108 research outputs found
Diffusion dynamics on multiplex networks
We study the time scales associated to diffusion processes that take place on
multiplex networks, i.e. on a set of networks linked through interconnected
layers. To this end, we propose the construction of a supra-Laplacian matrix,
which consists of a dimensional lifting of the Laplacian matrix of each layer
of the multiplex network. We use perturbative analysis to reveal analytically
the structure of eigenvectors and eigenvalues of the complete network in terms
of the spectral properties of the individual layers. The spectrum of the
supra-Laplacian allows us to understand the physics of diffusion-like processes
on top of multiplex networks.Comment: 6 Pages including supplemental material. To appear in Physical Review
Letter
Trade synchronization in the World Trade Web
In March 2008, the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers marked for many the beginning of the global crisis. In an increasingly globalized world, the financial crisis spread relentlessly. Recent theories of financial fragility link globalization with economic cycles, i.e. when local crises coincide with bad credit regulation and failures in international monetary arrangements. The globalization process in recent years has been accelerated due to to the increase of international trade. Here we analyze how economic cycles can spread worldwide over the global trade network (WTW). We use the WTW network structure to simulate a network of Integrate-and-Fire oscillators for two different years, 1980 and 2000. The results reinforce the idea that globalization accelerates the global synchronization process
Nonequilibrium phase transition in a model for the propagation of innovations among economic agents
We characterize the different morphological phases that occur in a simple
one-dimensional model of propagation of innovations among economic agents [X.\
Guardiola, {\it et. al.}, Phys. Rev E {\bf 66}, 026121 (2002)]. We show that
the model can be regarded as a nonequilibrium surface growth model. This allows
us to demonstrate the presence of a continuous roughening transition between a
flat (system size independent fluctuations) and a rough phase (system size
dependent fluctuations). Finite-size scaling studies at the transition strongly
suggest that the dynamic critical transition does not belong to directed
percolation and, in fact, critical exponents do not seem to fit in any of the
known universality classes of nonequilibrium phase transitions. Finally, we
present an explanation for the occurrence of the roughening transition and
argue that avalanche driven dynamics is responsible for the novel critical
behavior
Dynamical and spectral properties of complex networks
Dynamical properties of complex networks are related to the spectral
properties of the Laplacian matrix that describes the pattern of connectivity
of the network. In particular we compute the synchronization time for different
types of networks and different dynamics. We show that the main dependence of
the synchronization time is on the smallest nonzero eigenvalue of the Laplacian
matrix, in contrast to other proposals in terms of the spectrum of the
adjacency matrix. Then, this topological property becomes the most relevant for
the dynamics.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figures, to be published in New Journal of Physic
Optimal network topologies for local search with congestion
The problem of searchability in decentralized complex networks is of great
importance in computer science, economy and sociology. We present a formalism
that is able to cope simultaneously with the problem of search and the
congestion effects that arise when parallel searches are performed, and obtain
expressions for the average search cost--written in terms of the search
algorithm and the topological properties of the network--both in presence and
abscence of congestion. This formalism is used to obtain optimal network
structures for a system using a local search algorithm. It is found that only
two classes of networks can be optimal: star-like configurations, when the
number of parallel searches is small, and homogeneous-isotropic configurations,
when the number of parallel searches is large.Comment: 4 pages. Final version accepted in PR
Ceruloplasmin and Coronary Heart Disease-A Systematic Review
Several studies indicate that oxidative stress might play a central role in the initiation and maintenance of cardiovascular diseases. It remains unclear whether ceruloplasmin acts as a passive marker of inflammation or as a causal mediator. To better understand the impact of ceruloplasmin blood levels on the risk of cardiovascular disease, and paying special attention to coronary heart disease, we conducted a search on the two most commonly used electronic databases (Medline via PubMed and EMBASE) to analyze current assessment using observational studies in the general adult population. Each study was quality rated using criteria developed by the US Preventive Services Task Force. Most of 18 eligible studies reviewed support a direct relationship between ceruloplasmin elevated levels and incidence of coronary heart disease. Our results highlight the importance of promoting clinical trials that determine the functions of ceruloplasmin as a mediator in the development of coronary heart disease and evaluate whether the treatment of elevated ceruloplasmin levels has a role in the prognosis or prevention of this condition
New approaches to model and study social networks
We describe and develop three recent novelties in network research which are
particularly useful for studying social systems. The first one concerns the
discovery of some basic dynamical laws that enable the emergence of the
fundamental features observed in social networks, namely the nontrivial
clustering properties, the existence of positive degree correlations and the
subdivision into communities. To reproduce all these features we describe a
simple model of mobile colliding agents, whose collisions define the
connections between the agents which are the nodes in the underlying network,
and develop some analytical considerations. The second point addresses the
particular feature of clustering and its relationship with global network
measures, namely with the distribution of the size of cycles in the network.
Since in social bipartite networks it is not possible to measure the clustering
from standard procedures, we propose an alternative clustering coefficient that
can be used to extract an improved normalized cycle distribution in any
network. Finally, the third point addresses dynamical processes occurring on
networks, namely when studying the propagation of information in them. In
particular, we focus on the particular features of gossip propagation which
impose some restrictions in the propagation rules. To this end we introduce a
quantity, the spread factor, which measures the average maximal fraction of
nearest neighbors which get in contact with the gossip, and find the striking
result that there is an optimal non-trivial number of friends for which the
spread factor is minimized, decreasing the danger of being gossiped.Comment: 16 Pages, 9 figure
Comparing community structure identification
We compare recent approaches to community structure identification in terms
of sensitivity and computational cost. The recently proposed modularity measure
is revisited and the performance of the methods as applied to ad hoc networks
with known community structure, is compared. We find that the most accurate
methods tend to be more computationally expensive, and that both aspects need
to be considered when choosing a method for practical purposes. The work is
intended as an introduction as well as a proposal for a standard benchmark test
of community detection methods.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. v2: condensed, updated version as
appears in JSTA
Role of Network Topology in the Synchronization of Power Systems
We study synchronization dynamics in networks of coupled oscillators with
bimodal distribution of natural frequencies. This setup can be interpreted as a
simple model of frequency synchronization dynamics among generators and loads
working in a power network. We derive the minimum coupling strength required to
ensure global frequency synchronization. This threshold value can be
efficiently found by solving a binary optimization problem, even for large
networks. In order to validate our procedure, we compare its results with
numerical simulations on a realistic network describing the European
interconnected high-voltage electricity system, finding a very good agreement.
Our synchronization threshold can be used to test the stability of frequency
synchronization to link removals. As the threshold value changes only in very
few cases when aplied to the European realistic network, we conclude that
network is resilient in this regard. Since the threshold calculation depends on
the local connectivity, it can also be used to identify critical network
partitions acting as synchronization bottlenecks. In our stability experiments
we observe that when a link removal triggers a change in the critical
partition, its limits tend to converge to national borders. This phenomenon,
which can have important consequences to synchronization dynamics in case of
cascading failure, signals the influence of the uncomplete topological
integration of national power grids at the European scale.Comment: The final publication is available at http://www.epj.org (see
http://www.springerlink.com/content/l22k574x25u6q61m/
On Synchronization in a Lattice Model of Pulse-Coupled Oscillators
We analyze the collective behavior of a lattice model of pulse-coupled
oscillators. By means of computer simulations we find the relation between the
intrinsic dynamics of each member of the population and their mutual
interaction that ensures, in a general context, the existence of a fully
synchronized regime. This condition turns out to be the same than the obtained
for the globally coupled population. When the condition is not completely
satisfied we find different spatial structures. This also gives some hints
about self-organized criticality.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, 1 PostScript available upon request, To appear in
Phys. Rev. Let
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