Methods for Formalizing Cognitive Graphics and Visual Models using XML Schemas

The paper analyses methods of formalising cognitive graphics and visual models using promising data storage formats. We describe the primary visual design techniques and note that they appear to be rather disconnected. We show that ensuring the coupling of data and knowledge in visual models featuring various levels of detail is the main problem in integrated usage of visual modelling tools. We analyse approaches to solving the semantic discontinuity problem, that is, provided we meet the condition under which the properties of objects, systems and processes under consideration are only input once, it is necessary to ensure that data from models corresponding to different levels of abstraction (expertise) is interconnected. One should assume that the main drawback of existing approaches to visualising complex systems is that these approaches are fragmented and isolated, which means that they will only be effective locally. The paper proposes several approaches to formalising visual models employing XML schemas, which ensures that development processes concerning visual models of various levels of abstraction are synchronised and interconnected. We use a BPMN (Business, Process, Model and Notation) visual model as an example that shows the principles of representing visual model elements by means of XML schemas. The paper provides a detailed analysis of the principles behind layer interaction in the BPMN model through flexible XML description. We show that the BPMN data structure boasts its own XML schema containing all the parameters of a class or an element. The paper presents several examples and a technique of applying an XML schema to a BPMN model, including a further generalisation aimed at formally representing the process models of complex systems

COGNITIVE GRAPHICS AS A WAY OF REPRESENTING IDEAS

Ideas, concepts, perceptions, dreams cannot be seen by eyes or recorded instrumentally (with the help of photo or filming), they can only be the subject of speculation, which is purely individual. Therefore, a long range of images that can be qualified as cognitive graphics is used for their visualization. The most diverse visual means, such as letters of different alphabets and headsets, numbers, mathematical, chemical, biological, astrological, etc. signs and formulas, maps and cartoids, diagrams, schemes, tables, pictograms, etc. can be the components of cognitive graphics. Such components are included in the lettering text or generate extended cognitive-graphic texts that can duplicate (or be duplicated by) lettering texts, exist in unity with the lettering texts or autonomously. Collections of the latter make atlases of cognitive graphics. As an alternative to letter texts, cognitive graphics are the means of facilitating or even creating an opportunity for communication for those who are uncomfortable or inaccessible with letter texts (children, persons of an artistic and intuitive type, introverts, etc.). Cognitive graphics are optionally used in everyday communication, are used much wider in the education process at all levels, and are obligatory used in certain types of professional communication (mathematics, chemistry, geology, etc.). In the latter case, both hard-coded versions and the author’s idiostyles exist, although the most common are usual group patterns. Depending on the type of cognitive graphics, cognitive-graphic texts are created using a pen and pencil (pencils), drawing accessories, paints and brushes, special equipment (drawing apparatus, stereoscope, pinhole camera, printing equipment), or a computer. In the latter case, we are talking about computer cognitive graphics.

Isolation and analysis of areas of interest of a physician-researcher on MRI data of laboratory animals’ brain

The work is devoted to the development of methods for the automatic isolation and analysis of areas of interest for physician-researchers studying the effect of transplanted mesenchymal stem cells on foci of ischemic stroke in laboratory animals. Areas of interest are represented by ischemic areas on T2 MRI-scans and stem cell clusters on SWI MRI-scans. For segmentation of ischemic zones, the possibilities of identifying spectral and visual informative characteristics using the Fourier transform are considered. The formalization of the task of tracking stem cell clusters is reduced to a transportation problem. The most likely movement of the clusters is visualized using cognitive graphics, which helps the physician-researcher to formulate strategies for possible treatment using cell therapy.

System for syndrome monitoring of critical conditions based on cognitive graphics

The authors propose to consider one of the debatable topics of general pathology — the conventionality of the concept of ‘syndrome’ from the pragmatic positions of a resuscitator. At the same time, an important point is emphasized: the meaning of the concepts of ‘syndrome’ in resuscitation and general therapeutic practice is fundamentally different, the contradictions in this matter are due to the fact that when analyzing a critical condition, various authors operate with different levels of integration of body parameters that determine the degree of pathological disorders. Nevertheless, the use of one of the integral parameters — the syndrome — provides a real opportunity to move from cumbersome parametric monitoring to more visual syndrome monitoring based on computer cognitive graphics.