Small- world and the growing properties of the Chinese railway network

By using the tools of statistical physics and recent investigations of the scaling properties of different complex networks, the structural and evolving properties of the Chinese railway network (CRN) is studied. It has been verified that the CRN has the same small-world properties of the Indian railway network (IRN). According to the class of small-world networks, we believe the CRN is a single scale. In addition, a novel result is obtained. Measurements on the CRN indicate that the rate at which nodes acquire links depends on the node s degree and follows a power law.     

An effective method to improve the robustness of small-world networks under attack

In this study, the robustness of small-world networks to three types of attack is investigated. Global efficiency is introduced as the network coefficient to measure the robustness of a small-world network. The simulation results prove that an increase in rewiring probability or average degree can enhance the robustness of the small-world network under all three types of attack. The effectiveness of simultaneously increasing both rewiring probability and average degree is also studied, and the combined increase is found to significantly improve the robustness of the small-world network.Furthermore, the combined effect of rewiring probability and average degree on network robustness is shown to be several times greater than that of rewiring probability or average degree individually. This means that small-world networks with a relatively high rewiring probability and average degree have advantages both in network communications and in good robustness to attacks. Therefore, simultaneously increasing rewiring probability and average degree is an effective method of constructing realistic networks. Consequently, the proposed method is useful to construct efficient and robust networks in a realistic scenario.     

Deterministic scale-free small-world networks of arbitrary order

In many real-life networks, both the scale-free distribution of degree and small-world behavior are important features. There are many random or deterministic models of networks to simulate these features separately. However, there are few models that combine the scale-free effect and small-world behavior, especially in terms of deterministic versions. What is more, all the existing deterministic algorithms running in the iterative mode generate networks with only several discrete numbers of nodes. This contradicts the purpose of creating a deterministic network model on which we can simulate some dynamical processes as widely as possible. According to these facts, this paper proposes a deterministic network generation algorithm, which can not only generate deterministic networks following a scale-free distribution of degree and small-world behavior, but also produce networks with arbitrary number of nodes. Our scheme is based on a complete binary tree, and each newly generated leaf node is further linked to its full brother and one of its direct ancestors. Analytical computation and simulation results show that the average degree of such a proposed network is less than 5, the average clustering coefficient is high (larger than 0.5, even for a network of size 2 million) and the average shortest path length increases much more slowly than logarithmic growth for the majority of small-world network models.     

小世界网络与无标度网络的社区结构研究

模块性(modularity)是度量网络社区结构(community structure)的主要参数.探讨了Watts和Strogatz的小世界网络(简称W-S模型)以及Barabàsi 等的B-A无标度网络(简称B-A模型)两类典型复杂网络模块性特点.结果显示，网络模块性受到网络连接稀疏的影响，W-S模型具有显著的社区结构，而B-A模型的社区结构特征不明显.因此，应用中应该分别讨论网络的小世界现象和无标度特性.社区结构不同于小世界现象和无标度特性，并可以利用模块性区别网络类型，因此网络复杂性指标应该包括 关键词： 模块性 社区结构 小世界网络 无标度网络     

Cascading failure in Watts-Strogatz small-world networks

In this paper, we study the cascading failure in Watts-Strogatz small-world networks. We find that this network model has a heterogeneous betweenness distribution, although its degree distribution is homogeneous. Further study shows that this small-world network is robust to random attack but fragile to intentional attack, in the cascading failure scenario. With comparison to standard random graph and scale-free networks, our result indicates that the robust yet fragile property in the cascading failure scenario is mainly related to heterogeneous betweenness, rather than the network degree distribution. Thus, it suggests that we have to be very careful when we use terms such as homogeneous network and heterogeneous network, unless the distribution we refer to is specified.     

Empirical analysis of a scale-free railway network in China

We present a detailed, empirical analysis of the statistical properties of the China Railway Network (CRN) consisting of 3915 nodes (train stations) and 22 259 edges (railways). Based on this, CRN displays two explicit features already observed in numerous real-world and artificial networks. One feature, the small-world property, has the fingerprint of a small characteristic shortest-path length, 3.5, accompanied by a high degree of clustering, 0.835. Another feature is characterized by the scale-free distributions of both degrees and weighted degrees, namely strengths. Correlations between strength and degree, degree and degree, and clustering coefficient and degree have been studied and the forms of such behaviors have been identified. In addition, we investigate distributions of clustering coefficients, topological distances, and spatial distances.     

Semantic networks based on titles of scientific papers

In this paper we study the topological structure of semantic networks based on titles of papers published in scientific journals. It discusses its properties and presents some reflections on how the use of social and complex network models can contribute to the diffusion of knowledge. The proposed method presented here is applied to scientific journals where the titles of papers are in English or in Portuguese. We show that the topology of studied semantic networks are small-world and scale-free.     

基于Sierpinski分形垫的确定性复杂网络演化模型研究

近年来,人们发现大量真实网络都表现出小世界和无尺度的特性,由此复杂网络演化模型成为学术界研究的热点问题.本文基于Sierpinski分形垫,通过迭代的方式构造了两个确定性增长的复杂网络模型,即小世界网络模型(S-DSWN)和无尺度网络模型(S-DSFN);其次,给出了确定性网络模型的迭代生成算法,解析计算了其主要拓扑特性,结果表明两个网络模型在度分布、集聚系数和网络直径等结构特性方面与许多现实网络相符合;最后,提出了一个确定性的统一模型(S-DUM),将S-DSWN与S-DSFN纳入到一个框架之下,为复杂网络的相关研究提供理论基础.特别地,发现这些网络模型都是极大平面图.     

Enhancing the network synchronizability

The structural and dynamical properties, particularly the small-world effect and scale-free feature, of complex networks have attracted tremendous interest and attention in recent years. This article offers a brief review of one focal issue concerning the structural and dynamical behaviors of complex network synchronization. In the presentation, the notions of synchronization of dynamical systems on networks, stability of dynamical networks, and relationships between network structure and synchronizability, will be first introduced. Then, various technical methods for enhancing the network synchronizability will be discussed, which are roughly divided into two classes: Structural Modification and Coupling-Pattern Regulation, where the former includes three typical methods—dividing hub nodes, shortening average distances, and deleting overload edges, while the latter mainly is a method of strengthening the hub-nodes’ influence on the network.      

变权小世界生物神经网络的兴奋及优化特性

根据实际生物神经网络具有小世界连接和神经元之间的连接强度随时间变化的特点,首先构造了一个以Hodgkin-Huxley方程为节点动力学模型的动态变权小世界生物神经网络模型,然后研究了该模型神经元的兴奋特性、权值变化特点和不同的学习系数对神经元的兴奋统计特性的影响.最有意义的结果是,在同样的网络结构、网络参数及外部刺激信号的条件下,学习系数b存在一个最优值b^*,使生物神经网络的兴奋度在b=b^*时达到最大. 关键词： 动态变权生物神经网络 小世界网络 Hodgkin-Huxley方程     

A review of fractality and self-similarity in complex networks

We review recent findings of self-similarity in complex networks. Using the box-covering technique, it was shown that many networks present a fractal behavior, which is seemingly in contrast to their small-world property. Moreover, even non-fractal networks have been shown to present a self-similar picture under renormalization of the length scale. These results have an important effect in our understanding of the evolution and behavior of such systems. A large number of network properties can now be described through a set of simple scaling exponents, in analogy with traditional fractal theory.     

The complex topology of chemical plants

We show that flowsheets of oil refineries can be associated to complex network topologies that are scale-free, display small-world effect and possess hierarchical organization. The emergence of these properties from such man-made networks is explained as a consequence of the currently used principles for process design, which include heuristics as well as algorithmic techniques. We expect these results to be valid for chemical plants of different types and capacities.     

Structure properties and synchronizability of cobweb-like networks

The cobweb-like network was constructed, and its structure properties and synchronizability were studied by numerical simulation and probability theory. For cobweb-like networks, the behaviors of structure properties with the adding probability are similar to those for the small-world network. However, the properties of cobweb-like networks also distinctly depend on the spoke-ring ratio r. With increasing r, the average path length decreases, and the average clustering coefficient increases. Simultaneously, the connectivity distribution becomes heterogeneous. Moreover, in the case of bounded synchronized region, the synchronizability shows complicated behaviors with r, and is enhanced favorably at r=2.28 with homogeneous load distribution. The reason is that homogeneous load distribution has an advantage over the communication between oscillators, which efficiently leads to global synchronization. This work could be useful for design and kinetic property research of cobweb-like networks.     

手机短信息传播过程和短信息寿命研究

比较了短信息在无标度网络、小世界网络和实际的短信息网络三种网络中的传播过程,寻找影响短信息传播的因素.研究发现,网络拓扑结构和手机用户的转发短信行为均会影响短信息传播过程.在无标度网络中短信息传播速率快于小世界网络和实际的短信息网络,而无标度网络的短信息寿命较小世界网络和实际的短信息网络短;网络中手机用户的转发短信息行为明显影响短信息的传播过程.同时还发现短信息寿命与网络直径有关. 关键词： 复杂网络 短信息 信息传播 人类行为     

基于社团结构的城市地铁网络模型研究

本文运用复杂网络理论, 对我国北京、上海、广州和深圳等城市的地铁网络进行了实证研究. 分别研究了地铁网络的度分布、聚类系数和平均路径长度. 研究表明, 该网络具有高的聚类系数和短的平均路径长度, 显示小世界网络的特征, 其度分布并不严格服从幂律分布或指数分布, 而是呈多段的分布, 显示层次网络的特征. 此外, 它还具有重叠的社团结构特征. 基于实证研究的结果, 提出一种基于社团结构的交通网络模型, 并对该模型进行了模拟分析, 模拟结果表明, 该模型的模拟结果与实证研究结果相符. 此外, 该模型还能解释其他类型的复杂网络(如城市公共汽车交通网络)的网络特性. 关键词： 复杂网络 地铁网络 小世界 社团     

Comparative effects of avoidance and vaccination in disease spread on a dynamic small-world network

Dynamic small-world contact networks have fixed short range links and time-varying stochastic long range links. They are used to model mobile populations or as minimal models for traditional small-world networks. Here we study the relative effects of vaccinations and avoidance of infected individuals in a susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) epidemic model on a dynamic small-world network. We derive the critical mobility required for an outbreak to occur as a function of the disease’s infectivity, recovery rate, avoidance rate, and vaccination rate. We also derive an expression that allows us to calculate the amount of vaccination and/or avoidance necessary to prevent an epidemic. Calculated quantities show excellent agreement with simulations.     

Self-similar scaling of density in complex real-world networks

Despite their diverse origin, networks of large real-world systems reveal a number of common properties including small-world phenomena, scale-free degree distributions and modularity. Recently, network self-similarity as a natural outcome of the evolution of real-world systems has also attracted much attention within the physics literature. Here we investigate the scaling of density in complex networks under two classical box-covering renormalizations–network coarse-graining–and also different community-based renormalizations. The analysis on over 50 real-world networks reveals a power-law scaling of network density and size under adequate renormalization technique, yet irrespective of network type and origin. The results thus advance a recent discovery of a universal scaling of density among different real-world networks [P.J. Laurienti, K.E. Joyce, Q.K. Telesford, J.H. Burdette, S. Hayasaka, Universal fractal scaling of self-organized networks, Physica A 390 (20) (2011) 3608–3613] and imply an existence of a scale-free density also within–among different self-similar scales of–complex real-world networks. The latter further improves the comprehension of self-similar structure in large real-world networks with several possible applications.     

Unified Model for Generation Complex Networks with Utility Preferential Attachment

In this paper, based on the utility preferential attachment, we propose a new unified model to generate different network topologies such as scale-free, small-world and random networks. Moreover, a new network structure named super scale network is found, which has monopoly characteristic in our simulation experiments. Finally, the characteristics ofthis new network are given.     

An Extended Correlation Dimension of Complex Networks

Fractal and self-similarity are important characteristics of complex networks. The correlation dimension is one of the measures implemented to characterize the fractal nature of unweighted structures, but it has not been extended to weighted networks. In this paper, the correlation dimension is extended to the weighted networks. The proposed method uses edge-weights accumulation to obtain scale distances. It can be used not only for weighted networks but also for unweighted networks. We selected six weighted networks, including two synthetic fractal networks and four real-world networks, to validate it. The results show that the proposed method was effective for the fractal scaling analysis of weighted complex networks. Meanwhile, this method was used to analyze the fractal properties of the Newman–Watts (NW) unweighted small-world networks. Compared with other fractal dimensions, the correlation dimension is more suitable for the quantitative analysis of small-world effects.     

Unified Model for Generation Complex Networks with Utility Preferential Attachment

In this paper, based on the utility preferential attachment, we propose a new unified model to generate different network topologies such as scale-free, small-world and random networks. Moreover, a new network structure named super scale network is found, which has monopoly characteristic in our simulation experiments. Finally, the characteristics of this new network are given.