Passive Voice Research Articles

Abstract 7249: Enhancing mRNA- lipid nanoparticles formulations to improve transfection efficiency in macrophages and dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy

Abstract Cancer poses a global health challenge, driving the quest for innovative therapies. Messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) lipid nanoparticles (LNPs) are a promising strategy in cancer immunotherapy. However, a major obstacle lies in efficiently transfecting immune cells like macrophages and dendritic cells (DCs) with LNPs. This study seeks to improve cancer immunotherapy by optimizing mRNA-LNP formulations. Therefore, we systematically evaluated three components of LNPs, namely ionizable lipids, phospholipids, and sterols, and fine-tuned the components and their molar ratios. A comprehensive screening process was conducted to determine the efficiency of LNPs, involving in vitro experiments on macrophages and DCs, as well as in vivo assessments. Among six ionizable lipids assessed in different cell lines (RAW264.7 and DC2.4), SM-102 significantly enhanced the transfection efficiency in macrophages and DCs. Subsequently, we evaluated these LNPs in an in vivo setting. We quantified the bioluminescence signal after administering LNPs loaded with luciferase mRNA. The results demonstrated a significant increase in luciferase expression when using SM-102 and ALC-0315 lipids. To validate this finding, we conducted a T cell response study, which revealed an increased percentage of CD8+ T cells with SM-102-based LNPs compared to other formulations. Having identified SM-102 as a potent ionizable lipid, we proceeded to evaluate three phospholipids in vitro. The results indicated a significant enhancement in transfection efficiency with DOPE lipids compared to DSPC. Consequently, we selected DOPE as the phospholipid for subsequent screening. Lastly, we explored different types of sterols with varying molar ratios in macrophages and DC cells. Our findings unveiled a notable improvement in mRNA delivery, particularly in DCs, when the molar ratio of β-sitosterol was increased to 19.5%, while concurrently decreasing the molar ratio of cholesterol to 19% within the same formulation. It is noteworthy that the addition of β-sitosterol alone led to reduced transfection efficiency in DCs but resulted in a significant enhancement in macrophages. Lastly, we evaluated the top four formulations in vivo, and the results demonstrated a significant increase when β-sitosterol was added to the formulation with cholesterol, at molar ratios of 19.5% and 19%, respectively. Overall, altering lipid composition and their molar ratios profoundly impact mRNA-LNP transfection. The optimized formulations, comprising SM-102, DOPE, and cholesterol with or without β-sitosterol, outperformed the alternatives. These refined formulations hold promise for clinical applications, potentially enhancing passive therapeutic agent delivery into macrophages and DCs, offering promising prospects for advancing cancer immunotherapy. Citation Format: Yasir Alshehry, Matthew Fernandez, Raneem Aldaqqa, Asma Al-Terawi, Douglas Sweet, Sandro da Rocha. Enhancing mRNA- lipid nanoparticles formulations to improve transfection efficiency in macrophages and dendritic cells in cancer immunotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2024; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2024 Apr 5-10; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2024;84(6_Suppl):Abstract nr 7249.

A decentralized multi-agent framework for urban flood management

The management of water resources in urban environments is challenging due to the existence of numerous stakeholders and the large number of affected people. In this paper, agents in an urban environment are categorized as active, passive, and monitoring agents, and a new mechanism is proposed to determine the flood control motivation functions (FCMFs) of active agents. An FCMF shows the motivation of an agent for investing and participating in a flood control activity. Also, for the first time, the effectiveness of a conflict resolution model based on asynchronous distributed constraint optimization (ADOPT) is evaluated for urban flood management. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed framework, it is applied to the eastern drainage catchment of Tehran, the capital city of Iran. The FCMFs of active stakeholders are modeled using some mathematical functions. To determine the FCMFs of active agents, an economic optimum point is suggested. This point is determined based on the construction costs of flood control infrastructures and flood damage costs. The utility functions of passive agents are modeled using a regression analysis. Flood management scenarios include a combination of water transfer canals, pipes, and ponds with real-time operating methods. ADOPT is used for solving Distributed Constraint Optimization Problems (DCOPs). The goal in DCOPs is to assign values to these variables in an approach that maximizes a global objective function while satisfying the constraints of each agent. The results show that by using the ADOPT-based conflict resolution model, the average depth of flooding is reduced from 24 cm to about 10 cm, and this is associated with the satisfaction of more than 90 percent of stakeholders. A decline in Average Flood Depth (AFD) has been observed with increased usage of technological methods such as constructing ponds or transferring water outside the basin. However, stakeholder desirability is critical and both technical and stakeholder interests should be taken into account to ensure project viability.

Bridging the literacy gap for surgical consents: an AI-human expert collaborative approach

Despite the importance of informed consent in healthcare, the readability and specificity of consent forms often impede patients’ comprehension. This study investigates the use of GPT-4 to simplify surgical consent forms and introduces an AI-human expert collaborative approach to validate content appropriateness. Consent forms from multiple institutions were assessed for readability and simplified using GPT-4, with pre- and post-simplification readability metrics compared using nonparametric tests. Independent reviews by medical authors and a malpractice defense attorney were conducted. Finally, GPT-4’s potential for generating de novo procedure-specific consent forms was assessed, with forms evaluated using a validated 8-item rubric and expert subspecialty surgeon review. Analysis of 15 academic medical centers’ consent forms revealed significant reductions in average reading time, word rarity, and passive sentence frequency (all P < 0.05) following GPT-4-faciliated simplification. Readability improved from an average college freshman to an 8th-grade level (P = 0.004), matching the average American’s reading level. Medical and legal sufficiency consistency was confirmed. GPT-4 generated procedure-specific consent forms for five varied surgical procedures at an average 6th-grade reading level. These forms received perfect scores on a standardized consent form rubric and withstood scrutiny upon expert subspeciality surgeon review. This study demonstrates the first AI-human expert collaboration to enhance surgical consent forms, significantly improving readability without sacrificing clinical detail. Our framework could be extended to other patient communication materials, emphasizing clear communication and mitigating disparities related to health literacy barriers.

The Effect of Syntactic Similarity on Intra-Sentential Switching Costs: Evidence from Chinese-English Bilinguals.

In order to better understand the role of syntactic similarity in a code-switched sentence, the current study explored the effect of similar and different syntactic structures on Chinese-English bilinguals' intra-sentential switching costs. L2 proficiency and switching directions as factors that potentially intervene in bilingual performance were together explored to see if there was any interaction. We manipulated the degree of syntactic similarity by utilizing clauses in active voice (greater similarity) and passive voice (lesser similarity). The study conducted a self-paced reading paradigm as a more natural language reading processing. Results showed overall longer reading times for active sentences than passive counterparts, which supported a syntactic similarity impediment rather than facilitation. The impediment seemed to be predominant irrespective of L2 proficiency. Furthermore, syntactic similarity modulated the asymmetry of switching costs between forward (L1-L2) and backward (L2-L1) direction: word RTs for the 1st and the 2nd switched word yielded greater costs in L2-L1 condition, while greater costs in L1-L2 condition was observed in 3rd switched word RTs and average RTs. The present study observed syntactic similarity impediment rather than facilitation for Chinese-English bilinguals. Notably, syntactic similarity plays a predominant role compared to L2 proficiency, and modulates the asymmetry between switching directions.

Physicians' Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Communication With Parents of Different Skin Color: Feasibility of Measuring Indicators of Implicit Bias With Virtual Reality

PurposeVirtual reality (VR) may be a viable method to observe and describe signals of implicit bias. Using the context of the human papillomavirus vaccine counseling, we sought to describe physicians' communication practices exploring differences when counseling parents with different skin colors. MethodsPhysicians (N = 90) at an academic primary care center were recruited for a VR study in which they counseled dark or light-skinned parent avatars who expressed hesitation about human papillomavirus vaccination for their adolescent child. Investigators coded previously recorded simulations. Associations between communication and parent skin color were examined using t-tests and Chi-square tests. ResultsBoth direct (e.g., addressing the concern immediately) and circuitous (e.g., providing alternative information) communication patterns were observed. Physicians used passive voice less commonly when counseling dark-skinned versus light-skinned avatars (p < .05). DiscussionVR demonstrated feasibility in capturing clinicians' communication behaviors including measuring eight distinct indicators of implicit bias.

Corrigendum to: Passive Voice in Ugaritic and Biblical Hebrew in the Historical Linguistic Perspective

Corrigendum to: Passive Voice in Ugaritic and Biblical Hebrew in the Historical Linguistic Perspective

Responding to atheist state policy and practicing religion: the Ismailis of Soviet Badakhshan

ABSTRACT This paper explores the implementation of Soviet religious policy among the Ismaili Muslim population of the Gorno-Badakhshan Autonomous Oblast (GBAO) of Soviet Tajikistan. By means of oral interviews and the analysis of archival sources from the province, this paper reveals the challenges and complexities faced by local commissioners and Communist Party officials when executing centralized Soviet religious policy. In this process, the local commissioners (upolnomochennye) had to stress the religious community’s compliance with Soviet legislation and were expected to provide accounts of decreasing religiosity among the Ismailis, and even their having ceased to practise their religious rituals. Meanwhile, the newly appointed Ismaili religious dignitary (khalifas) did not remain passive recipients or agents of Soviet religious policy but tried to modify their actions to conduct religious rituals within the limited but legal space for religious activities.

The racial biopolitics of humanitarianism in Africa: examining European resilience-building in the Sahel and lake Chad Basin

The racial biopolitics of humanitarianism in Africa: examining European resilience-building in the Sahel and lake Chad Basin

On Realizing External Arguments: A Syntactic and Implicature Theory of the Disjointness Effect for Passives in Adult and Child Grammar

We present an account of why disjoint reference effects obtain in verbal but not in adjectival passives. Passives in child language are independently argued to always be adjectival, which allows us to use a natural experiment in child grammar that is not available in the adult grammar: predicting the lack of a disjoint reference effect in even those passives that prima facie seem verbal. We conduct our discussion against the background of the difference between adjectival and verbal passives in general. Our account is based on (grammatical) Implicature Theory. Since the initiator in the semantic representation of adjectival passives stays at a kind level, it cannot introduce a discourse referent, hence cannot trigger a disjointness implicature, unlike the initiator in verbal passives (Gehrke 2013, 2015). We show in two experiments that children’s passives do not exhibit disjoint reference, unlike adults’ verbal passives, even though children have no trouble computing disjointness implicatures elsewhere. Our contribution thus confirms with a novel kind of evidence the syntactic nature of young children’s difficulty with verbal passives. It offers a new perspective on the external argument difference between verbal and adjectival passives based on Reinhart’s (2016) Theta System, while also offering additional evidence for a grammatical, rather than general pragmatic, theory of implicatures.

The lexical source of BIN and habitual be in African American English

AbstractAlthough various works on African American English (AAE) offer significant and insightful analyses of the semantic interpretation of its aspectual elements, including in particular stressed remote past BIN and habitual be (behab), the syntactic analysis of these elements is problematic. BIN and behab are claimed to be invariant lexical elements with fixed semantic values, and to not interact with INFL (Tense) as auxiliaries do, thus not displaying subject–verb agreement or undergoing any operations typical of finite auxiliaries. However, considerations including syntactic positioning, accompanying auxiliaries, patterns of verb affixation, and the formation of active and passive sentences point instead to BIN and behab being in most instances phonetic manifestations of any of the various ordinary auxiliary verbs be (progressive, passive, and copular), elements of the system of auxiliaries common to both AAE and Mainstream American English (MAE). The surface forms BIN and be are sufficient to trigger their special meanings in logical representation. Semantically dedicated lexical elements are unnecessary. The various interpretations of sentences containing these forms are due to constructional semantic interpretation of various combinations of surface elements. This analysis further reveals the existence of another AAE innovation, a fourth auxiliary verb be unique to AAE indicating simple past.

THE PENETRABILITY OF COMPOSITE VERB FORMS IN THE ACTIVE VOICE, INDICATIVE IN CONTEMPORARY BULGARIAN

The article examines the permeability of composite indicative forms in the active and passive voice in contemporary Bulgarian. Two cases have been distinguished: permeability from short dative and accusative personal pronouns and from the particle “се” [se] of pronominal origin, as well as permeability from the particle “ли” [li] and other particles, inserted remarks, adverbs, and simple sentences. In addition, I have provided an overview of some specific and generalized models of permeability, supported by examples from language corpora and the internet. The drawn conclusions highlight both the common and unique features of the permeability of composite verb forms. In order to support this, I have provided examples obtained from language corpora and the internet, encompassing short personal pronouns, adverbs, particles like “се” [se] and “ли” [li], inserts, simple sentences, as well as composite forms where permeability is not feasible. Additionally, I have identified several cases of possible penetration in two places from the same linguistic elements. The presented examples and models, together with the reached conclusions, prove that the process of grammaticalization at a formal level has not been fully accomplished in the Bulgarian verb paradigm. This is due to the fact that composite forms are permeable to other elements. I have applied Lehmann’s parameter of grammaticalization in order to demonstrate that as the process of grammaticalization progresses, both the ability to rearrange elements and the permeability from other linguistic units decreases.

Comparison of active and passive voice in English-Chinese translation--taking the example of Howard Goldblatt's translation of Rickshaw Boy

In the translation between English and Chinese, there are significant differences in sentence structure, grammatical features, rhetorical devices, expression methods, ways of thinking, and social and cultural factors between the two languages, which increase the difficulty of translation. Especially in English-Chinese translation, the similarities and differences in the usage of active and passive voice can easily lead to translation errors. In English, the passive voice is more regarded as a common grammatical phenomenon, while in Chinese, the active expression of passive meaning is more dominant. Taking Howard Goldblatt's translation of Rickshaw Boy as an example, through the analysis of the passive and active voice in English and Chinese languages with different structures, we can learn more about the similarities and differences between the two languages in order to improve the quality of translation.

Usage of Causative Verbs in Different Contexts

Causative verbs are an essential part of the English language, allowing speakers to describe the act of causing something to happen. This paper provides an overview of causative verbs in English, their various forms and uses, and some common misconceptions about their usage. The paper also explores how causative verbs can be used in different tenses and how they interact with modal verbs. Finally, the paper examines the use of causative verbs in passive voice constructions

Neural correlates of processing active and passive sentences: proficiency-dependent event-related potential evidence in Chinese English foreign language learners.

We explored whether and to what extent the neural mechanisms of second language sentence processing resemble those of native speakers by investigating the temporal dynamics of syntactic processing in terms of active or passive voice in reading English sentences by Chinese English Foreign Language (EFL) learners with high or low English proficiency. Participants were divided into two groups based on their proficiency levels in English. Three types of sentences (active, passive and ungrammatical) were presented to participants when their event-related potential responses were recorded at the verbs and the final words. The results showed that high-proficiency participants exhibited a greater anterior negativity at the verb position for ungrammatical sentences compared to active sentences. Furthermore, passive sentences elicited a larger frontal positivity than active sentences at the final word position. Additionally, greater P600 effects were observed for both passive and ungrammatical sentences than active sentences at the final word. The low-proficiency group exhibited a greater anterior negativity at the verb (but not the final word) position. In conclusion, these findings emphasize the role of proficiency as a modulating factor in the processing of English active and passive sentences among Chinese EFL learners. Furthermore, the processing of English active and passive sentences by these learners can be conceptualized as a three-stage process: prediction, correction and integration, representing the underlying cognitive mechanisms. This study provides novel insights into the understanding of the cognitive mechanism involved in second language sentence processing.

The use of a large language model to create plain language summaries of evidence reviews in healthcare: A feasibility study

AbstractIntroductionPlain language summaries (PLSs) make complex healthcare evidence accessible to patients and the public. Large language models (LLMs) may assist in generating accurate, readable PLSs. This study explored using the LLM Claude 2 to create PLSs of evidence reviews from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) Effective Health Care Program.MethodsWe selected 10 evidence reviews published from 2021 to 2023, representing a range of methods and topics. We iteratively developed a prompt to guide Claude 2 in creating PLSs which included specifications for plain language, reading level, length, organizational structure, active voice, and inclusive language. PLSs were assessed for adherence to prompt specifications, comprehensiveness, accuracy, readability, and cultural sensitivity.ResultsAll PLSs met the word count. We judged one PLS as fully comprehensive; seven mostly comprehensive. We judged two PLSs as fully capturing the PICO elements; five with minor PICO errors. We judged three PLSs as accurately reporting the results; and four with minor result errors. We judged three PLSs as having major result errors for incorrectly reporting total participants. Five PLSs met the target 6th to 8th grade reading level. Passive voice use averaged 16%. All PLSs used inclusive language.ConclusionsLLMs show promise for assisting in PLS creation but likely require human input to ensure accuracy, comprehensiveness, and the appropriate nuances of interpretation. Iterative prompt refinement may improve results and address the needs of specific reviews and audiences. As text‐only summaries, the AI‐generated PLSs could not meet all consumer communication criteria, such as textual design and visual representations. Further testing should include consumer reviewers and explore how to best leverage LLM support in drafting PLS text for complex evidence reviews.

The Impact of Qualification and Hospice Education on Staff Attitudes during Palliative Care in Pediatric Oncology Wards-A National Survey.

Our knowledge about the attitudes of healthcare staff to palliative care in pediatric oncology is scarce. We aimed to assess their perceptions of palliative care in Hungary and find answers to the question of how to provide good palliative care for children. Physicians (n = 30) and nurses (n = 43) working in the field of pediatric oncology (12 of them specialized in hospice care) were interviewed. Palliative care practice (communication, integration of palliative care, professionals' feelings and attitudes, and opportunities for improvement) was assessed by semi-structured interviews evaluated in a mixed quantitative and qualitative way by narrative categorical content analysis and thematic analysis. All providers displayed high negative emotions, positive evaluations, and used many active verbs. Nurses showed higher levels of denial, more self-references, and were more likely to highlight loss. Physicians emphasized the importance of communication regarding adequate or inadequate palliative care. Hospice specialists showed a higher passive verb rate, a lower self-reference, a lower need for psychological support, and a greater emphasis on teamwork and professional aspects. Our results show that nurses are more emotionally stressed than doctors in palliative care in pediatric oncology. To our knowledge, a study comparing doctors and nurses in this field has yet to be carried out. Our results suggest that pediatric oncological staff can positively evaluate a child's palliative care despite the emotional strain. Regarding hospices, professional practice in palliative care may be a protective factor in reducing emotional distress and achieving professional well-being.

한국어의 피동과 비피동

The purpose of this paper is to classify the types of Korean passive sentences using the main characteristics of passive voice. To achieve this goal, we conducted a review of cross-linguistic research on passive voice and identified four key characteristics. These characteristics were then used to classify Korean passive sentences, with a detailed description of the characteristics and differences of each type. As a result, we identified Types I and II as prototypical passive sentences and Types III and IV as non-prototypical passive sentences. Additionally, we confirmed the existence of non-passive sentences among those previously discussed as passive sentences. Through this discussion, we examined the characteristics and reality of Korean passive sentences more closely. Furthermore, our understanding of Korean passive sentences was expanded by employing a prototypical approach to describe various types of passive sentences as a continuum.

基于功能对等理论的航海技术英语翻译研究

With the deepening of economic globalization, maritime technology has become increasingly prominent, and maritime technology English has also become an effective way for cultivating high-quality talents. As a part of technical English, maritime technology English has distinctive characteristics: terminologies, nominalizations and abbreviations are widely used at the vocabulary level and inanimate-subject sentences, passive sentences and long complex sentences are more used at the syntactic level. From the perspective of Eugene·A·Nida’s functional equivalence, this article studies the E-C translation of maritime technology English from vocabulary and syntax level, aiming to provide reference for the Chinese translation of maritime technology English.

Error Analysis on Student’s Final Project Paper Abstract

An abstract is a brief and all-encompassing synopsis of scientific literature. Abstracts facilitate readers’ comprehension of article contents concisely and expeditiously. Hence, it is imperative to craft the abstract in a captivating manner to pique the reader’s curiosity and encourage them to peruse the complete content. An effective abstract should be precise, objective, logically organised, easily understandable, and concise. Nevertheless, several individuals, namely those studying Nautical Sciences, have encountered difficulty when it comes to writing in English. The task becomes further intricate since it involves meeting all the requirements, such as structuring and presenting coherent concepts to ensure the reader’s understanding of the text. The objective of this study is to identify the flaws present in the final project abstract of the Nautical Sciences Student at Akademi Maritim Nusantara Cilacap. This study employs a qualitative methodology, utilising a descriptive analysis technique. A total of ten samples were deliberately gathered for this investigation in the year 2022. The research findings indicate that there are two major concerns regarding faults in composing the abstract, specifically those pertaining to clarity and grammatical accuracy. Clarity errors encompass issues related to brevity (21) and the utilisation of passive voice (15). In addition, the data contained six grammatical problems, specifically verb errors (21), punctuation errors (10), preposition errors (7), spelling errors (5), conjunction errors (5), and article errors (4).

The Research of Constructions of Verbs and Their Translations in French (Transitivity and Intransitivity)

The distinction between transitive and intransitive verbs is important for the choice of the auxiliary verb in the formation of the compound tenses, for the formation of the passive voice and indeed for the learners of the FLE for their good translations.