arXiv subjects

Padraig MacCarron

Publications and source records attributed to Padraig MacCarron.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Fast degree-preserving rewiring of complex networks

In this paper we introduce a new, fast, degree-preserving rewiring algorithm for altering the assortativity of complex networks, which we call \textit{Fast total link (FTL) rewiring} algorithm. Commonly used existing algorithms require a large number of iterations, in particular in the case of large dense networks. This can especially be problematic when we wish to study ensembles of networks. In this work we aim to overcome aforementioned scalability problems by performing a rewiring of all edges at once to achieve a very high assortativity value before rewiring samples of edges at once to reduce this high assortativity value to the target value. The proposed method performs better than existing methods by several orders of magnitude for a range of structurally diverse complex networks, both in terms of the number of iterations taken, and time taken to reach a given assortativity value. Here we test our proposed algorithm on networks with up to $100,000$ nodes and around $750,000$ edges and find that the relative improvements in speed remain, showing that the algorithm is both efficient and scalable.

physics.soc-ph↗

arXiv2024

Identity Emergence in the Context of Vaccine Criticism in France

This study investigates the emergence of collective identity among individuals critical of vaccination policies in France during the COVID-19 pandemic. As concerns grew over mandated health measures, a loose collective formed on Twitter to assert autonomy over vaccination decisions. Using analyses of pronoun usage, outgroup labeling, and tweet similarity, we examine how this identity emerged. A turning point occurred following President Macron's announcement of mandatory vaccination for health workers and the health pass, sparking substantial changes in linguistic patterns. We observed a shift from first-person singular (I) to first-person plural (we) pronouns, alongside an increased focus on vaccinated individuals as a central outgroup, in addition to authority figures. This shift in language patterns was further reflected in the behavior of new users. An analysis of incoming users revealed that a core group of frequent posters played a crucial role in fostering cohesion and shaping norms. New users who joined during the week of Macron's announcement and continued posting afterward showed an increased similarity with the language of the core group, contributing to the crystallization of the emerging collective identity.

cs.SI↗

arXiv2023

"The greatest Poet that has [n]ever existed" -- A Narrative Networks Analysis of the Poems of Ossian

Surprising as it may seem, applications of statistical methods to physics were inspired by the social sciences, which in turn are linked to the humanities. So perhaps it is not as unlikely as it might first appear for a group of statistical physicists and humanists to come together to investigate one of the subjects of Thomas Jefferson's poetic interests from a scientific point of view. And that is the nature of this article: a collaborative interdisciplinary analysis of the works of a figure Jefferson described as a ''rude bard of the North'' and ''the greatest Poet that has ever existed.'' In 2012, a subset of this team embraced an increase in interdisciplinary methods to apply the new science of complex networks to longstanding questions in comparative mythology. Investigations of network structures embedded in epic narratives allowed universal properties to be identified and ancient texts to be compared to each other. The approach inspired new challenges in mathematics, physics and even processes in industry, thereby illustrating how collaborations of this nature can be mutually beneficial and can capture the attention of a public, often ill-served by academic communication and dissemination. This article derives from these works, and from our consistent objective to help bridge the perceived gap between the natural sciences and the humanities. First we discuss the history of relationships between the two. Then we discuss the origins of the poems of Ossian and Jefferson's interests. We follow with our statistical approach in the next section. In the final section, we explore ideas for future research on these themes and discuss the potential of collaborative pursuits of human curiosity to overcome the two cultures dichotomy and embrace a scientific- and humanities-literate information age.

physics.soc-ph↗