minimization can be done via simple, efficient algorithms even in many settings where the number of action choices for each player is exponential in the natural parameters of the problem. We prove that despite our weakened assumptions, in several broad classes of games, this "price of total anarchy" matches the Nash price of anarchy, even though play may never converge to Nash equilibrium. In contrast to the price of anarchy and the recently introduced price of sinking [15], which require all players to behave in a prescribed manner, we show that the price of total anarchy is in many cases resilient to the presence of Byzantine players, about whom we make no assumptions. Finally, because the price of total anarchy is an upper bound on the price of anarchy even in mixed strategies, for some games our results yield as corollaries previously unknown bounds on the price of anarchy in mixed strategies.

We consider the problem of deploying or repairing a sensor network to guarantee a specified level of multi-path connectivity (k-connectivity) between all nodes. Such a guarantee simultaneously provides fault tolerance against node failures and high capacity through multi-path routing. We design and analyze the first algorithms that place an almostminimum number of additional sensors to augment an existing network into a k-connected network, for any desired parameter k. Our algorithms have provable guarantees on the quality of the solution. Specifically, we prove that the number of additional sensors is within a constant factor of the absolute minimum, for any fixed k. We have implemented greedy and distributed versions of this algorithm, and demonstrate in simulation that they produce high-quality placements for the additional sensors. We are also in the process of using our algorithms to deploy nodes in a physical sensor network using a mobile robot.