Re: What should we call RDF's ability to allow multiple models to peacefully coexist, interconnected?

* Martynas Jusevičius <martynas@graphity.org> [2014-03-09 22:12+0100]
> Hey all,
> 
> Regarding RDF validation - I guess you all know about SPIN constraints,
> right? They're SPARQL-based.
> 
> http://spinrdf.org/spin.html#spin-constraints

There are a few systems out there for this, including a DSL called
"Shape Expressions" which can be executed directly or compiled to
validating SPARQL queries.

  http://www.w3.org/2013/ShEx/FancyShExDemo?schemaURL=Examples/Issue-simple-annotated.shex&dataURL=test/Issue-pass-date.ttl&colorize=1

  http://www.w3.org/2013/ShEx/Primer

It is my hope that W3C will begin standardizing RDF Validation
(interface defintion, etc.) in the very near future.


> Martynas
> 
> graphityhq.com
> 
> 
> On Mar 9, 2014 10:03 PM, "Timothy W. Cook" <tim@mlhim.org> wrote:
> 
> > On Sun, Mar 9, 2014 at 11:48 AM, Michael Brunnbauer <brunni@netestate.de>wrote:
> >
> >>
> >> Hello Timothy,
> >>
> >> MLHIM seems to be annotated data models - with optional RDF annotations.
> >>
> >> Somewhat, but the models are are restrictions of a common reference
> > model.  Each model represents a concept that is as broad or narrow as the
> > modeller chooses.  The annotations must be optional.  It is up to the
> > domain experts/knowledge modellers to determine the resultant quality.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >> The claims regarding interoperability and semantics are a bit
> >> exaggerated, IMO.
> >>
> >>
> >
> > I suppose your opinion will change when you decide to put some study into
> > the matter.
> >
> >
> >
> >> If we had something like annotated portable RDB schemas, would they carry
> >> less
> >> meaning and would applications built with them be less interoperable than
> >> with
> >> MLHIM?
> >>
> >>
> > If you were able to share those concept models between applications and
> > they were restrictions of a common reference model; then yes they would be
> > the same.
> >
> >
> >
> >> In order to make applications completely interoperable and remove all
> >> implicit semantics from their code, you have to abolish them - replacing
> >> them
> >> with some standard component. This is probably as futile as the
> >> ontology/data
> >> model to rule them all.
> >>
> >
> > Further study will show that there are paths to operate along in the
> > interim.  But yes, the eventual goal would be for a common healthcare
> > reference model.
> >
> >
> >>
> >> I agree that the proposition of XML Schema is alluring: The information
> >> about
> >> the data model used and how to validate the data is always present and the
> >> tools for validation are already there.
> >>
> >> You did not use RDF because it has no standard way to do this - which is
> >> unfortunate.
> >>
> >
> > It is unfortunate.  After working with the openEHR Foundation on
> > multi-level modelling for a decade using a domain specific language it was
> > an easy realization that a relatively small group of people could not
> > create high quality tools needed for a DSL; in any reasonable amount of
> > time.
> > I began looking for alternatives.  OWL and RDF would be my first choices
> > for implementation.  They just weren't and still aren't mature enough to do
> > everything needed.  Remember as I stated before; the MLHIM reference model
> > is a conceptual information model.  I choose XML because I did not see
> > anything with that capability and widespread adoption. I knew very little
> > about XML Schema prior to this.  So I did not choose it because it was my
> > hammer already.  I spent a lot of time on a lang learning curve and had to
> > wait for tools to catch up to XML Schema 1.1
> >
> >>
> >> You could have created a way and tools to do this in RDF. Did you fear the
> >> necessary effort or the risk to adoption?
> >>
> >
> > (see above)
> > Given, time talent and money; openEHR could do it with the Archetype
> > Definition Language. But it would never be as ubiquitous as XML.
> >
> >
> >> It seems that XML Schema allows vocabulary reuse down to the
> >> property/attribute
> >> level - but the temptation to create own terms instead of reusing others
> >> seems
> >> to be greater than with RDF. Having some of the semantics in the XML
> >> Schema
> >> layer and more of it in the RDF layer on top of it definitely is a
> >> drawback.
> >>
> >>
> > There may be other/additional approaches that may help improve MLHIM.  I
> > am certainly open to and welcome dialog about it.  The specifications (such
> > that they are at this point) are openly available under a Creative Commons
> > license.  Feel free to join the discussion on social media (Google Plus
> > preferred).
> >
> >
> >
> >> How many implementors will just ignore the optional RDF layer?
> >>
> >
> > You must realize that software developers do not have control of the
> > models in this approach.  Domain experts that understand a little bit of
> > how to use the CCD-Gen are the ones responsible for building the models.
> >  In the process of teaching them this activity, they are also taught the
> > importance of the quality of their models and it ultimately decides the
> > quality of their data.
> >
> > The MLHIM eco-system allows for closed loop concept models( CCDs) to be
> > developed as well as openly licensed CCDs.  There may eventually be 10,000
> > blood pressure CCDs in the open.  But like most things, we predict that
> > most people will reuse a model that is good and openly available, instead
> > of building their own.
> >
> > I can't decide for the experts nor do I want to control what is or is not
> > a good model for any particular implementation.  All I can do is offer them
> > a real solution that is bottom up and under their control instead of slow
> > moving international standards bodies that can't keep up with the changing
> > science.
> >
> > Thanks for your feedback.   Explaining MLHIM in words is always a learning
> > experience for me.
> >
> > Regards,
> > Tim
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >>
> >> Regards,
> >>
> >> Michael Brunnbauer
> >>
> >> On Sat, Mar 08, 2014 at 06:36:54PM -0300, Timothy W. Cook wrote:
> >> > A very interesting and I think, foundational discussion.  David, thanks
> >> for
> >> > bringing it up.
> >> > Below is a discussion of why I believe that RDF should be considered a
> >> > layer over data models or maybe as 'semantic glue'.
> >> >
> >> >  David, we are working on the same type of problem but from slightly
> >> > different perspectives.  The presentation that you linked to
> >> re:KnowMED, is
> >> > very important and I recall seeing it before.  I'll take this
> >> opportunity
> >> > to comment on it since it is in the context of this discussion.  The
> >> > indicates that you propse RDF as a language to be used in the exchange
> >> of
> >> > healthcare data.  Then on slide #5 you say it isn't enough to 'get us
> >> > there'.  So I am not sure how much of this is marketing swagger and how
> >> > much is hard fact.
> >> >
> >> >  On slide #8 item #2 we are 100% in agreement.  But then on slide #9 you
> >> > are mixing apples and oranges.  XML and RDF have two different purposes
> >> > that work well together.
> >> >
> >> >  On further slides, your Blue, Green and Red customers exactly indicate
> >> > what I mean by RDF being an essential layer on top of multiple models.
> >> >
> >> >  What happens further in the presentation is where we disagree.  You
> >> assert
> >> > that RDF should be the language used to actually 'exchange' data. This
> >> > where RDF and the tools around it (AFAIK) are not mature enough to
> >> perform.
> >> >  Several times you have mentioned 'semantics and not syntax'. This is a
> >> > huge mistake.  You must have both in order to insure data quality and
> >> > meaning.  Secondly we know from history that top-down consensus in
> >> > healthcare concept modelling is an impossibility.[1]
> >> >
> >> >  In your post describing the BP screenshot you said:
> >> >  "Thus, although ex1:bp_023 and ex2:bp409 capture the same blood
> >> pressure
> >> > information, they represent that information differently.  Nonetheless,
> >> > both representations can peacefully coexist in the same merged RDF data
> >> > without conflict, which might happen, for example, if one is derived
> >> from
> >> > the other through inference."
> >> > I take this to mean that you are representing the exact same BP
> >> measurement
> >> > data in two different ways?  Your use case, 'by inference' is a little
> >> > fuzzy for me.  If it is derivation by inference, it will just be an in
> >> > memory representation and not persisted; correct?   Irregardless, the
> >> > existence of the same data instance, in the same application is in
> >> complete
> >> > contradiction to good data quality management.  As you go on to explain,
> >> > now you must add application intelligence to analyze whether or not two
> >> > data instances are the same or not to avoid counting them as two
> >> separate
> >> > instances.  This is approach is very dangerous, in addition to adding
> >> > complexity and cost to the applications.    However, having the ability
> >> to
> >> > determine if two different data instances exactly match the same
> >> concept is
> >> > essential.  Minor differences such as the position of the patient
> >> (stitting
> >> > or prone) or the type of instrument used to perform the measurement or
> >> the
> >> > location on the body (left upper arm or right thigh, etc.) that the
> >> > measurement was taken are all important.  They may or may not rule in or
> >> > out specific measurements, based on the intended use of the query
> >> results.
> >> >  This is where RDF is essential, do these two instances point to exactly
> >> > the same code in a controlled vocabulary, etc.?    These questions are
> >> > essential to having the ability to perform machine based reasoning over
> >> the
> >> > data repository; whether at the point of care or for research purposes.
> >> >
> >> > Refering back for a moment, to 'the same data instance' situation.  It
> >> is
> >> > essential to have additional information (meta-data) to determine if two
> >> > instances are are exactly the same.  This can legitimately occur during
> >> > aggregation for research or systemic quality analysis.  Unique patient
> >> > identifiers along with datetime stamps are ideal.  However, the patient
> >> > identifier issue is an ongoing problem that is actually implementation
> >> > context and application specific.  It is outside of the context of data
> >> > quality and management.
> >> >
> >> >  Slide #22 clearly indicates that there is an expectation that RDF is
> >> used
> >> > as a common format.  However, as I said earlier, the current
> >> implementation
> >> > of RDF is not robust enough to perform this function, UNLESS, there is a
> >> > global expert consensus on all healthcare concepts so that models may be
> >> > created and distributed from a central authority.  This is simply
> >> > unrealistic as history has shown and is formalized in the Cavalini-Cook
> >> > theory [1].
> >> >
> >> > The reason that I state that RDF is not capable, at this point of
> >> maturity,
> >> > is that it doesn't support the ability to represent syntactic
> >> structures in
> >> > a multi-level model environment.  IOW: There is no ability (AFAIK) to
> >> > express a common reference model and then derive concepts models that
> >> issue
> >> > further constraints.  A multi-level model approach is essential in
> >> order to
> >> > abstract the syntax and semantics of each concept out of the application
> >> > source code and repository schemas so that they can be shared between
> >> > disparate applications.  This is what provides for full syntactic and
> >> > semantic interoperability.
> >> >
> >> > A multi-level model approach may or may not be useful in many domains.
> >> >  Specifically, human engineered domains that we fully understand can be
> >> > modeled as one level representations.  However, biological domains that
> >> > involve evolutionary complexity are quite different.  Primarily because
> >> we
> >> > do not fully understand them so our science and understanding is
> >> constantly
> >> > changing.  Additionally, it appears that the data has a much longer
> >> > lifetime of significance than other domains.  Therefore the data should
> >> be
> >> > initially captured and represented in a manner that makes it as future
> >> > proof and reusable as possible.  In healthcare, the most semantically
> >> rich
> >> > point of any information is at the point of care.  Every point of
> >> > transition/translation after that will most assuredly lose context.  As
> >> a
> >> > brief example; reference ranges for conditions change over time.  It is
> >> > essential that data captured today be expressed in the context of
> >> today's
> >> > knowledge, even 20 or more years from now.  The concept model around
> >> high
> >> > blood pressure is different than it was 10 years ago.
> >> >
> >> > Where RDF shines is that in a syntactic model of a concept designed to
> >> > capture reference ranges and other metadata, it can be used to provide
> >> > external semantic context to that model.  Whether that context exists
> >> in a
> >> > controlled vocabulary or even free text documents such as clinical
> >> > guidelines.
> >> >
> >> > In the Multi-Level Healthcare Information Modelling (MLHIM) approach we
> >> > developed a conceptual reference model to provide a basis for software
> >> > implementations. While the MLHIM model doesn't preclude other
> >> > serializations, we found that XML Schema 1.1 does provide the
> >> prerequisites
> >> > for implementation both a reference model and concepts models.  This
> >> means
> >> > that we can have full validation of instance data back to the W3C
> >> > specifications.  By marking up the concept models (XML Schema 1.1
> >> > annotations) with RDF providing the computable semantic links for each
> >> > model as defined by the modeller.  These models can now be created by
> >> > domain experts (with additional knowledge modelling training) so that
> >> > software developers do not have to interpret the meanings.
> >> >
> >> > The concept models are now fully detached from any specific
> >> implementation
> >> > and can be shared to use for validating instance data in the context in
> >> > which it was recorded.  I believe that this is the closest we have to
> >> > semantic interoperability, to date.  I am of course open for discussion
> >> and
> >> > debate on the issue.  I used the acronym 'AFAIK' a few times above.  I
> >> used
> >> > this because my last serious attempt to use RDF for this purpose was in
> >> > 2010/2011.  I know that there is a continuous maturing process going
> >> on.  I
> >> > believe that there may come a day when RDF and OWL can be used
> >> exclusively
> >> > for syntactic and semantic representation and reasoning.  But AFAIK, not
> >> > today.
> >> >
> >> >  We have a significant number of peer-reviewed publications about MLHIM
> >> and
> >> > academic as well as other implementations. I am happy to share those
> >> with
> >> > the group or you may peruse the links in my signature line as well as
> >> > www.mlhim.org and the specs are openly downloadable from here[2] as a
> >> > package and as source from here [3].
> >> >
> >> > We also have  almost 2000 datatypes converted from other modeling
> >> > approaches (such as the NIH CDE browser and HL7 FHIR) into reusable
> >> > complexTypes to be used in concept models.  You can review those as
> >> well as
> >> > download some example concept models from here[4].  Free registration is
> >> > required to download the models.
> >> >
> >> >  Kind Regards,
> >> >  Tim
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >  [1]
> >> >
> >> https://github.com/mlhim/specs/blob/2_4_3/graphics/cavalini_cook_theory.png
> >> >  [2]
> >> >
> >> https://launchpad.net/mlhim-specs/2.0/2.4.3/+download/mlhim-specs-2013-10-15-2.4.3-Release.zip
> >> >  [3]  https://github.com/mlhim/
> >> >  [4]  http://www.ccdgen.com
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 5:00 PM, David Booth <david@dbooth.org> wrote:
> >> >
> >> > > Hi Alan,
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > > On 03/07/2014 12:44 PM, Alan Ruttenberg wrote:
> >> > >
> >> > >> Can you explain what you mean by "RDF's ability to allow multiple
> >> data
> >> > >> models to peacefully coexist, interconnected, in the same data" ?
> >> > >>
> >> > >
> >> > > Yes.  Here is an imprecise illustration, on slides 10-17:
> >> > >
> >> http://dbooth.org/2013/semtech/slides/03-DavidBooth-rdf-as-universal.pdf
> >> > > (I took some artistic liberties blurring class/instance distinctions
> >> in
> >> > > that diagram.)
> >> > >
> >> > > And here is a more precise example that cleanly distinguishes classes
> >> from
> >> > > instances:
> >> > > http://tinyurl.com/pzsgf7f
> >> > > (I've also attached the same illustration, for offline readers.)
> >> > >
> >> > > In this latter example (of a hypothetical systolic blood pressure
> >> > > measurement), the same information is represented according to two
> >> > > different models/schemas/vocabularies/ontologies, v1 (green) and v2
> >> > > (red).  (I am using the terms model, schema, vocabulary and ontology
> >> > > loosely and somewhat interchangeably here.)
> >> > >
> >> > > In the v1 model, the systolic blood pressure is indicated in RDF like
> >> this:
> >> > >
> >> > >   ex:patient319 foaf:name "John Doe" ;
> >> > >     v1:bps ex1:bp_023 .
> >> > >
> >> > >   ex1:bp_023 a v1:SystolicBPSitting_mmHg ;
> >> > >     v1:value 120 .
> >> > >
> >> > > Whereas in the v2 model, the same information is represented
> >> differently,
> >> > > in RDF like this:
> >> > >
> >> > >   ex:patient319 foaf:name "John Doe" ;
> >> > >     v2:bps ex2:bp_409 .
> >> > >
> >> > >   ex2:bp_409 a v2:SystolicBP ;
> >> > >     v2:pressure 120 ;
> >> > >     v2:units v2:mmHg ;
> >> > >     v2:bodyPosition v2:sitting .
> >> > >
> >> > > Thus, although ex1:bp_023 and ex2:bp409 capture the same blood
> >> pressure
> >> > > information, they represent that information differently.
> >>  Nonetheless,
> >> > > both representations can peacefully coexist in the same merged RDF
> >> data
> >> > > without conflict, which might happen, for example, if one is derived
> >> from
> >> > > the other through inference.
> >> > >
> >> > > Furthermore, the relationship between these classes,
> >> > > v1:SystolicBPSitting_mmHg and v2:SystolicBP, and hence the
> >> relationship
> >> > > between the corresponding v1 and v2 instance data, can also be
> >> explicitly
> >> > > captured in RDF, as the v1v2:SystolicBP_Transform (yellow)
> >> relationship:
> >> > >
> >> > >   v1:SystolicBPSitting_mmHg v1v2:SystolicBP_Transform v2:SystolicBP .
> >> > >
> >> > > Inference rules for v1v2:SystolicBP_Transform could therefore convert
> >> a
> >> > > v1:SystolicBPSitting_mmHg measurement to a v2:SystolicBP measurement
> >> or
> >> > > vice versa.
> >> > >
> >> > > This example only illustrated the case where the transformation from
> >> one
> >> > > model to the other is lossless and thus reversible.  Usually that
> >> isn't the
> >> > > case.  Relating models and transforming between them is *not* easy,
> >> but at
> >> > > least RDF makes it possible to explicitly indicate these
> >> relationships.
> >> > >
> >> > > Obviously some intelligence must be exercised to avoid, for example,
> >> > > accidentally thinking that ex:bp_023 and ex2:bp_409 represent two
> >> distinct
> >> > > blood pressure measurements, and thereby double counting them, but
> >> that's
> >> > > easy enough to do.
> >> > >
> >> > > Also, there isn't always a desire to relate or transform between
> >> models.
> >> > >  Sometimes some data is related and other data is not, and it is all
> >> still
> >> > > merged into the same RDF graph.  In fact, the point may be to connect
> >> that
> >> > > part of the data that *is* related and let the rest coexist without
> >> being
> >> > > connected (or at least not *directly* connected).
> >> > >
> >> > > The point is that these data models can peacefully coexist in RDF data
> >> > > without conflict: applications using the v1 model against the merged
> >> data
> >> > > might only see v1 instance data, whereas applications using the v2
> >> model
> >> > > might only see the v2 data.  That's qualitatively different than in
> >> the
> >> > > world of XML, for example, where one schema generally wants to be "on
> >> top",
> >> > > and when you merge XML of different schemas, you need to create a new
> >> "top"
> >> > > schema.  That is the difference that I have so often tried to explain
> >> to
> >> > > people outside the RDF community, and what I am trying to capture
> >> > > succinctly in a term or phrase.   It isn't an easy idea to convey to
> >> those
> >> > > who are accustomed to a schema-centric approach.  I think a catchy but
> >> > > descriptive term or phrase could help.
> >> > >
> >> > > Thanks,
> >> > > David
> >> > >
> >> > >
> >> > >> -Alan
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >> On Fri, Mar 7, 2014 at 11:20 AM, David Booth <david@dbooth.org
> >> > >> <mailto:david@dbooth.org>> wrote:
> >> > >>
> >> > >>     I -- and I'm sure many others -- have struggled for years trying
> >> to
> >> > >>     succinctly describe RDF's ability to allow multiple data models
> >> to
> >> > >>     peacefully coexist, interconnected, in the same data.  For data
> >> > >>     integration, this is a key strength of RDF that distinguishes it
> >> > >>     from other information representation languages such as XML.   I
> >> > >>     have tried various terms over the years -- most recently "schema
> >> > >>     promiscuous" -- but have not yet found one that I think really
> >> nails
> >> > >>     it, so I would love to get other people's thoughts.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>     This google doc lists several candidate terms, some pros and
> >> cons,
> >> > >>     and allows you to indicate which ones you like best:
> >> > >>     http://goo.gl/zrXQgj
> >> > >>
> >> > >>     Please have a look and indicate your favorite(s).  You may also
> >> add
> >> > >>     more ideas and comments to it.  The document can be edited by
> >> anyone
> >> > >>     with the URL.
> >> > >>
> >> > >>     Thanks!
> >> > >>     David Booth
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> > >>
> >> >
> >> >
> >> > --
> >> > MLHIM VIP Signup: http://goo.gl/22B0U
> >> > ============================================
> >> > Timothy Cook, MSc           +55 21 994711995
> >> > MLHIM http://www.mlhim.org
> >> > Like Us on FB: https://www.facebook.com/mlhim2
> >> > Circle us on G+: http://goo.gl/44EV5
> >> > Google Scholar: http://goo.gl/MMZ1o
> >> > LinkedIn Profile:http://www.linkedin.com/in/timothywaynecook
> >>
> >> --
> >> ++  Michael Brunnbauer
> >> ++  netEstate GmbH
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> >> ++  Fax +49 89 32 19 77 89
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> >>
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > MLHIM VIP Signup: http://goo.gl/22B0U
> > ============================================
> > Timothy Cook, MSc           +55 21 994711995
> > MLHIM http://www.mlhim.org
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> >

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Received on Monday, 10 March 2014 07:47:05 UTC