748 research outputs found
A complex network approach to urban growth
The economic geography can be viewed as a large and growing network of interacting activities. This fundamental network structure and the large size of such systems makes complex networks an attractive model for its analysis. In this paper we propose the use of complex networks for geographical modeling and demonstrate how such an application can be combined with a cellular model to produce output that is consistent with large scale regularities such as power laws and fractality. Complex networks can provide a stringent framework for growth dynamic modeling where concepts from e.g. spatial interaction models and multiplicative growth models can be combined with the flexible representation of land and behavior found in cellular automata and agent-based models. In addition, there exists a large body of theory for the analysis of complex networks that have direct applications for urban geographic problems. The intended use of such models is twofold: i) to address the problem of how the empirically observed hierarchical structure of settlements can be explained as a stationary property of a stochastic evolutionary process rather than as equilibrium points in a dynamics, and, ii) to improve the prediction quality of applied urban modeling.evolutionary economics, complex networks, urban growth
The significance of bidding, accepting and opponent modeling in automated negotiation
Given the growing interest in automated negotiation, the search for effective strategies has produced a variety of different negotiation agents. Despite their diversity, there is a common structure to their design. A negotiation agent comprises three key components: the bidding strategy, the opponent model and the acceptance criteria. We show that this three-component view of a negotiating architecture not only provides a useful basis for developing such agents but also provides a useful analytical tool. By combining these components in varying ways, we are able to demonstrate the contribution of each component to the overall negotiation result, and thus determine the key contributing components. Moreover, we are able to study the interaction between components and present detailed interaction effects. Furthermore, we find that the bidding strategy in particular is of critical importance to the negotiator's success and far exceeds the importance of opponent preference modeling techniques. Our results contribute to the shaping of a research agenda for negotiating agent design by providing guidelines on how agent developers can spend their time most effectively
Electrically Tunable Optical Nonlinearities in Graphene-Covered SiN Waveguides Characterized by Four-Wave Mixing
We present a degenerate four-wave mixing experiment on a silicon nitride
(SiN) waveguide covered with gated graphene. We observe strong dependencies on
signal-pump detuning and Fermi energy, i.e. the optical nonlinearity is
demonstrated to be electrically tunable. In the vicinity of the interband
absorption edge () a peak value of the waveguide
nonlinear parameter of 6400 mW, corresponding to a
graphene nonlinear sheet conductivity A mV is measured
Electrically tunable nonlinear refraction and absorption in graphene-covered SiN waveguides
The real and imaginary part of the third-order nonlinearity of a gate-tunable graphene-covered SiN waveguide are measured through cross-phase and cross-amplitude modulation. A strong dependence on pump-probe detuning and Fermi energy is demonstrated
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Low temperature sensible PTES with Kalina cycles
This presentation was given at the second International Workshop on Carnot Batteries in September 2020. It details how Kalina cycles could be used in Pumped Thermal Energy Storage, discussing working fluid choice and performance results from a cycle model
Kosmopolitische verbeeldingen in het Nederlandse buitenlandprogramma Metropolis: een productieanalyse = Cosmopolitan imaginaries in the Dutch foreign affairs programme Metropolis: a production analysis
Cosmopolitan imaginaries in the Dutch foreign affairs programme Metropolis: a production analysis This paper researches the intentions and motivations that guide media producers to position different cultural perspectives in their programme. The Dutch documentary programme Metropolis functions as a case in point because the programme presents stories from people around the world produced by local journalists in collaboration with Dutch producers and editors. Its main aim is to confront Dutch audiences with diverse worldviews on a given topic. Against a theoretical background on media as a source of social imaginaries and cosmopolitanism, this study combined participatory observation, in-depth interviews and textual analysis to understand the choices these producers make. The analysis shows that while the programmeâs goal is to show different cultural perspectives on a given topic, the diverse worldviews of the correspondents are mostly presented through a dominant Dutch perspective for a range of reasons, leading to a limitation of the cosmopolitan potential of the programme
Paradigm of biased PAR1 (protease-activated receptor-1) activation and inhibition in endothelial cells dissected by phosphoproteomics
Thrombin is the key serine protease of the coagulation cascade and mediates cellular responses by activation of PARs (protease-activated receptors). The predominant thrombin receptor is PAR1, and in endothelial cells (ECs), thrombin dynamically regulates a plethora of phosphorylation events. However, it has remained unclear whether thrombin signaling is exclusively mediated through PAR1. Furthermore, mechanistic insight into activation and inhibition of PAR1-mediated EC signaling is lacking. In addition, signaling networks of biased PAR1 activation after differential cleavage of the PAR1 N terminus have remained an unresolved issue. Here, we used a quantitative phosphoproteomics approach to show that classical and peptide activation of PAR1 induce highly similar signaling, that low thrombin concentrations initiate only limited phosphoregulation, and that the PAR1 inhibitors vorapaxar and parmodulin-2 demonstrate distinct antagonistic properties. Subsequent analysis of the thrombin-regulated phosphosites in the presence of PAR1 inhibitors revealed that biased activation of PAR1 is not solely linked to a specific G-protein downstream of PAR1. In addition, we showed that only the canonical thrombin PAR1 tethered ligand induces extensive early phosphoregulation in ECs. Our study provides detailed insight in the signaling mechanisms downstream of PAR1. Our data demonstrate that thrombin-induced EC phosphoregulation is mediated exclusively through PAR1, that thrombin and thrombin-tethered ligand peptide induce similar phosphoregulation, and that only canonical PAR1 cleavage by thrombin generates a tethered ligand that potently induces early signaling. Furthermore, platelet PAR1 inhibitors directly affect EC signaling, indicating that it will be a challenge to design a PAR1 antagonist that will target only those pathways responsible for tissue pathology
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