1,765 research outputs found
Compelled to do the right thing
We use a model of opinion formation to study the consequences of some
mechanisms attempting to enforce the right behaviour in a society. We start
from a model where the possible choices are not equivalent (such is the case
when the agents decide to comply or not with a law) and where an imitation
mechanism allow the agents to change their behaviour based on the influence of
a group of partners. In addition, we consider the existence of two social
constraints: a) an external authority, called monitor, that imposes the correct
behaviour with infinite persuasion and b) an educated group of agents that act
upon their fellows but never change their own opinion, i.e., they exhibit
infinite adamancy. We determine the minimum number of monitors to induce an
effective change in the behaviour of the social group, and the size of the
educated group that produces the same effect. Also, we compare the results for
the cases of random social interactions and agents placed on a network. We have
verified that a small number of monitors are enough to change the behaviour of
the society. This also happens with a relatively small educated group in the
case of random interactions.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, submitted to EPJ
The dynamics of opinion in hierarchical organizations
We study the mutual influence of authority and persuasion in the flow of
opinion. Many social organizations are characterized by a hierarchical
structure where the propagation of opinion is asymmetric. In the normal flow of
opinion formation a high-rank agent uses its authority (or its persuasion when
necessary) to impose its opinion on others. However, agents with no authority
may only use the force of its persuasion to propagate their opinions. In this
contribution we describe a simple model with no social mobility, where each
agent belongs to a class in the hierarchy and has also a persuasion capability.
The model is studied numerically for a three levels case, and analytically
within a mean field approximation, with a very good agreement between the two
approaches. The stratum where the dominant opinion arises from is strongly
dependent on the percentage of agents in each hierarchy level, and we obtain a
phase diagram identifying the relative frequency of prevailing opinions. We
also find that the time evolution of the conflicting opinions polarizes after a
short transient.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Initial Vortex Densities after a Temperature Quench
We calculate the initial density of relativistic global vortices (strings)
produced at a quench and contrast it with the predictions of Kibble and Zurek.Comment: Latex file, 8 pages, No figures. The text contains minor changes that
elucidate the onset of classical behaviour more thoroughly. Also including
the word temperature in the title makes the nature of the transition more
explici
Barotropic thin shells with linear EOS as models of stars and circumstellar shells in general relativity
The spherically symmetric thin shells of the barotropic fluids with the
linear equation of state are considered within the frameworks of general
relativity. We study several aspects of the shells as completely relativistic
models of stars, first of all the neutron stars and white dwarfs, and
circumstellar shells. The exact equations of motion of the shells are obtained.
Also we calculate the parameters of the equilibrium configurations, including
the radii of static shells. Finally, we study the stability of the equilibrium
shells against radial perturbations.Comment: final version; ps-version of figure is available by email request to
[email protected]
Universality Classes of Diagonal Quantum Spin Ladders
We find the classification of diagonal spin ladders depending on a
characteristic integer in terms of ferrimagnetic, gapped and critical
phases. We use the finite algorithm DMRG, non-linear sigma model and
bosonization techniques to prove our results. We find stoichiometric contents
in cuprate planes that allow for the existence of weakly interacting
diagonal ladders.Comment: REVTEX4 file, 3 color figures, 1 tabl
Resistance to eyespot (Pseudocercosporella herpotricoides) and distribution of biochemical markers in hexaploid lines derived from double cross (Triticum turgidum x Aegilops ventricosa) x T. aestivum
There are not good intraspecific sources of resistance to the eyespot disea se of wheat, aaused by Cercosporella herpotrichoides Fvon . The -Ănterspecifia transfer of genes for resistanoe from Aegitops ventricosa into hexaploid wheat has been only partially achieved, because the degree of resistanoe attained is not as high as that of the donor. We report here on the transfer of resistanoe in a double oross (Triticum turgidum var. rubroatrwv H-1-1 x Ae.ventricosa AP-D x T.aestivum cv. Almatense H-10-15. The high level of resistanoe in a high proportion of the lines strongly suggests a simple genetic control for this oharacter (possibly by one major gene). The gene(s) responsible for resistanoe in the selected lines must be associa ted with the D genome of Aegilops ventricosa on the basis of a detailed study of the distribution of biochemioal markers in the H-93 lines. These results do not exelude that genes with similar effeets might be looated in the M° genome
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