Epidemic behaviors in weighted networks with core–periphery structure

Abstract

Epidemic processes in complex networks have been widely studied. However, the dynamics of epidemic spreading in weighted networks with core–periphery structure is rarely explored. Here we propose an epidemic spreading model in weighted networks with core–periphery structure, and derive the corresponding epidemic thresholds. Moreover, an upper bound of epidemic thresholds is presented, which is easy to compute. Numerical simulations confirmed our analysis. We also present the critical parameters to determine the epidemic thresholds under various conditions. In addition, the problem of influential spreaders in weighted networks with core–periphery structure is explored. In particular, the weighted k-shell decomposition is used to identify influential spreaders. We find that a special weighted k-shell decomposition, namely, the s-core decomposition, is appropriate to identify influential spreaders.