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Alessandro Vespignani

Publications and source records attributed to Alessandro Vespignani.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
arXiv2004

Velocity and hierarchical spread of epidemic outbreaks in scale-free networks

We study the effect of the connectivity pattern of complex networks on the propagation dynamics of epidemics. The growth time scale of outbreaks is inversely proportional to the network degree fluctuations, signaling that epidemics spread almost instantaneously in networks with scale-free degree distributions. This feature is associated with an epidemic propagation that follows a precise hierarchical dynamics. Once the highly connected hubs are reached, the infection pervades the network in a progressive cascade across smaller degree classes. The present results are relevant for the development of adaptive containment strategies.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2004

Cut-offs and finite size effects in scale-free networks

We analyze the degree distribution's cut-off in finite size scale-free networks. We show that the cut-off behavior with the number of vertices $N$ is ruled by the topological constraints induced by the connectivity structure of the network. Even in the simple case of uncorrelated networks, we obtain an expression of the structural cut-off that is smaller that the natural cut-off obtained by means of extremal theory arguments. The obtained results are explicitly applied in the case of the configuration model to recover the size scaling of tadpoles and multiple edges.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗
arXiv2003

The architecture of complex weighted networks

Networked structures arise in a wide array of different contexts such as technological and transportation infrastructures, social phenomena, and biological systems. These highly interconnected systems have recently been the focus of a great deal of attention that has uncovered and characterized their topological complexity. Along with a complex topological structure, real networks display a large heterogeneity in the capacity and intensity of the connections. These features, however, have mainly not been considered in past studies where links are usually represented as binary states, i.e. either present or absent. Here, we study the scientific collaboration network and the world-wide air-transportation network, which are representative examples of social and large infrastructure systems, respectively. In both cases it is possible to assign to each edge of the graph a weight proportional to the intensity or capacity of the connections among the various elements of the network. We define new appropriate metrics combining weighted and topological observables that enable us to characterize the complex statistical properties and heterogeneity of the actual strength of edges and vertices. This information allows us to investigate for the first time the correlations among weighted quantities and the underlying topological structure of the network. These results provide a better description of the hierarchies and organizational principles at the basis of the architecture of weighted networks.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2003

Efficiency and reliability of epidemic data dissemination in complex networks

We study the dynamics of epidemic spreading processes aimed at spontaneous dissemination of information updates in populations with complex connectivity patterns. The influence of the topological structure of the network in these processes is studied by analyzing the behavior of several global parameters such as reliability, efficiency and load. Large scale numerical simulations of update spreading processes show that while networks with homogeneous connectivity patterns permit a higher reliability, scale-free topologies allow for a better efficiency.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2003

Short period attractors and non-ergodic behavior in the deterministic fixed energy sandpile model

We study the asymptotic behaviour of the Bak, Tang, Wiesenfeld sandpile automata as a closed system with fixed energy. We explore the full range of energies characterizing the active phase. The model exhibits strong non-ergodic features by settling into limit-cycles whose period depends on the energy and initial conditions. The asymptotic activity $ρ_a$ (topplings density) shows, as a function of energy density $ζ$, a devil's staircase behaviour defining a symmetric energy interval-set over which also the period lengths remain constant. The properties of $ζ$-$ρ_a$ phase diagram can be traced back to the basic symmetries underlying the model's dynamics.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2003

Incomplete ordering of the voter model on small-world networks

We investigate how the topology of small-world networks affects the dynamics of the voter model for opinion formation. We show that, contrary to what occurs on regular topologies with local interactions, the voter model on small-world networks does not display the emergence of complete order in the thermodynamic limit. The system settles in a stationary state with coexisting opinions whose lifetime diverges with the system size. Hence the nontrivial connectivity pattern leads to the counterintuitive conclusion that long-range connections inhibit the ordering process. However, for networks of finite size, for which full uniformity is reached, the ordering process takes a time shorter than on a regular lattice of the same size.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Cycles structure and local ordering in complex networks

We study the properties of metrics aimed at the characterization of grid-like ordering in complex networks. These metrics are based on the global and local behavior of cycles of order four, which are the minimal structures able to identify rectangular clustering. The analysis of data from real networks reveals the ubiquitous presence of a high level of grid-like ordering that is non-trivially correlated with the local degree properties. These observations provide new insights on the hierarchical structure of complex networks.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Ordering phase transition in the one-dimensional Axelrod model

We study the one-dimensional behavior of a cellular automaton aimed at the description of the formation and evolution of cultural domains. The model exhibits a non-equilibrium transition between a phase with all the system sharing the same culture and a disordered phase of coexisting regions with different cultural features. Depending on the initial distribution of the disorder the transition occurs at different values of the model parameters. This phenomenology is qualitatively captured by a mean-field approach, which maps the dynamics into a multi-species reaction-diffusion problem.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Scale-free behavior of the Internet global performance

Measurements and data analysis have proved very effective in the study of the Internet's physical fabric and have shown heterogeneities and statistical fluctuations extending over several orders of magnitude. Here we analyze performance measurements obtained by the PingER monitoring infrastructure. We focus on the relationship between the Round-Trip-Time (RTT) and the geographical distance. We define dimensionless variables that contain information on the quality of Internet connections finding that their probability distributions are characterized by a slow power-law decay signalling the presence of scale-free features. These results point out the extreme heterogeneity of the Internet since the transmission speed between different points of the network exhibits very large fluctuations. The associated scaling exponents appear to have fairly stable values in different data sets and thus define an invariant characteristic of the Internet that might be used in the future as a benchmark of the overall state of ``health'' of the Internet. The observed scale-free character should be incorporated in models and analysis of Internet performance.

cond-mat↗
arXiv2002

Topology and correlations in structured scale-free networks

We study a recently introduced class of scale-free networks showing a high clustering coefficient and non-trivial connectivity correlations. We find that the connectivity probability distribution strongly depends on the fine details of the model. We solve exactly the case of low average connectivity, providing also exact expressions for the clustering and degree correlation functions. The model also exhibits a lack of small world properties in the whole parameters range. We discuss the physical properties of these networks in the light of the present detailed analysis.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Absence of epidemic threshold in scale-free networks with connectivity correlations

Random scale-free networks have the peculiar property of being prone to the spreading of infections. Here we provide an exact result showing that a scale-free connectivity distribution with diverging second moment is a sufficient condition to have null epidemic threshold in unstructured networks with either assortative or dissortative mixing. Connectivity correlations result therefore ininfluential for the epidemic spreading picture in these scale-free networks. The present result is related to the divergence of the average nearest neighbors connectivity, enforced by the connectivity detailed balance condition.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Epidemics and immunization in scale-free networks

In this chapter we want to provide a review of the main results obtained in the modeling of epidemic spreading in scale-free networks. In particular, we want to show the different epidemiological framework originated by the lack of any epidemic threshold and how this feature is rooted in the extreme heterogeneity of the scale-free networks' connectivity pattern.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Dislocation jamming and Andrade creep

We simulate the glide motion of an assembly of interacting dislocations under the action of an external shear stress and show that the associated plastic creep relaxation follows Andrade's law. Our results indicate that Andrade creep in plastically deforming crystals involves the correlated motion of dislocation structures near a dynamic transition separating a flowing from a jammed phase. Simulations in presence of dislocation multiplication and noise confirm the robustness of this finding and highlight the importance of metastable structure formation for the relaxation process.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Immunization of complex networks

Complex networks such as the sexual partnership web or the Internet often show a high degree of redundancy and heterogeneity in their connectivity properties. This peculiar connectivity provides an ideal environment for the spreading of infective agents. Here we show that the random uniform immunization of individuals does not lead to the eradication of infections in all complex networks. Namely, networks with scale-free properties do not acquire global immunity from major epidemic outbreaks even in the presence of unrealistically high densities of randomly immunized individuals. The absence of any critical immunization threshold is due to the unbounded connectivity fluctuations of scale-free networks. Successful immunization strategies can be developed only by taking into account the inhomogeneous connectivity properties of scale-free networks. In particular, targeted immunization schemes, based on the nodes' connectivity hierarchy, sharply lower the network's vulnerability to epidemic attacks.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Epidemic dynamics in finite size scale-free networks

Many real networks present a bounded scale-free behavior with a connectivity cut-off due to physical constraints or a finite network size. We study epidemic dynamics in bounded scale-free networks with soft and hard connectivity cut-offs. The finite size effects introduced by the cut-off induce an epidemic threshold that approaches zero at increasing sizes. The induced epidemic threshold is very small even at a relatively small cut-off, showing that the neglection of connectivity fluctuations in bounded scale-free networks leads to a strong over-estimation of the epidemic threshold. We provide the expression for the infection prevalence and discuss its finite size corrections. The present work shows that the highly heterogeneous nature of scale-free networks does not allow the use of homogeneous approximations even for systems of a relatively small number of nodes.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2002

Dynamical and correlation properties of the Internet

The description of the Internet topology is an important open problem, recently tackled with the introduction of scale-free networks. In this paper we focus on the topological and dynamical properties of real Internet maps in a three years time interval. We study higher order correlation functions as well as the dynamics of several quantities. We find that the Internet is characterized by non-trivial correlations among nodes and different dynamical regimes. We point out the importance of node hierarchy and aging in the Internet structure and growth. Our results provide hints towards the realistic modeling of the Internet evolution.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗
arXiv2001

Large-scale topological and dynamical properties of Internet

We study the large-scale topological and dynamical properties of real Internet maps at the autonomous system level, collected in a three years time interval. We find that the connectivity structure of the Internet presents average quantities and statistical distributions settled in a well-defined stationary state. The large-scale properties are characterized by a scale-free topology consistent with previous observations. Correlation functions and clustering coefficients exhibit a remarkable structure due to the underlying hierarchical organization of the Internet. The study of the Internet time evolution shows a growth dynamics with aging features typical of recently proposed growing network models. We compare the properties of growing network models with the present real Internet data analysis.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗