Unveiling the reproduction number scaling in characterizing social contagion coverage

Wang，Xiangrong1; Hou，Hongru2; Lu，Dan3; Wu，Zongze1; Moreno，Yamir4,5,6

2024-08-01

10.1016/j.chaos.2024.115119

Chaos, Solitons and Fractals   影响因子和分区

0960-0779

The spreading of diseases depends critically on the reproduction number, which gives the expected number of new cases produced by infectious individuals during their lifetime. Here we reveal a widespread power-law scaling relationship between the variance and the mean of the reproduction number across simple and complex contagion mechanisms on various network structures. This scaling relation is verified on an empirical scientific collaboration network and analytically studied using generating functions. Specifically, we explore the impact of the scaling law of the reproduction number on the expected size of cascades of contagions. We find that the mean cascade size can be inferred from the mean reproduction number, albeit with limitations in capturing spreading variations. Nonetheless, insights derived from the tail of the distribution of the reproduction number contribute to explaining cascade size variation and allow the distinction between simple and complex contagion mechanisms. Our study sheds light on the intricate dynamics of spreading processes and cascade sizes in social networks, offering valuable insights for managing contagion outbreaks and optimizing responses to emerging threats.

Cascade size Reproduction number Scaling relationship Social contagion

EI

英语

其他

20242516288832

Cell proliferation

Biology:461.9 ; Computer Systems and Equipment:722

PHYSICS

2-s2.0-85196307570

Scopus

1.College of Mechatronics and Control Engineering,Shenzhen University,Shenzhen,518060,China
2.Southern University of Science and Technology,Shenzhen,China
3.School of Reliability and Systems Engineering,Beihang University,Beijing,100083,China
4.Institute for Biocomputation and Physics of Complex Systems (BIFI),University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,50018,Spain
5.Department of Theoretical Physics,University of Zaragoza,Zaragoza,50009,Spain
6.CENTAI Institute,Turin,10138,Italy

Wang，Xiangrong,Hou，Hongru,Lu，Dan,et al. Unveiling the reproduction number scaling in characterizing social contagion coverage[J]. Chaos, Solitons and Fractals,2024,185.

Wang，Xiangrong,Hou，Hongru,Lu，Dan,Wu，Zongze,&Moreno，Yamir.(2024).Unveiling the reproduction number scaling in characterizing social contagion coverage.Chaos, Solitons and Fractals,185.

Wang，Xiangrong,et al."Unveiling the reproduction number scaling in characterizing social contagion coverage".Chaos, Solitons and Fractals 185(2024).