Multiplexas

Multiplexas is a term occasionally used in theoretical discussions of multiplex networks to describe a collection or plural instances of multiplex structures. In this usage, a multiplex refers to a network in which entities are connected by multiple types of relations, represented as distinct layers. The plural form multiplexas is used to discuss several such networks or several layers within a broader composite system. The word draws from Latin multiplexus, meaning “many-fold,” with the suffix -as signaling a plural or collective in some technical vocabularies.

In practice, multiplexas may denote: (1) a set of multiplex networks analyzed together to study cross-layer effects, (2) a taxonomy for classifying multiplex layers across different domains, or (3) a theoretical construct in which several multiplex networks share a common set of nodes. Researchers use multiplex models to study how information, influence, and mobility propagate when multiple interaction channels exist.

Examples: A city-scale study might model social ties, transportation links, and communication patterns as three layers, forming a multiplexa collection or multiplexas for comparative analysis. Analyses might focus on alignment or discord between layers, robustness under failures, or how inter-layer coupling affects diffusion.

See also: multiplex network, multilayer network, interdependent networks, network science.

Note: Multiplexas is not an established term with a fixed definition in mainstream literature as of this writing; usage varies by author and context.