A0380
Title: Measuring uniqueness and diversity from a network perspective
Authors: Wei-chung Liu - Academia Sinica (Taiwan) [presenting]
Abstract: An index for quantifying node uniqueness in a network is developed. Our rationale is based on how effects from nodes can spread to all others, forming an interaction structure for the whole network. Using such an interaction structure, we then determine the interaction pattern of each node, and the similarity in the interaction pattern between a node and others then defines its uniqueness. A similar concept is then extended to compare the interaction patterns of all nodes, and an index is developed to measure the interaction diversity of a network. Our approach is of a very general nature, and we demonstrate it by analyzing 92 ecological network datasets. The relationship between our diversity measure and several network properties is then examined.
