Polona Oblak
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Polona Oblak has a total of 36 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Helena Šmigoc
School of Mathematics and Statistics University College Dublin Belfield Dublin 4 Ireland
9 shared publications - David Dolžan
Department of Mathematics, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
7 shared publications - Rupert H. Levene
School of Mathematics and Statistics, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
5 shared publications Sara Koljančić
University of Banja Luka
5 shared publications- Alen Đurić
Univ Paris, IRIF, CNRS, INRIA, F-75013 Paris, France
3 shared publications David Dolžan
Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
3 shared publications
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 23 October 2026
- Published by University of Wyoming Libraries in The Electronic Journal of Linear Algebra
- Vol. 42, 755-779
Combinatorial aspects of the nonsymmetric strong spectral property for graphs
In this paper, we investigate the nonsymmetric strong spectral property (nSSP) from a combinatorial perspective. To zero–nonzero patterns of matrices, we associate directed graphs and study when they require or allow the nSSP, providing a framework that avoids verifying the nSSP for individual matrices. A new combinatorial method is introduced and used to recognize several patterns that require the nSSP. It is shown that loop assignments in double paths play a critical role in establishing this property. In particular, we characterize all possible loop assignments for double paths on at most five vertices that require, allow or do not allow the nSSP, and show that an open question regarding irreducible tridiagonal patterns has a negative answer. We also investigate whether the minimum number of arcs in a directed graph on $n$ vertices that requires the nSSP, is equal to $2n-1$, and confirm this minimum for several specific digraph families.- 23 October 2026
- Published by University of Wyoming Libraries in The Electronic Journal of Linear Algebra
- Vol. 42, 755-779
Open AccessCombinatorial aspects of the nonsymmetric strong spectral property for graphs
In this paper, we investigate the nonsymmetric strong spectral property (nSSP) from a combinatorial perspective. To zero–nonzero patterns of matrices, we associate directed graphs and study when they require or allow the nSSP, providing a framework that avoids verifying the nSSP for individual matrices. A new combinatorial method is introduced and used to recognize several patterns that require the nSSP. It is shown that loop assignments in double paths play a critical role in establishing this property. In particular, we characterize all possible loop assignments for double paths on at most five vertices that require, allow or do not allow the nSSP, and show that an open question regarding irreducible tridiagonal patterns has a negative answer. We also investigate whether the minimum number of arcs in a directed graph on $n$ vertices that requires the nSSP, is equal to $2n-1$, and confirm this minimum for several specific digraph families. - Open Access
- 14 October 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 754, 151-174
The strong spectral property for some families of unicyclic graphs
- 14 October 2026
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 754, 151-174
Open AccessThe strong spectral property for some families of unicyclic graphs
- Open Access
- 6 June 2025
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 723, 162-181
Orthogonalisability of joins of graphs
- 6 June 2025
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 723, 162-181
Open AccessOrthogonalisability of joins of graphs
- Open Access
The strong spectral property for some families of unicyclic graphs
To find all the possible spectra of all real symmetric matrices whose off-diagonal pattern is prescribed by the adjacencies of a given graph $G$, the Strong Spectral Property turned out to be of crucial importance. In particular, we investigate the set ${\mathcal G}^{\text{SSP}}$ of all simple graphs $G$ with the property that each symmetric matrix of the pattern of $G$ has the Strong Spectral Property. In this paper, we completely characterize unicyclic graphs of girth three in ${\mathcal G}^{\text{SSP}}$. We prove that any tadpole graph of girth at most five is in ${\mathcal G}^{\text{SSP}}$ and we show that the same is not valid for girth six tadpole graphs.Open AccessThe strong spectral property for some families of unicyclic graphs
To find all the possible spectra of all real symmetric matrices whose off-diagonal pattern is prescribed by the adjacencies of a given graph $G$, the Strong Spectral Property turned out to be of crucial importance. In particular, we investigate the set ${\mathcal G}^{\text{SSP}}$ of all simple graphs $G$ with the property that each symmetric matrix of the pattern of $G$ has the Strong Spectral Property. In this paper, we completely characterize unicyclic graphs of girth three in ${\mathcal G}^{\text{SSP}}$. We prove that any tadpole graph of girth at most five is in ${\mathcal G}^{\text{SSP}}$ and we show that the same is not valid for girth six tadpole graphs. - 14 July 2024
- Published by Elsevier in Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series B
- Vol. 169, 161-210
Spectral arbitrariness for trees fails spectacularly
- 14 July 2024
- Published by Elsevier in Journal of Combinatorial Theory, Series B
- Vol. 169, 161-210
Spectral arbitrariness for trees fails spectacularly
- Open Access
- 15 March 2024
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 690, 59-90
Jordan structures of nilpotent matrices in the centralizer of a nilpotent matrix with two Jordan blocks of the same size
- 15 March 2024
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 690, 59-90
Open AccessJordan structures of nilpotent matrices in the centralizer of a nilpotent matrix with two Jordan blocks of the same size
- Open Access
- 17 September 2023
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 679, 104-126
Bordering of symmetric matrices and an application to the minimum number of distinct eigenvalues for the join of graphs
- 17 September 2023
- Published by Elsevier in Linear Algebra and its Applications
- Vol. 679, 104-126
Open AccessBordering of symmetric matrices and an application to the minimum number of distinct eigenvalues for the join of graphs
- Open Access
Bordering of Symmetric Matrices and an Application to the Minimum Number of Distinct Eigenvalues for the Join of Graphs
An important facet of the inverse eigenvalue problem for graphs is to determine the minimum number of distinct eigenvalues of a particular graph. We resolve this question for the join of a connected graph with a path. We then focus on bordering a matrix and attempt to control the change in the number of distinct eigenvalues induced by this operation. By applying bordering techniques to the join of graphs, we obtain numerous results on the nature of the minimum number of distinct eigenvalues as vertices are joined to a fixed graph.
Open AccessBordering of Symmetric Matrices and an Application to the Minimum Number of Distinct Eigenvalues for the Join of Graphs
An important facet of the inverse eigenvalue problem for graphs is to determine the minimum number of distinct eigenvalues of a particular graph. We resolve this question for the join of a connected graph with a path. We then focus on bordering a matrix and attempt to control the change in the number of distinct eigenvalues induced by this operation. By applying bordering techniques to the join of graphs, we obtain numerous results on the nature of the minimum number of distinct eigenvalues as vertices are joined to a fixed graph.
- Open Access
- 10 July 2023
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Linear and Multilinear Algebra
- Vol. 72 (12) , 2054-2068
Distinct eigenvalues are realizable with generic eigenvectors
- 10 July 2023
- Published by Taylor & Francis in Linear and Multilinear Algebra
- Vol. 72 (12) , 2054-2068
Open AccessDistinct eigenvalues are realizable with generic eigenvectors
- Open Access
- 20 June 2023
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Access
- Vol. 11, 69022-69032
Matrix Tri-Factorization Over the Tropical Semiring
Tropical semiring has proven successful in several research areas, including optimal control, bioinformatics, discrete event systems, or solving a decision problem. In previous studies, a matrix two-factorization algorithm based on the tropical semiring has been applied to investigate bipartite and tripartite networks. Tri-factorization algorithms based on standard linear algebra are used for solving tasks such as data fusion, co-clustering, matrix completion, community detection, and more. However, there is currently no tropical matrix tri-factorization approach, which would allow for the analysis of multipartite networks with a high number of parts. To address this, we propose the triFastSTMF algorithm, which performs tri-factorization over the tropical semiring. We apply it to analyze a four-partition network structure and recover the edge lengths of the network. We show that triFastSTMF performs similarly to Fast-NMTF in terms of approximation and prediction performance when fitted on the whole network. When trained on a specific subnetwork and used to predict the whole network, triFastSTMF outperforms Fast-NMTF by several orders of magnitude smaller error. The robustness of triFastSTMF is due to tropical operations, which are less prone to predict large values compared to standard operations.
- 20 June 2023
- Published by Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) in IEEE Access
- Vol. 11, 69022-69032
Open AccessMatrix Tri-Factorization Over the Tropical Semiring
Tropical semiring has proven successful in several research areas, including optimal control, bioinformatics, discrete event systems, or solving a decision problem. In previous studies, a matrix two-factorization algorithm based on the tropical semiring has been applied to investigate bipartite and tripartite networks. Tri-factorization algorithms based on standard linear algebra are used for solving tasks such as data fusion, co-clustering, matrix completion, community detection, and more. However, there is currently no tropical matrix tri-factorization approach, which would allow for the analysis of multipartite networks with a high number of parts. To address this, we propose the triFastSTMF algorithm, which performs tri-factorization over the tropical semiring. We apply it to analyze a four-partition network structure and recover the edge lengths of the network. We show that triFastSTMF performs similarly to Fast-NMTF in terms of approximation and prediction performance when fitted on the whole network. When trained on a specific subnetwork and used to predict the whole network, triFastSTMF outperforms Fast-NMTF by several orders of magnitude smaller error. The robustness of triFastSTMF is due to tropical operations, which are less prone to predict large values compared to standard operations.