The rich-club phenomenon across complex network hierarchies

The so-called rich-club phenomenon in a complex network is characterized when nodes of higher degree (hubs) are better connected among themselves than are nodes with smaller degree. The presence of the rich-club phenomenon may be an indicator of several interesting high-level network properties, such as tolerance to hub failures. Here we investigate the existence of the rich-club phenomenon across the hierarchical degrees of a number of real-world networks. Our simulations reveal that the phenomenon may appear in some hierarchies but not in others and, moreover, that it may appear and disappear as we move across hierarchies. This reveals the interesting possibility of non-monotonic behavior of the phenomenon; the possible implications of our findings are discussed.Comment: 4 page

Expansive and collapsing behaviour of volume change soils

This thesis is designed to achieve three goals: Goal One - to introduce the reader to soils exhibiting expansive and/or collapsing behaviour; Goal Two - to provide an in depth understanding of aspects of this behaviour, obtained from an extensive study of these soil types; and, Goal Three - to serve as a reference for future research work (a recommendation for further research proposed in Chapter Ten of this thesis). The thesis is divided in two main parts. In the first part representative soil types were selected on the basis of their properties and expected engineering behaviour. The soil structure and clay minerals were also studied in part one of this thesis. The second part of the thesis deals with aspects of expansive and collapsing behaviour of soils. Chapter three provides the introduction to the subsequent chapters on expansive and collapsing behaviour of volume change soils

Broadband ac conductivity of conductor-polymer composites

The electrical conductivity of a composite model system formed by highly structured carbon black (CB) filled, within an amorphous polymer, poly(ethylene terephtalate) composite is studied. The dc conductivity as a function of CB content follows a scaling law of the type σ∝(p−pc)t yielding for the percolation concentration, pc=0.011 and for the exponent, t=2.17. The analysis of the temperature dependence of the conductivity suggests that for temperatures larger than 45 K, conduction can be ascribed to thermal fluctuation induced tunneling of the charge carriers through the insulating layer of polymer separating two CB aggregates. At lower temperatures, conductivity becomes temperature independent, which is typical of conventional tunneling. The frequency dependence of the conductivity is also studied between dc and 109 Hz. By the introduction of a shift factor ap, a procedure for the construction of a master curve based on a “time-length equivalence principle” is proposed. Finally, a model is introduced to describe the frequency dependence of the conductivity of CB-filled composites based on the behavior of charge carriers placed in a fractal object

Molecular dynamics of ferroelectric polymeric systems as studied by incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering

11 págs.; 15 figs.We have studied by incoherent quasielastic neutron scattering the molecular dynamics of the ferroelectric copolymers of vinylidene fluoride and trifluoroethylene with two different molar ratios. Thermal hysteresis effects accompanying the structural changes observed in these materials are found. In the temperature range investigated three motions were identified: (i) a vibrational motion of Debye-Waller type which shows increasing amplitude until the vicinity of the Curie temperature and then it follows a Q4 law, (ii) a slow jump diffusive motion of each chain in the restricted volume defined by other chains, thermally activated with an activation barrier of 8 kcal/mol, and (iii) a fast local diffusive motion with only some fraction of the chains concerned. © 1994 The American Physical Society.Grateful acknowledgments is due to DGICYT (Grant No. PB91-0355), to CICYT (Grant No. MAT92-148), to CICYT (Grant No. MAT94-0740E), to the Consejeria de Educacion de la Comunidad de Madrid (Grant No. 284/92) and to Fundacion Domingo Martinez (Grant No. 1992/93) for the generous support of this investigation.Peer Reviewe

Dispersión de rayos X aplicado al análisis de nanotubos de carbono, polímeros y nanocompuestos

[EN] In this review we will show that wide and small angle X-ray scattering techniques (WAXS and SAXS respectively) can be a valuable tool to characterize the structure of carbon nanotubes (CNT) and related CNT-polymer nanocomposites at different characteristic length scales. Ranging from single carbon nanotubes to aggregates of CNTs X-ray scattering may offer structural information which can be crucial in order to design new materials based on carbon nanotubes.[ES] En este trabajo de revisión mostramos que las técnicas de dispersión de rayos X a alto y bajo ángulo (WAXS y SAXS respectivamente) pueden ser una herramienta muy valiosa para caracterizar la estructura de nanotubos de carbono (CNT) y nanocompuestos CNT-polímero, en diferentes escalas de longitud. La dispersión de rayos X puede ofrecer información estructural en el rango desde nanotubos de carbono aislados, hasta agregados de CNT. Dicha información puede ser crucial de cara a diseñar materiales basados en nanotubos de carbono.The authors thank the financial support from the MCYT (grant MAT2005-01768), Spain. The help of G. Broza, Z. Roslaniec, K. Schulte, I. Sics, B. H. Hsiao, S. S. Funari in different parts of this work is gratefully acknowledge. M. C. G.-G. and A. N. are also grateful to the Ramón y Cajal Program for the support of this reserach­.Peer reviewe

Molecular dynamics of the α relaxation during crystallization of a glassy polymer: A real-time dielectric spectroscopy study

9 págs.; 12 figs.; 1 tab.The change of the α relaxation process occurring during isothermal crystallization of a glassy polymer, poly(aryl ether ketone ketone), has been followed in real time through measurement of the dielectric complex permittivity. The dielectric strength has been correlated with the degree of crystallinity derived from real time wide angle x-ray patterns using synchrotron radiation. The phenomenological Havriliak-Negami description has been used to analyze the changes of the dielectric strength, central relaxation time and shape parameters describing the relaxation, as crystallization proceeds. The evolution of the dielectric magnitudes with crystallization time has been interpreted in the light of the Schönhals-Schlosser model. According to this model, a restriction of the long scale motions of the polymeric chains as the material is filled in with crystals is observed. The derived dipole moment time correlation functions have been calculated for different crystallization times and fitted by the Kohlrausch-Williams-Watts function. The variation of the stretching parameters with crystallization time can be interpreted in terms of the coupling model assuming an increase of the intermolecular cooperativity of the α relaxation as the polymeric chains are constrained to move between crystalline regions. These results offer a contribution to the understanding of molecular dynamics of a glassy polymers during crystallization. © 1994 The American Physical Society.The authors are indebted to the CICYT (Grant No. MAT 94-0740E), Spain, for generous support of this investigation. J.M. thanks the Tempus Program (JEP 0644) for the support of his investigations.Peer Reviewe

Antithrombotic treatment in elderly patients with atrial fibrillation: A practical approach

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) in the elderly is a complex condition. It has a direct impact on the underuse of antithrombotic therapy reported in this population. Discussion: All patients aged =75years with AF have an individual yearly risk of stroke >4%. However, the risk of hemorrhage is also increased. Moreover, in this population it is common the presence of other comorbidities, cognitive disorders, risk of falls and polymedication. This may lead to an underuse of anticoagulant therapy. Direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs) are at least as effective as conventional therapy, but with lesser risk of intracranial hemorrhage. The simplification of treatment with these drugs may be an advantage in patients with cognitive impairment. The great majority of elderly patients with AF should receive anticoagulant therapy, unless an unequivocal contraindication. DOACs may be the drugs of choice in many elderly patients with AF. Summary: In this manuscript, the available evidence about the management of anticoagulation in elderly patients with AF is reviewed. In addition, specific practical recommendations about different controversial issues (i.e. patients with anemia, thrombocytopenia, risk of gastrointestinal bleeding, renal dysfunction, cognitive impairment, risk of falls, polymedication, frailty, etc.) are provided

Robotic monitoring of forests: a dataset from the EU habitat 9210* in the Tuscan Apennines (central Italy)

Effective monitoring of habitats is crucial for their preservation. As the impact of anthropic activities on natural habitats increases, accurate and up-to-date information on the state of ecosystems has become imperative. This paper presents a new dataset collected from the forests located in the Tuscan Apennines (Italy) using the ANYmal robot. The dataset provides information regarding the structure and composition of the EU priority habitat 9210*. The dataset, which is publicly available through a Zenodo repository, includes photos, videos, and point clouds of the environment. This dataset is a valuable resource for the scientific community working in the field of forest ecology and conservation and has the potential to inform future research and conservation efforts on habitat 9210*. the collaboration between robotic engineers and plant scientists provides a unique perspective on the forest ecosystem and underscores the potential for interdisciplinary work in this field. This dataset constitutes an important contribution to the ongoing effort to monitor and conserve habitats globally, particularly in light of the challenges posed by global changes