When people say 'we use #machinelearning in the business process.'
— Selin Cetin (@robolegist) February 28, 2019
Sometimes...I know that...🙄 pic.twitter.com/2XQSO5jsod
Thursday, February 28, 2019
A Robot Powered by "Advanced Machine Learning"
;)
Wednesday, February 27, 2019
New XKCD: "Differentiation and Integration"
Today's XKCD, about the algorithmic difference between symbolic differentiation and integration, is superb!
My favorite step of integration is "burn the evidence". ;)
My favorite step of integration is "burn the evidence". ;)
Tuesday, February 26, 2019
The Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial
A nice thing to do in Knoxville (say, during a visit to @NIMBioS) is to go to Market Square and take a look at the Tennessee Woman Suffrage Memorial.
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) February 26, 2019
Here is a short video, with a full view of the Memorial's historical text: https://t.co/EeWV57Jncyhttps://t.co/UShnfB3Px0
"Hipsters on Networks: How a Minority Group of Individuals Can Lead to an Antiestablishment Majority"
One of my papers came out in final form today. Here is the published paper. And here are some details.
Title Hipsters on Networks: How a Minority Group of Individuals Can Lead to an Antiestablishment Majority
Authors Jonas J. Juul and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: The spread of opinions, memes, diseases, and “alternative facts” in a population depends both on the details of the spreading process and on the structure of the social and communication networks on which they spread. One feature that can change spreading dynamics substantially is heterogeneous behavior among different types of individuals in a social network. In this paper, we explore how antiestablishment nodes (e.g., hipsters) influence the spreading dynamics of two competing products.We consider a model in which spreading follows a deterministic rule for updating node states (which indicate which product has been adopted) in which an adjustable probability $p_{Hip}$ of the nodes in a network are hipsters, who choose to adopt the product that they believe is the less popular of the two. The remaining nodes are conformists, who choose which product to adopt by considering which products their immediate neighbors have adopted. We simulate our model on both synthetic and real networks, and we show that the hipsters have a major effect on the final fraction of people who adopt each product: even when only one of the two products exists at the beginning of the simulations, a small fraction of hipsters in a network can still cause the other product to eventually become the more popular one. To account for this behavior, we construct an approximation for the steady-state adoption fractions of the products on \emph{k}-regular trees in the limit of few hipsters. Additionally, our simulations demonstrate that a time delay τ in the knowledge of the product distribution in a population, as compared to immediate knowledge of product adoption among nearest neighbors, can have a large effect on the final distribution of product adoptions. Using a local-tree approximation, we derive an analytical estimate of the spreading of products and obtain good agreement if a sufficiently small fraction of the population consists of hipsters. In all networks, we find that either of the two products can become the more popular one at steady state, depending on the fraction of hipsters in the network and on the amount of delay in the knowledge of the product distribution. Our simple model and analysis may help shed light on the road to success for antiestablishment choices in elections, as such success—and qualitative differences in final outcomes between competing products, political candidates, and so on—can arise rather generically in our model from a small number of antiestablishment individuals and ordinary processes of social influence on normal individuals.
Note: As we write in the paper, "The original hipster was in the network before it was popular."
Title Hipsters on Networks: How a Minority Group of Individuals Can Lead to an Antiestablishment Majority
Authors Jonas J. Juul and Mason A. Porter
Abstract: The spread of opinions, memes, diseases, and “alternative facts” in a population depends both on the details of the spreading process and on the structure of the social and communication networks on which they spread. One feature that can change spreading dynamics substantially is heterogeneous behavior among different types of individuals in a social network. In this paper, we explore how antiestablishment nodes (e.g., hipsters) influence the spreading dynamics of two competing products.We consider a model in which spreading follows a deterministic rule for updating node states (which indicate which product has been adopted) in which an adjustable probability $p_{Hip}$ of the nodes in a network are hipsters, who choose to adopt the product that they believe is the less popular of the two. The remaining nodes are conformists, who choose which product to adopt by considering which products their immediate neighbors have adopted. We simulate our model on both synthetic and real networks, and we show that the hipsters have a major effect on the final fraction of people who adopt each product: even when only one of the two products exists at the beginning of the simulations, a small fraction of hipsters in a network can still cause the other product to eventually become the more popular one. To account for this behavior, we construct an approximation for the steady-state adoption fractions of the products on \emph{k}-regular trees in the limit of few hipsters. Additionally, our simulations demonstrate that a time delay τ in the knowledge of the product distribution in a population, as compared to immediate knowledge of product adoption among nearest neighbors, can have a large effect on the final distribution of product adoptions. Using a local-tree approximation, we derive an analytical estimate of the spreading of products and obtain good agreement if a sufficiently small fraction of the population consists of hipsters. In all networks, we find that either of the two products can become the more popular one at steady state, depending on the fraction of hipsters in the network and on the amount of delay in the knowledge of the product distribution. Our simple model and analysis may help shed light on the road to success for antiestablishment choices in elections, as such success—and qualitative differences in final outcomes between competing products, political candidates, and so on—can arise rather generically in our model from a small number of antiestablishment individuals and ordinary processes of social influence on normal individuals.
Note: As we write in the paper, "The original hipster was in the network before it was popular."
Sunday, February 24, 2019
What Happens in Knoxville Stays in Knoxville
I am flying to Knoxville, Tennessee for a working group (on network neuroscience) at NIMBioS.
Saturday, February 23, 2019
A Novel-Writing Algorithm
This also works for academic writing.
😅 @tomgauld and the novel writing algorithm 📚💻 pic.twitter.com/5WTk6XxTXt
— Dr Jess Wade 👩🏻🔬 (@jesswade) February 23, 2019
Friday, February 22, 2019
"On Brand" Story from Childhood
A Topps baseball card had a batting average that was inconsistent with a player's hit and at-bat totals, so I typed (with a typewriter) and snail-mailed a letter to Topps to inform them that their calculation, their data, or both were wrong. I also asked them what the error was. https://t.co/u3KPrC5YSq
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) February 23, 2019
(They answered me. Apparently, the batting average was correct, but the data were entered incorrectly.)
Tales from the ArXiv: Speech-Balloon Detection in Comic Books
There is an intriguing new paper on the ArXiv called Deep CNN-based Speech Balloon Detection and Segmentation for Comic Books.
Finally, an important paper.
Choice quote from the abstract: "Qualitative results suggest that wiggly tails, curved corners, and even illusory contours do not pose a major problem."
Finally, an important paper.
Choice quote from the abstract: "Qualitative results suggest that wiggly tails, curved corners, and even illusory contours do not pose a major problem."
Thursday, February 21, 2019
Headline: "Bowser to Take Over Nintendo’s U.S. Division"
After seeing this news, now I know for sure that we're living in a dystopia.
Tuesday, February 19, 2019
Gandalf's Quote About Social Media
Indeed. ;)
"He hated it and loved it, as he hated and loved himself.
— Ethics in Bricks (@EthicsInBricks) February 19, 2019
He could not get rid of it. He had no will left in the matter."
- Gandalf (about social media) pic.twitter.com/aa5nmg2iNx
Monday, February 18, 2019
Impending Elimination of Ohio?
I don't know the context, but I hope my friends at Ohio State are ok. (Are you still out there, MBI people?)
Welp, it had a good run. pic.twitter.com/BdWfByZlhM
— Scott Kerr (@scott_kerr) February 18, 2019
Sunday, February 17, 2019
Heinlein's Checklist for Answering Mail
This is brilliant.
I particularly like that there is a box labeled "Please do not write to me again."
(Tip of the cap to Giuseppe Paleologo, who was responding to Steve Strogatz.)
I particularly like that there is a box labeled "Please do not write to me again."
(Tip of the cap to Giuseppe Paleologo, who was responding to Steve Strogatz.)
My Attempt to Save the World
You can't say that I didn't warn you.
The Machines, powered by Artificial Intelligence, have taken over! And massive computations are all giving physically implausible solutions!
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) February 17, 2019
We need mathematical models—especially complicated ones with networks and nonlinear systems—to save humanity!
Oh wait... this is real. https://t.co/DljKjpaKSb
Principal Mason Says: The Homework Sword Fight is On!
I have nothing to do with this idea (despite the principal's awesome name), but I am totally on board with this!
In fact, if I were a Principal Mason — in addition to the principal Mason, which is true in my own life, at least — I would definitely do this, now that I have seen this excellent idea.
(Tip of the cap to Helen Brown Nazzaro)
In fact, if I were a Principal Mason — in addition to the principal Mason, which is true in my own life, at least — I would definitely do this, now that I have seen this excellent idea.
(Tip of the cap to Helen Brown Nazzaro)
Saturday, February 16, 2019
A Clever Way to Increase my h-index
So if I violate this, I can improve my h-index...?
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) February 16, 2019
Hmmm... pic.twitter.com/YF3mGriXql
Friday, February 15, 2019
Topological Data Analysis of Geographic Distance to Donuts
Clearly, it must be done. It must be done!
Often from a single position you could see two @dunkindonuts #redditDataIsBeautiful pic.twitter.com/SDfHVXmKub
— Suzanne Sindi (@SuzanneSindi) February 16, 2019
My Academic Valentine
This was my contribution yesterday.
Roses are red.
— Mason Porter (@masonporter) February 14, 2019
The nodes have heterogeneous degrees.
The network may be heavy-tailed;
but it's probably not scale-free.#ScienceValentine#AcademicValentine
(Technically, "The network's degree distribution may be heavy-tailed;", but that's less poetic.)
Thursday, February 14, 2019
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
"I'm in the Best Academic Shape of My Life"
In the spirit of spring training, I feel like we should start new academic years and grant proposals with comments like "I'm in the best academic shape of my life." and "I'm just going to take it day to day this year.", especially if we've had a recent funding/research dry spell or a bad season (or after bad student reviews).
Tuesday, February 12, 2019
Tales from the ArXiv: Was the AI Eaten by a Grue?
This paper, called NAIL: A General Interactive Fiction Agent, describes an autonomous agent for general parser-based interactive-fiction games.
(In my quick glance, I noticed a couple of slightly misleading statements about Infocom and their text-adventure games. For example, one figure implicitly seems to suggest that Trinity came out in the early 1980s, but it actually came out in 1986. I know, I know: I am being very picky.)
I hope that they didn't get eaten by a grue.
Or, given that I mentioned Trinity, maybe they reached into the beehive for a third time?
(In my quick glance, I noticed a couple of slightly misleading statements about Infocom and their text-adventure games. For example, one figure implicitly seems to suggest that Trinity came out in the early 1980s, but it actually came out in 1986. I know, I know: I am being very picky.)
I hope that they didn't get eaten by a grue.
Or, given that I mentioned Trinity, maybe they reached into the beehive for a third time?
A Great Thread on Questions to Ask When Visiting Possible Graduate-School Destinations
This thread has lots of great advice for people visiting prospective graduate-school destinations!
Similar ideas apply when considering where to do a postdoc.
(Tip of the cap to Suzanne Sindi.)
Similar ideas apply when considering where to do a postdoc.
It's grad school visit season. You have a ~20 min meeting with someone, and you're considering devoting 5+ years of your life to working for/with them. Are they a great mentor? Or a toxic tormentor? Here's what questions to ask... /1
— Double Shelix (@doubleshelixpod) February 11, 2019
(Tip of the cap to Suzanne Sindi.)
Saturday, February 09, 2019
An Illustrated Guide from the 1950s for Using Telephones
This is pretty fantastic!
"When using the telephone, hold the receiver close to your ear. The receiver is the end without the cord." pic.twitter.com/zvciBAZdg7
— Scott Kerr (@scott_kerr) February 9, 2019
Monday, February 04, 2019
"The Use of Multilayer Network Analysis in Animal Behaviour"
One of my articles came out in final form today. Here are some details.
Title: The Use of Multilayer Network Analysis in Animal Behaviour
Authors: Kelly R. Finn, Matthew J. Silk, Mason A. Porter, and Noa Pinter-Wollman
Abstract: Network analysis has driven key developments in research on animal behaviour by providing quantitative methods to study the social structures of animal groups and populations. A recent formalism, known as multilayer network analysis, has advanced the study of multifaceted networked systems in many disciplines. It offers novel ways to study and quantify animal behaviour through connected ‘layers’ of interactions. In this article, we review common questions in animal behaviour that can be studied using a multilayer approach, and we link these questions to specific analyses. We outline the types of behavioural data and questions that may be suitable to study using multilayer network analysis. We detail several multilayer methods, which can provide new insights into questions about animal sociality at individual, group, population and evolutionary levels of organization. We give examples for how to implement multilayer methods to demonstrate how taking a multilayer approach can alter inferences about social structure and the positions of individuals within such a structure. Finally, we discuss caveats to undertaking multilayer network analysis in the study of animal social networks, and we call attention to methodological challenges for the application of these approaches. Our aim is to instigate the study of new questions about animal sociality using the new toolbox of multilayer network analysis.
P.S. There is an easter egg in the paper. Let me know when you find it!
Title: The Use of Multilayer Network Analysis in Animal Behaviour
Authors: Kelly R. Finn, Matthew J. Silk, Mason A. Porter, and Noa Pinter-Wollman
Abstract: Network analysis has driven key developments in research on animal behaviour by providing quantitative methods to study the social structures of animal groups and populations. A recent formalism, known as multilayer network analysis, has advanced the study of multifaceted networked systems in many disciplines. It offers novel ways to study and quantify animal behaviour through connected ‘layers’ of interactions. In this article, we review common questions in animal behaviour that can be studied using a multilayer approach, and we link these questions to specific analyses. We outline the types of behavioural data and questions that may be suitable to study using multilayer network analysis. We detail several multilayer methods, which can provide new insights into questions about animal sociality at individual, group, population and evolutionary levels of organization. We give examples for how to implement multilayer methods to demonstrate how taking a multilayer approach can alter inferences about social structure and the positions of individuals within such a structure. Finally, we discuss caveats to undertaking multilayer network analysis in the study of animal social networks, and we call attention to methodological challenges for the application of these approaches. Our aim is to instigate the study of new questions about animal sociality using the new toolbox of multilayer network analysis.
P.S. There is an easter egg in the paper. Let me know when you find it!