Real data show that interdependent networks usually involve intersimilarity. Intersimilarity means that a pair of interdependent nodes have neighbors in both networks that are also interdependent [Parshani et al. Europhys. Lett. 92, 68002 (2010)]. For example, the coupled worldwide port network and the global airport network are intersimilar since many pairs of linked nodes (neighboring cities), by direct flights and direct shipping lines, exist in both networks. Nodes in both networks in the same city are regarded as interdependent. If two neighboring nodes in one network depend on neighboring nodes in the other network, we call these links common links. The fraction of common links in the system is a measure of intersimilarity. Previous simulation results of Parshani et al. suggest that intersimilarity has considerable effects on reducing the cascading failures; however, a theoretical understanding of this effect on the cascading process is currently missing. Here we map the cascading process with intersimilarity to a percolation of networks composed of components of common links and noncommon links. This transforms the percolation of intersimilar system to a regular percolation on a series of subnetworks, which can be solved analytically. We apply our analysis to the case where the network of common links is an Erdős-Rényi (ER) network with the average degree K, and the two networks of noncommon links are also ER networks. We show for a fully coupled pair of ER networks, that for any K≥0, although the cascade is reduced with increasing K, the phase transition is still discontinuous. Our analysis can be generalized to any kind of interdependent random network systems.

Schools of fish and flocks of birds can move together in synchrony and decide on new directions of movement in a seamless way. This is possible because group members constantly share directional information with their neighbors. Although detecting the directionality of other group members is known to be important to maintain cohesion, it is not clear how many neighbors each individual can simultaneously track and pay attention to, and what the spatial distribution of these influential neighbors is. Here, we address these questions on shoals of Hemigrammus rhodostomus, a species of fish exhibiting strong schooling behavior. We adopt a data-driven analysis technique based on the study of short-term directional correlations to identify which neighbors have the strongest influence over the participation of an individual in a collective U-turn event. We find that fish mainly react to one or two neighbors at a time. Moreover, we find no correlation between the distance rank of a neighbor and its likelihood to be influential. We interpret our results in terms of fish allocating sequential and selective attention to their neighbors.

Through tuning the length of flexible bis(triazole) ligands and different metal ion coordination geometries, four Wells-Dawson polyoxoanion-based hybrid compounds, [Cu 6(btp) 3(P 2W 18O 62)].3H 2O ( 1) (btp = 1,3-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-y1)propane), [Cu 6(btb) 3((P 2W 18O 62)].2H 2O ( 2), [Cu 3(btb) 6(P 2W 18O 62)].6H 2O (btb = 1,4-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-y1)butane) ( 3), and [Cu 3(btx) 5.5((P 2W 18O 62)].4H 2O (btx = 1,6-bis(1,2,4-triazol-1-y1)hexane) ( 4), were synthesized and structurally characterized. In compound 1, the metal-organic motif exhibits a ladder-like chain, which is further fused by the ennead-dentate [P 2W 18O 62] (6-) anions to construct a 3D structure. In compound 2, the metal-organic motif exhibits an interesting Cu-btb grid layer, and the ennead-dentate polyoxoanions are sandwiched by two Cu-btb layers to construct a 3D structure. Compound 3 exhibits a (4 (2).6 (2).8 (2)) 3D Cu-btb framework with square and hexagonal channels arranged alternately. The hexa-dentate polyoxoanions incorporate only into the hexagonal channels. In compound 4, there exist two sets of (6 (1).10 (2)) 2(6 (1).8 (2).10 (3)) 3D Cu-btx frameworks to generate a 2-fold interpenetrated structure into which the penta-dentate polyoxoanions are inserted to construct a 3D structure. The structural analyses reveal that the length of flexible bis(triazole) ligands and metal ion coordination geometries have a synergic influence on the structures of this series. To our knowledge, they have the highest connectivity for the Wells-Dawson polyoxometalate coordination polymers to date.

No abstract

Approximately 2.5 × 10 6 square kilometers of the Amazon forest are currently degraded by fire, edge effects, timber extraction, and/or extreme drought, representing 38% of all remaining forests in the region. Carbon emissions from this degradation total up to 0.2 petagrams of carbon per year (Pg C year −1 ), which is equivalent to, if not greater than, the emissions from Amazon deforestation (0.06 to 0.21 Pg C year −1 ). Amazon forest degradation can reduce dry-season evapotranspiration by up to 34% and cause as much biodiversity loss as deforestation in human-modified landscapes, generating uneven socioeconomic burdens, mainly to forest dwellers. Projections indicate that degradation will remain a dominant source of carbon emissions independent of deforestation rates. Policies to tackle degradation should be integrated with efforts to curb deforestation and complemented with innovative measures addressing the disturbances that degrade the Amazon forest.

Cobalt-containing polyoxometalates exhibit catalytic performance for toxic chromium(vi) reduction using formic acid under mild conditions.

Cell division must be tightly coupled to cell growth in order to maintain cell size, yet the mechanisms linking these two processes are unclear. It is known that almost all proteins involved in cell division shuttle between cytoplasm and nucleus during the cell cycle; however, the implications of this process for cell cycle dynamics and its coupling to cell growth remains to be elucidated. We developed mathematical models of the cell cycle which incorporate protein translocation between cytoplasm and nucleus. We show that protein translocation between cytoplasm and nucleus not only modulates temporal cell cycle dynamics, but also provides a natural mechanism coupling cell division to cell growth. This coupling is mediated by the effect of cytoplasmic-to-nuclear size ratio on the activation threshold of critical cell cycle proteins, leading to the size-sensing checkpoint (sizer) and the size-independent clock (timer) observed in many cell cycle experiments.

A disastrous form of pedestrian behavior is a stampede occurring in an event involving a large crowd in a panic situation. To deal with such stampedes, the possibility to increase the outflow by suitably placing a pillar or some other shaped obstacles in front of the exit has been demonstrated. We present a social force based genetic algorithm to optimize the best design of architectural entities to deal with large crowds. Unlike existing literature, our simulation results indicate that appropriately placing two pillars on both sides but not in front of the door can maximize the escape efficiency. Human experiments using 80 participants correspond well with the simulations. We observed a peculiar property named tangential momentum, the escape speed and the tangential momentum are found to be negatively correlated. The idea to reduce the tangential momentum has practical implications in crowd architectural design.