path lengths of all the nodes in the network. The clustering coefficient and path length of nodes completely disconnected with the network were set as 0 and Inf respectively, and these nodes were excluded while computing C and L. To evaluate the network for small-world properties, we compared the clustering coefficient and the characteristic path length of the network with corresponding values (Cran, Lran) obtained and averaged across 1000 random networks with the same number of nodes and degree distribution [48]. Degree of a network is a measure of its connectivity. The degree of every node was computed by counting the number of edges incident on that node. Small world networks are characterized by high normalized clustering coefficient γ (C/Cran)>1 and low normalized characteristic path length λ (L/Lran)∼1 compared to random networks [24]. A cumulative metric σ–the ratio of normalized clustering coefficient (γ) to the characteristic path length (λ), a measure of small-worldness–is thus greater than 1 for small world networks.
