Computer Science Dept., New Jersey Institute of Technology, Newark, NJ 07102, USA.
J Biomed Inform. 2012 Feb;45(1):15-29. doi: 10.1016/j.jbi.2011.08.013. Epub 2011 Aug 25.
An algorithmically-derived abstraction network, called the partial-area taxonomy, for a SNOMED hierarchy has led to the identification of concepts considered complex. The designation "complex" is arrived at automatically on the basis of structural analyses of overlap among the constituent concept groups of the partial-area taxonomy. Such complex concepts, called overlapping concepts, constitute a tangled portion of a hierarchy and can be obstacles to users trying to gain an understanding of the hierarchy's content. A new methodology for partitioning the entire collection of overlapping concepts into singly-rooted groups, that are more manageable to work with and comprehend, is presented. Different kinds of overlapping concepts with varying degrees of complexity are identified. This leads to an abstract model of the overlapping concepts called the disjoint partial-area taxonomy, which serves as a vehicle for enhanced, high-level display. The methodology is demonstrated with an application to SNOMED's Specimen hierarchy. Overall, the resulting disjoint partial-area taxonomy offers a refined view of the hierarchy's structural organization and conceptual content that can aid users, such as maintenance personnel, working with SNOMED. The utility of the disjoint partial-area taxonomy as the basis for a SNOMED auditing regimen is presented in a companion paper.
一种基于算法的抽象网络，称为部分区域分类法，用于 SNOMED 层次结构，已经确定了被认为是复杂的概念。“复杂”的指定是基于对部分区域分类法的组成概念组之间重叠的结构分析自动得出的。这种复杂的概念，称为重叠概念，构成了层次结构的一个混乱部分，可能会阻碍用户试图理解层次结构的内容。提出了一种新的方法，将整个重叠概念集合划分为可单独处理和理解的单一根组。确定了具有不同复杂程度的不同类型的重叠概念。这导致了一个称为不相交部分区域分类法的重叠概念的抽象模型，它作为增强的高级显示的载体。该方法通过对 SNOMED 的标本层次结构的应用进行了演示。总的来说，所得到的不相交部分区域分类法提供了对层次结构的结构组织和概念内容的精细视图，这可以帮助维护人员等用户使用 SNOMED。在一篇配套的论文中介绍了不相交部分区域分类法作为 SNOMED 审核方案基础的效用。
