Ontology-based Model Research Articles

Knowledge representation and evaluation an ontology-based knowledge management approach

Competition between Higher Education Institutions is increasing at an alarming rate, while changes of the surrounding environment and demands of labour market are frequent and substantial. Universities must meet the requirements of both the national and European legislation environment. The Bologna Declaration aims at providing guidelines and solutions for these problems and challenges of European Higher Education. One of its main goals is the introduction of a common framework of transparent and comparable degrees that ensures the recognition of knowledge and qualifications of citizens all across the European Union. This paper will discuss a knowledge management approach that highlights the importance of such knowledge representation tools as ontologies. The discussed ontology-based model supports the creation of transparent curricula content (Educational Ontology) and the promotion of reliable knowledge testing (Adaptive Knowledge Testing System).

The neoplastically transformed (CD30hi) Marek's disease lymphoma cell phenotype most closely resembles T-regulatory cells.

Marek's disease (MD), a herpesvirus-induced lymphoma of chickens is a unique natural model of CD30-overexpressing (CD30hi) lymphoma. We have previously proposed that the CD30hi neoplastically transformed CD4+ T cells in MD lymphomas have a phenotype antagonistic to cell mediated immunity. Here were test the hypothesis that the CD30hi neoplastically transformed MD lymphoma cells have a phenotype more closely resembling T-helper (Th)-2 or regulatory T (T-reg) cells. We separated ex vivo-derived CD30hi, from the CD30lo/- (non-transformed), MD lymphoma cells and then quantified the relative amounts of mRNA and proteins for cytokines and other genes that define CD4+ Th-1, Th-2 or T-reg phenotypes. Gene Ontology-based modeling of our data shows that the CD30hi MD lymphoma cells having a phenotype more similar to T-reg. Sequences that could be bound by the MD virus putative oncoprotein Meq in each of these genes' promoters suggests that the MD herpesvirus may play a direct role in maintaining this T-reg-like phenotype.

An ontology-based approach for providing multimedia personalised recommendations

This paper provides a service-oriented solution that explores the ontology-based modelling of users and documents in order to provide users with personalised recommendations of resources. Alongside the adoption of semantic web technologies for ontology-based modelling, our approach aims at a better relevance for recommendations by adopting a hybrid recommendation technique, combining a collaborative filtering and a content-based approach. The collaborative filtering module adopts a Markov Decision Process (MDP) in order to predict the next concept which will be focused on by the user, tracking the user navigation through an ontology instead of through the structure of a particular site. The content-based recommender module adopts a k nearest neighbours approach and exploits the similarities between the user and document modelling.

An Ontology-based E-learning Model for Effective Management of Learning Resources

A systematic approach to managing knowledge is an essential pre-requisite to enable learners and knowledge seekers to access relevant material as and when required in the current Internet era. To enable effective e-learning, ontologies can play a crucial role in the management of knowledge with respect to various learning strategies. While ontologies and the semantic web, which provide for semantic links, are increasingly used in business and research, their acceptance in e-learning is still at the preliminary stage. This paper reviews the relevant literature for identification of critical ontology factors supporting various learning strategies, based on which it proposes a comprehensive model to enable efficient reuse and sharing of knowledge in an e-learning environment.

An ontology-based multi-agent system conceptual model

Ontologies have been established as a powerful tool to enable knowledge sharing, and a growing number of applications have benefited from the use of ontologies as a means to achieve semantic interoperability among heterogeneous, distributed systems. This paper is about the use of ontologies in multi-agent systems conceptual modelling. By coming up with ontologies related to communication and organisation, we deduce a multi-agent system conceptual model.

The Smart Architect: Scalable Ontology-Based Modeling of Ancient Chinese Architectures

The smart architect is an innovative intelligent modeling system that can automatically generate architectures in the ancient Chinese architectural style using an ontology-based approach. Our approach aims to implement an architecture modeling system that can identify different elements and styles in a variety of buildings. It should also be able to generate numerous architectures of similar structures or styles based on the semantic knowledge extracted from existing buildings.

Ontology-based models in pervasive computing systems

AbstractPervasive computing is by its nature open and extensible, and must integrate the information from a diverse range of sources. This leads to a problem of information exchange, so sub-systems must agree on shared representations. Ontologies potentially provide a well-founded mechanism for the representation and exchange of such structured information. A number of ontologies have been developed specifically for use in pervasive computing, none of which appears to cover adequately the space of concerns applicable to application designers. We compare and contrast the most popular ontologies, evaluating them against the system challenges generally recognized within the pervasive computing community. We identify a number of deficiencies that must be addressed in order to apply the ontological techniques successfully to next-generation pervasive systems.

Learning the Critical Infrastructure Interdependencies through an Ontology-Based Information System

A critical infrastructure (CI) is an array of assets and systems that, if disrupted, would threaten national security, economy, public health and safety, and way of life. Essential to the practice of critical infrastructure planning and drills are two pieces of knowledge. One concerns the interactions within a CI system (intradomain interdependencies), and the other concerns the interactions among the CI systems (cross-domain interdependencies). A thorough understanding of these two interwoven CI interdependencies is crucial to such tasks as vulnerability assessment, scenario composition, and homeland security drills. In this paper we present a new approach that facilitates the learning of the interdependencies. Employing a loosely coupled system of GIS and an ontology-based object modeling system developed in this study, it represents and visualizes the intradomain and cross-domain CI interdependencies both diagrammatically and geographically. The system and its knowledge representation methodology were tested through a case study in the Southeastern United States.

Applying ontology-based rules to conceptual modeling: a reflection on modeling decision making

Conceptual modeling represents a domain independently of implementation considerations for purposes of understanding the problem at hand and communicating about it. However, different people may construct different models given the same domain. Variations among correct models, while known and familiar in practice, have hardly been investigated in the literature. Their roots are in the decisions made during the modeling process, where modelers face the need to map reality into modeling constructs. This paper reports an empirical study whose aim is to explore model variations and in particular to examine possible directions for reducing them. Specifically, the study uses a multimethod research paradigm to examine the effect of applying ontology-based modeling rules on modeling decisions as reflected in resulting model variations. The findings of the study provide insights into the variations phenomenon, as well as to the application of ontology-based modeling rules.

KnowBaSICS-M: An ontology-based system for semantic management of medical problems and computerised algorithmic solutions

In this paper, an ontology-based system (KnowBaSICS-M) is presented for the semantic management of Medical Computational Problems (MCPs), i.e., medical problems and computerised algorithmic solutions. The system provides an open environment, which: (1) allows clinicians and researchers to retrieve potential algorithmic solutions pertinent to a medical problem and (2) enables incorporation of new MCPs into its underlying Knowledge Base (KB). KnowBaSICS-M is a modular system for MCP acquisition and discovery that relies on an innovative ontology-based model incorporating concepts from the Unified Medical Language System (UMLS). Information retrieval (IR) is based on an ontology-based Vector Space Model (VSM) that estimates the similarity among user-defined MCP search criteria and registered MCP solutions in the KB. The results of a preliminary evaluation and specific examples of use are presented to illustrate the benefits of the system. KnowBaSICS-M constitutes an approach towards the construction of an integrated and manageable MCP repository for the biomedical research community.

Enhancing portability with multilingual ontology-based knowledge management

Information systems in multilingual environments, such as the EU, suffer from low portability and high deployment costs. In this paper we propose an ontology-based model for multilingual knowledge management in information systems. Our unique feature is a lightweight mechanism, dubbed context, that is associated with ontological concepts and specified in multiple languages. We use contexts to assist in resolving cross-language and local variation ambiguities. Equipped with such a model, we next provide a four-step procedure for overcoming the language barrier in deploying a new information system. We also show that our proposed solution can overcome differences that stem from local variations that may accompany multilingual information systems deployment. The proposed mechanism was tested in an actual multilingual eGovernment environment and by using real-world news syndication traces. Our empirical results serve as a proof-of-concept of the viability of the proposed model. Also, our experiments show that news items in different languages can be identified by a single ontology concept using contexts. We also evaluated the local interpretations of concepts of a language in different geographical locations.

Ontology-based knowledge management for joint venture projects

When enterprises engage in strategic joint venture projects, communication, knowledge sharing and management issues are inevitable and complex problems. Problems relating to communication, knowledge sharing and management issues generally occur in more than one phase of joint venture projects and involve various different domains. This study reviews issues related to knowledge management in the context of joint ventures (JV) from both macro and micro perspectives by using an ontology-based approach to analyze complex knowledge management (KM) issues in the context of the Integrated Circuit (IC) industry. This study presents a framework for an ontology-based model to analyze the knowledge management processing of joint ventures in the IC industry, and uses the IC foundry industry as an example to explore implementation issues. This framework uses a conceptual enterprise ontology (EO) model and domains of EO to analyze the process of EO. Moreover, data from the IC foundry industry is used as a case study. This study aimed to assist managers in increasing the possibility of success in dealing with complicated JV projects.

Integrating knowledge maps in design process configurations for concurrently engineered product development

Concurrently engineered product development requires effective inter-functional communication and knowledge sharing across multidisciplinary teams and heterogeneous processes. This paper presents a semantics-enabled approach to the integration of knowledge maps with design process configurations to support more meaningful communication and seamless collaboration between cross-functional teams and concurrent workflows in new product introduction (NPI) processes. The proposed approach focuses on: explicit and formalized process description and configuration of NPI activities; process knowledge capture and reuse through knowledge maps; integration of knowledge maps into design process configurations; and ontology-based process model mapping and knowledge sharing to support seamless process collaboration. It thereby contributes to the development of the next generation concurrent engineering methodologies in order to achieve NPI process advances for meaningful inter-functional communication and collaboration. The approach has been implemented in a software prototype to provide the concurrently engineered product development with the capabilities of semantic process description and configuration, knowledge reuse, and process collaboration.

Exploring Semantic Web technologies for ontology-based modeling in collaborative engineering design

This paper describes a preliminary attempt at using the Semantic Web paradigm, particularly the Web Ontology Language (OWL), for domain-specific engineering design knowledge representation in a multi-agent distributed design environment. Ontology-based modeling to the engineering design knowledge on the Semantic Web is proposed as a prelude to the meaningful agent communication and knowledge reuse for collaborative work among multidisciplinary organizations. Formal knowledge representation in OWL format extends traditional product modeling with capabilities of knowledge sharing and distributed problem solving, and is used as a content language within the FIPA-ACL (Agent Communication Language) messages in the proposed multi-agent system architecture. As an illustration, engineering design knowledge of automatic assembly systems for manufacturing electronic connectors, which contain a group of electro-mechanical components, is represented in OWL format, with its inherent structure-function-process relationships defined explicitly and formally, to facilitate semantic access and retrieval of electro-mechanical component information across different disciplines. The proposed approach is viewed as a promising knowledge-management method that facilitates the implementation of computer supported cooperative work (CSCW) in design of Semantic Web applications.

Ubiquitous Provision of Context-Aware Web Services

Providing context-aware Web services refers to an adaptive process of delivering contextually matched Web services to meet service requesters’ needs at the moment. This article presents an ontology-based context model that enables formal description and acquisition of contextual information pertaining to both service requesters and services. The context model is supported by context query and phased acquisition techniques. We also report two context-aware Web services built on top of our context model to demonstrate how the model can be used to facilitate Web services discovery and Web content adaptation. Implementation details of the context elicitation system and the evaluation results of context-aware services provision are also reported.

Geospatial semantic interoperability based on ontology

In GIS field, great varieties of information from different domains are involved in order to solve actual problems. But usually spatial information is stored in diverse spatial databases, manipulated by different GIS platforms. Semantic heterogeneity is caused due to the distinctions of conception explanations among various GIS implements. It will result in the information obtaining and understanding gaps for spatial data sharing and usage. An ontology-based model for spatial information semantic interoperability is put forward after the comprehensive review of progress in ontology theory, methodology and application research in GIS domain.

Semantic model-driven architecting of service-based software systems

Model-driven development is a software development framework that emphasises model-based abstraction and automated code generation. Service-based software architectures benefit in particular from semantic, ontology-based modelling. We present ontology-based transformation and reasoning techniques for layered semantic service architecture modelling. Integrated ontological layers support abstract domain modelling, architectural design, and interoperability aspects. Ontologies are beneficial due to their potential to formally define models, to allow reasoning about semantic models, and to automate transformations at all layers. Ontologies are suitable in particular for the Web Services platform due to their ubiquity within the Semantic Web and their application to support semantic Web services.

Variations in Conceptual Modeling: Classification and Ontological Analysis

Conceptual models are aimed at providing formal representations of a domain. They are mainly used for the purpose of understanding and communicating about requirements for information systems. Conceptual modeling has acquired a large body of research dealing with the semantics of modeling constructs, with the goal to make models better vehicles for understanding and communication. However, it is commonly known that different people construct different models of a given domain although all may be similarly adequate. The premise of this paper is that variations in models reflect vagueness in the criteria for deciding how to map reality into modeling constructs. Exploring model variations as such can contribute to research that deals with the semantics of modeling constructs. This paper reports an exploratory study in which empirically obtained model variations were qualitatively analyzed and classified into variation types. In light of the identified variation types, we analyzed two ontology-based modeling frameworks in order to evaluate their potential contribution to a reduction in variations. Our analysis suggests that such frameworks may contribute to more conclusive modeling decision making, thus reducing variations. However, since there is no complete consistency between the two frameworks, in order to reduce variations, a single framework should be systematically applied.

A Study on Ontology-Based Modeling Technologies for the Construction Machinery Conceptual Design Knowledge Management

Few existing systems can support the reuse of conceptual design knowledge due to the lack of satisfying modeling technologies. In the present study, we investigated the ontology-based modeling technologies and apply them to develop a framework of conceptual design knowledge management. The practicability and validity of our framework were then examined in a Construction Machinery Design Knowledge Management System.

An Ontology-Based Content Model for Intelligent Web Content Access Services

Intelligent Web content access is a fundamental Web service, representing the first step toward semantic Web services. A lack of adequate and sufficient interpretation for content in current methods impedes access to content. This study regards Web content as any content described and published in the format of a markup language such as HTML or XML. In this paper, we will present our Content Model, combining subjective information from the content itself with objective information from people’s perceptions of this content, providing an integrated interpretation of a content item. During accessing, a search engine examines the description of a content item, as found in the Content Model, to find matching files. An ontology-based Content Model is developed and applied to the Web environment to enhance Web content accessibility. Results of this study demonstrate that the proposed Content Model provides essential content descriptions for locating, accessing, and interacting with content providers.