Traveling salesman problem, conformal invariance, and dense polymers

We propose that the statistics of the optimal tour in the planar random Euclidean traveling salesman problem is conformally invariant on large scales. This is exhibited in the power-law behavior of the probabilities for the tour to zigzag repeatedly between two regions, and in subleading corrections to the length of the tour. The universality class should be the same as for dense polymers and minimal spanning trees. The conjectures for the length of the tour on a cylinder are tested numerically.     

Investigation of Simulated Trading — A multi agent based trading system for optimization purposes

Some years ago, Bachem, Hochstättler, and Malich proposed a heuristic algorithm called Simulated Trading for the optimization of vehicle routing problems. Computational agents place buy-orders and sell-orders for customers to be handled at a virtual financial market, the prices of the orders depending on the costs of inserting the customer in the tour or for his removal. According to a proposed rule set, the financial market creates a buy-and-sell graph for the various orders in the order book, intending to optimize the overall system. Here I present a thorough investigation for the application of this algorithm to the traveling salesman problem.     

Research on the search ability of Brownian particles on networks with an adaptive mechanism

In this paper, we focus on the search ability of Brownian particles with an adaptive mechanism. In the adaptive mechanism, nodes are allowed to be able to change their own accepting probability according to their congestion states. Two searching-traffic models, the static one in which nodes have fixed accepting probability to the incoming particles and the adaptive one in which nodes have adaptive accepting probability to the incoming particles are presented for testing the adaptive mechanism. Instead of number of hops, we use the traveling time, which includes not only the number of hops for a particle to jump from the source node to the destination but also the time that the particle stays in the queues of nodes, to evaluate the search ability of Brownian particles. We apply two models to different networks. The experiment results show that the adaptive mechanism can decrease the network congestion and the traveling time of the first arriving particle. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of network topologies on the congestion of networks by addressing several main properties: degree distribution, average path length, and clustering coefficient. We show the reason why random topologies are more able to deal with congested traffic states than others. We also propose an absorption strategy to deal with the additional Brownian particles in networks. The experiment results on Barabási–Albert (BA) scale-free networks show that the absorption strategy can increase the probability of a successful search and decrease the average per-node particles overhead for our models.     

一种改进的基于信息传播率的复杂网络影响力评估算法

评价网络中节点的信息传播影响力对于理解网络结构与网络功能具有重要意义.目前,许多基于最短路径的指标,如接近中心性、介数中心性以及半局部(SP)指标等相继用于评价节点传播影响力.最短路径表示节点间信息传播途径始终选择最优方式,然而实际上网络间的信息传播过程更类似于随机游走,信息的传播途径可以是节点间的任一可达路径,在集聚系数高的网络中,节点的局部高聚簇性有利于信息的有效扩散,若只考虑信息按最优传播方式即最短路径传播,则会低估节点信息传播的能力,从而降低节点影响力的排序精度.综合考虑节点与三步内邻居间的有效可达路径以及信息传播率,提出了一种SP指标的改进算法,即ASP算法.在多个经典的实际网络和人工网络上利用SIR模型对传播过程进行仿真,结果表明ASP指标与度指标、核数指标、接近中心性指标、介数中心性指标以及SP指标相比,可以更精确地对节点传播影响力进行排序.     

The Stochastic Traveling Salesman Problem: Finite Size Scaling and the Cavity Prediction

We study the random link traveling salesman problem, where lengths l _ij between city i and city j are taken to be independent, identically distributed random variables. We discuss a theoretical approach, the cavity method, that has been proposed for finding the optimum tour length over this random ensemble, given the assumption of replica symmetry. Using finite size scaling and a renormalized model, we test the cavity predictions against the results of simulations, and find excellent agreement over a range of distributions. We thus provide numerical evidence that the replica symmetric solution to this problem is the correct one. Finally, we note a surprising result concerning the distribution of k th-nearest neighbor links in optimal tours, and invite a theoretical understanding of this phenomenon.     

Cluster synchronization in networks of distinct groups of maps

In this paper, we study cluster synchronization in general bi-directed networks of nonidentical clusters, where all nodes in the same cluster share an identical map. Based on the transverse stability analysis, we present sufficient conditions for local cluster synchronization of networks. The conditions are composed of two factors: the common inter-cluster coupling, which ensures the existence of an invariant cluster synchronization manifold, and communication between each pair of nodes in the same cluster, which is necessary for chaos synchronization. Consequently, we propose a quantity to measure the cluster synchronizability for a network with respect to the given clusters via a function of the eigenvalues of the Laplacian corresponding to the generalized eigenspace transverse to the cluster synchronization manifold. Then, we discuss the clustering synchronous dynamics and cluster synchronizability for four artificial network models: (i) p-nearest-neighborhood graph; (ii) random clustering graph; (iii) bipartite random graph; (iv) degree-preferred growing clustering network. From these network models, we are to reveal how the intra-cluster and inter-cluster links affect the cluster synchronizability. By numerical examples, we find that for the first model, the cluster synchronizability regularly enhances with the increase of p, yet for the other three models, when the ratio of intra-cluster links and the inter-cluster links reaches certain quantity, the clustering synchronizability reaches maximal.     

Hierarchical Characterization of Complex Networks

While the majority of approaches to the characterization of complex networks has relied on measurements considering only the immediate neighborhood of each network node, valuable information about the network topological properties can be obtained by considering further neighborhoods. The current work considers the concept of virtual hierarchies established around each node and the respectively defined hierarchical node degree and clustering coefficient (introduced in cond-mat/0408076), complemented by new hierarchical measurements, in order to obtain a powerful set of topological features of complex networks. The interpretation of such measurements is discussed, including an analytical study of the hierarchical node degree for random networks, and the potential of the suggested measurements for the characterization of complex networks is illustrated with respect to simulations of random, scale-free and regular network models as well as real data (airports, proteins and word associations). The enhanced characterization of the connectivity provided by the set of hierarchical measurements also allows the use of agglomerative clustering methods in order to obtain taxonomies of relationships between nodes in a network, a possibility which is also illustrated in the current article.     

Clustering dynamics of nonlinear oscillator network: Application to graph coloring problem

The Kuramoto model is modified by introducing a negative coupling strength, which is a generalization of the original one. Among the abundant dynamics, the clustering phenomenon of the modified Kuramoto model is analyzed in detail. After clustering appears in a network of coupled oscillators, the nodes are split into several clusters by their phases, in which the phases difference within each cluster is less than a threshold and larger than a threshold between different clusters. We show that this interesting phenomenon can be applied to identify the complete sub-graphs and further applied to graph coloring problems. Simulations on test beds of graph coloring problems have illustrated and verified the scheme.     

相依网络的条件依赖群逾渗

相依网络鲁棒性研究多集中于满足无反馈条件的一对一依赖,但现实网络节点往往依赖于多节点构成的依赖群,即使群内部分节点失效也不会导致依赖节点失效.针对此现象提出了一种相依网络的条件依赖群逾渗模型,该模型允许依赖群内节点失效比例不超过容忍度γ时,依赖节点仍可正常工作.通过理论分析给出了基于生成函数方法的模型巨分量方程,仿真结果表明方程理论解与相依网络模拟逾渗值相吻合,增大γ值和依赖群规模可提高相依网络鲁棒性.本文模型有助于更好地理解现实网络逾渗现象,对如何增强相依网络鲁棒性有一定指导作用.     

基于度与集聚系数的网络节点重要性度量方法研究

网络中节点重要性度量对于研究网络的鲁棒性具有十分重要的意义. 研究者们普遍运用度或集聚系数来度量节点的重要程度, 然而度指标只考虑节点自身邻居个数而忽略了其邻居之间的信息, 集聚系数只考虑节点邻居之间的紧密程度而忽略了其邻居的规模. 本文综合考虑节点的邻居个数, 以及其邻居之间的连接紧密程度, 提出了一种基于邻居信息与集聚系数的节点重要性评价方法. 对美国航空网络和美国西部电力网进行的选择性攻击实验表明, 采用该方法的效果较k-shell指标可以分别提高24%和112%. 本文的节点重要性度量方法只需要考虑网络局部信息, 因此非常适合于对大规模网络的节点重要性进行有效分析. 关键词： 网络科学 鲁棒性 节点重要性 集聚系数     

Unsupervised Image Segmentation Using Hierarchical Clustering

In the analysis of a medical image database aimed at formulating useful knowledge for image diagnosis requires an unsupervised image processing technique without preconceived knowledge. In this paper, we propose a method for unsupervised image segmentation, which is suitable for finding the features contained in an image. A small region around each pixel is considered as a pattern vector, and the set of pattern vectors acquired from the whole image is classified using the hierarchical clustering technique. In hierarchical clustering, the classification of pattern vectors is divided into two clusters at each node according to the statistical criterion based on the entropy in thermodynamics. Results of the test image generated by the Markov random field (MRF) model and real medical images photomicrographs of a colon tumor are shown.     

Semi-Poisson statistics and beyond

Semi-Poisson statistics are shown to be obtained by removing every other number from a random sequence. Retaining every (r+1)th level we obtain a family of sequences, which we call daisy models. Their statistical properties coincide with those of Bogomolny's nearest-neighbor interaction Coulomb gas if the inverse temperature coincides with the integer r. In particular, the case r=2 reproduces closely the statistics of quasioptimal solutions of the traveling salesman problem.     

Evolution of a protein domain interaction network

In this paper, we attempt to understand complex network evolution from the underlying evolutionary relationship between biological organisms. Firstly, we construct a Pfam domain interaction network for each of the 470 completely sequenced organisms, and therefore each organism is correlated with a specific Pfam domain interaction network; secondly, we infer the evolutionary relationship of these organisms with the nearest neighbour joining method; thirdly, we use the evolutionary relationship between organisms constructed in the second step as the evolutionary course of the Pfam domain interaction network constructed in the first step. This analysis of the evolutionary course shows: (i) there is a conserved sub-network structure in network evolution; in this sub-network, nodes with lower degree prefer to maintain their connectivity invariant, and hubs tend to maintain their role as a hub is attached preferentially to new added nodes; (ii) few nodes are conserved as hubs; most of the other nodes are conserved as one with very low degree; (iii) in the course of network evolution, new nodes are added to the network either individually in most cases or as clusters with relative high clustering coefficients in a very few cases.     

Detection of community overlap according to belief propagation and conflict

Most existing methods for detection of community overlap cannot balance efficiency and accuracy for large and densely overlapping networks. To quickly identify overlapping communities for such networks, we propose a new method that uses belief propagation and conflict (PCB) to occupy communities. We first identify triangles with maximal clustering coefficients as seed nodes and sow a new type of belief to the seed nodes. Then the beliefs explore their territory by occupying nodes with high assent ability. The beliefs propagate their strength along the graph to consolidate their territory, and conflict with each other when they encounter the same node simultaneously. Finally, the node membership is judged from the belief vectors. The PCB time complexity is nearly linear and its space complexity is linear. The algorithm was tested in extensive experiments on three real-world social networks and three computer-generated artificial graphs. The experimental results show that PCB is very fast and highly reliable. Tests on real and artificial networks give excellent results compared with three newly proposed overlapping community detection algorithms.     

Statistical properties of Olami-Feder-Christensen model on Barabasi-Albert scale-free network

The Olami-Feder-Christensen model on the Barabasi-Albert type scale-free network is investigated in the context of statistical seismology. This simple model may be regarded as the interacting faults obeying power-law size distribution under two assumptions: (i) each node represents a distinct fault; (ii) the degree of a node is proportional to the fault size and the energy accumulated around it. Depending on the strength of an interaction, the toppling events exhibit temporal clustering as is ubiquitously observed for natural earthquakes. Defining a geometrical parameter that characterizes the heterogeneity of the energy stored in the nodes, we show that aftershocks are characterized as a process of regaining the heterogeneity that is lost by the main shock. The heterogeneity is not significantly altered during the loading process and foreshocks.     

Concentric characterization and classification of complex network nodes: Application to an institutional collaboration network

Differently from theoretical scale-free networks, most real networks present multi-scale behavior, with nodes structured in different types of functional groups and communities. While the majority of approaches for classification of nodes in a complex network has relied on local measurements of the topology/connectivity around each node, valuable information about node functionality can be obtained by concentric (or hierarchical) measurements. This paper extends previous methodologies based on concentric measurements, by studying the possibility of using agglomerative clustering methods, in order to obtain a set of functional groups of nodes, considering particular institutional collaboration network nodes, including various known communities (departments of the University of São Paulo). Among the interesting obtained findings, we emphasize the scale-free nature of the network obtained, as well as identification of different patterns of authorship emerging from different areas (e.g. human and exact sciences). Another interesting result concerns the relatively uniform distribution of hubs along concentric levels, contrariwise to the non-uniform pattern found in theoretical scale-free networks such as the BA model.     

Compressibility of random walker trajectories on growing networks

We find that the simple coupling of network growth to the position of a random walker on the network generates a traveling wave in the probability distribution of nodes visited by the walker. We argue that the entropy of this probability distribution is bounded as the network size tends to infinity. This means that the growth of a space coupled to a random walker situated in it constrains its dynamics to a set of typical random walker trajectories, and walker trajectories inside the growing space are compressible.     

Network evolution driven by dynamics applied to graph coloring

An evolutionary network driven by dynamics is studied and applied to the graph coloring problem. From an initial structure, both the topology and the coupling weights evolve according to the dynamics. On the other hand, the dynamics of the network are determined by the topology and the coupling weights, so an interesting structure-dynamics co-evolutionary scheme appears. By providing two evolutionary strategies, a network described by the complement of a graph will evolve into several clusters of nodes according to their dynamics. The nodes in each cluster can be assigned the same color and nodes in different clusters assigned different colors. In this way, a co-evolution phenomenon is applied to the graph coloring problem. The proposed scheme is tested on several benchmark graphs for graph coloring.     

Clustering and community detection in directed networks: A survey

Networks (or graphs) appear as dominant structures in diverse domains, including sociology, biology, neuroscience and computer science. In most of the aforementioned cases graphs are directed — in the sense that there is directionality on the edges, making the semantics of the edges nonsymmetric as the source node transmits some property to the target one but not vice versa. An interesting feature that real networks present is the clustering or community structure property, under which the graph topology is organized into modules commonly called communities or clusters. The essence here is that nodes of the same community are highly similar while on the contrary, nodes across communities present low similarity. Revealing the underlying community structure of directed complex networks has become a crucial and interdisciplinary topic with a plethora of relevant application domains. Therefore, naturally there is a recent wealth of research production in the area of mining directed graphs — with clustering being the primary method sought and the primary tool for community detection and evaluation. The goal of this paper is to offer an in-depth comparative review of the methods presented so far for clustering directed networks along with the relevant necessary methodological background and also related applications. The survey commences by offering a concise review of the fundamental concepts and methodological base on which graph clustering algorithms capitalize on. Then we present the relevant work along two orthogonal classifications. The first one is mostly concerned with the methodological principles of the clustering algorithms, while the second one approaches the methods from the viewpoint regarding the properties of a good cluster in a directed network. Further, we present methods and metrics for evaluating graph clustering results, demonstrate interesting application domains and provide promising future research directions.