The universality of physical images at relative timescales on multiplex networks

Abstract

The duration of the accumulation rate (physical image) is a key factor in analysis of counterintuitive phenomena involving relative timescales on multiplex networks. Typically, the relative timescales are represented by multiplying any layer by the same factor. However, researchers often overlook the changes in the relative timescales caused by local parameters, resulting in incomplete analysis of phenomena. This paper examines the survival time of stifler individuals in the information-epidemic model on multiplex networks. The relative timescales can be affected by the survival time (only one parameter), reversing the monotonically increasing phenomenon into a monotonically decreasing one, that is, a counterintuitive phenomenon under incomplete analysis. Additionally, the relative timescales can influence the epidemic threshold, which is different from the previous studies. Our work suggests that considering the physical image of relative timescales is crucial when analyzing multiplex networks, even when only one parameter is altered.