Packet transport on scale free networks

We introduce a model of information packet transport on networks in which the packets are posted by a given rate and move in parallel according to a local search algorithm. By performing a number of simulations we investigate the major kinetic properties of the transport as a function of the network geometry, the packet input rate and the buffer size. We find long-range correlations in the power spectra of arriving packet density and the network's activity bursts. The packet transit time distribution shows a power-law dependence with average transit time increasing with network size. This implies dynamic queueing on the network, in which many interacting queues are mutually driven by temporally correlated packet stream

Preferential Behaviour and Scaling in Diffusive Dynamics on Networks

We study the fluctuation properties and return-time statistics on inhomogeneous scale-free networks using packets moving with two different dynamical rules; random diffusion and locally navigated diffusive motion with preferred edges. Scaling in the fluctuations occurs when the dispersion of a quantity at each node or edge increases like the its mean to the power $\mu$. We show that the occurrence of scaling in the fluctuations of both the number of packets passing nodes and the number flowing along edges is related to preferential behaviour in either the topology (in the case of nodes) or in the dynamics (in case the of edges). Within our model the absence of any preference leads to the absence of scaling, and when scaling occurs it is non-universal; for random diffusion the number of packets passing a node scales with an exponent $\mu$ which increases continuously with increased acquisition time window from $\mu =1/2$ at small windows, to $\mu =1$ at long time windows; In the preferentially navigated diffusive motion, busy nodes and edges have exponent $\mu =1$, in contrast to less busy parts of the network, where an exponent $\mu =1/2$ is found. Broad distributions of the return times at nodes and edges illustrate that the basis of the observed scaling is the cooperative behaviour between groups of nodes or edges. These conclusions are relevant for a large class of diffusive dynamics on networks, including packet transport with local navigation rules

The ecology of microorganisms in a small closed system: Potential benefits and problems for space station

The inevitble presence on the space station of microorganisms associated with crew members and their environment will have the potential for both benefits and a range of problems including illness and corrosion of materials. This report reviews the literature presenting information about microorganisms pertinent to Environmental Control and Life Support (ECLS) on the space station. The perspective of the report is ecological, viewing the space station as an ecosystem in which biological relationships are affected by factors such as zero gravity and by closure of a small volume of space. Potential sites and activities of microorganisms on the space station and their environmental limits, microbial standards for the space station, monitoring and control methods, effects of space factors on microorganisms, and extraterrestrial contamination are discussed

Growing trees in Internet news groups and forums

We present an empirical study of the networks created by users within internet news groups and forums and show that they organ- ise themselves into scale-free trees. The structure of these trees depends on the topic under discussion; specialist topics have trees with a short shallow structure whereas more universal topics are discussed widely and have a deeper tree structure. For news groups we find that the distribu- tion of the time intervals between when a message is posted and when it receives a response exhibits a composite power-law behaviour. From our statistics we can see if the news group or forum is free or is overseen by a moderator. The correlation function of activity, the number of messages posted in a given time, shows long range correlations connected with the users’ daily routines. The distribution of distances between each message and its root is exponential for most news groups and power-law for the fo- rums. For both formats we find that the relation between the supremacy ( the total number of nodes that are under the node i, including node i) and the degree is linear s(k) k, in contrast to the analytical relation for Barab´asi-Albert network

Clouds, Clumps, Cores & Comets - a Cosmic Chemical Connection?

We discuss the connection between the chemistry of dense interstellar clouds and those characteristics of cometary matter that could be remnants of it. The chemical evolution observed to occur in molecular clouds is summarized and a model for dense core collapse that can plausibly account for the isotopic fractionation of hydrogen, nitrogen, oxygen and carbon measured in primitive solar system materials is presented.Comment: to be published in Advances in Geoscience

Comparison of epifluorescent viable bacterial count methods

Two methods, the 2-(4-Iodophenyl) 3-(4-nitrophenyl) 5-phenyltetrazolium chloride (INT) method and the direct viable count (DVC), were tested and compared for their efficiency for the determination of the viability of bacterial populations. Use of the INT method results in the formation of a dark spot within each respiring cell. The DVC method results in elongation or swelling of growing cells that are rendered incapable of cell division. Although both methods are subjective and can result in false positive results, the DVC method is best suited to analysis of waters in which the number of different types of organisms present in the same sample is assumed to be small, such as processed waters. The advantages and disadvantages of each method are discussed

Topical cyclone rainfall characteristics as determined from a satellite passive microwave radiometer

Data from the Nimbus-5 Electrically Scanning Microwave Radiometer (ESMR-5) were used to calculate latent heat release and other rainfall parameters for over 70 satellite observations of 21 tropical cyclones in the tropical North Pacific Ocean. The results indicate that the ESMR-5 measurements can be useful in determining the rainfall characteristics of these storms and appear to be potentially useful in monitoring as well as predicting their intensity. The ESMR-5 derived total tropical cyclone rainfall estimates agree favorably with previous estimates for both the disturbance and typhoon stages. The mean typhoon rainfall rate (1.9 mm h(-1)) is approximately twice that of disturbances (1.1 mm h(-1))

Monitoring tropical cyclone intensity using wind fields derived from short-interval satellite images

Rapid scan visible images from the Visible Infrared Spin Scan Radiometer sensor on board SMS-2 and GOES-1 were used to derive high resolution upper and lower tropospheric environmental wind fields around three western Atlantic tropical cyclones (1975-78). These wind fields were used to derive upper and lower tropospheric areal mean relative vorticity and their differences, the net relative angular momentum balance and upper tropospheric mass outflow. These kinematic parameters were shown by studies using composite rawinsonde data to be strongly related to tropical cyclone formation and intensity changes. Also, the role of forced synoptic scale subsidence in tropical cyclone formation was examined. The studies showed that satellite-derived lower and upper tropospheric wind fields can be used to monitor and possibly predict tropical cyclone formation and intensity changes. These kinematic analyses showed that future changes in tropical cyclone intensity are mainly related to the "spin-up" of the storms by the net horizontal transport of relative angular momentum caused by convergence of cyclonic vorticity in the lower troposphere and to a lesser extent the divergence of anticyclone vorticity in the upper troposphere

Self-organized Model for Modular Complex Networks: Division and Independence

We introduce a minimal network model which generates a modular structure in a self-organized way. To this end, we modify the Barabasi-Albert model into the one evolving under the principle of division and independence as well as growth and preferential attachment (PA). A newly added vertex chooses one of the modules composed of existing vertices, and attaches edges to vertices belonging to that module following the PA rule. When the module size reaches a proper size, the module is divided into two, and a new module is created. The karate club network studied by Zachary is a prototypical example. We find that the model can reproduce successfully the behavior of the hierarchical clustering coefficient of a vertex with degree k, C(k), in good agreement with empirical measurements of real world networks