On the \(h\)-vector of \((S_r)\) simplicial complexes (Q2281467)

Let \(K\) be a field and \(S=K[x_1,\dots,x_n]\). A finitely generated \(S\)-module \(M\) satisfies the Serre's condition (\(S_r\)) when depth\(M_p \geq \min\{r, \dim M_p\}\), for all prime ideals \(p\) of \(S\). Also a simplicial complex \(\Delta\) is called an \((S_r)\) simplicial complex if \(S/I_\Delta\) satisfies the condition \((S_r)\), where \(I_\Delta\) denotes the Stanley-Reisner ideal of \(\Delta\). Suppose that \(h(\Delta)=(h_0,\dots, h_d)\) is the \(h\)-vector of \(\Delta\). It is known that if \(\Delta\) is a \((d-1)\)-dimensional simplicial complex satisfying Serre's condition (\(S_r\)) where \(2\leq r\leq d\), then \begin{itemize} \item[(i)] \((h_0,\dots, h_r)\) is the \(h\)-vector of a Cohen-Macaulay simplicial complex; \item[(ii)] for each \(1\leq i\leq r\) we have \(\sum_{j=0}^{d-r} \binom{i+j}{i}h_{r+j} \geq 0\). \end{itemize} In [J. Pure Appl. Algebra 216, No. 1, 91--94 (2012; Zbl 1237.13042)] , where the second condition above is proved, \textit{A. Goodarzi} et al. asked whether these two conditions are also sufficient for being the \(h\)-vector of an \((S_r)\) simplicial complex. Now in the paper under review a negative answer to this question for \(r=2\) is given. More concretely, it is proved that the sequence \[h=(1,2,\underbrace{1,\dots, 1}_{d-2\text{ times }}, -1)\] satisfies both of the aforementioned conditions for \(r=2\) and also is the \(h\)-vector of a \((d-1)\)-dimensional pure simplicial complex, but it is not the \(h\)-vector of any (\(S_2\)) simplicial complex.