Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 4, 2026
09:40
Induction of Right Ventricular Failure by Pulmonary Artery Constriction and Evaluation of Right Ventricular Function in Mice
Published on: May 13, 2019
11.1K
Self-organization of dragon king failures
Yuansheng Lin1,2,3, Keith Burghardt4, Martin Rohden3
1School of Reliability and Systems Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.
Physical Review. E
|September 27, 2018
Summary
This study models cascading failures using network systems, distinguishing contained "black swan" events from massive "dragon king" failures. A critical initial failure size predicts dragon kings, which can be mitigated by a new control strategy.
Area of Science:
- Network science
- Complex systems
- Statistical physics
Background:
- Cascading failures are often studied using self-organized criticality models.
- Real-world networks exhibit a trade-off between node degradation and reinforcement.
Purpose of the Study:
- To introduce a network model that captures node self-organization for failure protection.
- To differentiate between contained failures and large-scale cascading events.
- To identify predictors and control strategies for massive system failures.
Main Methods:
- Developed a network model with weakly and strongly protected nodes.
- Simulated failure propagation under varying conditions.
- Classified failure events as "black swans" or "dragon kings" based on their scale and mechanism.
Main Results:
- If strong nodes are invulnerable, failures are confined, producing power-law distributions.
- If strong nodes can fail, cascading failures ("dragon kings") can occur, affecting over 99.9% of nodes.
- Dragon kings are self-organized and triggered by an initial weak node cluster exceeding a critical size.
Conclusions:
- The size of the initial weak cluster failure accurately predicts dragon king events.
- A control strategy can significantly reduce the occurrence of dragon kings and other large-scale failures.
- This model provides insights into managing catastrophic failures in complex systems.
Related Concept Videos
01:17Pathophysiology of Heart Failure
3.7K
Heart failure (HF) is a progressive syndrome involving ventricles that leads to inadequate cardiac output. It can be classified based on location and output or ejection fraction. Ejection fraction (EF) is an essential measurement in the diagnosis and surveillance of HF. Reduced EF corresponds to systolic heart failure (HFrEF). However, HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is becoming increasingly prevalent. Also known as diastolic HF, this form of HF is related to aging. The...
3.7K
01:27Heart Failure I: Introduction
903
Heart failure refers to a clinical syndrome caused by structural or functional cardiac disorders that prevent the heart from pumping an adequate amount of blood to meet the body's metabolic needs. This condition often arises from myocardial infarction or ischemia, leading to decreased cardiac output, reduced tissue perfusion, impaired gas exchange, fluid volume imbalance, and decreased functional ability.Heart failure can result from disruptions in the mechanisms that regulate cardiac output...
903
01:09Levels of Organization
141.0K
Biological organization is the classification of biological structures, ranging from atoms at the bottom of the hierarchy to the Earth's biosphere. Each level of the hierarchy represents an increase in complexity that builds upon the previous level.
Molecules Are Composed of Atoms, and Biomolecules Are Assembled from Molecules:
The most basic levels include atoms, molecules, and biomolecules. Atoms, the smallest unit of ordinary matter, are composed of a nucleus and electrons. Molecules...
Molecules Are Composed of Atoms, and Biomolecules Are Assembled from Molecules:
The most basic levels include atoms, molecules, and biomolecules. Atoms, the smallest unit of ordinary matter, are composed of a nucleus and electrons. Molecules...
141.0K
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-I
1.0K
Acute respiratory failure is a condition characterized by the inability of the lungs to perform their primary function: gas exchange. This failure leads to insufficient oxygen levels (hypoxemia) in the blood, elevated carbon dioxide levels (hypercapnia), or both, causing critical impairment in organ function.
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
Definition: It is defined by specific criteria based on blood gas measurements. Hypoxemia happens when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) falls below 60 mmHg. At the same time,...
1.0K
01:21Acute Respiratory Failure-II
1.1K
Type I Respiratory Failure, or hypoxemic respiratory failure, occurs when the partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) in arterial blood falls below 60 mmHg while breathing room air without a corresponding increase in arterial carbon dioxide levels (PaCO2). This condition highlights a significant impairment in the lungs' capacity to oxygenate the blood.
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
The underlying physiological abnormalities that contribute to hypoxemic respiratory failure include:
1.1K
01:29Acute Respiratory Failure-V
506
The treatment for acute respiratory failure varies based on factors like the underlying cause, overall health, and severity. A collaborative healthcare team is essential for early detection, often through arterial blood gas analysis. Identifying the cause is the primary goal, with treatment strategies adjusted for ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch, shunting, or diffusion impairment.
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
Ensure that patients are monitored continuously for their response to therapy, including changes in...
506