Warm-Up in Triathlon: Do Triathletes Follow the Scientific Guidelines?

PURPOSE: Warming up before competition is universally recognized as an effective way to enhance performance. However, only a few articles have directly investigated different warm-up strategies adopted by triathletes and suggested by coaches. The Olympic-distance triathlon is an endurance competition characterized, at least for the elite, by a fast start with a strong correlation to the final position in the race. Thus, executing a proper warm-up protocol would be beneficial in optimizing performance. The present study aimed to provide an overview of the warm-up protocol adopted/suggested by national-caliber triathletes/coaches before an Olympic-distance triathlon race. METHODS: Online surveys were created and shared between national- and international-caliber Italian, French, and Spanish triathletes and coaches. Information about the rationale, structure, and specific exercises adopted/suggested during personal warm-up protocols was collected. Thereafter, triathletes were grouped according to the discipline sequence reported. RESULTS: Seventy-nine triathletes and nineteen coaches completed the survey. The cycle-run-swim was the most reported discipline sequence adopted, with a total time of 90.0 (25.0) minutes, against the 62.5 (25.0) minutes suggested by coaches. Conditioning exercises were performed by only 31.6% of triathletes 20 to 10 minutes before the race start. CONCLUSIONS: Triathletes who took part in this survey adopted very long protocols with the specific intention of including all disciplines. These results highlight the need to raise awareness in triathletes and coaches on the correct warm-up procedures and to stimulate researchers to design studies that directly investigate the effects of different warm-up protocols before competitions.

Physicochemically protected organic carbon release is the rate-limiting step of rhizosphere priming in paddy soils.

Iron oxides affect the stability of soil organic matter (SOM), which in turn affects greenhouse gas emissions in paddy soils. They also regulate the direction and magnitude of the rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) by restricting SOM accessibility and microbial activity. However, the controlling steps and key factors that regulate the RPE magnitude under anoxic conditions are unknown. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms through which Fe(III) reduction affects the RPE using humic acid as an electron shuttle in paddy soils and conducting continuous 13CO2 labeling of rice plants. The RPE, measured via CO2 emission, was approximately 25 % greater in soils with humic acid than in soils without. A rapid increase in the RPE of CH4 emissions after 41 days was attenuated in soils containing humic acid. Root growth and Fe(III) reduction stimulated the total primed CO2 emissions from the rhizosphere independent of the microbial biomass and enzyme activities. Humic acid accelerated Fe(III) reduction, leading to a decrease in Fe-bound organic carbon and an increase in RPE (CO2 emissions). The rhizosphere-primed CO2 emissions decreased with increasing amounts of reactive Fe(III) (oxyhydr)oxides, which protected the SOM from microbial and enzymatic attacks. Biochemical Fe(III) reduction and physical aggregate destruction controlled the abiotic transformation of inaccessible SOM into bioavailable organic carbon, thereby regulating the RPE. The results suggest that the reduction of reactive Fe(III) minerals is the rate-limiting step in the release of the physicochemically protected SOM, which in turn determines the magnitude of rhizosphere priming in paddy soils.

Effects of aged biochar additions at different addition ratios on soil greenhouse gas emissions.

Biochar addition is effective in reducing soil greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, but it's essential to evaluate whether aged biochar retains this capability as its properties change over time. However, research comparing the effects of fresh and aged biochar on soil GHG emissions is limited. Moreover, exploring the priming effect of biochar on native soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization is crucial for revealing the effect mechanism on soil CO2 emission. However, research investigating the priming effects of aged biochar is limited. In this study, the effects of aged biochar addition on soil physicochemical properties, GHG emissions, and global warming potential (GWP) were examined through an incubation experiment with three treatments: (1) soil only (CK), (2) 1 % aged maize straw biochar addition (HBC1) and (3) 4 % aged maize straw biochar addition (HBC4), and then their effects were compared with those of fresh biochar from our previous research. 13C tracer technology was used to assess the priming effect of aged biochar on native SOC mineralization. Results showed that aged biochar improved soil physicochemical properties. Compared to CK, HBC1 and HBC4 reduced CO2 emissions by 28.02 % and 20.15 %, respectively, and reduced N2O emissions by 61.54 % and 66.39 %. HBC4 significantly increased CH4 emission, whereas HBC1 reduced it. HBC1 and HBC4 reduced GWP by 29.01 % and 21.41 %, respectively. Overall, aged biochar demonstrated a greater reduction effect compared to fresh biochar at the 1 % addition ratio. The CO2 reduction is attributed to the negative priming effect of aged biochar on native SOC mineralization. The reduction in N2O emissions is attributed to aged biochar promoting microbial nitrogen fixation and reducing the ratio of denitrification to nitrification. The variation in CH4 emissions reflects differing dominant factors influencing CH4 emission across varying addition ratios. In conclusion, 1 % aged biochar addition demonstrates a more favorable long-term effect on mitigating GHG emissions.

Interactions between microplastics and organic contaminants: The microbial mechanisms for priming effects of organic compounds on microplastic biodegradation.

The co-presence of plastics and other organic contaminants is pervasive in various ecosystems, particularly in areas with intensive anthropogenic activities. Their interactions inevitably impact the composition and functions of the plastisphere microbiome, which in turn determines the trajectory of these contaminants. Antibiotics are a group of organic contaminants that warrant particular attention due to their wide presence in environments and significant potential to disseminate antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within the plastisphere. Therefore, this study investigated the impacts of sulfadiazine (SDZ), a prevalent environmental antibiotic, on the composition and function of the plastisphere microbial community inhabiting micro-polyethylene (mPE), one of the most common microplastic contaminants. Our findings indicated that the presence of SDZ increased the overall plastisphere microbial abundance and enriched populations that are capable of degrading both SDZ and mPE. The abundance of Aquabacterium, a dominant plastisphere population that is capable of degrading both SDZ and mPE, increased over the course of SDZ exposure, while another abundant mPE-degrading population, Ketobacter, remained stable. Accordingly, the removal of SDZ was enhanced in the presence of mPE. Moreover, the results further revealed that not only SDZ but also other labile organic contaminants (e.g., aniline and hexane) could accelerate mPE biodegradation through a priming effect. This investigation underscores the complex dynamics among microplastics, organic contaminants, and the plastisphere microbiome, offering insights into the environmental fate of plastic and antibiotic pollutants.

EDDS application destabilizes soil organic matter in phytoremediation: Insights from quantity and molecular composition of dissolved organic matter.

The stability of soil organic matter (SOM) is crucial for metal transport and carbon cycling. S,S-ethylenediaminedisuccinic acid (EDDS) is widely used to enhance phytoremediation efficiency for heavy metals in contaminated soils, yet its specific impacts on SOM have been underexplored. This study investigates the effects of EDDS on SOM stability using a rhizobox experiment with ryegrass. Changes in soil dissolved organic matter (DOM) quantity and molecular composition were analyzed via Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry. Results showed that the use of EDDS increased the uptake of Cu, Cd and Pb by ryegrass, but simultaneously induced the destabilization and transformation of SOM. After 7 days of EDDS application, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and nitrogen (DON) concentrations in rhizosphere soils increased significantly by 3.44 and 10.2 times, respectively. In addition, EDDS reduced lipids (56.3%) and proteins/amino sugars-like compounds (52.1%), while increasing tannins (9.11%) and condensed aromatics-like compounds (24.4%) in the rhizosphere DOM. These effects likely stem from EDDS's dual action: extracting Fe/Al from SOM-mineral aggregates, releasing SOM into the DOM pool, and promoting microbial degradation of bioavailable carbon through chain scission and dehydration. Our study firstly revealed that the application of EDDS in phytoremediation increased the mineralization of SOM and release of CO2 from soil to the atmosphere, which is important to assess the carbon budget of phytoremediation and develop climate-smart strategy in future.

The interplay between external residue addition, and soil organic carbon dynamics and mineralization kinetics: Experiences from a 12-year old conservation agriculture.

Maintaining soil carbon is vital under changing climate. Conservation agriculture (CA) is reported to have potential to store soil organic carbon (SOC). The impact of carbon inputs on SOC dynamics and mineralization kinetics, and the priming effect of residue addition under long-term CA in subtropical regions, however, are not clear or adequately evaluated. Therefore, we studied these under a 12-year-old CA-based pigeon pea-wheat cropping system with permanent broad bed with residue (CA-PBB), permanent flatbed with residue (CA-PFB), permanent narrow bed with residue (CA-PNB), and conventional till (CT) treatments. Also, an incubation study was undertaken to understand better the processes involved. Results showed that CA treatments significantly enhanced the total SOC compared to CT practice, and, among them, the CA-PFB exhibited highest total SOC with 36.6% and 35.8% higher values at 0-5 and 5-15 cm depths, respectively. The CA-PFB followed by CA-PBB and CA-PNB had significantly higher carbon management index and carbon retention efficiency than CT. The CA-PFB also showed higher carbon sequestration rates of 68.4 and 188.8 kg ha-1 year-1, surpassing values of 8.4 and 52.9 kg ha-1 year-1 under CT at 0-5 and 5-15 cm depth, respectively. Furthermore, soil incubation study revealed that the CA systems had higher cumulative mineralization values at 0-5 cm soil layer but lower at 5-15 cm soil compared to CT, indicating a considerable improvement in SOC at 5-15 cm soil depth. On the contrary, the SOC decay rate was higher under CA than CT, and at 35 °C than at 15 °C. A positive priming effect was also observed, depending on the substrate type, pigeon pea residue exhibiting higher priming effect than wheat residue. Thus, these studies show that residue input increases cumulative mineralization and SOC decay rate vis-à-vis helps to sequester carbon in the recalcitrant fraction, leading to higher stable carbon in soil.

High-quality litter exerts a greater effect on soil carbon gain in unrestored than restored pine plantations.

Vegetation restoration of degraded land affects litter quality by changing the composition of tree species, providing direct effects on regulating the dynamic of soil organic C (SOC) through the priming effect (PE). However, it is unclear how the combined effects caused by vegetation restoration and input of different quality litters on PE-related C loss and gain. Here, we collected soils from an unrestored site and a site restored for 20 years, adding 13C-labeled low-quality (with high C/nitrogen [N] and lignin/N) and high-quality (with low C/N and lignin/N) litters to the soil, respectively. Our results revealed that adding high- and low-quality litter in two sites produced positive PEs after 150-day laboratory-based incubation. The PE induced by high-quality litter was lower than that of low-quality in two sites, which can be interpreted as low-quality litter has higher C/N that aggravates the nutrient imbalance of microorganisms and enhances their demand for N, prompting microorganisms to accelerate the mineralization of SOC through the "N mining". High-quality litter inputs can boost microbial C use efficiency and alleviate soil C loss due to PE in unrestored and restored pine forests. Moreover, high-quality litter input has a greater positive effect on SOC gain in unrestored lands than in restored lands, suggesting that litter with higher nutrient availability or fertilization is especially needed for the restoration of degraded soil fertility and C formation. Taken together, this study highlights the importance of tree species producing high-quality litter in mediating SOC decomposition and formation during degraded lands restoration, which is beneficial for the restoration of degraded lands and the enhancement of soil C sequestration.

Microplastic contamination accelerates soil carbon loss through positive priming.

The priming effect, i.e., the changes in soil organic matter (SOM) decomposition following fresh organic carbon (C) inputs is known to influence C storage in terrestrial ecosystems. Microplastics (particle size <5 mm) are ubiquitous in soils due to the increasing use and often inadequate end-of-life management of plastics. Conventional polyethylene and bio-degradable (PHBV) plastics contain large amounts of C within their molecular structure, which can be assimilated by microorganisms. However, the extent and direction of the potential priming effect induced by microplastics is unclear. As such, we added 14C-labeled glucose to investigate how background polyethylene and PHBV microplastics (1 %, w/w) affect SOM decomposition and its potential microbial mechanisms in a short-term. The cumulative CO2 emission in soil contaminated with PHBV was 42-53 % higher than under Polyethylene contaminated soil after 60-day incubation. Addition of glucose increased SOM decomposition and induced a positive priming effect, as a consequence, caused a negative net soil C balance (-59 to -132 µg C g-1 soil) regardless of microplastic types. K-strategists dominated in the PHBV-contaminated soils and induced 72 % higher positive priming effects as compared to Polyethylene-contaminated soils (160 vs. 92 µg C g-1 soil). This was attributed to the enhanced decomposition of recalcitrant SOM to acquire nitrogen. The stronger priming effect associated in PHBVs can be attributed to cooperative decomposition among fungi and bacteria, which metabolize more recalcitrant C in PHBV. Moreover, comparatively higher calorespirometric ratios, lower substrate use efficiency, and larger enzyme activity but shorter turnover time of enzymes indicated that soil contaminated with PHBV release more energy, and have a more efficient microbial catabolism and are more efficient in SOM decomposition and nutrient resource uptake. Overall, microplastics, (especially bio-degradable microplastics) can alter biogeochemical cycles with significant negative consequences for C sequestration via increasing SOM decomposition in agricultural soils and for regional and global C budgets.

Understanding the differential impact of PFOS and F-53B pollution on reed-mediated soil organic matter decomposition: Insights from rhizosphere priming effect.

Plants affect soil microorganisms through the release of root exudates under pollution stress. This process may affect rhizosphere priming effect (RPE) and alter the rate of soil organic matter decomposition. However, the influence of plants on the decomposition of organic matter in soil subjected to pollution stress remains unclear. We studied the effects of exposure to perfluorooctanesulfonic (PFOS) and its alternative, chlorinated polyfluoroalkyl ether sulfonic (F-53B), at concentrations of 0.1 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg on the RPE of reed. We conducted our experiments in an artificial climate chamber and used the natural 13C tracer method to determine RPE. In the PFOS-exposed groups, the RPE was negative, with values of -11.45 mg C kg-1 soil d-1 in the low PFOS group and -8.04 mg C kg-1 soil d-1 in the high PFOS group. In contrast, in the F-53B-exposed groups, the RPE was positive, with values of 8.26 mg C kg-1 soil d-1 in the low F-53B group and 12.18 mg C kg-1 soil d-1 in the high F-53B group. Exposure of reeds to PFOS/F-53B stress resulted in differential effects on extracellular enzyme activities. The observed positive and negative RPE phenomena could be attributed to variations in extracellular enzyme activities. In conclusion, RPE responded differently under PFOS/F-53B exposure.

Positive soil priming effects are the rule at a global scale.

Priming effects of soil organic matter decomposition are critical to determine carbon budget and turnover in soil. Yet, the overall direction and intensity of soil priming remains under debate. A second-order meta-analysis was performed with 9296-paired observations from 363 primary studies to determine the intensity and general direction of priming effects depending on the compound type, nutrient availability, and ecosystem type. We found that fresh carbon inputs induced positive priming effects (+37%) in 97% of paired observations. Labile compounds induced larger priming effects (+73%) than complex organic compounds (+33%). Nutrients (e.g., N, P) added with organic compounds reduced the intensity of priming effects compared to compounds without N and P, reflecting "nutrient mining from soil organic matter" as one of the main mechanisms of priming effects. Notably, tundra, lakebeds, wetlands, and volcanic soils showed much larger priming effects (+125%) compared to soils under forests, croplands, and grasslands (+24…+32%). Our findings highlight that positive priming effects are predominant in most soils at a global scale. Optimizing strategies to incorporate fresh organic matter and nutrients is urgently needed to offset the priming-induced accelerated organic carbon turnover and possible losses.

Two masked prime arrows simultaneously affect a response to a target: Revealing of an additive unconscious priming effect.

Since there are many sources of unconscious information in our minds, there is a possibility that multiple channels of unconscious information can affect a response at the same time. However, this question has been largely ignored by researchers. In the present study, we presented two opposite pointing arrows as the masked primes followed by a target arrow. The results suggested that the two directions in which the two prime arrows are pointing influenced the response to the target simultaneously and additively, that is, the overall priming effect caused by the two opposite pointing prime arrows was equal to the net effect of the individual congruent effect elicited by the same pointing prime arrow and the individual incongruent priming effect induced by the prime arrow poitning in the opposite direction. In addition, in Experiment 1, a biased delayed response to the target was observed when the target arrow and the opposite pointing prime arrow were closely positioned in space due to Gestalt continuity and closure grouping. According to these results, the "independent unconscious influence" and "reverse unconscious selection" hypotheses are proposed.

Congruent or conflicting? The interaction between emoji and textual sentence is not that simple!

As a Japanese graphic symbol widely used in the world, Emoji plays an important role in computer mediated communication. Despite its prevalent use, the interaction dynamics between emoji and textual sentences remain inadequately explored. Based on the emotional function of emoji, this study uses the indirect priming method to explore the emotional impact of emoji on subsequent text in computer mediated communication through two progressive behavioral experiments. The results show that: (1) Emoji positioned at the onset of a sentence induce an emotional priming effect; (2) The processing speed is slowest when emoji and text are emotionally conflicting, while in non-conflicting condition, the type of emoji moderates the processing of combined sentences; (3) The emotional influence of emoji plays an auxiliary role, and the valence of textual sentence plays a decisive role in emotional perception.

Diverse factors influence the amounts of carbon input to soils via rhizodeposition in plants: A review.

Rhizodeposition encompasses the intricate processes through which plants generate organic compounds via photosynthesis, store these compounds within aboveground biomass and roots through top-down transport, and subsequently release this organic matter into the soil. Rhizodeposition represents one of the carbon (C) cycle in soils that can achieve long-term organic C sequestration. This function holds significant implications for mitigating the climate change that partly stems from the greenhouse effect associated with increased atmospheric carbon dioxide levels. Therefore, it is essential to further understand how the process of rhizodeposition allocates the photosynthetic C that plants create via photosynthesis. While many studies have explored the basic principles of rhizodeposition, along with the associated impact on soil C storage, there is a palpable absence of comprehensive reviews that summarize the various factors influencing this process. This paper compiles and analyzes the literature on plant rhizodeposition to describe how rhizodeposition influences soil C storage. Moreover, the review summarizes the impacts of soil physicochemical, microbial, and environmental characteristics on plant rhizodeposition and priming effects, and concludes with recommendations for future research.

Greater influences of nitrogen addition on priming effect in forest subsoil than topsoil regardless of incubation warming.

Subsoil (below 20 cm), storing over 50 % of soil organics carbon (SOC) within the 1 m depth, plays a critical role in regulating climate and ecosystem function. However, little was known on the changes in SOC decomposition induced by exogenous C input (i.e., priming effect) across the whole soil profile under nitrogen (N) enrichment and climate warming. We designed an incubation system of soil columns with minor physical disturbance, which allows the manual additions of exogenous C and N and incubation under ambient or elevated temperature. A negative priming effect by glucose was observed in all layers of ambient soil, while the negative priming effect was enhanced by soil depth but inhibited by warming. Nitrogen addition shifted the priming effect from negative to positive under ambient temperature, and decreased the magnitude of negative priming effect under elevated temperature. Nitrogen uplift effect on priming effect was more pronounced in subsoil compared to topsoil, while this effect diminished with rising temperature. Soil microbial activity (e.g., the CO2 production within 3 days) and acid phosphatase activity had important roles in regulating the variations in priming effect across the soil profile. Our results indicated that increase in labile substrate (e.g., exogenous C input) input would not lead to native SOC destabilization in subsoil, N addition shifted the priming effect from negative to positive, increasing the SOC decomposition under ambient temperature, while labile C input together with N addition benefited SOC sequestration by inducing negative priming effects in forest soil under warming climate.

Maize straw increases while its biochar decreases native organic carbon mineralization in a subtropical forest soil.

Organic soil amendments have been widely adopted to enhance soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in agroforestry ecosystems. However, the contrasting impacts of pyrogenic and fresh organic matter on native SOC mineralization and the underlying mechanisms mediating those processes remain poorly understood. Here, an 80-day experiment was conducted to compare the effects of maize straw and its derived biochar on native SOC mineralization within a Moso bamboo (Phyllostachys edulis) forest soil. The quantity and quality of SOC, the expression of microbial functional genes concerning soil C cycling, and the activity of associated enzymes were determined. Maize straw enhanced while its biochar decreased the emissions of native SOC-derived CO2. The addition of maize straw (cf. control) enhanced the O-alkyl C proportion, activities of ß-glucosidase (BG), cellobiohydrolase (CBH) and dehydrogenase (DH), and abundances of GH48 and cbhI genes, while lowered aromatic C proportion, RubisCO enzyme activity, and cbbL abundance; the application of biochar induced the opposite effects. In all treatments, the cumulative native SOC-derived CO2 efflux increased with enhanced O-alkyl C proportion, activities of BG, CBH, and DH, and abundances of GH48 and cbhI genes, and with decreases in aromatic C, RubisCO enzyme activity and cbbL gene abundance. The enhanced emissions of native SOC-derived CO2 by the maize straw were associated with a higher O-alkyl C proportion, activities of BG and CBH, and abundance of GH48 and cbhI genes, as well as a lower aromatic C proportion and cbbL gene abundance, while biochar induced the opposite effects. We concluded that maize straw induced positive priming, while its biochar induced negative priming within a subtropical forest soil, due to the contrasting microbial responses resulted from changes in SOC speciation and compositions. Our findings highlight that biochar application is an effective approach for enhancing soil C stocks in subtropical forests.

In situ simultaneous measuring method for the determination of key processes of soil organic carbon cycling: Soil microbial respiration using laser spectrometry.

RATIONALE: Soil microbial heterotrophic C-CO2 respiration is important for C cycling. Soil CO2 differentiation and quantification are vital for understanding soil C cycling and CO2 emission mitigation. Presently, soil microbial respiration (SR) quantification models are based on native soil organic matter (SOM) and require consistent monitoring of δ13C and CO2. METHODS: We present a new apparatus for achieving in situ soil static chamber incubation and simultaneous CO2 and δ13C monitoring by cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) coupled with a soil culture and gas introduction module (SCGIM) with multi-channel. After a meticulous five-point inter-calibration, the repeatability of CO2 and δ13C values by using CRDS-SCGIM were determined, and compared with those obtained using gas chromatography (GC) and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS), respectively. We examined the method regarding quantifying SR with various concentrations and enrichment of glucose and then applied it to investigate the responses of SR to the addition of different exogenous organic materials (glucose and rice residues) into paddy soils during a 21-day incubation. RESULTS: The CRDS-SCGIM CO2 and δ13C measurements were conducted with high precision (< 1.0 µmol/mol and 1‰, respectively). The optimal sampling interval and the amount added were not exceeded 4 h and 200 mg C/100 g dry soil in a 1 L incubation bottle, respectively; the 13C-enrichment of 3%-7% was appropriate. The total SR rates observed were 0.6-4.2 µL/h/g and the exogenous organic materials induced -49%-28% of priming effects in native SOM mineralisation. CONCLUSIONS: Our results show that CRDS-SCGIM is a method suitable for the quantification of soil microbial CO2 respiration, requiring less extensive lab resources than GC/IRMS.

Effectiveness and safety of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor priming regimen for acute myeloid leukemia: A systematic review and meta-analysis of the Clinical Practice Guideline for the use of G-CSF 2022 from the Japan Society of Clinical Oncology.

BACKGROUND: The outcomes of relapsed or refractory acute myeloid leukemia (AML) remain poor. Although the concomitant use of granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) and anti-chemotherapeutic agents has been investigated to improve the antileukemic effect on AML, its usefulness remains controversial. This study aimed to investigate the effects of G-CSF priming as a remission induction therapy or salvage chemotherapy. METHODS: We performed a thorough literature search for studies related to the priming effect of G-CSF using PubMed, Ichushi-Web, and the Cochrane Library. A qualitative analysis of the pooled data was performed, and risk ratios (RRs) with confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated and summarized. RESULTS: Two reviewers independently extracted and accessed the 278 records identified during the initial screening, and 62 full-text articles were assessed for eligibility in second screening. Eleven studies were included in the qualitative analysis and 10 in the meta-analysis. A systematic review revealed that priming with G-CSF did not correlate with an improvement in response rate and overall survival (OS). The result of the meta-analysis revealed the tendency for lower relapse rate in the G-CSF priming groups without inter-study heterogeneity [RR, 0.91 (95% CI 0.82-1.01), p = 0.08; I2 = 4%, p = 0.35]. In specific populations, including patients with intermediate cytogenetic risk and those receiving high-dose cytarabine, the G-CSF priming regimen prolonged OS. CONCLUSIONS: G-CSF priming in combination with intensive remission induction treatment is not universally effective in patients with AML. Further studies are required to identify the patient cohort for which G-CSF priming is recommended.

The priming effect of emotional words on body expressions: Two ERP studies.

The impact of emotional words on the recognition of body expression and the underlying neurodynamic mechanisms remain poorly understood. This study used a classic supraliminal priming paradigm and event related potential (ERP) to investigate the effect of emotion-label words (experiment 1) and emotional verbs (experiment 2) on the recognition of body expressions. The behavioral results revealed that individuals exhibited a higher accuracy in recognizing happy expressions when presented with a happy-label word condition, in contrast to neutral expressions. Furthermore, it was observed that the accuracy of recognizing happy body expressions was reduced when preceded by angry verb priming, compared to happy and neutral priming conditions. Conversely, the accuracy of recognizing angry body expressions was higher in response to angry verb priming than happy and neutral primings. The ERP results showed that, in the recognition of happy body expressions, the P300 amplitude elicited by angry-label words was more positive, while a congruent verb-expression condition elicited more positive P300 amplitude than an incongruent condition in the left hemisphere and midline. However, in the recognition of angry body expressions, the N400 amplitude elicited by a congruent verb-expression condition was smaller than that elicited by an incongruent condition. These results suggest that both abstract emotion-label words and specific emotional verbs influence the recognition of body expressions. In addition, integrating happy semantic context and body expression might occur at the P300 stage, whereas integrating angry semantic context and body expression might occur at the N400 stage. These findings present novel evidence regarding the criticality of emotional context in the recognition of emotions.

Crop-Specific Responses to Cold Stress and Priming: Insights from Chlorophyll Fluorescence and Spectral Reflectance Analysis in Maize and Soybean.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of cold stress and priming on photosynthesis in the early development of maize and soybean, crops with diverse photosynthetic pathways. The main objectives were to determine the effect of cold stress on chlorophyll a fluorescence parameters and spectral reflectance indices, to determine the effect of cold stress priming and possible stress memory and to determine the relationship between different parameters used in determining the stress response. Fourteen maize inbred lines and twelve soybean cultivars were subjected to control, cold stress, and priming followed by cold stress in a walk-in growth chamber. Measurements were conducted using a portable fluorometer and a handheld reflectance instrument. Cold stress induced an overall downregulation of PSII-related specific energy fluxes and efficiencies, the inactivation of RCs resulting in higher energy dissipation, and electron transport chain impairment in both crops. Spectral reflectance indices suggested cold stress resulted in pigment differences between crops. The effect of priming was more pronounced in maize than in soybean with mostly a cumulatively negative effect. However, priming stabilized the electron trapping efficiency and upregulated the electron transfer system in maize, indicating an adaptive response. Overall, this comprehensive analysis provides insights into the complex physiological responses of maize and soybean to cold stress, emphasizing the need for further genotype-specific cold stress response and priming effect research.