Bipartite Matching with Linear Edge Weights

Consider a complete weighted bipartite graph G in which each left vertex u has two real numbers intercept and slope, each right vertex v has a real number quality, and the weight of any edge (u, v) is defined as the intercept of u plus the slope of u times the quality of v. Let m (resp., n) denote the number of left (resp., right) vertices, and assume that m geq n. We develop a fast algorithm for computing a maximum weight matching (MWM) of such a graph. Our algorithm begins by computing an MWM of the subgraph induced by the n right vertices and an arbitrary subset of n left vertices; this step is straightforward to perform in O(n log n) time. The remaining m - n left vertices are then inserted into the graph one at a time, in arbitrary order. As each left vertex is inserted, the MWM is updated. It is relatively straightforward to process each such insertion in O(n) time; our main technical contribution is to improve this time bound to O(sqrt{n} log^2 n). This result has an application related to unit-demand auctions. It is well known that the VCG mechanism yields a suitable solution (allocation and prices) for any unit-demand auction. The graph G may be viewed as encoding a special kind of unit-demand auction in which each left vertex u represents a unit-demand bid, each right vertex v represents an item, and the weight of an edge (u, v) represents the offer of bid u on item v. In this context, our fast insertion algorithm immediately provides an O(sqrt{n} log^2 n)-time algorithm for updating a VCG allocation when a new bid is received. We show how to generalize the insertion algorithm to update (an efficient representation of) the VCG prices within the same time bound

The Role of Exosomal miR-181c-3p Within the Ovarian Tumor Microenvironment

https://openworks.mdanderson.org/sumexp22/1034/thumbnail.jp

Intermedia and interculturalism: practitioners’ perspectives on an interactive theatre for young ethnic minority students in Hong Kong

This paper reports findings from a case study of an interactive theatre for young ethnic minority pupils in Hong Kong. Drawing upon Higgins’s (1966) notion of ‘intermedia’ as a configurational principle, this creative project entails collaboratively-designed performances with elements of drama, music, dance, puppetry, and language learning principles. This study explores – from practitioners’ perspectives – the pedagogical affordances of this intermedia-inspired collaborative project in early childhood settings targeting culturally diverse groups in Hong Kong. Qualitative findings emerging out of autoethnographic reflections of five practitioners, complemented with nonparticipant observation, have pointed to the emergence of an interculturalist gestalt in dialogue with an intermedial configuration. We argue that this opens up spaces for artistic participation and learning beyond language(s) in the early years through tapping into the pedagogical potentials of this creative project. Qualitative data also suggest that practitioners’ abilities to exercise flexibility and openness in response to an intermedial configuration have a mediating effect. Concluding remarks are made of the under-utilisation of intermedia as a boundary-destabilising and configurational principle in arts-based endeavours, and as a pedagogical principle in which multimodal and multisensory learning is embraced as the way forward, with insights drawn from cultural democracy and culturally responsive pedagogy

Foreign language learning as potential treatment for mild cognitive impairment

As the number of older adults increases, age-related health issues (both physical and cognitive) and associated costs are expected to increase, placing emotional and financial stress on family members and the health system. Dementia is one of the most devastating and costly diseases that older adults face. The present study aimed to determine whether foreign language learning can improve cognitive outcomes of older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The objectives are to determine whether foreign language learning is (1) effective in boosting cognitive reserve and promoting healthy cognitive function and (2) superior to other established cognitively stimulating activities such as crossword and logic puzzles

Psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the fatigue scale-adolescent

© 2015 Ho et al. Background: The availability of a valid and reliable instrument that accurately assesses the level of fatigue among adolescent cancer survivors is crucial before any appropriate interventions to reduce their fatigue can be appropriately planned and evaluated. The study aimed to test the psychometric properties of the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents. In particular, confirmatory factor analysis was conducted to examine its factorial structure. Methods: A cross-sectional study was employed. Adolescents (13- to 18-year-olds) who had survived cancer and attended medical follow-up at the outpatient clinic in Hong Kong were invited to participate. The internal consistency, content validity and construct validity and test-retest reliability of the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents were assessed. Results: The content validity index was 0.92. There was a strong positive correlation between adolescents' levels of fatigue and depressive symptoms (r=0.53) and a strong negative correlation between adolescents' levels of fatigue and quality of life (r=-0.58). The mean levels of fatigue of the survivors group was significantly lower than that of those still receiving treatment in hospital, but significantly higher than that of their healthy counterparts. Confirmatory factor analysis indicated that there were 4 factors underlying the Chinese version of the Cancer Module. Conclusions: The findings of the study add further evidence that the Chinese version of the Fatigue Scale for Adolescents (12-item) can be used as a reliable and valid tool in assessing cancer-related fatigue among Hong Kong Chinese adolescents who have survived cancer.published_or_final_versio

A Novel DPYD Variant Associated With Severe Toxicity of Fluoropyrimidines: Role of Pre-emptive DPYD Genotype Screening

Background: The fluoropyrimidine anticancer drug, especially 5- fluorouracil (5-FU) and its prodrug capecitabine are still being the backbone of chemotherapeutic regimens for colorectal cancer. Dihydropyrimidine dehydrogenase (DPD) is the crucial enzyme in the catabolism of 5-FU. Over the past 30 years, there is substantial clinical evidence showing that DPD deficiency is strongly associated with severe and fatal fluoropyrimidine-induced toxicity.Patients and methods: A 49-year-old lady with resected stage III carcinoma of sigmoid colon was scheduled to have a course of 5-FU based adjuvant chemotherapy. She developed unexpected acute severe (grade 4) toxicity after the first cycle of chemotherapy. Genomic DNA was isolated from 3 ml peripheral blood cells for full sequencing of DPYD (the gene encoding DPD).Results: Exome sequencing confirmed that she is heterozygous for NM_000110.3: c.321+2T>C of the DPYD gene. To the best of our knowledge, this variant is a novel pathogenic splicing variant of the DPYD gene resulting in a non-functional allele. As she has a heterozygous genotype and considered having decreased DPD activity, we followed the international recommendation and restart chemotherapy with at least 50% reduction for 5-FU dose. We then titrated the 5-FU dose, and she tolerated the subsequent cycles of chemotherapy and completed the whole course of adjuvant chemotherapy.Conclusions: With a pre-emptive test on DPD deficiency before the administration of the fluoropyrimidine drugs, the aforementioned patient's life-threatening event could be avoided. This clinical utility has been confirmed by two recent large-scale studies and called for a drug label update

Evaluating implicit feedback models using searcher simulations

In this article we describe an evaluation of relevance feedback (RF) algorithms using searcher simulations. Since these algorithms select additional terms for query modification based on inferences made from searcher interaction, not on relevance information searchers explicitly provide (as in traditional RF), we refer to them as implicit feedback models. We introduce six different models that base their decisions on the interactions of searchers and use different approaches to rank query modification terms. The aim of this article is to determine which of these models should be used to assist searchers in the systems we develop. To evaluate these models we used searcher simulations that afforded us more control over the experimental conditions than experiments with human subjects and allowed complex interaction to be modeled without the need for costly human experimentation. The simulation-based evaluation methodology measures how well the models learn the distribution of terms across relevant documents (i.e., learn what information is relevant) and how well they improve search effectiveness (i.e., create effective search queries). Our findings show that an implicit feedback model based on Jeffrey's rule of conditioning outperformed other models under investigation