The topology of a discussion: the #occupy case

We analyse a large sample of the Twitter activity developed around the social movement 'Occupy Wall Street' to study the complex interactions between the human communication activity and the semantic content of a discussion. We use a network approach based on the analysis of the bipartite graph @Users-#Hashtags and of its projections: the 'semantic network', whose nodes are hashtags, and the 'users interest network', whose nodes are users In the first instance, we find out that discussion topics (#hashtags) present a high heterogeneity, with the distinct role of the communication hubs where most the 'opinion traffic' passes through. In the second case, the self-organization process of users activity leads to the emergence of two classes of communicators: the 'professionals' and the 'amateurs'. Moreover the network presents a strong community structure, based on the differentiation of the semantic topics, and a high level of structural robustness when a certain set of topics are censored and/or accounts are removed. Analysing the characteristics the @Users-#Hashtags network we can distinguish three phases of the discussion about the movement. Each phase corresponds to specific moment of the movement: from declaration of intent, organisation and development and the final phase of political reactions. Each phase is characterised by the presence of specific #hashtags in the discussion. Keywords: Twitter, Network analysisComment: 13 pages, 9 figure

POROUS MEDIA MICROSTRUCTURE RECONSTRUCTION USING PIXEL-BASED AND OBJECT-BASED SIMULATED ANNEALING – COMPARISON WITH OTHER RECONSTRUCTION METHODS

In this contribution the issue of the stochastic reconstruction of particulatemedia from 2D photomicrographic images is addressed with particular reference to pore space connectivity. The reconstruction of porous bodies in 2D or 3D space was achieved by using simulated annealing techniques. Two methods were proposed to reconstruct a well connected pore space. The first, named PSA (Pixel-based Simulated Annealing), a pixel-movement based, three constraints were found to be necessary for  the successful reconstruction of well connected pore space: the two-pointcorrelation function, the d3-4 distance transform distribution and the  linealpath function for the pore phase. The second, named OSA (Object-based Simulated Annealing), only constrains the two-point correlation function. Following several researches which tried to reconstruct porous media using pixel-movement based simulated techniques, we propose a new parameter to add a microstructure descriptor, but we also propose a new technique, based in moving the microstructure grains (spheres) instead of the pixels. Both methods were applied to reconstruct reservoir rocks microstructures, and the 2D and 3D results were compared with microstructures reconstructed by truncated Gaussian methods. The PSA resulted in microstructures characterized by poor pore space connectivity, and by artificial patterns, while the OSA reconstructed microstructures with good pore space connectivity. These results indicate that the OSA method can reconstruct better microstructures than the present methods

Speed and entropy of an interacting continuous time quantum walk

We present some dynamic and entropic considerations about the evolution of a continuous time quantum walk implementing the clock of an autonomous machine. On a simple model, we study in quite explicit terms the Lindblad evolution of the clocked subsystem, relating the evolution of its entropy to the spreading of the wave packet of the clock. We explore possible ways of reducing the generation of entropy in the clocked subsystem, as it amounts to a deficit in the probability of finding the target state of the computation. We are thus lead to examine the benefits of abandoning some classical prejudice about how a clocking mechanism should operate.Comment: 25 pages, 14 figure

The digital whomanities project. Best practices for digital pedagogy in the pandemic era

This paper aims to enter the ongoing debate about the critical issues of digital pedagogy through the presentation of Digital WHOmanities, a series of online conferences and workshops held at the University of Bologna. Distance learning has become one of the most discussed topics in educational institutions during the spread of Covid-19, revealing a discrepancy between the rapid development of technology and the ability of learning environments to adapt to this turn. In view of this ongoing debate, Digital WHOmanities tried to define the complex and multifaceted figure of the digital humanist and to provide a methodological framework that could foster further online academic initiatives. Specifically, the accurate organization of timing and contents and the adoption of synchronous and asynchronous approaches have highlighted the effectiveness of flexible digital didactics

Line graphs as social networks

The line graphs are clustered and assortative. They share these topological features with some social networks. We argue that this similarity reveals the cliquey character of the social networks. In the model proposed here, a social network is the line graph of an initial network of families, communities, interest groups, school classes and small companies. These groups play the role of nodes, and individuals are represented by links between these nodes. The picture is supported by the data on the LiveJournal network of about 8 x 10^6 people. In particular, sharp maxima of the observed data of the degree dependence of the clustering coefficient C(k) are associated with cliques in the social network.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Status of the RFX experiment

The first results obtained in the RFX reversed field pinch experiment after the 1995 machine modifications are reported. The confinement, for fully stationary discharges at 0.6 MA, has now reached the expected values, even in the presence of MHD wall locked modes. Studies on locked mode effects have evidenced currents flowing from the plasma into the vessel in the region of locking. Measurements on plasma rotation and radial electric field have shown a perpendicular velocity shear at the edge similar to what is found in tokamaks and stellarators. New measurements on edge superthermal electrons and some evidence of their correlation with plasma core characteristics are included

A systematic review of the literature on the role of tracheostomy in COVID-19 patients

– The Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a viral infection caused by Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which emerged in East Asia and spread around the world from December 2019. The most severe stage of COVID-19 pathology is characterized by respiratory distress requiring intubation. In specific cases, tracheostomy is indicated to ensure the safety of the procedure. The aim of our study was to analyze the scientific literature identifying the indications for tracheostomy and safety precautions to reduce contamination. We analyzed the literature from February 2003 to April 2020, including papers on pandemics of other coronaviruses, such As Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 1 and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus, to obtain a variety of relevant information. We focused on indications for tracheostomy in patients affected by COVID-19 or related viruses and the measures adopted to perform a safe procedure. We included 35 papers, of which 24 (68.57%) discussed guidelines for tracheostomy indications. All 35 studies discussed the procedures for performing tracheostomy safely. Data obtained indicated that the authors generally agreed on safety measures but expressed different opinions about indications. Therefore, we provided guidelines addressing safety recommendations. After the pandemic has been resolved, we plan to conduct an international retrospective study to identify the criteria for tracheostomy indications

POROUS MEDIA MICROSTRUCTURE RECONSTRUCTION USING PIXEL-BASED AND OBJECT-BASED SIMULATED ANNEALING – COMPARISON WITH OTHER RECONSTRUCTION METHODS

In this contribution the issue of the stochastic reconstruction of particulatemedia from 2D photomicrographic images is addressed with particular reference to pore space connectivity. The reconstruction of porous bodies in 2D or 3D space was achieved by using simulated annealing techniques. Two methods were proposed to reconstruct a well connected pore space. The first, named PSA (Pixel-based Simulated Annealing), a pixel-movement based, three constraints were found to be necessary for  the successful reconstruction of well connected pore space: the two-pointcorrelation function, the d3-4 distance transform distribution and the  linealpath function for the pore phase. The second, named OSA (Object-based Simulated Annealing), only constrains the two-point correlation function. Following several researches which tried to reconstruct porous media using pixel-movement based simulated techniques, we propose a new parameter to add a microstructure descriptor, but we also propose a new technique, based in moving the microstructure grains (spheres) instead of the pixels. Both methods were applied to reconstruct reservoir rocks microstructures, and the 2D and 3D results were compared with microstructures reconstructed by truncated Gaussian methods. The PSA resulted in microstructures characterized by poor pore space connectivity, and by artificial patterns, while the OSA reconstructed microstructures with good pore space connectivity. These results indicate that the OSA method can reconstruct better microstructures than the present methods

Quantum Simulations of Classical Annealing Processes

We describe a quantum algorithm that solves combinatorial optimization problems by quantum simulation of a classical simulated annealing process. Our algorithm exploits quantum walks and the quantum Zeno effect induced by evolution randomization. It requires order $1/\sqrt{\delta}$ steps to find an optimal solution with bounded error probability, where $\delta$ is the minimum spectral gap of the stochastic matrices used in the classical annealing process. This is a quadratic improvement over the order $1/\delta$ steps required by the latter.Comment: 4 pages - 1 figure. This work differs from arXiv:0712.1008 in that the quantum Zeno effect is implemented via randomization in the evolutio

Potent Inhibition of HIV-1 Replication by a Tat Mutant

Herein we describe a mutant of the two-exon HIV-1 Tat protein, termed Nullbasic, that potently inhibits multiple steps of the HIV-1 replication cycle. Nullbasic was created by replacing the entire arginine-rich basic domain of wild type Tat with glycine/alanine residues. Like similarly mutated one-exon Tat mutants, Nullbasic exhibited transdominant negative effects on Tat-dependent transactivation. However, unlike previously reported mutants, we discovered that Nullbasic also strongly suppressed the expression of unspliced and singly-spliced viral mRNA, an activity likely caused by redistribution and thus functional inhibition of HIV-1 Rev. Furthermore, HIV-1 virion particles produced by cells expressing Nullbasic had severely reduced infectivity, a defect attributable to a reduced ability of the virions to undergo reverse transcription. Combination of these inhibitory effects on transactivation, Rev-dependent mRNA transport and reverse transcription meant that permissive cells constitutively expressing Nullbasic were highly resistant to a spreading infection by HIV-1. Nullbasic and its activities thus provide potential insights into the development of potent antiviral therapeutics that target multiple stages of HIV-1 infection