ESTIMATES OF THE DOUBLE DETERMINANTS OF QUATERNION MATRICES

An estimate of the upper bound is given for the double determinant of the sum of two arbitrary quaternion matrices, and meanwhile the lower bound on the double determinant is established especially for the sum of two quaternion matrices which form an assortive pair. As applications, some known results are obtained as corollaries and a question in the matrix determinant theory is answered completely.

Influence fast or later:Two types of influencers in social networks

In real-world networks,there usually exist a small set of nodes that play an important role in the structure and function of networks.Those vital nodes can influence most of other nodes in the network via a spreading process.While most of the existing works focused on vital nodes that can maximize the spreading size in the final stage,which we call final influencers,recent work proposed the idea of fast influencers,which emphasizes nodes’spreading capacity at the early stage.Despite the recent surge of efforts in identifying these two types of influencers in networks,there remained limited research on untangling the differences between the fast influencers and final influencers.In this paper,we firstly distinguish the two types of influencers:fast-only influencers and final-only influencers.The former is defined as individuals who can achieve a high spreading effect at the early stage but lose their superiority in the final stage,and the latter are those individuals that fail to exhibit a prominent spreading performance at the early stage but influence a large fraction of nodes at the final stage.Further experiments are based on eight empirical datasets,and we reveal the key differences between the two types of influencers concerning their spreading capacity and the local structures.We also analyze how network degree assortativity influences the fraction of the proposed two types of influencers.The results demonstrate that with the increase of degree assortativity,the fraction of the fast-only influencers decreases,which indicates that more fast influencers tend to keep their superiority at the final stage.Our study provides insights into the differences and evolution of different types of influencers and has important implications for various empirical applications,such as advertisement marketing and epidemic suppressing.

Folding rate prediction using complex network analysis for proteins with two- and three-state folding kinetics

It is a challenging task to investigate the different in- fluence of long-range and short-range interactions on two-state and three-state folding kinetics of protein. The networks of the 30 two-state proteins and 15 three-state proteins were constructed by complex networks analysis at three length scales: Protein Contact Networks, Long-range Interaction Networks and Short-range Interaction Networks. To uncover the relationship between structural properties and folding kinetics of the proteins, the correlations of protein network parameters with protein folding rate and topology parameters contact order were analyzed. The results show that Protein Contact Networks and Short-range Interaction Networks (for both two-state and three-state proteins) exhibit the “small-world” property and Long-range Interaction networks indicate “scale-free” behavior. Our results further indicate that all Protein Contact Networks and Short- range Interaction networks are assortative type. While some of Long-range Interaction Networks are of assortative type, the others are of disassortative type. For two-state proteins, the clustering coefficients of Short-range Interaction Networks show prominent correlation with folding rate and contact order. The assortativity coefficients of Short-range Interaction Networks also show remarkable correlation with folding rate and contact order. Similar correlations exist in Protein Contact Networks of three-state proteins. For two-state proteins, the correlation between contact order and folding rate is determined by the numbers of local contacts. Short- range interactions play a key role in determining the connecting trend among amino acids and they impact the folding rate of two-state proteins directly. For three-state proteins, the folding rate is determined by short-range and long-range interactions among residues together.

Sexual dichromatism and assortative mating by multiple plumage color traits in wild Chestnut Thrush

Sex differences in plumage color are common in bird species.Some bird species are regarded as sexually monochromatic in human visual systems,and in recent years,some species are found to be of cryptic(to human)sexual dichromatism by spectrophotometric techniques.However,the functions of plumage color are still less understood in these species.Here,we focused on plumage color traits in the Chestnut Thrush(Turdus rubrocanus),which is considered as a sexually monochromatic bird by human observers.We used spectrometer analyses and avian visual modeling to investigate the color traits of males and females,and whether these color traits are involved in assortative mating.We found that Chestnut Thrush showed sexual dichromatism in bill,throat and wing,and pairs mated assortatively with colorations of throat,chest,crown and wing.We also found that color of tarsus was different between two consecutive years.These results revealed that Chestnut Thrush is sexually dichromatic in the avian visual system,and plumage color traits play important roles in mate choice.

<i>Wolbachia</i>induces sexual isolation in <i>Drosophila melanogaster</i>and <i>Drosophila simulans</i>

Wolbachia are a group of intracellular bacteria, ma-ternally transmitted from infected females to their offspring, which affect a wide range of arthropods. Their presence is associated with Cytoplasmic Incompatibility (CI) in crosses between infected males and uninfected females and between populations carrying different strains of Wolbachia. The negative influence of Wolbachia a infection on progeny fitness in incompatible crosses can be considered a first step in the appearance of reproductive isolation between infected and uninfected individuals. In this work, we examined the possibility of assortative mating in response to Wolbachia infection, a response that evolved as an incipient mechanism of sexual isolation in the species D. melanogaster and D. simulans. We found that the females of each species could detect the presence of the bacterium in the other sex and chose to mate with males who had the same state of infection, whereas the males randomly attempted to mate with both infected and uninfected females. Thus, Wolbachia may act as an additive factor influencing sexual isolation in Drosophila populations and may play a role in speciation events.

Dynamics and interactions of blog-based science communication:A case study of blogging activities in China related to 2011 Japanese seismic and nuclear power crisis

Purpose: This paper tries to understand the dynamics of scientific communication systems during crises by investigating as a case study the blogging activities that took place during the period of the 2011 earthquake and related events in Japan. Interactions between bloggers and registered users are studied quantitatively and qualitatively at Sciencenet.cn, an influential science-related blogosphere in China.Design/methodology/approach: The editors of Sciencenet.cn compiled a special issue of science blog articles under the title Analysis of the Japanese Earthquake. We developed a spider program and downloaded from this special issue the metadata about title, content,publishing time, total read count, reply count and recommendation count, and further collected information about bloggers and recommenders. We then sent a short message to the bloggers who wrote articles on these emergencies, asking for their educational and professional background.Findings: We found that knowledge reflected in the blog articles is strongly related to the educational and professional background of bloggers. Knowledge diffusion is facilitated by interactions, such as recommendations, comments and answers. Interactions via comments and recommendations are of an assortative nature: A blog article is more likelyto be commented on and recommended by those bloggers who write on the same or similar topics than by those writing on a different one. Registered users tend to give comments on articles dealing with the topic that they recommend, and vice versa.Interaction in the intersection of two or three topics is more intense than that within one topic. The impact of blog articles is also influenced by other factors, such as the reputation of the blogger and the type of information they contain.Implications and limitations: It is confirmed that studying blogs is a valid approach within informetric studies. Yet, we only studied one triple(earthquake, tsunami, nuclear disaster) event based on data originating from one Chinese blog website. More events should be studied.Originality/value: Informetric studies based on blogs are still relatively few. Using science blogs and combining comments on a triple event with the knowledge background of bloggers in China is even less common. As such this contribution enhances our knowledge on this new form of science communication activity.

Influences of the Paddy Rices with Different Moistures on the Head Rice Recovery

A major component rice variety of Xiangwanxian 9 (a late Indica variety) with 13.1%, 15.6% and 18. 3% of the moisture was respectively mixed with three ad-ditive varieties in 13% of moisture at ration of 7:3 for processing assorted rices. Head rice recovery of the treatments was determined 24 hours later. Analysis indicated sig-nificant differences exist in the effects produced by the component varieties, their moistures and the component variety moisture.

An Ideal Assortative Network and Synchronization

This paper proposes a novel complex network with assortative property based on multi-center networks. The average path length and clustering coefficient of the network are calculated, and the impact on the network topology is investigated. A simple dynamic system established on the proposed network is used to analyze how the assortative property of the network affects synchronization.

A Mixed Mechanism of Weighted-Driven and Inner Selection in Networks

For most networks, the weight of connection is changing with their attachment and inner affinity. By introducing a mixed mechanism of weighted-driven and inner selection, the model exhibits wide range power-law distributions of node strength and edge weight, and the exponent can be adjusted by not only the parameter δ but also the probability q. Furthermore, we investigate the weighted average shortest distance, clustering coefficient, and the correlation of our network. In addition, the weighted assortativity coefficient which characterizes important information of weighted topological networks has been discussed, but the variation of coefficients is much smaller than the former researches.

Assortment of Deep Mantle Fluids and Their Products in Kimberlites from China

Based on studies of petrography, mineralogy and mineral chemistry, deep mantle fluids and their products in kimberlites and diamonds can be assorted into the ultradeep fluid-transmitted minerals with an oxygen-free feature, the deep fluid metasomatized-minerals characterized by enrichment in TiO2, K2O, BaO, REE and Fe3+, and the deep fluid-reformed minerals. The three types show a successive descent in fluid origin depth and metasomatism strength, and they have brought forth a series of corresponding metasomatic products.

Reproductive isolation in the Elegans-Group of Caenorhabditis

Reproductive isolation is the basis of the Biological Species Definition and can be a driving force of speciation. Theoretical studies have provided models of how reproductive isolation can arise within individual species. Genetic tests of these models are limited to populations in which reproductive isolation is present but not complete. Here, reproductive isolation in the Elgans-Group of the nematode genus Caenorhabditis is reviewed. Pre-mating barriers, assortative fertilization and post-zygotic barriers all have been observed in this clade. In some combinations of species, fertile F1 hybrids can be obtained. Therefore, the Elegans-Group of Caenorhabditis is poised to become an important experimental system for the study of reproductive isolation.

RESEARCH ON THE QUALITY PRICE RATIO OF COKING COAL

If assortment priee parity of Clase coking coal and its qtalty price danrcnee is nonreasonable, it deren't gulde in Anprotrig tbe quallry metaliurgical coking coal and may be influence theeconomic benefit of metallurgical enterprises. This paper propose the principles and mathematicmodel for determination aseortment party of clean cokingcoal and its quality difference of ash content in clean coking coal in order to urge wasbenes into producing superior clean coking cleal whichis under condition of consideration both interest waskeries and interest metallurgicai industry. It canbe used as a method in theory to make price strategies under condition of socialism maket economicfor washeries of clean coking coal

Analysis and Improvement Measures for the Current Situation of Spare Parts Management (SPM)

Based on an investigation on the current situation of SPM in some enterprises, this paper presents the common probletns and poor fields existing in SPM in enterprise; analyzes the reasons which resulted in the situation, and then puts forward some feasible measures to improve it. Lastly, some fields that should be paid more attention in SPM are provided.

An Enhanced Conic Reformulation for Capacity-Constrained Assortment Optimization Under the Mixture of Multinomial Logit Model

In this work,we study the conic quadratic mixed-integer formulation for assortment optimization problem under the mixture of multinomial logit(MMNL)model.The MMNL model generalizes the widely studied multinomial logit choice model and can approximate any random utility model with an arbitrary additive error.An important operational decision problem in revenue management is assortment optimization problem,which aims to find a subset of products to make available to customers that maximizes the expected revenue of the retailer.It is known that assortment optimization problem under the MMNL model is NP-hard and inapproximable within any constant performance guarantee.Commonly used methods for solving such problem are heuristical approaches or customized combinatorial optimization approaches.In the meanwhile,studies related to global optimization approaches are relatively scarce.We propose an enhanced conic quadratic mixed-integer formulation for solving assortment optimization problem under the MMNL model with a higher computational efficiency.Furthermore,we conduct extensive numerical experiments to demonstrate that the proposed reformulation significantly outperforms the existing conic reformulations for assortment optimization under the MMNL model.

Sexual selection and magic traits in speciation with gene flow

The extent to which sexual selection is involved in speciation with gene flow remains an open question and the sub- ject of much research. Here, we propose that some insight can be gained from considering the concept of magic traits （i.e., traits involved in both reproductive isolation and ecological divergence）. Both magic traits and other, ＂non-magic＂, traits can contribute to speciation via a number of specific mechanisms. We argue that many of these mechanisms are likely to differ widely in the ex- tent to which they involve sexual selection. Furthermore, in some cases where sexual selection is present, it may be prone to in- hibit rather than drive speciation. Finally, there are a priori reasons to believe that certain categories of traits are much more ef- fective than others in driving speciation. The combination of these points suggests a classification of traits that may shed light on the broader role of sexual selection in speciation with gene flow. In particular, we suggest that sexual selection can act as a driver of speciation in some scenarios, but may play a negligible role in potentially common categories of magic traits, and may be likely to inhibit speciation in common categories of non-magic traits [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 510-516, 2012].

The complexities of female mate choice and male polymorphisms： Elucidating the role of genetics, age, and mate-choice copying

Genetic, life history, and environmental factors dictate patterns of variation in sexual traits within and across popula- tions, and thus the action and outcome of sexual selection. This study explores patterns of inheritance, diet, age, and mate-choice copying on the expression of male sexual signals and associated female mate choice in a phenotypically diverse group of Schizo- cosa wolf spiders. Focal spiders exhibit one of two male phenotypes： ＇omamented＇ males possess large black brushes on their fo- relegs, and ＇non-ornamented＇ males possess no brushes. Using a quantitative genetics breeding design in a mixed population of ornamented/non-ornamented males, we found a strong genetic basis to male phenotype and female choice. We also found that some ornamented males produced some sons with large brushes and others with barely visible brushes. Results of diet manipula- tions and behavioral mating trials showed no influence of diet on male phenotype or female mate choice. Age post maturation, however, influenced mate choice, with younger females being more likely to mate with ornamented males. A mate-choice copy- ing experiment found that, following observations of another female＇s mate choice/copulation, virgin mature females tended to match the mate choice （ornamented vs. non-ornamented males） of the females they observed. Finally, analyses of genetic varia- tion across phenotypically pure （only one male phenotype present） vs. mixed （both phenotypes present） populations revealed ge- netic distinction between phenotypes in phenotypically-pure populations, but no distinctionin phenotypically-mixed populations. The difference in patterns of genetic differentiation and mating across geographic locations suggests a complex network of fac- tors contributing to the outcome of sexual selection .

DEMAND ESTIMATION AND ASSORTMENT PLANNING IN WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS

This paper provides an efficient and useful approach for demand estimation and assortment planning of cell phone cards in wireless communication industry. We use maximum likelihood estimation to estimate the primary demand and substitution probability of each cell phone card based on historical sales data. This estimation model is nonlinear, so we transform it to a mixed integer linear programming model by logarithmic transformations and piecewise＇linear approximation. On the basis of the estimation results, we can make assortment planning. Considering the resource of cell phone cards is limited, we jointly optimize the assortment and quantity planning of cell phone cards. In numerical study, we apply our approach to a large mobile service provider in China and frod our approach can increase the revenue of this mobile service provider by 23.69%. Sensitivity analysis shows the mobile service provider should provide more assortments to increase revenue when the types of cell phone cards that can be assigned to each store are limited.

The relationship between intraspecific assortative mating and reproductive isolation between divergent populations

The term ＇assortative mating＇ has been applied to describe two very different phenomena： （1） the tendency for indi- viduals to choose phenotypically similar mates from among conspecifics; or （2） the tendency to prefer conspecific over hete- rospecific mates （behavioral reproductive isolation）. Both forms of assortative mating are widespread in nature, but the relation- ship between these behaviors remains unclear. Namely, it is plausible that a preference for phenotypically similar conspecifics in cidentally reduces the probability of mating with phenotypically divergent heterospecifics. We present a model to calculate how the level of reproductive isolation depends on intraspecific assortative mating and the phenotypic divergence between species. For empirically reasonable levels of intraspecific assortment on a single trait axis, we show that strong reproductive isolation requires very substantial phenotypic divergence. We illustrate this point by applying our model to empirical data from threespine stickleback Gasterosteus aculeatus and Darwin＇s Finches （Geospiza spp）. We conclude that typical levels of intraspecific assortment cannot generally be extrapolated to explain levels of interspecific reproductive isolation. Instead, reproductive isolation between species likely arises from different mate choice behaviors, or multivariate assortative mating [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 484-492, 2012].

Variation in sexual dimorphism and assortative mating do not predict genetic divergence in the sexually dimorphic Goodeid fish Girardinichthys multiradiatus

Sexual dimorphism is often used as a proxy for the intensity of sexual selection in comparative studies of sexual selection and diversification. The Mexican Goodeinae are a group of livebearing freshwater fishes with large variation between species in sexual dimorphism in body shape. Previously we found an association between variation in morphological sexual dimorphism between species and the amount of gene flow within populations in the Goodeinae. Here we have examined if mor- phological differentiation within a single dimorphic species is related to assortative mating or gene flow between populations. In the Amarillo fish Girardinichthys multiradiatus studies have shown that exaggerated male fins are targets of female preferences. We find that populations of the species differ in the level of sexual dimorphism displayed due to faster evolution of differences in male than female morphology. However, this does not predict variation in assortative mating tests in the laboratory; in fact dif- ferences in male morphology are negatively correlated with assortative mating. Microsatellite markers reveal significant genetic differences between populations. However, gene flow is not predicted by either morphological differences or assortative mating. Rather, it demonstrates a pattern of isolation by distance with greater differentiation between watersheds. We discuss the caveats of predicting behavioural and genetic divergence from so-called proxies of sexual selection [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 440-452, 2012].

Can sexual selection and disassortative mating contribute to the maintenance of a shell color polymorphism in an inter- tidal marine snail？

Littorina fabalis is an intertidal snail commonly living on the brown algae Fucus vesiculosus and showing frequent shell-color polymorphisms in the wild. The evolutionary mechanism underlying this polymorphism is currently unknown. Shell color variation was studied in mated and non-mated specimens of this species from different microareas in one locality from NW Spain, in order to estimate sexual selection and assortative mating that may （still） be operating in this population. The analyses across microareas allowed us to investigate frequency-dependent selection and assortative mating components, mechanisms that could maintain the polymorphism. The presence of shell scars caused by crab attacks, an environmental variable not related with sexual selection or assortative mating, was used as experimental control. This study provides new evidence of significant disas- sortative mating and some degree of sexual selection against some shell colors, supporting the results found 21 years ago in a similar study, i.e. in the same species and locality. The similarity of these estimates during the studied period suggests that this experimental approach is consistent and valid to be extended to other populations and organisms. In addition, sexual selection and assortative mating estimates did not change across microareas differing in shell color frequencies, suggesting than the polymor- phism can not be maintained by a frequency-dependent （sexual selection-based） mechanism. Our main hypothesis is that negative assortative mating could contribute to the maintenance of the polymorphism, perhaps by males showing distinct female color preferences when searching for mates [Current Zoology 58 （3）： 463-474, 2012].