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Viruses on the trace of money
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Research Field:
Computer Sciences/Mathematics/Complex Systems
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What do dollars and viruses have in common? They spread fast via humans. It was precisely this quality that mathematicians at the Max Planck Institute for Dynamics and Self-organisation in Göttingen used to develop a model of how a virus might spread - inspired by a game popular in the US called Bill-Tracking.
Their project allowed the Göttingen researchers to succeed where others have failed by creating a model based on mathematical descriptions of the complex routes taken by contemporary populations. This enabled them to predict precisely where bank notes and viruses would reach most rapidly. Given the growing risk of a pandemic spread of the bird-flu virus, the model could help provide early information allowing for optimal preventive measures to be taken.
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Copyright |
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© Deutsche Welle
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Involved Institutes |
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Max-Planck-Institute for Dynamics and Self-Organization |
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Further Links |
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Max Planck Institute for D ... ent of Nonlinear Dynamics |
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Homepage of the project |
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Bill tracking (Europe) |
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Bill tracking (USA) |
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