Search

Although negative ties may cause stress and harm well-being, they are also considered fundamental in close and ongoing relationships. This study distinguishes positive, negative, and – when characterized by both valences – ambivalent ties. Analyzing almost 10,000 personal networks from the Swiss CH-X study shows that: (1) ambivalence among family members is more prevalent than among non-family members, (2) ambivalent family dyads or triads are not negatively associated with well-being, and (3) certain balanced family triads are associated with higher well-being and an unbalanced non-family triad is associated with lower well-being. These results suggest that conflicts are not necessarily detrimental to young adults' well-being. • Ambivalence among family members is more prevalent than among non-family members. • Ambivalent family dyads or triads are not associated with lower well-being. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • Dyadic intergroup relations adapt when placed in triadic structures. • The adaptation of relation from positive to negative is driven by norm of reciprocity. • The adaptation of relation from positive to negative is driven by structural balance. • The adaptation of relation from negative to positive is driven by structural balance. Abstract Structural balance theory explains how ties are formed in signed networks. A balanced triad, however, could be incidentally caused by balance-unrelated mechanisms. Teasing apart the multiple mechanisms that lead to balanced networks helps clarify the explanatory power of a theory. In a behavioral experiment, we investigated the transition of intergroup relations across the positive/negative boundary. Voluntary participants, recruited from mainland China and Taiwan, were placed in triadic networks, each facing two alters. We manipulated the attributes and relationships of the alters to examine how people adjust their relationships. Our experiment shows that people are more likely to change from behaving negatively to positively to an alter when they know the alter is negatively treated by the other alter. Conversely, people are more likely to change from behaving positively to negatively to an alter when they know the alter negatively treats the other alter. Beyond these effects, people are more likely to turn from positive to negative and vice versa to an alter when doing so achieves structural balance in a triad. Our study provides new experimental evidence for the structural balance theory in predicting the formation of signed networks when other conflating mechanisms are controlled for. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An acceptor-donor-radical triad based on tetrathiafulvalene (TTF)-fused (benzimidazol-2-yl)-pyridine (bzip) which is alkylated with a nitronyl nitroxide (NIT) radical derivative, has been designed and synthetized. Its X-ray structure has been refined showing a complex arrangement of head-to-tail dimers of the TTF-bzip moieties and a 1D network of short contacts between the NIT radicals. Its electrochemical behavior has been studied by cyclic voltammetry (CV) showing that the TTF and NIT moieties can be reversibly and independently oxidized. The occurrence of intramolecular ligand charge transfers (ILCT) of both TTF → bzip and TTF → NIT nature has been evidenced by UV–visible electronic absorption spectroscopy coupled to TD-DFT calculations. Moreover, these calculations and RPE measurements confirmed the radical form (S = ½) of the compound as well as the spin density mainly localized on the methyl-benzo-[1-oxyl-3-oxide-4,4,5,5-tetramethylimidazolin-2-yl] unit. Both emissions of the NIT radical and TTF-based molecular skeleton have been observed with a tunable intensity ratio depending on the irradiation energy. Finally, this new triad may be a valuable candidate for the construction of multi-property compounds by coordination of metallic ions either on the TTF-based molecular skeleton or on the NIT moieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conjugates based on porphyrin (porph) and rhodamine (rh) moieties linked by amide bonds, dyad 1 (porph-spacer-rh) and triad 2 (porph-spacer-rh-spacer-porph), were prepared respectively from precursor 1 and precursor 2 . The sensing ability of precursor 1 , dyad 1 and triad 2 towards the divalent metal ions Cu 2+ , Zn 2+ , Cd 2+ , Pb 2+ , Hg 2+ and the monovalent Hg + was explored in solution by absorption and fluorescence spectroscopy as well as in gas phase using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI)-TOF mass spectrometry. In solution one-metal-per-ligand molar ratio was obtained with precursor 1 and triad 2 , however, a two-metal-per-ligand molar ratio was observed with dyad 1 . Additionally, the results obtained by MALDI-TOF-MS confirmed the gas-phase sensing abilities of dyad 1 towards all metal ions tested and of triad 2 towards Zn 2+ . Computational DFT calculations confirm the same stoichiometry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigate the performance of TRIADS, a numerical implementation of a phase-resolving, nonlinear, spectral model describing directional wave evolution in intermediate and shallow water. TRIADS simulations of shoaling waves generated by Hurricane Bill, 2009 are compared to directional spectral estimates based on observations collected at the Field Research Facility of the US Army Corps Of Engineers, at Duck, NC. Both the ability of the model to capture the processes essential to the nonlinear wave evolution, and the efficiency of the numerical implementations are analyzed and discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We model the social and structural bases of a strong component using ERGM. [•] While mutual reachability in strong components suggests parity, we find hierarchy. [•] Some nodes are densely interconnected; others are weakly attached to the component. [•] Strong components stem from triadic clustering and lack of preferential attachment. [•] These structural processes link to multiplicity of social connectivity in Florence. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Social status and social capital frameworks are used to derive competing hypotheses about the emergence and structure of advice relations in organizations. Although both approaches build on a social exchange framework, they differ in their behavioral micro-foundations. From a status perspective, advice giving is a means to generate prestige, whereas asking advice decreases one''s relative standing. At a structural level these motivations are expected to result in an overrepresentation of non-reciprocal dyads and non-cyclical triadic structures in the advice network, as well as in active advice seekers being unlikely to be approached for advice, especially by active advice givers. From a social capital perspective, advice seeking creates obligations for the advice seeker. At the structural level, this results in an overrepresentation of reciprocal dyads and cyclical triads, and active advice seekers to be unpopular as targets of advice seeking, especially for active advice givers. Analyses of four waves of a longitudinal sociometric study of 57 employees of a Dutch Housing Corporation provide partial support for both approaches. In line with the social capital perspective, we find reciprocal advice relations to be overrepresented at the dyad level. Results at the triad level support the social status arguments, according to which high status individuals will avoid asking advice from low status individuals. The implications for macro-structural properties of intra-organizational advice network are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper inquires into structural explanations for triadic closure in networks of confidants with whom one discusses important personal matters. Building upon the assumption that meeting opportunities affect network characteristics, we primarily argue that the social contexts in which network members meet, substantially affect triadic closure. The main empirical findings are (a) that about sixty percent of the triads in core discussion networks are closed triads, which also means that a substantial part of one''s strong relations is unconnected, and (b) that meeting network members in the same social contexts is an important condition for, but certainly does not guarantee triadic closure. Importantly, the specific characteristics of social contexts explain why sharing certain contexts positively affects triadic closure, while sharing other contexts does not. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Evidence from many sources shows that triadic tendencies are important structural features of social networks (e.g. transitivity or triadic closure) and triadic configurations are the basis for both theoretical claims and substantive outcomes (e.g. strength of weak ties, tie stability, or trust). A contrasting line of research demonstrates that triads in empirical social networks are well predicted by lower order graph features (density and dyads), accounting for around 90% of the variability in triad distributions when comparing different social networks (Faust, 2006, 2007, 2008). These two sets of results present a puzzle: how can substantial triadic tendencies occur when triads in empirical social networks are largely explained by lower order graph features? This paper provides insight into the puzzle by considering constraints that lower order graph features place on the triad census. Taking a comparative perspective, it shows that triad censuses from 159 social networks of diverse species and social relations are largely explained by their lower order graph features (the dyad census) through formal constraints that force triads to occur in narrow range of configurations. Nevertheless, within these constraints, a majority of networks exhibit significant triadic patterning by departing from expectation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Collaborative problem solving (CPS) is an essential skill for the 21st century workforce but remains difficult to assess. Understanding how CPS skills affect CPS performance outcomes can inform CPS training, task design, feedback design, and automated assessment. We investigated CPS behaviors (individually and in co-occurring patterns) in 101 (N = 303) remote triads who collaboratively played an educational game called Physics Playground for 45-min. Team interactions consisted of open-ended speech occurring over videoconferencing with screen sharing. We coded participant's utterances relative to a CPS framework consisting of three facets (i.e., competencies such as constructing shared knowledge) manifested in 19 specific indicators (e.g., responds to others' questions/ideas). A matching technique was used to isolate the effect of CPS behaviors on CPS outcomes (quality of solution of a game level) controlling for pertinent covariates. Mixed-effects ordinal regression models indicated that proposing solution ideas and discussing results were the major predictors of CPS performance, and that team-member activities surrounding idea generation mattered. These findings highlighted the importance of both individual and collective contributions and social and cognitive skills in successful CPS outcomes. • Investigated collaborative problem solving (CPS) behaviors among triads in a game-based learning environment. • Coded participants' video-recorded CPS behaviors using 19 specific indicators. • Identified frequently-occurring interactive patterns among triads during collaborative gameplay. • Examined how CPS indicators and patterns affected game outcomes (gold vs. silver vs. no coin). • Results indicate that a blend of social and cognitive behaviors were predictive of CPS performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: New bichromophoric di- and trinuclear complexes were synthesized through coordinate strapping of one or two (bpy)2RuII/(phen)2RuII/Cp(PPh3)RuII moieties to [Zn{(MeS)8TAP}] 1, core. Thus five new complexes of the type [Zn{(MeS)8TAP}{Ru(bpy)2}][PF6]2 2, bent and linear [Zn{(MeS)8TAP}{Ru(bpy)2}{Ru(phen)2}][PF6]4 3 and 4, bent and linear [Zn{(MeS)8TAP}{Ru(bpy)2}{RuCp(PPh3)}][PF6]3 5 and 6, were synthesized and characterized using IR, 1H NMR, UV–visible, and mass spectral data. The trinuclear complexes 3–6 possessed bent (κ4-S2,S3,S7,S8)[RuII]2 and linear (κ4-S2,S3,S12,S13)[RuII]2 arrangements of the peripheral metallo-chromophore units. Unlike the two reversible reduction waves in complex 1 observed at E 1/2 −0.34 and −0.60V, only one reversible reduction wave was observed, between E 1/2 −0.56 to −0.58V vs. Ag/AgCl, in the di- and trinuclear complexes 2–6. Also in the anodic scans, the dinuclear complexes 2, as well as linear trinuclear complexes 4 and 6, exhibited two successive one electron oxidations, the first at E 1/2 ∼ 0.62V due to Ru(II)/Ru(III) process and second at E 1/2 ∼1.16V vs. Ag/AgCl due to {(MeS)8TAP}/{(MeS)8TAP}+ processes, while the bent trinuclear complexes 3 and 5 exhibited three successive one electron oxidations, i.e. one additional oxidation wave at E 1/2 0.88 and 0.90V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively. In the fluorescence measurements, Soret excitation led to strong [Zn{(MeS)8TAP}] centered S2 emission together with a rapid intercomponent excitation energy transfer (k 107–108 s−1) to peripheral Ru(II) unit that showed emission maxima between 535 and 545nm. Lifetime analysis showed that Ru(II)∗ emission predominated in the dinuclear complex 2, but its contribution dropped significantly upon formation of the trinuclear complexes, which has been explained in terms of relative variation of the LUMO energies of the linked chromophores in the excited states. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: In this paper, we present and make computations of two equivariant Nielsen type numbers and . The second one is new, while the first one extends and clarifies one given earlier by the author and Jianhan Guo. Both numbers were defined here in terms of Nielsen theory of M-ads introduced in the prequel to this work. The theory of M-ads is also used to give both upper and lower bounds on our numbers, and to make specific computations. Our numbers moreover, fit together in the same way that the two Nielsen type periodic point numbers and fit together. In particular, we show that is greater than or equal to a sum of numbers of the form , and give conditions for equality and Möbius inversion. The periodic point theory results are then seen to follow from what are actually generalizations of them. We work with both fixed point, and coincidence point classes, in the context of a category with essentiality which we introduced in the prequel on M-ads. It is intended that this paper be read in tandem with said prequel. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Previous research demonstrated that information contained in triad censuses from heterogeneous collections of social networks occupies a high dimensional space. Regions of this space, and locations of triad censuses within it, are largely defined by lower order network properties: network density and dyad distributions [Faust, K., 2006. Comparing social networks: size, density, and local structure. Metodološki Zvezki (Advances in Methodology and Statistics) 3 (2), 185–216; Faust, K., 2007. Very local structure in social networks. Sociological Methodology 37, 209–256]. The current paper extends comparative work on triad censuses by addressing three related issues. First, it determines and interprets the space occupied by triad censuses for 128 friendship networks gathered using a limited choice sociometric protocol. Second, it constructs a theoretical space for triad censuses expected given lower order graph properties and examines the dimensionality and shape of this space. Third, it brings together these lines of investigation to determine where the empirical triad censuses reside within the theoretical space. Results show that the empirical triad censuses are almost perfectly represented in one dimension (explaining 99% of the data) and that network density explains over 96% of the variance in locations on this dimension. In contrast, the theoretical space for triad censuses is at least four-dimensional, with distinctive regions defined by network density and dyad distributions. Within this theoretical space, the empirical triad censuses occupy a restricted region that closely tracks triad censuses expected given network density. Results differ markedly from prior findings that the space occupied by triad censuses from heterogeneous social networks is of high dimensionality. Results also reinforce observations about constraints that network size and density place on graph level indices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies of high-level models of visual object categorization have left unresolved issues of neurobiological relevance, including how features are extracted from the image and the role played by memory capacity in categorization performance. We compared the ability of a comprehensive set of models to match the categorization performance of human observers while explicitly accounting for the models’ numbers of free parameters. The most successful models did not require a large memory capacity, suggesting that a sparse, abstracted representation of category properties may underlie categorization performance. This type of representation––different from classical prototype abstraction––could also be extracted directly from two-dimensional images via a biologically plausible early-vision model, rather than relying on experimenter-imposed features. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Adult participants play a pivotal role in doctor–parent–child interactions at the general practitioner’s (GP’s) surgery. The child’s opportunities to participate are rather limited and parental speaking for the child is, in a way, institutionally co-constructed. This study aimed at further characterizing the relationships within this triad by developing a typology of doctor–parent–child interactions, which classified adult behavior in terms of supporting versus non-supporting child participation. The child’s participation was described in terms of display of involvement and turning for support. Analyses of 105 videos show that in most consultations, both GP and parent displayed non-supportive behavior. Despite the GPs’ initial efforts to involve the child in the interaction, 90% of the consultations ended up in a non-participatory way. During this last segment of diagnosis and treatment information, the child’s voice was hardly heard, as reflected in the minimal involvement displayed and the absence of turning to the parent for support. It is concluded that the bi-directional perspective chosen in this analysis allowed for a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms leading to the stereotypical picture in both literature and actual practice of triadic medical interactions being dominated by both adult participants. The low degree of child participation should not solely be seen as a consequence of adult behavior, but rather as a co-construction of all three participants. The results are discussed from a pedagogical perspective, and implications for medical practice are formulated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This article develops a cultural agreement approach to organizational culture that emphasizes how clusters of individuals reinforce potentially idiosyncratic understandings of many aspects of culture including the structure of network relations. Building on recent work concerning Simmelian tied dyads (defined as dyads embedded in three-person cliques), the research examines perceptions concerning advice and friendship relations in three entrepreneurial firms. The results support the idea that Simmelian tied dyads (relative to dyads in general) reach higher agreement concerning who is tied to whom, and who are embedded together in triads in organizations. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Steady-state and time-resolved studies indicate that for a sequence of porphyrin or chlorin chemical dimers Zn-cyclodimer→(ZnOEP)2Ph→(ZnOEP)2→(ZnHTPP)2→(ZnOEChl)2 with relative lowering of excited S1- and T1-states, the extra-ligation by pyridine (PYR) does not influence essentially on fluorescence parameters but leads to an increase of T1-states non-radiative decay (the most pronounced for dimers with higher lying T1-levels). For pyridinated dimers at 293 K T1-states quenching by molecular oxygen depends on the spacer flexibility and donor–acceptor interactions with PYR. In self-assembled triads and pentads energy and electron transfer (within a few ps) takes place from Zn-dimers to pyridyl substituted porphyrin extra-ligand, H2P, followed by the effective population of H2P T1-state. For these systems, bimolecular constants of H2P T1-states quenching by O2 decrease by 1.4–1.8 times with respect to those found for individual monomeric porphyrins. This effect is explained by the screening action of a strongly quenched Zn–porphyrin dimer subunit limiting the access of oxygen molecule to the excited extra-ligand. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]