Metastasis Models: Thermodynamics and Complexity.

The thermodynamic formalism of nonequilibrium systems together with the theory of complex systems and systems biology offer an appropriate theoretical framework to explain the complexity observed at the macroscopic level in physiological phenomena. In turn, they allow the establishment of an appropriate conceptual and operational framework to address the study of phenomena such as the emergence and evolution of cancer.This chapter is organized as follows: In Subheading 1, an integrated vision of these disciplines is offered for the characterization of the emergence and evolution of cancer, seen as a nonlinear dynamic system, temporally and spatially self-organized out of thermodynamic equilibrium. The development of the various mathematical models and different techniques and approaches used in the characterization of cancer metastasis is presented in Subheading 2. Subheading 3 is devoted to the time course of cancer metastasis, with particular emphasis on the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT henceforth) as well as chronotherapeutic treatments. In Subheading 4, models of the spatial evolution of cancer metastasis are presented. Finally, in Subheading 5, some conclusions and remarks are presented.

Ethics in Publishing: Complexity Science and Human Factors Offer Insights to Develop a Just Culture.

While ethics in publishing has been increasingly debated, there seems to be a lack of a theoretical framework for making sense of existing rules of behavior as well as for designing, managing and enforcing such rules. This letter argues that systems-oriented disciplines, such as complexity science and human factors, offer insights into new ways of dealing with ethics in publishing. Some examples of insights are presented. Also, a call is made for empirical studies that unveil the context and details of both retracted papers and the process of writing and publishing academic papers. This is expected to shed light on the complexity of the publication system as well as to support the development of a just culture, in which all participants are accountable.

E-Saúde e complexidade: uma proposta para o desenho de políticas públicas / E-Health and complexity: a propose of public policy design

Objetivos: Neste artigo se apresenta conceito de e-Saúde como sistema sociotécnico. Para isso, considerandosua natureza multifatorial, se adota perspectiva interdisciplinar. Materiais e Métodos: Dadaa interferência das Tecnologias da Informação e Comunicação (TIC) no âmbito social e em particularno setor da saúde, sugere-se que a e-Saúde constitua um sistema aberto onde a interação e a interdependênciade aspectos tecnológicos, socioculturais, normativos e econômicos cumpram um papelchave na caracterização do sistema, dado que uma aproximação meramente unidisciplinar resultariainsuficiente para a análise geral. Resultados: Uma perspectiva a partir da ciência da complexidadepode extrair novos alcances até o fortalecimento do ecossistema da e-Saúde em níveis local, regionale nacional, aumentando sua efetividade e impactando como importante habilitador de bem-estar social.Conclusão: Argumenta-se que esta perspectiva é particularmente importante na formulação depolíticas públicas e em programas de formação de recursos humanos, isso devido à importância dosurgimento de novos desafios que a digitalização e a globalização impõem às novas gerações de profissionaisdo setor da saúde.

Aims: This article offers a conceptualization of e-Health as a socio-technical system, in that regard,we adopt a perspective that considers its multifactorial and interdisciplinary nature. Materialsand Methods: Given the penetration of Information and Communications Technology (ICT) in thesocial fabric, particularly in the health sector, we suggest that e-Health constitutes an open systemwhere the interaction and interdependency of technology, sociocultural, regulatory and economicfactors play a key role in the characterization of the system, hence, a disciplinary approach isinsufficient for its integral analysis. Results: A perspective from complexity science may providenew findings toward the strenghthening of the e-Health ecosystem at local, regional and nationallevels. Conclusion: We argue that in order to face the challenges of digitization and globalization inthe health sector, this perspective is particularly important to supporting the development of publicpolicy strategies and capacity building programs.