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Brain Tumor Center @ MGH
Neurosurgery @ MGH
Research @ MGH Neurosurgery
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Complex
systems consist of multiple interacting monomers. However, the dynamic
behavior of these systems cannot be fully explained by the property
of their components. The study of complex systems, based on modeling
and simulation has become a grand-challenge in basic and applied
sciences and led to the emergence of a rapidly growing new scientific
field (see also Science 284: 79-109, 1999).
Complex systems science draws from the powerful interaction of experimental
and theoretical researchers of many disparate scientific disciplines
assuming similar underlying rules for complex dynamic systems in
biology, economics, physics, sociology, management, engineering,
medicine and others. Examples of complex systems in the biomedical
focus are neuronal networks, the immune system and more recently,
disease processes such as cancer. A growing body of experimental
and clinical evidence suggests that not only single cells or pattern-forming
tumor cell groups (Figure 1 and 2) but the entire
neoplasm may behave as a spatio-temporally emerging, self-organizing
and adaptive complex dynamic biosystem rather than an unorganized
multicellular mass.
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[ click images for large versions ] |
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Figure 1:
Depicted is an image of an established high grade glioma cell line in culture. Note
the networked cluster pattern. |
Figure 2:
Shown is an image of an established high grade glioma cell line in culture. Note
the seemingly synchronized cell behavior within the confluent monolayer at lower (left)
and higher magnification.
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