Learning to Embed Words in Context for Syntactic Tasks

We present models for embedding words in the context of surrounding words. Such models, which we refer to as token embeddings, represent the characteristics of a word that are specific to a given context, such as word sense, syntactic category, and semantic role. We explore simple, efficient token embedding models based on standard neural network architectures. We learn token embeddings on a large amount of unannotated text and evaluate them as features for part-of-speech taggers and dependency parsers trained on much smaller amounts of annotated data. We find that predictors endowed with token embeddings consistently outperform baseline predictors across a range of context window and training set sizes.Comment: Accepted by ACL 2017 Repl4NLP worksho

Choose Your Friends Wisely: Complementarity and Supplementarity of IT Capabilities in IT Alliance Formation

While IT capabilities are an important concept in IS research, past studies often focus on the internal impacts of firms’ IT capabilities. Less is known about how firms’ IT capabilities drive their alliance formation with IT partners. This question is particularly pertinent to firms in non-IT industries as these firms often lack these important capabilities to succeed in the digital era. In this study, we combine the alliance literature and the organization-stakeholder fit theory to hypothesize a U-shaped relationship between the IT capabilities of non-IT firms and their alliance formation with IT partners. We further theorize a complex moderating role of environmental dynamism in this relationship. A panel data set of 8808 non-IT firms in 2012-2020 provides partial support to our theory. This study potentially contributes to the business value of IT literature as well as the alliance literature

Feedback GAP : study protocol for a cluster-randomized trial of goal setting and action plans to increase the effectiveness of audit and feedback interventions in primary care

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

A Predictor for PLE Management: Impacts of Self-Regulated Online Learning on Student\u27s Learning Skills

Web 2.0 integration requires a high level of learner-centered skills to create a personal learning environment (PLE). The pedagogical capability of Web 2.0 could support and promote self-regulated learning (SRL) by enabling the constructions of PLEs. This study investigated how will each of the six aspects of self-regulated online learning (i.e., environment structuring, goal setting, time management, task strategies, help seeking, & self-evaluation) respectively predict the level of initiative, the sense of control, and the level of self-reflection in personal learning environment (PLE) management. The study concluded that all six aspects of SRL could predict three types of PLE management besides environmental structuring to the level of initiative. Educators need to prepare all learners to advance their SRL to achieve sufficient PLE skills and knowledge to become competent digital network learners

A Predictor for PLE Management: Impacts of Self- Regulated Online Learning on Students’ Learning Skills

Web 2.0 integration requires a high level of learner-centered skills to create a personal learning environment (PLE). The pedagogical capability of Web 2.0 could support and promote self-regulated learning (SRL) by enabling the constructions of PLEs. This study investigated how will each of the six aspects of self-regulated online learning (i.e., environment structuring, goal setting, time management, task strategies, help seeking, & self-evaluation) respectively predict the level of initiative, the sense of control, and the level of self-reflection in personal learning environment (PLE) management. The study concluded that all six aspects of SRL could predict three types of PLE management besides environmental structuring to the level of initiative. Educators need to prepare all learners to advance their SRL to achieve sufficient PLE skills and knowledge to become competent digital network learners

Public attitudes to a wealth tax : the importance of 'capacity to pay'

In this paper, we present findings from the first ever study, to our knowledge, to focus in detail on public attitudes to an annual wealth tax. We start with a brief review of relevant recent studies before outlining the mixed methods used, which involved a nationally representative survey of 2,243 members of the general public and four focus groups conducted during the summer of 2020. The study aimed to measure, explore and explain the overall levels of support for a wealth tax compared with other taxes, the arguments for and against a wealth tax, and opinions on the particular design of such a tax. Key findings include high levels of public support for a wealth tax compared with other taxes, and support for the base of the tax to include financial investments and property wealth (after excluding the main home). The most popular rate/threshold combination is for the tax to be levied at a rate of at least 1 per cent over £500,000. Support for the tax appears to be driven by a combination of rational self-interest and beliefs about fairness but, in particular, the public are keen for the tax to be focused on those with capacity to contribute the most

The cost-effectiveness of neonatal screening for Cystic Fibrosis: an analysis of alternative scenarios using a decision model

BACKGROUND: The use of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis is widely debated in the United Kingdom and elsewhere, but the evidence available to inform policy is limited. This paper explores the cost-effectiveness of adding screening for cystic fibrosis to an existing routine neonatal screening programme for congenital hypothyroidism and phenylketonuria, under alternative scenarios and assumptions. METHODS: The study is based on a decision model comparing screening to no screening in terms of a number of outcome measures, including diagnosis of cystic fibrosis, life-time treatment costs, life years and QALYs gained. The setting is a hypothetical UK health region without an existing neonatal screening programme for cystic fibrosis. RESULTS: Under initial assumptions, neonatal screening (using an immunoreactive trypsin/DNA two stage screening protocol) costs £5,387 per infant diagnosed, or £1.83 per infant screened (1998 costs). Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis produces an incremental cost-effectiveness of £6,864 per QALY gained, in our base case scenario (an assumed benefit of a 6 month delay in the emergence of symptoms). A difference of 11 months or more in the emergence of symptoms (and mean survival) means neonatal screening is both less costly and produces better outcomes than no screening. CONCLUSION: Neonatal screening is expensive as a method of diagnosis. Neonatal screening may be a cost-effective intervention if the hypothesised delays in the onset of symptoms are confirmed. Implementing both antenatal and neonatal screening would undermine potential economic benefits, since a reduction in the birth incidence of cystic fibrosis would reduce the cost-effectiveness of neonatal screening

Use of linked electronic health records to evaluate cardiovascular risk prediction models in Ontario, Canada

Introduction Electronic health records (EHR) contain individual-level clinical information not found in traditional administrative databases. As part of the CANHEART-Strategy for Patient Oriented Research (SPOR) initiative, we created a linked EHR-administrative data cohort that enables us to measure the Framingham and ACC/AHA Pooled Cohort cardiovascular risk prediction scores in Ontario, Canada. Objectives and Approach An EHR primary care cohort was created using the Electronic Medical Record Administrative data Linked Database (EMRALD) database, which contains the blood pressure and lipid values, weight and height measures, prescriptions and smoking status of up to 350,000 patients in Ontario, Canada. We enriched the lipid information through linkage to the Ontario Laboratory Information System, which is a repository of 90%+ of all lipid tests in Ontario. Individual-level information on co-morbidities, hospitalizations and mortality attributed to cardiovascular causes (e.g. myocardial infarction, stroke, cardiovascular mortality) were obtained through linkage to provincial health administrative and vital statistics databases using CANHEART methodology (www.canheart.ca). Results Patients were entered into the cohort between 2008 and 2014 if they had measurements for blood pressure and lipids (total cholesterol and high-density lipoprotein) taken within a year of each other during this accrual window. The earliest such group of values was chosen and determined the individual’s index date. Age, sex, smoking, diabetes and anti-hypertensive treatment status were extracted from EHR or administrative data to calculate the two scores. Patients were excluded if not aged 40-75 on the index date or if they had a history of cardiovascular disease. A cohort of 84,628 Ontario residents (mean age 55.0 years) had the elements required to calculate both scores. Follow-up for outcome events were done through record linkage to the end of 2014, with a mean follow-up of 3.62 years. Conclusion/Implications The creation of this cohort will allow for the validation of the Framingham and AHA/ACC Pooled Cohort equations in the diverse Ontario population. It would also enable the possible development of a new ‘made-in-Canada’ cardiovascular risk prediction model

Transient Expression of Tetrameric Recombinant Human Butyrylcholinesterase in Nicotiana benthamiana.

To optimize the expression, extraction and purification of plant-derived tetrameric recombinant human butyrylcholinesterase (prBChE), we describe the development and use of plant viral amplicon-based gene expression system; Tobacco Mosaic Virus (TMV) RNA-based overexpression vector (TRBO) to express enzymatically active FLAG-tagged plant made recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (rBChE) in Nicotiana benthamiana leaves using transient agroinfiltration. Two gene expression cassettes were designed to express the recombinant protein in either the ER or to the apoplastic compartment. Leaf homogenization was used to isolate ER-retained recombinant butyrylcholinesterase (prBChE-ER) while apoplast-targeted rBChE was isolated by either leaf homogenization (prBChE) or vacuum-extraction of apoplastic wash fluid (prBChE-AWF). rBChE from apoplast wash fluid had a higher specific activity but lower enzyme yield than leaf homogenate. To optimize the isolation and purification of total recombinant protein from leaf homogenates, an acidic extraction buffer was used. The acidic extraction buffer yielded >95% enzymatically active tetrameric rBChE as verified by Coomassie stained and native gel electrophoresis. Furthermore, when compared to human butyrylcholinesterase, the prBChE was found to be similar in terms of tetramerization and enzyme kinetics. The N-linked glycan profile of purified prBChE-ER was found to be mostly high mannose structures while the N-linked glycans on prBChE-AWF were primarily complex. The glycan profile of the prBChE leaf homogenates showed a mixture of high mannose, complex and paucimannose type N-glycans. These findings demonstrate the ability of plants to produce rBChE that is enzymatically active and whose oligomeric state is comparable to mammalian butyrylcholinesterase. The process of plant made rBChE tetramerization and strategies for improving its pharmacokinetics properties are also discussed