How Goal Distance Influences Regulatory Focus in Goal Pursuit

This research demonstrates that large (vs. small) goal distance leads to a promotion (vs. prevention) focused representation of a goal. The underline mechanism is the change in reference points which produces a switch from a "gain frame" to a "loss frame" of mind as progress toward the goal is made

Bioactivity and In Silico Studies of Isoquinoline and Related Alkaloids as Promising Antiviral Agents: An Insight

Viruses are widely recognized as the primary cause of infectious diseases around the world. The ongoing global pandemic due to the emergence of SARS-CoV-2 further added fuel to the fire. The development of therapeutics becomes very difficult as viruses can mutate their genome to become more complex and resistant. Medicinal plants and phytocompounds could be alternative options. Isoquinoline and their related alkaloids are naturally occurring compounds that interfere with multiple pathways including nuclear factor-κB, mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular-signal-regulated kinase, and inhibition of Ca²⁺-mediated fusion. These pathways play a crucial role in viral replication. Thus, the major goal of this study is to comprehend the function of various isoquinoline and related alkaloids in viral infections by examining their potential mechanisms of action, structure-activity relationships (SAR), in silico (particularly for SARS-CoV-2), in vitro and in vivo studies. The current advancements in isoquinoline and related alkaloids as discussed in the present review could facilitate an in-depth understanding of their role in the drug discovery process

Magnetism of dilute Co(Hf) and Co(Pt) nanoclusters

An investigation of the magnetic properties of Co-rich nanoparticles alloyed with a small fraction of Pt and Hf is presented. Co(Hf) and Co(Pt) nanoparticles with less than 15 at% of dopants were produced using a cluster-deposition method. The nanoparticles have sizes of less than 10 nm and show improved magnetic properties upon doping. Maximum coercivities of 900 Oe (at 300 K) and 2000 Oe (at 10 K) were observed for Co nanoparticles alloyed with 14.1 at% of Hf. Doped nanoparticles also exhibit high anisotropies, such as K1¼9.98 Mergs=cm3 (14.1 at% of Hf) and K1¼8.24 Mergs=cm3 (9.5 at% of Pt), as compared to Co nanoparticles (K1¼6.21 Mergs=cm3)

Risk-Reducing Salpingo-Oophorectomy and the Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy Below the Age of Natural Menopause: Scientific Impact Paper No. 66

This paper deals with the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) after the removal of fallopian tubes and ovaries to prevent ovarian cancer in premenopausal high risk women. Some women have an alteration in their genetic code, which makes them more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Two well-known genes which can carry an alteration are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes. Examples of other genes associated with an increased risk of ovarian cancer include RAD51C, RAD51D, BRIP1, PALB2 and Lynch syndrome genes. Women with a strong family history of ovarian cancer and/or breast cancer, may also be at increased risk of developing ovarian cancer. Women at increased risk can choose to have an operation to remove the fallopian tubes and ovaries, which is the most effective way to prevent ovarian cancer. This is done after a woman has completed her family. However, removal of ovaries causes early menopause and leads to hot flushes, sweats, mood changes and bone thinning. It can also cause memory problems and increases the risk of heart disease. It may reduce libido or impair sexual function. Guidance on how to care for women following preventative surgery who are experiencing early menopause is needed. HRT is usually advisable for women up to 51 years of age (average age of menopause for women in the UK) who are undergoing early menopause and have not had breast cancer, to minimise the health risks linked to early menopause. For women with a womb, HRT should include estrogen coupled with progestogen to protect against thickening of the lining of the womb (called endometrial hyperplasia). For women without a womb, only estrogen is given. Research suggests that, unlike in older women, HRT for women in early menopause does not increase breast cancer risk, including in those who are BRCA1 and BRCA2 carriers and have preventative surgery. For women with a history of receptor-negative breast cancer, the gynaecologist will liaise with an oncology doctor on a case-by-case basis to help to decide if HRT is safe to use. Women with a history of estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer are not normally offered HRT. A range of other therapies can be used if a woman is unable to take HRT. These include behavioural therapy and non-hormonal medicines. However, these are less effective than HRT. Regular exercise, healthy lifestyle and avoiding symptom triggers are also advised. Whether to undergo surgery to reduce risk or not and its timing can be a complex decision-making process. Women need to be carefully counselled on the pros and cons of both preventative surgery and HRT use so they can make informed decisions and choices

Effects of age, need for cognition, and affective intensity on advertising effectiveness

a b s t r a c t a r t i c l e i n f o This paper explores how individual characteristics of age, need for cognition (NFC), and affective intensity (AI) interact with each other and with advertising appeal frames (i.e., rational, positive-emotional, negativeemotional) to influence ad attitudes, involvement, and recall. The mixed design study reveals that younger adults recall emotional messages, especially negative ones, better than rational ones, but recall does not differ for older adults across appeal frames. Older adults prefer rational and positive messages to negativeemotional messages but ad attitudes do not differ among younger adults across appeal frames. Finally, age interacts with AI, but not NFC, to influence ad responsiveness. Both age and AI influence ad attitudes such that older adults exhibit the most positive ad attitudes across all appeal frames

Detection of a very low hard X-ray pulse fraction in the bright state of GX 1+4

We have observed the Galactic center hard X-ray pulsar GX 1+4 on 1993 December 11, in the energy range of 20 - 100 keV with a balloon-borne Xenon filled Multi-cell Proportional Counter (XMPC) telescope. The source was detected in a bright state, the average observed source count rate being 10.1 ±0.2 s-1 per detector. X-ray pulsations with a period of 121.0 ± 0.4 s were detected in the source at a very high significance level. This, compared with the Burst and Transient Source Experiment (BATSE) observations, gives a spin down rate of dot-P = 1.6 ± 1.4 s yr -1. The pulse fraction in the hard X-ray range is low (35%), and the observed spectrum is very hard (power law energy index 0.54 ± 0.18). The observed source luminosity in the 20 - 100 keV range is 7.9 ± 0.3 x 1037 erg/s. These properties are similar to those seen during high luminosity spin up state of early 1970s and suggest that the source should revert back to a a spin-up episode

The spatial distribution and spectral characteristics of the diffuse soft X-ray background

The diffuse emission in soft X-rays (0.1-2.5 keV) was measured over half the sky with 5° (FWHM) spatial resolution during a sky survey experiment. X-ray intensity maps in galactic coordinates are presented in B(0.1-0.19 keV), L(0.1-0.28KeV), and M(0.4-0.9 keV) energy bands. The maps contain observations from part of the sky bounded by galactic longitudes l=180° to 270° and galactic latitudes b=40° to 80°, which is poorly studied in other surveys. Regions of excess soft X-ray emission are found to be associated with an edge of Loop I and its extension in the Southern galactic hemisphere, the northern HI hole and other features in HI and radio continuum surveys. No quantitative correlation is observed between the X-ray intensity and natural hydrogen column density (NH). The energy spectra observed from some regions otside the Loop I are best fitted with thermal emission spectra of a hot plasma with cosmic elemental abundances, negligible interstellar absorption and temperature 106.2-106.3K. The observed emission measures over several regions of sky are in the range of (0.27-1.0) 10−2 cm−6 pc. Present data support the local origin for the soft X-ray background from a thermal plasma of presure ≳4600 cm−3 K, temperature ~106 K and size ≲330 pc. A spread in the temperature of the local hot plasma with cosmic elemental abundances, is necessary to explain the observed variation in the hardness ratio