#ISSS2017 Vienna

Systems Processes Theory (SPT) teams, following 40 years of collection by its originator Dr. Len Troncale, are continuing to collect numerous case studies, scientific research articles, books, references, definitions and other related material on phenomena across the major domains of science (astronomy, physics, chemistry, geology, biology, mathematics, computer science, human & social systems). Some 55 Isomorphic Systems Processes or Patterns (ISPs) as GST components organize these collections because the peer-reviewed scientific method gives evidence for their underlying commonality, similarity or universality despite specific differences in scale, discipline, or type of system involved. For example, SPT has a collection for the cycles ISP of about 100 case studies of cycling features/functions from the literature of the above 9 disciplines. Same for hierarchies, or networks. The "Origins patterns" has over 1,000 research articles collected as one ISP. Plans are to collect items for 30 Categories of Information (InfoCategories) for each and every ISP. Access to this valuable, transdisciplinary, general systems oriented body of knowledge is currently very limited. Several wish to secure this huge knowledge base in perpetuity for use by a wider range of systems scientists, systems thinkers, sustainability experts, systems engineers, design & management specialists, etc.

The authors are working with Dr. Troncale to develop a publicly accessible database of the information. This development would make the work of the many usable by anyone. This presentation and paper describes initial planning. We recognize two major parts of this project: 1) the database schema & software, and 2) the human interface to the data. The development of the schema is complicated by the wide diversity of material in the collection. Metadata surrounding each item lacks uniformity. For example, the bibliographic citations exist in a multitude of formats (ALA, Chicago, Dewey Decimal, IEEE reference numbers, URL, LOC, Marc 25 and so on.) The first step in developing the schema is collecting, rationalizing and building a common citation construct with enough flexibility to adjust to future requirements without introducing redundancy. The development of the interface must anticipate the questions a user might ask. Since the users of the database will range from experienced science researchers to students to engineers to curators and more - most likely there will be multiple access modes needed.

This paper and presentation also discusses the progress so far and outlines the next steps for other key design challenges such as: (1) enabling crowd sourcing and collaboratories; (2) identifying meaningful relationships among seemingly unrelated data elements; and (3) providing structured and unstructured information access for diverse users. The earliest paper (1978) in the SPT series described the ideal of a virtual network graphic of great complexity that would be instantaneously updated with any new entry to the DB-SP2T, and enable real-time travel thru the graphic by the user for choice of any specific part of the net graphic. Organization of the net would be with ISPs as nodes and Linkage Propositions (LPs) between nodes. The incredible detail in the DB-SP2T is evidenced by considering a matrix of ISPs by ISPs that records the number of current LPs with over 3000 interstices, each containing critical information. Or by considering a matrix of ISPs by InfoCategories, where just one of the 3,300 interstices usually has a dozen items of information, resulting in a matrix possibly totaling nearly 40,000 entries. Examples of such matrices will be presented and their inclusion in the DB-SP2T critiqued.

This paper describes preliminary research in formalizing Isomorphic Systems Processes, Patterns or Pathologies (ISPs) using automated systems engineering tools, based on systems science research. Monterey Phoenix (MP) is a behavior modeling approach and tool used by systems engineers to describe system behaviors and expose emergent behaviors in engineered, complex systems. MP is introduced in the context of its potential for modeling ISPs both abstractly (at the universal patterns level) and concretely (at the example, case study, or instantiation level). In this paper, the Cycles ISP is modeled in MP and executed to compute many possible variations for the Cycles ISP. Input for the model of Cycles ISP comes from the accumulating SPT relational data base of 30 categories of information for each ISP briefly described in the paper. Selection of key information from just four of the categories were used to model the Cycles ISP in Monterey Phoenix, namely, “Identifying Features,” “Measurables,” “Identifying Functions,” and “How a Process.” Inspection of the output from this executable model provides insight to inform the proposed ISP taxonomy. In particular, MP-generated variants of the Cycles ISP are shown to contain patterns of positive feedback, negative feedback, oscillation, lifecycle, and recycling. Although, the input relational data base contained preliminary information on three of these (oscillations, lifecycles, and recycling), the other two were not anticipated in pre-model analyses. Applications of the Cycles ISP are included to demonstrate example instances of where these patterns occur and which deviations from the standard universal patterns might result in system dysfunctions or pathologies. The paper suggests how knowledge of these deviations might contribute to knowledge of why they occur at the fundamental general systems level, what exact impacts they have, and how they might be corrected. The initial results show that MP is a productive framework for describing an ISP as a formal and executable model, in terms of a simple and straightforward event grammar. Future work includes expanding the overall SPT-MP meta-model with other proposed ISPs (there are at least 55 additional ISPs available), creating more exploratory executions of the meta-model, and cataloging the formal MP models of ISPs. The ultimate goal would be to interconnect a sufficient number of the ISPs to yield a very general model of sustainable systems dynamics at all scales and for many types or classes of systems as well as models of dysfunction that are often encountered in engineering and natural systems.

This paper suggests that two reasons for the lack of progress toward a widely recognized consensus on a candidate general theory of systems (GST as GTS) are: (1) there does not exist a consensus set of criteria with which to judge alternative candidates (so they just continue to proliferate without any unification); and (2) there is little or no tradition of judgement or selective force in the ISSS eliminating alternatives or forcing them to integrate. In this presentation and paper, a list of 15 criteria or features that we propose MUST be present in any candidate GTS are submitted, described and critiqued. One major criterium is that any candidate GTS must cite or utilize multiple (as in many) isomorphies as hypothesized by the Founders of GST in the beginning. The author knows of several authors of alternative systems theories who dispute this claim and so arguments for and against are presented and refuted. Then the list of criteria for a GST are compared with a list of twenty Tenets (or features) of the Systems Processes Theory (SPT). Each tenet is explained in terms of the criteria needed for a GST. Then a listing of a dozen other candidate systems theories are listed, examined, and discussed. Some of these theories of system dynamics are adequate for the purposes or functions for which they were designed, but this presentation will show that they are not within the realm of the science of systems intended by the ISSS Founders or are not, in fact, general. SPT will be shown to be strictly a science of systems as opposed to attempts at systems thinking for purely human design objectives. SPT will also be shown to be general in the widest definition of that term. Then the SPT will be compared with newer descriptions of features needed for a GST emerging from the work of Rousseau and Wilby et. al. and the BCSSS (Bertalanffy Center for the Study of Systems Science). Several continuing obstacles that inhibit formation of a consensus on a unified GST will also be considered and their history discussed as well as the current fate and/or status of the SPT.

This presentation and paper will explore the similarities between the established discipline of Systems Biology and the new suggested discipline of top-down Systems Pathology. It will show that both investigate complex systems, and both are necessarily interdisciplinary. Both recognize some of the same isomorphies (especially self-organization, feedbacks, and networks -- though Systems Biology is less consciously aware of them as isomorphies). Both look for the primary or fundamental causes of dysfunctions (one at the reductionist level; the other at the systems dynamics level). Whereas there are similarities, there are also differences that will be discussed. While systems biology is reductionist dominated, most often elucidating molecular machine and organellar level foci, even these levels may be considered as examples of total systems dynamics such that even systems biology may be considered systems pathology oriented and not just conventional reductionist science. Systems Biology is unaware of this perspective.

The talk and paper will begin with citation of evidence for the rapid recent expansion of the new field of systems biology measurable in terms of funding, institutions, job descriptions, major centers, and initiation of new education and academic programs. Systems Biology will be characterized as very successful and here to stay. The paper will continue with an explication of how useful investigation of dysfunctions have been in getting a start on understanding of complex systems in biology (with examples from the studies of enzymopathies, knock-out genes, and errors in development and how each gave us a handle to pursue to understand better otherwise impenetrable complex physiology). We will suggest that as Systems Biology has amply demonstrated, this is a fruitful strategy for Systems Pathology and even all of GST to pursue in researching complex systems.

The talk will continue with examples of the utility of the systems biology approach to research on key and important total system diseases (thus systems pathologies) as represented in the author’s course lectures on the Systems Biology of Cancer (Bio 302) and the Systems Biology of Aging. (Bio 328). But beyond providing a better understanding of disease states such as those, the systems approach is also useful in understanding the structure and limits-on-structure of all systems at all scales and types thru such new fields as the author’s Systems Allometry and Systems Mimicry (spin-offs of Systems Processes Theory (SPT)), which also may be classified under the title, Systems Biology.

Further examples of overlap will include the use of network theory in both Systems Biology and Systems Pathology to discover “motifs” (unlikely similarities of part:part interactions true of many diverse system network analyses) and of the use of hierarchical structure to gain the advantages of modularity in both Biosystems and all systems. This latter case has especially been useful as an application of systems theory as a guideline for engineering and as a source of errors in engineering as in Systems Pathology. The overall conclusion will be that many aspects of the widely accepted new field of Systems Biology are similar to the yet untested new field of Systems Pathology.

This paper and presentation focuses on the search for negative evidence for a hypothesis because that task is the hallmark of critical thinking and the scientific method. While it seems unusual to begin a new discipline with examination of all the possible pitfalls or disadvantages of that effort, it appears to this team that a comprehensive search for possible errors is a good way to begin design of a new approach. The paper begins with comparative definitions of analogy, homology, and isomorphy and lessons learned in biomedicine from past mistaken applications of those concepts. It continues with a quick overview of the Systems Pathology analogy with biomedicine, our attempt to capitalize on its vast knowledge base and 5000 years of development to give a significant jump-start to Systems Pathology. The paper describes how research into pathologies or dysfunctions has been a great methodology for advancing the gradual understanding of complex systems of all types in the past, and especially for study of complex systems. It continues with definitions for our use of the words “caveat” and “limits” in this context. It continues by describing at least twenty specific caveats and limits to the Systems Pathology analogy. These include difficulties defining healthy systems, diseased systems, conflating symptoms versus ultimate causes, difficulties in generalizing across all scales, distinguishing change and evolution from dysfunction, avoiding the trap of optimality, avoiding iatrogenic or unintended effects, difficulties in certification of SysPath knowledge, broadening education about Systems Pathology, noting positive aspects of senescence and death, the need for SysPath values and a Hippocratic Oath, and more. With each description, there is a discussion of ways to ameliorate or reverse negative effects. Finally, it lists at least a dozen independent domains of Systems Pathology that are fragmented and remain unintegrated causing difficulties in cross-communication, less transfer of models, barriers to use of knowledge, and generation of new knowledge in our understanding of how to curate or cure ailing systems at all scales. We hope for, anticipate, and enable a future world where humanity protects and preserves its nest of all surrounding systems just as biomedicine attempts to increase longevity and quality of human life.

This talk and paper develops an overview of the planned online services of the proposed ISSP. Initially there will be two websites on the WWW and one website on Wikipedia. The Wikipedia entry will not be available until all incorporation documents are submitted and approved. When it appears, it will contain the ISSP definition of Domains of the new Systems-level pathology and links to the 27 Pathology Organizations already represented in Wikipedia. Presumably, ISSP will join this listing when submitted.

The website systemspathologies.com will contain the particular research program of Systems Pathology as a spin-off of the Systems Processes Theory (SPT) developed as a candidate GST in the ISSS and INCOSE organizations over the past two decades. This variant Systems Pathology provides a very detailed and rich taxonomy of dysfunctions of systems that are defined as isomorphic, common, or universal across systems at all scales and in all domains. The taxonomy is based on errors that occur in the 55 Isomorphic Systems Processes (ISPs) of the SPT. As such, this website will contain vital information on the ultimate causes or etiology of systems dysfunctions or diseases in general as seen from the systems architecture rather than reductionist level.

Most of this talk and paper will concentrate on description of the third website. The website intsocsyspath.org will make publicly available the official documents and activities of the ISSP organization. The “shell” of this website is already available by invoking that reserved URL. It contains the usual pull-down menu’s for professional societies. The “About” pull-down will have multiple subheadings for ISSP Stats, Overview Definitions of Systems Pathology as used by the ISSP, A Manifesto on Systems Pathology, description of the Major Domains of Systems Pathology and a short history of each of the several domains. The “Membership” pull-down menu will offer information on “Benefits,” “Types/Dues,” and useful “Forms.” The critically important “Working Group” pull-down menu will contain lists of working groups (WGs),” “special committee’s,” and “special research projects.” The ISSP By-Laws require the Board of Director’s to name and find leadership for WGs that represent all of the existing domains that might have interest in a systems-level aspect of Pathology. The “Meetings” pull-down menu will include information on current annual conferences, annual workshops, and any geographically local meetings as well as co-sponsored, related conferences. The “Publications” pull-down will contain information on ISSP publications as described in the following Katina talk and paper. The “Products/Services” pull-down will inform members of the ISSP “Newsletters,” “Knowledge Data Base,” ISSP “Awards,” and ISSP official “Bibliographies.” The “Administration” pull-down will offer information on “Officers,” “Chapters,” “By-Laws” and other official documents. The “Education” pull-down will include information for Professional Development in the new Field. The final pull-down, “Alliances” will contain links to related and cooperating professional societies such as the ISSS, INCOSE, IFSR, AAAS, ISSB, and more. Screen shots of these pages will be shown in powerpoint. Participants will be asked to suggest additional features for online development of the new field of Systems Pathology. The authors will be happy to discuss further the pro’s and con’s of online education and WWW professional development from their past extensive experiences.

This presentation establishes an initial image of the planned comprehensive publication program for the new professional society - International Society for Systems Pathology (ISSP). It describes the contents of five proposed products or services: a semi-annual bulletin, a proposed Annual Yearbook (or volumes of an Annual Review of Systems Pathology), a new proposed Journal devoted to publishing peer-reviewed research articles on Systems Pathology, an initial Review Book (i.e., Introductory Collection of Chapters on Systems Pathology), and a Bibliographic Manual giving the source citations for important foundational papers. Each of these will be described in the talk.

The overall goal of the publication program is derived from the goals of the ISSP as reflected in its society’s By-Laws. These include promoting wider awareness of the multiple domains of Systems Pathology, enabling communication among domains, researching mechanisms by which systems dysfunction, enabling transfer of concepts, theories, techniques and tools, developing models, taxonomies, applications, that are useful across domains, and promoting synthesis, unification and integration across the currently separated domains of Systems Pathology. Publications should also play an important role in education in Systems Pathology and both expanding and disseminating its knowledge base.

The first planned publication is the Bulletin that informs the membership about the growth, organization, and activities of the Society. The Bulletin’s will contain regular sections with the following titles: Editorial; Managing Director’s Report; ISSP Business; Meetings and Conferences; Guest Articles; Products and Services; Reports from Working Groups and Chapters; Correspondence; Members Bulletin Board, and more.

At this moment, the second publication will be an introductory text containing a collection of chapters on Systems Pathology. This proposed text will include chapters by noted authors representing different types of pathology from the systems point of view and on the systems level. Effort will be made to include chapters representing all domains relevant to Systems Pathology including, among others, Systems Engineering, Systems Science, Systems Thinking, Sustainability, Design and Management, Anatomical, Clinical (including molecular conventional medical pathologies),and Systems Biology.

The Annual Yearbook is intended for libraries and will mimic the structure of the initial Introductory Collection in that it will include selections from the best publications representative of every known domain of Systems Pathology. The Editor-in-Chief will make these selections with the help of an at-large Editorial Board composed of experts in each one of the Domains of Systems Pathology cited above.

ISSP intends on creating a scholarly journal, a periodical publication, in which scholarship relating to Systems Pathology can be published. This yet-to-be named journal will serve as a permanent and transparent forum for the presenting, scrutinizing, and discussion on topics related to Sytstems Pathology research. The journal will be peer-reviewed by members of ISSP and experts in domains of applications. Content will typically take the form of articles presenting original research. However, reviews and books, as well as opinions and technical papers will be solicited. Staying true to Henry Oldenburg, researchers, government, and industrial leaders are “invited and encouraged to search, try, and find out new things, impart their knowledge to one another, and contribute what they can to the Grand design of improving natural knowledge, and perfecting all Philosophical Arts, and Sciences” (Oldenburg, 1965, p. 2) – in terms of pathology, of course.

A Bibliographic Manual, will be developed and updated, accordingly. This manual will provide sources (and citations) to foundational papers relevant to Systems Pathology.

These efforts, will require significant efforts and will be part of the activities for the new ISSP society. Finally, the specific details, for example, the number of issues per year for the proposed journal, are still ‘unknown.’ These details will emerge as the society matures.

This short conclusion talk and paper will report on the current status of founding the 501c3 non-profit, the International Society for Systems Pathology. Handouts for the participants will include the final By-Laws for the ISSP, Articles of Incorporation for the ISSP, a Manifesto for Systems Pathology, and a listing of current officers and members of the Board of Director’s. Projections of membership from the many domains of Systems Pathology will be presented. A timetable for the remaining tasks will be discussed. Forms for joining the ISSP will be distributed. Consistent with the title of this Joint Session of the ISSS Systems Pathology SIG and the Systems Biology/Evolution SIG, ISSP will provide a new and additional scientific research and professional development home for both topics. The International Business Office (IBO) of the ISSP will be at 232 Harrison Ave., Claremont, California, 91711.