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Abstract

Connections publishes original empirical articles that apply social network analysis. We are particularly interested in research reports, articles demonstrating methodological innovations and novel research design. We also facilitate the dissemination of datasets and review scholarly books. Our scope spans many disciplines and domains including Communication, Anthropology, Sociology, Psychology, Organizational Behavior, Knowledge Management, Marketing, Social Psychology, Political Science, Public Health, Policy Studies, Medicine, Physics, Economics, Mathematics, and Computer Science. As the official journal for the International Network for Social Network Analysis (INSNA), the emphasis of the publication is to reflect the ever-growing and continually expanding community of scholars using network analytic techniques. I am pleased to report on a new team in charge of copyediting, layout, online presence and journal management. A number of changes on the style and presentation of the journal are planned over the next twelve months. From this issue onwards we introduce dedicated DOI numbers to each article (backdated to 2012). This will allow citing papers as soon as final proofs are accepted. By integrating this process to our review we anticipate to substantially reduce the gap from submission to an accessible online version of an article. We have expanded the DEN section and introduced a book review section with a view to evaluate the expanding literature of textbooks and monographs in the field. We also intend to retain a print run of the journal as we are committed to supply print issues for our institutional and library subscribers. From next year we are considering reducing the mailing costs by making the journal available at Sunbelt for all attending or to charge postage to those requiring a copy by post.In this issue you can find articles on networks of the unemployed (Harris, et al.), bipartite flow centrality (Gerdes), hospital operating room ties (Tighe et al.) and mobile phone data collection (Comulada). We also publish four Data Exchange Network (DEN) articles on football club rivalries in Argentina (Bundio), terrorist networks in Mali (Walther and Christopoulos), collaboration networks in the 2013 Sunbelt (Pfeffer, Hollstein and Skvoretz) and the transactions in a local currency group in Portland (Collom). You will also find here a report on the 2014 Sunbelt keynote of Jeff Johnson (van Holt), two book reviews and a report from the last INSNA Business Meeting.I take this opportunity to solicit good quality research papers that will be of interest to an interdisciplinary audience of network analysts. Papers are double blind reviewed and we aim to complete a first review within three months. I am particularly keen on papers with methodological or research design insights. With short papers with methods or results that have inter-disciplinary appeal being particularly welcome. I am also pleased to welcome a new associate editor with responsibility for DEN, Juergen Pfeffer. I would like to renew our invi...