6 research outputs found

    The effects of local and global link creation mechanisms on contagion processes unfolding on time-varying networks

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    Social closeness and popularity are key ingredients that shape the emergence and evolution of social connections over time. Social closeness captures local reinforcement mechanisms which are behind the formation of strong ties and communities. Popularity, on the other hand, describes global link formation dynamics which drive, among other things, hubs, weak ties and bridges between groups. In this chapter, we characterize how these mechanisms affect spreading processes taking place on time-varying networks. We study contagion phenomena unfolding on a family of artificial temporal networks. In particular, we revise four different variations of activity-driven networks that capture i) heterogeneity of activation patterns ii) popularity iii) the emergence of strong and weak ties iv) community structure. By means of analytical and numerical analyses we uncover a rich and process dependent phenomenology where the interplay between spreading phenomena and link formation mechanisms might either speed up or slow down the spreadin

    Assessment of neurological manifestations in hospitalized patients with COVID-19

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    Background and purpose: The objective of this study was to assess the neurological manifestations in a series of consecutive severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2)-positive patients, comparing their frequency with a population hospitalized in the same period for flu/respiratory symptoms, finally not related to SARS-CoV-2. Methods: Patients with flu/respiratory symptoms admitted to Fondazione Policlinico Gemelli hospital from 14 March 2020 to 20 April 2020 were retrospectively enrolled. The frequency of neurological manifestations of patients with SARS-CoV-2 infection was compared with a control group. Results: In all, 213 patients were found to be positive for SARS-CoV-2, after reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on nasal or throat swabs, whilst 218 patients were found to be negative and were used as a control group. Regarding central nervous system manifestations, in SARS-CoV-2-positive patients a higher frequency of headache, hyposmia and encephalopathy always related to systemic conditions (fever or hypoxia) was observed. Furthermore, muscular involvement was more frequent in SARS-CoV-2 infection. Conclusions: Patients with COVID-19 commonly have neurological manifestations but only hyposmia and muscle involvement seem more frequent compared with other flu diseases
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