A Curve Shaped Description of Large Networks, with an Application to the Evaluation of Network Models

BACKGROUND: Understanding the structure of complex networks is a continuing challenge, which calls for novel approaches and models to capture their structure and reveal the mechanisms that shape the networks. Although various topological measures, such as degree distributions or clustering coefficients, have been proposed to characterize network structure from many different angles, a comprehensive and intuitive representation of large networks that allows quantitative analysis is still difficult to achieve. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Here we propose a mesoscopic description of large networks which associates networks of different structures with a set of particular curves, using breadth-first search. After deriving the expressions of the curves of the random graphs and a small-world-like network, we found that the curves possess a number of network properties together, including the size of the giant component and the local clustering. Besides, the curve can also be used to evaluate the fit of network models to real-world networks. We describe a simple evaluation method based on the curve and apply it to the Drosophila melanogaster protein interaction network. The evaluation method effectively identifies which model better reproduces the topology of the real network among the given models and help infer the underlying growth mechanisms of the Drosophila network. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: This curve-shaped description of large networks offers a wealth of possibilities to develop new approaches and applications including network characterization, comparison, classification, modeling and model evaluation, differing from using a large bag of topological measures

Towards Applying The Boothroyd, Dewhurst and Knight Methodology for Cost Estimation on Fibre Composite Manufacturing - A Theoretical Approach

Increased usage of carbon fibre composite poses challenges for the automotive industry; one is to manage carbon fibre composites within the product development process. This paper combines knowledge in design engineering, material science and production technology, aiming to bridge these domains. The study indicates that mass production methods suitable for carbon fibre have several factors in common with traditional polymer production methods. Thus, it is possible that DfMA methods for traditional polymer production can be adjusted for carbon fibre composite production. The result is summarised in a table aiming to facilitate engineering decisions related to cost estimations for composite moulding

Single-Shot Fabrication of Semiconducting–Superconducting Nanowire Devices

Semiconducting–superconducting hybrids are vital components for the realization of high-performance nanoscale devices. In particular, semiconducting–superconducting nanowires attract widespread interest owing to the possible presence of non-abelian Majorana zero modes, which are quasiparticles that hold promise for topological quantum computing. However, systematic search for Majoranas signatures is challenging because it requires reproducible hybrid devices and reliable fabrication methods. This work introduces a fabrication concept based on shadow walls that enables the in situ, selective, and consecutive depositions of superconductors and normal metals to form normal-superconducting junctions. Crucially, this method allows to realize devices in a single shot, eliminating fabrication steps after the synthesis of the fragile semiconductor/superconductor interface. At the atomic level, all investigated devices reveal a sharp and defect-free semiconducting–superconducting interface and, correspondingly, a hard induced superconducting gap resilient up to 2 T is measured electrically. While the cleanliness of the technique enables systematic studies of topological superconductivity in nanowires, it also allows for the synthesis of advanced nano-devices based on a wide range of material combinations and geometries while maintaining an exceptionally high interface quality.QCD/Veldhorst LabQRD/Kouwenhoven LabBUS/Quantum DelftQN/Kouwenhoven La

Contesting the rule of law: civil society and legal institutions

This book examines the ambiguous role played by civil society in state-building, democratisation and post-conflict reconstruction in the Western Balkans. In doing so, it challenges the received wisdom that civil society is always a force for good. Civil society actors have helped create the conditions for new, more constructive relations inside and between former Yugoslav countries. But, their agency has also rekindled nationalism hindering efforts to rebuild the region after the conflicts of the 1990s. The book demonstrates that diverse civil society effects cannot be captured without querying both the nature of civil society and the complexity of the ongoing transformation. So how can the emancipatory role of civil society be harnessed? This rigorous case study-driven reappraisal of the ability of civil society to support progressive transformation from an illiberal regime to democracy and from conflict to peace will be a valuable resource to scholars and practitioners alike

Surface functionalization of III-V Nanowires

The physical and chemical properties of semiconductor nanowires are significantly influenced by their surface structure and morphology. This can be understood in that surfaces make out a much larger part of the total structure as compared to macroscale objects. An immediate consequence is that the lack of surface control can result in poor performance and reproducibility of any nanowire device. It is clear that bad performance is problematic, but it must be stressed that without performance reproducibility across millions of nanowires they can never become a useful real technology. This is indeed why many promising nanostructures and materials lost interest of both the scientific and commercial communities. However, surface control also can be used to strongly enhance nanowire performance and even introduce new functionality. As a result, surface functionalization is a key issue for nanowire science and technology. In this chapter, we describe in detail how standard surface science techniques such as Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) and X-ray Photoemission Spectroscopy (XPS) can be modified for effective studies of 1D nanowires despite that they have been originally invented only for large and flat 2D surfaces. We go on to give a number of examples on how these techniques have revealed the precise structure–function relationship in particular of III–V semiconductor nanowires and their surfaces. We further discuss, how this can be used to control the structure and chemistry of the wires down to the atomic scale enabling new functionality for (opto)electronics, sensors, and many other device types. While we focus on III–V nanowires, the examples and techniques put forward should be applicable to many other material systems and types of nanostructures