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Flow motifs reveal limitations of the static framework to represent human interactions

Networks are commonly used to define underlying interaction structures where infections, information, or other quantities may spread. Although the standard approach has been to aggregate all links into a static structure, some studies have shown that the time order in which the links are established may alter the dynamics of spreading. In this paper, we study the impact of the time ordering in the limits of flow on various empirical temporal networks. By using a random walk dynamics, we estimate the flow on links and convert the original undirected network (temporal and static) into a directed flow network. We then introduce the concept of flow motifs and quantify the divergence in the representativity of motifs when using the temporal and static frameworks. We find that the regularity of contacts and persistence of vertices (common in email communication and face-to-face interactions) result on little differences in the limits of flow for both frameworks. On the other hand, in the case of communication within a dating site and of a sexual network, the flow between vertices changes significantly in the temporal framework such that the static approximation poorly represents the structure of contacts. We have also observed that cliques with 3 and 4 vertices containing only low-flow links are more represented than the same cliques with all high-flow links. The representativity of these low-flow cliques is higher in the temporal framework. Our results suggest that the flow between vertices connected in cliques depend on the topological context in which they are placed and in the time sequence in which the links are established. The structure of the clique alone does not completely characterize the potential of flow between the vertices.

 

Flow motifs reveal limitations of the static framework to represent human interactions

Luis E. C. Rocha and Vincent D. Blondel 

Phys. Rev. E 87, 042814 (2013)

http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.87.042814


Via Complexity Digest
ComplexInsight's insight:

In our own research temporality of relationships or interactions between agents is a common property of various systems (think infection, traffic, economic exchange). Maybe its coming from a computer graphics background but their use of Flow motifs reminds me a lot of flow fields and   glyph representations in scientific visualizations.

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Doctors Can ‘See’ Pain

Doctors Can ‘See’ Pain | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it
In a provocative new study, scientists reported Wednesday that they were able to “see” pain on brain scans and, for the first time, measure its intensity and tell whether a drug was relieving it.

Via Centre for Biomedical Research
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Powering the Cell: Mitochondria

Together Harvard University and XVIVO developed this 3D animation journey for Harvard's undergraduate Molecular and Cellular Biology students about the micro... (Call me a g33z0r, but this is friggin' beautiful!
ComplexInsight's insight:

As a  huge fan of the XVIVO scientific animation team - this was a delight. My only wish was that they would do two versions - one with labels for key parts and processes. However its wonderful seeing subcellular processes visualized like this to help explain how complex these processes are and what is occuring inside cellular organelles. Worth watching. 

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Between the Poles: Cesium open source WebGL virtual globe and mapping Javascript library

Between the Poles: Cesium open source WebGL virtual globe and mapping Javascript library | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

I'm a bog fan of Geoff Zeiss's blog Between the Poles - H ehas a great review of the  Eclipse Foundation Locationtech teleconference presentation by Matt Ford of Cesium  Cesium is an open source 3D, 2.5 D and 2D globe visualisation toolkit written in webgl. Planned support for Openlayers is ont he roadmap which will make it a very interesting customizable alternative to Google Earth or WorldWind for specific applications. Click on the image or title to learn more.

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3D structure of an unmodified G protein-coupled receptor in its natural habitat - Phys.Org

3D structure of an unmodified G protein-coupled receptor in its natural habitat - Phys.Org | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

Using NMR spectroscopy, the team mapped the arrangement of atoms in a protein called CXCR1, which detects the inflammatory signal interleukin 8 and, through a G protein located inside the cell, triggers a cascade of events that can mobilize immune cells, for example. Because G protein-coupled receptors are critical for many cellular responses to external signals, they have been a major target for drugs. More precise knowledge of the shapes of these receptors will allow drugmakers to tailor small molecules to better fit specific targets, avoiding collateral hits that can cause detrimental side effects. "This finding will have a major impact on structure-based drug development since for the first time the principal class of drug receptors can be studied in their biologically active forms where they interact with other proteins and potential drugs," said Stanley Opella, professor of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of California, San Diego who led the work, which Nature published online October 21st in advance of the print edition. Read more at: http://phys.org/news/2012-10-3d-unmodified-protein-coupled-receptor-natural.html#jCp or click on the image or title for more info.

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@ Ars Electronica: The Big Picture

@ Ars Electronica: The Big Picture | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

Leading on from the piece posted on visualizing.org. These are the winners of the Seed media and Ars Electronica: The Big Picture competition for data visualisation and info communication. Some great pieces of design. Worth reading if you are looking for inspiration (will have to add a new inspiration tag me thinks). Click on the image or the title to learn more.

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Fluorescent molecules 'tag' DNA and monitor looping process

In a new study, UT Dallas researchers outline how they used fluorescent molecules to "tag" DNA and monitor a process called DNA looping, a natural biological mechanism involved in rearranging genetic material in some types of cells. The UT Dallas "tag and track" method not only sheds light on how DNA loops form, but also might be adapted to screen drugs for effectiveness against certain viruses that shuffle genetic material, such as HIV. Until now, scientists primarily had "snapshots" of the initial and final stages of DNA loop formation, with only limited information about what happens during the intermediate steps, Click on title to learn more.

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Futurity.org – Imaging combo spots infection in 3D

Futurity.org – Imaging combo spots infection in 3D | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

Scientists have combined MRI and imaging mass spectrometry to visualize the body’s inflammatory response to a bacterial infection in 3D. The techniques, described in Cell Host & Microbe, offer opportunities for discovering proteins not previously implicated in the inflammatory response. Eric Skaar, chair in pathology at Vanderbilt University and his team were interested in imaging infection in three dimensions—in the whole animal—while also being able to identify the proteins that are produced at sites of infection.Click on the image or title to learn more.

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The Future of Medical Visualisation - Technology Review

The Future of Medical Visualisation - Technology Review | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

Medicine has been revolutionised by 3D imaging techniques. In the last five years, commercial CT scanners that can create 3D videos of a beating heart or new diffusion imaging techniques that enable imaging of  nerve bundles and muscle fibres have started to become available. A great tech piece in Technology Review covers where medical imaging is going next. Certainly worth reading. Click on the image or the title to learn more...

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CLARITY gives a clear view of the brain

CLARITY gives a clear view of the brain | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it
Mo Costandi: A simple new method makes biological tissues transparent, so that they can be examined without having to be cut into slices
ComplexInsight's insight:

If you have ever had to try to make sense of a tissue sectioning slice then you may find this incredible. Nature video on guardian site is very much worth watching. For technical reference see Chung, K., et al. (2013). Structural and molecular interrogation of intact biological systems. Nature, doi:10.1038/nature12107

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New Modeling Approach Transforms Imaging Technologies

New Modeling Approach Transforms Imaging Technologies | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it
Researchers are improving the performance of technologies ranging from medical CT scanners to digital cameras using a system of models to extract specific information from huge collections of data and then reconstructing images like a jigsaw puzzle...
ComplexInsight's insight:

Traditionally, imaging sensors and software are designed to detect and measure a particular property. The new approach does the inverse, collecting huge quantities of data and later culling specific information from this pool of information using specialized models and algorithms. The approach aims to capture as many measurements we possible with given sensors and then use models to extract and reconstruct features.  The new approach is called model-based iterative reconstruction, or MBIR and echoes how humans solve problems by trial and error, assessing probability and discarding extraneous data and is applicable to both scientific and consumer data processing problems such as image recognition. Great article and very interesting tech. Click on image or title to learn more.

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A Light Bulb with a Computer and Projector Inside from the MIT Media Lab Augments Reality | MIT Technology Review

A Light Bulb with a Computer and Projector Inside from the MIT Media Lab Augments Reality | MIT Technology Review | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

The concept of turning any surface into a computational interface continues to bubble up.  Natan Linder a student at MIT’s Media Lab, thinks that fitting one inside a light bulb socket, together with a camera and projector, could provide a revolutionary new kind of interface—by turning any table or desk into a simple touch screen. The LuminAR device under development at MIT's Media Lab can project interactive images onto a surface, sensing when a person’s finger or hand points to an element within those images. Linder describes LuminAR as an augmented-reality system because the images and interfaces it projects can alter the function of a surface or object.  Click on the image or the title to learn more.

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2012 Photomicrography Competition | Nikon Small World

2012 Photomicrography Competition | Nikon Small World | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

 Nikon's Small World  Photomicrography Competition  2012 results are online. The visual delights of the real world are an inspiration to anyone involved in visualization. and this years competition results are no exception -  a visually stunning delight. Click on the image or the title to enjoy.

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Travel Through 2,000 Years of Paris' History With Interactive 3D Model

Travel Through 2,000 Years of Paris' History With Interactive 3D Model | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

Dassault has created Paris 3d, an interactive model that transports any Internet user through two millennia of the city's history. The 3D visualization application enables viewers to see the French capital developed since its Roman conquest in 52 BC until the present day. Witness the construction of the Bastille and Notre Dame, navigate through winding stone streets in the middle ages and visit the 1889 World’s Fair to see the revelation of the Eiffel Tower. Click on the image or the title to learn more.

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Data Visualizations, Challenges, Community

Data Visualizations, Challenges, Community | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

We use a lot of visualisation tools as part of our workflows - ranging from gephi which is interegrated into our analytics tools and workflow engine, d3.js (and a bunch of others) in our web reporting frameworks thoguht to realtime interactive 3D. As a result sites like Visualizing.org a community of creative people making sense of complex issues through data and design are great sources of information, knowledge and inspiration. If you are interested in information presentation and data visualization -its a site worth visting regularly. Click on the image ot title to learn more...

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Information Is Beautiful | Ideas, issues, knowledge, data - visualized!

Information Is Beautiful | Ideas, issues, knowledge, data - visualized! | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

Information is Beautiful, the Web site on data visualization created by independent information designer David McCandless, soon will be giving a total of $30,000 in awards for, you guessed it, beautiful and informative graphics. The shortlist was just announced on August 10, and winners will be revealed in mid-September. Click on the image or the title to learn more.

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Writing graphics software gets easier and faster with new language

Writing graphics software gets easier and faster with new language | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it


A new programming language for image-processing algorithms called Halide  yields code that’s  often much shorter and clearer — but also faster than traditional programming languages such as C++ Click on the image or title to learn more.

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Data visualisation DIY: our top tools

Data visualisation DIY: our top tools | Complex Insight  - Understanding our world | Scoop.it

Just starting out in visualising your data? Looking for something simple to use? Good quick guide to available tools from Simon Rogers and co at the Guardian

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