Publications
Asymmetric percolation drives a double transition in sexual contact networks
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, , , 2017
Status: Published
Citations:
Cite: [bibtex]

Abstract: Zika virus (ZIKV) continues to be a threat to countries with conditions suitable for transmission, namely adequate temperatures and the presence of competent mosquito vectors. Estimates of risk in other countries based on the sexual transmission of ZIKV may be underestimated because of inadequate surveillance. Here, we formulate random network models of sexual transmission of ZIKV with asymmetric transmission (men being infectious for longer than women) and show that, contrary to previous work, there exists two epidemic thresholds and that certain men who have sex with men communities could sustain transmission on their own. Our results also shed light on a class of processes on random networks by providing a complete analysis of dynamics with multiple critical points.
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Bongard's work focuses on understanding the general nature of cognition, regardless of whether it is found in humans, animals or robots. This unique approach focuses on the role that morphology and evolution plays in cognition. Addressing these questions has taken him into the fields of biology, psychology, engineering and computer science.
Continuous Self-Modeling. Science 314, 1118 (2006). [Journal Page]

Danforth is an applied mathematician interested in modeling a variety of physical, biological, and social phenomenon. He has applied principles of chaos theory to improve weather forecasts as a member of the Mathematics and Climate Research Network, and developed a real-time remote sensor of global happiness using messages from Twitter: the Hedonometer. Danforth co-runs the Computational Story Lab with Peter Dodds, and helps run UVM's reading group on complexity.

Laurent studies the interaction of structure and dynamics. His research involves network theory, statistical physics and nonlinear dynamics along with their applications in epidemiology, ecology, biology, and sociology. Recent projects include comparing complex networks of different nature, the coevolution of human behavior and infectious diseases, understanding the role of forest shape in determining stability of tropical forests, as well as the impact of echo chambers in political discussions.

Hines' work broadly focuses on finding ways to make electric energy more reliable, more affordable, with less environmental impact. Particular topics of interest include understanding the mechanisms by which small problems in the power grid become large blackouts, identifying and mitigating the stresses caused by large amounts of electric vehicle charging, and quantifying the impact of high penetrations of wind/solar on electricity systems.

Bagrow's interests include: Complex Networks (community detection, social modeling and human dynamics, statistical phenomena, graph similarity and isomorphism), Statistical Physics (non-equilibrium methods, phase transitions, percolation, interacting particle systems, spin glasses), and Optimization(glassy techniques such as simulated/quantum annealing, (non-gradient) minimization of noisy objective functions).