655 research outputs found
Robustness and modular structure in networks
Complex networks have recently attracted much interest due to their
prevalence in nature and our daily lives [1, 2]. A critical property of a
network is its resilience to random breakdown and failure [3-6], typically
studied as a percolation problem [7-9] or by modeling cascading failures
[10-12]. Many complex systems, from power grids and the Internet to the brain
and society [13-15], can be modeled using modular networks comprised of small,
densely connected groups of nodes [16, 17]. These modules often overlap, with
network elements belonging to multiple modules [18, 19]. Yet existing work on
robustness has not considered the role of overlapping, modular structure. Here
we study the robustness of these systems to the failure of elements. We show
analytically and empirically that it is possible for the modules themselves to
become uncoupled or non-overlapping well before the network disintegrates. If
overlapping modular organization plays a role in overall functionality,
networks may be far more vulnerable than predicted by conventional percolation
theory.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figure
Link communities reveal multiscale complexity in networks
Networks have become a key approach to understanding systems of interacting
objects, unifying the study of diverse phenomena including biological organisms
and human society. One crucial step when studying the structure and dynamics of
networks is to identify communities: groups of related nodes that correspond to
functional subunits such as protein complexes or social spheres. Communities in
networks often overlap such that nodes simultaneously belong to several groups.
Meanwhile, many networks are known to possess hierarchical organization, where
communities are recursively grouped into a hierarchical structure. However, the
fact that many real networks have communities with pervasive overlap, where
each and every node belongs to more than one group, has the consequence that a
global hierarchy of nodes cannot capture the relationships between overlapping
groups. Here we reinvent communities as groups of links rather than nodes and
show that this unorthodox approach successfully reconciles the antagonistic
organizing principles of overlapping communities and hierarchy. In contrast to
the existing literature, which has entirely focused on grouping nodes, link
communities naturally incorporate overlap while revealing hierarchical
organization. We find relevant link communities in many networks, including
major biological networks such as protein-protein interaction and metabolic
networks, and show that a large social network contains hierarchically
organized community structures spanning inner-city to regional scales while
maintaining pervasive overlap. Our results imply that link communities are
fundamental building blocks that reveal overlap and hierarchical organization
in networks to be two aspects of the same phenomenon.Comment: Main text and supplementary informatio
RXJ0848.6+4453: The Evolution of Galaxy Sizes and Stellar Populations in a z=1.27 Cluster
RXJ0848.6+4453 (Lynx W) at redshift 1.27 is part of the Lynx Supercluster of
galaxies. Our analysis of stellar populations and star formation history in the
cluster covers 24 members and is based on deep optical spectroscopy from Gemini
North and imaging data from HST. Focusing on the 13 bulge-dominated galaxies
for which we can determine central velocity dispersions, we find that these
show a smaller evolution of sizes and velocity dispersions than reported for
field galaxies and galaxies in poorer clusters. The galaxies in RXJ0848.6+4453
populate the Fundamental Plane similar to that found for lower redshift
clusters with a zero point offset corresponding to an epoch of last star
formation at z_form= 1.95+-0.2. The spectra of the galaxies in RXJ0848.6+4453
are dominated by young stellar populations at all galaxy masses and in many
cases show emission indicating low level on-going star formation. The average
age of the young stellar populations (estimated from H-zeta) is consistent with
a major star formation episode 1-2 Gyr prior, which in turn agrees with
z_form=1.95. Galaxies dominated by young stellar populations are distributed
throughout the cluster. We speculate that low level star formation has not yet
been fully quenched in the center of this cluster may be because the cluster is
significantly poorer than other clusters previously studied at similar
redshifts, which appear to have very little on-going star formation in their
centers.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomical Journal. High-resolution
figures available from the first author by reques
SImulator of GAlaxy Millimetre/submillimetre Emission (SIGAME): CO emission from massive z=2 main-sequence galaxies
We present SIGAME (SImulator of GAlaxy Millimetre/submillimetre Emission), a
new numerical code designed to simulate the 12CO rotational line emission
spectrum of galaxies. Using sub-grid physics recipes to post-process the
outputs of smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) simulations, a molecular gas
phase is condensed out of the hot and partly ionized SPH gas. The gas is
subjected to far-UV radiation fields and cosmic ray ionization rates which are
set to scale with the local star formation rate volume density. Level
populations and radiative transport of the CO lines are solved with the 3-D
radiative transfer code LIME. We have applied SIGAME to cosmological SPH
simulations of three disc galaxies at z=2 with stellar masses in the range
~(0.5-2)x10^11 Msun and star formation rates ~40-140 Msun/yr. Global CO
luminosities and line ratios are in agreement with observations of disc
galaxies at z~2 up to and including J=3-2 but falling short of the few existing
J=5-4 observations. The central 5 kpc regions of our galaxies have CO 3-2/1-0
and 7-6/1-0 brightness temperature ratios of ~0.55-0.65 and ~0.02-0.08,
respectively, while further out in the disc the ratios drop to more quiescent
values of ~0.5 and <0.01. Global CO-to-H2 conversion (alpha_CO) factors are
~=1.5 Msun*pc^2/(K km s/1), i.e. ~2-3 times below typically adopted values for
disc galaxies, and alpha_CO increases with radius, in agreement with
observations of nearby galaxies. Adopting a top-heavy Giant Molecular Cloud
(GMC) mass spectrum does not significantly change the results. Steepening the
GMC density profile leads to higher global line ratios for J_up>=3 and CO-to-H2
conversion factors [~=3.6 Msun*pc^2/(K km/s)].Comment: 28 pages, 20 figures. Accepted for Publication in MNRAS. Substantial
revisions from the previous version, including tests with model galaxies
similar to the Milky Way. Improved figures and added table
Differential Optical-absorption Spectroscopy (doas) System For Urban Atmospheric-pollution Monitoring
We describe a fully computer-controlled differential optical absorption spectroscopy system for atmospheric air pollution monitoring. A receiving optical telescope can sequentially tune in to light beams from a number of distant high-pressure Xe lamp light sources to cover the area of a medium-sized city. A beam-finding servosystem and automatic gain control permit unattended long-time monitoring. Using an astronomical code, we can also search and track celestial sources. Selected wavelength regions are rapidly and repetitively swept by a monochromator to sensitively record the atmospheric absorption spectrum while avoiding the detrimental effects of atmospheric turbulence. By computer fitting to stored laboratory spectra, we can evaluate the path-averaged concentration of a number of important pollutants such as NO2, SO2, and O3. A measurement of NH3 and NO close to the UV limit is also demonstrated
Clinical spectral characterisation of colonic mucosal lesions using autofluorescence and delta aminolevulinic acid sensitisation
Background and aims-Laser induced fluorescence (LIF) from colonic mucosa was measured in vivo with and without delta aminolevulinic acid (ALA) in an attempt to differentiate between neoplasia and non-neoplasia in real time during colonoscopy. Methods-Spectra from 32 adenomas, 68 normal sites, and 14 hyperplastic polyps in 41 patients were obtained with a point monitoring system. Twenty one of the patients had been given a low dose of ALA as a photosensitiser before the examination. Light of 337, 405, or 436 nm wavelength was used as excitation. Stepwise multivariate Linear regression analysis was performed. Results-With 337 nm excitation, 100% sensitivity and 96% specificity was obtained between normal mucosa and adenomas. Seventy seven per cent of the hyperplastic polyps were classified as non-neoplastic. When exciting with 405 and 436 nm, the possibility of distinguishing different types of tissue was considerably better in the ALA patients than in the non-ALA patients. Conclusions-The in vivo point measurements imply that a good discrimination between normal tissue and adenomatous polyps can be obtained using the LIF technique. Excitation at 337 nm and at 405 nm or 436 nm using ALA gives good results. LIF also shows potential for distinguishing adenomatous from hyperplastic polyps. The number of detection wavelengths could be reduced if chosen properly
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