Expression model for multiple relationships in the ontology of traditional Chinese medicine knowledge

Objective:To explore multiple relationships in traditional Chinese medicine(TCM)knowledge by comparing binary and multiple relationships during knowledge organization.Methods:Characteristics of binary and multiple semantic relationships as well as their associations are described.A method to classify multiple relationships based on the involvement of time is proposed and theoretically validated using examples from the ancient TCM classic Important Formulas Worth a Thousand Gold Pieces.The classification includes parallel multiple relationships,restricted multiple relationships,multiple relationships that involve time,and multiple relationships that involve time restriction.Next,construction of multiple semantic relationships for TCM concepts in each classification using Protege,an ontology editing tool is described.Results:Protege is superior to a binary relationship and less than ideal with multiple relationships during the constitution of concept relationships.Conclusion:When applied in TCM,the semantic relationships constructed by Protege are superior than those constructed by correlation and/or attribute relationships,but less ideal than those constructed by the human cognitive process.

Ethnobotanical and Indigenous Knowledge of Important Plants in East Hararghe, Eastern Ethiopia

An ethnobotanical study was conducted in East Hararghe, Ethiopia to identify and investigate the use of various plants by the traditional healers and communities engaged in domestic, pesticide and medicinal use. A total of 78 species were observed to be used by the local inhabitants in the region for the treatments of various ailments. Out of these, herbs constitute 49% followed by trees(36%) and shrubs only 15%. However, most frequently used plant parts were leaf and aerial parts(20) followed by seed(13), fruit(12), other parts(10), rhizome(7) and bark(1). Most of the plants were found to be used for medicinal, aromatic and food flavouring(spices, condiments) purposes. Out of 78 species recorded in the present study, 11 were reported to cure stomachache, seven for cold, cough and respiratory problem, six for diarrhoea and five species were found capable of curing fever. Fabaceae was the largest family contributing to medicinal plant use with seven species followed by Solanaceae, Myrtaceae,(5 spp.), and Zingiberaceae, Asteraceae, Liliaceae(4 spp. each). Some of the important plants utilized for taking care of variety of ailments are Azadirachta indica, Brassica nigra, Balanites aegyptiaca, Maytenus ovatus, Rosmarinus officinalis and Trigonella foenum graecum. Most of these medicinal and aromatic plants(MAPs) play a significant role in the household economy and were observed to be very popular among the people. Unpopular plants were left out of the study. This study provides useful and basic information on usage of different plants for conducting further studies aimed at conservation and documentation of traditional medicine system and economic welfare of rural peoples of the East Hararghe, Ethiopia. It also revealed that indigenous practices contributed to sustainable management of plants.

Expert knowledge maps for knowledge management: a case study inTraditional Chinese Medicine research

OBJECTIVE:To design a model to capture information on the state and trends of knowledge creation,at both an individual and an organizational level,in order to enhance knowledge management.METHODS:We designed a graph-theoretic knowledge model,the expert knowledge map(EKM),based on literature-based annotation.A case study in the domain of Traditional Chinese Medicine research was used to illustrate the usefulness of the model.RESULTS:The EKM successfully captured various aspects of knowledge and enhanced knowledge management within the case-study organization through the provision of knowledge graphs,expert graphs,and expert-knowledge biography.CONCLUSION:Our model could help to reveal thehot topics,trends,and products of the research done by an organization.It can potentially be used to facilitate knowledge learning,sharing and decision-making among researchers,academicians,students,and administrators of organizations.