We study the small-world network model, which mimics the transition between regular-lattice and random-lattice behavior in social networks of increasing size. We contend that the model displays a normal continuous phase transition with a divergent correlation length as the degree of randomness...

The critical boundaries separating ordered from chaotic behavior in randomly wired S-state networks are calculated. These networks are a natural generalization of random Boolean net and are proposed as an extended approach to genetic regulatory systems, sets of cells in different states or...

A recent study linked the behavior of buying and selling in financial markets to the phenomenon of phase transitions that occur in physical systems with many interacting components. We urge caution with such findings. In particular, we show that the statistical technique employed in the study...

Influence of surrounding matter on the properties of clusters is considered by an approach combining the methods of statistical and quantum mechanics. A cluster is treated as a bound N-particle system and surrounding matter as thermostat. It is shown that, despite arbitrary strong interactions...

We generalize a wide class of time-continuous microscopic traffic models to include essential aspects of driver behaviour not captured by these models. Specifically, we consider (i) finite reaction times, (ii) estimation errors, (iii) looking several vehicles ahead (spatial anticipation), and...

In this paper, based on some mathematical results obtained by Yamabe, Osgood, Phillips and Sarnak, we demonstrate that in dimensions three and higher the famous Ginzburg–Landau equations used in the theory of phase transitions can be obtained (without any approximations) by minimization of the...

Equilibrium thermodynamical characteristics of ferrosmectics are estimated under conditions when both magnetic and steric interparticle interactions are taken into account. Deformation and condensation phase transitions in ferrosmectics are studied.