This paper provides results of a study on modeling actor-networks using such
formalisms as hypergraphs, directed hypergraphs, hypernetworks, metagraphs, and nested
metagraphs. The object of our research are actor-networks of sociotechnical systems in
science and technology studies. We draw a parallel between the semantics of a fundamental
mechanism of translation in an actor-network and the semantics of RDF-graph given by a 3-
tuple of elements. We suggest using a 3-uniform directed hypergraph to model translation in
an actor-network. The directed hyperedges represent, in a compact and natural way, the role
of every actant, taking into account the orientation of a translation. To model «black box» in
actor network, we suggest using hypernetworks and nested metagraphs. Packing a «black
box» is equivalent to the emergence of a new functional unit, with a new name and new
emergent properties. In terms of the theory of hypernetworks, «black box» in an actornetwork is a hypersimplex. Real assemblage in the basis of hypersimplex is mapped to the
node in a higher-order network. The system property of emergency is held due to the
emergence of hypersimplexes during the transitions between the levels. Nested metagraph
model allows for the links both between elements on one level and on distinct levels that is
critical for modeling agentivity of a «black box» as an actant in an actor-network. We This paper provides results of a study on modeling actor-networks using such
formalisms as hypergraphs, directed hypergraphs, hypernetworks, metagraphs, and nested
metagraphs. The object of our research are actor-networks of sociotechnical systems in
science and technology studies. We draw a parallel between the semantics of a fundamental
mechanism of translation in an actor-network and the semantics of RDF-graph given by a 3-
tuple of elements. We suggest using a 3-uniform directed hypergraph to model translation in
an actor-network. The directed hyperedges represent, in a compact and natural way, the role
of every actant, taking into account the orientation of a translation. To model «black box» in
actor network, we suggest using hypernetworks and nested metagraphs. Packing a «black
box» is equivalent to the emergence of a new functional unit, with a new name and new
emergent properties. In terms of the theory of hypernetworks, «black box» in an actornetwork is a hypersimplex. Real assemblage in the basis of hypersimplex is mapped to the
node in a higher-order network. The system property of emergency is held due to the
emergence of hypersimplexes during the transitions between the levels. Nested metagraph
model allows for the links both between elements on one level and on distinct levels that is
critical for modeling agentivity of a «black box» as an actant in an actor-network. We introduce graph theoretical models that allow for system studies of actor-networks using rich
mathematical apparatus of a set theory (as well as fuzzy set theory). We believe our
contribution will encourage the quick transition from mainly qualitative to quantitative
studies in actor-network theory.
1. Latur, B. Peresborka social'nogo: vvedenie v aktorno-setevuyu teoriyu /
Bruno Latur; per. s angl. I. Polonskoi. – M.: Izd. dom Vysshei shkoly
ekonomiki, 2014. – 384 s.
2. Popova, N. G. Nauchnaya stat'ya kak yadro sociotehnicheskoi seti po
proizvodstvu znaniya / N. G. Popova // Sociologiya nauki i tehnologii. –
2017. – T. 1, № 1. – S. 68-84.
3. Callon, M. Struggles and Negotiations to Define what is Problematic and
what is not: The Socio-logic of Translation. In K. Knorr, R. Krohn & R.
Whitley (eds.) The Social Process of Scientific Investigation, Dordecht,
Holland: D. Reidel Publishing Co., 1981.
4. Sreda opisaniya resursa (RDF): Ponyatiya i abstraktnyi sintaksis. – Rejim
dostupa: https://www.w3.org/2007/03/rdf_concepts_ru/
5. Hayes, J. A Graph Model for RDF. Diploma theses, Technische Universitat
Darmstadt, 2004.
https://users.dcc.uchile.cl/~cgutierr/papers/rdfgraphmodel.pdf
6. Martinez-Morales, A. A Directed Hypergraph Formal Model for RDF.
Workshop on Semantic Web, Ontologies and Databases, Universidad Simón
Bolívar, Venezuela, February 12, 2008.
http://ldc.usb.ve/~mvidal/workshop/amadis.pdf
7. Samohvalov, E. N. Ispol'zovanie metagrafov dlya opisaniya semantiki i
pragmatiki informacionnyh sistem / E. N. Samohvalov, G. I. Revunkov, YU.
E. Gapanyuk // Vestnik MGTU im. N. E. Baumana. Ser. Priborostroenie. –
2015. – № 1. – S. 83-99.
8. Bershtein, L. S. Nechetkie grafy i gipergrafy / L. S. Bershtein, A. V.
Bojenyuk. – M.: Nauchnyi mir, 2005. – 256 s.
9. Celyh, A. A. Razrabotka i issledovanie metodov i algoritmov dlya
modelirovaniya adaptivnyh veb-resursov na osnove nechetkih ul'tragrafov :
dis. ... kand. tehn. nauk : 05.13.17 / Celyh Aleksei Aleksandrovich. –
Taganrog, 2005. – 156 c.
10. Latur, B. Novogo Vremeni ne bylo. Esse po simmetrichnoi antropologii /
Bruno Latur – SPb.: Izdatel'stvo Evropeiskogo un-ta v S.-Peterburge, 2006. –
240 s.
11. Seung, S. Konnektom. Kak mozg delaet nas tem, chto my est' [Elektronnyi
resurs] / Sebast'en Seung; per. s angl. A. Kapanadze. – M.: BINOM.
Laboratoriya znanii, 2014.
12. Anohin, K. V. Kognitom – gipersetevaya model' mozga / K. V. Anohin //
Materialy XVII Vserossiiskoi nauchno-tehnicheskoi konferencii
«Neiroinformatika – 2015», Nauchnaya sessiya NIYAU MIFI. – Moskva. –
2015.
13. Anohin, K. V. Kognitom: razum kak fizicheskaya i matematicheskaya
struktura / K. V. Anohin // Seminar po sociofizike imeni D. S.
CHernavskogo (Himicheskii fakul'tet MGU imeni M.V. Lomonosova),
Rossiya, Moskva, 11 oktyabrya 2016 goda.
14. Popkov, V. K. Matematicheskie modeli svyaznosti / V. K. Popkov. –
Novosibirsk: IVMiMG SO RAN, 2006. – 490 s.
15. Gapanyuk, YU. E. Metagrafovyi podhod dlya opisaniya informacionnyh
sistem / YU. E. Gapanyuk // Mejdisciplinarnyi seminar «Ekobionika»
(MGTU im. N. E. Baumana), Rossiya, Moskva, 22 noyabrya 2016 goda. –
Rejim dostupa:
http://seen49.pythonanywhere.com/mysite/files/metagraphs_ecobionics.pdf
16. Metagrafovyi podhod dlya opisaniya gibridnyh intellektual'nyh
informacionnyh sistem / V. M. CHernen'kii, YU. E. Gapanyuk, G. I.
Revunkov, V. I. Terehov, YU. T. Kaganov // Prikladnaya informatika. –
2017. – T. 2, № 3 (69). – S. 57-79.
17. Johnson, J. H. Hypernetworks for reconstructing the dynamics of multilevel
systems. Proc. European Conference on Complex Systems, ECCS’06,
Oxford, 25-29 September 2006.
18. Harman, G. Seti i assamblyaji: vozrojdenie veschei u Latura i Delanda /
Grem Harman // Logos. – 2017. – T. 27, № 3. – S. 1-34.
19. Atkin, R. H. Multidimensional Man, Penguin Books (Harmondsworth),
1981. – 196 p.
20. Napreenko, I. V. Delegirovanie agentnosti v koncepcii Bruno Latura: kak
sobrat' gibridnyi kollektiv kiborgov i antropomorfov? / I. V. Napreenko //
Sociologiya vlasti. – 2015. – T. 27, № 1. – S. 108-120.
21. Sergeev, N. E. Nechetkie teoretiko-grafovye podhody k modelirovaniyu i
analizu sociosemanticheskih setei znanii dlya zadach prinyatiya reshenii v
nauchnoi i nauchno-tehnicheskoi ekspertize / N. E. Sergeev, A. A. Celyh //
Politematicheskii setevoi elektronnyi nauchnyi jurnal Kubanskogo
gosudarstvennogo agrarnogo universiteta (Nauchnyi jurnal KubGAU)
[Elektronnyi resurs]. – Krasnodar: KubGAU, 2016. – №09(123). – S. 1-21. –
Rejim dostupa: http://ej.kubagro.ru/2016/09/pdf/27.pdf
22. Sergeev, N. E. Metody postroeniya sociosemanticheskih setei znanii / N. E.
Sergeev, A. A. Celyh // Sovremennye problemy nauki i obrazovaniya. –
2013. – № 6. – Rejim dostupa: http://www.science-education.ru/113-11462
23. Globa, L., Ternovoy, M., Shtogrina, O., and Kryvenko, O. Based on forcedirected algorithms method for metagraph visualization. Advances in
Intelligent Systems and Computing, 342. – Pp. 359-369.
24. Астанин, С. В. Вложенные метаграфы как модели сложных объектов /
С. В. Астанин, Н. В. Драгныш, Н. К. Жуковская // Инженерный вестник
Дона [Электронный ресурс]. – 2012. – Т. 23. № 4-2. – Режим доступа:
http://ivdon.ru/magazine/archive/n4p2y2012/1434
25. Bots, P.W.G., van Twist, M.J.W., and van Duin, R. Designing a power tool
for policy analysts: dynamic actor network analysis. In Proceedings of the
32nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences, Maui, Hawaii,
(HICSS'99) – 1999. – Vol. 6.
26. Potts, L. Diagramming with actor network theory: a method for modeling
holistic experience. In IEEE International Professional Communication
Conference (IPCC 2008), Montreal, Quebec, Canada. – 2008. – Pp. 1-6.
27. Tsohou, A., Karyda, M., Kokolakis, S., and Kiountouzis, E. Analyzing
trajectories of information security awareness // Information Technology &
People, 2012, Vol. 25, № 3. – Pp. 327-352.
28. Silvis, E., and Alexander P. A study using a graphical syntax for actornetwork theory // Information Technology & People, 2014, Vol. 27, Issue 2.
– Pp. 110-128.
29. Helsten I., and Leyesdorff L. Automated Analysis of Topic-Actor Networks
on Twitter: New approach to the analysis of socio-semantic networks.
November 2017. arXiv:1711.08387. http://arxiv.org/abs/1711.08387
30. Gradosel'skaya, G. V. Setevye izmereniya v sociologii: ucheb. posobie / G.
V. Gradosel'skaya; pod red. G. S. Batygina. – M.: Izdatel'skii dom «Novyi
uchebnik», 2004. – 248 s.
31. ANTA or Actor Network Text Analyzer [Elektronnyi resurs] URL:
https://github.com/medialab/ANTA
