Prime Type Research Articles

Auditory priming releases Chinese speech from informational masking

Before an English speech sentence is presented, hearing or reading the sentence without the last key word improves recognition of the last key word if the full-length speech sentence is presented under speech masking but not under noise masking. This phenomenon suggests a content priming effect on releasing speech from informational masking. To determine whether the priming effect extends to tonal Chinese speech, and, in particular, whether it can be induced by the target talkers voice, in the present study, listeners were presented with either same-voice/different-sentence primes or same-voice/same-sentence primes before hearing the target sentence in either two-talker-speech masking or noise masking. Under speech masking, each of the two prime types significantly improved recognition of the last key word in the full-length target sentence, but the content priming is stronger than the voice priming. Under noise masking, same-voice/same-sentence primes had a weak but significant priming effect, but same-voice/different-sentence primes had only a negligible priming effect. These results suggest that both content and voice cues can be used by listeners to release Chinese speech from informational masking, but only content cues are useful for releasing Chinese speech from energetic masking. [Work supported by China NSF and Canadian IHR.]

Computer Based Training and Multimedia Design: The Role of Spatial Aptitudes in Learning

The present study manipulated both the technology (Microsoft PowerPoint® versus Macromedia Director®) and the design (Text Priming versus No Text Priming) in a computed-based training multimedia environment. The study investigated trainees' spatial aptitude and how it interacted with computer-based training design. The specific computer-based training environment employed in this experiment was based on presenting the principles of flight to naïve participants. A multifaceted knowledge test was developed to assess different levels of knowledge integration. Overall, results suggest that technology type did not play an important role in knowledge acquisition. Priming type also did not show significant effects; however, when factoring trainees' spatial ability, significant aptitude-treatment interactions emerged. We discuss these findings as they relate to computer-based training multimedia paradigms.

Characteristics relevant to ductile failure of bimetallic welds and evaluation of transferability of fracture properties

Life management and structural integrity assessment of bimetallic welds in its state-of-the-art form relies on practical methods derived on the basis of years of experience in operation and simplistic strength of materials analyses. The complex conditions and properties of the weldment, as resulting from the elaborate interaction of different microstructures with gradients in material properties, have limited the ability of currently existing methods to construct the assessment on the basis of actual failure mechanisms of bimetallic welds. Current work addresses the assessment procedure by combining experimental and numerical fracture mechanics comprising a micro-mechanical evaluation of the relevant damage mechanisms. The studied dissimilar ferrite (SA508)–austenite (AISI 304) circumferencial weld is one with a Ni-enriched buttering layer. The experimental work comprises tensile and fracture mechanical characterization of the different microstructural zones of the bimetallic weld. Tensile properties are determined with microstructure specific flat bar specimens as well as round bar specimens enabling better inference of true stress–strain curves. Fracture resistance curves are established by applying small-specimen testing techniques. Different crack configurations are modeled by finite element analysis (FEA) to assess the relationships between fracture types, toughness and local near crack tip constraint parameters. Transferability and characterization question are considered by determining J– Q-trajectories and employing small-scale yielding corrections (SSYCs). On the basis of the experimental and numerical results and a fractographical investigation, the micromechanics of fracture are interpreted. Differences in strain hardening capacities of microstructural zones are found to most severely affect the toughness transitions of the weld and the associated failure modes. Two prime failure types are noted, one for cracks located at outer heat affected zone (HAZ) resulting in an unstable crack deflection towards the fusion line (FL) and another type associated with cracks positioned near the fusion line, wherein a low-toughness ductile fracture process results. Small fracture mechanics specimen is found applicable for fracture resistance determination of bimetallic weldments.

Positive and negative associations underlying ambivalent attitudes

In two studies, we compared the strength of positive and negative associations of ambivalent attitudes to those of nonambivalent attitudes. In Study 1, results from an implicit association task showed that, in contrast to nonambivalent attitudes, ambivalent attitudes were characterized by strong positive and negative associations. In Study 2 responses to ambivalent attitude objects were faster following a positive as well as following a negative prime, compared to a non-word prime, whereas for neutral attitude objects prime type did not influence response times. Results provide direct evidence for the assumption that both positive and negative associations of ambivalent attitudes are relatively strong. Implications for attitude strength and attitude structure are discussed.

It’s what’s on the outside that matters: An advantage for external features in children’s word recognition

The relative importance of internal and external letter features of words in children’s developing reading was investigated to clarify further the nature of early featural analysis. In Experiment 1, 72 6-, 8-, and 10-year-olds read aloud words displayed as wholes, external features only (central features missing, thereby preserving word shape information), or internal features only (central features preserved). There was an improvement in the processing of external features compared with internal features as reading experience increased. Experiment 2 examined the processing of the internal and external features of words employing a forward priming paradigm with 60 8-, 10-, and 12-year-olds. Reaction times to internal feature primes were equivalent to a nonprime blank condition, whereas responses to external feature primes were faster than those to the other two prime types. This advantage for the external features of words is discussed in terms of an early and enduring role for processing the external visual features in words during reading development.

Microgenetic analysis of hidden figures

In this study the phenomenological and processual aspects of the perception of hidden figures were compared. The question was whether the more probable percepts of hidden figures, compared to the less probable percepts, were generated in earlier stages of the perceptual process. In the pilot study the subjects were asked to say what they see in a complex linear pattern. The three most frequent and the three least frequent perceptual descriptions were selected. In the experiment the microgenesis of the perception of hidden figures was investigated. The primed matching paradigm and the same-different task were used. In each experiment two types of test figures were contrasted: the more frequent and the less frequent ones. There were two prime types: identical (equal to test figures) and complex (the pattern with hidden test figures). The prime duration was varied, 50 ms and 400 ms. The main result indicates that in the case of complex priming the more frequent test figures were processed significantly faster than the less frequent ones in both prime duration conditions. These results suggest that the faster the processing of a figure, the more probable the perceptual generation of this figure.

遅延コストジレンマ事態での自己統制規定因の検討―感情予期と制御資源の役割―

Two studies were conducted to examine the effect of affects on self-control behavior in delayed cost dilemma. Results of Study 1 suggested that long term negative affects such as regret and self-disgust might have facilitating effects on motivation of self-control if they were anticipated before delayed-cost dilemma situations, but inhibiting effects on self-efficacy of control when experienced after dilemma situations. Study 2 examined the effect of affect priming on self-control in eating behavior, as well as an interaction effect of anticipated affect and regulatory resource on it. Results indicated that participants who had enough regulatory resource succeeded in self-control, i.e. they ate less, regardless of the type of affect priming, but those who did not have sufficient resource and were not primed with long-term negative affects failed to control their behavior. It was argued that regulatory resource explanation of self-control should be expanded to the theory including anticipated affects.

A general technoeconomic and environmental procedure for assessment of small-scale cogeneration scheme installations: Application to a local industry operating in Thrace, Greece, using microturbines

Abstract The present paper describes a proposed general systematic procedure for small-scale combined heat and power (CHP) exploitation (where “small-scale CHP” refers to CHP installations with electric capacities up to 1 MW). The mentioned systematic procedure is implemented through a developed computer code and may be applied to any such small-scale project in order to assess its suitability based on technoeconomic and environmental considerations. A dynamic database based on small-scale CHP units (available in the world market) and their pertinent technical, economical and environmental features is created and, in conjunction with the developed program, is used for determination of a suitable CHP unit (or system) size and the selection of the associated proper prime mover type for any project of interest. Using well-known economic criteria, the economic analysis is performed, including the sensitivity analysis of the considered project based on the main key system parameters. In terms of the socioeconomic analysis, a carbon tax (CT) scenario is considered, and its effect on the economic behavior of the project is investigated. Last, with respect to environmental considerations, the program calculates, for any such project, the avoided main pollutants and the fuel savings when a CHP system is applied. As a case study, a small textile industry operating in the Eastern Macedonia-Thrace Region of Greece is considered, and its associated (electrical and thermal) data are used as input data to the proposed computer program. In this application, two microturbine units are selected and thoroughly evaluated, and the pertinent simulation results are presented and discussed accordingly.

Automatic word form processing in masked priming: An ERP study

Five prime types (unrelated words, pronounceable nonwords, illegal strings of letters, false fonts, or neutral strings of Xs) preceded word and nonword targets in a masked priming study designed to investigate word form processing as indexed by event-related potentials (ERPs). Participants performed a lexical decision task on targets. In the 150-250-ms epoch at fronto-central, central, and temporo-parietal sites ERPs were smallest to targets preceded by words and nonwords, followed by letter strings, false fonts, and finally neutral primes. This refractory pattern sensitive to orthography supports the view that ERPs in the 150-250-ms epoch index activation of neural systems involved in word form processing and suggests that such activation may be graded, being maximal with word-like stimuli and relatively reduced with alphabet-like stimuli. Further, these results from a masked priming paradigm confirm the automatic nature of word form processing.

Comparison of Whole Gene and Whole Virus Scrambled Antigen Approaches for DNA Prime and Fowlpox Virus Boost HIV Type 1 Vaccine Regimens in Macaques

T cell immunity plays a critical role in controlling HIV-1 viremia, and encoding a limited set of HIV-1 genes within DNA and poxvirus vectors can, when used sequentially, induce high levels of T cell immunity in primates. However, a limited breadth of T cell immunity exposes the host to potential infection with either genetically diverse HIV-1 strains or T cell escape variants of HIV-1. In an attempt to induce maximally broad immunity, we examined DNA and recombinant fowlpox virus (rFPV) vaccines encoding all HIV-1 genes derived from a global HIV-1 consensus sequence, but expressed as multiple overlapping scrambled 30-amino acid segments (scrambled antigen vaccines, or SAVINEs). Three groups of seven pigtail macaques were immunized with sets of DNA and rFPV expressing Gag/Pol antigens only, the whole genome SAVINE antigens, or no HIV-1 antigens and T cell immunity was monitored by ELISpot and intracellular cytokine staining. High levels of cross-subtype HIV-specific T cell immunity to Gag were consistently induced in the seven macaques primed with DNA and rFPV vaccines expressing Gag/Pol as intact proteins. It was, however, difficult to repeatedly boost immunity with further rFPV immunizations, presumably reflecting high levels of anti- FPV immunity. Unfortunately, this vaccine study did not consistently achieve a broadened level of T cell immunity to multiple HIV genes utilizing the novel whole-virus SAVINE approach, with only one of seven immunized animals generating broad T cell immunity to multiple HIV-1 proteins. Further refinements are planned with alternative vector strategies to evaluate the potential of the SAVINE technology.

Semantic activation within and across the cerebral hemispheres: What's left isn't right

This study examined differences in the spread of semantic activation within and between the cerebral hemispheres. A lateralised lexical decision task using indirect priming was presented to 58 undergraduates with primes and targets separated by 215 or 750 milliseconds (ms). Prime and target words were presented to the same or opposite visual fields and were either directly related (book–read), indirectly related (lion–[tiger]–stripes), or unrelated (cup–street). At 215 ms participants exhibited significant priming effects to directly related words in all conditions except when primes and targets were both presented to the right hemisphere (RH). In contrast, priming to indirectly related words was effective only when primes and targets were presented to opposite hemispheres. At 750 ms, significant priming occurred for directly related words in all conditions, and for indirectly related words when primes were presented to the RH. Results suggest that priming for directly and indirectly related concepts occurs unilaterally in each hemisphere before 215 ms. Both prime types activate semantic networks in the RH within 750 ms, whereas the LH processes information in a more focused manner. This suggests that activation spreads contralaterally from each hemisphere first to directly and then to indirectly related concepts, indicating the importance of incorporating contralateral priming contrasts in lexical decision tasks.

Paradoxical features of word finding difficulty in primary progressive aphasia

Impaired word retrieval is a main symptom of primary progressive aphasia (PPA). The cognitive features of this impairment in PPA are poorly understood. We studied 12 patients with PPA (6 English-speaking and 6 Dutch-speaking), 7 patients with early-stage clinically probable Alzheimer's disease (PRAD), 5 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 15 age-matched, cognitively intact, control subjects. Subjects had to name a picture (the probe), which was preceded by a written word (the prime) that could be the correct name of the picture, a noun belonging to the same semantic subcategory (related prime), a semantically unrelated noun (unrelated prime), or a pseudoword (neutral control). Naming latencies were longer in PPA and PRAD patients than in control subjects. Critically, the interaction between group and prime type was highly significant. PPA patients named the probe more slowly after a related compared with an unrelated prime. In contrast, PRAD patients, mild cognitive impairment patients, and healthy control subjects tended to name the probe faster when it was preceded by a related prime. The semantic interference effect in PPA generalized across languages and PPA subtypes. Selection among competing word forms sharing a same semantic field is abnormal in PPA. The semantic interference effect constitutes a positive distinguishing feature between PPA and PRAD.

Activation and measurement of threat associations in fear of spiders: an application of the Extrinsic Affective Simon Task

The Extrinsic Affective Simon Task (DeHouwer, EAST; Experimental Psychol. 50 (2003) 77) was used to assess how different context conditions lead to differential activation of cognitive schemata in anxiety. Participants completed two identical EASTs, in which ambiguous target words (e.g., legs, net) were categorized together with pleasant words and unpleasant, fear-related words. Each EAST was preceded by the presentation of pictures, activating either a ‘human’ concept or a ‘spider’ concept. Results indicated that spider fearful participants showed threat associations towards the target words, but only when the spider concept was primed. Non-fearful participants did not show threat associations with either type of priming. We conclude that impact of threat associations depends on the activated context, and that the EAST is suitable for the assessment of fear associations and their current activation level.

Requirements for synthetic diamond devices for radiotherapy dosimetry applications

CVD diamond is a remarkable material for the fabrication of radiation detectors. Radiation hardness, chemical resistance and high-temperature operation capabilities of diamond motivate its use for fabrication of devices operating in hostile environments such as that encountered in nuclear industry and high energy physics. Its potentialities for such applications have been well documented and recent studies have led to the developments of a few applications that are addressing specific industrial needs. One particular interest of diamond stands in the fact that its atomic number is close to that of human tissues. This implies that the response of a diamond device to radiation is close to that received by the human body. Its thus enables the straightforward measurement of the dose for radiotherapy applications. However, this requires high reproducibility and linearity. It is widely observed that radiation exposure is modifying the initial performances of diamond detectors and priming devices is therefore required to obtain the required linearity. However, the nature of defects in the material strongly influences the type of priming required. This paper will address this problem from the study of trapping levels and their influence on the device response. We present here the current status of the development of polycrystalline diamond for this type of application, and propose new techniques of improving the material characteristics toward the optimisation of ionisation chamber performances as well as that of thermoluminescent dosimeters for the particular field of radiotherapy applications.

Amplification of IFN-alpha-induced STAT1 activation and inflammatory function by Syk and ITAM-containing adaptors.

A key function of interferons is priming multiple cell types for enhanced activation by cytokines and inflammatory factors, including tumor necrosis factor, bacterial lipopolysaccharide and interferons themselves. Here we show that interferon-alpha (IFN-alpha)-induced activation of the transcriptional activator STAT1 and inflammatory STAT1 target genes was enhanced in IFN-gamma-primed macrophages. Enhanced IFN-alpha signaling and proinflammatory function were dependent on the tyrosine kinase Syk and on adaptor proteins that activate Syk through immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motifs. Increased STAT1 expression contributed to enhanced IFN-alpha-induced STAT1 activation in primed macrophages. These results identify a mechanism by which crosstalk between cytokine and immune cell-specific immunoreceptor tyrosine activation motif-dependent signaling pathways regulates macrophage responses to IFN-alpha.

The Propensity for Abusiveness Scale (PAS) as a Predictor of Affective Priming to Anticipated Intimate Conflict

The current study used the Propensity for Abusiveness Scale (PAS; Dutton, 1995) to predict emotional response to conflict among university students. The participants were 162 first‐ and second‐year undergraduate students at the University of British Columbia. Participants listened to taped conflict and filled out a battery of questionnaires. The PAS correlates significantly with pre‐anger, anxiety, subanger, and general arousal levels, suggesting that a type of emotional priming takes place when persons high on the PAS know they are about to be exposed to an interpersonal conflict. It is concluded that anticipation of intimate conflict appears to heighten negative affect in some young adults and that this response may interfere with future intimate conflict‐resolution strategies.

When orthographic neighbors fail to facilitate

Forward masked word primes that differed from the target in the initial, the final or both the initial and final positions tended to slow target decision latencies and there were no significant differences among prime types. After forward masked nonword primes we observed non significant facilitation when primes differed from the target by one letter in either the initial or final position and significant inhibition when primes differed in both initial and final positions. The patterns did not differ significantly for targets with large and with small neighborhoods. Only in post hoc analyses was there any indication of facilitation after nonword neighbor primes and it appeared only when body neighborhood was small. For slower participants, neighbors tended to facilitate target decision latencies while for relatively fast readers showed neighbors made inhibition that tended to vary with amount of mismatch.

Conflict, consciousness, and control

To what degree is executive conflict resolution dependent on conflict awareness? A recent study by Dehaene et al. compared neural responses to conflict elicited through either visible or subliminal primes. Despite behavioral conflict effects for both prime types, neural activity in a control network including the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) was present only for visible primes. Along with other recent results, these findings have important implications for theories on the relationship between ACC, consciousness, and cognitive control.

Microgenetic analysis of transparency perception

In this study the microgenesis of transparency perception was investigated. Two intersecting squares were used as a basic stimulus model. Three surfaces was defined: surface which had the shape of capital Greek letter gamma, surface which had the shape of mirrored L and the little square nested between gamma and L. The gray levels of these surfaces were varied, whereas the background was constantly black. The gray levels variation can produce either transparency, spotlight or mosaic perception. All three categories can be described both locally (three juxtaposed surfaces) and globally (two overlapping squares). The primed matching paradigm and the same-different task were used. The global (squares) and the local (gammas or mirrored Ls) test stimuli were given as same or different pairs. There were the two prime types: identical (equal to test stimuli) and perceptual (related to the transparency, spotlight or mosaic). Prime duration were 50 ms and 400 ms, and the ISI was 30 ms. Ten subjects were asked to respond whether the test stimuli are same or different. The main result indicate that the difference in RT between perceptually primed global and local test stimuli is highly significant in both prime duration conditions and for transparency and spotlight patterns, and is marginally significant for mosaic patterns. The difference was such that the global tests were processed faster than the local tests. These results suggest that complex perceptual descriptions (transparency and the spotlight) are generated very early in the perceptual process (50 ms).

Explicit and Implicit Stereotype Activation Effects on Memory: Do Age and Awareness Moderate the Impact of Priming?

Two studies examined the effects of implicit and explicit priming of aging stereotypes. Implicit primes had a significant effect on older adults' memory, with positive primes associated with greater recall than negative primes. With explicit primes, older adults were able to counteract the impact of negative stereotypes when the cues were relatively subtle, but blatant stereotype primes suppressed performance regardless of prime type. No priming effects under either presentation condition were obtained for younger adults, indicating that the observed implicit effects are specific to those for whom the stereotype is self-relevant. Findings emphasize the importance of social-situational factors in determining older adults' memory performance and contribute to the delineation of situations under which stereotypes are most influential.