A conceptual model to synthesize the perspectives of clinicians, children, and parents regarding pediatric venipuncture

Conceptual model is considered to be essential in simulation development activities. However, there are only a few research studies on how to develop conceptual models, the problems of model's low reusability and lacking management are presented in the conceptual model's development of simulation system. To solve the above problems, the concept of conceptual model (MCM) is presented for realizing the conceptual model's abstract in the higher arrangement. The ontology conception is introduced to design the MCM, and the MCM's architecture and modeling process are given too. By mapping the MCM to conceptual model (CM), the conceptual model's modeling process is realized. Finally, the method is applied in the conceptual model's modeling of equipment support simulation system, and the better validation is obtained. Conceptual Model. Meta means overtaking or basic, which often be used with other nouns such as language, model and data. The concepts of language, model and data are formed. When developing the conceptual models of some specific domains, the meta may be used before CM, and the concept of conceptual model (MCM) is presented. In brief, MCM is the model of CM and has the higher abstract degree. By using the MOF (Meta Object Facility) for reference (3), the four levels MCM architecture is presented, which is shown in Table 1. Table 1 MCM's Architecture

Writing research can be challenging--especially writing the conceptual model. Deciding how much to include of the conceptual model and where to place it is difficult. This experienced research author presents four steps to guide the nurse author in writing the conceptual model for research reports.

Current web site development is still dominated by technical issues. In order to enable efficient communication between developers and to provide a stable foundation for adopting new technologies, web sites should be derived from conceptual models. Based on the state-of-the-art of conceptual modeling as implemented in current CASE environments as well as web site development tools, the “essence” of a web site is identified, and an adequate conceptual meta model is proposed. Appropriate web site models are intended to capture not only hierarchical document structure and hypertext semantics, but also dynamical page generation from databases as well as explicit and implicit navigation. It becomes evident that web sites can be regarded as supersets of traditional information systems, thereby requiring conceptual modeling to include various additional features. The proposed meta model comprises several classes of information objects, various types of associations, design rules, and quality checks. For illustration purposes, the model is applied to an existing web site. Commercial web site development tools are analyzed with regard to the extent to which they support conceptual web site modeling.

In this paper we outline a new approach for explicating results of IS design research by using conceptual models when formulating theoretical statements. In particular, we argue that applying conceptual reference models in the theory-building process enables design researchers to express their hypotheses and underlying assumptions more accurately. Furthermore, our approach allows researchers to specify empirically refutable statements. We ground our work in the concept of IS design theories as proposed by Walls et al. (1992) and extend their idea twofold: first, based on an analysis of the output types of design research as proposed by March & Smith (1995) we show that conceptual reference models facilitate formulating design-theoretical statements. Second, to facilitate developing concise and elementary testable theory statements, we apply the idea of patterns as proposed by Alexander (1973). Overall, we propose a detailed framework that integrates conceptual reference modeling in the process of theorizing in design-oriented IS research. Thus, we present an important step towards building “own” theories of IS research.

Using a trope-based foundational ontology for bridging different areas of concern in ontology-driven conceptual modeling

This paper presents the conceptual aquifers models applied to the Distrito Federal region emphasizing the hydrogeologic information that control the groundwater flow conditions. Generally, the mathematical models are based on conceptual models, which are based on local observations. The proposed models have been formulated from a data base collected in several places of the Distrito Federal, mainly during deep wells construction which are important information source about geology and hydrogeology. The groundwater occurrence conditions are different, considering characteristics of the aquifer, climate, soils type and structural conditions. It is difficult to explain mathematically all parameters, however the conceptual models can be a representation of the natural hydrogeologic conditions and can be proved by applying scientific studies. The main objective of mathematical or conceptual modeling is to represent the real conditions of occurrence and groundwater movement. The main goal of this paper is to show the conceptual hydrogeological models proposed in the Distrito Federal region, considering the physical and hydraulic characteristics and the area where they can be applied. The groundwater occurrence conditions and movement knowledge can help in the management of groundwater resources, groundwater supply and protection of recharge areas. Based on hydrodynamic data acquired from deep wells and physical/structural characteristics of the rocks associated to the different fractured aquifers overlain by soil coverage, four hydrogeological flow models were described: (1) the two potenciometric surfaces model, (2) the fractured-carstic model (3) the unique confined potenciometric surface model, (4) the unique non confined potenciometric surface model.

Conceptual modeling is a core activity within information systems analysis and design. In response to continuous criticisms targeting the foundation of conceptual modeling, the notion of ontology as a theoretical reference has gained immense popularity over recent decades. At the forefront of these ontology-based theories is the Bunge-Wand-Weber representation model, which has frequently been applied in conceptual modeling research, most notably to the task of evaluating conceptual Information Systems analysis and design models and modeling grammars. Recently, however, ontology-based theories themselves have been subjected to criticisms, in particular in respect to their epistemological presuppositions. In our paper we address the question of epistemology in conceptual modeling research based on ontological theories, and argue that there is an immanent need for publishing the epistemological assumptions of these theories in order to be able to critically evaluate boundaries, scope and limits of these theories for conceptual modeling. We present a discussion framework that facilitates the analysis of epistemological viewpoints and their implications. We apply this framework to the commonly known Bunge-Wand-Weber model and discuss the implications of our findings towards the feasibility of ontology as a reference theory for conceptual modeling.

UML class diagrams can be used as a language for expressing a conceptual model of a domain. In a series of papers [1,2,3] we have been using the General Ontological Language (GOL) and its underlying upper level ontology, proposed in [4,5], to evaluate the ontological correctness of a conceptual UML class model and to develop guidelines for how the constructs of the UML should be used in conceptual modeling. In this paper, we focus on the UML metaconcepts of classes and objects from an ontological point of view. We use a philosophically and psychologically well-founded theory of classifiers to propose a UML profile for Ontology Representation and Conceptual Modeling. Moreover, we propose a design pattern based on this profile to target a recurrent problem in role modeling discussed in the literature. Finally, we demonstrate the relevance of the tools proposed by applying them to solve recurrent problems in the practice of conceptual modeling.

Equity and the Hazard of Veiled Injustice: A Methodological Reflection on Risk Adjustment.

Conceptual modeling is widely recognized to be the necessary foundation for building a database that is well-documented and fully satisfies the user requirements. In particular, from the designer point of view the availability of a conceptual model provides a higher level of abstraction in describing the warehousing process and its architecture in all its aspects. Typically conceptual models rely on a graphical notation that facilitates writing, understanding, and managing conceptual schemata by both designers and users. The Entity/Relationship (E/R) model (Chen, 1976) is widespread in the enterprises as a conceptual formalism to provide standard documentation for relational information systems; nevertheless, as E/R is oriented to support queries that navigate associations between data rather than synthesize them, it is not well-suited for data warehousing (Kimball, 1998). Actually, the E/R model has enough expressivity to represent most concepts necessary for modeling a Data Warehouse (DW); on the other hand, in its basic form, it is not able to properly emphasize the key aspects of the multidimensional model, so that its usage for DWs is expensive from the point of view of the graphical notation and not intuitive (Rizzi, 2006). Some designers claim that star schemata are expressive enough for conceptual modeling. Actually, a star schema is just a (denormalized) relational schema, so it merely defines a set of relations and integrity constraints. Using star schema for conceptual modeling is like starting to build a complex software by writing the code, without the support of any static, functional, or dynamic model, which typically leads to very poor results from the points of view of adherence to user requirements, maintenance, and reuse. For all these reasons, in the last few years the research literature has proposed several original approaches for modeling a DW, some based on extensions of known conceptual formalisms (e.g. E/R, Unified Modeling Language (UML)), some based on ad hoc ones. Remarkably, a comparison of the different models made by Abello (2006) pointed out that, abstracting from their graphical form, the core expressivity is similar, thus proving that the academic community reached an informal agreement on the required expressivity. This paper discusses the expressivity of an ad hoc conceptual model, the Dimensional Fact Model (DFM), in order to let the user verify the usefulness of a conceptual modeling step in DW design. After a brief listing of the main conceptual model proposals, the basic and advanced features in DW conceptual modeling are introduced and described by examples. Finally, the current trends in DW conceptual modeling are reported and the conclusions are drawn.

Engaging stakeholders in policy making and supporting policy development with advanced information and communication technologies including policy simulation is currently high on the agenda of research. In order to involve stakeholders in providing their input to policy modeling via online means, simple techniques need to be employed such as scenario technique. Scenarios enable stakeholders to express their views in narrative text. At the other end of policy development, a frequently used approach to policy modeling is agent-based simulation. So far, effective support to transform narrative text input to formal simulation statements is not widely available. In this paper, we present a novel approach to support the transformation of narrative texts via conceptual modeling into formal simulation models. The approach also stores provenance information which is conveyed via annotations of texts to the conceptual model and further on to the simulation model. This way, traceability of information is provided, which contributes to better understanding and transparency, and therewith enables stakeholders and policy modelers to return to the sources that informed the conceptual and simulation model. In this paper, we present the consistent conceptual description (CCD) as conceptual modeling approach to bridge the gap between narrative texts and formal policy models. The CCD meta-model with the underlying vocabulary for describing policy contexts is detailed. A case study introduces the application of the approach in the Open Collaboration for Policy Modeling project.

Conceptual modeling is integral to computer science research and is widely adopted in industrial practices, e.g., business process and enterprise architecture management. Providing adequate and usable modeling tools is necessary to adopt modeling languages efficiently. Meta-modeling platforms provide a rich and mature set of functionalities for realizing state-of-the-art modeling tools. These tools, albeit their stability and rich set of features, often lack a modern look and feel considering (i) how they visualize the models, and (ii) how modelers interact with the models. Current web technologies enable much richer, advanced opportunities for visualizing and interacting with conceptual models. However, a structured and comprehensive overview of possible information visualization and interaction techniques linked to conceptual models and modeling tools must be established. This paper aims to fill this gap by presenting an extended taxonomy of advanced information visualization and interaction in conceptual modeling. We present a generic taxonomy that is afterward contextualized within the specific domain of conceptual modeling. The taxonomy serves orientation in the vast developing field of information visualization and interaction and hopefully sparks innovation if future modeling tool development.

Conceptual modeling of a subject domain, which produces its conceptual model, is an important stage in designing information systems. In recent years, much attention in the development of such systems has been given to reusing information resources and to providing access to them at the semantic level. Methods and technologies of ontological modeling have lately been under intensive development. In this paper, problems and preconditions of conceptual modeling of the subject domain in database technologies and information systems are discussed. Various approaches to conceptual modeling, conceptual modeling languages, and the respective tools are considered, various interpretations of the role of the conceptual model of the subject domain are discussed, and the current state of conceptual modeling tools produced by software industry is assessed. The relationships between the conceptual schemas of the subject domain and ontologies are analyzed and their similarities and differences are described. Terminological issues and the directions of research in the field of conceptual and ontological modeling are considered. An extensive list of references is given.

It is generally recognized that conceptual modeling is one of the most vital parts of a simulation study. At the same time, it also seems to be one of the least understood. A review of the extant literature on conceptual modeling reveals a range of issues that need to be addressed: the definition of conceptual model(ling), conceptual model requirements, how to develop a conceptual model, conceptual model representation and communication, conceptual model validation, and teaching conceptual modeling. It is clear that this is an area ripe for further research, for the clarification of ideas and the development of new approaches. Some areas in which further research could be carried out are identified

It is generally recognized that conceptual modeling is one of the most vital parts of a simulation study. At the same time, it also seems to be one of the least understood. A review of the extant literature on conceptual modeling reveals a range of issues that need to be addressed: the definition of conceptual model(ling), conceptual model requirements, how to develop a conceptual model, conceptual model representation and communication, conceptual model validation, and teaching conceptual modeling. It is clear that this is an area ripe for further research, for the clarification of ideas and the development of new approaches. Some areas in which further research could be carried out are identified.