ALBERT

Description: Potential diffusion processes of real-world systems are relevant to the underlying network structure and dynamical mechanisms. The vast majority of the existing work on spreading dynamics, in response to a large-scale network, is built on the condition of the infinite initial state, i.e., the extremely small seed size. The impact of an increasing seed size on the persistent diffusion has been less investigated. Based on classical epidemic models, this paper offers a framework for studying such impact through observing a crossover phenomenon in a two-diffusion-process dynamical system. The two diffusion processes are triggered by nodes with a high and low centrality, respectively. Specifically, given a finite initial state in networks with scale-free degree distributions, we demonstrate analytically and numerically that the diffusion process triggered by low centrality nodes pervades faster than that triggered by high centrality nodes from a certain point. The presence of the crossover phenomenon reveals that the dynamical process under the finite initial state is far more than the vertical scaling of the spreading curve under an infinite initial state. Further discussion emphasizes the persistent infection of individuals in epidemic dynamics as the essential reason rooted in the crossover, while the finite initial state is the catalyst directly leading to the emergence of this phenomenon. Our results provide valuable implications for studying the diversity of hidden dynamics on heterogeneous networks.

Description: Earthquakes are generally known to alter the stress field near seismogenic faults. Observations using YRY-four-gauge borehole strainmeters within Yushu (YSH) borehole near the Ganzi-Yushu fault in eastern Tibetan Plateau shows that the azimuth variation of maximum horizontal stress (SH) first decreased and then increased substantially when the earthquakes occurred during the measurement period from January 1, 2009 to December 31, 2018. In this period, 38 earthquakes (M ≥ 3) were detected near the fault and the SH orientation showed a drastic change after the 2010 Ms 7.3 Yushu mainshock. We present a discrete element modelling using Particle Flow Code 2D (PFC2D) to simulate a dynamic fault rupturing process and to use the modelling results for interpretation of the stress reorientation. The modelling reveals that dilatation and compression quadrants are formed around a fault rupturing in strike-slip model, resulting in different spatiotemporal changes of the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (Δθ). The value of Δθ in the compression quadrants shows a sharp drop at the time of coseismic slip, then approaches slowly to an asymptotic value. In the dilatation quadrants, Δθ drops by coseismic slip, then increases sharply and finally reaches a stable value. The modelled Δθ by coseismic fault slip agrees with in-situ observations at YSH borehole during 2010 Ms 7.3 Yushu mainshock. It is also found that, the value of Δθ decreases with increasing distance from the rupturing source. We modelled the effect of fault geometry and host rock properties on the Δθ, and found that structural complexity and off-fault damage by coseismic fault slip have significant impact on the stress field alteration near the rupturing source.