Does negation influence the choice of sentence continuations? Evidence from a four-choice cloze task.

Event plausibility facilitates the processing of affirmative sentences, but little is known about how it affects negative sentences. In six behavioural experiments, we investigated negation's impact on the choice of sentence continuations that differ with respect to event plausibility. In a four-choice cloze task, participants saw affirmative and negative sentence fragments (The child will [not] eat the . . .) in combination with four potential continuations: yoghurt (a plausible word), shellfish (a weak world knowledge violating word), branch (a severe world knowledge violating word), and minivan (a word resulting in a semantic violation). Across all experiments the plausible word was highly preferred in both affirmative and negative sentences. Experiment 2 replicated Experiment 1 while ruling out the possibility that the lack of effect of negation in Experiment 1 stemmed from participants not fully processing the negation. Experiment 3 showed that the observed plausibility effects can be generalised to other aspectual forms (The child has [not] eaten the yoghurt). Experiment 4 ruled out the possibility that the choices were mainly driven by lexical associations and additionally suggested a role for informativity. Experiment 5 replicated Experiment 4 and reinforced the general pattern according to which negative sentences express the denial of plausible positive events. Experiment 6 provided evidence that informativity might be driving patterns of choices in the negative sentences. All in all, these findings suggest that upcoming continuations are chosen to maximise the plausibility of the event in the affirmative sentences and to deny that event in the negative sentences. The observed plausibility effects do not seem to be modulated by the internal representation of events, but they can be modulated by changes to the expected informativity of the sentence.

Systematic review finds risk of bias and applicability concerns for models predicting central line-associated bloodstream infection.

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review the risk of bias and applicability of published prediction models for risk of central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLA-BSI) in hospitalized patients. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Systematic review of literature in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science Core Collection, and Scopus up to July 10, 2023. Two authors independently appraised risk models using CHecklist for critical Appraisal and data extraction for systematic Reviews of prediction Modelling Studies (CHARMS) and assessed their risk of bias and applicability using Prediction model Risk Of Bias ASsessment Tool (PROBAST). RESULTS: Sixteen studies were included, describing 37 models. When studies presented multiple algorithms, we focused on the model that was selected as the best by the study authors. Eventually we appraised 19 models, among which 15 were regression models and four machine learning models. All models were at a high risk of bias, primarily due to inappropriate proxy outcomes, predictors that are unavailable at prediction time in clinical practice, inadequate sample size, negligence of missing data, lack of model validation, and absence of calibration assessment. 18 out of 19 models had a high concern for applicability, one model had unclear concern for applicability due to incomplete reporting. CONCLUSION: We did not identify a prediction model of potential clinical use. There is a pressing need to develop an applicable model for CLA-BSI.

Contrary to Expectations: Does Context Influence the Processing Cost Associated with Negation?

Negative sentences are hard to process when they are presented out of context. When embedded in a context of plausible denial their processing difficulty decreases or is completely eliminated. We investigated in six behavioral experiments whether the processing of negation is eased in a denial context triggered by discourse markers (e.g. Contrary to expectations, John has/hasn't eaten the soup). In order to investigate the necessary conditions for a context of plausible denial to reduce the processing cost of negation, we contrasted the processing of affirmative and negative sentences in minimal and extended denial and non-denial contexts (represented by either no context or a different type of context). We expected significantly longer response times (RTs) for negative sentences in comparison with affirmation in non-denial contexts and similar RTs for affirmative and negative sentences in denial contexts. The results from a sensibility judgement task (Experiment 1 and 2) and from a self-paced reading paradigm (Experiment 3 and 4) showed two robust main effects of context and polarity but no significant interaction between the two factors, suggesting that the processing of negative sentences was not facilitated in a context of minimal denial triggered solely by discourse markers. However, when the discourse markers were replaced with the explicit mention of the expectation to be denied and longer narratives used, the processing difficulty was eliminated specifically in the denial contexts (Experiment 5). Furthermore, when the discourse markers were used in longer narratives, a facilitation effect was also found (Experiment 6). All in all, the present findings suggest that, although negative sentences are felicitous in a context of plausible denial, the interplay of pragmatic factors like relevance or informativity is decisive in easing their processing difficulty.

Serological Parameters and Vascular Investigation for a Better Assessment in DVT during Pregnancy-A Systematic Review.

Pregnancy and the postpartum period represent a condition characterized by a thrombotic predisposition. The majority of pregnant women do not face acute or severe thrombotic events. In general, mild inconveniences such as leg swelling or moderately painful thrombotic events (phlebitis) are encountered. However, when pregnancy is associated with inherited or acquired deficits that affect homeostasis, the risk of acute or even life-threatening events can increase significantly. The major consequence is the loss of the fetus or the venous thromboembolism that endangers the mother's life. Venous thromboembolism is caused by deep vein thrombosis, therefore timely detection and especially the assessment of the extent of the thrombotic event are crucial. In this paper we have summarized the most important paraclinical investigations. The study emphasizes the importance of selecting the methods of investigation. The right choice allows establishing a correct diagnosis and individualizing the treatment.

[Resolution of inflammation--pharmacological aspects]. / Rezolutia inflamatiei--implicatii farmacologice.

Inflammation is a fundamental biologic process evolutionally preserved by a germ line code. The interplay of the epigenetic with the environment directs the code to temporally distinct inflammatory responses, which can be acute or chronic. The aim of this study is to present new aspects regarding the resolution of inflammation. Acute inflammation normally resolves by mechanisms still somewhat elusive. Current evidence suggests that an active coordinated program initiated the first few hours after the inflammatory response begins and its failure lead to chronic inflammation. This process is essential for appropriate host responses, tissue protection and the return to homeostasis. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are lipid mediators that play important roles in host defense and acute inflammation. Granulocytes promote the switch of arachidonic acid-derived prostaglandins and leukotrienes to lipoxins, active antiinflammatory and pro-resolution mediators. The apoptosis of the neutrophils coincides with the biosynthesis of resolvins and protectins from omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids and releases anti-inflammatory and reparative cytokines. This information could lead to new treatments for inflammatory diseases.

Diagnosis and treatment of erectile dysfunction--a practical update.

During the last decades, erectile dysfunction was considered a direct consequence of aging and, although of a great concern for the affected patient, little was available to evaluate and treat this problem. If aging could not be invoked in all cases, than the psychogenic etiology was the only explanation. Over the coming years, a better understanding of the physiology involved in the penile process of tumescence and detumescence has allowed for better approach of each disease asociated with erectile dysfunction so that adequate treatment modalities can be applied to the pacient. As we all know, every pacient is a particular case. The development of modern PDE-5 inhibiters, along with other more or less invasive therapies, puts a new light on the medical approach of ED.

Total antioxidant status in the blood serum of rats after biogenic amines administration.

UNLABELLED: The aim of our study was to investigate the influence of biogenic amines on rat blood levels of total antioxidant status (TAS). Total antioxidant species refers to all circulating species in plasma including vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene, uric acid, bilirubin, albumin as well as metal-binding proteins (e.g. ferritin or ceruloplasmin). MATERIAL AND METHOD: We worked on three series of Wistar male rats. Series I received histamine (10 mg/kg body) intra peritoneal (i.p.) single dose, Series II received tyramine (10 mg/kg body) intra peritoneal (i.p.) single dose and Series III received biogenic amines mixture (histamine, tyramine and cadaverine 5 mg/kg body) intra peritoneal (i.p.) single dose. At 72 hours after biogenic amines administration blood samples were collected and total antioxidant status was determined using a RANDOX kit for manual use. RESULTS: Our data shows that total antioxidant status present a significant decrease after 72 hours after amines administration as compared with initial moment, before administration. CONCLUSIONS: The biogenic amines decrease the level of the total oxidant status in rat blood serum and reduce the capacity of the antioxidant defense system. The amines administration as a mixture seems to have no cumulative effect on individual amine toxicity.

[Research concerning rutin semisynthetic derivatives, synthesis and pharmaco-toxicological properties of some new morpholine and piperidine derivatives]. / Cercetari în seria derivatilor de semisinteza ai rutozidului. Sinteza si proprietatile farmaco-toxicologice ale unor noi derivati morfolinici si piperidinici.

In order to continue the research of the rutin semisynthetic derivatives we obtained some new morpholine and piperidine derivatives. Melting points, solubility, yield, C, H, N elemental analysis and UV spectra characterised all of these compounds. The toxicity was established by intraperitoneal administration at mice; the values of LD50 are between 743.75 and 856.25 mg/kg (medium toxicity). Pharmacological assays included the following parameters: leukocytes formula, NBT test, and serum complement activity. The new derivatives of rutin have a very good solubility in water, a pH closed to physiological value and immunosuppressive activity: peripheric blood PMN and lymphocytes are decreased; fagocytic capacity of peripheric blood PMN is also decreased; serum complement activity is not changed.