***** To join INSNA, visit http://www.insna.org *****
Must be the holiday season: 4 R&Rs; 3 letters of recomendation; please
send a partridge in a pear tree.
Oh well, they could have been only Rs, which my CHI-going friends seem
used to
In the meantime, here are selected Complexity Digest posts
Barry Wellman
A vision is just a vision if it's only in your head
Step by step, link by link, putting it together
Streisand/Sondheim
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NetLab Network FRSC INSNA Founder
Distinguished Visiting Scholar Social Media Lab Ryerson University
Distinguished Senior Advisor University Learning Academy
NETWORKED: The New Social Operating System Lee Rainie & Barry Wellman
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__www.chass.utoronto.ca_-7Ewellman&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=1hLj6-biuKT11ym4yVraGdKJ2aIv3qAwxRNTqCZulHA&e= https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__amzn.to_zXZg39&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=0AgYheRiNwBx_W6dcej8FDKwyUQDqjefl028rRQaTkw&e=
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Date: Mon, 13 Nov 2017 12:04:05 +0000
From: "[utf-8] Complexity Digest" <[log in to unmask]>
Reply-To: [log in to unmask]
To: "[utf-8] Barry" <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: [utf-8] Latest Complexity Digest Posts
Learn about the latest and greatest related to complex systems research. More at https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3Dc0d3dc4a23-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=L-JTliATWpduTJpU2RYZHErNi7Hmr4VhPt30dCHiHPI&e=
The Unforgiving Math That Stops Epidemics
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D41ae41db5b-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=qPD_-_lalgsXcGBCFHKEd7-gHD2Nj3WPu_-zbokihN0&e=
As the annual flu season approaches, medical professionals are again
encouraging people to get flu shots. Perhaps you are among those who
rationalize skipping the shot on the grounds that ˙˙I never get the flu˙˙
or ˙˙if I get sick, I get sick˙˙ or ˙˙I˙˙m healthy, so I˙˙ll get over
it.˙˙ What you might not realize is that these vaccination campaigns for
flu and other diseases are about much more than your health. They˙˙re
about achieving a collective resistance to disease that goes beyond
individual well-being ˙˙ and that is governed by mathematical principles
unforgiving of unwise individual choices.
Source: www.quantamagazine.org (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3Da358e01c1d-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=qAn28DOBtwCuFSFZ_09S9KKRNz_tK0sY1-QTiczdHiQ&e= )
Characterizing the structural diversity of complex networks across domains
The structure of complex networks has been of interest in many scientific and engineering disciplines over the decades. A number of studies in the field have been focused on finding the common properties among different kinds of networks such as heavy-tail degree distribution, small-worldness and modular structure and they have tried to establish a theory of structural universality in complex networks. However, there is no comprehensive study of network structure across a diverse set of domains in order to explain the structural diversity we observe in the real-world networks. In this paper, we study 986 real-world networks of diverse domains ranging from ecological food webs to online social networks along with 575 networks generated from four popular network models. Our study utilizes a number of machine learning techniques such as random forest and confusion matrix in order to show the relationships among network domains in terms of network structure. Our results indicate
that there are some partitions of network categories in which networks are hard to distinguish based purely on network structure. We have found that these partitions of network categories tend to have similar underlying functions, constraints and/or generative mechanisms of networks even though networks in the same partition have different origins, e.g., biological processes, results of engineering by human being, etc. This suggests that the origin of a network, whether it's biological, technological or social, may not necessarily be a decisive factor of the formation of similar network structure. Our findings shed light on the possible direction along which we could uncover the hidden principles for the structural diversity of complex networks.
Characterizing the structural diversity of complex networks across domains
Kansuke Ikehara, Aaron Clauset
Source: arxiv.org (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3Dc79c957add-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=ER5X8zBB3X7PYbBkq19Eu_d1AFRwweb6P4vqNPGVuIE&e= )
Phase Coexistence in Insect Swarms
Animal aggregations are visually striking, and as such are popular
examples of collective behavior in the natural world. Quantitatively
demonstrating the collective nature of such groups, however, remains
surprisingly difficult. Inspired by thermodynamics, we applied topological
data analysis to laboratory insect swarms and found evidence for emergent,
material-like states. We show that the swarms consist of a core
˙˙condensed˙˙ phase surrounded by a dilute ˙˙vapor˙˙ phase. These two
phases coexist in equilibrium, and maintain their distinct macroscopic
properties even though individual insects pass freely between them. We
further define a pressure and chemical potential to describe these phases,
extending theories of active matter to aggregations of macroscopic animals
and laying the groundwork for a thermodynamic description of collective
animal groups.
Phase Coexistence in Insect Swarms
Michael Sinhuber and Nicholas T. Ouellette
Phys. Rev. Lett. 119, 178003 ˙˙ Published 24 October 2017
Source: journals.aps.org (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D58667b4607-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=lo9MaOGSRc-7JLCELVB3xqlv7YdbuhBCbwjEnz2-T-4&e= )
Large-scale study of social network structure and team performance in a multiplayer online game
A question of interest in both theory and practice is if and how
familiarity between members of a team, expressed in terms of social
network structure, relates to the success of the team in a given task. In
this paper we revisit this important question in a novel manner by
employing game outcome statistics from Dota 2, a popular team-based
multiplayer online game, combined with network data from Steam Community,
a social networking service for gamers. We conduct a large-scale analysis
of 4168 teams to study how network density, and the minimum and maximum
degree of the within-team social network are associated with team
performance, and determine how this association is moderated by team
skill. We observe that minimum degree is strongly associated with good
performance, especially in teams with lower skill. Together with previous
results on network density that we corroborate in this paper, our findings
suggest that a successful team is not only moderately connected overall,
but its members should also individually have not too few nor too many
within team connections.
Large-scale study of social network structure and team performance in a multiplayer online game
Antti Ukkonen, Juho Hamari
Source: arxiv.org (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D133e9e7b0a-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=iOGuE_eF4Z5zr8UwgkAuDVLUiBNXyLBc2n_Q7LenANI&e= )
Measuring Influence in Science: Standing on the Shoulders of Which Giants?
I study the measurement of the influence of scientists based on
bibliographic data. I propose a new measure that accounts for indirect
influence and allows to compare scientists across different fields of
science. By contrast, common measures of influence that "count citations",
such as the h-index, are unable to satisfy either of these two properties.
I use the axiomatic method in two opposite ways: to highlight the two
limitations of citation-counting schemes and their independence, and to
carefully justify the assumptions made in the construction of the proposed
measure.
Measuring Influence in Science: Standing on the Shoulders of Which Giants?
Antonin Macé
Source: arxiv.org (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D32fd2575d3-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=8hHr8ivCmKA2dj2y5lGvy_kHJ1gc3rfV0Ql3fqEotds&e= )
Breaking the spell of nestedness
Mutualistic interactions, which are beneficial for both interacting
species, are recurrently present in ecosystems. Observations of natural
systems showed that, if we draw mutualistic relationships as binary links
between species, the resulting bipartite network of interactions displays
a widespread particular ordering called nestedness. On the other hand,
theoretical works have shown that a nested structure has a positive impact
on a number of relevant features ranging from species coexistence to a
higher structural stability of communities and biodiversity. However, how
nestedness emerges and what are its determinants, are still open
challenges that have led to multiple debates to date. Here, we show, by
applying a theoretical approach to the analysis of 167 real mutualistic
networks, that nestedness is not an irreducible feature, but a consequence
of the degree sequences of both guilds of the mutualistic network.
Remarkably, we find that an outstanding majority of the analyzed networks
does not show statistical significant nestedness. These findings point to
the need of revising previous claims about the role of nestedness and
might contribute to expanding our understanding of how evolution shapes
mutualistic interactions and communities by placing the focus on the local
properties rather than on global quantities.
Breaking the spell of nestedness
Claudia Payrato Borras, Laura Hernandez, Yamir Moreno
doi: https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D9723d82518-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=ggB7CY7rEUX3zC1tDgSKZ9e7Chs1IukCNI-5vbAIQ-A&e=
Source: www.biorxiv.org (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D8fb346186f-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=qqksbO5_ghhahrcHuLYzGO7ul7kkBjLxykly0GVRMKk&e= )
Network Theory Faculty position at UC Davis
The University of California, Davis invites applications for a faculty position in network theory, which is an interdisciplinary academic field using graph theory, statistical mechanics, and applied mathematics to elucidate the mathematical foundations underlying the organization and function of networks across a wide range of applied disciplines. The appointment will be at the Assistant or Associate Professor level, with opportunity for a more senior level appointment for an exceptional candidate, with an intended start date of Fall 2018. The appointment will reside in the Department of Computer Science or the Department of Physics, with the ideal candidate qualified to hold a joint appointment based in both departments. To ensure full consideration, applications must be submitted by December 15th, 2017.
Source: mae.engr.ucdavis.edu (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D59d3debf97-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=_GamFxIWoDTRPl3duWcK9pzN3R5fKc-WvVZP41_AAg0&e= )
A Mind at Play: How Claude Shannon Invented the Information Age (Jimmy Soni & Rob Goodman)
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3Deef581fa2e-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=SWzqlEJNpAYtGbCuKEkvmrRbSQhFHb4faGujLiV8Wk4&e=
In their second collaboration, biographers Jimmy Soni and Rob Goodman present the story of Claude Shannon˙˙one of the foremost intellects of the twentieth century and the architect of the Information Age, whose insights stand behind every computer built, email sent, video streamed, and webpage loaded. Claude Shannon was a groundbreaking polymath, a brilliant tinkerer, and a digital pioneer. He constructed the first wearable computer, outfoxed Vegas casinos, and built juggling robots. He also wrote the seminal text of the digital revolution, which has been called ˙˙the Magna Carta of the Information Age.˙˙ In this elegantly written, exhaustively researched biography, Soni and Goodman reveal Claude Shannon˙˙s full story for the first time. With unique access to Shannon˙˙s family and friends, A Mind at Play brings this singular innovator and always playful genius to life.
Source: www.amazon.com (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3Df938345388-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=IKvcyjBbfHbmSSbt7nO5iKaNvXy8JqmWu_Ely-gn0-A&e= )
The Seneca Effect: Why Growth is Slow but Collapse is Rapid (Ugo Bardi)
https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D68305aef9c-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=66SJgrPgvX93gdaBfdqwZsPjv7aWejLZkL6G3F04tLw&e=
The essence of this book can be found in a line written by the ancient
Roman Stoic Philosopher Lucius Annaeus Seneca: "Fortune is of sluggish
growth, but ruin is rapid". This sentence summarizes the features of the
phenomenon that we call "collapse," which is typically sudden and often
unexpected, like the proverbial "house of cards." But why are such
collapses so common, and what generates them? Several books have been
published on the subject, including the well known "Collapse" by Jared
Diamond (2005), "The collapse of complex societies" by Joseph Tainter
(1998) and "The Tipping Point," by Malcom Gladwell (2000). Why The Seneca
Effect? This book is an ambitious attempt to pull these various strands
together by describing collapse from a multi-disciplinary viewpoint. The
reader will discover how collapse is a collective phenomenon that occurs
in what we call today "complex systems," with a special emphasis on system
dynamics and the concept of "feedback." From this foundation, Bardi
applies the theory to real-world systems, from the mechanics of fracture
and the collapse of large structures to financial collapses, famines and
population collapses, the fall of entire civilzations, and the most
dreadful collapse we can imagine: that of the planetary ecosystem
generated by overexploitation and climate change. The final objective of
the book is to describe a conclusion that the ancient stoic philosophers
had already discovered long ago, but that modern system science has
rediscovered today. If you want to avoid collapse you need to embrace
change, not fight it. Neither a book about doom and gloom nor a
cornucopianist's dream, The Seneca Effect goes to the heart of the
challenges that we are facing today, helping us to manage our future
rather than be managed by it.
Source: www.amazon.com (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3D8c829e88a9-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=EgoLLifqR_I_tUc1chx9Hez1uGTCbZERyYLCHg8qv8g&e= )
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Sponsored by the Complex Systems Society.
Founding Editor: Gottfried Mayer.
Editor-in-Chief: Carlos Gershenson.
You can contribute to Complexity Digest selecting one of our topics (https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=https-3A__unam.us4.list-2Dmanage.com_track_click-3Fu-3D0eb0ac9b4e8565f2967a8304b-26id-3De091fdab56-26e-3D55e25a0e3e&d=DwIFAw&c=pZJPUDQ3SB9JplYbifm4nt2lEVG5pWx2KikqINpWlZM&r=uXI5O6HThk1ULkPyaT6h2Ws3RKNKSY__GQ4DuS9UHhs&m=jUE58AbPPaVHZHmkc5UtxFCUOv4VUgJzpDhH775wJSw&s=6mtJQIxazUDSbERqiZ8yPicegMCxR1ifw7b7mZjxY1M&e= ) and using the "Suggest" button.
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