Decision-Making Problems in Sociotechnical Systems

The object of research is a human in complex sociotechnical systems (STS). A particular case of the sociotechnical system is the human-machine system (HMS). The subject of research is the professional activity of a person in the sociotechnical system, the structure of his professionally important qualities, the methods of assessing the professional suitability of a person, and the methods of training and training of operational personnel. The model of vocational aptitude and the process of decision-making in the class of hierarchical systems were developed based on the hierarchy analysis method. Intelligent processing of data was requested to be carried out by the use of decision support systems, which provides support to multicriteria decision in a complex system. The experimental research of vocational aptitude assessment for operators of transport-technological machines was carried out. The outputs of the decision support systems were obtained individual operator’s portraits (IOP) and integrated estimation capabilities. As a result, it became possible to reduce the preparation cost of professionals and to raise the level of the operator’s professional skills. In addition, based on the IOP, we can customize the HMC interface

THE APPLICATION OF THE VIRTUAL REALITY FOR TRAINING OPERATORS OF MOBILE OBJECTS

In this paper the formulation of the problem and the results of pilot study in the field of application of the virtual reality for training operators of mobile objects are proposed. The main goal of the research is to assess the “sensitivity” of the operator’s skills and algorithms of their development to the acceleration that are inevitable in mobile controlled objects. This approach allows creating individual trajectories of operator training, in which the combination of training in a physical system and virtual reality is rationally justifiedОбозначены задачи и представлены результаты экспериментальных исследований в области применения систем виртуальной реальности для обучения операторов подвижных объектов управления. Основной целью проведенных исследований была оценка «чувствительности» профессиональных навыков оператора и алгоритмов их развития при перегрузках, которые неизбежны в подвижных объектах. Сделан вывод в том, что такой подход позволяет создавать индивидуальные траектории обучения оператора, в которых рационально обосновано сочетание обучения в физической системе и виртуальной реальности

The competency-based approach in education: issues and options

The paper discusses the systems problems of competency-based approach in education and solutions of them. The main problem of the division of competency into the independent components is systems complexity. Simulation modeling allows to overcome the systems complexity of the object of study by identifying cause-and-effect relationships in the simulation experimentВ работе обсуждаются системные проблемы компетентностного подхода в образовании и пути их решения. Главной проблемой разделения профессиональных качеств на независимые компетенции является их системная сложность. Применение имитационного моделирования позволяет преодолевать системную сложность объекта исследования путем выявления причинно-следственных связей в ходе имитационного эксперимент

Loss of imprinting at the Dlk1-Gtl2 locus caused by insertional mutagenesis in the Gtl2 5' region

BACKGROUND: The Dlk1 and Gtl2 genes define a region of mouse chromosome 12 that is subject to genomic imprinting, the parental allele-specific expression of a gene. Although imprinted genes play important roles in growth and development, the mechanisms by which imprinting is established and maintained are poorly understood. Differentially methylated regions (DMRs), which carry methylation on only one parental allele, are involved in imprinting control at many loci. The Dlk1-Gtl2 region contains three known DMRs, the Dlk1 DMR in the 3' region of Dlk1, the intergenic DMR 15 kb upstream of Gtl2, and the Gtl2 DMR at the Gtl2 promoter. Three mouse models are analyzed here that provide new information about the regulation of Dlk1-Gtl2 imprinting. RESULTS: A previously existing insertional mutation (Gtl2lacZ), and a targeted deletion in which the Gtl2 upstream region was replaced by a Neo cassette (Gtl2Δ5'Neo), display partial lethality and dwarfism upon paternal inheritance. Molecular characterization shows that both mutations cause loss of imprinting and changes in expression of the Dlk1, Gtl2 and Meg8/Rian genes. Dlk1 levels are decreased upon paternal inheritance of either mutation, suggesting Dlk1 may be causative for the lethality and dwarfism. Loss of imprinting on the paternal chromosome in both Gtl2lacZ and Gtl2Δ5'Neo mice is accompanied by the loss of paternal-specific Gtl2 DMR methylation, while maternal loss of imprinting suggests a previously unknown regulatory role for the maternal Gtl2 DMR. Unexpectedly, when the Neo gene is excised, Gtl2Δ5' animals are of normal size, imprinting is unchanged and the Gtl2 DMR is properly methylated. The exogenous DNA sequences integrated upstream of Gtl2 are therefore responsible for the growth and imprinting effects. CONCLUSION: These data provide further evidence for the coregulation of the imprinted Dlk1 and Gtl2 genes, and support a role for Dlk1 as an important neonatal growth factor. The ability of the Gtl2lacZ and Gtl2Δ5'Neo mutations to cause long-range changes in imprinting and gene expression suggest that regional imprinting regulatory elements may lie in proximity to the integration site

New Approach to the Formation of Training Scenarios Based On Competence Models of Professional Activities and the Student

The paper represents an approach to the developing of methods and technologies for the formation of distance learning scenarios based on competence models of professional activity and the student. Scenarios are compositions of algorithms for influencing individual competencies (sections of educational programs), leading to a change in the level of mastering of each student’s competence to values corresponding to the competence model of professional activity. This makes it possible to implement procedures for the automatic generation of individual training scenarios (trajectories) based on the student’s competence model, reflecting his/her individual characteristics.Предлагается подход к развитию методов и технологий формирования сценариев дистанционного обучения на основе компетентностных моделей профессиональной деятельности и обучаемого. Сценарии представляют собой композиции алгоритмов воздействия на отдельные компетенции, приводящие к изменению уровня их усвоения до значений, соответствующих компетентностной модели профессиональной деятельности. Это позволяет реализовать процедуры автоматической генерации индивидуальных сценариев (траекторий) обучения на основе компетентностной модели обучаемого, отражающей его индивидуальные особенности

The IG-DMR and the MEG3-DMR at Human Chromosome 14q32.2: Hierarchical Interaction and Distinct Functional Properties as Imprinting Control Centers

Human chromosome 14q32.2 harbors the germline-derived primary DLK1-MEG3 intergenic differentially methylated region (IG-DMR) and the postfertilization-derived secondary MEG3-DMR, together with multiple imprinted genes. Although previous studies in cases with microdeletions and epimutations affecting both DMRs and paternal/maternal uniparental disomy 14-like phenotypes argue for a critical regulatory function of the two DMRs for the 14q32.2 imprinted region, the precise role of the individual DMR remains to be clarified. We studied an infant with upd(14)pat body and placental phenotypes and a heterozygous microdeletion involving the IG-DMR alone (patient 1) and a neonate with upd(14)pat body, but no placental phenotype and a heterozygous microdeletion involving the MEG3-DMR alone (patient 2). The results generated from the analysis of these two patients imply that the IG-DMR and the MEG3-DMR function as imprinting control centers in the placenta and the body, respectively, with a hierarchical interaction for the methylation pattern in the body governed by the IG-DMR. To our knowledge, this is the first study demonstrating an essential long-range imprinting regulatory function for the secondary DMR

WRD: an approach for evaluating the performance of training program in virtual reality

The paper presents a new approach for evaluating the performance of the training program in virtual reality. The training process is described through three main steps: watching, recalling and doing (WRD). Each step is related to the sensor-motoric layer. The watching is related to the sensory layer, which accumulates the visual information from virtual reality. After then, that visual information will source for recalling the previous experiences followed by the decision-making using the cognitive layer. Finally, the decision-making activates the motor layer in form doing. The WRD approach uses the tests for the measuring of motor and sensory layers. The tests describe typical model of reaction for operator and activate motor and sensory layers as in real professional case. The cognitive layer may be measured with EEG. At the same time, the continuous generation of training cases may help to saturate the knowledge base. For this reason, the fuzzy model based on the generation of training cases was developed. The analysis of experimental data showed the decreasing of time delay by 83%. Moreover, it was shown the decreasing of rejection from horizontal and vertical axes in pixels by 62.7% and decreasing of time expected by 57% for motor tracking. The WRD approach may help to evaluate training program with evaluating sensory, cognitive and motor layer without developing prototype training simulator

Amlodipine efficacy in patients with arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Aim. To study efficacy and safety of dihydropyridine calcium antagonists (CA), and amlodipine, in particular, in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Material and methods. The study included 32 patients with Stage I-II AH and COPD in remission, as well as 27 patients with Stage I-II essential AH without COPD. All participants were administered amlodipine for 12 weeks. At baseline and after 12 weeks of treatment, circadian blood pressure profile (CBPP), echocardiography and lung function (LF) parameters were assessed. Results. In patients with AH and COPD, amlodipine course treatment provided stable 24-hour BP control, decreased BP load, normalized BP circadian rhythm and variability, reduced pulmonary hypertension and pathologic left ventricular remodeling (LVR), improved right ventricular (RV) systolo-diastolic function, as well as LF parameters. Conclusion. Modern dihydropyridine CA, and amlodipine, in particular, can be used as first-line medications for AH correction in COPD patients

Circadian blood pressure profile in patients with arterial hypertension and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The study was devoted to circadian blood pressure profile (CBPP) inpatients with arterial hypertension (AH) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Sixty-four patients with Stage I-II AH and COPD in remission phase, together with 54 COPD-free patients with Stage I-II essential AH, underwent lung function (IF) assessment and 24-hour BP monitoring (BPM). There was no significant difference in CBPP for these two groups. In patients with AH and COPD, CBPP was characterized by "non-dipper" and "night-peaker" patterns associated with high heart rate, that was probably explained by COPD negative impact on AH clinical course. Key words: Arterial hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, circadian blood pressure profile