Teoría de la complejidad y los sistemas de salud / Complexity theory and health systems

En la investigación en salud es todavía poco frecuente el uso de la Teoría de la Complejidad y de la Fractalidad (más aún en tópicos no relacionados directamente con la biología molecular o con la clínica). La complejidad nos propone complementar con propuestas desde nuevas perspectivas el pensamiento lineal y cuantitativo predominante todavía en la metodología de producción del conocimiento científico. El estudio de los sistemas de salud necesita un enfoque que se aparte de la linealidad, lo rígido y lo direccional, dado que los mismos son sistemas complejos en los que el todo es más que la simple suma de sus partes. La crisis global generada ante la pandemia por COVID-19 nos puso frente a la oportunidad (y a la obligación) de repensar tanto nuestra praxis cotidiana como nuestra forma de producir conocimiento (AU)

In health research, the use of the Complexity and Fractality Theory is still infrequent (even more so in topics not directly related to molecular or clinical biology). The complexity proposes us to complement with proposals from new perspectives the linear and quantitative thinking still predominant in the methodology of production of scientific knowledge. The study of health systems needs an approach that moves away from linearity, rigidity and direction, since they are complex systems in which the whole is more than the simple sum of its parts. The global crisis generated by the COVID-19 pandemic presented us with the opportunity (and the obligation) to rethink both our daily praxis and our way of producing knowledge (AU)

Stress-another possible mechanism of neurotoxicity in neurodegenerative diseases

Theliteratureassociatesoxidativestresswiththeproductionoffreeradicals,whichleadtoneurodegeneration.Theypresentinnumerablehypotheses,amongwhichareabnormalitiesinthefunctioningofthehypothalamic-pituitary-adrenalaxis,neurotoxiceffectsandneuronaloxidativedamage.ClinicalobservationhasshownthatinneurodegenerativediseasessuchasMultipleSclerosis(MS)andAmyotrophicLateralSclerosis(ALS)thereisareportofprolonged or violent emotionalstressprecedingthesymptoms.Aims:UsingtheCarilloComplexSystemsModel,presentsomepossibilitiesonhowstresscancontributetoneurodegeneration.Methodology:NinecasesofALSandsixcasesofMSwereevaluated,pathologiesalreadyclassifiedasbelongingtosyphilinism.Literaturereviewonstressandneurotoxicitycarriedout.Resultsanddiscussion:Syphilinism is instability with a predominantly intrinsicorigin to the system with a chronic caracter.This diathesis is characterized by a dissipative deficiency, predominantly hepatic, to the processing of certain elements or potentially toxic substances with exogenous origin or endogenous Such non-processed substances are unstable factors in the system, with greater affinity for certain tissues,like the nervous system. Among the toxins, we find alcohol, esters, formaldehyde, aloe, ketones, aldehydes, etc. The final hepatic metabolism of cortisol results in cortic acids and cortol, which use the same enzymatic system as alcohol, and can be considered syphilinic toxins. Ethanol can act directly at the circadian rhythm, disrupting it and generating stressful substances such as cortisol, regardless of an external event, increasing the toxin level. The inflammatory process generated by the production of free radicals and metabolic abnormalities, including the reduction of neuropeptide Y that modulates inflammatory activity in the nervous system, leads to changes that can result in neurodegeneration. Conclusion: Inflammation caused by toxins from prolonged/violent emotional stress can lead to several changes in syphilinic individuals, due to failure in the dissipative process, including neurodegeneration.

Evaluation of modern hernia and abdominal wall surgery by complex systems science / 中华消化外科杂志

Complex systems science (CSS) is an evaluation system that integrates the overall system and draws multilateral conclusions in the form of dynamic and reasonable interpreta-tion. Evaluation of modern hernia and abdominal wall surgery by CSS includes the application of artificial intelligence, data analysis and other methods. It implements the value oriented clinical quality improvement principle in the overall treatment cycle through the measurement of value, combined cost, quality evaluation and patient perspective. Finally, CSS will realize the sustainable development of hernia and abdominal wall surgical diagnosis and treatment system of medical care system.

Modelos evaluativos para intervenciones complejas en salud / Evaluative models for complex health interventions

RESUMEN Este artículo presenta los modelos evaluativos para intervenciones complejas en salud. Dichas intervenciones se caracterizan por ser dinámicas, altamente influenciadas por el contexto (político, social, económico y cultural), y cuentan con múltiples actores y multicomponentes. Las intervenciones complejas en salud se ejecutan simultáneamente con otras intervenciones de otros sectores; requieren tiempo para mostrar resultados y a veces es difícil estimar su contribución social e individual a la población blanco. Este artículo pretende identificar los modelos evaluativos propuestos para intervenciones complejas en salud con sus respectivas características, a fin de tener referentes teóricos para evaluaciones de programas de esta naturaleza. Por mucho tiempo las intervenciones en salud y su evaluación se entendieron de manera lineal; sin embargo, bajo la perspectiva teórica de la complejidad (en la que se integran múltiples dimensiones del fenómeno), el contexto tiene un papel central. Esto permite entender que las intervenciones no tienen el mismo resultado en diferentes espacios y que esta forma de evaluación permite dar cuenta de ello.

ABSTRACT This paper presents evaluative models for complex health interventions. The complex health interventions are characterized by being dynamic, highly influenced by the con-text (political, social, economic, and cultural), which have multiple actors, multicomponent. Furthermore, they are executed simultaneously with other interventions from other sectors, they require time to show results and sometimes it is difficult to estimate the contribution to the social and individual impact of the target population. This paper aims to identify the proposed evaluative models for complex health interventions with their respective characteristics, to have theoretical references for evaluations of pro-grams of this nature. For a long time, health interventions and their evaluation were understood in a linear manner, however, under the theoretical perspective of the complexity (in which multiple dimensions of the phenomenon are integrated), the context plays a central role, making it possible to understand that interventions do not have the same result in different spaces and that this form of evaluation allows to account for it.

A critical analysis of human improvement projects from the perspective of the self-organization theory

Based on the theory of self-organization, the objective of this paper is to critically discuss the theses defended by the postulators of two projects that aim to improve human nature: eugenics and transhumanism. We will try to show that the "science of eugenics", proposed by Francis Galton (1883), and the contemporary transhumanist project, outlined since the second half of the 20th century, share the controversial belief that human beings, through science and technology, are able to successfully control the evolutionary processes of human species. We will try to show that this belief disregards the central characteristics of the complex self-organized adaptive evolutionary processes of organisms in general. For this purpose, we will critically analyse the central theses of the transhumanist project and the "status quo bias" argument proposed by Bolton and Ord (2006) in defence of such theses. We conclude by emphasizing that the proponents of the contemporary transhumanist project would benefit from a fallibilistic perspective that would allow them to face the project's social and ethical possible implications with epistemic prudence.

Dimensiones del pensamiento sistémico aplicado: un estudio de casos múltiple desde la perspectiva de sistemas complejos y el aprendizaje organizacional / Dimensões do pensamento sistêmico aplicado: um estudo de caso múltiplo na perspectiva de sistemas complexos e aprendizagem organizacional / Dimensions of applied systemic thinking: a multiple case study from the complex systems and organizational learning perspective

Resumen: Este artículo se desarrolla en el marco de una investigación interesada por las condiciones que intervienen en el desarrollo de aprendizaje en las organizaciones contemporáneas. Con apoyo en fundamentos teóricos del aprendizaje organizacional y perspectivas de sistemas complejos y un diseño metodológico de estudio de casos múltiple, el trabajo pone en foco el papel del pensamiento sistémico como condición relevante para el aprendizaje organizacional, observado en el marco de procesos de tratamiento y solución de problemas en pequeñas y medianas organizaciones de la ciudad de Córdoba (Argentina). Como resultados se presentan cuatro dimensiones relevantes de observar en torno al pensamiento sistémico en circunstancias de práctica concreta, y la hipótesis de que el pensamiento sistémico puede presentarse a modo de patrón autoorganizado. Entre las conclusiones se sostiene que el pensamiento sistémico incide de manera significativa en los procesos de tratamiento de problemas, y consecuentemente en el logro de mejoras, aprendizajes compartidos, innovaciones y construcción de conocimiento en las organizaciones estudiadas, y que se manifiesta como emergente interaccional y contextual más que como competencia meramente individual. Los hallazgos tienen implicancias para investigadores, para gestores institucionales y para profesionales asesores, particularmente psicólogos que lleven adelante intervenciones en el campo de las organizaciones.

Resumo: Este artigo é desenvolvido no âmbito de uma investigação interessada nas condições envolvidas no desenvolvimento da aprendizagem nas organizações contemporâneas. Com apoio em fundamentos teóricos da aprendizagem organizacional e perspectivas de sistemas complexos e um desenho metodológico de estudos de caso múltiplo, o trabalho enfoca o papel do pensamento sistêmico como condição relevante para a aprendizagem organizacional, observada no âmbito dos processos de tratamento e solução de problemas em pequenas e médias organizações na cidade de Córdoba (Argentina). Como resultados, são apresentadas quatro dimensões relevantes da observação em torno do pensamento sistêmico em circunstâncias da prática concreta e a hipótese de que o pensamento sistêmico pode ser apresentado como um padrão auto-organizado. Dentre as conclusões, argumenta-se que o pensamento sistêmico tem um impacto significativo nos processos de tratamento de problemas e, consequentemente, na obtenção de melhorias, aprendizado compartilhado, inovações e construção de conhecimento nas organizações estudadas, e que se manifesta como um emergente interacional e competência contextual e não meramente individual. Os resultados têm implicações para pesquisadores, gerentes institucionais e consultores profissionais, principalmente psicólogos que realizam intervenções no campo das organizações.

Abstract: This article is developed within the framework of an investigation interested in the conditions involved in the development of learning in contemporary organizations. With support in theoretical foundations of organizational learning and complex systems perspectives and a methodological design of multiple-case studies, this paper focuses on the role of systemic thinking as a relevant condition for organizational learning, observed in the framework of treatment and solution processes of problems in small and medium organizations in Córdoba city (Argentina). As results, we present four relevant dimensions around systemic thinking in circumstances of concrete practice, and the hypothesis that systemic thinking can be presented as a self-organized pattern. As conclusions, it is argued that systemic thinking has a significant impact on the processes of treatment of problems, and consequently on the achievement of improvements, shared learning, innovations and construction of knowledge in the organizations studied, and that it manifests itself as an emerging interactional and contextual rather than as merely individual competence. The findings have implications for researchers, institutional managers and professional advisors, particularly psychologists who carry out interventions in the field of organizations.

Fractalidad en un patrón de cristalización de moco cervical humano obtenido en período periovulatorio / Fractality in a pattern of crystallization of human cervical mucus obtained at periovulatory period

Introducción: La secreción cervical cumple una función importante en el proceso reproductivo humano y algunas sus características (e.g., el cristalizar) cambian dependiendo de las variaciones en los niveles de hormonas esteroidales sexuales. Objetivo: Reportar la fractalidad observada en un patrón de cristalización de moco cervical humano. Métodos: El moco fue obtenido de una paciente en período periovulatorio. La imagen de un patrón cristalino de moco cervical fue transformada a blanco y negro y analizada mediante Fractalyse v. 2.4, el cual determina la dimensión fractal (DF) para cada imagen estudiada. Se analizaron tres zonas para la imagen seleccionada. Resultados: Se encontró, para la Zona 1, DF (± desviación estándar) = 1,36 ± 0,02 (r² = 0,9985); para la Zona 2, DF = 1,35 ± 0,02 (r² = 0,9979); y para la Zona 3, DF = 1,36 ± 0,03 (r² = 0,9958). Las DF encontradas para las zonas estudiadas fueron estadísticamente iguales entre sí. Conclusiones: El moco cervical humano en período periovulatorio puede seguir un patrón de cristalización tipo fractal, especialmente en lo referente a la semejanza de sus componentes estructurales (criterio de autosimilitud) (AU)

Introduction: Cervical secretion plays an important role in the human reproductive process and its characteristics (e.g., crystallization) change depending on variations in the levels of sex steroid hormones. Objective: The purpose of this brief communication is to report the fractality observed in a crystallization pattern of human cervical mucus. Methods: Mucus samples were obtained from a patient in the periovulatory period and an image of the crystalline pattern of cervical mucus was transformed to black and white and analysed by Fractalyse v. 2.4, which determines the fractal dimension (FD) for each studied image. Three zones were analysed for the selected image. Results: It was found that, for Zone 1, FD (± standard deviation) = 1.36 ± 0.02 (r² = 0.9985); for Zone 2, FD = 1.35 ± 0.02 (r² = 0.9979); and for Zone 3, FD = 1.36 ± 0.03 (r² = 0.9958). Zones studied were statistically equal to each other regarding their FD. Conclusions: Human cervical mucus obtained at periovulatory period can follow a fractal-like pattern of crystallization, especially in relation to the similarity of its structural components (criterion of self-similarity) (AU)

Obesidad infantil: un nuevo enfoque para su estudio / Childhood obesity: a new approach to its study

Resumen La Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) ha catalogado la obesidad infantil como la mayor crisis de la salud pública en el mundo. En su informe de 2014 indica que se registraron cuarenta y dos millones de niños menores de 5 años con sobrepeso; de ellos, treinta y cinco millones viven en países en desarrollo. La obesidad infantil es una enfermedad que tiene como origen una cadena causal compleja, de etiología multifactorial, en la que interactúan factores individuales y contextuales; en ellos el niño se encuentra inmerso, y ejercen influencia sobre su comportamiento, en diversos entornos y en diferentes niveles de jerarquía. Esta revisión presenta una descripción de algunos estudios y esfuerzos realizados para caracterizar, prevenir y controlar la epidemia de obesidad en esta etapa del ciclo vital. Se propone, así mismo, un abordaje para el estudio de la obesidad, denominado 'Enfoque de sistemas complejos', el cual permite analizar cómo los factores individuales y contextuales se relacionan, y cómo esa interacción genera nuevas propiedades que no pueden explicarse a partir de los procedimientos habituales de análisis epidemiológico; para ello será necesario el trabajo en equipo, con enfoque multidisciplinario, que incluya médicos, pediatras, nutricionistas, epidemiólogos, salubristas, estadísticos, ingenieros, entre otros profesionales, que aporten sus conocimientos y habilidades, que permitan entender la obesidad como un fenómeno dinámico que requiere ser abordado con un enfoque integral e integrador, que trascienda la mirada reduccionista de los factores de riesgo del proceso salud - enfermedad. Solo entonces se podrá mejorar la capacidad para comprender la salud desde una perspectiva clásica hasta un sistema verdaderamente dinámico.

Summary The World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked childhood obesity as the greatest public health crisis in the world. In its 2014 report, it indicates that 42 million children under 5 are overweight, of whom 35 million live in developing countries. Childhood obesity is a disease, which has its origin in a complex causal chain of multifactorial etiology, where individual and contextual factors interact where the child is immersed. They exert influence on their behavior in different environments and at different levels of hierarchy. This review presents an overview of some studies and efforts carried out to characterize, prevent, and control the obesity epidemic in this stage of the life cycle. Likewise, it proposes, an approach to the study of obesity, called 'complex systems approach', which allows to analyze how individual and contextualfactors relate and how this interaction generates new properties that cannot be explained by the standard procedures that classical statistics offer. This will require work in interdisciplinary team, with a multidisciplinary approach involving physicians, pediatricians, nutritionists, epidemiologists, public health specialists, statisticians, engineers, and others who contribute their knowledge and skills to enable understanding obesity as a dynamic phenomenon, which needs to be approached by an integrative approach that transcends the reductionist view of the risk factors of the health disease process. Only then will it be possible to improve the capacity to understand health from a classical perspective to a truly dynamic system.

Time to change from a simple linear model to a complex systems model

A simple linear model to test the hypothesis based on one-on-one relationship has been used to find the causative factors of diseases. However, we now know that not just one, but many factors from different systems such as chemical exposure, genes, epigenetic changes, and proteins are involved in the pathogenesis of chronic diseases such as diabetes mellitus. So, with availability of modern technologies to understand the intricate nature of relations among complex systems, we need to move forward to the future by taking complex systems model.

A study of tick infestation on cattle in the Abanico de Ibagué, Colombiausing the complex systems approach / Estudio de infestación por garrapatas en ganado en el Abanico de Ibagué Colombia usando el enfoque de sistemas complejos / Estudo de uma infestação recorrente em gado no Abanico de Ibagué, Colômbia, usando uma aproximação ao sistema complexo

Cattle ranching systems have traditionally been studied based on Cartesian research models that break them down into each of their constitutive parts. For this reason, definition of biophysical and technical-productive parameters dominates knowledge in this area, but does not allow a complex vision of the production systems to be obtained. The emergence of agroecology and the implementation of new models of livestock rearing, such as silvopastoral systems (SPS), suggests that, in addition to studying the characteristics of the natural and technical-productive quantitative variables, sociocultural aspects should be incorporated to offer a more complex, transdisciplinary vision of agricultural systems and to allow new interpretations of agro-ecosystems, their components and interrelationships. The tick Rhipicephalus microplus has normally been considered a disruptor of the equilibrium of the ranching system, such that positivist research recommends its eradication. In this study, the structure and function of the system is related to a specific agricultural problem by describing the characteristics of a theoretical model to analyze tick infestation on cattle in the Abanico de Ibagué (Colombia), using the complex systems approach. Through development of this model, it was possible to postulate dynamic relationships between the SPS and conventional system components that can influence the behavior of the tick, demonstrating its presence in the system to be essential for achieving socioecological resilience.

Los sistemas de cría de ganado han sido tradicionalmente estudiados en base a modelos de investigación cartesiana que los dividen en cada una de sus partes constitutivas. Debido a esto la definición de los parámetros biofísicos y técnico-productivos domina el conocimiento en ésta área, pero no permite obtener una visión compleja del sistema de producción. La aparición de la agroecología y la implementación de nuevos modelos de cría de ganado, como los sistemas silvopastoriles (SPS), sugieren que además de estudiar las características de las variables componentes naturales de tipo cuantitativas y técnico-productivas, los aspectos socioculturales deben ser incorporados para ofrecer una visión compleja y transdisciplinaria de los sistemas agropecuarios y para permitir hacer nuevas interpretaciones de los agroecosistemas, sus componentes e interrelaciones. La garrapata Rhipicephalus microplus ha sido normalmente considerada como un disruptor del equilibrio de los sistemas de cría, tanto que la investigación positivista recomienda su erradicación. En este estudio, la estructura y función del sistema es relacionado a un problema agropecuario específico, al describir las características de un modelo teórico para analizar la infestación por garrapatas en Ganado del Abanico de Ibagué (Colombia), utilizando el enfoque de sistemas complejos. A través del desarrollo de éste modelo fue posible postular relaciones dinámicas entre componentes del SPS y los sistemas convencionales que influencian el comportamiento de la garrapata, demostrando que su presencia en el sistema es esencial para alcanzar adaptabilidad socioecológica.

Os sistemas de cria de gado tem sido tradicionalmente estudados em base a modelos de pesquisa cartesiana, os quais dividem-se em cada uma de suas partes constitutivas. Devido a isto, a definição dos parâmetros biofísicos e técnico-produtivos domina o conhecimento em esta área, mas não permite obter uma visão complexa do sistema de produção. A aparição da agroecologia e a implementação de novos modelos de cria de gado, com os sistemas silvopastoris (SPS), sugerem que além de estudar as características das variáveis componentes naturais de tipo quantitativas e técnico-produtivas, os aspectos socioculturais devem ser incorporados para oferecer uma maior visão: ampla, complexa e transdisciplinar dos sistemas agropecuários e para permitir fazer novas interpretações dos agroecossistemas, seus componentes e inter-relações. O carrapato Rhipicephalus microplus tem sido normalmente considerado como um disjuntor do equilíbrio dos sistemas de cria, tanto que a pesquisa positivista recomenda sua erradicação. Neste estudo, a estrutura e função do sistema é relacionado a um problema agropecuário especifico, ao descrever as características de um modelo teórico para analisar a infestação por carrapatos no gado do Abanico de Ibagué (Colômbia), utilizando o enfoque de sistemas complexos. A traves do desenvolvimento deste modelo, foi possível postular relações dinâmicas entre componentes do SPS e os sistemas convencionais que influenciam o comportamento do carrapato, demonstrando que sua presença no sistema é essencial para conseguir a adaptabilidade socio ecológica.

Ontologias para a Modelagem Multiagente de Sistemas Complexos em Ciências Cognitivas / Ontologies for Multiagent Modeling of Complex Systems in CognitiveSciences

As ciências cognitivas, como domínio interdisciplinar envolvendo disciplinas científicas (como a ciênciada computação, a linguística, a psicologia, as neurociências, a economia, etc.), filosóficas(filosofia da linguagem, filosofia da mente, filosofia analítica, etc.) e engenharias (notadamente aengenharia do conhecimento), possuem um vasto corpo teórico e prático, alguns mesmo conflitantes. Neste contexto interdisciplinar e voltado para amodelagem computacional, as ontologias cumprem um papel essencial na comunicação entre disciplinase também no processo de inovação de teorias, modelos e experimentos em ciências cognitivas. Este processo é enfatizado aqui. Um engajamentoontológico é defendido como marco de um realismo científico, o que leva a modelagem computacional àbusca de modelos mais realistas, mais próximos de uma perspectiva sistemas complexos da natureza e da cognição. Neste sentido a modelagem multiagente de sistemas complexos vem cumprindo um papel de destaque.

Cognitive sciences as an interdisciplinary field, involving scientific disciplines (such as computer science, linguistics, psychology, neuroscience, economics, etc.), philosophical disciplines philosophy of language, philosophy of mind, analytic philosophy, etc.) and engineering (notably knowledge engineering), have a vast theoretical and practical content, some even conflicting. In this interdisciplinary context and on computational modeling, ontologies play a crucial role in communication between disciplines and also in a process of innovation of theories, models and experiments in cognitive sciences. We propose a model for this process here. An ontological commitment is advocated as the framework of a scientific realism, which leads computational modeling to search for more realistic models, for a complex systems perspective of nature and cognition. In that way multiagent modeling of complex systems has been fulfilling an important role

Enfoque de los sistemas complejos en seguridad del paciente: [revisión] / Approach of the complex systems in the patient's safety: [review]

Para confeccionar la presente revisión se utilizaron bases de datos disponibles en INFOMED, (EBSCO, PUBMED e HINARI;) utilizando el descriptor patient safety. Se destaca el hecho de que existe abundante bibliografía actualizada en las bases de datos de INFOMED, la cual muestra tendencia internacional al uso de herramientas propias del enfoque de la complejidad tales como el incremento de las conexiones entre elementos del sistema, mejora en las tecnologías de la información y la comunicación que facilitan la interconexión entre estos elementos. La presente revisión se realiza con fines divulgativos y como base para un proyecto de investigación que se va a emprender entre el Centro de Medicina y Complejidad y el Hospital Universitario Manuel Ascunce Domenech.

To make the present review, available databases were used at INFOMED, (EBSCO, PUBMED and HINARI) using "patient safety" as descriptor. Abundant up-dated bibliography in the INFOMED databases exists, which shows international tendency to the use of typical tools of the complexity approach such as the increment of the connections among elements of the system, improvement in the technologies of the information and communication that facilitate the interconnection among these elements. The present review is carried out with publishing purposes and as basis for an investigation project that will undertake between the Medicine and Complexity Center and the University Hospital Manuel Ascunce Domenech.

Ciencias de la complejidad y caos como herramientas en el análisis de la proliferación de vectores y zoonosis / Sciences of complexity and chaos to analyze vectors and zoonosis

En el presente trabajo se discuten los fundamentos de las ciencias de la complejidad y caos como herramientas en el análisis la proliferación de vectores y zoonosis. En la primera parte del artículo se describen los fundamentos y antecedentes de las ciencias de la complejidad, como una visión diferente para entender y analizar a los sistemas dinámicos, conceptos que han existido desde hace varios siglos y están relacionados con las ideas acerca del origen de la vida misma, que romperán con los paradigmas de la linealidad y el reduccionismo. Se ejemplifica con la utilización de la geometría fractal, mundo pequeño y los análisis de series de tiempo, entre otras herramientas, para entender el comportamiento de los sistemas caóticos que se presentan en la diseminación de enfermedades de origen zoonótico. Se concluye que la mayoría de los contagios, así como la diseminación de enfermedades transmitidas por los animales, tienen tendencia caótica. Dado que 75 % de las enfermedades emergentes son de origen zoonótico, las herramientas de las ciencias de la complejidad y la no linealidad resultan indispensables para entender el dinamismo y comportamientode la diseminación de estas patologías.

The present paper discusses the fundamentals of the sciences of complexity and chaos as tools in the proliferation of vectors and zoonosis. The first part of the article discusses the rationale and history of the sciences of complexity, a different view as to understand and analyze dynamic systems. These concepts explain the dynamics of the origin of life itself and break the paradigms of linearity and reductionism. This is exemplified by using fractal geometry, the law of the small world and time series analysis among other tools to understand the behavior of chaotic systems, which are presented in the form of the spread of zoonotic diseases. We conclude that most infections and the spread of diseases transmitted by animals tend towards being chaotic, and it is mentioned that 75% of emerging diseases are zoonotic in origin. Therefore, the tools are not linear. They are indispensable for understanding the dynamic behavior of the spread of these diseases.

La investigación en salud pública: una reflexión epistemológica desde las ciencias de la complejidad / Pesquisa em saúde pública: uma reflexão epistemológica desde las ciências da complexidade / Research on public health: an epistemological reflection from complex sciences

Desde la ciencias de la complejidad, el presente artículo de reflexión, se refiere en esta ocasión, a un problema central y otros derivados de él, relacionados con el proceso actual de investigación en salud pública: el de la construcción de modelos y otros adjuntos a este: i) los relativos a la explicación; ii) el referido al enunciado de los problemas de investigación y, iii) el de la visión del observador. Se defienden dos tesis: i) la insuficiencia de las ciencias para la investigación de la salud pública está dada por las limitaciones de los modelos de explicación reduccionistas y, ii) la posibilidad se encuentra en la aproximación a la salud pública como un sistema complejo adaptativo...

Arising from the complexity sciences, the present article of reflection, refers in this opportunity, to a central problem and other that derivate from it, related to the present process of public health research: that of the construction of models and other associated to it: i) those related to the explanation; ii) the one referring to the statement of the research problems and, iii) the vision of the observer. Two theses are defended: i) the insufficiency of sciences for the research of public health, is given by the limitations of reductionist models of explanation and, ii) the possibility is found in the approach to public health as an adaptive complex system.Key words author: decentralization, neoliberalism, equity, Mexico...

Desde as ciências da complexidade, o presente artigo de reflexão refere-se nesta ocasião, a um problema central e outros derivados, relacionados com o processo atual de pesquisa em saúde pública – a construção de modelos e outros anexos ao tema: a) os relativos à explicação; b) o referido ao anunciado dos problemas de pesquisa; e c) a visão do observador. Duas teses são defendidas: a insuficiência das ciências para a pesquisa de saúde pública esta dada pelas limitações dos modelos de explicação reducionistas; e a possibilidade encontra-se na aproximação à saúde pública como um sistema complexo adaptativo...

As pequenas fraternidades organizadas em torno da espiritualidade e da partilha de vida / The small fraternities organized around the spirituality and the life sharing

Apresentamos um relatório de pesquisa de uma rede composta por pequenos grupos, as Fraternidades Maristas. Esta rede é posta em discussão, articulando-se a teoria sistêmica-complexa, a noção de rede e de pequenos grupos como sistemas complexos. Apoiam, ainda, a discussão, noções de espiritualidade, de amizade, partilha de vida e pertença. Tem como objetivos conhecer e compreender os motivos pelos quais as pessoas se agregam em Pequenas Fraternidades do Movimento Champagnat da Família Marista e de como vivem a espiritualidade. Justificou o trabalho o pouco conhecimento que se tem sobre os motivos pelos quais as pessoas se agregam a essas Fraternidades e os aportes que isso traz às suas vidas, às suas famílias e ao seu meio social; existem poucos dados sociodemográficos sobre as fraternidades e seus participantes; não se tem conhecimento de uma dissertação de mestrado ou tese de doutorado, em Psicologia, sobre as Pequenas Fraternidades Maristas. A pesquisa teve uma abordagem quantitativa e qualitativa. Os instrumentos de coleta foram: um Questionário Fechado, Autoaplicável, o Grupo Focal e o Diário de Campo. Os resultados indicam que entre os motivos mais significativos pelos quais as pessoas aderem às fraternidades estão a espiritualidade, o convívio, a amizade, ajuda na educação dos filhos entre outros.

We present a research report about a network composed of small groups, the Marist Fraternities. It is being discussed by articulating the complex systemic theory, the notion of network andsmall groups as complex systems. The Fraternities advocate the discussion, notions of spirituality, friendship, life sharing and belonging. The aim is to know and understand the reasons why people have joined Small Fraternities of Champagnat Movement of the MaristFamily and how they experience spirituality. The justification of this work has been the little knowledge we have about the motives why people join those Fraternities and subsides thatthis fact brings to their lives, their families and their social environment. There have been little social demographic data on fraternities and their participants. No reports either of aPsychology dissertation or thesis about Small Marist Fraternities have been found. The research has had both a quantitative and qualitative approach. The data-gathering instruments were aClosed, Self-Applicable Questionnaire, a Focus Group, and the Field Diary. The results have pointed that the most significant reasons why people join fraternities include: spirituality,coexistence, friendship, and support in child-rearing, among others.

Learning about brain physiology and complexity from the study of the epilepsies

The brain is a complex system, which produces emergent properties such as those associated with activity-dependent plasticity in processes of learning and memory. Therefore, understanding the integrated structures and functions of the brain is well beyond the scope of either superficial or extremely reductionistic approaches. Although a combination of zoom-in and zoom-out strategies is desirable when the brain is studied, constructing the appropriate interfaces to connect all levels of analysis is one of the most difficult challenges of contemporary neuroscience. Is it possible to build appropriate models of brain function and dysfunctions with computational tools? Among the best-known brain dysfunctions, epilepsies are neurological syndromes that reach a variety of networks, from widespread anatomical brain circuits to local molecular environments. One logical question would be: are those complex brain networks always producing maladaptive emergent properties compatible with epileptogenic substrates? The present review will deal with this question and will try to answer it by illustrating several points from the literature and from our laboratory data, with examples at the behavioral, electrophysiological, cellular and molecular levels. We conclude that, because the brain is a complex system compatible with the production of emergent properties, including plasticity, its functions should be approached using an integrated view. Concepts such as brain networks, graphics theory, neuroinformatics, and e-neuroscience are discussed as new transdisciplinary approaches dealing with the continuous growth of information about brain physiology and its dysfunctions. The epilepsies are discussed as neurobiological models of complex systems displaying maladaptive plasticity.

Caracterización y análisis de series de tiempo de enfermedades respiratorias agudas en la provincia de Camagüey / Characterization and analysis of acute respiratory diseases time series from Camagüey

Fundamentación: En Cuba existe un excelente sistema de vigilancia, pero tiene que enfrentar el reto de constantes cambios demográficos y movimientos de poblaciones dentro y fuera del país, entre otros. Existe un eficiente sistema de alerta y respuesta contra la presentación de enfermedades, pero estos programas deben tener en cuenta el presupuesto para las actividades de la salud pública y la complejidad de la propagación; el uso de modelos matemáticos podría apoyar este esfuerzo. Objetivo: Caracterizar una serie de tiempo de enfermedades respiratorias agudas en la provincia de Camagüey y evaluarla con un método adecuado a su comportamiento. Métodos: Se utilizaron tasas de la serie de tiempo semanal de enfermedad respiratoria aguda reportada entre los años 2000 al 2007 de la provincia de Camagüey, Cuba. Para caracterizar estas series se utilizó el programa Matlab V-7,4-2006. La estacionaridad se evaluó con el método de autocorrelación simple, el comportamiento de linealidad se realizó con la prueba diseñada por Brock, Dechert y Scheinkma, con el método basado en la geometría espectral se determinó si la serie era estocástica o determinista. Se comparan los errores en las predicciones con los modelos ARMA y GARCH y se analizan los errores y las curvas de predicción. Resultados: Se demuestra el comportamiento no estacionario de la serie, basado en la función de autocorrelación simple. La prueba BDS indica que la serie estudiada es no lineal. La prueba de Geometría espectral concluye que la serie proviene de un sistema estocástico. En esta serie estacionaria, no lineal y estocástica resultó más adecuado el modelo GARCH que el ARMA, dado el menor error y más ajuste de la curva de predicción. Estos resultados demuestran la necesidad de clasificar las series de tiempo antes de ser analizadas, para proponer el modelo más adecuado. Conclusiones: La serie estudiada resultó ser no lineal, no estacionaria y estocástica...

Background: In Cuba an excellent system of surveillance exists, but has to face the challenge of constant demographic changes and populations' movements inside and outside of the country, among other. An efficient system of alert and answer against the presentation of diseases exists, but these programs may take into account the budget for the public health activities and the complexity of the propagation; the use of mathematical models could support this effort. Objective: To characterize a series of time of acute respiratory diseases in Camagüey province and to evaluate it with an appropriate method to its behavior. Methods: Rates of series of time weekly of acute respiratory diseases were used, reported between the years 2000 to 2007 of Camagüey province, Cuba. To characterize these series Matlab V-7,4-2006 program was used. The stationarity was evaluated with the simple autocorrelation method, the linearity behavior was carried out with the test designed by Brock, Dechert and Scheinkma, with the method based on the spectral geometry that was determined if the series was stochastic or determinist. Errors were compared in the predictions with ARMA and GARCH models, errors and prediction curves were analyzed. Results: The non stationary behavior of the series is demonstrated, based on the simple autocorrelation function. The test indicates that the studied series was not lineal. The spectral Geometry test concluded that the series comes from a stochastic system. In this stationary, not lineal and stochastic series was more adequate GARCH model than ARMA, given the smallest error and more adjustment of the prediction curve. These results demonstrated the necessity to classify the series of time before being analyzed, to propose the most appropriate model. Conclusions: The studied series turned out to be not lineal, no stationary and stochastic and the prediction was superior in this case, with the model GARCH compared with ARMA.

Nanobioética, nanobiopolítica y nanotecnología / Nanobioethic, nanobiopolitics and nanotechnology

El estudio de la bioética gira en torno a la preservación y respeto por la vida, y sus principios éticos buscan mostrar a las sociedades la importancia de la conservación y cuidado de la misma, manifiesta en sus diferentes formas. Con base en esta premisa, en este trabajo se contempla extender el estudio de la bioética (nanobioética y nanobiopolítica) a las nuevas ciencias emergentes, tales como la nanotecnología, la cual dentro de muy pocos años va ha permitir crear “vida artificial” (vida gris y vida digital), cuyo panorama con respecto a la existencia de la vida natural es incierto, pues existe gran incertidumbre sobre el comportamiento de los sistemas artificiales nanotecnológicos SAN en entornos abiertos (ecosistemas), en los que presumiblemente exista una competencia entre estos dos tipos de vida por su supervivencia. De suceder esta competencia, los SAN van a adquirir autonomía propia (SCAN), haciendo que interaccionen con los organismos naturales, induciéndola a crear nuevos nichos híbridos o independientes de la vida natural...

The study of the bioethic id about the preservation and respect for the life, where its ethical principles look for to show to the societies, the importance of the conservation and care of the same one, apparent in their different forms. Under this premise, it is contemplated in this present work, to extend the study of the bioethic (nanobioethic and nanobiopolitic) to the new such emergent sciences as the nanotecnología, which goes in very few years has to allow to create “artificial life” (gray life and digital life) whose panorama with respect to the existence of the natural life will be uncertain, because great uncertainty exists on the behavior of the systems artificial nanotecnológicos SAN in open environments (ecosystems), in those that presumably a competition exists among these two types of life for its survival. Of happening this competition, those SAN they will acquire own autonomy (SCAN), making that interaction with the natural organisms, inducing it to create new hybrid or independent niches of the natural life...

A New Model of the Relations among the Five Basic Elements. (The First Report) / 全日本鍼灸学会雑誌

It is well known that the concept underlying oriental medicine is to approach the living body as a microcosm. The model currently used shows that all five basic elements are interrelated. Because only relative directions between the five basic elements are shown, these diagrams can not describe the whole. However, complex systems of the control theory in engineering using the current model remain complicated.In this study, we designed a new model to synthetically interpret the relations among the five basic elements that are used in complex systems. As a result, the new model can describe drastic changes in the creative cycle and the destructive cycle. Furthermore, the model can faithfully express whole changes of the five basic elements and simultaneously describe the relation of the creative cycle and the relation of the destructive cycle. It is suggested that the use of this new basic model may help explain the disease model and treatment theory.