pinecone/core-2020-05-10-deduplication huggingface dataset:
Microscopic Models for Welfare Measures Addressing a Reduction of
  Economic Inequality

We formulate a flexible micro-to-macro kinetic model which is able to explain
the emergence of income profiles out of a whole of individual economic
interactions. The model is expressed by a system of several nonlinear
differential equations which involve parameters defined by probabilities.
Society is described as an ensemble of individuals divided into income classes;
the individuals exchange money through binary and ternary interactions, leaving
the total wealth unchanged. The ternary interactions represent taxation and
redistribution effects. Dynamics is investigated through computational
simulations, the focus being on the effects that different fiscal policies and
differently weighted welfare policies have on the long-run income
distributions. The model provides a tool which may contribute to the
identification of the most effective actions towards a reduction of economic
inequality. We find for instance that, under certain hypotheses, the Gini index
is more affected by a policy of reduction of the welfare and subsidies for the
rich classes than by an increase of the upper tax rate. Such a policy also has
the effect of slightly increasing the total tax revenue.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. arXiv admin note: text overlap with
  arXiv:1403.001
Cultural Evolution as a Non-Stationary Stochastic Process

We present an individual based model of cultural evolution, where interacting
agents are coded by binary strings standing for strategies for action,
blueprints for products or attitudes and beliefs. The model is patterned on an
established model of biological evolution, the Tangled Nature Model (TNM),
where a `tangle' of interactions between agents determines their reproductive
success. In addition, our agents also have the ability to copy part of each
other's strategy, a feature inspired by the Axelrod model of cultural
diversity. Unlike the latter, but similarly to the TNM, the model dynamics goes
through a series of metastable stages of increasing length, each characterized
by mutually enforcing cultural patterns. These patterns are abruptly replaced
by other patterns characteristic of the next metastable period. We analyze the
time dependence of the population and diversity in the system, show how
different cultures are formed and merge, and how their survival probability
lacks, in the model, a finite average life-time. Finally, we use historical
data on the number of car manufacturers after the introduction of the
automobile to the market, to argue that ourmodel can qualitatively reproduce
the flurry of cultural activity which follows a disruptive innovation
The Curse of Instability

High-dimensional computational challenges are frequently explained via the
curse of dimensionality, i.e., increasing the number of dimensions leads to
exponentially growing computational complexity. In this commentary, we argue
that thinking on a different level helps to understand, why we face the curse
of dimensionality. We introduce as a guiding principle the curse of
instability, which triggers the classical curse of dimensionality. Furthermore,
we claim that the curse of instability is a strong indicator for analytical
difficulties and multiscale complexity. Finally, we suggest some practical
conclusions for the analysis of mathematical models and formulate several
conjectures.Comment: 10 pages; commentary/editorial pape
Multi-utility service companies: a complex systems model of increasing resource efficiency

Domestic households account for a significant portion of energy consumption and carbon emissions in the United Kingdom. Gains in energy and resource efficiency are undermined by the continuing rise in consumption. A multiutility service company (MUSCo) could enable households to make efficiency improvements through energy technologies and demand management, thus reducing overall consumption. We present a system dynamics model for the domestic energy demand and supply system in the United Kingdom, in which MUSCos compete with traditional utility providers. The market transition toward a leasing contracted service is examined and various potential business models explored
When slower is faster

The slower is faster (SIF) effect occurs when a system performs worse as its
components try to do better. Thus, a moderate individual efficiency actually
leads to a better systemic performance. The SIF effect takes place in a variety
of phenomena. We review studies and examples of the SIF effect in pedestrian
dynamics, vehicle traffic, traffic light control, logistics, public transport,
social dynamics, ecological systems, and adaptation. Drawing on these examples,
we generalize common features of the SIF effect and suggest possible future
lines of research
Asynchronous Cellular Automata and Pattern Classification

This paper designs an efficient two-class pattern classifier utilizing
asynchronous cellular automata (ACAs). The two-state three-neighborhood
one-dimensional ACAs that converge to fixed points from arbitrary seeds are
used here for pattern classification. To design the classifier, we first
identify a set of ACAs that always converge to fixed points from any seeds with
following properties - (1) each ACA should have at least two but not huge
number of fixed point attractors, and (2) the convergence time of these ACAs
are not to be exponential. In order to address the first issue, we propose a
graph, coined as fixed point graph of an ACA that facilitates in counting the
fixed points. We further perform an experimental study to estimate the
convergence time of ACAs, and find that there are some convergent ACAs which
demand exponential convergence time. Finally, we find that there are 71 (out of
256) ACAs which can be effective candidates as pattern classifier. We use each
of the candidate ACAs on some standard data sets, and observe the effectiveness
of each ACAs as pattern classifier. It is observed that the proposed classifier
is very competitive and performs reliably better than many standard existing
algorithms.Comment: 32 pages, 6 figure
Crossings as a side effect of dependency lengths

The syntactic structure of sentences exhibits a striking regularity:
dependencies tend to not cross when drawn above the sentence. We investigate
two competing explanations. The traditional hypothesis is that this trend
arises from an independent principle of syntax that reduces crossings
practically to zero. An alternative to this view is the hypothesis that
crossings are a side effect of dependency lengths, i.e. sentences with shorter
dependency lengths should tend to have fewer crossings. We are able to reject
the traditional view in the majority of languages considered. The alternative
hypothesis can lead to a more parsimonious theory of language.Comment: the discussion section has been expanded significantly; in press in
  Complexity (Wiley
Crossings as a side effect of dependency lengths

The syntactic structure of sentences exhibits a striking regularity: dependencies tend to not cross when drawn above the sentence. We investigate two competing explanations. The traditional hypothesis is that this trend arises from an independent principle of syntax that reduces crossings practically to zero. An alternative to this view is the hypothesis that crossings are a side effect of dependency lengths, that is, sentences with shorter dependency lengths should tend to have fewer crossings. We are able to reject the traditional view in the majority of languages considered. The alternative hypothesis can lead to a more parsimonious theory of language.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft)The discussion section has been expanded significantl
Compression and the origins of Zipf's law for word frequencies

Here we sketch a new derivation of Zipf's law for word frequencies based on optimal coding. The structure of the derivation is reminiscent of Mandelbrot's random typing model but it has multiple advantages over random typing: (1) it starts from realistic cognitive pressures, (2) it does not require fine tuning of parameters, and (3) it sheds light on the origins of other statistical laws of language and thus can lead to a compact theory of linguistic laws. Our findings suggest that the recurrence of Zipf's law in human languages could originate from pressure for easy and fast communication.Peer ReviewedPostprint (author's final draft
Contagion processes on urban bus networks in Indian cities

Bus transportation is considered as one of the most convenient and cheapest
modes of public transportation in Indian cities. Due to their
cost-effectiveness and wide reachability, they help a significant portion of
the human population in cities to reach their destinations every day. Although
from a transportation point of view they have numerous advantages over other
modes of public transportation, they also pose a serious threat of contagious
diseases spreading throughout the city. The presence of numerous local spatial
constraints makes the process and extent of epidemic spreading extremely
difficult to predict. Also, majority of the studies have focused on the
contagion processes on scale-free network topologies whereas,
spatially-constrained real-world networks such as, bus networks exhibit a
wide-spectrum of network topology. Therefore, we aim in this study to
understand this complex dynamical process of epidemic outbreak and information
diffusion on the bus networks for six different Indian cities using SI and SIR
models. This will allow us to identify epidemic thresholds for these networks
which will help us in controlling outbreaks by developing node-based
immunization techniques.Comment: Dynamical Systems: Theory and Application 2015, Polan
Scarless Cas9 Assisted Recombineering (no‐SCAR) in Escherichia coli, an Easy‐to‐Use System for Genome Editing

The discovery and development of genome editing systems that leverage the site‐specific DNA endonuclease system CRISPR/Cas9 has fundamentally changed the ease and speed of genome editing in many organisms. In eukaryotes, the CRISPR/Cas9 system utilizes a “guide” RNA to enable the Cas9 nuclease to make a double‐strand break at a particular genome locus, which is repaired by non‐homologous end joining (NHEJ) repair enzymes, often generating random mutations in the process. A specific alteration of the target genome can also be generated by supplying a DNA template in vivo with a desired mutation, which is incorporated by homology‐directed repair. However, E. coli lacks robust systems for double‐strand break repair. Thus, in contrast to eukaryotes, targeting E. coli chromosomal DNA with Cas9 causes cell death. However, Cas9‐mediated killing of bacteria can be exploited to select against cells with a specified genotype within a mixed population. In combination with the well described λ‐Red system for recombination in E. coli, we created a highly efficient system for marker‐free and scarless genome editing.National Institute of Food and Agriculture (U.S.) (Award 2013-67012-21022)United States. Army Research Office (Grant W911NF-09-0001
Daun02 inactivation of behaviorally-activated Fos-expressing neuronal ensembles

Learned associations about salient experiences (e.g. drug exposure, stress) and their associated environmental stimuli are mediated by a minority of sparsely distributed, behaviorally activated neurons coined ‘neuronal ensembles’. For many years, it was not known whether these neuronal ensembles played causal roles in mediating learned behaviors. However, in the last several years the ‘Daun02 inactivation technique’ in Fos-lacZ transgenic rats has proved very useful in establishing causal links between neuronal ensembles that express the activity-regulated protein ‘Fos’ and learned behaviors. Fosexpressing neurons in these rats also express the bacterial protein b-galactosidase (b-gal) in strongly activated neurons. When the prodrug Daun02 is injected into the brains of these rats 90 min after a behavior (e.g. drug-seeking) or cue exposure, then the Daun02 is converted into daunorubicin by b-gal, which selectively inactivates the Fos and b-galexpressing neurons that were activated 90 min before the Daun02 injection. This unit presents protocols for breeding the Fos-lacZ rats and conducting appropriate Daun02 inactivation experiments
Thinness in the pursuit for social safeness: An integrative model of social rank mentality to explain eating psychopathology

Pinto-Gouveia, J., Ferreira, C., & Duarte, C. (2014). Thinness in the pursuit for social safeness: An integrative model of social rank mentality to explain eating psychopathology. Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy, 21(2), 154-165. doi: 10.1002/cpp.1820.The current study tests a model based on social rank mentality investigating
whether women who feel inferior and believe others see them negatively, and feel under
pressure to compete to avoid social inferiority, present increased body dissatisfaction
and drive for thinness; and whether these associations are mediated by distinct
emotional regulation processes. The predictions from the model proposed were
examined through path analyses, in a sample of 125 women from the general population
and 102 patients with eating disorders.
Results showed that the path model explained 51% of body dissatisfaction
variance and 61% of drive for thinness and allowed us to confirm that social ranking
variables increased drive for thinness through higher levels of self-criticism and lower
levels of self-compassion.
The findings suggest that the nuclear eating disorders’ features arise as a result
of a more self-critical and less compassionate attitude with the self, in the context of a
mentality focused on social ranking and competition
Social rank and symptom change in eating disorders :
                    A 6-month longitudinal study

Background: Following previous cross-sectional research adopting an evolutionary approach to social rank and eating disorders, the present study explored the predictive value of social rank for changes in eating disorder symptoms in a 6-month longitudinal study. Methods: Seventy three women and men with a history of eating disorders were followed up over 6 months. A broad range of measures of social rank were used to determine whether social rank at baseline predicted residual changes in eating disorder symptoms. Results: Low social rank (in terms of perceived external entrapment and submissive behaviour) predicted an increase in symptoms of anorexia but not symptoms of bulimia. The predictive value of low social rank was not mediated by changes in depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Perceived low rank predicts an increase in anorexic symptoms. However further research is required to determine the precise nature of how social rank exerts its influence on the development of eating disorder symptoms
Adolescents with Anxiety and Depression: Is Social Recovery Relevant?

Social recovery has become a prominent aspect of mental health service design and delivery in the past decade. Much of the literature on social recovery is derived from first-person accounts or primary research with adult service users experiencing severe mental illness. There is a lack of both theoretical and empirical work that could inform consideration of how the concept of social recovery might apply to adolescents experiencing common (non-psychotic) mental health problems such as anxiety and depression. The current study was conducted to understand the process of experiencing anxiety and depression in young people. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine adolescents with anxiety and depression (seven girls and two boys aged 14-16 years) and 12 mothers who were recruited from a specialist Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service in the South of England. Thematic analysis indicated that young people do experience a process of 'recovery'; the processes participants described have some congruence with the earlier stages of adult recovery models involving biographical disruption and the development of new meanings, in this case of anxiety or depression, and changes in sense of identity. The accounts diverge with regard to later stages of adult models involving the development of hope and responsibility. The findings suggest that services should attend to social isolation and emphasise support for positive aspirations for future selves whilst also attending to young people's and parents' expectations about change. Methodological challenges face enquiry about 'recovery' given its connotations with cure in everyday language. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. KEY PRACTITIONER MESSAGE: Theoretical and empirical work on social recovery in young people and families is lacking. Using interviews, this study sought to understand the relevance of social recovery for adolescents with anxiety and depression and their mothers. Findings suggest some congruence with the earlier stages of adult recovery models involving meaning and identity. Findings diverge with regard to later stages of adult recovery models involving hope and responsibility. Social recovery in mental health services for young people needs significant empirical attention and critical debate
Memories of shame experiences with others and depression symptoms: the mediating role of experiential avoidance

Background: Shame experiences have been suggested to be related with
psychopathological symptoms and with self-relevant beliefs. Recent studies also suggest
that avoidant-focused strategies (e.g., rumination, thought suppression and dissociation)
mediate the impact of shame memories and depression symptoms. However, experiential
avoidance has been found to mediate the relation between early
experience of abuse and psychopathological symptoms. Our goal was to test the
mediating effect of experiential avoidance in the relation between both the nature of
shame experiences at the hands of caregivers and the centrality of shame memories with
others, and depression symptoms.
Method: Using structural equation modelling, we assessed the frequency and nature of
recalled shame experiences at the hands of caregivers, the centrality of shame experiences
with others throughout childhood and adolescence, experiential avoidance and depression
symptomatology in 161 participants from general population.
Results: Experiential avoidance mediates the impact of shame experiences with
caregivers and depression symptoms. Experiential avoidance also mediated the
association between the centrality of shame experiences with others and depression
symptoms.
Conclusion: Our results suggest that shame memories with others do not per se impact
on depression symptoms, but rather the unwillingness to experience them and the
attempts to control them. Hence, our results emphasize the importance of addressing
affect regulation processes such as avoidance when dealing with shame memories,
particularly with patients who experience depression symptoms
Without you there is no me: An interpersonal framing of psychosis

The general aim of this thesis was to explore experiences of interpersonal relationships of individuals with psychotic disorders and to explore patients’ understanding of their symptoms. The four studies covered different aspects and perspectives relevant to understanding the interpersonal context and its possible associations with psychosis. The aim of Study I was to explore how individuals with psychosis experience their early relationships with caregivers and how they describe themselves as children. The study was based on interviews with 7 men and 5 women (aged 29 to 63 years). Caregivers were portrayed as sexually, physically, and/or emotionally abusive, often in combination with a non-abusive caregiver described as resigned and passive. The childhood strategies such as daydreaming and ‘trying to become invisible’ that emerged resemble recognized childhood signs of psychotic disorders. In Study II, the aim was to explore how individuals with psychosis make sense of the content of their psychotic symptoms. The study was based on the same interviews used in Study I. A consistent theme in the participants’ understanding of the content of their psychotic symptoms was either an absence of interpersonal relationships or relationships described as abusive or intrusive. The aims of Study III were to compare the distribution of attachment styles in patients with psychosis with that in the general population and to investigate the relations between attachment and symptoms in the psychosis group. The study group consisted of 47 individuals (30 males and 17 females) with a mean age of 43.02 years. As expected, the secure attachment style was underrepresented in the study group compared with the general population group, and dismissing and fearful attachment styles were overrepresented in the clinical sample. The results also showed significant positive correlations between preoccupied attachment and severity of symptoms. In Study IV, the aim was to explore mental health professionals’ perceptions of parents of patients with psychosis. Participant observations were conducted during team meetings at a psychiatric care unit specializing in patients with psychosis. In the analysis, a complex and multifaceted image emerged of parents as seen by mental health professionals. Some parents were described as a helpful resource, but others were thought to hinder treatment, or to cause the patient emotional pain. Other parents were described as neglectful or abusive. In sum, this thesis shows that knowledge of interpersonal relationships could be valuable for understanding the early signs and adult symptoms of psychosis. These findings may be important to consider both in individual treatment and in treatment focusing on family interventions
Time to improve and recover from depressive symptoms and interpersonal problems in a clinical trial

28 Oct. 2013 [Epub ahead of print]Results froman earlier clinical trial comparing narrative therapywith cognitive–behavioural therapy (Lopes
et al., 2013) suggested that narrative therapy is efficacious for depression. However, there were significant
differences in symptom reduction on the Beck Depression Inventory-II, favouring cognitive–behavioural
therapy, if dropouts were included in the analysis, suggesting that time to recovery or improvement would
differ in both treatments. Contrarily, results showed that treatment assignment was not a predictor for differential
effect. Using a survival analytic approach, it was found that four sessions were necessary for 50%
improvement and 16 sessions for 50% recovery. Additionally, depressive symptoms changes occurred
significantly faster than interpersonal changes, again regardless of treatment assignment. These results
support previous findings of the dose–response literature and of the phase model of change, with the advantage
of being specific to psychotherapywith depressive clients. Practitioner Message For 50% of clients with major depressive disorder, it takes four sessions to improve and 16 sessions to recover, regardless of whether they were treated with narrative therapy or cognitive-behavioural therapy. For those clients who recover, they do so by session 11.Clients change depressive symptoms more consistently and much faster than they change interpersonal problems. For clients who will not recover during brief interventions and especially for clients who present strong interpersonal problems at onset, long-term treatment plans should be considered.More emphasis should be laid on symptomatic relief in the early stages of treatment and on interpersonal issues at later stages.This article was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT), by the grant PTDC/PSI-PCL/121525/2010 (Ambivalence and unsuccessful psychotherapy, 2011-2014) and by the PhD grant [SFRH/BD/47343/2008]. The authors would like to kindly thank Michael J. Lambert for the valuable input on the data analysis and encouragement. An earlier version of this article was presented at the 43rd International Meeting of the Society for Psychotherapy Research (SPR) held in Virginia Beach, VA, USA, in June 2012