On the cd-index and \(\gamma \)-vector of S\(^{\ast}\)-shellable CW-spheres (Q444209)

The \(\gamma\)-vector of a simplicial complex was introduced by \textit{S. R. Gal} [Discrete Comput. Geom. 34, No. 2, 269--284 (2005; Zbl 1085.52005)] who conjectured that the \(\gamma\)-vector of a flag homology sphere is nonnegative. \textit{E. Nevo} and \textit{T. K. Petersen} [Discrete Comput. Geom. 45, No. 3, 503--521 (2011; Zbl 1231.52009)] conjectured that the \(\gamma\)-vector of a flag homology sphere is also the \(f\)-vector of a balanced simplicial complex. The latter conjecture was verified for barycentric subdivisions of simplicial homology spheres [\textit{E. Nevo}, \textit{T. K. Petersen} and \textit{B. E. Tenner}, J. Comb. Theory, Ser. A 118, No. 4, 1364--1380 (2011; Zbl 1231.05307)]. The present paper extends the validity of the Nevo-Petersen conjecture to barycentric subdivisions of \(S^*\)-shellable regular \(CW\)-spheres. This class of regular \(CW\)-spheres is obtained by slightly modifying Stanley's definition of \(S\)-shellability [\textit{R. P. Stanley}, Math. Z. 216, No. 3, 483--499 (1994; Zbl 0805.06003)], and it contains the class of boundary complexes of polytopes.