Spreading and Epidemic Interventions - Effects of Network Structure and Dynamics

Thumbnail Image
Files
isbn9789526417059.pdf (4.92 MB)
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
School of Science | Doctoral thesis (article-based) | Defence date: 2024-03-15
Unless otherwise stated, all rights belong to the author. You may download, display and print this publication for Your own personal use. Commercial use is prohibited.
Author
Date
2024
Department
Tietotekniikan laitos
Department of Computer Science
Major/Subject
Mcode
Degree programme
Language
en
Pages
106 + app. 84
Series
Aalto University publication series DOCTORAL THESES, 48/2024
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the critical importance of understanding epidemic dynamics, particularly the significant gaps in our knowledge that need addressing to better prepare for future pandemics. This thesis delves into the intricacies of disease spread within complex human interaction networks, underlining the pivotal role of individual connectedness in influencing epidemic outcomes. By developing theoretical models inspired by real-world epidemiological data, this work provides a nuanced exploration of disease transmission dynamics across networked populations, emphasizing the heterogeneous, spatial, homophilic, and temporal characteristics inherent in human social structures. A primary focus of this research is the investigation of intervention strategies, encompassing pharmaceutical measures, such as vaccination campaigns, and non-pharmaceutical interventions, including contact tracing techniques. These interventions are evaluated within more realistic network topologies, characterized by degree heterogeneity and group structures, to assess their effectiveness in mitigating epidemic spread. The thesis leverages mathematical and computational epidemiology to offer profound insights into optimizing intervention strategies within the complex web of human interactions, thereby contributing to the academic discourse and providing actionable intelligence for public health policy formulation and epidemic preparedness. The avenues of research opened by this work offer deeper insights into the mechanisms of epidemic spread in social networks. By using stylized modeling, the study was able to delve into the nontrivial ways epidemics spread through social networks. This modeling approach simplified the realworld dynamics into more analytically tractable forms, allowing the researchers to capture the essence of contact network structures and their crucial role in transmitting infectious diseases. The primary objective of this study was to identify new pathways for academic exploration and offer valuable perspectives that can enhance public health policies and epidemic response strategies. Ultimately, this work seeks to contribute to a better understanding of epidemic dynamics by bridging knowledge gaps and fostering a more resilient response to public health challenges in the face of complex human interactions.
Description
Supervising professor
Kivelä, Mikko, Assist. Prof., Aalto University, Department of Computer Science, Finland
Keywords
complex systems, network science, spreading phenomena, computational epidemiology, digital epidemiology, complex networks, temporal networks, reachability, phase transitions, percolation, Covid-19, vaccination, contact tracing
Other note
Parts
  • [Publication 1]: T. Hiraoka, A. K. Rizi, J. Saramaki and M. Kivela. Herd immunity and epidemic size in networks with vaccination homophily. Physical Review E, 105(5) L052301, May 2020.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202208104604
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.105.L052301 View at publisher
  • [Publication 2]: T. Hiraoka, A. K. Rizi, Z. Ghadiri, J. Saramaki and M. Kivela. The strength and weakness of disease-induced herd immunity. Presented at NetSci 2023 Conference, pre-print: arXiv:2307.04700, Jul 2023.
  • [Publication 3]: A. K. Rizi, L. A. Keating, J. P. Gleeson, David J.P. O’Sullivan and M. Kivela. Effectiveness of Contact Tracing on Networks with Cliques. Physical Review E, 109, 024303, Feb 2024.
  • [Publication 4]: A. K. Rizi, A. Faqeeh, A. Badie-Modiri and M. Kivela. Epidemic spreading and digital contact tracing: Effects of heterogeneous mixing and quarantine failures. Physical Review E, 105(4) 044313, April 2022.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202205243384
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.105.044313 View at publisher
  • [Publication 5]: A. Badie-Modiri, A. K. Rizi, M. Karsai and M. Kivela. Directed percolation in random temporal network. Physical Review Research, 4(7) L022047, May 2022.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202208104716
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevResearch.4.L022047 View at publisher
  • [Publication 6]: A. Badie-Modiri, A. K. Rizi, M. Karsai and M. Kivela. Directed percolation in random temporal network models with heterogeneities. Physical Review E, 105(17) 054313, May 2022.
    Full text in Acris/Aaltodoc: https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202208104570
    DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevE.105.054313 View at publisher
Citation
Permanent link to this item
https://urn.fi/URN:ISBN:978-952-64-1705-9
Collections
[diss] Perustieteiden korkeakoulu / SCI