On optimal comparability editing with applications to molecular diagnostics
2009

Optimal Comparability Editing for Molecular Diagnostics

publication Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Sebastian Böcker, Sebastian Briesemeister, Gunnar W. Klau

Primary Institution: Institut für Informatik, Friedrich-Schiller-Universität, Jena, Germany

Hypothesis

How can we transform a directed graph representing patient subgroups into a transitive graph with minimal edge modifications?

Conclusion

The exact algorithms developed are significantly more efficient than previous heuristic approaches and can enumerate all optimal solutions.

Supporting Evidence

  • The algorithms compute provably optimal solutions.
  • The exact algorithms are capable of enumerating all optimal solutions.
  • The performance of the algorithms significantly outperforms previous heuristic approaches.

Takeaway

This study shows how to fix messy data about patients' diseases by organizing it into a clearer structure using special computer methods.

Methodology

The study uses fixed-parameter algorithms and integer linear programming to solve the comparability editing problem.

Limitations

The algorithms may not reduce the size of the graph significantly, and constructing a problem kernel remains an open problem.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1471-2105-10-S1-S61

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