Disaster Spreading Research Articles

Dynamics of disaster spreading in complex networks

A general dynamical model for disaster spreading is established in this paper, aiming at some common characteristics of key lifeline systems such as power supply network, water supply network, gas supply network, traffic network and communications network, etc. This model considers self-healing function, disaster spreading mechanism and internal stochastic noise of nodes. And the effects of three key parameters,namely the self-healing factor, duration delay factor and noise intensity, on recovery rate and number of damaged nodes for three different network topologies, i.e. Erdos-Renyi network, scale-free network and small world network are investigated. Simulation results are consistent with the characteristics of these true lifeline systems, showing that the presented model can effectively model disaster evolving dynamics for lifeline systems.

Modelling the dynamics of disaster spreading in networks

We present a model for the dynamic spreading of failures in networked systems. The model combines network nodes as active, bistable elements and delayed interactions along directed links. By means of simulations, we explore the time-dependent spreading and cascade failures in different network topologies. The results of these simulations point towards a phase transition in the spreading dynamics that depends on node parameters and network topology. In particular, we observe a critical threshold for node recovery. Below this threshold, any disturbance propagates only through a small fraction of the network. The size of this perturbed fraction is determined numerically. Furthermore, we discuss the robustness of networks challenged by coinciding internal failures. Our model may be used to improve disaster preparedness and anticipative disaster response management.

Social Responsibility and AACSB Accreditation Standards: How ISO 14000 Can Integrate Environmental Issues into the Marketing Curriculum

“For corporations, the key issue is to understand the relationship of wealth to risk. Risks are a by-product of producing wealth. In the current post-industrial society … the risks are greater, more harmful, geographically more pervasive, longer term, and more difficult to measure” Shrivastava (1996, p. 8).“When the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster spread radioactive clouds across much of the northern reaches of Scandinavia, cesium-137 particles were absorbed by the lichens carpeting Lapland. The area's Saami people depend on reindeer meat for food, and the reindeer feed on lichens. After Chernobyl, more than 70,000 reindeer had to be killed and the meat discarded because it was too radioactive to eat” Miller (1996, p. 429).

Detection and assessment of PTSD by health and legal professions

The scale and spread of disasters is discussed. Specific issues concerning small, local disasters, such as motor vehicle accidents, are highlighted. Subsequent to this implications for detection and assessment by legal and health professionals of those at risk of developing psychological stress reactions are discussed. Society's peculiar tolerance of emotional trauma resulting from road accidents and the iatrogenic possibilities of medico‐legal assessments are debated, leading to the conclusion that much treatable post‐road‐accident anxiety remains untreated and that there is inadequate psychological preparation of sufferers for the invasive medico‐legal procedures they often undergo. However, there are steps that can be taken to improve the situation including ensuring effective communication between professional and client specifically preparing the client for the “invasive” procedures about to be experienced and treating treatable dysfunction as soon as possible.