Minimum degree and sparse connected spanning subgraphs

Let $G$ be a connected graph on $n$ vertices and at most $n(1+\epsilon)$ edges with bounded maximum degree, and $F$ a graph on $n$ vertices with minimum degree at least $n-k$, where $\epsilon$ is a constant depending on $k$. In this paper, we prove that $F$ contains $G$ as a spanning subgraph provided $n\ge 6k^3$, by establishing tight bounds for the Ramsey number $r(G,K_{1,k})$, where $K_{1,k}$ is a star on $k+1$ vertices. Our result generalizes and refines the work of Erd\H{o}s, Faudree, Rousseau, and Schelp (JCT-B, 1982), who established the corresponding result for $G$ being a tree. Moreover, the tight bound for $r(G,tK_{1,k})$ is also obtained.