scieee Science in your language
[en] (orig)

Simplicial complexes in network intrusion profiling: pattern construction through simplicial centralities

Abstract

For studying intrusion detection data we consider data points referring to individual IP addresses and their connections. We build networks represented by graphs associated with those data points, such that vertices in a graph are constructed to denote the respective IP addresses, with the key property that attacked data points are part of the structure of the network. More precisely, this paper proposes a novel approach using simplicial complexes to model the desired network and the respective intrusions in terms of simplicial attributes, thus generalizing previous graph-based approaches. Applying adapted network centrality measures related to simplicial complexes yields patterns associated to vertices, which themselves contain a set of features. These are used to describe the attacked or the attacker vertices, respectively. Comparing this new strategy with classical concepts demonstrates the advantages of the presented approach using simplicial features for detecting and characterizing intrusions.

Read accessible full text

Simplicial complexes in network intrusion profiling: pattern construction through simplicial centralities

Author: von Westenholz, Mandala,Atzmueller, Martin,Römer, Tim
Year: 2025
DOI: 10.48693/882
Source: https://osnadocs.ub.uni-osnabrueck.de/bitstream/ds-2026022014600/1/vonWestenholz_Atzmueller_Roemer_AppliedNetworkScience_10_35_2025.pdf
REVIEW Open Access
© The Au ho (s) 2025. Open Access This a icle is licensed unde a C ea i e Commons A ibu ion 4.0 In e na ional License, which pe mi s use,
sha ing, adap a ion, dis ibu ion and ep oduc ion in any medium o o ma , as long as you gi e app op ia e c edi o he o iginal au ho (s) and he
sou ce, p o ide a link o he C ea i e Commons licence, and indica e i changes we e made. The images o o he hi d pa y ma e ial in his a icle
a e included in he a icle’s C ea i e Commons licence, unless indica ed o he wise in a c edi line o he ma e ial. I ma e ial is no included in he
a icle’s C ea i e Commons licence and you in ended use is no pe mi ed by s a u o y egula ion o exceeds he pe mi ed use, you will need o
ob ain pe mission di ec ly om he copy igh holde . To iew a copy o his licence, isi h p://c ea i ecommons.o g/licenses/by/4.0/.
on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
h ps://doi.o g/10.1007/s41109-025-00720-z
*Co espondence:
Mandala on Wes enholz
m onwes enho@uni-osnab ueck.
de
Full lis o au ho in o ma ion is
a ailable a he end o he a icle
Simplicial complexes in ne wo k in usion
p o iling: pa e n cons uc ion h ough
simplicial cen ali ies
Mandala on Wes enholz1,4*, Ma inA zmuelle 2,3,4 and TimRöme 1,4
In oduc ion
Ne wo k in usion de ec ion (see, e.g.,(Mukhe jee e al. 1994; Somme and Paxson
2010)) is a p ominen and impo an esea ch di ec ion due o g owing challenges in
cybe secu i y, e.g., ela ing o he isk o all ha pe sonal da a will be assaul ed (see,
e.g.,(Rosenbe g 2017; Wal e s and No ak 2021)), as well as inc eased cybe secu i y
measu es in gene al (Ti umala e al. 2019). Hence, i is o pa icula in e es o enhance
ou unde s anding o making sense o such si ua ions and da a, e.g.,by iden i ying and
conside ing g oups o special IP add esses, like he ones ha a e a acked as well as he
a acke s hemsel es du ing a se ies o in usion assaul s.
Fo ha , we apply g aph-based me hods. In gene al, g aph-based app oaches ha e
ound a ious applica ions in compu e science, ma hema ics, and neighbou ing disci-
plines (see, e.g.,(Ma isca e al. 2024; Kosk 2024; Tang 2023)). In A zmuelle e al. (2023),
such an idea was used o model ne wo k in usion de ec ion da a, in o de o pe o m
g oup-based analysis o c i ical si ua ions, i.e.,speci ic ne wo k in usion e en s. Mo e
Applied Ne wo k Science
Abs ac
Fo s udying in usion de ec ion da a we conside da a poin s e e ing o indi idual
IP add esses and hei connec ions. We build ne wo ks ep esen ed by g aphs
associa ed wi h hose da a poin s, such ha e ices in a g aph a e cons uc ed
o deno e he espec i e IP add esses, wi h he key p ope y ha a acked da a
poin s a e pa o he s uc u e o he ne wo k. Mo e p ecisely, his pape p oposes
a no el app oach using simplicial complexes o model he desi ed ne wo k and
he espec i e in usions in e ms o simplicial a ibu es, hus gene alizing p e ious
g aph-based app oaches. Applying adap ed ne wo k cen ali y measu es ela ed o
simplicial complexes yields pa e ns associa ed o e ices, which hemsel es con ain
a se o ea u es. These a e used o desc ibe he a acked o he a acke e ices,
espec i ely. Compa ing his new s a egy wi h classical concep s demons a es he
ad an ages o he p esen ed app oach using simplicial ea u es o de ec ing and
cha ac e izing in usions.
Keywo ds Simplicial complex, Ne wo k in usion p o iling, Simplicial pa e ns
Page 2 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
p ecisely, IP add esses co espond o e ices o an associa ed di ec ed g aph modeled
using he ne wo k in usion da a. In his g aph, he e is an edge be ween wo e ices
whene e he e exis s any kind o da a exchange be ween he espec i e IP add esses.
Gi en such a g aph, he au ho s in A zmuelle e al. (2023) aimed o ind pa e ns asso-
cia ed o e ices, which a e hemsel es se s o well-chosen ea u es o he IP add esses
and he espec i e nodes. The goal is o ind common p ope ies (i.e.,se s o ea u es)
o g oups o e ices ha bes cha ac e ize g oups o IP add esses o in e es as good as
possible, such as he ones ela ed o a acke s o a acked da a poin s. Fo his pu pose,
g aph cen ali y measu es a e used o cons uc speci ic ea u es as p ope ies o in e -
es ing subse s o he e ices o he g aph.
I u ns ou ha g aph-based pa e ns desc ibed in A zmuelle e al. (2023) desc ibe
c i ical si ua ions o IP add esses much be e han non-g aph-based pa e ns ela ed
o classical cons uc ions. Howe e , he e is oom o imp o emen , since g aphs only
enable he de ec ion o possible pai wise in e ac ions be ween IP add esses. In con-
as , highe o de s uc u es, like he in e ac ion o h ee o mo e add esses simul ane-
ously a e hen no di ec ly accessible. The e is he need o gene alizing he g aph-based
app oach om abo e in a sui able way, which s ill is simple enough o p ac ical applica-
ion. This need is mo i a ed by he la e obse a ion.
Simplicial complexes a e ul illing his aim, and ha is why we p opose hese o mod-
eling, analysis and in e p e a ion. Recall ha gi en a se o e ices V, such a simplicial
complex is a se o subse s o V, called aces, which is closed unde aking subse s. Geo-
me ically, each o hese subse co esponds o he e ices o a simplex in a gi en eal
ec o space.
In his wo k, we usually use Vie o is–Rips complexes (see, e.g.,in gene al (Edelsb un-
ne and Ha e 2022; Gilbe 1961; Hug and Rei zne 2016; Pen ose 2003) and o speci ic
con ex s, e.g.,(Akinwande and Rei zne 2020; Rei zne e al. 2024; G ygie ek e al. 2020)
whe e
V⊂Rn
and a se o e ices induces a ace i and only i pai wise each wo e -
ices a e close enough wi h espec o a gi en me ic. Gi en such a simplicial complex,
we can associa e pa e ns o ea u es o i s e ices using he simplicial s uc u e o he
complex. Such a simplicial app oach u ns ou o be e ec i e o desc ibing and s udying
he s uc u e o a ne wo k based on aces in a ious dimensions. Fo example, we migh
be in e es ed in selec ing a ace o he highes dimension con aining a gi en e ex as
a ea u e o a pa e n. Then, is connec ed o he o he e ices o his ace ; in his way,
we can hen desc ibe he connec i i y o conce ning he whole ne wo k.
Obse e ha g aphs appea exac ly as 1-dimensional skele ons o simplicial com-
plexes, only con aining he aces o dimensions 0 and 1 – hus only p o iding a 1-dimen-
sional pe spec i e. In con as , ou new app oach gene alizes he me hods in A zmuelle
e al. (2023) using simplices in gi en complexes o highe dimensions. We ocus on cen-
ali y measu es ela ed o simplicial complexes o yield new pa e ns associa ed o e i-
ces, which a e no isible in he wo ld o g aphs.
The es o he pape is s uc u ed as ollows. Sec ion“P elimina ies” p esen s ele an
basics on simplicial complexes. Nex , Sec ion“Adjacencies and deg ees o simplicial
complexes” p o ides sui able no ions o adjacencies and deg ees o aces o simplicial
complexes. No e ha he e a e se e al ways adjacencies can be de ined (see (Se ano
and Gómez 2020)). In his pape , we use he a ian gene alizing g aph adjacencies.
Wi h hese de ini ions, cen ali ies o e ices a e cons uc ed in Sec ion“Simplicial
Page 3 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
cen ali y measu es”, which a e gene aliza ions o g aph-based cen ali y measu es. In
Sec ion“Building pa e ns”, i is ou lined how we can cons uc simplicial pa e ns wi h
ea u es, in pa icula , hose ones elying on simplicial cen ali y measu es. Nex , pu ely
g aph-based pa e ns and simplicial ones a e analyzed. Fo his, quali y unc ions a e
in oduced, which compa e measu es o e ices o in e es (e.g.,a acke s in he ne -
wo k) in ela ion o all e ices, and measu es o e ices o in e es inside he suppo
o pa e ns in ela ion o i s comple e suppo . I u ns ou ha simplicial pa e ns based
in high dimensional s uc u es a e signi ican ly be e o se e al complex ne wo ks
han pu ely g aph-based pa e ns, as s udied in A zmuelle e al. (2023). We conclude
he pape wi h an ou look in Sec ion“Ou look”, p esen ing a discussion wi h espec o
u he wo k and in e es ing esea ch di ec ions how o in es iga e simplicial pa e ns as
ela ed o a ne wo k u he .
P elimina ies
In his sec ion, de ini ions and no a ion ela ed o simplicial complexes a e gi en, which
a e used all o e he manusc ip . Fo mo e de ails, o example, see Munk es (2018),
Bob owski and Kahle (2018), Kahle and Meckes (2013), S anley (2007).
De ini ion 2.1 Le
V={ 1,...,
m}
be a ini e se . A amily
∆
o subse s o V is an
abs ac simplicial complex, i
o any σ∈∆and τ⊆σholds τ∈∆.
Fo
0≤k≤m−1
, an elemen
σ∈∆
wi h
|σ|=k+1
is called an abs ac k-simplex
and k is called he dimension o
σ
.
The highes possible dimension k o an abs ac k-simplex in an abs ac simplicial com-
plex is called he dimension o he complex. Obse e ha e e y abs ac simplicial com-
plex can be ealized as a geome ic simplicial complex (see, e.g.,(Munk es 2018)) in
Rn
wi h a su icien ly la ge n. In he ollowing we a e always conside ing abs ac simplicial
complexes. Fo b e i y, we o en skip he wo d “abs ac ” o he co esponding objec s.
Example 2.2 The (abs ac ) simplicial complex
{∅
,
{
x1
}
,
{
x2
}
,
{
x3
}
,
{
x4
}
,
{
x5
}
,
{
x1,x
2
}
,
{
x1,x
3
}
,
{
x2,x
3
},
{x4,x
5},{x2,x
5},{x2,x
4},{x1,x
2,x
3},{x4,x
5,x
2}}
can be ealized in
R2
. A possible ealiza ion is illus a ed in Fig. 1. Though in e es ing
ques ions in esea ch a e ela ed o such embeddings, hey a e no discussed in his
manusc ip , excep implici ly when illus a ing complexes in pic u es.
Rema k 2.3 Fo his wo k, i is impo an o no e ha simplicial complexes a e e y
good models o desc ibing ne wo ks. Mo e p ecisely, objec s in a ne wo k co espond
o e ices. Such e ices a e connec ed by an edge i he ela ed objec s ul ill a gi en
ela ionship (which is based on he con ex o he ne wo k). A k-simplex wi h
k>1
in he
simplicial complex speci ies whe he a se o a leas
k+1
e ices ul ills some kind o
pai wise ela ionship o in e es .
Page 4 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
The e a e se e al ways o build a simplicial complex on a se o e ices. A key cons uc-
ion in a ious a eas (see, e.g.,( Edelsb unne and Ha e 2022; Gilbe 1961; Hug and
Rei zne 2016; Pen ose 2003)) is gi en in he ollowing de ini ion.
De ini ion 2.4 Le
V={
1
,...,
m}∈Rn
,
∈R>0
, and a gi en me ic d on
Rn
. The
Vie o is–Rips complex
R(V, )
is he simplicial complex, whose k-simplices
σ(
k
)
a e he
se s
{
i
1,...,
i
k+1 }⊆V
wi h
d(
il
,
ij)≤
o all
j, l
∈{1
,...,k
+1}.
The Vie o is–Rips complex is he clique complex (see, e.g.,(Kozlo 2008)) o he unde -
lying g aph G consis ing o i s 0- and 1-dimensional aces. This means ha whene e
he e exis s a
(k+ 1)
-clique in G, he co esponding k-simplex belongs o he simplicial
complex. No e ha he e a e many o he ways o c ea e simplicial complexes, like Cěch
complexes.
The Vie o is–Rips cons uc ion is he only one ha is used in his pape . To cons uc
a Vie o is–Rips complex, i is equi ed o de ine he dis ance be ween wo da a poin s
x1,x
2∈Rn
ia a me ic d. The e a e se e al easonable op ions o ha . Below, he e a e
some sugges ions, whe e he objec s acco ding o Rema k2.3 a e IP add esses and one is
in e es ed in hei in e ac ion in he in e ne .
•Euclidean dis ance
d1(x1,x
2)=∥x2−x1∥2
•O he spa ial dis ances like
d2(x1,x
2)=∥x2−x1∥∞
o
d3(x1,x
2)=∥x2−x1∥1
•
d
4(x1,x
2)=
{1
ϵi he e is a possible da a exchange o size ϵbe ween x1,x
2
2o he wise
•
d
5(x1,x
2)=
{0i he e is a possible da a exchange be ween x
1
and x
2
1
o he wise
Example 2.5 The simplicial complex in Example2.2 is a Vie o is–Rips complex wi h
V={x1,x
2,x
3,x
4,x
5}
,
d=d1
, and
=3
.
I one is in e es ed in ela ionships and in ac i i ies ha a e aking place a a special loca-
ion, e.g.,in a company, i migh be help ul o conside spa ial dis ances, like he Euclid-
ean one. The e a e si ua ions whe e i migh be mo e easonable o use dis ances which
a e mo e closely ela ed o possible da a exchange, like
d4
and
d5
.
Recall ha he cons uc ions o g aphs in A zmuelle e al. (2023) a e based on placing
an (undi ec ed) edge be ween wo e ices and w in a ini e e ex se V co esponding
Fig. 1 Geome ic ealiza ion o a simplicial complex
Page 5 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
o IP-add esses, when hey in e ac (in one o wo di ec ions). These a e exac ly Vie o-
is–Rips g aphs (which a e also called Gilbe g aphs o andom geome ic g aphs Gil-
be (1961)) using he me ic
d5
.
Example 2.6 Le us econside he simplicial complex o Example2.2. Some exempla y
dis ances a e gi en by
d1,...,d
5
om abo e, which a e
d
1(x1,x
2)=
√10
4
,d
2(x1,x
2)=
3
2
,d
3(x1,x
2)=2,d
4(x1,x
2)depends on e, d5(x1,x
2
)=0.
No e ha one can also dis inguish be ween incoming and ou coming da a by add-
ing di ec ions o ou cons uc ions so a . In his wo k, we always conside undi ec ed
si ua ions.
Adjacencies and deg ees o simplicial complexes
No ions like adjacencies and deg ees in g aphs a e well known (see, e.g.,(Dies el 2025)).
Gene alizing his o simplicial complexes and based on he wo k in Se ano and Gómez
(2020), he main goal o his sec ion is o in oduce a ious ypes o adjacencies and
deg ees in such complexes. La e , hese no ions a e hen used, in pa icula , o cons uc
ea u es o e ices, which use simplicial cen ali y measu es.
F om now on a simplicial complex is always deno ed by
∆
and
σ(
q
)
is a simplex in
∆
o
dimension q. Fi s we gi e he ollowing de ini ions om Se ano and Gómez (2020,Sec-
ion 2.1) which will be impo an in he upcoming pa s o his pape .
De ini ion 3.1 Le
σ(q)=∅
and
σ′(
q
′)=∅
be di e en simplices in
∆
and
p∈N
wi h
1≤p≤dim∆
. Then, we de ine he ollowing:
(i)
σ(
q
)
and
σ′(
q
′)
a e called p-uppe adjacen , deno ed by
σ(q)∼Up
σ
′(q′)
i he e exis s
ap−simplex τ(
p
)∈∆,ha ing bo h σ(
q
)and σ′(
q
′)as aces.
(ii)
σ(
q
)
and
σ′(
q
′)
a e called s ic ly p-uppe adjacen , deno ed by
σ(
q
)∼
U∗
p
σ
′(
q
′),
i
σ(
q
)∼Up
σ′
(
q
′)and
σ
(
q
)∼Up+1
σ′
(
q
′).
(iii) The p-uppe deg ee o
σ(q)
is
degp
U(
σ
(
q
))=|{
σ′′
(
q
′′ )∈∆|
σ
(
q
)∼
U
p
σ′′
(
q
′′ )}|.
(i ) The (h,p)-uppe deg ee o
σ(q)
1
is
deg(
h,p
)
U(
σ
(
q
))=|{
σ′′
(
q
+
h
)∈∆|
σ′′
(
q
+
h
)∼
U
p
σ
(
q
)}|.
( ) The s ic (h,p)-uppe deg ee o
σ(q)
is
deg(
h,p
)∗
U(
σ
(
q
))=|{
σ′′
(
q
+
h
)∈∆|
σ′′
(
q
+
h
)∼
U
p∗
σ
(
q
)}|.

Page 6 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
( i) The maximal simplicial uppe deg ee o
σ(q)
is
deg
∗
U(σ(q))=
dim ∆
−q
∑
h=1
deg(h,(q+h))∗
U(σ(q))
.
No ice ha he maximal simplicial uppe deg ee
deg∗
U(
σ
(q))
coun s he numbe o max-
imal simplices, which ha e dimension s ic ly highe han q, ha con ain he simplex
σ(
q
)
.
Example 3.2 (i) Two (abs ac ) simplices, which a e aces o a solid e ahed on a e
3-uppe adjacen .
(ii) Two e ices which sha e a common edge a e 1-uppe adjacen ; hey a e e en s ic
1-uppe adjacen , i hey a e no lying in a common iangle.
The e a e also o he a ia ions o he concep o adjacency and deg ee, which a e also
in oduced in Se ano and Gómez (2020,Sec ion 2.1), ha a e lis ed below.
De ini ion 3.3 Le
σ(q)=∅
and
σ′(
q
′)=∅
be di e en simplices in
∆
and
p∈N
wi h
0≤p≤dim ∆−1
. Then, we de ine he ollowing:
(i)
σ(q)
and
σ′(
q
′)
a e called p-lowe adjacen , i
|
σ
(
q
)∩
σ
′(
q
′)|≥
p
+1.
This is deno ed by
σ(q)∼Lp
σ
′(q′).
(ii)
σ(q)
and
σ′(q′)
a e called s ic ly p-lowe adjacen , i
|σ(q)∩σ′(q′)|=p+1.
This is
deno ed by
σ(
q
)∼
L
p∗
σ′
(
q
′).
(iii) The p-lowe deg ee o
σ(q)
is
degp
L(
σ
(
q
))=|{
σ′′
(
q
′′ )∈∆|
σ
(
q
)∼
L
p
σ′′
(
q
′′ )}|.
(i )
σ(q)
and
σ′(q′)
a e called p-adjacen , i hey a e s ic ly p-lowe adjacen and no
p′
-uppe adjacen o
p′=q+q′−p
. This is deno ed by
σ(
q
)∼Ap
σ′
(
q
′).
( ) The p-adjaceny deg ee o
σ(q)
is
degp
A(
σ
(
q
))=|{
σ
′′(
q
′′ )∈∆|
σ
(
q
)∼Ap
σ
′′(
q
′′ )}|.
( i)
σ(q)
and
σ′(
q
′)
a e called maximal p-adjacen , deno ed by
σ(
q
)∼
A
∗
p
σ
′(
q
′)
i and only i
σ(
q
)∼
A
p
σ
′(
q
′)and
σ
′(
q
′)⊈
σ
′′(
q
′′ )whene e
σ
(
q
)∼
A
p
σ
′′(
q
′′ ).
( ii) The maximal p-adjaceny deg ee o
σ(q)
is
Page 7 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
degp∗
A(
σ
(
q
))=|{
σ′′
(
q
′′ )∈∆|
σ
(
q
)∼
A∗
p
σ′′
(
q
′′ )}|.
( iii) The maximal simplicial deg ee o
σ(q)
is
deg∗(
σ
(q)) = deg∗
A(
σ
(q)) + deg∗
U(
σ
(q)),
whe e
deg
∗
A(σ(q))=
q
−1
∑
p=0
degp∗
A(σ(q))
.
The ollowing examples a e some illus a ions o he de ini ions in oduced so a .
Example 3.4 Conside he simplicial complex om Example2.2. The simplices
x1,x
2,x
3
and
x2,x
4,x
5
exhibi he p ope ies ou lined below:
(i)
x2
is a e ex o bo h simplices. Hence, hey a e 0-lowe adjacen . They a e s ic ly
0-lowe adjacen as well, as hey sha e no simplex o highe dimension.
(ii) Bo h simplices a e no included in a common simplex o highe dimension, so hey a e
no p-uppe adjacen o any p.
(iii) They a e 0-adjacen , since hey a e s ic ly 0-lowe adjacen and hey a e no 4-uppe
adjacen .
(i ) The 0-adjacency deg ee o
{x1,x
2,x
3}
is 3, since besides
{x2,x
4,x
5}
, also
{x2,x
4}
and
{x2,x
5}
a e 0-adjacen o
{x1,x
2,x
3}
.
In he upcoming sec ions, we will ocus on hose si ua ions, whe e one simplex is
always a e ex, al hough De ini ion3.3 is o cou se also usable o simplices o highe
dimensions.
In his special case we obse e o g aphs, ha wo e ices a e called adjacen , when
hey bo h sha e a common edge. This g aph-adjacency is co e ed by he de ini ions o
adjacencies in simplicial complexes abo e as well. Mo e p ecisely, we ha e he ollowing
esul .
Lemma 3.5 Le
G=(
V,E
)
be a g aph and
∈V
be a e ex. Then, he ollowing p ope -
ies hold:
(i) Le
w∈V
be ano he e ex in G. Then, w and a e g aph-adjacen i and only i hey
a e 1-uppe adjacen .
(ii) I
=w∈V
, hen ,w a e no p-lowe adjacen and hey a e no p-adjacen o any
0≤p≤dim ∆ −1
.
P oo (i) I and w a e g aph-adjacen , hen i ollows immedia ely om he
de ini ions, ha hey a e 1-uppe adjacen . On he o he hand, i and w a e 1-uppe
adjacen , hen hey a e bo h a ace o a 1-simplex (i.e.,an edge) o G. (ii) The e ices
and w ha e no non- i ial ace in common and a e no p-lowe adjacen o any
possible p. This implies ha hey a e also no p-adjacen o such a p.
□
Lemma 3.6 Le
∈∆
be a e ex. Then
Page 8 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
(i)
degp
L( ) = degp
A( )=0
o all
p>0
,
(ii)
degp
L(
)=0=deg
p
A(
)
o
p=0
,
(iii)
deg∗(
) = deg∗
U(
).
P oo (i) Since a e ex has no o he non- i ial simplices as subse s, he conclusion
ollows.
(ii) By de ini ion is no 0-lowe adjacen o i sel . Hence,
degp
L( )=0=deg
p
A( )=0
.
(iii) Since
degp
A(
)=0
, we ha e
degp∗
A(
σ
(
q
))=0
.
This concludes he p oo .
□
Below, we a e mainly in e es ed in simplices in which a gi en e ex is included. In
his con ex , only p-uppe adjacencies and ela ed deg ees a e o in e es . The uppe -
adjacency is also easonable o use, as i is a gene aliza ion o g aph-adjacencies due o
Lemma3.5. Hence, in he ollowing we only use p-uppe adjacencies.
Simplicial cen ali y measu es
In his sec ion, we in oduce cen ali y measu es o simplicial complexes which a e
mo i a ed by he same concep ela ed o g aphs. In he ollowing we ocus on he
deg ee and closeness cen ali ies. These gene aliza ions o well-known g aph deg ee and
closeness cen ali ies (see, e.g.,(Bo ga i and E e e 2006; Newman 2018)) ha e all been
p oposed in Se ano and Gómez (2020). Wi h hese cen ali y measu es we c ea e ea-
u es o e ices o a complex as announced abo e in he in oduc ion in Sec ion“In o-
duc ion”. To be mo e o mal, a cen ali y measu e is a unc ion
c:I→R,
whe e I is he se , which is usually called he se o indi iduals. I I is a simplicial com-
plex, hen a mo e impo an simplex
σ∈I
, i.e.,one wi h a signi ican ly high cen ali y
c(
σ
)
, con ains way mo e aluable in o ma ion ega ding he conside ed ne wo k han
simplices wi h smalle cen ali ies. The e a e many possibili ies o de ine such a cen al-
i y measu e. He eby, he no a ion
cσ
is an abb e ia ion o he unc ion alue
c(σ)
.
Mo i a ed by de ini ions and sugges ions in Se ano and Gómez (2020), we in oduce
he ollowing cen ali y measu es o simplicial complexes. Obse e ha in ha wo k,
he au ho s p opose cen ali y measu es wi h images in [0,1]. Bu , o be consis en wi h
he conside ed cen ali y measu es in A zmuelle e al. (2023), such no maliza ions a e
neglec ed in his manusc ip . Then, cen ali y measu es in A zmuelle e al. (2023) a e
special cases o he simplicial e sions gi en below. Fo simplici y, he ollowing concep s
a e only de ined o e ices o simplicial complexes, since, in his pape in conside ed
applica ions indi iduals a e always e ices. As al eady men ioned, in he end o Sec-
ion“Adjacencies and deg ees o simplicial complexes”, only uppe deg ees a e consid-
e ed. The i s cen ali y measu e o impo ance is he one om he ollowing de ini ion.
De ini ion 4.1 Le
σ∈∆
be a e ex and
p∈N>0
. Then
cDp
σ= degp
U(σ)
is he p-deg ee cen ali y o
σ
and
Page 9 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
cD∗
σ= deg∗(σ)
is he maximal simplicial deg ee cen ali y o
σ
.
See (Se ano and Gómez 2020, De . 12, 13) o a ela ed de ini ion. An impo an p op-
e y o his cen ali y measu e is discussed in he ollowing heo em.
Theo em 4.2 The p-deg ee cen ali y o a e ex
σ∈∆
ul ills
c
Dp
σ≤
p
+1
∑
j=1
(
deg(0,1)
U(σ)+1
j
)
−1
.
(1)
P oo Obse e ha
(
j
−1)
-dimensional aces in
∆
wi h
2≤j≤p+1
a e p-uppe adja-
cen o
σ
, i hey lie in a common p-dimensional simplex wi h
σ
. Gi en such a ace, all
i s e ices no equal o
σ
ha e he p ope y ha hey induce an edge in
∆
oge he wi h
σ
, i.e., hey a e (0,1)-adjacen o
σ
. No e ha
σ
migh be a e ex o such a ace o no .
Hence, i su ices o coun all possible
(j−1)
- aces induced by e ices which a e ei he
σ
o (0,1)-adjacen o
σ
, accep ing an o e -coun o such si ua ions. Finally, he e a e a
mos
deg(0,1)
U(σ)
many 0-dimensional aces in
∆
which a e p-uppe adjacen o
σ
. This
concludes he p oo .
□
The e is some signi ican compu a ional e o equi ed o p o ide an uppe bound o
he p-deg ee cen ali y o
σ
h ough Theo em4.2. Nex , we de ine a u he deg ee cen-
ali y which allows al e na i e uppe bounds.
De ini ion 4.3 Le
σ∈∆
be a e ex and
p∈N>0
. Then
c
D
(p,p)
σ= deg(
p,p
)
U(
σ
)
is he (p,p)-deg ee cen ali y o
σ
and
c
D
(
p,p
)∗
σ= deg(
p,p
)∗
U(
σ
)
is he (p,p)-s ic deg ee cen ali y o
σ
.
See (Se ano and Gómez 2020, De . 10, 11) o a ela ed de ini ion. No e ha he (p,p)-
deg ee cen ali y o
σ
is he numbe o p-dimensional aces o
∆
ha con ain
σ
, and he
(p,p)-s ic deg ee cen ali y is he co esponding s ic e sion. Since
σ
is always a sim-
plex o dimension 0, we ha e
c
D∗
σ=
dim ∆
∑
p
=1
deg(p,p)∗
U(σ)
.
(2)
Rema k 4.4 A new uppe bound o
c
D
p
σ
is
c
Dp
σ≤deg(
p,p
)
U(σ)·(2
p
+1 −2) = c
D
(
p,p
)
σ·(2
p
+1 −2).
(3)
This bound ollows om he ac ha e e y non- i ial ace, excep o
σ
, o a p-simplex,
con aining
σ
, is p-uppe adjacen o
σ
.
The uppe bound in (3) is o en be e han he bound in Theo em4.2. Fo example,
conside a simplicial complex
∆
which has exac ly one e ahed on ha con ains
σ
, and
Page 16 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
is called a k-pa e n wi h espec o F. We deno e he se o k-pa e ns by
F(k)
. Then, we
say ha
p∈F(k)
is ue wi h espec o
i∈I
, i
p(
i
)={
1
b1(
i
)
,...,
k
bk(
i
)}={1}.
The suppo o p is
sp={i∈I|p(i)={1}} ⊆ I,
which is also called he p- ul illing indi iduals. Se
ip:= |sp|
.
Rema k 5.3 (i) Le
∆
be an a ibu ed simplicial complex and p be a compa ible pa e n.
This pa e n can also be conside ed as ue o alse wi h espec o a e ex
σ∈∆
by
aking he alue p(i), whe e i is he i s componen o
D(σ)
.
(ii) In he li e a u e, e.g.,in A zmuelle e al. (2023), he e exis a ious ways o de ining
pa e ns. Fo example, one could equip he pa e ns wi h mo e s uc u e by using
uples ins ead o se s. This p o ides he oppo uni y o conside mul iplici ies and
o o de he ea u es. In his pape , pa e ns a e always se s, which is sui able o he
conside ed applica ions below.
Fo bina y unc ions as al eady conside ed abo e, i is use ul o in oduce he ollowing
no a ion.
De ini ion 5.4 Le p be a pa e n. A a ge is a bina y unc ion
:I→{0,1}.
The a ge
sha e o wi h espec o p is
p:=
|{i∈s
p
| (i)=1}|
i
p
=
|{i∈I|p(i)=1and (i)=1}|
i
p
.
Fo a gi en a ge , we sea ch o pa e ns wi h a high a ge sha e. To ind a use ul mea-
su emen o he pa e n quali y and, hus, o i s in e es ingness, we conside a quali y
unc ion (see (A zmuelle 2015; A zmuelle e al. 2023; G ossk eu z e al. 2008) o u -
he de ails).
De ini ion 5.5 Gi en a a ge , a k-quali y unc ion is a eal- alued unc ion
q :F(k)→R.
The quali y o a k-pa e n p wi h espec o is gi en by
q (p)
.
Le
0
=|{
i
∈
I
|
(
i
)=1}|
|I|
be he sha e o he indi iduals ha ul ill a a ge wi h espec o
all indi iduals and choose
a∈R
such ha
(ip)a
is well de ined. Fo example, he qual-
i y o a k-pa e n p wi h espec o can now be de e mined by he ollowing k-quali y
unc ion.
qa
(p)=(ip)a·( p− 0).
(6)
He e, we a ge si ua ions, o example, whe e
0
is a he small in compa ison o
p
and
p
i sel should be much la ge . The size o he pa e n in e ms o con ained ins ances is
hen weigh ed by pa ame e a. Based on his app oach, se e al well-es ablished quali y
unc ions can be ound in he li e a u e A zmuelle (2015), as shown below:
•The gain quali y unc ion
q0
,

Page 17 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
•The binomial es quali y unc ion
q0.5
,
•The Pia e sky–Shapi o quali y unc ion
q1
.
Then, he goal is o ind pa e ns wi h a high quali y alue, i.e.,a high
qa
(p)
o a pa e n
p, wi h a gi en a and he a ge as he concep o in e es .
In he emaining pa o his sec ion, s a egies a e discussed o build and hen o e al-
ua e simplicial-based pa e ns. Fo a sample da a se , we in es iga e he p oblem whe he
simplicial ea u es help o inc ease he quali y o co esponding pa e ns in compa ison
o g aph-based ea u es. Fo his pu pose, we ocus on pa e ns in he con ex o spe-
ci ically cons uc ed syn he ic da a, which speci ically ea u es analysis op ions o ou
e alua ion s a egies.
Fo gene a ing syn he ic da a in ou applica ion con ex , we ely on s anda d
app oaches om he ield o complex ne wo ks, applying he suscep ible in ec ious
(SI) model, e.g.,(C epey e al. 2006; Li 2018), o gene a ing he non-a acke /a acke
s uc u es.
Thus, a i s , we c ea e syn he ic da a by building a simplicial complex, whose e i-
ces a e assigned as a acke s o non-a acke s (which a e pa ially a acked). Using he
ob ained syn he ic da ase , we c ea e ea u es using he a ailable me ics on simplicial
complexes and ne wo ks, espec i ely. Using hese ea u es, we can hen cons uc pa -
e ns wi h espec o he a ge s a acke /non-a acke , o s udying he impac o me -
ics on simplicial complexes.
Rema k 5.6 The s a egy o cons uc ing he syn he ic da a is gi en h ough he ollow-
ing s eps.
(i) Choose an exis ing and eal wo ld social ne wo k which has no oo many indi iduals.
Then, hese co espond o e ices, which a e connec ed by an edge i he e is
in e ac ion on he le el o indi iduals.
(ii) Choose a numbe
k∈N
and selec k andom e ices o be a acke s.
(iii) C ea e s ime pe iods o a acks on he gi en social ne wo k. Indi iduals who ha e
been a acked may mu a e in o new a acke s.
(i ) De e mine a esul ing ne wo k om (iii) o u he in es iga ions.
( ) Build he Vie o is–Rips complex o he unde lying ne wo k om (i ) using he me ic
d5
om Sec ion2.
In he ollowing we apply his algo i hm on one speci ic social ne wo k o illus a e ou
modeling and analysis app oach using simplicial complexes. In pa icula , o s ep (i),
he e we use he cong ess ne wo k om Fink (2023), which is educed o he i s 20 indi-
iduals. Thus, all o he e ices (wi h numbe s 21–475), as well as all edges in ol ing a
leas one o such e ices a e dele ed. The esul ing ne wo k is illus a ed in Fig.4.
Fo s ep (ii), ou da a poin s a e andomly chosen wi h espec o he disc e e uni-
o m dis ibu ion. Then, we pe o m s eps (iii) and (i ) o
s=1
and use he SI model
app oach desc ibed below. Finally, he Vie o is–Rips dis ance is chosen as
=1/2
o
s ep ( ); see De ini ion2.4.
Fo (iii) i emains o discuss sho ly he SI model o modelling disease in ec ions a a
ime , which is well-known in he li e a u e (see, e.g.,(Li 2018)). Le
Page 18 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
Sdeno e he numbe o suscep ible indi iduals (non-a acke s), and
V
he numbe o i us in ec ious indi iduals (a acke s),
whe e
S= ( )and V=g( )
o unc ions and g wi h alues in
N
a a ime
≥0
.
The e a e he ollowing necessa y assump ions o he SI model:
(i) No bi hs and dea hs happen, i.e., he numbe o o al indi iduals N is cons an a any
ime . This means
( )+g( )=N o all ≥0.
(7)
(ii) As sugges ed in Li (2018, Equa ion 1.21), we choose he in ec ion ep oducing a e as
=P·λ/N,
whe e P is he p obabili y o a con ac o p oduce an in ec ion and
λ
is he a e age
con ac numbe which is also gi en by he a e age (1,1)-deg ee o he e ices in he
co esponding ne wo k.
The change o he suscep ibles is modeled by a mul iple o he p oduc o he numbe o
he wo g oups (a acke s and non-a acke s), since his model assumes ha he a e o
change is p opo ional o he numbe o suscep ibles and he numbe o in ec ious indi-
iduals. Mo eo e ,
−dS
d =dV
d
due o Eq. (7).
Hence, he change o in ec ious and suscep ible indi iduals is desc ibed by
dS
d
=
−
cV
·
Sand
dV
d
=cV
·S
Fig. 4 Modi ied cong ess ne wo k
Page 19 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
o a cons an
c∈R
. Thus, one has
dV
d
=cNV
·
(1
−
V /N )
.
Assuming ha
V≪N
i ollows
V
N∼0
. Hence,
dV
d ≈
cN
·
V= V
wi h he change a e
=cN
. Since he esul ing di e en ial equa ion
dV
d
= V (1
−V
N)
(8)
is sepa able, one ob ains he in eg al equa ion
∫1
V(1
−
V
N
)dV =
∫ d ,
which can be sol ed by using pa ial ac ion decomposi ion.
∫
d =
∫
A
V+B
1−
V
N
dV =
∫
A
(1
−
V
N
)
V
(1 −
V
N)
+BV
V
(1 −
V
N)
dV
leads o he solu ion
A=1
and
B=1/N
. So, we ob ain
∫
d =
∫1
N(1
−
V
N
)dV +
∫1
V
dV.
Obse e ha by calcula ing he in eg als we ha e
+c1= ln(V)
−
ln(N
−
V) = ln
V
N−V.
Finally, one ecei es
e
ec1=
V
N−V.
This equa ion can be ans o med in o
V=
e
c
2
N
−
e
c
2
V
by de ining
c2:= ec1
. Then, V can be ew i en as
V
=e
c2N
1+e c
2
=e
c2N
e
c2(1+e−
c
−1
2)
=N
1+e
−
c (9)
by de ining ano he cons an
c:=
c
−1
2
. This cons an c can be compu ed by inse ing
=0
in o he p e ious equa ion. The equa ion
g
(0) =
N
1+e−
·
0
c
leads o
Page 20 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
c
=
N
g(0) −
1
.
Equa ion (9) implies ha
g
( )=
N
1+( N
g(0) −
1)e−
.
(10)
An analogous conside a ion o S shows ha
( )=
N
1+( N
g
(0) −
1)e
.
(11)
In he limi one has
lim
→∞
g( ) = lim
→∞
N
1+( N
g(0) −
1)
·
e− =Nand lim
→∞
( ) = lim
→∞
N
1+( N
g(0) −
1)
·
e
=0,
since
e−
→∞
→0
. This means ha in he limi e e yone is in ec ed.
Applying he SI model and, in pa icula , Eqs. (10) and (11) we employ he ollowing
algo i hm o s ep (iii) in Rema k5.6 using he modi ied cong ess da a se .
Algo i hm 5.7 (i) Choose andomly a s a popula ion o
k=
g
(0) = 4
a acke s.
(ii) Compu e he numbe o i us in ec ious indi iduals g(1) whe e he p obabili y o a
con ac o p oduce an in ec ion is chosen as
P=0.2
.
(iii) F om he se o suscep ible indi iduals, which a e connec ed o a leas one
in ec ious indi idual, choose andomly
g(1) −g(0)
many indi iduals wi h espec o
he disc e e uni o m dis ibu ion.
(i ) The se o i us in ec ious indi iduals a ime 1 is hen gi en by he in ec ious
indi idual a ime 0 oge he wi h he new ones.
A e applying Algo i hm5.7 on he modi ied cong ess ne wo k da a se , one ob ains
he a acke da a se which is shown in Fig.5 below ( he blue e ices co espond o he
a acke s).
Wi h he gi en syn he ic da a, one is able o build simplicial pa e ns using measu es
om Sec ion4. To keep he discussion simple, we ocus on pa e ns o leng h 1, which
means ha we only concen a e on one ea u e in each pa e n.
Mo e p ecisely, he ollowing ea u es a e discussed, whe e

is he indica o - unc ion
and
k,l ∈R
.
(i)

(
cD
(p,p)
σ
<k
)and

(
cD
(p,p)
σ
>l
),
(ii) 

(
c
Ep
σ
<k
)and

(
c
Ep
σ
>l
),
(iii)

(cCp
σ<k)and

(cCp
σ>l).
We compa e he chosen ea u e pa e ns o leng h 1 o
p=1
, which co esponds o
he g aph-based case ha is al eady discussed in A zmuelle e al. (2023), and o la ge
p wi h each o he by compu ing hei quali y
q0
i
wi h espec o he a ge o inding
Page 21 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
a acke s and non-a acke s. This means ha a ge s
1
and
2
a e conside ed, whe e
1
maps an indi idual o 1 i i is a non-a acke and o he wise o 0, and
2
maps an indi-
idual o 1 i i is an a acke and o he wise o 0.
Fo (i) he quali y alues o he ea u es
p1=(c
D
(1
,
1)
σ<k
1),p
2=(c
D
(2
,
2)
σ<k
2)and p3=(c
D
(3
,
3)
σ<k
3)
a e analyzed wi h espec o
1
. Mo eo e , he quali y alues o he ea u es
p3=(c
D
(1
,
1)
σ>l
1),p
4=(c
D
(2
,
2)
σ>l
2)and p5=(c
D
(3
,
3)
σ>l
3)
a e analyzed wi h espec o
2
.
One could also cons uc leng h-one pa e ns using ea u es
c
D
(p,p)
σ
o
p≥4
, bu in
his example i su ices o conside
p<4
. As illus a ed in Fig.5 no simplices exis in he
ne wo k wi h dimensions highe han 3 (see Table1).
He e we choose
k1=4,k
2=2and k3=1
as well as
l1=5,l
2= 14 and l3=7.
These choices u n ou o deli e he bes quali y alues
q0
1
( esp.
q0
2
) o
c
D
(i,i)
σ>l
i
( esp.
c
D
(i,i)
σ<k
i
) compa ed o o he possible numbe s.
The ea u es as well as he p ope y o being an a acke o a non-a acke a e shown in
Table1.
Mo e p ecisely, he conside ed pa e ns ha e he quali y alues which a e de e mined
ia
Fig. 5 Modi ied cong ess ne wo k wi h a acke s a e one ime s ep o SI

Page 22 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
Table 1 (p, p)-deg ee cen ali ies
Ve ex
c
D
(1,1)
c
D
(2,2)
c
D
(3,3)
c
D
(4,4)
A acke ? Non-a acke ?
0 6 5 1 0 0 1
1 3 2 0 0 0 1
2 3 1 0 0 0 1
3 5 6 2 0 0 1
4 6 5 0 0 1 0
5 2 1 0 0 0 1
6 1 0 0 0 0 1
7 5 7 3 0 0 1
8 8 12 6 0 0 1
9 6 3 0 0 1 0
10 2 0 0 0 0 1
11 8 9 3 0 0 1
12 6 8 2 0 1 0
13 10 14 6 0 0 1
14 4 2 0 0 1 0
15 6 6 2 0 1 0
16 4 4 1 0 0 1
17 12 21 8 0 1 0
18 5 3 0 0 1 0
19 4 5 2 0 0 1
Ve ex
p1
p2
p3
p4
p5
p6
0 0 0 0 1 0 0
1 1 0 1 0 0 0
2 1 1 1 0 0 0
3 0 0 0 0 0 0
4 0 0 1 1 0 0
5 1 1 1 0 0 0
6 1 1 1 0 0 0
7 0 0 0 0 0 0
8 0 0 0 1 0 0
9 0 0 1 1 0 0
10 1 1 1 0 0 0
11 0 0 0 1 0 0
12 0 0 0 1 0 0
13 0 0 0 1 0 0
14 0 0 1 0 0 0
15 0 0 0 1 0 0
16 0 0 0 0 0 0
17 0 0 0 1 1 1
18 0 0 1 0 0 0
19 0 0 0 0 0 0
Page 23 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
q0
1
(
p1
)=
i
0
p·
(
p− 0
)=5
0
·
(5
/
5
−
13
/
20) = 7
/
20,
q
0
1(p2)=4
0·(4/4−13/20) = 7/20,
q
0
1(p3)=9
0·(5/9−13/20) = 17/180,
q
0
2(p4)=9
0·(5/9−7/20) = 37/180,
q
0
2(p5)=1
0·(1 −7/20) = 13/20,
q
0
2
(p6)=1
0
·
(1
−
7/20) = 13/20.
Thus, he (1,1)-deg ee cen ali y is as good as he (2,2)-deg ee cen ali y, and hey ha e
bo h a highe quali y han he (3,3)-deg ee cen ali y, wi h espec o he pa e n
1
and
he chosen quali y unc ion. The (2,2)-deg ee cen ali y is as good as he (3,3)-deg ee
cen ali y and hey ha e bo h a highe quali y han he (1,1)-deg ee cen ali y wi h
espec o he pa e n
2
and
q0
2
. Hence,
p=2
is he bes choice o conside ing a simpli-
cial deg ee cen ali y ea u e pa e n o only leng h 1, gi en he desc ibed se up.
The ea u es in (ii) a e conside ed in Table 2. He e we analyze he ollowing pa e ns
wi h espec o
1
.
p1=(
cE
1
σ
<k
1)
,p
2=(
cE
2
σ
<k
2)and
p
3=(
cE
3
σ
<k
3)
wi h
k1=0.5,k
2=0.2and k3=2.
Mo eo e , we in es iga e he ollowing pa e ns wi h espec o
2
.
p4=(c
E
1
σ>l
1),p
5=(c
E
2
σ>l
2)and p6=(c
E
3
σ>l
3)
wi h
l1=2.5,l
2=2.5and l3=2.5.
Table 2 p-eigen ec o cen ali ies
Ve ex
c(
E
1)
c(
E
2)
c(
E
3)
c(
E
4)
A acke ? Non-a acke ?
p1
p2
p3
p4
p5
p6
0 1.421 1.279 0.913 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0
1 0.962 0.973 0.0 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
2 0.663 0.122 0.0 0.0 0 1 0 1 1 0 0 0
3 1.384 1.430 1.338 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
4 1.442 1.455 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
5 0.648 0.661 0.0 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
6 0.298 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
7 1.564 1.617 1.760 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
8 1.935 1.962 2.134 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
9 0.908 0.384 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
10 0.421 0.0 0.0 0.0 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0
11 1.828 1.803 1.564 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
12 1.643 1.640 1.299 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
13 2.380 2.336 2.293 0.0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0
14 0.772 0.617 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
15 1.601 1.514 1.475 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
16 1.321 1.362 1.238 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
17 2.816 2.772 2.565 0.0 1 0 0 0 0 1 1 1
18 1.014 0.384 0.0 0.0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0
19 1.187 1.244 1.381 0.0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0
Page 24 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
He e he chosen
k1,k
2,k
3
and
l1,l
2,l
3
deli e he bes quali y alues wi h espec o
q0
1
and
q0
2
. These numbe s a e no unique wi h his p ope y. e.g., o
l3
one can also choose
2.4.
I is no help ul o conside eigen ec o cen ali ies o
p≥4
o he modi ied con-
g ess ne wo k, since hen he eigen ec o cen ali ies a e 0 o all e ices (see Table2 o
examples). Thus, i is no possible o use such
p≥4
o c ea e pa e ns o dis inguishing
a acke s and non-a acke s.
A compu a ion yields
q0
1
(
p1
)=2
0
·
(2
/
2
−
13
/
20) = 7
/
20
,
q
0
1(p2)=3
0·(3/3−13/20) = 7/20,
q
0
1(p3) = 170·(12/17 −13/20) = 19/340
,
q
0
2(p4)=1
0·(1/1−7/20) = 13/20,
q
0
2(p5)=1
0·(1/1−7/20) = 13/20,
q
0
2
(p
6
)=1
0
·
(1/1
−
7/20) = 13/20.
Thus, he 1-eigen ec o cen ali y is as good as he 2-eigen ec o cen ali y, and hey
ha e bo h a highe quali y han he 3-eigen ec o cen ali y wi h espec o he pa -
e n
1
and he chosen quali y unc ion. The 1-eigen ec o cen ali y is as use ul as he
2-eigen ec o cen ali y and he 3-eigen ec o cen ali y wi h espec o he pa e n
2
.
So, in o al, he eigen ec o -cen ali ies o
p=1
and
p=2
a e he bes choices ega d-
ing he simplicial-eigen ec o - ea u e-pa e ns o leng h 1.
Fo (iii) only ea u es o
c
C
1
σ
a e conside ed, since he closeness cen ali y measu e is
always 0 o o he p, see Table 3. The bes quali y o cha ac e izing non-a acke s ( a ge
1
) is achie ed wi h he pa e n
p1=(c
C
1
σ<0.024).
Table 3 p-closeness cen ali ies
Ve ex A acke ? Non-a acke ?
c
C
1
p1
p2
0 0 1 0.029 1 0
1 1 0 0.026 0 0
2 1 0 0.025 0 0
3 0 1 0.028 1 0
4 0 1 0.028 1 0
5 1 0 0.023 0 1
6 1 0 0.02 0 1
7 1 0 0.029 1 0
8 1 0 0.031 1 0
9 1 0 0.027 1 0
10 1 0 0.023 0 1
11 1 0 0.032 1 0
12 0 1 0.030 1 0
13 1 0 0.036 1 0
14 1 0 0.024 0 0
15 0 1 0.031 1 0
16 1 0 0.028 1 0
17 1 0 0.039 1 0
18 0 1 0.029 1 0
19 1 0 0.025 1 0
Page 25 o 27 on Wes enholz e al. Applied Ne wo k Science (2025) 10:35
Mo eo e , he ea u e
p2=(c
C
1
σ>0.027)
has he highes quali y wi h espec o a ge
2
, i.e., o cha ac e izing a acke s. As in
(ii) he chosen numbe s a e no unique wi h espec o his p ope y.
Mo e p ecisely,
p1
and
p2
ha e he ollowing quali y alues.
q0
1
(
p1
)=
ip·
(
p− 0
)=3
0
·
(3
/
3
−
13
/
20) = 7
/
20
,
q
0
2
(p
2
)=i
p·
(
p−
0
) = 130
·
(6/13
−
7/20) = 29/260
.
The pa e n
p1
has a a he high quali y and is hus use ul o u he in es iga ions. The
cons uc ed ea u e pa e n wi h espec o he a acke a ge
2
is no ha bene icial,
bu he e may be addi ional o he possibili ies o using his ea u e (which a e no con-
side ed he e in his manusc ip ), like combining i wi h o he ea u es in longe pa e ns.
Obse e ha , in con as o (i) and (ii), in (iii) o he modi ied cong ess ne wo k, i was
no possible o cons uc help ul simplicial ea u es o complexes o highe dimensions
han 1, bu only g aph-based ea u es using he closeness cen ali y. In consequence, i
would be easonable o conside he e in he u u e o he ne wo ks, whe e he e migh be
a dense s uc u e o highe dimensional simplices o ind e ices ha ha e non-ze o
p-closeness cen ali y o
p>1
.
Rema k 5.8 To a oid he syn he ic da a used in his sec ion one has o eco d non- i -
ial eal in usion da a, which con ains no only he a acks, bu also he in e ac ion in-
be ween g oups o a acke s and o a acked IP-add esses. This is le as an u u e esea ch
p oblem.
Ou look
In his wo k we applied simplicial complexes o de ec ing highe -o de pa e ns as sim-
plicial-based pa e ns, in he con ex o ne wo k in usion de ec ion se ings. In Sec ion
5 we conside ed a syn he ic da a se and assessed how good he conside ed simplicial
ea u e pa e ns wo ked o i .
In he ollowing we ou line pe spec i es on u he eligible s a egies o e alua e he
usage o simplicial-based pa e ns o desc ibing a ge s, e.g., o di e en ia e a acke
and non-a acke s in ne wo ks based on eal da a. The e a e se e al op ions o con inue
he in es iga ions om ou wo k, including he ollowing.
(i) Using a ious ( u he ) da ase s o analyze he u ili y o simplicial ea u e pa e ns. Fo
his i is easonable o a y syn he ic o eal la ge o small da a as well as da a om
di e en applica ion domains.
(ii) Cons uc ing pa e ns ha use mo e simplicial complex ea u es a once. I is easonable
o conside pa e ns ha ha e leng h
>1
o s udy u he cen ali y measu es which
we e no ye men ioned in his manusc ip .
(iii) Equipping simplicial pa e ns wi h u he ea u es which a e no o igina ing om
simplicial cen ali y measu es. I is also possible o cons uc u he ea u es om
one gi en cen ali y measu e by using new condi ions. In he ollowing we p o ide
some examples o he la e sugges ion.