Alexey Vovchenko

Conceptual approach to astronomical problems

New technical capabilities have brought about the sweeping growth of the amount of data acquired by the astronomers from observations with different instruments in various parts of the electromagnetic spectrum. We consider conceptual approach to be a promising tool to efficiently deal with these data. It uses problem domain knowledge to formulate the tasks and develop problem-solving algorithms and data analysis methods in terms of domain concepts without reference to particular data sources, and thereby allows solving certain problems in general form. We demonstrate the benefits of conceptual approach by using it to solve problems related to search for secondary photometric standard candidates, determination of galaxy redshifts, creation of a binary and multiple star repository based on inhomogeneous databases, and classification of eclipsing binaries.We formulate and solve these problems over specifications of astronomical knowledge units such as photometric systems, astronomical objects, multiple stars, etc., and define them in terms of the corresponding problem domains independently of the existing data resources.

Rule-Based Multi-dialect Infrastructure for Conceptual Problem Solving over Heterogeneous Distributed Information Resources

An approach for applying a combination of the semantically different rule-based languages for interoperable conceptual programming over various rule-based systems (RS) and relying on the logic program transformation technique recommended by the W3C Rule Interchange Format (RIF) is presented. Such approach is coherently combined with the heterogeneous data base integration applying semantic rule mediation. The basic functions of the infrastructure implementing the multi-dialect conceptual specifications by the interoperable RS and mediator programs are defined. The references to the detailed description of the infrastructure application for solving complex combinatorial problem are given. The research results show the usability of the approach and of the infrastructure for declarative, resource independent and re-usable data analysis in various application domains.

Multi-dialect Workflows

The results presented in this paper contribute to the techniques for conceptual representation of data analysis algorithms as well as processes to specify data and behavior semantics in one paradigm. An investigation of a novel approach for applying a combination of semantically different platform independent rule-based languages (dialects) for interoperable conceptual specifications over various rule-based systems (RSs) relying on the rule-based program transformation technique recommended by the W3C Rule Interchange Format (RIF) is extended here. The approach is coupled also with the facilities for heterogeneous information resources mediation. This paper extends a previous research of the authors [1] in the direction of workflow modeling for definition of compositions of algorithmic modules in a process structure. A capability of the multi-dialect workflow support specifying the tasks in semantically different languages mostly suited to the task orientation is presented. A practical workflow use case, the interoperating tasks of which are specified in several rule-based languages (RIF-CASPD, RIF-BLD, RIF-PRD) is introduced. In addition, OWL 2 is used for the conceptual schema definition, RIF-PRD is used also for the workflow orchestration. The use case implementation infrastructure includes a production rule-based system (IBM ILOG), a logic rule-based system (DLV) and a mediation system.