We investigate the role of the degree of symmetry of the diversity distribution in shaping the collective dynamics of networks of coupled excitable units modeled by FitzHugh-Nagumo equations. While previous studies have focused primarily on the ratio between the numbers of individually oscillatory and excitable units, we show that the symmetry of the diversity distribution plays a fundamental role in the emergence of global network oscillations. By exploring various symmetric and asymmetric distributions and simul…

We propose a threshold model of language competition which includes intermediate bilingual state. The model is based on the Minett-Wang model but through the introduction of thresholds in the language shift rates it incorporates the effects of memory and learning. The model is piecewise-linear, allowing the exact analytical treatment. We study the symmetric case where two competing languages are equivalent in terms of status and social pressure and provide a complete list of the various dynamical regimes. We also …

Networks of heterogeneous oscillators are often seen to display collective synchronized oscillations, even when single elements of the network do not oscillate in isolation. It has been found that it is the diversity of the individual elements that drives the phenomenon, possibly leading to the appearance of a resonance in the response. Here we study the way in which heterogeneity acts in producing an oscillatory regime in a network and show that the resonance response is based on the same physics underlying the r…

Hyaluronic acid (HA) based nanogels showed effective intracellular delivery efficacy for anti-cancer and anti-inflammatory drugs, characterized by their ability targeting relevant cell receptors. In the present study, we demonstrate the ability of hyaluronic acid-polyethyleneimine (HA-PEI) nanogels as a promising dual-functional interfacial active for intra-articular injection to intervene arthritis. Nanomechanical measurements on both model substrates and human cartilage samples confirm that the HA-PEI nanogels c…

We introduce a language competition model that is based on the Abrams-Strogatz model and incorporates the effects of memory and learning in the language shift dynamics. On a coarse grained time scale, the effects of memory and learning can be expressed as thresholds on the speakers fractions of the competing languages. In its simplest form, the resulting model is exactly solvable. Besides the consensus on one of the two languages, the model describes additional equilibrium states that are not present in the Abrams…