Network analysis of online bidding activity

With the advent of digital media, people are increasingly resorting to online channels for commercial transactions. Online auction is a prototypical example. In such online transactions, the pattern of bidding activity is more complex than traditional online transactions; this is because the number of bidders participating in a given transaction is not bounded and the bidders can also easily respond to the bidding instantaneously. By using the recently developed network theory, we study the interaction patterns between bidders (items) who (that) are connected when they bid for the same item (if the item is bid by the same bidder). The resulting network is analyzed by using the hierarchical clustering algorithm, which is used for clustering analysis for expression data from DNA microarrays. A dendrogram is constructed for the item subcategories; this dendrogram is compared with a traditional classification scheme. The implication of the difference between the two is discussed.Comment: 8 pages and 11 figure

Scale-free random branching tree in supercritical phase

We study the size and the lifetime distributions of scale-free random branching tree in which $k$ branches are generated from a node at each time step with probability $q_k\sim k^{-\gamma}$. In particular, we focus on finite-size trees in a supercritical phase, where the mean branching number $C=\sum_k k q_k$ is larger than 1. The tree-size distribution $p(s)$ exhibits a crossover behavior when $2 < \gamma < 3$; A characteristic tree size $s_c$ exists such that for $s \ll s_c$, $p(s)\sim s^{-\gamma/(\gamma-1)}$ and for $s \gg s_c$, $p(s)\sim s^{-3/2}\exp(-s/s_c)$, where $s_c$ scales as $\sim (C-1)^{-(\gamma-1)/(\gamma-2)}$. For $\gamma > 3$, it follows the conventional mean-field solution, $p(s)\sim s^{-3/2}\exp(-s/s_c)$ with $s_c\sim (C-1)^{-2}$. The lifetime distribution is also derived. It behaves as $\ell(t)\sim t^{-(\gamma-1)/(\gamma-2)}$ for $2 < \gamma < 3$, and $\sim t^{-2}$ for $\gamma > 3$ when branching step $t \ll t_c \sim (C-1)^{-1}$, and $\ell(t)\sim \exp(-t/t_c)$ for all $\gamma > 2$ when $t \gg t_c$. The analytic solutions are corroborated by numerical results.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

Synchronization transition of heterogeneously coupled oscillators on scale-free networks

We investigate the synchronization transition of the modified Kuramoto model where the oscillators form a scale-free network with degree exponent $\lambda$. An oscillator of degree $k_i$ is coupled to its neighboring oscillators with asymmetric and degree-dependent coupling in the form of \couplingcoeff k_i^{\eta-1}. By invoking the mean-field approach, we determine the synchronization transition point $J_c$, which is zero (finite) when $\eta > \lambda-2$ ($\eta < \lambda-2$). We find eight different synchronization transition behaviors depending on the values of $\eta$ and $\lambda$, and derive the critical exponents associated with the order parameter and the finite-size scaling in each case. The synchronization transition is also studied from the perspective of cluster formation of synchronized vertices. The cluster-size distribution and the largest cluster size as a function of the system size are derived for each case using the generating function technique. Our analytic results are confirmed by numerical simulations.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures and two table

Nonlocal evolution of weighted scale-free networks

We introduce the notion of globally updating evolution for a class of weighted networks, in which the weight of a link is characterized by the amount of data packet transport flowing through it. By noting that the packet transport over the network is determined nonlocally, this approach can explain the generic nonlinear scaling between the strength and the degree of a node. We demonstrate by a simple model that the strength-driven evolution scheme recently introduced can be generalized to a nonlinear preferential attachment rule, generating the power-law behaviors in degree and in strength simultaneously.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, final version published in PR

Modular synchronization in complex networks with a gauge Kuramoto model

We modify the Kuramoto model for synchronization on complex networks by introducing a gauge term that depends on the edge betweenness centrality (BC). The gauge term introduces additional phase difference between two vertices from 0 to $\pi$ as the BC on the edge between them increases from the minimum to the maximum in the network. When the network has a modular structure, the model generates the phase synchronization within each module, however, not over the entire system. Based on this feature, we can distinguish modules in complex networks, with relatively little computational time of $\mathcal{O}(NL)$, where $N$ and $L$ are the number of vertices and edges in the system, respectively. We also examine the synchronization of the modified Kuramoto model and compare it with that of the original Kuramoto model in several complex networks.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figure

Surface versus bulk characterization of the electronic inhomogeneity in a VO_{2} film

We investigated the inhomogeneous electronic properties at the surface and interior of VO_{2} thin films that exhibit a strong first-order metal-insulator transition (MIT). Using the crystal structural change that accompanies a VO_{2} MIT, we used bulk-sensitive X-ray diffraction (XRD) measurements to estimate the fraction of metallic volume p^{XRD} in our VO_{2} film. The temperature dependence of the p$^{XRD}$ was very closely correlated with the dc conductivity near the MIT temperature, and fit the percolation theory predictions quite well: $\sigma$ $\sim$ (p - p_{c})^{t} with t = 2.0$\pm$0.1 and p_{c} = 0.16$\pm$0.01. This agreement demonstrates that in our VO$_{2}$ thin film, the MIT should occur during the percolation process. We also used surface-sensitive scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) to investigate the microscopic evolution of the MIT near the surface. Similar to the XRD results, STS maps revealed a systematic decrease in the metallic phase as temperature decreased. However, this rate of change was much slower than the rate observed with XRD, indicating that the electronic inhomogeneity near the surface differs greatly from that inside the film. We investigated several possible origins of this discrepancy, and postulated that the variety in the strain states near the surface plays an important role in the broad MIT observed using STS. We also explored the possible involvement of such strain effects in other correlated electron oxide systems with strong electron-lattice interactions.Comment: 27 pages and 7 figure

Dynamics of Multi-Player Games

We analyze the dynamics of competitions with a large number of players. In our model, n players compete against each other and the winner is decided based on the standings: in each competition, the mth ranked player wins. We solve for the long time limit of the distribution of the number of wins for all n and m and find three different scenarios. When the best player wins, the standings are most competitive as there is one-tier with a clear differentiation between strong and weak players. When an intermediate player wins, the standings are two-tier with equally-strong players in the top tier and clearly-separated players in the lower tier. When the worst player wins, the standings are least competitive as there is one tier in which all of the players are equal. This behavior is understood via scaling analysis of the nonlinear evolution equations.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figure

Instantonic approach to triple well potential

By using a usual instanton method we obtain the energy splitting due to quantum tunneling through the triple well barrier. It is shown that the term related to the midpoint of the energy splitting in propagator is quite different from that of double well case, in that it is proportional to the algebraic average of the frequencies of the left and central wells.Comment: Revtex, 11 pages, Included one eps figur

Fracture in Three-Dimensional Fuse Networks

We report on large scale numerical simulations of fracture surfaces using random fuse networks for two very different disorders. There are some properties and exponents that are different for the two distributions, but others, notably the roughness exponents, seem universal. For the universal roughness exponent we found a value of zeta = 0.62 +/- 0.05. In contrast to what is observed in two dimensions, this value is lower than that reported in experimental studies of brittle fractures, and rules out the minimal energy surface exponent, 0.41 +/- 0.01.Comment: 4 pages, RevTeX, 5 figures, Postscrip