Multidimensional Consensus model on a Barabasi-Albert network

A Consensus Model according to Deffuant on a directed Barabasi-Albert network was simulated. Agents have opinions on different subjects. A multi-component subject vector was used. The opinions are discrete. The analysis regards distribution and clusters of agents which are on agreement in the opinions of the subjects. Remarkable results are on the one hand, that there mostly exists no absolute consens. It determines depending on the ratio of number of agents to the number of subjects, whether the communication ends in a consens or a pluralism. Mostly a second robust cluster remains, in its size depending on the number of subjects. Two agents agree either in (nearly) all or (nearly) no subject. The operative parameter of the consens-formating-process is the tolerance in change of views of the group-members.Comment: 14 pages including all 10 figures, for IJMPC 16, issue

Focusing of opinions in the Deffuant model: First impression counts

The paper treats opinion dynamics of an unequal distribution as the initial opinion distribution. Simulated is the Deffuant model on a directed Barabasi-Albert network with discrete opinions and several subjects. Noticed is a focusing of the the resulting opinion distribution during the simulation towards the average value of the initial opinion distribution. A small change of the focusing is seen. A dependency of this change on the number of subjects and opinions is detected and indicates the change as a consequence of discretization the opinions. Hereby the average value of the initial opinion distribution can be identified as the guide of opinion forming.Comment: 8 pages including 5 figures, for Int. J. Mod. Phys.

Continuous opinion model in small world directed networks

In the compromise model of continuous opinions proposed by Deffuant et al, the states of two agents in a network can start to converge if they are neighbors and if their opinions are sufficiently close to each other, below a given threshold of tolerance $\epsilon$. In directed networks, if agent i is a neighbor of agent j, j need not be a neighbor of i. In Watts-Strogatz networks we performed simulations to find the averaged number of final opinions and their distribution as a function of $\epsilon$ and of the network structural disorder. In directed networks exhibits a rich structure, being larger than in undirected networks for higher values of $\epsilon$, and smaller for lower values of $\epsilon$.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure

A Biased Review of Sociophysics

Various aspects of recent sociophysics research are shortly reviewed: Schelling model as an example for lack of interdisciplinary cooperation, opinion dynamics, combat, and citation statistics as an example for strong interdisciplinarity.Comment: 16 pages for J. Stat. Phys. including 2 figures and numerous reference

Circadian expression of the clock gene Per2 is altered in the ruin lizard (Podarcis sicula) when temperature changes

When exposed to the cold, the body temperature of the ruin lizard (Podarcis sicula), an ectothermic vertebrate, comes into equilibrium with that low environmental temperature. During this time, the behavioral output of the circadian clock, locomotor activity, disappears. We tested the activity of the circadian clockwork at low temperature (6 °C) by following the expression of one of its essential components, the Period2 (Per2) gene. Here we show that lizard Per2 (lPer2) expression, which is rhythmic and paralleling the behavioral rhythm of locomotor activity at higher temperature (29 °C), becomes constantly high at low temperature. When lizards are re-exposed to high temperature, rhythmic lPer2 expression is re-established after 2 days of adaptation and coincides with onset of locomotor activity. The alteration of the lPer2 expression pattern at low temperature indicates that the activity of the molecular feedback loop is modified under these conditions

Process for producing rigid polyurethane foams

A process for producing rigid polyurethane foams by reacting a) organic polyisocyanates with b) compounds having at least two hydrogen atoms which are reactive toward isocyanate groups in the presence of c) blowing agents, d) catalysts and optionally, e) auxiliaries and additives, wherein a mixture of bl) from 20 to 60 parts by weight of one or more high-functionality polyether alcohols having functionalities of from 3.5 to 5.5 and a hydroxyl number of from 400 to 550 mg KOH/g, b2) from 5 to 25 parts by weight of one or more polyether alcohols based on aromatic and/or aliphatic amines and having functionalities of from 3.5 to 4.5 and a hydroxyl number of from 350 to 500 mg KOH/g, b3) from 5 to 25 parts by weight of one or more polyether alcohols having functionalities of from 2 to 4 and a hydroxyl number of from 150 to 450 mg KOH/g b4) from I to 15 parts by weight of one or more low molecular weight chain extenders and/or crosslinkers having functionalities of from 2 to 3 and a molecular weight Mw of< 400 g/mol and optionally b5) from I to 5 parts by weight of water is used as polyol component b). The polyol component b) of the invention has good storage stability and the rigid polyurethane foams obtained have a good surface quality and adhesion