Multi-lingual Common Semantic Space Construction via Cluster-consistent Word Embedding

We construct a multilingual common semantic space based on distributional semantics, where words from multiple languages are projected into a shared space to enable knowledge and resource transfer across languages. Beyond word alignment, we introduce multiple cluster-level alignments and enforce the word clusters to be consistently distributed across multiple languages. We exploit three signals for clustering: (1) neighbor words in the monolingual word embedding space; (2) character-level information; and (3) linguistic properties (e.g., apposition, locative suffix) derived from linguistic structure knowledge bases available for thousands of languages. We introduce a new cluster-consistent correlational neural network to construct the common semantic space by aligning words as well as clusters. Intrinsic evaluation on monolingual and multilingual QVEC tasks shows our approach achieves significantly higher correlation with linguistic features than state-of-the-art multi-lingual embedding learning methods do. Using low-resource language name tagging as a case study for extrinsic evaluation, our approach achieves up to 24.5\% absolute F-score gain over the state of the art.Comment: 10 page

Bar coding MS2 spectra for metabolite identification

[Image: see text] Metabolite identifications are most frequently achieved in untargeted metabolomics by matching precursor mass and full, high-resolution MS(2) spectra to metabolite databases and standards. Here we considered an alternative approach for establishing metabolite identifications that does not rely on full, high-resolution MS(2) spectra. First, we select mass-to-charge regions containing the most informative metabolite fragments and designate them as bins. We then translate each metabolite fragmentation pattern into a binary code by assigning 1’s to bins containing fragments and 0’s to bins without fragments. With 20 bins, this binary-code system is capable of distinguishing 96% of the compounds in the METLIN MS(2) library. A major advantage of the approach is that it extends untargeted metabolomics to low-resolution triple quadrupole (QqQ) instruments, which are typically less expensive and more robust than other types of mass spectrometers. We demonstrate a method of acquiring MS(2) data in which the third quadrupole of a QqQ instrument cycles over 20 wide isolation windows (coinciding with the location and width of our bins) for each precursor mass selected by the first quadrupole. Operating the QqQ instrument in this mode yields diagnostic bar codes for each precursor mass that can be matched to the bar codes of metabolite standards. Furthermore, our data suggest that using low-resolution bar codes enables QqQ instruments to make MS(2)-based identifications in untargeted metabolomics with a specificity and sensitivity that is competitive to high-resolution time-of-flight technologies

The QM evolution: Behavioral quality management as a firm’s strategic resource

Firms implement various quality management (QM) practices to improve process quality. Scholars recognize that QM practices consist of both technical and behavioral oriented practices. The relationship of technical and behavioral oriented practices on performance has led to paradoxical relationships. Improving quality performance necessitates understanding the relationship between technical and behavioral orientated practices. This study empirically examines the relationship between technical and behavioral quality practices by collecting survey data from both US-based (N = 152) and China-based (N = 222) firms. The analysis uses the structural equation modeling technique, and shows that behavioral QM practices fully mediate the relationship between technical QM practices and firm performance. This implies that behavioral QM practices act as a strategic resource which helps generate a competitive advantage. The results contribute to understanding how quality management practices can lead to a competitive advantage

Improving language mapping in clinical fMRI through assessment of grammar.

IntroductionBrain surgery in the language dominant hemisphere remains challenging due to unintended post-surgical language deficits, despite using pre-surgical functional magnetic resonance (fMRI) and intraoperative cortical stimulation. Moreover, patients are often recommended not to undergo surgery if the accompanying risk to language appears to be too high. While standard fMRI language mapping protocols may have relatively good predictive value at the group level, they remain sub-optimal on an individual level. The standard tests used typically assess lexico-semantic aspects of language, and they do not accurately reflect the complexity of language either in comprehension or production at the sentence level. Among patients who had left hemisphere language dominance we assessed which tests are best at activating language areas in the brain.MethodWe compared grammar tests (items testing word order in actives and passives, wh-subject and object questions, relativized subject and object clauses and past tense marking) with standard tests (object naming, auditory and visual responsive naming), using pre-operative fMRI. Twenty-five surgical candidates (13 females) participated in this study. Sixteen patients presented with a brain tumor, and nine with epilepsy. All participants underwent two pre-operative fMRI protocols: one including CYCLE-N grammar tests (items testing word order in actives and passives, wh-subject and object questions, relativized subject and object clauses and past tense marking); and a second one with standard fMRI tests (object naming, auditory and visual responsive naming). fMRI activations during performance in both protocols were compared at the group level, as well as in individual candidates.ResultsThe grammar tests generated more volume of activation in the left hemisphere (left/right angular gyrus, right anterior/posterior superior temporal gyrus) and identified additional language regions not shown by the standard tests (e.g., left anterior/posterior supramarginal gyrus). The standard tests produced more activation in left BA 47. Ten participants had more robust activations in the left hemisphere in the grammar tests and two in the standard tests. The grammar tests also elicited substantial activations in the right hemisphere and thus turned out to be superior at identifying both right and left hemisphere contribution to language processing.ConclusionThe grammar tests may be an important addition to the standard pre-operative fMRI testing

A petal breakstrength meter for Arabidopsis abscission studies

BACKGROUND: Abscission is the regulated dropping of plant organs, such as leaves or flower petals. This process involves a break down of the cell wall between layers of cells in the abscission zone, causing the organ to become detached. The model plant Arabidopsis thaliana undergoes floral organ abscission. Various experimental methods have been used to study Arabidopsis floral organ abscission, including measuring the petal breakstrength, or the amount of force required to pull a petal from the receptacle. Petal breakstrength provides a quantitative insight into the physical integrity of the petal abscission zone. RESULTS: We developed a petal breakstrength meter that allows rapid data acquisition on a personal computer. We present the design of the device and show its utility in measuring Arabidopsis petal breakstrength for abscission studies. CONCLUSION: This petal breakstrength meter should enable researchers to perform the petal breakstrength assay as a routine part of the characterization of environmental and genetic factors affecting abscission

The Management of Perioperative Immunosuppressant Medications for Rheumatoid Arthritis During Elective Hand Surgery

Purpose: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a destructive inflammatory disease that commonly involves joints of the hand and wrist. Different recommendations exist for continuing or discontinuing immunosuppressant medications during the perioperative time period. The purpose of our study was to determine if continuing steroids, non-biologic DMARDs, and/or biologic DMARDs were associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications. Methods: We performed a single-centered, retrospective review of a consecutive cohort of RA patients who had elective hand surgery by a single surgeon. Patients were included if they had a documented diagnosis of seropositive RA by a rheumatologist, and had elective hand surgery and/or disease-related surgical procedure involving the upper extremity from January 2008 to August 2018. We stratified patients into different groups for comparison by classes of immunosuppressant medications for managing RA. These classes included corticosteroids, non-biological DMARDs, biologic DMARDs, and/or no medications. Groups were then compared for the incidence of postoperative complications. Results: Eighty-eight consecutive patients had elective hand and/or upper extremity surgeries for RA. Mean patient age at the time of surgery (±SD) was 55±13 years (range: 24 to 74 years). Of these 88 patients, eight (9%) overall complications occurred. Complications were wound healing failures, (n=5, 6%), tendon rupture, (n=1, 1%), hematoma, (n=1, 1%), and surgical site infection, (n=1, 1%). Perioperative medications included steroids (n=31), non-biologic DMARDs (n=68), and biologic DMARDs (n=5). There were no significant findings between patients on perioperative corticosteroids, non-biologic DMARDs, and/or biologic DMARDs and the incidence of complications. Mean follow-up was 69±65 weeks (range: 8 to 296 weeks). Conclusions: Patients with RA who continued corticosteroids, non-biologic DMARDs, and/or biologic DMARDS within one dosing interval of their usual dose were not associated with a higher risk for postoperative complications compared to patients discontinuing these medications perioperatively, following elective hand surgery

MYC sensitises cells to apoptosis by driving energetic demand

The MYC oncogene is a potent driver of growth and proliferation but also sensitises cells to apoptosis, which limits its oncogenic potential. MYC induces several biosynthetic programmes and primary cells overexpressing MYC are highly sensitive to glutamine withdrawal suggesting that MYC-induced sensitisation to apoptosis may be due to imbalance of metabolic/energetic supply and demand. Here we show that MYC elevates global transcription and translation, even in the absence of glutamine, revealing metabolic demand without corresponding supply. Glutamine withdrawal from MRC-5 fibroblasts depletes key tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle metabolites and, in combination with MYC activation, leads to AMP accumulation and nucleotide catabolism indicative of energetic stress. Further analyses reveal that glutamine supports viability through TCA cycle energetics rather than asparagine biosynthesis and that TCA cycle inhibition confers tumour suppression on MYC-driven lymphoma in vivo. In summary, glutamine supports the viability of MYC-overexpressing cells through an energetic rather than a biosynthetic mechanism