Adapted simplification of complex real-world networks

Networks are an important tool for analyzing and visualizing different complex systems. Examples of real-world networks include social network of friends on Facebook, technological network of railways, biological network of interactions between proteins and information networks of hyperlinks between the Web pages. The evolution of the Web and the capability of storing large amounts of data have caused the size of networked systems and their complexity to increase. However, the algorithms for network analysis and visualization appear impractical for addressing very large systems. Furthermore, data about networks are not always complete, their structure may be hidden, or they may change quickly over time. Any network studied in the literature is thus inevitably just a simplified representative of its real-world analogue. For these reasons, understanding how an incomplete system differs from a complete one is crucial. Recently, a number of techniques have been proposed for simplifying complex networks. The simplification is a process, which reduce the size of a large network with merging, sampling or exploration of nodes or links in a network. Simplification techniques are applied to large networks to allow for their faster and more efficient analysis. Since the findings of the analyses and simulations of simplified networks are implied for the original ones, it is of key importance to understand the structural differences between the original networks and their simplified variants. Network simplification has been extensively investigated from different perspectives. A large number of studies focus on the changes in network properties introduced by simplification. On the other hand, only a few studies compare simplification techniques. In this doctoral thesis, we study the changes of real-world networks introduced by simplification and analyze the differences among simplification techniques. We propose an approach for assessing the effectiveness of simplification. Based on the similarity between original and simplified networks, we compare different simplification techniques. We simplify a number of real-world networks of various types and sizes and explore the preservation of network properties on simplified networks of different sizes. We analyze the changes of network density under the simplification and compare characteristic groups of nodes in original and simplified networks. Based on the findings of the analyses we introduce the scheme for choosing the appropriate simplification technique for a particular network

Adapted simplification of complex real-world networks

Networks are an important tool for analyzing and visualizing different complex systems. Examples of real-world networks include social network of friends on Facebook, technological network of railways, biological network of interactions between proteins and information networks of hyperlinks between the Web pages. The evolution of the Web and the capability of storing large amounts of data have caused the size of networked systems and their complexity to increase. However, the algorithms for network analysis and visualization appear impractical for addressing very large systems. Furthermore, data about networks are not always complete, their structure may be hidden, or they may change quickly over time. Any network studied in the literature is thus inevitably just a simplified representative of its real-world analogue. For these reasons, understanding how an incomplete system differs from a complete one is crucial. Recently, a number of techniques have been proposed for simplifying complex networks. The simplification is a process, which reduce the size of a large network with merging, sampling or exploration of nodes or links in a network. Simplification techniques are applied to large networks to allow for their faster and more efficient analysis. Since the findings of the analyses and simulations of simplified networks are implied for the original ones, it is of key importance to understand the structural differences between the original networks and their simplified variants. Network simplification has been extensively investigated from different perspectives. A large number of studies focus on the changes in network properties introduced by simplification. On the other hand, only a few studies compare simplification techniques. In this doctoral thesis, we study the changes of real-world networks introduced by simplification and analyze the differences among simplification techniques. We propose an approach for assessing the effectiveness of simplification. Based on the similarity between original and simplified networks, we compare different simplification techniques. We simplify a number of real-world networks of various types and sizes and explore the preservation of network properties on simplified networks of different sizes. We analyze the changes of network density under the simplification and compare characteristic groups of nodes in original and simplified networks. Based on the findings of the analyses we introduce the scheme for choosing the appropriate simplification technique for a particular network

Compliance advisory service feasibility study

This report identifies areas or methods of regulatory compliance information and advice to SMEs in the region that are inadequate or deficient. It recommends additional services that will benefit SMEs in the region taking into account the business support simplification agenda, state aid, legal liability, environmental and equality issues

New technologies and procurement and negotiation process support

The aim of this work is to present innovative IT solutions which can be widely applied in the area of procurement processes and accompanying negotiations, thereby contributing to the assessment of their practical applicability. Particular attention has been placed on Ariba Networks, a platform for procurement management. This work sources the latest literature in this field as well as research conducted in one of the largest worldwide companies operating in the Polish market of fast moving consumable goods.Preparation and printing funded by the National Agency for Research and Development under project “Kreator Innowacyjności – wparcie dla Przedsiębiorczości akademickiej

Evaluating administrative burdens through SCM: some indications from the Italian experience

A methodology to measure administrative burdens, based on the Dutch Standard Cost Model (SCM), has been applied in a large number of European countries, coupled in most cases with the commitment to a reduction target. This paper compares the application of the method in different national context and discusses its weaknesses and strengths against more complete forms of evaluation of the adequacy of regulation. The paper also discusses some indication arisen during the measurement of administrative burdens through SCM in Italy. Our main conclusion is that the SCM is a potentially useful tool and could provide motivation for culture change in policymaking. Its major strength, which lies mainly in its pragmatic approach and the possibility of commitment on a quantitative target, may be at the same time a source of weakness and may deliver some misleading results. Also some basic concepts of the model need a more rigorous definition to be consistently applied in different countries.administrative burdens; better regulation; costs of regulation; European governance; standard cost model

Challenges and Opportunities for the Implementation of Virological Testing in resource-limited settings

Though the advantages of routine virological monitoring for patients on anti-retroviral therapy have been established, cost and complexity limit its full implementation. Monitoring is important for diagnosing virological failure early on, before the development of drug resistance mutations, and to trigger early adherence interventions. Simple and cost-effective viral load tests that facilitate simplification and decentralization of testing and strategies, such as the use of dried blood spots and pooled sample testing, which further aid simplification, are becoming available. In addition, replacing immunological monitoring with virological monitoring in non-viremic patients in a phased manner will reduce the costs associated with dual immuno-virological monitoring. Going forward, the simplification of testing paired with price reducing strategies that will allow for healthy competition between multiple manufacturers will enable the implementation of viral load testing in resource-poor settings. It is important that future HIV and AIDS treatment guidelines provide clear recommendations for routine virological monitoring and that governments and donors fund the implementation of accurate and operationally proven testing platforms in a comprehensive manner