/**
     * provides an exact copy of this integrity check, minus runs and results.
     *
     * @param includeUuids
     * @return
     */
    public IntegrityCheck clone(Boolean includeUuids){
        IntegrityCheck check = new IntegrityCheck();
        check.setUuid(includeUuids ? this.getUuid() : null);
        check.setName(this.getName());
        check.setDescription(this.getDescription());
        check.setCheckLanguage(this.getCheckLanguage());
        check.setCheckCode(this.getCheckCode());
        check.setFailureType(this.getFailureType());
        check.setFailureOperator(this.getFailureOperator());
        check.setFailureThreshold(this.getFailureThreshold());
        check.setResultsLanguage(this.getResultsLanguage());
        check.setResultsCode(this.getResultsCode());
        check.setResultsUniqueIdentifier(this.getResultsUniqueIdentifier());
        check.setTotalLanguage(this.getTotalLanguage());
        check.setTotalCode(this.getTotalCode());

        for (IntegrityCheckColumn column: this.getResultsColumns())
            check.addResultsColumn(column.clone(includeUuids));

        return check;
    }

    /**
     * helper method for Metadata Sharing Module.
     */
    public Object writeReplace(){
        return this.clone(true);
    }