Dear Reader,

Good day to you! It is another newsletter time from me and today, I am reflecting on the following:

1. Technical Reflections: Modelling of tumour growth
2. Behind the Scenes at CM Videos: 250,000 views
3. Question of the Week:
4. Quote of the Week: Dealing with distractions

Lets now go into the reflections

Technical Reflections

Computational modelling of tumour growth

I got introduced into the very exciting world of computational modelling of tumours about a decade ago when I was writing a review article about computational modelling of biomaterials. The work unfortunately never got published but I learned quite a lot from that excercise. Side note: even if what you are working on never gets to be publicly available or successful, do not despair. Remember, the learning you gained from that process is still valuable.

I was challenged by the research going on in this area of computational modelling where quite a few research groups were looking at how computational modelling can help better the outcomes of individuals suffering with cancer. The objective is to use computational modelling to understand the evolution and growth of cancerous cells. This knowledge will help clinicians and healthcare providers predict the length it takes for cells to multiply and grow into later stages of the cancer progression. Such, insight can also help in identifying the effect of treatment on the cancerous cells with a hope of reversing the progression and ultimately improving recovery outcomes of patients.

So, what does it take to undertake computational modelling of tumours. I will simply highlight the most essential ones hereafer:

1. Identify the virtual domain to be considered

The first process in modelling tumours is isolating the size of the virtual domain. This can vary depending on the extent of details the modeller is interested in. Most of the time, these are at cellular, multi-cellular or even organism levels. The finer the virtual domain, the more accurate the result but the more the computational power needed to relate cellular level results to a macroscale (structural, organism) length scales. You will have to decide on whether to work with a 3D model of the domain or a restrictive 2D domain. One thing that is commonly used in this field is what is called microenvironments which is a numerical sub-domains (sort of representative volume element) for undertaking computational studies of biological systems. Isolating such microenvironments and correctly capturing their uniqueness is central to generating effective results from computational modelling of tumour growth.

2. Mechanics of cell behaviour

A critical consideration for such computational studies is understanding the cell behaviour and how best to reflect that within a computational modelling space. Within this stage, the modeller needs to capture cell behaviour which includes their proliferation rates, migration patterns, response to mechanical stimuli, and interactions with surrounding tissue. Other key issues worth considering hare: material response of the cells which include information on cell stiffness, adhesion properties, and response to mechanical forces. You will also need to define material properties and such may include parameters like Young's modulus, Poisson's ratio, and density. These properties will play a critical role in simulating the mechanical and biological behaviors of the cellular system.The applicable material models for describing the mechanics must be identified and this can range from simply nonlinear elasticity to viscous behaviour with coupled thermomechanical response of the cells. The cell-to-cell interactions and their corresponding contact mechanics need to be clearly understood and defined for such computational modelling to be deemed reliable.

3. Consider the most appropriate boundary conditions

As with every finite element assessment, the choice of the most appropriate boundary conditions is crucial. There are many types of boundary conditions but the most appropriate in literature tend to focus around periodic boundary condition. As some of you know, I am writing a book about Periodic Boundary Conditions, and here is some of the reflections I have been making about PBCs and modelling of tumour growths.

4. Model validation

We finally have to consider the way to validate the computational modelling results. This can be quite challenging but working with microbiologists is important as these experts study cell activities and extract objective data of what the cells and in particular the cancerous cells are doing. Information of mechanics of cell behaviour, replication rates and the like should feed into a computational modelling validation exercise. If the experimental data is confirmed by computational models, then we are nearer to using such computational models as replacement to the experimental framework. We can then probe it further to learn more about the cell growth and activities without resorting to experimental studies.

Conclusion

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The above is what I will do when I consider the computational efforts for capturing growth of tumour in the human body. I will however suggest that the steps considered here are quite simplistic and are a tip of the iceberg. The reality of such models pose significiant computational modelling challenges and many times might not give you optimal results. We have to be quite conservative in how we make objective decisions with such virtual models as the uniqueness of human biology and cellular activities need not be overemphasized. We have to tread carefully in this area and rely quite a lot on the knowlege of clinicians as we try to offer them insights using numerical models. I do believe that the future is bright in this area and as we understand better the biomechanics of tumour growth, building on microenvironments, then we will bridge the gap between real life processes and computational model predictions.

Behind the Scenes at CM Videos

We achieved 250,000 views

On October 10th, 2023 the CM Videos Youtube Channel achieved 250,000 views in total. This is an impressive number for a channel focused on the highly small niche of computational modelling using ABAQUS. I can only say a massive thank you. It was not just long ago I was celebraing 200,000 views and here are again, having added another 50,000 views.

Going forward, I will continue publishing regularly on the channel and answering as many questions you miay have. I simply want to use the moment to thank you all and thank Gof for the journey so far.

Quote of the Week

Dealing with distractions

This week, I am taking my quote for the week from the seminal work of Oliver Burkemann about how to deal with distractions and here goes the quote:

I like the matter of fact way Oliver described how to deal with distraction. I think we have built up a library of do's and donts that we have to undertake to make sure we deal with distraction and enhance our productivity. But in a typical wry British humour, Mr Burkemann is suggesting here that we need to jump off the high horse of utopia where we believe things can be different and we will never be distracted anymore. Rather, we need to embrace that reality that we will always be distracted.

With the modern ways of working involving emails, internet, and our phones, it is certain that we will encounter distractions. Afterall, emails, phones and the internet are the chief culprits of those things that distract us. How can you expect not to be wet when you muddle through water constantly?

If we accept this reality that we must and would be always distracted no matter our best efforts, what do we get in reward? Is is a hapless surrender to these devices that distract us? No, that is far from the truth. As Mr Burkemann argued, will give us the freedom and willpowe to know that when we are distracted, we are simply being human. Accepting a condition and looking for ways to resolve that condition is the surest way to conquer the sources of our distraction.

I am trying out these in my work, especially I have often multiple things to distract me. I am learning to embrace them and not be too hard on myself when I notice that that slight glance on my phone has resulted in 50 minutes of watching Youtube Shorts. Instead, once I make this realization, I simply return back to what I was doing before as if that bout of distraction never existed. I am finding it liberating and that positive mindset has done me a world of God. I am confident it will do the same for you.

Here we come to the end of yet another newsletter. It has been interesting reflecting on the above. Please do email me with any question, comments or just whatever you have in mind and I will be very happy to hear from you.

I wish you a wonderful week and we will catch up again by this weekend. Bye bye!

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