Showing papers by "Riichiro Mizoguchi published in 2011"

Structuring the Cultural Domain with an Upper Ontology of Culture

Abstract: The study of culture is important for many disciplines such as psychology, sociology, anthropology, archaeology, museology, communication, management and business. This research presents many potential opportunities for Information Technology specialists to develop culturally-aware technology, but it also raises the risk of inconsistent approaches to the cultural domain. In this chapter, the authors present the fundamental concepts of the Upper Ontology of Culture (UOC), a formal conceptualization of the cultural domain they developed by identifying the common backbone of culture-related disciplines and activities. As a neutral, theory-driven, and interdisciplinary conceptualization, the UOC provides guidelines for the development of culturally-aware applications, for the consistent computerization of cultural data and their interoperability, as well as for the development of culturedriven automatic reasoning processes.

River Flow Model of Diseases.

Abstract: This article discusses the ontological treatment of diseases in the framework of the Ontology for General Medical Science (OGMS). We aim to provide a definition of a disease that is more friendly to clinicians and propose a corresponding model of diseases. We define a disease as a dependent continuant constituted of one or more causal chains of clinical disorders. To clarify the ontological meaning of causal chains, we introduce two kinds of processes: a cumulative continuous process and a non-cumulative process. They are accounted for based on a new ontological theory of objects and processes. We then introduce the core ideas of a disease as causal chain and of clinical imbalance. We believe that the result can be considered as a concretization of the OGMS view of disease as disposition.

The RIKEN integrated database of mammals.

Abstract: The RIKEN integrated database of mammals (http://scinets.org/db/mammal) is the official undertaking to integrate its mammalian databases produced from multiple large-scale programs that have been promoted by the institute. The database integrates not only RIKEN’s original databases, such as FANTOM, the ENU mutagenesis program, the RIKEN Cerebellar Development Transcriptome Database and the Bioresource Database, but also imported data from public databases, such as Ensembl, MGI and biomedical ontologies. Our integrated database has been implemented on the infrastructure of publication medium for databases, termed SciNetS/SciNeS, or the Scientists’ Networking System, where the data and metadata are structured as a semantic web and are downloadable in various standardized formats. The top-level ontology-based implementation of mammal-related data directly integrates the representative knowledge and individual data records in existing databases to ensure advanced cross-database searches and reduced unevenness of the data management operations. Through the development of this database, we propose a novel methodology for the development of standardized comprehensive management of heterogeneous data sets in multiple databases to improve the sustainability, accessibility, utility and publicity of the data of biomedical information.

Technical Artifact: An Integrated Perspective.

Abstract: In this paper three perspectives are presented on defining the general notion of technical artifacts in formal ontologies. These perspectives share two intuitions: that technical artifacts are objects that exist by human intervention; and that technical artifacts are to be contrasted to natural entities. Yet the perspectives are different in the way they spell out these intuitions: the relevant human intervention may range from intentional selection to intentional production; and the contrast between technical artifacts and natural entities may be introduced by a constitution relation or by defining properties that set technical artifacts apart. The three perspectives are compared and their similarities and dissimilarities are explored.

Understanding an ontology through divergent exploration

Abstract: It is important that the ontology captures the essential conceptual structure of the target world as generally as possible. However, such ontologies are sometimes regarded as weak and shallow by domain experts because they often want to understand the target world from the domain-specific viewpoints in which they are interested. Therefore, it is highly desirable to have not only knowledge structuring from the general perspective but also from the domainspecific and multi-perspective so that concepts are structured for appropriate understanding from the multiple experts. On the basis of this observation, the authors propose a novel approach, called divergent exploration of an ontology, to bridge the gap between ontologies and domain experts. Based on the approach, we developed an ontology exploration tool and evaluated the system through an experimental use by experts in an environmental domain. As a result, we confirmed that the tool supports experts to obtain meaningful knowledge for them through the divergent exploration and it contributes to integrated understanding of the ontology and its target domain.

An advanced strategy for integration of biological measurement data

Abstract: Aiming at integration of measurement data across various biological experiments, we investigated a methodology for expanding the Phenotypic Quality Ontology (PATO), commonly used for descriptions of biological phenotypes, based on the YAMATO top-level ontology. The mapping of ontology terms from PATO to the YAMATO framework brings several benefits, including: introduction of a classification of quality values to represent measurement scales; distinction of different contexts in which comparisons of ordinal values are made; and establishment of interoperability of quality description formalisms based on different top-level ontologies. In this study, we propose an ontological basis for integrating cross-species and cross-experimental biological measurement data.

Improving students' meta-cognitive skills within intelligent educational systems: a review

Abstract: Metacognition aims at monitoring and regulating one's thinking devoted to problem-solving processes and learning habits among others cognitive tasks. Hence, individuals engaged in better acquisition of domain knowledge achieve higher scores when they are bewaring of how to exploit their metacognitive faculties. Thus, we present a review of some models and methods with the purpose to understand what metacognition is and know how stimulate metacognitive skills. In addition, we propose a Metacognition-Driven Learning paradigm as a reference to guide the design of Intelligent Educational Systems oriented to improve students' metacognitive skills.

The Counting Problem in the Light of Role Kinds

Abstract: Starting from a general characterization of roles, we focus on the ways in which roles are specified, we examine the formal constraints on their definitions, and propose definitional schemas motivating different kinds of roles. This classification, in addition to clarify the notion of role itself, helps us to reconsider the two standard solutions that have been proposed for the famous counting problem, and to suggest that a third mixed approach may be considered.

Addressing Cross-Linguistic Influence and Related Cultural Factors Using Computer-Assisted Language Learning (CALL)

Abstract: The goal of this research, a work in progress, is to address areas in second/foreign language acquisition prone to cross-linguistic influence, and to examine related cultural factors. More specifically, the authors aim to identify such areas, map available knowledge in this respect using ontological engineering methodology, and devise appropriate teaching strategies and learning scenarios to help overcome crosslinguistic influence with the help of computer-assisted language learning systems. The authors have been working mainly with Japanese-speaking students of English and first-year university English-speaking students of French. In this chapter, the authors describe culture in relation to foreign language learning, cross-linguistic influence, their cultural framework as well as ontological engineering methodology. They demonstrate their work with examples of the use of modals by Japanese students/speakers of English.They further provide an illustration of ontological modeling in addition to a basic simulation of how a CALL system based on an ontology could potentially work.

On the ontology of functions

Abstract: Although the notions of function and functionality seem to be necessary tools – along with notionslike object, event and property – for making sense of the outside world, our understanding of functionsis still poor and fragmented. Serious theoretical work on functions and functionalities started in philos-ophy of science only about 40 years ago (see, for instance, Hempel, 1965). The issue was raised laterin other communities, mainly because an appropriate definition of ‘function’ was seen as helping toexplain issues relative to normality and to the design of artifacts. In other domains teleological theoriesof functionality were advanced as a means to find room for intentionality within causal contexts. Sincethe 1990s several approaches have been developed in application domains like biology and engineeringdesign (Ariew et al., 2002; Erden et al., 2008; Krohs & Kroes, 2009), and in the last 10 years the notionof function has received attention also in the area of applied ontology, see, for instance, publicationsin Borgo et al. (2006) and the EuJoint

Addressing Cultural and Native Language Interference in Second Language Acquisition.

Abstract: This paper addresses the problem of cultural and native language interference in second/foreign language acquisition. More specifically, it examines issues of interference that can be traced to a student’s native language and that also have a cultural component. To this effect, an understanding of what actually comprises both interference and culture is required. The concepts we consequently identify result in an ontology that can be interpreted and used by both humans and computers to build interactive learning environments. We use an ontology as a conceptual foundation to build an instructional scenario, which is then supported by readily available technological tools. A specific example is described.

A Consensus-Building Support System based on Ontology Exploration

Abstract: Consensus-building among various stakeholders from different fields is an important issue in order to facilitate policy and decision-making For con- sensus-building stakeholders have to know what others are thinking about each other because differences of their viewpoints cause some conflicts In this paper we propose a consensus-building support system based on ontology exploration The key ideas consists two steps 1) developing an ontology to provide a base knowledge to be shared among the users (stakeholders), 2) each user explore the ontology according to his/her viewpoint and generate conceptual maps as the result of the exploration, and 3) they know differences of viewpoints through comparison of generated maps This paper shows an overview of this tool, and discusses its usability and effectiveness through evaluation experi- ments by domain experts

An ontology of classification criteria for functional taxonomies

Abstract: In order to facilitate sharing of functional models, some functional taxonomies each of which provides a set of verbs for representing generic functions (called functional terms here) have been developed. Their examples include some sets of generally valid functions in the book written by Pahl and Beitz, Functional Basis (FB) developed by Hirtz et al. and FOCUS/Tx developed by the authors of this paper. The issue addressed in this paper is the implicitness of the criteria of classification of functional terms in those taxonomies and thus unclearness of their definitions. This paper proposes an ontology of logical criteria for classification of functional terms (called FOCUS/View). Using the classes defined in FOCUS/View, the classification criteria of a functional taxonomy can be explicitly represented. These classes have been conceptualized based on deep investigation on FB and FOCUS/Tx. The benefits of the proposed FOCUS/View ontology include: (1) users of a taxonomy can easily understand differences of similar terms and select an appropriate term out of them, (2) a developer of a taxonomy can check its logical classification structure and then improve its logical clearness, and (3) we can compare different taxonomies and establish more reliable mappings between their terms for interoperability of functional models. In this paper, as a demonstration of the benefit (1), the classification criteria of FB, FOCUS/Tx, Krumhauer’s and Roth’s generally valid functions are explicitly presented using FOCUS/View. As a demonstration of the benefit (2), some logically problematic classification structures of FB and the Krumhauer’s functions are discussed and modified for the logical clearness. For the benefit (3), this paper demonstrates the mappings between FB and FOCUS/Tx and a semantic interoperable document search system based on these mappings.

A Quality Assurance Framework for Ontology Construction and Refinement

Abstract: The quality of an ontology is an important factor that determines its utility. In order to assure its quality, in addition to form-based evaluation as to whether the ontology being constructed is written properly in terms of its form (syntax), content-based evaluation as to whether the ontology properly represents the target domain, whether the ontology actually serves for problem solving, etc. is also necessary. In this study, we investigate a framework for quality assurance of ontologies in Hozo, which is an environment for building/using ontologies that are being developed by the authors. As form-based evaluation, Hozo provides various assistance functions for properly editing an ontology in compliance with the rules. As contentbased evaluation, Hozo introduce a method for supporting ontology evaluation thorough conceptual maps which are generated according to the user’s viewpoint.

Instructional Design Support System Based on Both Theory and Practice and Its Evaluation

Abstract: In this study, we have been developing a system called FIMA (Flexible Instructional Design Support Multi-Agent System) that dynamically supports teachers in designing instruction by facilitating their thinking ways according to the characteristics of those of expert teachers. In the present study, we focused on a support to facilitate teachers' deep reflection and awareness of room for improvement of their lesson plans based on instructional/learning theories and best practices. In order to provide such support, we make use of the OMNIBUS ontology, which describes knowledge extracted from instructional/learning theories and best practices. In this paper, we describe this support function in detail and report results of an experiment carried out for evaluation of its effectiveness.

Guest Editorial: Special Issue on Intelligent and Innovative Support Systems for CSCL

Abstract: Computer-supported Collaborative Learning (CSCL) is an interdisciplinary research field that gathers researchers from different backgrounds around one common goal: to facilitate the design, deployment, and analysis of collaborative learning activities whose participants (primarily, students and instructors) are supported by information and communication technologies. CSCL researchers at tempt to understand how learning emerges in group settings, and how to create effective scenarios that enable learning through interaction, exploration, negotiation, discussion, and collaborative knowledge construction. Thus, CSCL has contributed to the development of the Learning Sciences by bringing into focus the need to understand the nature, theory, and practice of how we learn in collaborative settings supported by advanced technologies.

Dynamic is − a hierarchy generation system based on user's viewpoint

Abstract: In ontological theories, is-a hierarchy must represent the essential property of things and hence should be single-inheritance, since the essential property of things cannot exist in multiple. However, we cannot avoid multiperspective issues when we build an ontology because the user often want to understand things from their own viewpoints. Especially, in the Semantic Web, the variety of users causes the variety of viewpoints to capture target domains. In order to tackle this multi-perspective issue, we adopt an approach of dynamically generating is-a hierarchies according to the viewpoints of users from an ontology using single-inheritance. This article discusses a framework for dynamic is-a hierarchy generation with ontological consideration on is-a hierarchies generated by it. Then, the author shows its implementation as a new function of Hozo and its applications to a medical ontology for dynamically generation of is-a hierarchies of disease. Through the function, users can understand an ontology from a variety of viewpoints. As a result, it could contribute to comprehensive understanding of the ontology and its target world.

The structuring of knowledge based on ontology engineering

Abstract: As one of the ultimate goals of research in any domain, knowledgestructuring has been carried out to date through the writing of papers and books as part of ordinary academic research activities. In this respect, what scholars are aiming at in the knowledge-structuring of sustainability science (hereafter referred to as SS) might seem to be nothing special. Nevertheless, SS researchers are particularly dedicated to the structuring of knowledge. There are two reasons for this

A common model of didactic and collaborative learning for theory-aware authoring support

Abstract: This paper proposes an ontological model that is a flexible framework to create learning scenarios blending didactic and collaborative learning. This model enables us to describe the design rationale of such learning scenarios and to organize theoretical knowledge for designing such scenarios in the same manner.

Evolution and Commercial Deployment of Integrated Technical Knowledge Management System Based on Ontology Engineering

Abstract: In this paper, we describe the evolution of OntoGear, which has ever been discussed in the previous research, and newly developed software tools. OntoGear is an engineering knowledge management software platform based on ontology engineering, and its previous system has provided the most basic functionalities based on systematization framework of functional knowledge; i.e. describing a function decomposition tree, and building way knowledge base to share and reuse organized and generalized functional knowledge. Compared to the previous one, our new system realized the functionality of physical process integration model (hereafter ppim) that allows engineers to describe whole processes of any artifacts in the form of function decomposition trees in their product lifecycle. New OntoGear system is appended two client tools and a server--a modeling tool for ppim, a viewer for ppim and OntoGear server. Furthermore, we introduce an application using the system for design support of application system of SOFC (Solid Oxide Fuel Cell), which is a kind of fuel cell and expected for its quick realization. The application contributes to clarify whole functional structures and the relationships among them through SOFC system's lifecycle. Since one of the tools of OntoGear software environment has presently released as a software product, which is named OntoloGear SE (Standard Edition), by MetaMoJi Corporation, we briefly report the productization status.

Forest: an ontological modeling framework for product-related processes

Abstract: This paper proposes a holistic teleology-based modeling framework for product-related processes named FOREST. Several processes such as functioning processes, fault-related processes and manufacturing processes can be represented as goal-oriented process trees in the three-dimensional space as an extension of an ontology-based functional modeling framework. One of the expected benefits is to help engineers externalize their process knowledge extensively from several aspects in a comprehensive manner. In this paper, we demonstrate its effect in enumerating fault processes by showing the result of an industrial experiment.

An ontological model to blend didactic instruction and collaborative learning

Abstract: Didactic learning that follows the "traditional" model of a teacher-student relationship is often considered completely different from collaborative learning. As a result, few studies have explored the potential to effectively connect these two forms of learning. Nevertheless, in practice, a well-though-tout linkage between these different approaches is essential to leverage and facilitate the learning process. Thus, in this paper, we propose an ontological model that captures the similarity between the two forms of learning, with a focus on participants' interactions. One of the benefits of this model is the creation of a flexible framework to describe learning independently of the approach used to learn. Second, it also enables us to describe the design rationale of learning scenarios and to organize theoretical knowledge for designing such scenarios in the same manner. To validate this model, we show its advantages with the examination in modeling theories for didactic and collaborative learning, and describe the development of an authoring tool for learning design that uses the model to facilitate the design of theory-based blended learning scenarios.

An Extension of the Environment for Building/Using Ontologies "Hozo" toward Practical Ontology Engineering - Focused on Theoretical Issues

Abstract: Recently, ontology has attracted attention as an important technology for knowledge infrastructure and semantic processing, and a lot of ontologies have been constructed in various domains. At the same time, ontological theories, technologies, and ontology engineering tools have been developed by not only researchers but also practitioners. We also have been investigating ontological theories and developed a computer environment for building/using ontologies named ``Hozo'' which is based on the ontological theory of roles. Hozo has been used for practical ontology construction in various domains such as clinical medicine, bioinformatics, environmental engineering and so on. These practices of ontology development have raised many issues of ontology construction and utilization in both theoretical and technical points of view. We have solved them by extending our theories and functions of the system. It means we refined usability and reliability of Hozo through these practical experiences. In this paper, we focus on theoretical issues of ontology construction and discuss some extensions of ontological theories concerning representation of multiple inheritance and instances. First, we introduce IS-A relation which represents a relation weaker than is-a relation in the sense that it prohibits inheritance of identity, and we allow users to represent multiple inheritance using not usual strong is-a relation but IS-A relation. Then we investigate the validity of the representation using IS-A through ontological analysis of three utilization patterns of it. Next, we introduce two kinds of new representation of instances: ``simplified instance representation'' and ``#-(species) operator''. Users can use these representations for referring to instances in concept (class) definitions. These theoretical extensions would contribute to well-organized construction of ontologies in practical ontology engineering.

Step description device, program and recording medium recording the same

Abstract: PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a step description device, a program and a recording medium recording the program capable of plainly displaying steps and know-how relevant to various tasks.SOLUTION: The step description device includes input means 1, storing means 2, display means 3 and description output means 4. The input means 1 receives an input operation made by a user. The storing means 2 stores a step breakdown tree which represents arbitrary steps and partial step lines in which the steps are broken down based on the method to achieve the step being associated with respective nodes in a tree structure. The display means 3 displays at least part of the step breakdown tree and words representing each node in a display area of the node. The description output means 4 outputs a sentence on the display means 3, which is generated with words being arranged with respect to the node representing the partial step as a description of the arbitrary step, corresponding to the input operation received from the input means 1.

A common model of didactic and collaborative learning for theory-aware authoring support

Abstract: This paper proposes an ontological model that is a flexible framework to create learning scenarios blending didactic and collaborative learning. This model enables us to describe the design rationale of such learning scenarios and to organize theoretical knowledge for designing such scenarios in the same manner.

Contextualized reflective support in designing instruction based on both theory and practice

Abstract: In this study, we developed a system called FIMA (Flexible Instructional Design Support Multi-Agent System) that dynamically supports teachers in designing instruction by facilitating their thinking ways according to the characteristics of those of expert teachers In the present study, we focused on a support to facilitate teachers' contextualized thinking included in the processes of expert teachers based on instructional/learning theories In order to provide such support, we make use of the OMNIBUS ontology, which describes knowledge extracted from instructional/learning theories and best practices

A Time and Situation Dependent Semantics for Ontological Property Classification

Abstract: This paper proposes a new semantics that characterizes the time and/or situation dependencies of properties, together with the ontological notion of existential rigidity. For this purpose, we present order-sorted tempo-situational logic (OSTSL) with rigid/anti-rigid sorts and an existential predicate. In this logic, rigid/anti-rigid sorted terms enable the expressions for sortal properties, and temporal and situational operators suitably represent the ontological axioms of existential rigidity and time and/or situation dependencies. A specific semantics of OSTSL adheres to the temporal and situational behaviors of properties based on existential rigidity. As a result, the semantics guarantees that the ontological axioms of properties expressed by sorted tempo-situational formulas are logically valid.

Student Modeling by Data Mining

Abstract: This work pursues to find out patterns of characteristics and behaviors of students. Thus, it is presented an approach to mine repositories of student models (SM). The source information embraces students’ personal information and assessment of the use of a Web-based educational system (WBES) by students. In addition, the repositories reveal a profile composed by personal attributes, cognitive skills, learning preferences, and personality traits of a sample of students. The approach mines such repositories and produces several clusters. One cluster represents volunteers who tend to abandon. Another group clusters people who fulfill their commitments. It is concluded that: educational data mining (EDM) produces some findings to depict students that could be considered for authoring content and sequencing teaching-learning experiences.

A practical study on modeling lesson plans with an ontological engineering approach

Abstract: This paper discusses computer support for making a design of a lesson in a school teacher’s mind. Although school teachers usually describes the plan in a document called lesson plan, it is the result of thought and does not often have enough information about the design rationale behind it. The authors have developed an ontology called OMNIBUS and a theory-aware authoring system called SMARTIES. The purpose of this study is to examine the effectiveness of them through the practical efforts of deploying them to a community of social studies schoolteachers. This paper presents findings of the practical efforts and considerations of improvement of OMNIBUS and SMARTIES.

Metacognitive Student Model

Abstract: In this paper, we wonder: How aware are learners of their metacognitive skills at studying? In order to respond such a question, we p ropose a student model to acquire, measure, and depict basic metacognitive skills of l earners. Our metacognitive student model describes underlying concepts of knowledge and regulation domains. The first experiment reveals: Groups of college students own a wide gray-level scale of awareness of their metacognitive skills.