Dynamics of link states in complex networks: The case of a majority rule

Motivated by the idea that some characteristics are specific to the relations between individuals and not of the individuals themselves, we study a prototype model for the dynamics of the states of the links in a fixed network of interacting units. Each link in the network can be in one of two equivalent states. A majority link-dynamics rule is implemented, so that in each dynamical step the state of a randomly chosen link is updated to the state of the majority of neighboring links. Nodes can be characterized by a link heterogeneity index, giving a measure of the likelihood of a node to have a link in one of the two states. We consider this link-dynamics model on fully connected networks, square lattices and Erd \"os-Renyi random networks. In each case we find and characterize a number of nontrivial asymptotic configurations, as well as some of the mechanisms leading to them and the time evolution of the link heterogeneity index distribution. For a fully connected network and random networks there is a broad distribution of possible asymptotic configurations. Most asymptotic configurations that result from link-dynamics have no counterpart under traditional node dynamics in the same topologies.Comment: 9 pages, 13 figure

Geometric Hamilton-Jacobi Theory

The Hamilton-Jacobi problem is revisited bearing in mind the consequences arising from a possible bi-Hamiltonian structure. The problem is formulated on the tangent bundle for Lagrangian systems in order to avoid the bias of the existence of a natural symplectic structure on the cotangent bundle. First it is developed for systems described by regular Lagrangians and then extended to systems described by singular Lagrangians with no secondary constraints. We also consider the example of the free relativistic particle, the rigid body and the electron-monopole system.Comment: 40 page

Geometric Hamilton-Jacobi Theory for Nonholonomic Dynamical Systems

The geometric formulation of Hamilton--Jacobi theory for systems with nonholonomic constraints is developed, following the ideas of the authors in previous papers. The relation between the solutions of the Hamilton--Jacobi problem with the symplectic structure defined from the Lagrangian function and the constraints is studied. The concept of complete solutions and their relationship with constants of motion, are also studied in detail. Local expressions using quasivelocities are provided. As an example, the nonholonomic free particle is considered.Comment: 22 p

Efficient formalism for large scale ab initio molecular dynamics based on time-dependent density functional theory

A new "on the fly" method to perform Born-Oppenheimer ab initio molecular dynamics (AIMD) is presented. Inspired by Ehrenfest dynamics in time-dependent density functional theory, the electronic orbitals are evolved by a Schroedinger-like equation, where the orbital time derivative is multiplied by a parameter. This parameter controls the time scale of the fictitious electronic motion and speeds up the calculations with respect to standard Ehrenfest dynamics. In contrast to other methods, wave function orthogonality needs not be imposed as it is automatically preserved, which is of paramount relevance for large scale AIMD simulations.Comment: 5 pages, 3 color figures, revtex4 packag

Modelos no lineales de previsión para series temporales de interés farmacéutico. Aplicación al caso de la escarlatina

En este trabajo se presentan los resultados obtenidos tras el ajuste de un modelo no lineal y un modelo robusto de predicción a la serie temporal correspondiente a la incidencia de la escarlatina en Catalunya desde el año 2000 hasta mediados del 2005, según los datos publicados en el Butlletí Epidemiològic de Catalunya (BEC) por el Departament de Salut de la Generalitat de Catalunya.El ajuste se ha realizado tanto por mínimos cuadrados como mediante el método de la mínima mediana de residuales. Los intervalos de confianza, dada la no normalidad de las residuales, se han estimado mediante la técnica del bootstrap. El modelo se ha validado comparando las predicciones realizadas para las últimas 47 semanas frente a los casos declarados en el BEC. Salvo episodios de incidencia aguda, las previsiones resultan aceptables.El modelo sinusoidal ajustado muestra una tendenciacon un periodo de 52 semanas, una incidencia máximahacia la segunda quincena de marzo y una mínima incidenciasobre la segunda quincena de septiembre. Lospuntos de inflexión se sitúan, aproximadamente, coincidiendocon los solsticios de verano e invierno

Gauge transformations for higher-order lagrangians

Noether's symmetry transformations for higher-order lagrangians are studied. A characterization of these transformations is presented, which is useful to find gauge transformations for higher-order singular lagrangians. The case of second-order lagrangians is studied in detail. Some examples that illustrate our results are given; in particular, for the lagrangian of a relativistic particle with curvature, lagrangian gauge transformations are obtained, though there are no hamiltonian gauge generators for them.Comment: 22 pages, LaTe

The long egress of GJ~436b's giant exosphere

The M dwarf GJ 436 hosts a transiting warm Neptune known to experience atmospheric escape. Previous observations revealed the presence of a giant hydrogen exosphere transiting the star for more than 5 h, and absorbing up to 56% of the flux in the blue wing of the stellar Lyman-{\alpha} line of neutral hydrogen (H i Ly{\alpha}). The unexpected size of this comet-like exosphere prevented observing the full transit of its tail. In this Letter, we present new Ly{\alpha} observations of GJ 436 obtained with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) instrument onboard the Hubble Space Telescope. The stability of the Ly{\alpha} line over six years allowed us to combine these new observations with archival data sets, substantially expanding the coverage of the exospheric transit. Hydrogen atoms in the tail of the exospheric cloud keep occulting the star for 10-25 h after the transit of the planet, remarkably confirming a previous prediction based on 3D numerical simulations with the EVaporating Exoplanet code (EVE). This result strengthens the interpretation that the exosphere of GJ 436b is shaped by both radiative braking and charge exchanges with the stellar wind. We further report flux decreases of 15 +/- 2% and 47 +/- 10% in the red wing of the Ly{\alpha} line and in the line of ionised silicon (Si iii). Despite some temporal variability possibly linked with stellar activity, these two signals occur during the exospheric transit and could be of planetary origin. Follow-up observations will be required to assess the possibility that the redshifted Ly{\alpha} and Si iii absorption signatures arise from interactions between the exospheric flow and the magnetic field of the star.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, published in A&

Urinary Exosomes Contain MicroRNAs Capable of Paracrine Modulation of Tubular Transporters in Kidney

Exosomes derived from all nephron segments are present in human urine, where their functionality is incompletely understood. Most studies have focused on biomarker discovery rather than exosome function. Through sequencing we identified the miRNA repertoire of urinary exosomes from healthy volunteers; 276 mature miRNAs and 345 pre-miRNAs were identified (43%/7% of reads). Among the most abundant were members of the miR-10, miR-30 and let-7 families. Targets for the identified miRNAs were predicted using five different databases; genes encoding membrane transporters and their regulators were enriched, highlighting the possibility that these miRNAs could modulate key renal tubular functions in a paracrine manner. As proof of concept, cultured renal epithelial cells were exposed to urinary exosomes and cellular exosomal uptake was confirmed; thereafter, reduced levels of the potassium channel ROMK and kinases SGK1 and WNK1 were observed in a human collecting duct cell line, while SPAK was unaltered. In proximal tubular cells, mRNA levels of the amino acid transporter gene SLC38A2 were diminished and reflected in a significant decrement of its encoded protein SNAT2. Protein levels of the kinase SGK1 did not change. Thus we demonstrated a novel potential function for miRNA in urinary exosomes.This work was supported by the Wellcome Trust (grant 088489/Z/09/Z to FEKF and Strategic award 100140/Z/12/Z to the Cambridge Institute for Medical Research). The sequencing facility is supported by the Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre

Covariant quantization of infinite spin particle models, and higher order gauge theories

Further properties of a recently proposed higher order infinite spin particle model are derived. Infinitely many classically equivalent but different Hamiltonian formulations are shown to exist. This leads to a condition of uniqueness in the quantization process. A consistent covariant quantization is shown to exist. Also a recently proposed supersymmetric version for half-odd integer spins is quantized. A general algorithm to derive gauge invariances of higher order Lagrangians is given and applied to the infinite spin particle model, and to a new higher order model for a spinning particle which is proposed here, as well as to a previously given higher order rigid particle model. The latter two models are also covariantly quantized.Comment: 38 pages, Late