This paper considers a scalable lattice that may be used to generate models of random small world networks. We describe its properties and investigate its robustness to random node failures. We also define group and reachability coefficients to characterize the properties of the network. Simulation results are presented that show that the new coefficients well describe a social network.

One of the major developments that resulted from the human genome sequencing projects was a better understanding of the role of non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs). NcRNAs are divided into several different categories according to size and function; however, one shared feature is that they are not translated into proteins. In this review, we will discuss relevant aspects of ncRNAs, focusing on two main ty...

We have recently received, from a highly placed scientific source, a remarkable document. It was appended to an e-mail announcement about a computer virus and appears to be the keynote address from a convention of the World Pathogen Association (WPA). The text bears the label "as delivered" and is entitled "Our Infective Future: The New Agenda." In it, the WPA leader, the Presidential Prion, an...

A crucial problem of knowledge representation is that it has to be formal and informal at the same time. Here, ‘formal’ refers to knowledge as a mathematical concept which is thought, and ‘informal’ to knowledge as something which is experienced, i.e. a ‘real’ world phenomenon. This paper is an attempt to reconcile these potentially contradictory conditions. Our aim is to show that a cognitivel...

A goal of second-generation expert systems is to supply knowledge engineers with common frameworks to develop expert systems, thus, eliminating the need to build entirely new systems for each application. A mechanism is a unit of problem-solving knowledge from which such a framework can be developed. We define what a mechanism is and how it can be engineered to compose models of problem solving...

There is a growing tendency to release all sorts of public data on the Internet. The greater availability of interoperable public data catalyses secondary use of such data, which leads to growth of information industries and better government transparency. Open data policies may, nevertheless, be in conflict with the individual’s right to information privacy as protected by the Data Protection ...