iao import.owl
type: Ontology
version IRI: iao import.owl
version info: 2022-08-15

editor preferred term
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: editor preferred term
has curation status: ready for release
definition: The concise, meaningful, and human-friendly name for a class or property preferred by the ontology developers. (US-English)
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

example of usage
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: example of usage
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A phrase describing how a term should be used and/or a citation to a work which uses it. May also include other kinds of examples that facilitate immediate understanding, such as widely know prototypes or instances of a class, or cases where a relation is said to hold.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

has curation status
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: has curation status
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Bill Bug
term editor: PERSON:Melanie Courtot

definition
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: definition
has curation status: ready for release
definition: The official definition, explaining the meaning of a class or property. Shall be Aristotelian, formalized and normalized. Can be augmented with colloquial definitions.
editor note: 2012-04-05: Barry Smith The official OBI definition, explaining the meaning of a class or property: 'Shall be Aristotelian, formalized and normalized. Can be augmented with colloquial definitions' is terrible. Can you fix to something like: A statement of necessary and sufficient conditions explaining the meaning of an expression referring to a class or property. Alan Ruttenberg Your proposed definition is a reasonable candidate, except that it is very common that necessary and sufficient conditions are not given. Mostly they are necessary, occasionally they are necessary and sufficient or just sufficient. Often they use terms that are not themselves defined and so they effectively can't be evaluated by those criteria. On the specifics of the proposed definition: We don't have definitions of 'meaning' or 'expression' or 'property'. For 'reference' in the intended sense I think we use the term 'denotation'. For 'expression', I think we you mean symbol, or identifier. For 'meaning' it differs for class and property. For class we want documentation that let's the intended reader determine whether an entity is instance of the class, or not. For property we want documentation that let's the intended reader determine, given a pair of potential relata, whether the assertion that the relation holds is true. The 'intended reader' part suggests that we also specify who, we expect, would be able to understand the definition, and also generalizes over human and computer reader to include textual and logical definition. Personally, I am more comfortable weakening definition to documentation, with instructions as to what is desirable. We also have the outstanding issue of how to aim different definitions to different audiences. A clinical audience reading chebi wants a different sort of definition documentation/definition from a chemistry trained audience, and similarly there is a need for a definition that is adequate for an ontologist to work with.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

editor note
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: editor note
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An administrative note intended for its editor. It may not be included in the publication version of the ontology, so it should contain nothing necessary for end users to understand the ontology.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obofoundry.org/obo/obi>

term editor
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: term editor
has curation status: ready for release
definition: Name of editor entering the term in the file. The term editor is a point of contact for information regarding the term. The term editor may be, but is not always, the author of the definition, which may have been worked upon by several people
editor note: 20110707, MC: label update to term editor and definition modified accordingly. See https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/115.
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

alternative term
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: alternative term
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: An alternative name for a class or property which means the same thing as the preferred name (semantically equivalent)
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

definition source
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: definition source
has curation status: ready for release
definition: Formal citation, e.g. identifier in external database to indicate / attribute source(s) for the definition. Free text indicate / attribute source(s) for the definition. EXAMPLE: Author Name, URI, MeSH Term C04, PUBMED ID, Wiki uri on 31.01.2007
term editor: PERSON:Daniel Schober
definition source: Discussion on obo-discuss mailing-list, see http://bit.ly/hgm99w
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

has obsolescence reason
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: has obsolescence reason
definition: Relates an annotation property to an obsolescence reason. The values of obsolescence reasons come from a list of predefined terms, instances of the class obsolescence reason specification.
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Melanie Courtot

curator note
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: curator note
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An administrative note of use for a curator but of no use for a user
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg

term tracker item
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: term tracker item
example of usage: the URI for an OBI Terms ticket at sourceforge, such as https://sourceforge.net/p/obi/obi-terms/772/
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: An IRI or similar locator for a request or discussion of an ontology term.
term editor: Person: Jie Zheng, Chris Stoeckert, Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person: Jie Zheng, Chris Stoeckert, Alan Ruttenberg
comment: The 'tracker item' can associate a tracker with a specific ontology term.

ontology term requester
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: ontology term requester
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: The name of the person, project, or organization that motivated inclusion of an ontology term by requesting its addition.
term editor: Person: Jie Zheng, Chris Stoeckert, Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person: Jie Zheng, Chris Stoeckert, Alan Ruttenberg
comment: The 'term requester' can credit the person, organization or project who request the ontology term.

imported from
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: imported from
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: For external terms/classes, the ontology from which the term was imported
term editor: PERSON:Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Melanie Courtot
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>

elucidation
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: elucidation
term editor: person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person:Barry Smith
elucidation: Primitive terms in a highest-level ontology such as BFO are terms which are so basic to our understanding of reality that there is no way of defining them in a non-circular fashion. For these, therefore, we can provide only elucidations, supplemented by examples and by axioms

may be identical to
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: may be identical to
definition: A annotation relationship between two terms in an ontology that may refer to the same (natural) type but where more evidence is required before terms are merged.
term editor: David Osumi-Sutherland
term tracker item: #40
ontology term requester: VFB
comment: Edges asserting this should be annotated with to record evidence supporting the assertion and its provenance.

term replaced by
type: AnnotationProperty
editor preferred term: term replaced by
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: Use on obsolete terms, relating the term to another term that can be used as a substitute
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
comment: Add as annotation triples in the granting ontology

part of
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has part
type: TransitiveProperty
editor preferred term: is part of
example of usage: my brain is part of my body (continuant parthood, two material entities)
example of usage: my stomach cavity is part of my stomach (continuant parthood, immaterial entity is part of material entity)
example of usage: this day is part of this year (occurrent parthood)
definition: a core relation that holds between a part and its whole
editor note: Everything is part of itself. Any part of any part of a thing is itself part of that thing. Two distinct things cannot be part of each other.
editor note: Occurrents are not subject to change and so parthood between occurrents holds for all the times that the part exists. Many continuants are subject to change, so parthood between continuants will only hold at certain times, but this is difficult to specify in OWL. See https://code.google.com/p/obo-relations/wiki/ROAndTime
editor note: Parthood requires the part and the whole to have compatible classes: only an occurrent can be part of an occurrent; only a process can be part of a process; only a continuant can be part of a continuant; only an independent continuant can be part of an independent continuant; only an immaterial entity can be part of an immaterial entity; only a specifically dependent continuant can be part of a specifically dependent continuant; only a generically dependent continuant can be part of a generically dependent continuant. (This list is not exhaustive.) A continuant cannot be part of an occurrent: use 'participates in'. An occurrent cannot be part of a continuant: use 'has participant'. A material entity cannot be part of an immaterial entity: use 'has location'. A specifically dependent continuant cannot be part of an independent continuant: use 'inheres in'. An independent continuant cannot be part of a specifically dependent continuant: use 'bearer of'.
alternative term: part_of
RO_0001900: RO_0001901
source: iao.owl

has part
type: ObjectProperty
type: TransitiveProperty
editor preferred term: has part
example of usage: my body has part my brain (continuant parthood, two material entities)
example of usage: my stomach has part my stomach cavity (continuant parthood, material entity has part immaterial entity)
example of usage: this year has part this day (occurrent parthood)
definition: a core relation that holds between a whole and its part
editor note: Everything has itself as a part. Any part of any part of a thing is itself part of that thing. Two distinct things cannot have each other as a part.
editor note: Occurrents are not subject to change and so parthood between occurrents holds for all the times that the part exists. Many continuants are subject to change, so parthood between continuants will only hold at certain times, but this is difficult to specify in OWL. See https://code.google.com/p/obo-relations/wiki/ROAndTime
editor note: Parthood requires the part and the whole to have compatible classes: only an occurrent have an occurrent as part; only a process can have a process as part; only a continuant can have a continuant as part; only an independent continuant can have an independent continuant as part; only a specifically dependent continuant can have a specifically dependent continuant as part; only a generically dependent continuant can have a generically dependent continuant as part. (This list is not exhaustive.) A continuant cannot have an occurrent as part: use 'participates in'. An occurrent cannot have a continuant as part: use 'has participant'. An immaterial entity cannot have a material entity as part: use 'location of'. An independent continuant cannot have a specifically dependent continuant as part: use 'bearer of'. A specifically dependent continuant cannot have an independent continuant as part: use 'inheres in'.
alternative term: has_part
RO_0001900: RO_0001901
source: iao.owl

realized in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: realizes
domain: realizable entity
range: process
editor preferred term: realized in
example of usage: this disease is realized in this disease course
example of usage: this fragility is realized in this shattering
example of usage: this investigator role is realized in this investigation
alternative term: is realized by
alternative term: realized_in
elucidation: [copied from inverse property 'realizes'] to say that b realizes c at t is to assert that there is some material entity d & b is a process which has participant d at t & c is a disposition or role of which d is bearer_of at t& the type instantiated by b is correlated with the type instantiated by c. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [059-003])
source: iao.owl
comment: Paraphrase of elucidation: a relation between a realizable entity and a process, where there is some material entity that is bearer of the realizable entity and participates in the process, and the realizable entity comes to be realized in the course of the process

realizes
type: ObjectProperty
domain: process
range: realizable entity
editor preferred term: realizes
example of usage: this disease course realizes this disease
example of usage: this investigation realizes this investigator role
example of usage: this shattering realizes this fragility
elucidation: to say that b realizes c at t is to assert that there is some material entity d & b is a process which has participant d at t & c is a disposition or role of which d is bearer_of at t& the type instantiated by b is correlated with the type instantiated by c. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [059-003])
source: iao.owl
comment: Paraphrase of elucidation: a relation between a process and a realizable entity, where there is some material entity that is bearer of the realizable entity and participates in the process, and the realizable entity comes to be realized in the course of the process

occurs in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: contains process
domain: occurrent
range: independent continuant
property chain axiom: part of
editor preferred term: occurs in
definition: b occurs_in c =def b is a process and c is a material entity or immaterial entity& there exists a spatiotemporal region r and b occupies_spatiotemporal_region r.& forall(t) if b exists_at t then c exists_at t & there exist spatial regions s and s’ where & b spatially_projects_onto s at t& c is occupies_spatial_region s’ at t& s is a proper_continuant_part_of s’ at t
alternative term: occurs_in
alternative term: unfolds in
alternative term: unfolds_in
source: iao.owl
comment: Paraphrase of definition: a relation between a process and an independent continuant, in which the process takes place entirely within the independent continuant

contains process
type: ObjectProperty
editor preferred term: site of
definition: [copied from inverse property 'occurs in'] b occurs_in c =def b is a process and c is a material entity or immaterial entity& there exists a spatiotemporal region r and b occupies_spatiotemporal_region r.& forall(t) if b exists_at t then c exists_at t & there exist spatial regions s and s’ where & b spatially_projects_onto s at t& c is occupies_spatial_region s’ at t& s is a proper_continuant_part_of s’ at t
source: iao.owl
comment: Paraphrase of definition: a relation between an independent continuant and a process, in which the process takes place entirely within the independent continuant

is about
type: ObjectProperty
domain: information content entity
example of usage: This document is about information artifacts and their representations
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A (currently) primitive relation that relates an information artifact to an entity.
editor note: 7/6/2009 Alan Ruttenberg. Following discussion with Jonathan Rees, and introduction of "mentions" relation. Weaken the is_about relationship to be primitive. We will try to build it back up by elaborating the various subproperties that are more precisely defined. Some currently missing phenomena that should be considered "about" are predications - "The only person who knows the answer is sitting beside me" , Allegory, Satire, and other literary forms that can be topical without explicitly mentioning the topic.
term editor: person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Smith, Ceusters, Ruttenberg, 2000 years of philosophy
source: iao.owl

denotes
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: is about
inverse of: denoted by
domain: information content entity
range: entity
example of usage: A person's name denotes the person. A variable name in a computer program denotes some piece of memory. Lexically equivalent strings can denote different things, for instance "Alan" can denote different people. In each case of use, there is a case of the denotation relation obtaining, between "Alan" and the person that is being named.
definition: A primitive, instance-level, relation obtaining between an information content entity and some portion of reality. Denotation is what happens when someone creates an information content entity E in order to specifically refer to something. The only relation between E and the thing is that E can be used to 'pick out' the thing. This relation connects those two together. Freedictionary.com sense 3: To signify directly; refer to specifically
editor note: 2009-11-10 Alan Ruttenberg. Old definition said the following to emphasize the generic nature of this relation. We no longer have 'specifically denotes', which would have been primitive, so make this relation primitive. g denotes r =def r is a portion of reality there is some c that is a concretization of g every c that is a concretization of g specifically denotes r
term editor: person:Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Conversations with Barry Smith, Werner Ceusters, Bjoern Peters, Michel Dumontier, Melanie Courtot, James Malone, Bill Hogan
source: iao.owl

denoted by
type: ObjectProperty
domain: entity
range: information content entity
definition: inverse of the relation 'denotes'
term editor: Person: Jie Zheng, Chris Stoeckert, Mike Conlon
term tracker item: https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/206
source: iao.owl

has_specified_output
type: ObjectProperty
equivalent property:
  inverse of: is_specified_output_of
sub property of: has participant
inverse of: is_specified_output_of
domain: planned process
editor preferred term: has_specified_output
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A relation between a planned process and a continuant participating in that process. The presence of the continuant at the end of the process is explicitly specified in the objective specification which the process realizes the concretization of.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Larry Hunter
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
imported from: obi.owl
source: iao.owl

is_specified_output_of
type: ObjectProperty
equivalent property:
  inverse of: has_specified_output
sub property of: participates in
range: planned process
editor preferred term: is_specified_output_of
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A relation between a planned process and a continuant participating in that process. The presence of the continuant at the end of the process is explicitly specified in the objective specification which the process realizes the concretization of.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON:Bjoern Peters
imported from: obi.owl
source: iao.owl

inheres in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: bearer of
editor preferred term: inheres in
example of usage: this fragility inheres in this vase
example of usage: this red color inheres in this apple
definition: a relation between a specifically dependent continuant (the dependent) and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the dependent specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A dependent inheres in its bearer at all times for which the dependent exists.
alternative term: inheres_in
RO_0001900: RO_0001901
source: iao.owl

bearer of
type: ObjectProperty
range: specifically dependent continuant
editor preferred term: bearer of
example of usage: this apple is bearer of this red color
example of usage: this vase is bearer of this fragility
definition: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a specifically dependent continuant (the dependent), in which the dependent specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A bearer can have many dependents, and its dependents can exist for different periods of time, but none of its dependents can exist when the bearer does not exist.
alternative term: bearer_of
alternative term: is bearer of
RO_0001900: RO_0001901
source: iao.owl

participates in
type: ObjectProperty
inverse of: has participant
domain: continuant
range: occurrent
editor preferred term: participates in
example of usage: this blood clot participates in this blood coagulation
example of usage: this input material (or this output material) participates in this process
example of usage: this investigator participates in this investigation
definition: a relation between a continuant and a process, in which the continuant is somehow involved in the process
alternative term: participates_in
source: iao.owl

has participant
type: ObjectProperty
domain: occurrent
range: continuant
editor preferred term: has participant
example of usage: this blood coagulation has participant this blood clot
example of usage: this investigation has participant this investigator
example of usage: this process has participant this input material (or this output material)
definition: a relation between a process and a continuant, in which the continuant is somehow involved in the process
editor note: Has_participant is a primitive instance-level relation between a process, a continuant, and a time at which the continuant participates in some way in the process. The relation obtains, for example, when this particular process of oxygen exchange across this particular alveolar membrane has_participant this particular sample of hemoglobin at this particular time.
alternative term: has_participant
source: iao.owl
source: http://www.obofoundry.org/ro/#OBO_REL:has_participant

role of
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: inheres in
inverse of: has role
example of usage: this investigator role is a role of this person
definition: a relation between a role and an independent continuant (the bearer), in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A role inheres in its bearer at all times for which the role exists, however the role need not be realized at all the times that the role exists.
alternative term: is role of
alternative term: role_of
source: iao.owl

has role
type: ObjectProperty
sub property of: bearer of
domain: independent continuant
range: role
example of usage: this person has role this investigator role (more colloquially: this person has this role of investigator)
definition: a relation between an independent continuant (the bearer) and a role, in which the role specifically depends on the bearer for its existence
editor note: A bearer can have many roles, and its roles can exist for different periods of time, but none of its roles can exist when the bearer does not exist. A role need not be realized at all the times that the role exists.
alternative term: has_role
source: iao.owl

dataset creating
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: planned process
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: has_specified_output
    some values from: data set
subclass of: planned process
editor preferred term: creating a data set
definition: A planned process that has a data set as its specified output.
term editor: William R. Hogan
alternative term: data set creation
alternative term: dataset creation
source: iao.owl

entity
type: Class
BFO_0000179: entity
BFO_0000180: Entity
example of usage: Julius Caesar
example of usage: Verdi’s Requiem
example of usage: the Second World War
example of usage: your body mass index
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: In all areas of empirical inquiry we encounter general terms of two sorts. First are general terms which refer to universals or types:animaltuberculosissurgical procedurediseaseSecond, are general terms used to refer to groups of entities which instantiate a given universal but do not correspond to the extension of any subuniversal of that universal because there is nothing intrinsic to the entities in question by virtue of which they – and only they – are counted as belonging to the given group. Examples are: animal purchased by the Emperortuberculosis diagnosed on a Wednesdaysurgical procedure performed on a patient from Stockholmperson identified as candidate for clinical trial #2056-555person who is signatory of Form 656-PPVpainting by Leonardo da VinciSuch terms, which represent what are called ‘specializations’ in [81
editor note: Entity doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example Werner Ceusters 'portions of reality' include 4 sorts, entities (as BFO construes them), universals, configurations, and relations. It is an open question as to whether entities as construed in BFO will at some point also include these other portions of reality. See, for example, 'How to track absolutely everything' at http://www.referent-tracking.com/_RTU/papers/CeustersICbookRevised.pdf
elucidation: An entity is anything that exists or has existed or will exist. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [001-001])
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: entity
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Entity doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example Werner Ceusters 'portions of reality' include 4 sorts, entities (as BFO construes them), universals, configurations, and relations. It is an open question as to whether entities as construed in BFO will at some point also include these other portions of reality. See, for example, 'How to track absolutely everything' at http://www.referent-tracking.com/_RTU/papers/CeustersICbookRevised.pdf
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000004
comment: per discussion with Barry Smith

Axiom
annotated source: entity
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: An entity is anything that exists or has existed or will exist. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [001-001])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/001-001

continuant
type: Class
subclass of: entity
disjoint with: occurrent
disjoint with: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: occurrent
BFO_0000179: continuant
BFO_0000180: Continuant
definition: An entity that exists in full at any time in which it exists at all, persists through time while maintaining its identity and has no temporal parts.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Continuant entities are entities which can be sliced to yield parts only along the spatial dimension, yielding for example the parts of your table which we call its legs, its top, its nails. ‘My desk stretches from the window to the door. It has spatial parts, and can be sliced (in space) in two. With respect to time, however, a thing is a continuant.’ [60, p. 240
editor note: Continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example, in an expansion involving bringing in some of Ceuster's other portions of reality, questions are raised as to whether universals are continuants
elucidation: A continuant is an entity that persists, endures, or continues to exist through time while maintaining its identity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [008-002])
IAO_0000601: if b is a continuant and if, for some t, c has_continuant_part b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [126-001])
IAO_0000601: if b is a continuant and if, for some t, cis continuant_part of b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [009-002])
IAO_0000601: if b is a material entity, then there is some temporal interval (referred to below as a one-dimensional temporal region) during which b exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [011-002])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (continuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [009-002]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (hasContinuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [126-001]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (Continuant x) (Entity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [008-002]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (Material Entity x) (exists (t) (and (TemporalRegion t) (existsAt x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [011-002]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. For example, in an expansion involving bringing in some of Ceuster's other portions of reality, questions are raised as to whether universals are continuants
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000007

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: A continuant is an entity that persists, endures, or continues to exist through time while maintaining its identity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [008-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/008-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: if b is a continuant and if, for some t, c has_continuant_part b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [126-001])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/126-001

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: if b is a continuant and if, for some t, cis continuant_part of b at t, then c is a continuant. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [009-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/009-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: if b is a material entity, then there is some temporal interval (referred to below as a one-dimensional temporal region) during which b exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [011-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/011-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (continuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [009-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/009-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x y) (if (and (Continuant x) (exists (t) (hasContinuantPartOfAt y x t))) (Continuant y))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [126-001]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/126-001

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Continuant x) (Entity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [008-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/008-002

Axiom
annotated source: continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Material Entity x) (exists (t) (and (TemporalRegion t) (existsAt x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [011-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/011-002

occurrent
type: Class
subclass of: entity
disjoint with: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: continuant
BFO_0000179: occurrent
BFO_0000180: Occurrent
definition: An entity that has temporal parts and that happens, unfolds or develops through time.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: every occurrent that is not a temporal or spatiotemporal region is s-dependent on some independent continuant that is not a spatial region
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: s-dependence obtains between every process and its participants in the sense that, as a matter of necessity, this process could not have existed unless these or those participants existed also. A process may have a succession of participants at different phases of its unfolding. Thus there may be different players on the field at different times during the course of a football game; but the process which is the entire game s-depends_on all of these players nonetheless. Some temporal parts of this process will s-depend_on on only some of the players.
editor note: Occurrent doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. An example would be the sum of a process and the process boundary of another process.
editor note: Simons uses different terminology for relations of occurrents to regions: Denote the spatio-temporal location of a given occurrent e by 'spn[e]' and call this region its span. We may say an occurrent is at its span, in any larger region, and covers any smaller region. Now suppose we have fixed a frame of reference so that we can speak not merely of spatio-temporal but also of spatial regions (places) and temporal regions (times). The spread of an occurrent, (relative to a frame of reference) is the space it exactly occupies, and its spell is likewise the time it exactly occupies. We write 'spr[e]' and `spl[e]' respectively for the spread and spell of e, omitting mention of the frame.
elucidation: An occurrent is an entity that unfolds itself in time or it is the instantaneous boundary of such an entity (for example a beginning or an ending) or it is a temporal or spatiotemporal region which such an entity occupies_temporal_region or occupies_spatiotemporal_region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [077-002])
IAO_0000601: Every occurrent occupies_spatiotemporal_region some spatiotemporal region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [108-001])
IAO_0000601: b is an occurrent entity iff b is an entity that has temporal parts. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [079-001])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (Occurrent x) (exists (r) (and (SpatioTemporalRegion r) (occupiesSpatioTemporalRegion x r))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [108-001]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (iff (Occurrent x) (and (Entity x) (exists (y) (temporalPartOf y x))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [079-001]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Occurrent doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. An example would be the sum of a process and the process boundary of another process.
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000006
comment: per discussion with Barry Smith

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Simons uses different terminology for relations of occurrents to regions: Denote the spatio-temporal location of a given occurrent e by 'spn[e]' and call this region its span. We may say an occurrent is at its span, in any larger region, and covers any smaller region. Now suppose we have fixed a frame of reference so that we can speak not merely of spatio-temporal but also of spatial regions (places) and temporal regions (times). The spread of an occurrent, (relative to a frame of reference) is the space it exactly occupies, and its spell is likewise the time it exactly occupies. We write 'spr[e]' and `spl[e]' respectively for the spread and spell of e, omitting mention of the frame.
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000012

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: An occurrent is an entity that unfolds itself in time or it is the instantaneous boundary of such an entity (for example a beginning or an ending) or it is a temporal or spatiotemporal region which such an entity occupies_temporal_region or occupies_spatiotemporal_region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [077-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/077-002

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: Every occurrent occupies_spatiotemporal_region some spatiotemporal region. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [108-001])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/108-001

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: b is an occurrent entity iff b is an entity that has temporal parts. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [079-001])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/079-001

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Occurrent x) (exists (r) (and (SpatioTemporalRegion r) (occupiesSpatioTemporalRegion x r))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [108-001]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/108-001

Axiom
annotated source: occurrent
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (iff (Occurrent x) (and (Entity x) (exists (y) (temporalPartOf y x))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [079-001]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/079-001

independent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
disjoint with: specifically dependent continuant
disjoint with: generically dependent continuant
BFO_0000179: ic
BFO_0000180: IndependentContinuant
example of usage: a chair
example of usage: a heart
example of usage: a leg
example of usage: a molecule
example of usage: a spatial region
example of usage: an atom
example of usage: an orchestra.
example of usage: an organism
example of usage: the bottom right portion of a human torso
example of usage: the interior of your mouth
definition: A continuant that is a bearer of quality and realizable entity entities, in which other entities inhere and which itself cannot inhere in anything.
definition: b is an independent continuant = Def. b is a continuant which is such that there is no c and no t such that b s-depends_on c at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [017-002])
IAO_0000601: For any independent continuant b and any time t there is some spatial region r such that b is located_in r at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [134-001])
IAO_0000601: For every independent continuant b and time t during the region of time spanned by its life, there are entities which s-depends_on b during t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [018-002])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x t) (if (IndependentContinuant x) (exists (r) (and (SpatialRegion r) (locatedInAt x r t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [134-001]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x t) (if (and (IndependentContinuant x) (existsAt x t)) (exists (y) (and (Entity y) (specificallyDependsOnAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [018-002]
IAO_0000602: (iff (IndependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (not (exists (b t) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [017-002]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: definition
annotated target: b is an independent continuant = Def. b is a continuant which is such that there is no c and no t such that b s-depends_on c at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [017-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/017-002

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: For any independent continuant b and any time t there is some spatial region r such that b is located_in r at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [134-001])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/134-001

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: For every independent continuant b and time t during the region of time spanned by its life, there are entities which s-depends_on b during t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [018-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/018-002

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x t) (if (IndependentContinuant x) (exists (r) (and (SpatialRegion r) (locatedInAt x r t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [134-001]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/134-001

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x t) (if (and (IndependentContinuant x) (existsAt x t)) (exists (y) (and (Entity y) (specificallyDependsOnAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [018-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/018-002

Axiom
annotated source: independent continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (iff (IndependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (not (exists (b t) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [017-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/017-002

process
type: Class
subclass of: occurrent
BFO_0000179: process
BFO_0000180: Process
example of usage: a process of cell-division, \ a beating of the heart
example of usage: a process of meiosis
example of usage: a process of sleeping
example of usage: the course of a disease
example of usage: the flight of a bird
example of usage: the life of an organism
example of usage: your process of aging.
definition: An occurrent that has temporal proper parts and for some time t, p s-depends_on some material entity at t.
definition: p is a process = Def. p is an occurrent that has temporal proper parts and for some time t, p s-depends_on some material entity at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [083-003])
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: The realm of occurrents is less pervasively marked by the presence of natural units than is the case in the realm of independent continuants. Thus there is here no counterpart of ‘object’. In BFO 1.0 ‘process’ served as such a counterpart. In BFO 2.0 ‘process’ is, rather, the occurrent counterpart of ‘material entity’. Those natural – as contrasted with engineered, which here means: deliberately executed – units which do exist in the realm of occurrents are typically either parasitic on the existence of natural units on the continuant side, or they are fiat in nature. Thus we can count lives; we can count football games; we can count chemical reactions performed in experiments or in chemical manufacturing. We cannot count the processes taking place, for instance, in an episode of insect mating behavior.Even where natural units are identifiable, for example cycles in a cyclical process such as the beating of a heart or an organism’s sleep/wake cycle, the processes in question form a sequence with no discontinuities (temporal gaps) of the sort that we find for instance where billiard balls or zebrafish or planets are separated by clear spatial gaps. Lives of organisms are process units, but they too unfold in a continuous series from other, prior processes such as fertilization, and they unfold in turn in continuous series of post-life processes such as post-mortem decay. Clear examples of boundaries of processes are almost always of the fiat sort (midnight, a time of death as declared in an operating theater or on a death certificate, the initiation of a state of war)
IAO_0000602: (iff (Process a) (and (Occurrent a) (exists (b) (properTemporalPartOf b a)) (exists (c t) (and (MaterialEntity c) (specificallyDependsOnAt a c t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [083-003]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: process
annotated property: definition
annotated target: p is a process = Def. p is an occurrent that has temporal proper parts and for some time t, p s-depends_on some material entity at t. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [083-003])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/083-003

Axiom
annotated source: process
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (iff (Process a) (and (Occurrent a) (exists (b) (properTemporalPartOf b a)) (exists (c t) (and (MaterialEntity c) (specificallyDependsOnAt a c t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [083-003]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/083-003

realizable entity
type: Class
subclass of: specifically dependent continuant
BFO_0000179: realizable
BFO_0000180: RealizableEntity
example of usage: the disposition of this piece of metal to conduct electricity.
example of usage: the disposition of your blood to coagulate
example of usage: the function of your reproductive organs
example of usage: the role of being a doctor
example of usage: the role of this boundary to delineate where Utah and Colorado meet
definition: A specifically dependent continuant that inheres in continuant entities and are not exhibited in full at every time in which it inheres in an entity or group of entities. The exhibition or actualization of a realizable entity is a particular manifestation, functioning or process that occurs under certain circumstances.
elucidation: To say that b is a realizable entity is to say that b is a specifically dependent continuant that inheres in some independent continuant which is not a spatial region and is of a type instances of which are realized in processes of a correlated type. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [058-002])
IAO_0000601: All realizable dependent continuants have independent continuants that are not spatial regions as their bearers. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [060-002])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x t) (if (RealizableEntity x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (bearerOfAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [060-002]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (RealizableEntity x) (and (SpecificallyDependentContinuant x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (inheresIn x y)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [058-002]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: To say that b is a realizable entity is to say that b is a specifically dependent continuant that inheres in some independent continuant which is not a spatial region and is of a type instances of which are realized in processes of a correlated type. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [058-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/058-002

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: All realizable dependent continuants have independent continuants that are not spatial regions as their bearers. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [060-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/060-002

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x t) (if (RealizableEntity x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (bearerOfAt y x t))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [060-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/060-002

Axiom
annotated source: realizable entity
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (RealizableEntity x) (and (SpecificallyDependentContinuant x) (exists (y) (and (IndependentContinuant y) (not (SpatialRegion y)) (inheresIn x y)))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [058-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/058-002

specifically dependent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
disjoint with: generically dependent continuant
BFO_0000179: sdc
BFO_0000180: SpecificallyDependentContinuant
example of usage: Reciprocal specifically dependent continuants: the function of this key to open this lock and the mutually dependent disposition of this lock: to be opened by this key
example of usage: of one-sided specifically dependent continuants: the mass of this tomato
example of usage: of relational dependent continuants (multiple bearers): John’s love for Mary, the ownership relation between John and this statue, the relation of authority between John and his subordinates.
example of usage: the disposition of this fish to decay
example of usage: the function of this heart: to pump blood
example of usage: the mutual dependence of proton donors and acceptors in chemical reactions [79
example of usage: the mutual dependence of the role predator and the role prey as played by two organisms in a given interaction
example of usage: the pink color of a medium rare piece of grilled filet mignon at its center
example of usage: the role of being a doctor
example of usage: the shape of this hole.
example of usage: the smell of this portion of mozzarella
definition: A continuant that inheres in or is borne by other entities. Every instance of A requires some specific instance of B which must always be the same.
definition: b is a specifically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant & there is some independent continuant c which is not a spatial region and which is such that b s-depends_on c at every time t during the course of b’s existence. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [050-003])
editor note: Specifically dependent continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. We're not sure what else will develop here, but for example there are questions such as what are promises, obligation, etc.
IAO_0000602: (iff (SpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (forall (t) (if (existsAt a t) (exists (b) (and (IndependentContinuant b) (not (SpatialRegion b)) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [050-003]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: definition
annotated target: b is a specifically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant & there is some independent continuant c which is not a spatial region and which is such that b s-depends_on c at every time t during the course of b’s existence. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [050-003])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/050-003

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: Specifically dependent continuant doesn't have a closure axiom because the subclasses don't necessarily exhaust all possibilites. We're not sure what else will develop here, but for example there are questions such as what are promises, obligation, etc.
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000005
comment: per discussion with Barry Smith

Axiom
annotated source: specifically dependent continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (iff (SpecificallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (forall (t) (if (existsAt a t) (exists (b) (and (IndependentContinuant b) (not (SpatialRegion b)) (specificallyDependsOnAt a b t))))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [050-003]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/050-003

role
type: Class
subclass of: realizable entity
BFO_0000179: role
BFO_0000180: Role
example of usage: John’s role of husband to Mary is dependent on Mary’s role of wife to John, and both are dependent on the object aggregate comprising John and Mary as member parts joined together through the relational quality of being married.
example of usage: the priest role
example of usage: the role of a boundary to demarcate two neighboring administrative territories
example of usage: the role of a building in serving as a military target
example of usage: the role of a stone in marking a property boundary
example of usage: the role of subject in a clinical trial
example of usage: the student role
definition: A realizable entity the manifestation of which brings about some result or end that is not essential to a continuant in virtue of the kind of thing that it is but that can be served or participated in by that kind of continuant in some kinds of natural, social or institutional contexts.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: One major family of examples of non-rigid universals involves roles, and ontologies developed for corresponding administrative purposes may consist entirely of representatives of entities of this sort. Thus ‘professor’, defined as follows,b instance_of professor at t =Def. there is some c, c instance_of professor role & c inheres_in b at t.denotes a non-rigid universal and so also do ‘nurse’, ‘student’, ‘colonel’, ‘taxpayer’, and so forth. (These terms are all, in the jargon of philosophy, phase sortals.) By using role terms in definitions, we can create a BFO conformant treatment of such entities drawing on the fact that, while an instance of professor may be simultaneously an instance of trade union member, no instance of the type professor role is also (at any time) an instance of the type trade union member role (any more than any instance of the type color is at any time an instance of the type length).If an ontology of employment positions should be defined in terms of roles following the above pattern, this enables the ontology to do justice to the fact that individuals instantiate the corresponding universals – professor, sergeant, nurse – only during certain phases in their lives.
elucidation: b is a role means: b is a realizable entity & b exists because there is some single bearer that is in some special physical, social, or institutional set of circumstances in which this bearer does not have to be& b is not such that, if it ceases to exist, then the physical make-up of the bearer is thereby changed. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [061-001])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (Role x) (RealizableEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [061-001]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: role
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: b is a role means: b is a realizable entity & b exists because there is some single bearer that is in some special physical, social, or institutional set of circumstances in which this bearer does not have to be& b is not such that, if it ceases to exist, then the physical make-up of the bearer is thereby changed. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [061-001])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/061-001

Axiom
annotated source: role
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Role x) (RealizableEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [061-001]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/061-001

object aggregate
type: Class
subclass of: material entity
BFO_0000179: object-aggregate
BFO_0000180: ObjectAggregate
example of usage: a collection of cells in a blood biobank.
example of usage: a swarm of bees is an aggregate of members who are linked together through natural bonds
example of usage: a symphony orchestra
example of usage: an organization is an aggregate whose member parts have roles of specific types (for example in a jazz band, a chess club, a football team)
example of usage: defined by fiat: the aggregate of members of an organization
example of usage: defined through physical attachment: the aggregate of atoms in a lump of granite
example of usage: defined through physical containment: the aggregate of molecules of carbon dioxide in a sealed container
example of usage: defined via attributive delimitations such as: the patients in this hospital
example of usage: the aggregate of bearings in a constant velocity axle joint
example of usage: the aggregate of blood cells in your body
example of usage: the nitrogen atoms in the atmosphere
example of usage: the restaurants in Palo Alto
example of usage: your collection of Meissen ceramic plates.
editor note: An entity a is an object aggregate if and only if there is a mutually exhaustive and pairwise disjoint partition of a into objects
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: object aggregates may gain and lose parts while remaining numerically identical (one and the same individual) over time. This holds both for aggregates whose membership is determined naturally (the aggregate of cells in your body) and aggregates determined by fiat (a baseball team, a congressional committee).
definition source: ISBN:978-3-938793-98-5pp124-158#Thomas Bittner and Barry Smith, 'A Theory of Granular Partitions', in K. Munn and B. Smith (eds.), Applied Ontology: An Introduction, Frankfurt/Lancaster: ontos, 2008, 125-158.
elucidation: b is an object aggregate means: b is a material entity consisting exactly of a plurality of objects as member_parts at all times at which b exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [025-004])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (ObjectAggregate x) (and (MaterialEntity x) (forall (t) (if (existsAt x t) (exists (y z) (and (Object y) (Object z) (memberPartOfAt y x t) (memberPartOfAt z x t) (not (= y z)))))) (not (exists (w t_1) (and (memberPartOfAt w x t_1) (not (Object w)))))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [025-004]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: object aggregate
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: An entity a is an object aggregate if and only if there is a mutually exhaustive and pairwise disjoint partition of a into objects
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000011

Axiom
annotated source: object aggregate
annotated property: editor note
annotated target: An entity a is an object aggregate if and only if there is a mutually exhaustive and pairwise disjoint partition of a into objects
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000301

Axiom
annotated source: object aggregate
annotated property: definition source
annotated target: ISBN:978-3-938793-98-5pp124-158#Thomas Bittner and Barry Smith, 'A Theory of Granular Partitions', in K. Munn and B. Smith (eds.), Applied Ontology: An Introduction, Frankfurt/Lancaster: ontos, 2008, 125-158.
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/0000300

Axiom
annotated source: object aggregate
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: b is an object aggregate means: b is a material entity consisting exactly of a plurality of objects as member_parts at all times at which b exists. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [025-004])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/025-004

Axiom
annotated source: object aggregate
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (ObjectAggregate x) (and (MaterialEntity x) (forall (t) (if (existsAt x t) (exists (y z) (and (Object y) (Object z) (memberPartOfAt y x t) (memberPartOfAt z x t) (not (= y z)))))) (not (exists (w t_1) (and (memberPartOfAt w x t_1) (not (Object w)))))))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [025-004]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/025-004

site
type: Class
subclass of: immaterial entity
BFO_0000179: site
BFO_0000180: Site
example of usage: Manhattan Canyon)
example of usage: a hole in the interior of a portion of cheese
example of usage: a rabbit hole
example of usage: an air traffic control region defined in the airspace above an airport
example of usage: the Grand Canyon
example of usage: the Piazza San Marco
example of usage: the cockpit of an aircraft
example of usage: the hold of a ship
example of usage: the interior of a kangaroo pouch
example of usage: the interior of the trunk of your car
example of usage: the interior of your bedroom
example of usage: the interior of your office
example of usage: the interior of your refrigerator
example of usage: the lumen of your gut
example of usage: your left nostril (a fiat part – the opening – of your left nasal cavity)
elucidation: b is a site means: b is a three-dimensional immaterial entity that is (partially or wholly) bounded by a material entity or it is a three-dimensional immaterial part thereof. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [034-002])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (Site x) (ImmaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [034-002]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: site
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: b is a site means: b is a three-dimensional immaterial entity that is (partially or wholly) bounded by a material entity or it is a three-dimensional immaterial part thereof. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [034-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/034-002

Axiom
annotated source: site
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (Site x) (ImmaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [034-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/034-002

generically dependent continuant
type: Class
subclass of: continuant
BFO_0000179: gdc
BFO_0000180: GenericallyDependentContinuant
example of usage: The entries in your database are patterns instantiated as quality instances in your hard drive. The database itself is an aggregate of such patterns. When you create the database you create a particular instance of the generically dependent continuant type database. Each entry in the database is an instance of the generically dependent continuant type IAO: information content entity.
example of usage: the pdf file on your laptop, the pdf file that is a copy thereof on my laptop
example of usage: the sequence of this protein molecule; the sequence that is a copy thereof in that protein molecule.
definition: A continuant that is dependent on one or other independent continuant bearers. For every instance of A requires some instance of (an independent continuant type) B but which instance of B serves can change from time to time.
definition: b is a generically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant that g-depends_on one or more other entities. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [074-001])
IAO_0000602: (iff (GenericallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (exists (b t) (genericallyDependsOnAt a b t)))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [074-001]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: generically dependent continuant
annotated property: definition
annotated target: b is a generically dependent continuant = Def. b is a continuant that g-depends_on one or more other entities. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [074-001])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/074-001

Axiom
annotated source: generically dependent continuant
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (iff (GenericallyDependentContinuant a) (and (Continuant a) (exists (b t) (genericallyDependsOnAt a b t)))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [074-001]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/074-001

material entity
type: Class
subclass of: independent continuant
disjoint with: immaterial entity
BFO_0000179: material
BFO_0000180: MaterialEntity
example of usage: a flame
example of usage: a forest fire
example of usage: a human being
example of usage: a hurricane
example of usage: a photon
example of usage: a puff of smoke
example of usage: a sea wave
example of usage: a tornado
example of usage: an aggregate of human beings.
example of usage: an energy wave
example of usage: an epidemic
example of usage: the undetached arm of a human being
definition: An independent continuant that is spatially extended whose identity is independent of that of other entities and can be maintained through time.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Material entities (continuants) can preserve their identity even while gaining and losing material parts. Continuants are contrasted with occurrents, which unfold themselves in successive temporal parts or phases [60
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Object, Fiat Object Part and Object Aggregate are not intended to be exhaustive of Material Entity. Users are invited to propose new subcategories of Material Entity.
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: ‘Matter’ is intended to encompass both mass and energy (we will address the ontological treatment of portions of energy in a later version of BFO). A portion of matter is anything that includes elementary particles among its proper or improper parts: quarks and leptons, including electrons, as the smallest particles thus far discovered; baryons (including protons and neutrons) at a higher level of granularity; atoms and molecules at still higher levels, forming the cells, organs, organisms and other material entities studied by biologists, the portions of rock studied by geologists, the fossils studied by paleontologists, and so on.Material entities are three-dimensional entities (entities extended in three spatial dimensions), as contrasted with the processes in which they participate, which are four-dimensional entities (entities extended also along the dimension of time).According to the FMA, material entities may have immaterial entities as parts – including the entities identified below as sites; for example the interior (or ‘lumen’) of your small intestine is a part of your body. BFO 2.0 embodies a decision to follow the FMA here.
elucidation: A material entity is an independent continuant that has some portion of matter as proper or improper continuant part. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [019-002])
IAO_0000601: Every entity which has a material entity as continuant part is a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [020-002])
IAO_0000601: every entity of which a material entity is continuant part is also a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [021-002])
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (MaterialEntity x) (IndependentContinuant x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [019-002]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt x y t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [021-002]
IAO_0000602: (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt y x t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [020-002]
source: iao.owl

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: elucidation
annotated target: A material entity is an independent continuant that has some portion of matter as proper or improper continuant part. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [019-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/019-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: Every entity which has a material entity as continuant part is a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [020-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/020-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: IAO_0000601
annotated target: every entity of which a material entity is continuant part is also a material entity. (axiom label in BFO2 Reference: [021-002])
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/021-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (MaterialEntity x) (IndependentContinuant x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [019-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/019-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt x y t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [021-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/021-002

Axiom
annotated source: material entity
annotated property: IAO_0000602
annotated target: (forall (x) (if (and (Entity x) (exists (y t) (and (MaterialEntity y) (continuantPartOfAt y x t)))) (MaterialEntity x))) // axiom label in BFO2 CLIF: [020-002]
IAO_0010000: http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/bfo/axiom/020-002

immaterial entity
type: Class
subclass of: independent continuant
BFO_0000179: immaterial
BFO_0000180: ImmaterialEntity
editor note: BFO 2 Reference: Immaterial entities are divided into two subgroups:boundaries and sites, which bound, or are demarcated in relation, to material entities, and which can thus change location, shape and size and as their material hosts move or change shape or size (for example: your nasal passage; the hold of a ship; the boundary of Wales (which moves with the rotation of the Earth) [38, 7, 10
source: iao.owl

conditional specification
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
editor preferred term: conditional specification
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A directive information entity that specifies what should happen if the trigger condition is fulfilled.
term editor: PlanAndPlannedProcess Branch
definition source: OBI branch derived
definition source: OBI_0000349
source: iao.owl

objective specification
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
editor preferred term: objective specification
example of usage: In the protocol of a ChIP assay the objective specification says to identify protein and DNA interaction.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A directive information entity that describes an intended process endpoint. When part of a plan specification the concretization is realized in a planned process in which the bearer tries to effect the world so that the process endpoint is achieved.
editor note: 2009-03-16: original definition when imported from OBI read: "objective is an non realizable information entity which can serve as that proper part of a plan towards which the realization of the plan is directed."
editor note: 2014-03-31: In the example of usage ("In the protocol of a ChIP assay the objective specification says to identify protein and DNA interaction") there is a protocol which is the ChIP assay protocol. In addition to being concretized on paper, the protocol can be concretized as a realizable entity, such as a plan that inheres in a person. The objective specification is the part that says that some protein and DNA interactions are identified. This is a specification of a process endpoint: the boundary in the process before which they are not identified and after which they are. During the realization of the plan, the goal is to get to the point of having the interactions, and participants in the realization of the plan try to do that.
editor note: Answers the question, why did you do this experiment?
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Barry Smith
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Jennifer Fostel
alternative term: goal specification
definition source: OBI Plan and Planned Process/Roles Branch
definition source: OBI_0000217
source: iao.owl

action specification
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
example of usage: Pour the contents of flask 1 into flask 2
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A directive information entity that describes an action the bearer will take.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: OBI Plan and Planned Process branch
source: iao.owl

data item
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred term: data item
example of usage: Data items include counts of things, analyte concentrations, and statistical summaries.
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: An information content entity that is intended to be a truthful statement about something (modulo, e.g., measurement precision or other systematic errors) and is constructed/acquired by a method which reliably tends to produce (approximately) truthful statements.
editor note: 2/2/2009 Alan and Bjoern discussing FACS run output data. This is a data item because it is about the cell population. Each element records an event and is typically further composed a set of measurment data items that record the fluorescent intensity stimulated by one of the lasers.
editor note: 2009-03-16: data item deliberatly ambiguous: we merged data set and datum to be one entity, not knowing how to define singular versus plural. So data item is more general than datum.
editor note: 2009-03-16: removed datum as alternative term as datum specifically refers to singular form, and is thus not an exact synonym.
editor note: 2014-03-31: See discussion at http://odontomachus.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/aboutness-objects-propositions/
editor note: JAR: datum -- well, this will be very tricky to define, but maybe some information-like stuff that might be put into a computer and that is meant, by someone, to denote and/or to be interpreted by some process... I would include lists, tables, sentences... I think I might defer to Barry, or to Brian Cantwell Smith JAR: A data item is an approximately justified approximately true approximate belief
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
term editor: PERSON: Jonathan Rees
alternative term: data
source: iao.owl

symbol
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred term: symbol
example of usage: a serial number such as "12324X"
example of usage: a stop sign
example of usage: a written proper name such as "OBI"
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: An information content entity that is a mark(s) or character(s) used as a conventional representation of another entity.
editor note: 20091104, MC: this needs work and will most probably change
editor note: 2014-03-31: We would like to have a deeper analysis of 'mark' and 'sign' in the future (see https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/154).
term editor: PERSON: James A. Overton
term editor: PERSON: Jonathan Rees
definition source: based on Oxford English Dictionary
source: iao.owl

information content entity
type: Class
subclass of: generically dependent continuant
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is about
  some values from: entity
editor preferred term: information content entity
example of usage: Examples of information content entites include journal articles, data, graphical layouts, and graphs.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A generically dependent continuant that is about some thing.
editor note: 2014-03-10: The use of "thing" is intended to be general enough to include universals and configurations (see https://groups.google.com/d/msg/information-ontology/GBxvYZCk1oc/-L6B5fSBBTQJ).
editor note: information_content_entity 'is_encoded_in' some digital_entity in obi before split (040907). information_content_entity 'is_encoded_in' some physical_document in obi before split (040907). Previous. An information content entity is a non-realizable information entity that 'is encoded in' some digital or physical entity.
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
definition source: OBI_0000142
source: iao.owl

directive information entity
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: is about
  some values from: realizable entity
has curation status: ready for release
definition: An information content entity whose concretizations indicate to their bearer how to realize them in a process.
editor note: 2009-03-16: provenance: a term realizable information entity was proposed for OBI (OBI_0000337) , edited by the PlanAndPlannedProcess branch. Original definition was "is the specification of a process that can be concretized and realized by an actor" with alternative term "instruction".It has been subsequently moved to IAO where the objective for which the original term was defined was satisfied with the definitionof this, different, term.
editor note: 2013-05-30 Alan Ruttenberg: What differentiates a directive information entity from an information concretization is that it can have concretizations that are either qualities or realizable entities. The concretizations that are realizable entities are created when an individual chooses to take up the direction, i.e. has the intention to (try to) realize it.
editor note: 8/6/2009 Alan Ruttenberg: Changed label from "information entity about a realizable" after discussions at ICBO
editor note: Werner pushed back on calling it realizable information entity as it isn't realizable. However this name isn't right either. An example would be a recipe. The realizable entity would be a plan, but the information entity isn't about the plan, it, once concretized, *is* the plan. -Alan
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
source: iao.owl

rule
type: Class
subclass of: conditional specification
editor preferred term: rule
example of usage: example to be added
has curation status: metadata incomplete
definition: A rule is an executable which guides, defines, restricts actions.
editor note: MSI
term editor: PRS
definition source: OBI_0500021
definition source: PRS
source: iao.owl

curation status specification
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  one of: example to be eventually removed
  one of: metadata complete
  one of: organizational term
  one of: ready for release
  one of: metadata incomplete
  one of: uncurated
  one of: pending final vetting
  one of: to be replaced with external ontology term
  one of: requires discussion
subclass of: data about an ontology part
editor preferred term: curation status specification
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: The curation status of the term. The allowed values come from an enumerated list of predefined terms. See the specification of these instances for more detailed definitions of each enumerated value.
editor note: Better to represent curation as a process with parts and then relate labels to that process (in IAO meeting)
term editor: PERSON:Bill Bug
definition source: GROUP:OBI:<http://purl.obolibrary.org/obo/obi>
definition source: OBI_0000266
source: iao.owl

data set
type: Class
subclass of: data item
editor preferred term: data set
example of usage: Intensity values in a CEL file or from multiple CEL files comprise a data set (as opposed to the CEL files themselves).
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: A data item that is an aggregate of other data items of the same type that have something in common. Averages and distributions can be determined for data sets.
editor note: 2009/10/23 Alan Ruttenberg. The intention is that this term represent collections of like data. So this isn't for, e.g. the whole contents of a cel file, which includes parameters, metadata etc. This is more like java arrays of a certain rather specific type
editor note: 2014-05-05: Data sets are aggregates and thus must include two or more data items. We have chosen not to add logical axioms to make this restriction.
term editor: person:Allyson Lister
term editor: person:Chris Stoeckert
definition source: OBI_0000042
definition source: group:OBI
source: iao.owl

data about an ontology part
type: Class
subclass of: data item
editor preferred term: data about an ontology part
definition: Data about an ontology part is a data item about a part of an ontology, for example a term
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg
source: iao.owl

plan specification
type: Class
subclass of: directive information entity
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: objective specification
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: action specification
editor preferred term: plan specification
example of usage: PMID: 18323827.Nat Med. 2008 Mar;14(3):226.New plan proposed to help resolve conflicting medical advice.
has curation status: ready for release
definition: A directive information entity with action specifications and objective specifications as parts that, when concretized, is realized in a process in which the bearer tries to achieve the objectives by taking the actions specified.
editor note: 2009-03-16: provenance: a term a plan was proposed for OBI (OBI_0000344) , edited by the PlanAndPlannedProcess branch. Original definition was " a plan is a specification of a process that is realized by an actor to achieve the objective specified as part of the plan". It has been subsequently moved to IAO where the objective for which the original term was defined was satisfied with the definitionof this, different, term.
editor note: 2014-03-31: A plan specification can have other parts, such as conditional specifications.
editor note: Alternative previous definition: a plan is a set of instructions that specify how an objective should be achieved
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: OBI Plan and Planned Process branch
definition source: OBI_0000344
source: iao.owl
comment: 2/3/2009 Comment from OBI review. Action specification not well enough specified. Conditional specification not well enough specified. Question whether all plan specifications have objective specifications. Request that IAO either clarify these or change definitions not to use them

obsolescence reason specification
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  one of: failed exploratory term
  one of: placeholder removed
  one of: terms merged
  one of: term imported
  one of: term split
subclass of: data about an ontology part
editor preferred term: obsolescence reason specification
has curation status: pending final vetting
definition: The reason for which a term has been deprecated. The allowed values come from an enumerated list of predefined terms. See the specification of these instances for more detailed definitions of each enumerated value.
editor note: The creation of this class has been inspired in part by Werner Ceusters' paper, Applying evolutionary terminology auditing to the Gene Ontology.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
source: iao.owl

document
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred term: document
example of usage: A journal article, patent application, laboratory notebook, or a book
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A collection of information content entities intended to be understood together as a whole
term editor: PERSON: Lawrence Hunter
source: iao.owl

publication
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  intersection of: document
  intersection of: Restriction
    on property: is_specified_output_of
    all values from: publishing process
subclass of: document
editor preferred term: publication
example of usage: journal article, newspaper story, book, etc.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A document that is the output of a publishing process.
term editor: PERSON: Chris Stoeckert
term editor: PERSON: Jie Zheng
term editor: PERSON: Lawrence Hunter
alternative term: published document
term tracker item: https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/232
source: iao.owl
comment: Revisit the term in Octorber 2020. Improve the defintion.

denotator type
type: Class
equivalent class: Class
  one of: universal
  one of: defined class
  one of: named class expression
subclass of: data about an ontology part
editor preferred term: denotator type
example of usage: The Basic Formal Ontology ontology makes a distinction between Universals and defined classes, where the formal are "natural kinds" and the latter arbitrary collections of entities.
definition: A denotator type indicates how a term should be interpreted from an ontological perspective.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: Barry Smith, Werner Ceusters
source: iao.owl

publishing process
type: Class
subclass of: planned process
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A planned process of making information, such as literature, music, and software etc., available to the public for sale or for free.
term editor: Person: Jie Zheng
definition source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Publishing
term tracker item: https://github.com/information-artifact-ontology/IAO/issues/232
ontology term requester: VEuPathDB
source: iao.owl

centrally registered identifier symbol
type: Class
subclass of: symbol
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: part of
  some values from: centrally registered identifier
example of usage: The sentence "The article has Pubmed ID 12345." contains a CRID that has two parts: one part is the CRID symbol, which is '12345'; the other part denotes the CRID registry, which is Pubmed.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A symbol that is part of a CRID and that is sufficient to look up a record from the CRID's registry.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bill Hogan
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
alternative term: CRID symbol
definition source: Original proposal from Bjoern, discussions at IAO calls
source: iao.owl

centrally registered identifier
type: Class
subclass of: identifier
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: centrally registered identifier symbol
subclass of: Restriction
  on property: has part
  some values from: Restriction
    on property: denotes
    some values from: centrally registered identifier registry
example of usage: The sentence "The article has Pubmed ID 12345." contains a CRID that has two parts: one part is the CRID symbol, which is '12345'; the other part denotes the CRID registry, which is Pubmed.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: An information content entity that consists of a CRID symbol and additional information about the CRID registry to which it belongs.
editor note: 2014-05-05: In defining this term we take no position on what the CRID denotes. In particular do not assume it denotes a *record* in the CRID registry (since the registry might not have 'records').
editor note: Alan, IAO call 20101124: potentially the CRID denotes the instance it was associated with during creation.
editor note: Note, IAO call 20101124: URIs are not always CRID, as not centrally registered. We acknowledge that CRID is a subset of a larger identifier class, but this subset fulfills our current needs. OBI PURLs are CRID as they are registered with OCLC. UPCs (Universal Product Codes from AC Nielsen)are not CRID as they are not centrally registered.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bill Hogan
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
alternative term: CRID
definition source: Original proposal from Bjoern, discussions at IAO calls
source: iao.owl

centrally registered identifier registry
type: Class
subclass of: data set
example of usage: PubMed is a CRID registry. It has a dataset of PubMed identifiers associated with journal articles.
has curation status: metadata complete
definition: A CRID registry is a dataset of CRID records, each consisting of a CRID symbol and additional information which was recorded in the dataset through a assigning a centrally registered identifier process.
term editor: PERSON: Alan Ruttenberg
term editor: PERSON: Bill Hogan
term editor: PERSON: Bjoern Peters
term editor: PERSON: Melanie Courtot
alternative term: CRID registry
definition source: Original proposal from Bjoern, discussions at IAO calls
source: iao.owl

identifier
type: Class
subclass of: information content entity
editor preferred term: identifier
definition: An identifier is an information content entity that is the outcome of a dubbing process and is used to refer to one instance of entity shared by a group of people to refer to that individual entity.
imported from: pno.owl
source: iao.owl

planned process
type: Class
subclass of: process
editor preferred term: planned process
definition: A process that realizes a plan which is the concretization of a plan specification.
imported from: obi.owl
source: iao.owl

Obsolete Class
type: Class
source: iao.owl

example to be eventually removed
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: example to be eventually removed

failed exploratory term
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: failed exploratory term
definition: The term was used in an attempt to structure part of the ontology but in retrospect failed to do a good job
term editor: Person:Alan Ruttenberg

metadata complete
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: metadata complete
definition: Class has all its metadata, but is either not guaranteed to be in its final location in the asserted IS_A hierarchy or refers to another class that is not complete.

organizational term
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: organizational term
definition: Term created to ease viewing/sort terms for development purpose, and will not be included in a release

ready for release
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: ready for release
definition: Class has undergone final review, is ready for use, and will be included in the next release. Any class lacking "ready_for_release" should be considered likely to change place in hierarchy, have its definition refined, or be obsoleted in the next release. Those classes deemed "ready_for_release" will also derived from a chain of ancestor classes that are also "ready_for_release."

metadata incomplete
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: metadata incomplete
definition: Class is being worked on; however, the metadata (including definition) are not complete or sufficiently clear to the branch editors.

uncurated
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: uncurated
definition: Nothing done yet beyond assigning a unique class ID and proposing a preferred term.

pending final vetting
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: pending final vetting
definition: All definitions, placement in the asserted IS_A hierarchy and required minimal metadata are complete. The class is awaiting a final review by someone other than the term editor.

placeholder removed
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: placeholder removed

terms merged
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: terms merged
editor note: An editor note should explain what were the merged terms and the reason for the merge.

term imported
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: term imported
editor note: This is to be used when the original term has been replaced by a term imported from an other ontology. An editor note should indicate what is the URI of the new term to use.

term split
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: term split
editor note: This is to be used when a term has been split in two or more new terms. An editor note should indicate the reason for the split and indicate the URIs of the new terms created.

universal
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: universal
editor note: Hard to give a definition for. Intuitively a "natural kind" rather than a collection of any old things, which a class is able to be, formally. At the meta level, universals are defined as positives, are disjoint with their siblings, have single asserted parents.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: A Formal Theory of Substances, Qualities, and Universals, http://ontology.buffalo.edu/bfo/SQU.pdf

defined class
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: defined class
definition: A defined class is a class that is defined by a set of logically necessary and sufficient conditions but is not a universal
editor note: "definitions", in some readings, always are given by necessary and sufficient conditions. So one must be careful (and this is difficult sometimes) to distinguish between defined classes and universal.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg

named class expression
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: named class expression
definition: A named class expression is a logical expression that is given a name. The name can be used in place of the expression.
editor note: named class expressions are used in order to have more concise logical definition but their extensions may not be interesting classes on their own. In languages such as OWL, with no provisions for macros, these show up as actuall classes. Tools may with to not show them as such, and to replace uses of the macros with their expansions
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg

to be replaced with external ontology term
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: to be replaced with external ontology term
definition: Terms with this status should eventually replaced with a term from another ontology.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: group:OBI

requires discussion
type: NamedIndividual
editor preferred term: requires discussion
definition: A term that is metadata complete, has been reviewed, and problems have been identified that require discussion before release. Such a term requires editor note(s) to identify the outstanding issues.
term editor: Alan Ruttenberg
definition source: group:OBI