title: Making the standard more standard: a data and query model for knowledge representation in the Arden syntax.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Arden Syntax is a Health Level Seven (HL7) standard that can be used to encode computable knowledge. However, dissemination of knowledge is hampered by lack of standard database linkages in Arden knowledge bases (KB). Moreover, the HL7 Reference Information Model (RIM) is object-oriented and hence incompatible with the current Arden data model. Also, significant investment has been made in Arden KBs that would be lost if a backward-incompatible data model were adopted.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To define a data model that standardizes database linkages and provides object-oriented features while maintaining backward compatibility.
  
  
  METHODS
  We identified the objects of the RIM that could be used as a schema for standard database queries. We propose extensions to Arden to accommodate this model, including the manipulation of objects.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A data model that standardizes database linkages and introduces object-oriented constructs will facilitate knowledge transfer without violation of backward compatibility in the Arden Syntax.
authors.affiliation: Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Department of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Robert A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Jenders
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Corman
authors.forename: Balendu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dasgupta
mesh_terms: D001185:Artificial Intelligence; D019992:Databases as Topic / Q000592:standards*; D020000:Decision Support Systems, Clinical / Q000592:standards; D011381:Programming Languages; D012984:Software / Q000592:standards; D018875:Vocabulary, Controlled