Computing Tutte polynomials of contact networks in classrooms

Doracelly Hincapié; Juan Ospina

doi:10.1117/12.2018078

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29 May 2013 Computing Tutte polynomials of contact networks in classrooms

Doracelly Hincapié, Juan Ospina

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Proceedings Volume 8723, Sensing Technologies for Global Health, Military Medicine, and Environmental Monitoring III; 872309 (2013) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018078
Event: SPIE Defense, Security, and Sensing, 2013, Baltimore, Maryland, United States

Abstract

Objective: The topological complexity of contact networks in classrooms and the potential transmission of an infectious disease were analyzed by sex and age. Methods: The Tutte polynomials, some topological properties and the number of spanning trees were used to algebraically compute the topological complexity. Computations were made with the Maple package GraphTheory. Published data of mutually reported social contacts within a classroom taken from primary school, consisting of children in the age ranges of 4–5, 7–8 and 10–11, were used. Results: The algebraic complexity of the Tutte polynomial and the probability of disease transmission increases with age. The contact networks are not bipartite graphs, gender segregation was observed especially in younger children. Conclusion: Tutte polynomials are tools to understand the topology of the contact networks and to derive numerical indexes of such topologies. It is possible to establish relationships between the Tutte polynomial of a given contact network and the potential transmission of an infectious disease within such network

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Doracelly Hincapié and Juan Ospina "Computing Tutte polynomials of contact networks in classrooms", Proc. SPIE 8723, Sensing Technologies for Global Health, Military Medicine, and Environmental Monitoring III, 872309 (29 May 2013); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2018078

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