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Detalhes

Detalhes

  • Nome

    Mariana Curado Malta
  • Cargo

    Investigador Sénior
  • Desde

    24 janeiro 2024
001
Publicações

2026

PathSAGE: Identifying Influential Spreaders in Temporal Networks With GraphSAGE

Autores
Sadhu, S; Mallick, D; Namtirtha, A; Malta, MC; Dutta, A;

Publicação
IEEE TRANSACTIONS ON EMERGING TOPICS IN COMPUTATIONAL INTELLIGENCE

Abstract
Identifying influential spreaders in temporal networks is crucial for understanding and controlling the dynamics of spreading. However, existing methods, such as temporal betweenness, closeness, pagerank, degree, and local path-based centrality, face several limitations, including high computational complexity, reliance on shortest paths, convergence issues, inability to capture influence dynamics with insufficient neighboring nodes, and a primary focus on local structural information. This paper presents PathSAGE, a novel method that addresses these problems. It integrates GraphSAGE, a deep learning model, to capture global node information while incorporating temporal local path counts as a key feature. Unlike other global feature-capturing methods, PathSAGE optimises computational complexity. Experimental results on thirteen real-world temporal networks demonstrate that PathSAGE outperforms the state-of-the-art methods in accurately identifying influential spreaders. PathSAGE exhibits a strong correlation with the Temporal Susceptible-Infected-Recovered (TSIR) model and achieves a relative improvement percentage (eta%) ranging from 0.12% to 70.70%. Additionally, PathSAGE attains the lowest average robustness value of 0.17, highlighting its effectiveness in identifying influential spreaders within temporal networks.

2026

Collaborating with Algorithms: AI for Collaborative Supply Chain Management

Autores
Couto, F; Malta, MC; Soares, AL;

Publicação
HYBRID HUMAN-AI COLLABORATIVE NETWORKS, PRO-VE 2025, PT I

Abstract
Artificial Intelligence (AI) integration in supply chain systems is growing, and with it grows its potential impact on inter-organisational collaborative networks. We review existing literature on how different AI archetypes (Reflexive, Anticipatory, Supervisory, Prescriptive) could support Collaborative Supply Chain Management (CSCM) activities, and how they impact information sharing, collaborative decision-making, and trust among supply chain partners at different integration levels. Adopting a sociotechnical perspective, we synthesise existing literature and map the archetypes along four levels of AI integration, varying in scope and decision autonomy. The results are conceptual frameworks demonstrating how AI impacts collaboration dynamics as it evolves from a decision-support tool to an autonomous coordination agent. Findings show differentiated effects along archetypes and integration levels, with implications for CSCM governance, transparency, and resilience. We contribute to the discussion on human-AI collaboration in CSCM and offer a baseline for research on the human-centric values of Industry 5.0.

2026

Applying directed qualitative content analysis for data-driven persona creation: a case study on user-centered digital marketplace development

Autores
Couto, F; Malta, MC;

Publicação
INTERACTING WITH COMPUTERS

Abstract
This paper presents a case study to illustrate the application of the directed qualitative content analysis (DQCA) technique to focus group transcriptions for data-driven qualitative persona creation, with broader applicability in human-computer interaction and software development. Using a case study from a project focused on creating an e-grocery marketplace for facilitating short agrifood supply chain trade in the Portuguese context, we demonstrate and validate how DQCA can systematically generate personas that reflect real user needs. For the focus group session, we involved one of the project's stakeholders: family farmers. Furthermore, we propose how these personas can be integrated into the Rational Unified Process software development methodology, guiding decision-making, user-centered design, and prioritization throughout all its phases. Despite being rooted in the e-grocery domain, this paper's methodological approach and insights into generating and integrating user-centered personas in software development processes apply to a broader range of industries and projects, offering guidelines for practitioners and researchers in diverse contexts.

2025

LP-GRU Model: A Graph Analytics Approach to Detect Misinformation Infiltrators in Online Communities

Autores
Karmakar, D; Malta, MC; Maji, G; Dutta, A;

Publicação
International Conference on Communication Systems and Networks, COMSNETS

Abstract
Fighting the propagation of misinformation within a social media group or community by focusing on identifying dishonest members who deliberately try to quash any constructive social movement is very challenging because such people use advanced tactics to create division and doubt by manipulating information. The present research aims to develop a hybrid heuristic model to identify those who intentionally spread misleading information on social media to jeopardize a social movement. We frame this issue under the heading of Graph Semi-supervised Learning (GSSL), and we propose a hybrid model that falls under the heuristic approach, called Label Propagation-Gated Recurrent Unit (LP-GRU). LP-GRU can effectively identify perpetrators of disinformation within social communities by fusing community structure from the Label Propagation algorithm with behavioral patterns identified by GRU. Compared to previous heuristic approaches, we achieve up to 76% accuracy when using the LP-GRU model on augmented semi-synthetic social network data. © 2025 IEEE.

2025

Aligning Frameworks: Identifying Compatible Pairs of Digital Transformation and Maturity Models

Autores
Couto, F; Curado Malta, M;

Publicação
SN Computer Science

Abstract
Digital Transformation Models (DTM) and Digital Maturity Models (DMM) are two artefacts that guide the planning and implementation of Digital Transformation (DT) initiatives. When used in a combined approach, a DTM-DMM pairing could support DT managers and practitioners, as DTs are holistic and complex initiatives with high failure rates. However, no study has yet systematically addressed the compatibility amongst artefacts. This paper, therefore, aims to analyse the compatibility between academic DTMs and DMMs. Based on architectural compatibility and conceptual similarity, we provide a structured and replicable mixed methods approach to assessing artefact compatibility. To achieve this, we start with a systematic literature review to identify existing academic DTMs and DMMs, analyse the models and group them according to their scope. After, we employ quantitative similarity analysis techniques (Term Frequency-Inverse Document Frequency and Bidirectional Encoder Representations from Transformers combined with Cosine Similarity) and perform a qualitative compatibility analysis to establish ground truth. Based on this analysis, we apply the Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve technique to define threshold values for compatibility assessment. The threshold values were used to suggest compatible DTM-DMM pairings, resulting in nine DTM-DMM binomials for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. The findings support managers and practitioners in selecting DTM-DMM pairs to guide DT initiatives while offering academics a mixed-methods approach based on the similarity analysis field to evaluate artefact compatibility systematically. © The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2025.