Hierarchy property of traffic networks

The flourishing complex network theory has aroused increasing interest in studying the properties of real-world networks. Based on the traffic network of Chang-Zhu Tan urban agglomeration in central China, some basic network topological characteristics were computed with data collected from local traffic maps, which showed that the traffic networks were small-world networks with strong resilience against failure; more importantly, the investigations of as- sortativity coefficient and average nearestlneighbour degree implied the disassortativity of the traffic networks. Since traffic network hierarchy as an important basic property has been neither studied intensively nor proved quantitatively, the authors are inspired to analyse traffic network hierarchy with disassortativity and to finely characterize hierarchy in the traffic networks by using the n-degree-n-clustering coefficient relationship. Through numerical results and analyses an exciting conclusion is drawn that the traffic networks exhibit a significant hierarchy, that is, the traffic networks are proved to be hierarchically organized. The result provides important information and theoretical groundwork for optimal transport planning.

Yeast protein-protein interaction network model based on biological experimental data

Duplication and divergence have been widely recognized as the two domi- nant evolutionary forces in shaping biological networks, e.g., gene regulatory networks and protein-protein interaction （PPI） networks. It has been shown that the network growth models constructed on the principle of duplication and divergence can recapture the topo- logical properties of real PPI networks. However, such network models only consider the evolution processes. How to select the model parameters with the real biological experi- mental data has not been presented. Therefore, based on the real PPI network statistical data, a yeast PPI network model is constructed. The simulation results indicate that the topological characteristics of the constructed network model are well consistent with those of real PPI networks, especially on sparseness, scale-free, small-world, hierarchical modularity, and disassortativity.

Reproductive Biology and Herkogamy of <i>Psychotria elata</i>(Rubiaceae), a Distylous Species of the Tropical Rain Forests of Costa Rica

The floral morphology, breeding system and pollinators of four natural populations of Psychotria elata (Rubiaceae), found in tropical rainforests of Costa Rica, were examined. Anisoplethy and distylous morphology were observed in all studied populations. The number of flowers per inflorescence was significantly higher in the most abundant morph (p 0.05). Reciprocal herkogamy was detected in only one of the morphs in one population. Breakdown of the heteromorphic incompatibility system was observed in the populations Tirimbina and Rara Avis. Pollen production was significantly lower in thrum morphs of Tirimbina. Seedless fruits were formed in two of the four populations. One-seeded fruits were formed in all populations and were predominant in thrum morphs of Tirimbina (9.15%) and Zurqui (75%). According to our visitation records, hummingbirds, butterflies and moths are the main pollinators of P. elata flowers.

Major histocompatibility complex and mate choice in the polygynous primate:the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana)

The highly polymorphic genes within the major histocompatibility complex(MHC)not only play a major role in immunity resistance,but also seem to provide hints for mate choice in some animal populations.In the pres­ent study we investigated MHC-related mate choice in a small natural population(group size 40-55 individuals)of a polygynous primate,the Sichuan snub-nosed monkey(Rhinopithecus roxellana).We found that there was no evidence either for MHC-disassortative mating,or for females to mate with males based on MHC hetero­zygosity or specific alleles.Nevertheless,of the 11 alleles identified,we found that the frequencies of 2 alleles,Rhro-DRB2(P<0.01)and Rhro-DRB5(P<0.05)were higher in offspring than in their parents.These findings suggest that MHC-DRB in this population of R.roxellana is unlikely to be associated with mating preferences.Limited female opportunities for mate choice are likely due,in part,to the harem breeding structure present in R.roxellana,and the relatively small number of resident adult males in our study band(N=4-6).In addition,we suggest that differences in the frequency of particular alleles across generations may be linked to parasite resis­tance in a fluctuating environment;however,confirmation of this finding requires further study.