Abstract:

Identifying critical nodes in networks is a classical decision-making task, and many methods struggle to strike a balance between adaptability and utility. Therefore, we propose an approach that empowers Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) with Large Language Models (LLMs), to generate a function called “score_nodes” which can further be used to identify crucial nodes based on their assigned scores.

Analysis:

This research introduces a novel approach to identifying critical nodes in networks by combining Evolutionary Algorithm (EA) with Large Language Models (LLMs). Traditional methods face challenges in finding the right balance between adaptability and utility. By leveraging the capabilities of LLMs, this approach aims to improve the accuracy and efficiency of node scoring for better decision-making.

The model consists of three main components:

  1. Manual Initialization: The initial populations are created with a set of node scoring functions designed manually. This step ensures that the process starts with a diverse pool of potential solutions.
  2. Population Management: LLMs perform crossover and mutation operations on the individuals in the population, generating new functions. LLMs are known for their strong contextual understanding and programming skills, and they contribute to the production of excellent node scoring functions.
  3. LLMs-based Evolution: The newly generated functions are categorized, ranked, and eliminated to maintain stable development within the populations while preserving diversity. This step ensures that the model continues to evolve and improve.

Extensive experiments have been conducted to validate the performance of this method. The results demonstrate its strong generalization ability and effectiveness compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms. The approach consistently generates diverse and efficient node scoring functions for network analysis and decision-making tasks.

Expert Insights:

This research introduces a novel approach that combines the power of Evolutionary Algorithms with Large Language Models (LLMs) for the task of identifying critical nodes in networks. By empowering LLMs with their contextual understanding and programming skills, this method aims to strike a balance between adaptability and utility, which has been a challenge for traditional approaches.

The manual initialization step ensures that the model starts with a diverse set of potential scoring functions. This diversity is further enhanced by LLMs’ ability to perform crossover and mutation operations, generating new and improved functions. The categorization, ranking, and elimination of functions contribute to the stability and development of the model while preserving diversity.

The extensive experiments and comparative analysis demonstrate the strong generalization ability of this method. It consistently generates diverse and efficient node scoring functions, thereby enhancing the accuracy and efficiency of decision-making in network analysis.

The availability of the source codes and models for reproduction of results further enhances the reliability and transparency of this research. Researchers and practitioners can access and validate the findings using the provided link.

In conclusion, this research showcases an innovative approach that combines Evolutionary Algorithms and Large Language Models to improve the identification of critical nodes in networks. The results indicate its superiority compared to existing algorithms, and the availability of resources ensures reproducibility and further exploration of this approach in network analysis and decision-making domains.

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