Tensor Factorization Model for Analyzing Interdependence in Multilayer Networks

Core Concepts

The nonnegative Tucker decomposition (NNTuck) is a tensor factorization model that can identify latent structure and interdependence between layers in a multilayer network.

Abstract

The content presents a tensor factorization model called the nonnegative Tucker decomposition (NNTuck) for analyzing multilayer networks. The key points are:

The NNTuck generalizes existing stochastic block models (SBMs) to the multilayer setting by allowing for distinct latent structure in both the nodes and layers of the network.

The third factor matrix Y in the NNTuck decomposition captures the interdependence between layers. The authors propose three ways to interpret Y to quantify layer independence, dependence, and redundancy.

The authors show the equivalence between maximizing the log-likelihood under a Poisson model and minimizing the KL-divergence in the NNTuck, allowing for efficient estimation using multiplicative updates.

The authors propose definitions of layer interdependence based on likelihood ratio tests between nested NNTuck models that differ in the structure of the Y matrix.

The NNTuck is evaluated on both synthetic and real-world multilayer networks, including biological, cognitive, and social support networks. The analysis identifies layer independence, dependence, and redundancy in these empirical examples.

Stats

The content does not contain any explicit numerical data or statistics. It focuses on the conceptual development and interpretation of the NNTuck model.

Quotes

"Quantifying interdependencies between layers can identify redundancies in the structure of a network, indicate relationships between disparate layers, and potentially inform survey instruments for collecting social network data."
"We build upon these motivations from previous work and develop the NNTuck as a natural way to identify a latent space in the dimension of the layers."
"Analyzing the third factor matrix is a significant focus of our work, and we propose three methods for interpreting it to quantify layer interdependence based on the structure of that factor matrix."

Key Insights Distilled From

A tensor factorization model of multilayer network interdependence

by Izabel Aguia... at arxiv.org 04-04-2024

https://arxiv.org/pdf/2206.01804.pdf

Deeper Inquiries

How can the NNTuck model be extended to handle multilayer networks with different node sets across layers

The NNTuck model can be extended to handle multilayer networks with different node sets across layers by incorporating a node alignment step. Node alignment is a common technique used in multilayer network analysis to align nodes across different layers based on their structural similarity or connectivity patterns. By aligning nodes across layers, the NNTuck model can effectively capture the interdependencies between nodes in different layers, even when the node sets are not identical.
One approach to incorporating node alignment in the NNTuck model is to use node embedding techniques such as graph neural networks (GNNs) to learn a low-dimensional representation of nodes that captures their structural properties. These node embeddings can then be used to align nodes across layers based on their similarity in the learned embedding space. By aligning nodes, the NNTuck model can effectively capture the relationships between nodes in different layers and provide a more comprehensive analysis of the multilayer network interdependencies.

What are the limitations of using the NNTuck to identify layer interdependence, and how can these be addressed

One limitation of using the NNTuck model to identify layer interdependence is the assumption of a fixed number of layer communities (C) in the model. In practice, the number of layer communities may vary across different multilayer networks, and imposing a fixed number of communities can lead to oversimplification and potentially inaccurate results. To address this limitation, one approach is to relax the constraint on the number of layer communities and allow the model to automatically determine the optimal number of communities based on the data.
Another limitation is the potential for overfitting when estimating the NNTuck model, especially in cases where the data is high-dimensional or noisy. Regularization techniques can be employed to prevent overfitting and improve the generalization performance of the model. Additionally, incorporating cross-validation and model selection techniques can help in selecting the most appropriate model complexity and avoiding overfitting.

How can the insights from analyzing layer interdependence using the NNTuck be leveraged to enhance network analysis and modeling in various application domains

Analyzing layer interdependence using the NNTuck model can provide valuable insights that can be leveraged to enhance network analysis and modeling in various application domains.

Improved Community Detection: By identifying layer interdependencies, the NNTuck model can improve community detection in multilayer networks by uncovering hidden relationships between nodes in different layers. This can lead to more accurate and meaningful community structures in the network.

Enhanced Link Prediction: Understanding layer interdependence can aid in link prediction tasks by providing insights into how links in one layer may influence the presence of links in other layers. This information can be leveraged to improve the accuracy of link prediction models in multilayer networks.

Optimized Network Design: Insights from analyzing layer interdependence can inform the design and optimization of multilayer networks in various domains such as social networks, biological networks, and transportation networks. By understanding how layers are interconnected, network designers can create more efficient and robust network structures.