What are the Best Hierarchical Descriptors for Complex Networks?

This work reviews several hierarchical measurements of the topology of complex networks and then applies feature selection concepts and methods in order to quantify the relative importance of each measurement with respect to the discrimination between four representative theoretical network models, namely Erd\"{o}s-R\'enyi, Barab\'asi-Albert, Watts-Strogatz as well as a geographical type of network. The obtained results confirmed that the four models can be well-separated by using a combination of measurements. In addition, the relative contribution of each considered feature for the overall discrimination of the models was quantified in terms of the respective weights in the canonical projection into two dimensions, with the traditional clustering coefficient, hierarchical clustering coefficient and neighborhood clustering coefficient resulting particularly effective. Interestingly, the average shortest path length and hierarchical node degrees contributed little for the separation of the four network models.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Quantum Theory Of Atoms In Molecules/charge-charge Flux-dipole Flux Models For Fundamental Vibrational Intensity Changes On H-bond Formation Of Water And Hydrogen Fluoride.

The Quantum Theory of Atoms In Molecules/Charge-Charge Flux-Dipole Flux (QTAIM/CCFDF) model has been used to investigate the electronic structure variations associated with intensity changes on dimerization for the vibrations of the water and hydrogen fluoride dimers as well as in the water-hydrogen fluoride complex. QCISD/cc-pVTZ wave functions applied in the QTAIM/CCFDF model accurately provide the fundamental band intensities of water and its dimer predicting symmetric and antisymmetric stretching intensity increases for the donor unit of 159 and 47 km mol(-1) on H-bond formation compared with the experimental values of 141 and 53 km mol(-1). The symmetric stretching of the proton donor water in the dimer has intensity contributions parallel and perpendicular to its C2v axis. The largest calculated increase of 107 km mol(-1) is perpendicular to this axis and owes to equilibrium atomic charge displacements on vibration. Charge flux decreases occurring parallel and perpendicular to this axis result in 42 and 40 km mol(-1) total intensity increases for the symmetric and antisymmetric stretches, respectively. These decreases in charge flux result in intensity enhancements because of the interaction contributions to the intensities between charge flux and the other quantities. Even though dipole flux contributions are much smaller than the charge and charge flux ones in both monomer and dimer water they are important for calculating the total intensity values for their stretching vibrations since the charge-charge flux interaction term cancels the charge and charge flux contributions. The QTAIM/CCFDF hydrogen-bonded stretching intensity strengthening of 321 km mol(-1) on HF dimerization and 592 km mol(-1) on HF:H2O complexation can essentially be explained by charge, charge flux and their interaction cross term. Atomic contributions to the intensities are also calculated. The bridge hydrogen atomic contributions alone explain 145, 237, and 574 km mol(-1) of the H-bond stretching intensity enhancements for the water and HF dimers and their heterodimer compared with total increments of 149, 321, and 592 km mol(-1), respectively.14008430

Invasive alien species in Macaronesia

"[…]. As a consequence of all the geographic conditions and of historical events, the Canaries show the richest biodiversity. As an example, regarding endemic taxa, the Canaries have 524 vascular plants and 2768 arthropods (Martín Esquivel et al. 2005) while the Azores have 72 and 267, respectively (Borges et al. 2005) and the archipelagos of Madeira and Selvagens altogether have 154 and 979 (Borges et al. 2008a) respectively. It is well known that there are several plant genera in the Canaries with high numbers of species (Aeonium, Echium, Argyranthemum, Sonchus, etc.), which probably resulted from adaptive radiation, while in the Azores endemic plant species are found at a rate of one, and more rarely two or three species per genus. An intermediate situation is found in Madeira where genera Argyranthemum (Asteraceae) and Sinapidendron (Brassicaceae) show six endemic taxa (Jardim & Sequeira 2008). There are also other significant differences among the archipelagos. For instance, regarding vertebrate taxa, in the Azores there are no native species of reptiles and there are only two native mammal species, two bats, one of which endemic (Nyctalus azoreum), while there are several species in those groups both in the Canaries and in Madeira, namely the small lizard from Madeira (Teira dugesii, with four subspecies) or the giant lizards from La Gomera (Gallotia bravoana), El Hierro (G. simonyi), Tenerife (G. intermedia) and Gran Canaria (G. stehlini), among others. Thus, although there are similarities among the different regions, important geographic differences dictated that the native flora and fauna would show striking differences among the archipelagos. This is of considerable importance in order to understand what happened in each region, regarding the introduction of alien species. For instance, it is usually accepted that several species of Mediterranean distribution are considered as native in Madeira or in the Canaries, while the same species are considered as alien in the Azores.

Um modelo de crescimento de Paleosuchus trigonatus (Crocodylia: Alligatoridae) do Rio Negro prevê o crescimento de indivíduos do rio Xingu, Brasil

Patterns of growth of crocodilians vary geographically within the same species, so models developed in one area may not predict size-age relationships in others. We used recapture data for three females and six males of Paleosuchus trigonatus from the Belo Monte hydroelectric dam area on the Xingu River to validate a growth model developed on a tributary of the Rio Negro. Individuals were recaptured between two and 10 years after marking (2012–2022). The data indicate that the monomolecular (von Bertalanffy by length) model is adequate to model growth of intermediate size animals. Recapture of one female after eight years indicates that the Rio Negro model can be used to model growth with accuracy for individuals from the Xingu River.Os padrões de crescimento dos crocodilianos variam geograficamente dentro da mesma espécie, de modo que os modelos desenvolvidos em uma área não preveem relações tamanho-idade em outras. Usamos dados de recaptura de três fêmeas e seis machos de Paleosuchus trigonatus da área da hidrelétrica de Belo Monte no rio Xingu para validar um modelo de crescimento desenvolvido em um afluente do rio Negro. Os jacarés foram recapturados entre dois e dez anos após a marcação (2012–2022). Os dados indicam que o modelo monomolecular (von Bertalanffy por comprimento) é adequado para modelar o crescimento de animais de tamanho intermediário, e a recaptura de uma fêmea após oito anos indica que o modelo Rio Negro pode ser usado para modelar o crescimento com razoável precisão para indivíduos do Rio Xingu

Does the combination of resistance training and stretching increase cardiac overload?

OBJECTIVES: To compare the effects of combinations of resistance training (RT) and static stretching (SS) on heart rate (HR), systolic pressure (SBP), diastolic pressure (DBP), rate pressure product (RPP), oxygen saturation (SpO2), rating of perceived effort (RPE), and heart rate variability (HRV) in men. METHODS: Twelve normotensive healthy men participated in four protocols: a) SS+RT, b) RT+SS, c) RT, and d) SS. Variables were measured before, immediately after, and 15, 30, and 45 min after the sessions. RESULTS: The combination of SS and RT increased (po0.001) HR when compared to the effects of the noncombined protocols (from 2.38 to 11.02%), and this result indicated metabolic compensation. Regarding DBP, there were differences (po0.001) between the RT and SS groups (53.93±8.59 vs. 67.00±7.01 mmHg). SS has been shown to be able to reduce (po0.001) SpO2 (4.67%) due to the occlusion caused by a reduction in the caliber of the blood vessels during SS compared to during rest. The increase in RPP (6.88% between RT and SS+RT) along with the HR results indicated higher metabolic stress than that reflected by the RPE (combined protocols increased RPE from 21.63 to 43.25%). The HRV analysis confirmed these results, showing increases (po0.01) in the LF index between the combined and noncombined protocols. Compared to the effect of RT, the combination of SS and RT promoted a vagal suppression root mean square of the successive differences (RMSSD) index (from 9.51 to 21.52%) between the RT and SS+RT groups (po0.01) and between the RT and RT+SS groups (po0.001). CONCLUSION: Static stretching increases cardiac overload and RPE, reducing oxygen supply, especially when performed in combination with RT

A combined approach for comparative exoproteome analysis of Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis

Background: Bacterial exported proteins represent key components of the host-pathogen interplay. Hence, we sought to implement a combined approach for characterizing the entire exoproteome of the pathogenic bacterium Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis, the etiological agent of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) in sheep and goats. Results: An optimized protocol of three-phase partitioning (TPP) was used to obtain the C. pseudotuberculosis exoproteins, and a newly introduced method of data-independent MS acquisition (LC-MSE) was employed for protein identification and label-free quantification. Additionally, the recently developed tool SurfG+ was used for in silico prediction of sub-cellular localization of the identified proteins. In total, 93 different extracellular proteins of C. pseudotuberculosis were identified with high confidence by this strategy; 44 proteins were commonly identified in two different strains, isolated from distinct hosts, then composing a core C. pseudotuberculosis exoproteome. Analysis with the SurfG+ tool showed that more than 75% (70/93) of the identified proteins could be predicted as containing signals for active exportation. Moreover, evidence could be found for probable non-classical export of most of the remaining proteins. Conclusions: Comparative analyses of the exoproteomes of two C. pseudotuberculosis strains, in addition to comparison with other experimentally determined corynebacterial exoproteomes, were helpful to gain novel insights into the contribution of the exported proteins in the virulence of this bacterium. The results presented here compose the most comprehensive coverage of the exoproteome of a corynebacterial species so far

Introduction to Property-Owning Democracy

Property-Owning Democracy[Excerpt] 1. Inequality, democracy and the philosophical debate on economic alternatives Inequality has been on the rise for the past three decades and the pace at which it has been progressing has accelerated vertiginously in the past twenty years (Piketty, 2014; Atkinson, 2015).[1] The fall of the URSS and, with it, of the “socialist threat” and the market globalization that quickly ensued, creating an extremely unfavourable relation of forces between (organized) labour and capital, took their toll. The closely related phenomena of systematic recourse by national governments to privatizations of public services and assets, and the retrenchment of the welfare state, in some cases in a radical form, may be added as additional causes of this surge in inequality (Glyn, 2006). Moreover, the recent financial crisis of 2007-2008, followed by the massive transfer of public resources to private banks, and combined with austerity policies that were supposedly implemented so as to improve the economic situation, have only aggravated both the crisis itself and the rise in inequality. In fact, this recessive economic tide affecting the whole world, but Europe more intensely, does not seem to be receding any time soon. Meanwhile, the debacle of “real socialism” in 1990 in the east and the triumphalism of advocates of western capitalism that quickly ensued made discussion of alternatives seem somewhat pointless beyond the walls of the academic world. To be sure, even as socialism crumbled, there were attempts to resist the neoliberal avalanche and among scholars there were many who sought for egalitarian economic alternatives to capitalism itself, even when conceding that state socialism of the sort that had so far existed was no longer a viable option (Nove, 1991; Elster and Moene, 1989; Roemer, 1993, 1994). These attempts continued, for instance, with the Real Utopias project, organized by Erik Olin Wright (Cohen and Rogers, 1995; Bowles and Gintis; Fung and Wright, 2003; Ackerman, Alstoot and Van Parijs, 2006). Notwithstanding such efforts, these authors faced (and still face) an unfriendly environment that puts them in the defensive: it is the alternatives they propose that need justification and evidence of its efficiency and justice and not capitalism as it exists, even as it has become more aggressively neoliberal, attacking the foundations of its social-democratic variants. At about the same time, an emerging discourse on the alleged economic inefficiencies and relative injustices generated by European-style welfare states progressively became pervasive, if not dominant, and part of their once consensual legitimacy was eroded, paving the way for subsequent alterations and attacks. Indeed, most reforms – and there have been many -, big or small, on welfare-state rules and institutions have been preceded by and premised on this dominant discourse. It has often happened that many of these reforms have also been presented as if they were undisputable and inevitable, much in the vein of Margaret Thatcher's TINA rhetoric. [...]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio