A global experiment on motivating social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic

Significance Communicating in ways that motivate engagement in social distancing remains a critical global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study tested motivational qualities of messages about social distancing (those that promoted choice and agency vs. those that were forceful and shaming) in 25,718 people in 89 countries. The autonomy-supportive message decreased feelings of defying social distancing recommendations relative to the controlling message, and the controlling message increased controlled motivation, a less effective form of motivation, relative to no message. Message type did not impact intentions to socially distance, but people’s existing motivations were related to intentions. Findings were generalizable across a geographically diverse sample and may inform public health communication strategies in this and future global health emergencies. Abstract Finding communication strategies that effectively motivate social distancing continues to be a global public health priority during the COVID-19 pandemic. This cross-country, preregistered experiment (n = 25,718 from 89 countries) tested hypotheses concerning generalizable positive and negative outcomes of social distancing messages that promoted personal agency and reflective choices (i.e., an autonomy-supportive message) or were restrictive and shaming (i.e., a controlling message) compared with no message at all. Results partially supported experimental hypotheses in that the controlling message increased controlled motivation (a poorly internalized form of motivation relying on shame, guilt, and fear of social consequences) relative to no message. On the other hand, the autonomy-supportive message lowered feelings of defiance compared with the controlling message, but the controlling message did not differ from receiving no message at all. Unexpectedly, messages did not influence autonomous motivation (a highly internalized form of motivation relying on one’s core values) or behavioral intentions. Results supported hypothesized associations between people’s existing autonomous and controlled motivations and self-reported behavioral intentions to engage in social distancing. Controlled motivation was associated with more defiance and less long-term behavioral intention to engage in social distancing, whereas autonomous motivation was associated with less defiance and more short- and long-term intentions to social distance. Overall, this work highlights the potential harm of using shaming and pressuring language in public health communication, with implications for the current and future global health challenges

Structural investigations of 5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)The X-ray diffraction data determined for eight 3-(R-3), 4-(R-4), 4,4-(R-4/R-4') and/or 5-(R-5) 5-hydroxy-4,5-dihydroisoxazoles [where R-3 = Ph, R-4/R-4' = H/H, R-5 = CCl3 (1); R-3 = 4-Br-C6H4, R-4/R-4' = H/H, R-5 = CCl3 (2); R-3 = thien-2-yl, R-4/R-4' = H/H, R-5 = CCl3 (3); R-3 = Ph, R-4 = Ph, R-4' = OH, R-5 = Me (4); R-3 = Me, R-4/R-4' = N-OH, R-5 = Me (5); R-3 = CF3, R-4/R-4' = H/H, R-5 = CMe2CH2OH (6); R-3 = H, R-4 = 4-I-C6H4, R-4' = H, R-5 = 4-I-C6H4 (7): R-3/R-4 = -(CH2)(3)-, R-4' = H, R-5 = CF2CF2H (8);] are discussed. The crystalline structure of compounds 1-3 is described for the first time and crystalline structure of compounds 4-8 has already been described in literature. It was found that the supramolecular auto-organization of 1-8 is characterized by hydrogen bonds invariably involving the hemiacetal hydroxyl group. Compound 5 is the only exception, where the hydroxyl oxime group is the participant in the hydrogen bond. Compounds 4 and 8 present intermolecular contact between the hydroxyl group of the hemiacetal and the nitrogen atom of the 4,5-dihydroisoxazole ring. Compound 7 presents similar interaction, where the hydroxyl contact is with the oxygen atom of the 4,5-dihydroisoxazole ring. Moreover, the crystal structure of compound 6 was stabilized by O-H center dot center dot center dot O interaction between the hydroxyl group of hemiacetal and the hydroxyl group of the alcohol function attached at the 5-position of 4,5-dihydroisoxazole. The crystal structure of compounds 1-3, as described here for the first time, was similar to that of compounds 4 and 7, showing a hydrogen bond O(51)-H(51)center dot center dot center dot N(2) between the hydroxyl group and the nitrogen atom of the isoxazoline ring. This means that the crystal structure of these compounds was governed by hydrogen bonds O-H center dot center dot center dot N, involving the hydroxyl of the hemiacetal group and the nitrogen atom of the 4,5-dihydroisoxazole ring. This interaction is relatively robust, showing a pattern in the crystal packing. Compounds 1-3 also have their crystal stabilized by more weak interactions of type Cl center dot center dot center dot Cl, involving the chlorine atom of the trichloromethyl group. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.100641699462468Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul - FAPERGS [PRONEX/Proc. 10/0037-8]Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)FAPERGSConselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)CNPq [Universal/Proc. 485893/2007-0, Universal/Proc. 471519/2009-0, MAPA/Proc. 578426/2008-0]Fundacao de Amparo a Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul - FAPERGS [PRONEX/Proc. 10/0037-8]CAPES [PRODOC/Proc. 2684-32/2010

Arene-fused 1,2-oxazole N-oxides and derivatives. The impact of the N-O dipole and substitution on their aromatic character and reactivity profile. Can it be a useful structure in synthesis? A theoretical insight

DFT calculations have shown that the N-O dipole of benzene- and naphthalene-fused 1,2-oxazole N-oxides causes a distortion of their σ and π frame, concentrated on the 1,2-oxazole ring, such that it increases its susceptibility to opening. The distortion forces the benzene ring into some diene geometry, thus, reducing π delocalization over the bi- or tricyclic structure and ultimately their aromatic character. C-3 substitution has a marked influence mainly on the naphthalene-fused N-oxides. C-5 and particularly C-6 substitution, as the position of most extended interaction with the N-O dipole through the π ring density, contribute to the distortion of the 1,2-oxazole geometry and thereby to the decrease of aromaticity of the structure. Bond uniformity (IA), average bond order (ABO) and Harmonic Oscillator Model of Aromaticity (HOMA) indices have been recruited to measure aromaticity changes. IA and ABO appear to be more credible to 1,2-benzoxazole N-oxides and 1,2-naphthoxazole N-oxides, respectively, while HOMA has been found equally reliable to both. Hardness and dipole moments follow similar trends. Energies, localization and separation of the four frontiers orbitals, i.e. HO, HO-1, and LU, LU+1, indicate a rather notable aromatic character of the N-oxides. Their reactivity profile, portrayed by descriptors such as Fukui and electro(nucleo)philicity Parr functions, shows good agreement with experimental outcomes towards electrophiles but succumbs to discrepancies towards nucleophiles due to the susceptibility of the hetero-ring to opening. The "push-pull" character of the N-O dipole and more importantly the extent of its double bonding direct site selectivity.Peer reviewe