Perspective

Volume 27, Issue 9

110699

September 20, 2024

Open access

Modeling tumors as complex ecosystems

Guim Aguadé-Gorgorió¹ guimaguade@gmail.com ∙ Alexander R.A. Anderson² alexander.anderson@moffitt.org ∙ Ricard Solé^3,4 ricard.sole@upf.edu

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Summary

Many cancers resist therapeutic intervention. This is fundamentally related to intratumor heterogeneity: multiple cell populations, each with different phenotypic signatures, coexist within a tumor and its metastases. Like species in an ecosystem, cancer populations are intertwined in a complex network of ecological interactions. Most mathematical models of tumor ecology, however, cannot account for such phenotypic diversity or predict its consequences. Here, we propose that the generalized Lotka-Volterra model (GLV), a standard tool to describe species-rich ecological communities, provides a suitable framework to model the ecology of heterogeneous tumors. We develop a GLV model of tumor growth and discuss how its emerging properties provide a new understanding of the disease. We discuss potential extensions of the model and their application to phenotypic plasticity, cancer-immune interactions, and metastatic growth. Our work outlines a set of questions and a road map for further research in cancer ecology.

https://www.cell.com/iscience/fulltext/S2589-0042(24)01924-2

Modeling tumors as complex ecosystems: iScience

Douglas Hofstadter, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Gödel, Escher, Bach, reflects on how he got interested in the mind and consciousness, how he came to write Gödel, Escher, Bach, and why he is terrified by the current state of AI.

Gödel, Escher, Bach author Doug Hofstadter on the state of AI today – YouTube

Listen to the podcast episode here: https://www.buzzsprout.com/222312/131… Douglas Hofstadter, the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Gödel, Escher, Bach, reflects on how he got interested in the mind and consciousness, how he came to write Gödel, Escher, Bach, and why he is terrified by the current state of AI. CHAPTERS 0:00 Introduction 1:30 How did you first get interested in AI? 5:01 Tell us more about recursion & self-reflection 10:03 How did GEB come to life? 21:21 Which ideas from GEB are most relevant today? 29:23 What about AI terrifies you? 34:35 How have LLMs impacted your view of how human creativity works? 37:14 Is there something analogous in history that terrified people? 38:20 What brings you joy these days? READ GÖDEL, ESCHER, BACH https://amzn.to/3pIxetI DOUG ON GÖDEL, ESCHER, BACH & AI IN THE ATLANTIC https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/arc…

Complexity Papers

15 Sept 2022

OLDENBURG(OLDENBURG)

Will a large complex system be stable? Robert May asked in 1972. The answer that he provided to this question kicked off what came to be known as the complexity-stability debate. This video presents a modern review of the original paper and the perspectives that it opens up.

CONTENTS

00:00 Introduction

02:15 Stability Analysis

04:14 Jacobian Matrix

06:47 Randomness is your friend

08:50 Random matrices

13:11 May’s paradox

15:28 This changes everything

18:12 Conclusions

REFERENCES The view that “Complexity begets stability” was first challenged in numerical experiments by Gardner and Ashby [1], which May then supported by the Mathematical argument reviewed here [2]. Numerical evidence that May’s argument extends to non-stationary states was provided by Sinha and Sinha [3] [1] M.R. Gardner and W.R. Ashby: “Connectance of Large Dynamic (Cybernetic) Systems: Critical Values for Stability.” Nature 288, 784 (1970) https://doi.org/10.1038/228784a0 [2] R.M. May: Will a large complex system be stable? Nature 238, 413-414 (1972) https://doi.org/10.1038/238413a0 [3] S. Sinha and S. Sinha: “Evidence of universality for the May-Wigner stability theorem for random networks with local dynamics.” Physical Review E 71, 020902 (2005) https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevE.71.0… SOURCES – The photograph “Rainforest surrounded by fog” (1:04) is the work of David Riaño Cortés and is used under a creative commons licence via Pexels. It can be found at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/rainfore… – The photograph “Photo of green field near mountains” is the work of Tim Mossholder and is used under a creative commons license via Pexels. It can be found at: https://www.pexels.com/photo/photo-of… – May’s paper (shown at 2:14) is owned by Springer Nature publishing, it is reproduced here for the purpose of review and criticism. (see References for link)

May’s Paradox – YouTube

From the channel Complexity Papers https://www.youtube.com/@complexitypapers

A channel on the mathematics of complex systems, featuring dynamics, networks, game theory, and such things. All content is produced by Thilo Gross. Thilo is professor for biodiversity theory at HIFMB. HIFMB is a collaboration of the Alfred-Wegener Institute, Helmholtz Center for Polar and Marine Research, and the Carl-von-Ossietzky University of Oldenburg. All opinions expressed in the videos are Thilo’s alone and don’t reflect positions of the institutions mentioned above.

Lab https://biond.org/?x=news

Also ‘watch this before modelling’

Luc Hoebeke

2000, Systemic Practice and Action Research

The Emergent Properties of SSM in Use: A Symposium by Reflective PractitionersLuc Hoebeke2000, Systemic Practice and Action Research

The Emergent Properties of SSM in Use: A Symposium by Reflective Practitioners | Luc Hoebeke – Academia.edu

https://www.academia.edu/103331841/The_Emergent_Properties_of_SSM_in_Use_A_Symposium_by_Reflective_Practitioners

[NB Eigenrobot has Milkshake Ducked himself and is therefore cancelled]

a postrationalist syllabus

an eternal golden post

EIGENROBOTSEP 12, 2023

a postrationalist syllabus – eigenrobot,s Blog

https://eigenrobot.substack.com/p/a-postrationalist-syllabus

An online, semester-long program for high school students interested in understanding political, economic, and social life. This program is part of the Don Lavoie Fellowship.

Applications for the 2024-2025 academic year are due September 30, 2024. The early priority deadline is July 31, 2024.

Application review will begin after the deadline and we anticipate decisions will begin to be announced approximately eight weeks after the deadline.

Exploring Complex Solutions for a Complex World Fellowship | Mercatus Center

https://www.mercatus.org/students/exploring-complex-solutions-complex-world-fellowship

Lynn Rasmussen

Aug 27, 2024

Seeing the World as Generating Systemsvs. Seeing the Systems in the WorldLYNN RASMUSSENAUG 27, 2024

Seeing the World as Generating Systems – by Lynn Rasmussen

Post | LinkedIn

Authors

• Shantanu Tilak
• Thomas Manning
• Michael Glassman
• Paul Pangaro
• Bernard Scott

Abstract

This three-part paper presents Gordon Pask’s conversation theory (CT) and interaction of actors theory (IA) and outlines ways to apply these cybernetic approaches to designing technologies and scenarios for both formal and informal learning. The first part of the paper covers concepts central to CT and IA, explaining the relationship between conceptual and mechanical operators, and machines mediating informal and formal learning. The second part of the paper applies visual representations of CT and IA to understanding the use of Pask’s course assembly systems (CASTE and THOUGHTSTICKER), created between the late 1960s and the 1980s, and the ThoughtShuffler search interface, created in the 2010s. The third part proposes two pathways for design based on CT and IA: firstly, the potential for designers and observers to reformulate the qualities of tools and learning scenarios to augment human thinking and collective action; and secondly, the possibility to create tools with malleable interfaces that allow users to become intermediaries rather than consumers of knowledge.

Gordon Pask’s Conversation Theory and Interaction of Actors Theory: Research to Practice | Enacting Cybernetics

https://enacting-cybernetics.org/articles/10.58695/ec.11

https://enacting-cybernetics.org/about

Enacting Cybernetics is an open access journal published by the Cybernetics Society. It is focused on exploring and developing the many ways in which cybernetics may be practiced in the world. The journal invites contributions that engage deeply with cybernetics, its possibilities, histories, and practices, and especially those that develop its radical transdisciplinarity in tangible ways.

Editorial Team

Editor-in-Chief

Ben Sweeting, School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton, UK

Editorial Board

Philip Baron, Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, University of Johannesburg, South Africa

Caitlin M Bentley, Information School, University of Sheffield, UK

John Beckford, School of Business and Economics, Loughborough University, UK

Pille Bunnell, Royal Roads University (Retired), Canada

Marie Davidova, Department of Sociology of Technology, Risk and Environments, University of Stuttgart, Germany

Tom Scholte, Department of Theatre and Film, University of British Columbia, Canada

Management Cybernetics as a General Framework to Successfully Implement Lean Management in Several Industries: Observations From the Construction Industry, Mechanical Engineering, and Healthcare

Authors

• Carola Ritzinger-Roll
• Michael Frahm
• Matvei Tobman

Abstract

Numerous lean transformation projects fail or do not achieve the desired performance and/or viability that is necessary for a sustainable implementation of lean management. However, there are some factors that support the successful implementation of lean management in day-to-day business. In the opinion of the authors, these include management cybernetics and, in particular, Stafford Beer’s viable system model (VSM) as a structuring element. Due to its characteristics as an evolution-based organizational system, the VSM appears to be well suited to forming a sustainable basis for an efficiency-focused method such as lean management. In particular, the evolutionary ability of the model to constantly adapt to the requirements of its environment offers a well-suited basic structure for a sustainable connection with the methods of lean management. In order to examine this approach in more detail, a synopsis of three case studies from different industries was created: the construction industry, plant and mechanical engineering, and healthcare. The unifying element of these three case studies is the combination of lean tools to increase efficiency with the VSM as a structural basis for ensuring the needed effectiveness.

Keywords:

• lean implementation
• viable system model
• lean management
• construction industry
• mechanical engineering
• healthcare

Year: 2024

Volume: 2 Issue: 1

Page/Article: 2

DOI: 10.58695/ec.12

Management Cybernetics as a General Framework to Successfully Implement Lean Management in Several Industries: Observations From the Construction Industry, Mechanical Engineering, and Healthcare | Enacting Cybernetics

https://enacting-cybernetics.org/articles/10.58695/ec.12

Alan Hudson

Embracing complexity, nurturing relationships and catalyzing collaborative learning, for social change

August 8, 2024

Embracing complexity: Sense-making, reflecting and connecting (July 2024 explorations)Alan HudsonEmbracing complexity, nurturing relationships and catalyzing collaborative learning, for social changeAugust 8, 2024

Embracing complexity: Sense-making, reflecting and connecting (July 2024 explorations) | LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/navigating-complexity-sense-making-reflecting-july-2024-alan-hudson-ocere/

Alan writes:

Dear friends,

The last month or so has been rich in reflections, connections, learning, action and change. So I’m pretty energized and happy to be able to share some of the highlights, and resources that might be interesting and useful for you.

Embracing complexity: Sense-making, reflecting and connecting

It includes various resources on complexity, systems thinking, relationships, learning, power, sensemaking, causality and governance, as well as some more personal stuff. Hopefully it’s also an engaging read.

In addition to this piece, I’ve also put out a small handful of other pieces including a piece on knowledge gardening in complexity, and – one of my least popular pieces yet – on the parallels between a dated UK game show (Family Fortunes) and generative (regurgitative?) AI.

Had I consulted computer, it would perhaps have told me not to bother writing that piece!

Wishing you all well, perhaps at a time of relative rest and relaxation for some of you in Europe and (less so, given the version of capitalism over the pond) North America.

warm wishes from a somewhat blustery seaside but with the promise of sunny days ahead,

alan

PS: Apologies if in my enthusiasm, you’ve received this more than once.

__________________________________________________

Alan Hudson: Embracing complexity, nurturing relationships & catalyzing collaborative learning, for social change

Sign up to my occasional, and somewhat amateurish, newsletter on what I’m doing to nurture living, learning & loving systems! 

My recent articles and shares

 August 1, 2024  daviding

Yinyang and Daojia into Systems Thinking through Changes | EQ Lab Dialogic Drinks | 2024-05-02/03 August 1, 2024 daviding

Yinyang and Daojia into Systems Thinking through Changes | EQ Lab Dialogic Drinks | 2024-05-02/03 – Coevolving Innovations

Via Pam Hearne

UK Systems Society Membership Secretary

That Systemist is open access (at no cost to the author), each issue is logged at the British Library and the admission process includes ready access to the editorial team.

The next issue is to be a focused special issue on the topic of Systems thinking education for professional practice?  The call for papers can be found here.  Please get in touch with the editorial team if you have questions.

Pam

Systemist, Issue 44(2)  Winter 2023

Table of Contents

Editorial – Introduction to the Conference edition

Christine Welch

Editor-in-Chief’s Editorial

Prof. Frank Stowell

Critical Systems Thinking and Sociological Paradigms

Petter Øgland, Department of Informatics, University of Oslo, Norway

Transitioning to a Sustainable World – Finding Clues to Barriers in the Interstitial Spaces between Systems Thinking, Edge of Chaos, and Holistic Perspective

Claudius van Wyk, www.holos-earth.org

Using systems diagrams to support multi actor collaboration in Agricultural Knowledge and Innovation Systems

Andy Lane and Kevin Collins, Open University, UK

A Novel Systems Approach to Responsible AI Ecosystems

Neil McBride, De Montfort University, UK

Issue 44(2)

Issue 44(2) | Systemist

EP 199 – Patterns of Strategy – Patrick Hoverstadt

EP 199 – Patterns of Strategy – Patrick Hoverstadt — FuturePod

https://www.futurepod.org/podcast/ep-199