Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction

The problem of detecting key nodes in a network (i.e. nodes with the greatest ability to spread an infection) has been studied extensively in the past. Some approaches to key node detection compute node centrality, but there is no formal proof that central nodes also have the greatest spreading capa...

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Main Authors: Luyuan Gao, Xiaoyang Liu, Chao Liu, Yihao Zhang, Giacomo Fiumara, Pasquale De Meo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Springer 2023-07-01
Series:Journal of King Saud University: Computer and Information Sciences
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Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319157823001854
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author Luyuan Gao
Xiaoyang Liu
Chao Liu
Yihao Zhang
Giacomo Fiumara
Pasquale De Meo
author_facet Luyuan Gao
Xiaoyang Liu
Chao Liu
Yihao Zhang
Giacomo Fiumara
Pasquale De Meo
author_sort Luyuan Gao
collection DOAJ
description The problem of detecting key nodes in a network (i.e. nodes with the greatest ability to spread an infection) has been studied extensively in the past. Some approaches to key node detection compute node centrality, but there is no formal proof that central nodes also have the greatest spreading capacity. Other methods use epidemiological models (e.g., the SIR model) to describe the spread of an infection and rely on numerical simulations to find out key nodes; these methods are highly accurate but computationally expensive. To efficiently but accurately detect key nodes, we propose a novel deep learning method called Rank by Graph Convolutional Network, RGCN. Our method constructs a subnetwork around each node to estimate its spreading power; then RGCN applies a graph convolutional network to each subnetwork and the adjacency matrix of the network to learn node embeddings. Finally, a neural network is applied to the node embeddings to detect key nodes. Our RGCN method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches such as RCNN and MRCNN by 11.84% and 13.99%, respectively, when we compare the Kendall’s τ coefficient between the node ranking produced by each method with the true ranking obtained by SIR simulations.
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institution Kabale University
issn 1319-1578
language English
publishDate 2023-07-01
publisher Springer
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series Journal of King Saud University: Computer and Information Sciences
spelling doaj-art-3bcdb86ea1d24037a766b0adf36cf2cd2025-08-20T03:55:41ZengSpringerJournal of King Saud University: Computer and Information Sciences1319-15782023-07-0135710163110.1016/j.jksuci.2023.101631Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extractionLuyuan Gao0Xiaoyang Liu1Chao Liu2Yihao Zhang3Giacomo Fiumara4Pasquale De Meo5School of Computer Science and Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, ChinaSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, China; Corresponding author.School of Computer Science and Engineering, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 400054, ChinaSchool of Artificial Intelligence, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 401135, ChinaMIFT Department, University of Messina, V.le F. Stagno D’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyDepartment of Computer Science, University of Messina, V.le F. Stagno D’Alcontres, 31, 98166 Messina, ItalyThe problem of detecting key nodes in a network (i.e. nodes with the greatest ability to spread an infection) has been studied extensively in the past. Some approaches to key node detection compute node centrality, but there is no formal proof that central nodes also have the greatest spreading capacity. Other methods use epidemiological models (e.g., the SIR model) to describe the spread of an infection and rely on numerical simulations to find out key nodes; these methods are highly accurate but computationally expensive. To efficiently but accurately detect key nodes, we propose a novel deep learning method called Rank by Graph Convolutional Network, RGCN. Our method constructs a subnetwork around each node to estimate its spreading power; then RGCN applies a graph convolutional network to each subnetwork and the adjacency matrix of the network to learn node embeddings. Finally, a neural network is applied to the node embeddings to detect key nodes. Our RGCN method outperforms state-of-the-art approaches such as RCNN and MRCNN by 11.84% and 13.99%, respectively, when we compare the Kendall’s τ coefficient between the node ranking produced by each method with the true ranking obtained by SIR simulations.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319157823001854Key nodes identificationComplex networkSubnetwork feature extractionGraph convolutional networks
spellingShingle Luyuan Gao
Xiaoyang Liu
Chao Liu
Yihao Zhang
Giacomo Fiumara
Pasquale De Meo
Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction
Journal of King Saud University: Computer and Information Sciences
Key nodes identification
Complex network
Subnetwork feature extraction
Graph convolutional networks
title Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction
title_full Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction
title_fullStr Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction
title_full_unstemmed Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction
title_short Key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction
title_sort key nodes identification in complex networks based on subnetwork feature extraction
topic Key nodes identification
Complex network
Subnetwork feature extraction
Graph convolutional networks
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1319157823001854
work_keys_str_mv AT luyuangao keynodesidentificationincomplexnetworksbasedonsubnetworkfeatureextraction
AT xiaoyangliu keynodesidentificationincomplexnetworksbasedonsubnetworkfeatureextraction
AT chaoliu keynodesidentificationincomplexnetworksbasedonsubnetworkfeatureextraction
AT yihaozhang keynodesidentificationincomplexnetworksbasedonsubnetworkfeatureextraction
AT giacomofiumara keynodesidentificationincomplexnetworksbasedonsubnetworkfeatureextraction
AT pasqualedemeo keynodesidentificationincomplexnetworksbasedonsubnetworkfeatureextraction