Keystone launches new online chat feature

 Keystone Property Finance has launched a new online chat feature with the aim od providing brokers with extra support when handling new client cases by giving them an additional way to speak to their team.

The chat feature will be available for new case enquiries only and will be monitored and maintained by Keystone’s business development managers (BDMs), enabling brokers to contact a BDM instantly to discuss any enquiries they have.

The web chat will also have extended hours from 8:00am to 7:00pm Monday to Thursday and 8:00am to 6:00pm on Fridays.

This latest addition to Keystone’s services is part of a wider package of measures that have been put in place by the specialist buy-to-let lender to ensure brokers are supported throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. This includes offering video calls for brokers and their local BDMs that supplement the lender’s telephone, email and chat services.

Google to Move Hangouts Users to Free Chat Service Next Year

 Google has announced to move Hangouts users over to Google Chat next year which will be available as a free service — both in the integrated experience in Gmail and the Chat standalone app

Chat includes familiar Hangouts features like direct and group messaging, with helpful additions like send to inbox, faster search, emoji reactions and suggested replies.

With Chat, you can more easily plan with others on goals and similar interests, share and collaborate on files, and assign tasks to help keep everyone on the same page.

“In addition, Chat features the same strong phishing protections we built in Gmail, so if a link is sent to you via Chat, it will be checked against real-time data from Safe Browsing and flagged if it’s found to be malicious,” the tech giant informed.

How to Improve Your Online Dating Profile

 Online dating has as many fans as opponents. Some people are just delighted with the option of meeting a potential partner online, while others don't fancy it and feel uncomfortable getting to know someone just via messages or video calls.

However, even the most skeptical people will agree that online dating resembles marketing. Why? It's all about the profile — the photo, the "about me" section, and its impression on the reader.

Therefore, creating a profile for an online dating platform needs to be well-thought. As not everyone is an expert in the online dating world's jungle, we provide a quick guide on how to improve the attractiveness of your online dating profile quickly. Many dating sites provide suggestions themselves - you can find them on Badoo, or Beyond Ages.

Choose an Appropriate Picture

We all judge by appearances - no matter if we want it or not. That's why an appropriate, well-chosen photo is so important in online dating. Your photo embodies everything you want to say to a potential "buyer" - make no mistake, what people are buying is nothing more than your at-a-first-glance persona, and the currency is their time and effort. It is an aspect of the profile which attracts the attention first.

How to choose a good photo for a dating app? Of course, it doesn't have to be a professional one, but it's good to invest in the picture's quality.

Try to make it look relaxed and natural - a CV-like photograph will look simply artificial and too formal. Think of choosing a picture that really represents you - maybe while you're doing your hobby or in your favorite café? Try to look at yourself through the eyes of the people you'd like to get to know. How would you like them to see you?

What to avoid in choosing a dating app photo? Pictures with others, for example, friends, will not be seen well because people won't know which person is you. Also, don't put controversial or abusive photographs online. They may be funny, but the internet remembers everything, and you can be sure to see the embarrassing pictures somewhere later on. to read more on how a good profile picture should look, have a look here.

Describe Yourself!

When it comes to dating apps, personal descriptions are just as important as photographs. 'Nobody reads descriptions', you may think, but in fact, you couldn't be more mistaken!

A description is a place on a dating app where you can say basically anything about you. It's an equivalent of a simple 'Hello' that someone would hear on the street in the offline world. Why not use it to maximize your chances of getting noticed, then?

How to write a good description for dating? Well, there's no universal recipe for that. Simply try to express yourself. Think of some words, a quote, or a phrase that describes you best. It can be short, witty, or funny - there are no boundaries of being serious!

Again, simply be yourself. Are you a music fan? Great, then put some of your favorite lyrics in the description box. Do you love sports? Then, a few words about it will look great in the 'about you' section. To find examples of profiles and descriptions that are worth following, click here.

Personal descriptions on dating apps are also perfect conversation starters. You can include some things you'd like to develop or be asked about. Also, it's a good place to share your preferences about potential partner. Don't go into detail, though. And don't be too strict and demanding - remember, it's only dating, it should be fun!

Make Use of Extra Options (and to Text First)

Some dating apps facilitate getting to know each other online by introducing some additional functions to the users. For example, these are sharing other social media profiles, linking your account to Spotify or Instagram.

These can be great options to boost the credibility of your profile and make people notice you. Don't be afraid of revealing a little more about yourself - it can surely repay in the future! To read more about the new functions of dating apps, click here.

What's more, don't be scared to text someone first! A song or a photo on their profile may be a starting point for initiating conversation. Just make use of this knowledge and ask a question about it. You can also make a link to your favorite things. Just get creative, use all the info you have, and go ahead.

Conclusion

Online dating may seem a real challenge. Getting through the jungle of all these faces, profiles, descriptions, simply to find a soulmate appears to be tiring and difficult.

However, a well "marketed" profile will make the whole affair more clear, targeted and fun.. The more information you give, the more you're likely to get what you want. If you seem open and easy-going, you'll attract similar people. Just don't be afraid to take new steps, relax, and… wait for new messages and matches!

Facebook hopes to unite college students with new platform

 Facebook is hoping to connect students stuck in their homes while attending college with its new social media platform, Facebook Campus.

“(Facebook Campus) is a college-only space designed to help students connect with their classmates and their school community all in one place, even when they can’t be together,” said product manager Charmaine Hung. “We do think that campus is more relevant than ever with COVID-19. We see many students not returning to campus and classes are now all happening remote and online.”

Facebook Campus hopes to reconnect students to their college clubs and friends through their pilot program. The program began in mid-September in 30 schools across the country, including the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena.

“We do know that university experiences are quite different, depending on what school you go to,” Hung said. “We really wanted to make sure we build the product that fits the needs of everyone.”

To do so, Facebook looked into different criteria to create a good sample size.

“Some of the things we took into account when deciding on these 30 schools were things like geographic diversity, a diverse student population, a mix of small and large undergrad bodies, and some schools that are specialized in different areas, for example, liberal arts schools,” Hung said.

Made with the help of college students, Campus will function as a separate, dedicated space within the larger Facebook platform, allowing only users with a “.edu” email to join.

“As we were building this, we had what we like to call a ‘student council,’” Hung said. “We were getting their feedback along the way.”

Once users join, they will verify their email address and create their campus profile.

“We realized that having some verification that you belong to that school to participate in Campus was really important,” Hung said. “Once you get in, you’ll be able to create groups and events that are all bounded and specific to your school… It’s not a completely different identity that you can take, but it is basically a different network of people.”

Additionally, users will have access to Facebook’s campus directory which will allow them to search for others using graduation year, specific classes, majors or their dorms. According to Hung, because Campus is separate from the larger Facebook platform, this specific information will only be shown on users’ Campus profile, not their main profile.

The final feature of Facebook Campus is a campus chat room feature where students can pick and choose which rooms to join, similar to the functioning “Groups” feature in the larger platform.

“Students can create chatrooms for their dorm, club, classes and more,” Hung said. “Campus chat rooms don’t actually require you to choose and invite people like group chats. Instead, once you create the chatroom, people in that specific group can just pick and choose ones they want to pop into.”

Facebook hopes that their new platform will allow students to continue to connect and interact with one another even when they are away from campus.

Genes, diseases and treatments

Greek scientists have recently announced the discovery of the gene fosfolamvanis, which is involved in heart failure. What it means for patients to discover genes associated with diseases; opens the way to cure them?

There would be no exaggeration to say that last move in orbit genes: fifty years after the elucidation of the structure of DNA (the material of which genes are made) and only a few days after the announcement of the completion of the human genome (the reading, ie, the entire DNA sequence of humans), is drowned by information on new genes discovered. What does all this but us? And specifically what it means for patients to discover genes associated with diseases; leads the discovery of such genes to treat disease and what should we hope? Following the recent announcement by Greek scientists to discovery of the gene fosfolamvanis, which is involved in heart failure, «To Vima» explains today with seven questions and answers of the possibilities opened by the knowledge of genes to diseases.


1. What is the disease gene?
These genes are neither health nor disease! These DNA segments in the sequence of which contained information on the composition of proteins, molecules that play a variety of significant structural and functional, the roles in the cell. When genes are sound, the proteins synthesized under instructions perform their role. Thus the cell and the organism is healthy. But there are cases where genes have undergone changes (mutations in the language of biology). Then, depending on the type of mutation, the protein or cease to be synthesized or synthesized by the damage which is preventing it from operating. For example, when the gene of beta-hemoglobin is normal, the protein (ie, the beta-hemoglobin) that makes up red blood cells capable of carrying oxygen. A slight mutation in the hemoglobin gene, however, is the cause of the improper composition of the protein and cause of thalassemia. In other words, has prevailed to genes known disease genes whose mutations lead to the emergence of heritable diseases.

2. What then describe the type of news: «The scientists discovered the gene of one disease»;

They describe the discovery of genes whose mutations lead to the emergence of the disease.

3. How important is the discovery of such genes?
It is very important because it allows researchers to deepen the causes of diseases. The understanding at the molecular and cellular level the mechanism by which it caused a disease opens the way for effective intervention. Take for example the recent announcement by Greek scientists at the University of Cincinnati and Onassis Cardiac Surgery Center on the discovery of mutations in the gene fosfolamvanis in a patient with heart failure. Multi experiments on animals had shown that this protein plays a role in the regulation of myocardial contraction is brought with the help of calcium ions. As explained in speaking «Step» Mrs Evangelia Helmets, Professor of Pharmacology at the University of Cincinnati, which has contributed decisively to the clarification of the role of fosfolamvanis, «the elucidation of the mechanism by which the action fosfolamvanis will enable better management of patients with heart failure ».

4. How quickly patients benefit from the discoveries of genes?
The speed with which knowledge of genes associated with disease converted to a benefit for the patient depends on many factors. We have known for many years and the mutation of the gene of hemoglobin which is responsible for thalassemia, but we have not cure the disease. We can however take steps to prevent the occurrence of subsequent generations. Usually the first thing that can happen after the discovery of a gene associated with the occurrence of disease is to develop diagnostic tests for the disease.

5. What is the diagnostic test?
It is a discussion which explores whether the candidate carries the mutation that would render the patient. It should be noted that in contrast to thalassemia, which the symptoms occur very soon after birth, there are hereditary diseases that occur at older ages.

6. Who should use these tests?
A bad family history is the light in which doctors decide if someone needs to take a diagnostic test to detect mutations. In very few cases such tests are routine for much of the population. For example, in our country, that thalassemia is a scourge, an examination of married to determine if they were bodies of disease, as well as the examination of embryos is necessary to prevent births of children with the disease. Criterion for the wide application of the test is the frequency of mutation in the population.

7. Why not have a cure thalassemia because we know the gene that when mutated causes There are other hereditary diseases are treated;

The only way to be cured a hereditary disease would be to replace the mutated gene that causes a standard. Such intervention, which is called gene therapy, it is not easy, as many scientists who attempted to treat a number of hereditary diseases. The biggest success has been achieved to date refers to a disease of the immune system which makes the children suffer from it so vulnerable to infections that may have to live in a sterile environment. A small number of children has been treated with gene therapy, while others had leukemia as a side effect of treatment ... It should however be noted that the ongoing efforts of the scientists on many fronts. The research team succeeded Mrs Helmets to restore the contraction of heart cells in test tube epemvainontas in the fosfolamvanis gene, which is the first step in probably a long way for gene therapy of the disease.

Geneticists have discovered a gene which "block" of the AIDS virus and possibly lead to the deal.

The news was announced 5 days before and on 29 February. The news stated that Stephen Barr and his team from the University of Alberta in Canada, after studies found a gene that is able to block the spread of AIDS virus in the body and disease. The importance of the discovery are enormous, because it may mean the capability to manufacture a vaccine for the virus in the future ...

The professor and his team discovered a gene TRIM22, which has managed to prevent contamination of cell culture in the laboratory from HIV AIDS. It was when the gene in cells, the virus could not be replicated, and also prevented to go and infect other cells. This essentially means that even if an infected cell the virus stops spreading there, and not the rest of body.

In simple words, if researchers manage and develop the technique to be applicable to humans (ie to activate the gene in some way, even pharmaceuticals), then this would mean constructing physical defense against the virus, without the unpleasant side effects drugs or the manufacture of medicines will do the same job without having to be hazardous.

The researchers report that among other things, as many genes as humans have to protect the body from viruses and help to combat them, the gene has a strong preference in dealing with HIV AIDS.

The biggest problem scientists regarding the battle with the AIDS virus for years (and what it prevents than to build a successful vaccine) is that the virus mutate so easily be resistant against medicines made by time. With this gene, essentially found a new weapon that can do the job fighting the virus naturally.

The research scientists went one step further by trying to block the function of this gene in cells. This resulted in the cell to react to the virus but (as usual) the production of interferon, but the reaction was not the slightest effect. What does this mean that practically the gene is certainly a special relationship with HIV and AIDS need to address it. The body from which it seems has an own way to respond to the incursion of the virus. What we think eistimones is to replicate the function and mode of action of the gene TRIM22 with a drug.

Under investigation are open and two other "hot" questions:

"Why if the gene is located in the body of all people, in patients with AIDS is not working?"

And also:

"I can now activate this gene in these patients to take action?"

Search fee and the possibility of dealing and other viruses with the same gene.

Pending developments, therefore, very interesting ...

The findings were published in Public Library of Science Pathogens

Gene discovery opens the way for cigarettes without nicotine

Japanese scientists announced that they isolated a gene, which carries the nicotine from the roots of the tobacco plant leaves, thus opening the way for the creation of cigarettes without nicotine, which is less addictive, but it will remind regular cigarette. The research done by Professor Kazoufoumi Giazaki, molecular biologist, in plants, at the University of Kyoto, which took three years to identify the gene Nt-JAT1, which is the carrier of nicotine.

As stated, according to British newspaper Daily Telegraph, the objective now is to create a cigarette that has always known the taste, but it is much less addictive.

The next step will be to grow tobacco plants that will not have any nicotine in the leaves, but admits that there are still open issues to be resolved, for example, the possibility of blocking the transfer of nicotine in leaves lead to concentration of cells in the roots, which could be toxic to the plant itself.

Japan has a relatively high percentage of smokers, with rates around 40% in men and 13% in women, according to data of 2008. According to government statistics, more than 63,000 people die each year in the country of lung cancer. Professor Giazaki, he is not a smoker, hopes his investigation will try to help people stop smoking. The scientist, in order to finance his experiments, did not rule to require the assistance of Japan Tobacco, the largest Japanese tobacco.