1,093 research outputs found
Evolutionary Dilemmas in a Social Network
We simulate the prisoner's dilemma and hawk-dove games on a real social
acquaintance network. Using a discrete analogue of replicator dynamics, we show
that surprisingly high levels of cooperation can be achieved, contrary to what
happens in unstructured mixing populations. Moreover, we empirically show that
cooperation in this network is stable with respect to invasion by defectors.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures; to be published in Lecture Notes in Computer
Science 200
Degree Correlations in Random Geometric Graphs
Spatially embedded networks are important in several disciplines. The
prototypical spatial net- work we assume is the Random Geometric Graph of which
many properties are known. Here we present new results for the two-point degree
correlation function in terms of the clustering coefficient of the graphs for
two-dimensional space in particular, with extensions to arbitrary finite
dimension
Negative ion Time Projection Chamber operation with SF at nearly atmospheric pressure
We present measurements of drift velocities and mobilities of some innovative
negative ion gas mixtures at nearly atmospheric pressure based on SF as
electronegative capture agent and of pure SF at various pressures,
performed with the NITEC detector. NITEC is a Time Projection Chamber with 5 cm
drift distance readout by a GEMPix, a triple thin GEMs coupled to a
Quad-Timepix chip, directly sensitive to the deposited charge on each of the 55
55 m pixel. Our results contribute to expanding the knowledge
on the innovative use of SF as negative ion gas and extend to triple thin
GEMs the possibility of negative ion operation for the first time. Above all,
our findings show the feasibility of negative ion operation with
He:CF:SF at 610 Torr, opening extremely interesting possibility for
next generation directional Dark Matter detectors at 1 bar
Parametric uncertainty effects on aerosol radiative forcing
Among the known radiative forcings, the fourth IPCC assessment report estimates the aerosol radiative forcing to harbor the widest range of uncertainty extending from -1.8 to -0.3 W/m(2). The IPCC estimates focus mainly on structural uncertainties, including uncertainties in aerosol sources. Here, we study the uncertainty of the sulfate aerosol radiative forcing due to parametric uncertainty in a state-of-the-art general circulation model (GCM). Numerical experiments were carried out by perturbing seven cloud parameters in the model. We find that the uncertainty due to a single one of these parameters can be as large as 0.5 W/m(2), and the uncertainty due to combinations of these parameters can reach more than 1 W/m(2). These numbers should be compared with the sulfate aerosol forcing of -1.9 W/m(2) for the year 2000, obtained using the default values of the parameters. The uncertainty results from a high sensitivity of cloud optical properties to aerosol concentrations, which can be amplified by changing cloud parameter setting
Nature-Inspired Interconnects for Self-Assembled Large-Scale Network-on-Chip Designs
Future nano-scale electronics built up from an Avogadro number of components
needs efficient, highly scalable, and robust means of communication in order to
be competitive with traditional silicon approaches. In recent years, the
Networks-on-Chip (NoC) paradigm emerged as a promising solution to interconnect
challenges in silicon-based electronics. Current NoC architectures are either
highly regular or fully customized, both of which represent implausible
assumptions for emerging bottom-up self-assembled molecular electronics that
are generally assumed to have a high degree of irregularity and imperfection.
Here, we pragmatically and experimentally investigate important design
trade-offs and properties of an irregular, abstract, yet physically plausible
3D small-world interconnect fabric that is inspired by modern network-on-chip
paradigms. We vary the framework's key parameters, such as the connectivity,
the number of switch nodes, the distribution of long- versus short-range
connections, and measure the network's relevant communication characteristics.
We further explore the robustness against link failures and the ability and
efficiency to solve a simple toy problem, the synchronization task. The results
confirm that (1) computation in irregular assemblies is a promising and
disruptive computing paradigm for self-assembled nano-scale electronics and (2)
that 3D small-world interconnect fabrics with a power-law decaying distribution
of shortcut lengths are physically plausible and have major advantages over
local 2D and 3D regular topologies
Network Automata: Coupling structure and function in real-world networks
We introduce Network Automata, a framework which couples the topological
evolution of a network to its structure. It is useful for dealing with networks
in which the topology evolves according to some specified microscopic rules
and, simultaneously, there is a dynamic process taking place on the network
that both depends on its structure but is also capable of modifying it. It is a
generic framework for modeling systems in which network structure, dynamics,
and function are interrelated. At the practical level, this framework allows
for easy implementation of the microscopic rules involved in such systems. To
demonstrate the approach, we develop a class of simple biologically inspired
models of fungal growth.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures, 1 tables. Revised content - surplus text and
figures remove
The gustin (CA6) gene polymorphism, rs2274333 (A/G), as a mechanistic link between PROP tasting and fungiform taste papilla density and maintenance
Taste sensitivity to PROP varies greatly among individuals and is associated with polymorphisms in the bitter receptor gene TAS2R38, and with differences in fungiform papilla density on the anterior tongue surface. Recently we showed that the PROP non-taster phenotype is strongly associated with the G variant of polymorphism rs2274333 (A/G) of the gene that controls the salivary trophic factor, gustin. The aims of this study were 1) to investigate the role of gustin gene polymorphism rs2274333 (A/G), in PROP sensitivity and fungiform papilla density and morphology, and 2) to investigate the effect of this gustin gene polymorphism on cell proliferation and metabolic activity. Sixty-four subjects were genotyped for both genes by PCR techniques, their PROP sensitivity was assessed by scaling and threshold methods, and their fungiform papilla density, diameter and morphology were determined. In vitro experiments examined cell proliferation and metabolic activity, following treatment with saliva of individuals with and without the gustin gene mutation, and with isolated protein, in the two iso-forms. Gustin and TAS2R38 genotypes were associated with PROP threshold (p=0.0001 and p=0.0042), but bitterness intensity was mostly determined by TAS2R38 genotypes (p<0.000001). Fungiform papillae densities were associated with both genotypes (p<0.014) (with a stronger effect for gustin; p=0.0006), but papilla morphology was a function of gustin alone (p<0.0012). Treatment of isolated cells with saliva from individuals with the AA form of gustin or direct application of the active iso-form of gustin protein increased cell proliferation and metabolic activity (p<0.0135). These novel findings suggest that the rs2274333 polymorphism of the gustin gene affects PROP sensitivity by acting on fungiform papilla development and maintenance, and could provide the first mechanistic explanation for why PROP super-tasters are more responsive to a broad range of oral stimul
Cu(In,Ga)Se2 absorber thinning and the homo-interface model: Influence of Mo back contact and 3-stage process on device characteristics
Thinning the absorber layer is one of the possibilities envisaged to further decrease the production costs of Cu(In,Ga)Se2 (CIGSe) thin films solar cell technology. In the present study, the electronic transport in submicron CIGSe-based devices has been investigated and compared to that of standard devices. It is observed that when the absorber is around 0.5 μm-thick, tunnelling enhanced interface recombination dominates, which harms cells energy conversion efficiency. It is also shown that by varying either the properties of the Mo back contact or the characteristics of 3-stage growth processing, one can shift the dominating recombination mechanism from interface to space charge region and thereby improve the cells efficiency. Discussions on these experimental facts led to the conclusions that 3-stage process implies the formation of a CIGSe/CIGSe homo-interface, whose location as well as properties rule the device operation; its influence is enhanced in submicron CIGSe based solar cells
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