Predictors of enhancing human physical attractiveness: Data from 93 countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending >10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Predictors of Enhancing Human Physical Attractiveness: Data from 93 Countries

People across the world and throughout history have gone to great lengths to enhance their physical appearance. Evolutionary psychologists and ethologists have largely attempted to explain this phenomenon via mating preferences and strategies. Here, we test one of the most popular evolutionary hypotheses for beauty-enhancing behaviors, drawn from mating market and parasite stress perspectives, in a large cross-cultural sample. We also test hypotheses drawn from other influential and non-mutually exclusive theoretical frameworks, from biosocial role theory to a cultural media perspective. Survey data from 93,158 human participants across 93 countries provide evidence that behaviors such as applying makeup or using other cosmetics, hair grooming, clothing style, caring for body hygiene, and exercising or following a specific diet for the specific purpose of improving ones physical attractiveness, are universal. Indeed, 99% of participants reported spending \u3e10 min a day performing beauty-enhancing behaviors. The results largely support evolutionary hypotheses: more time was spent enhancing beauty by women (almost 4 h a day, on average) than by men (3.6 h a day), by the youngest participants (and contrary to predictions, also the oldest), by those with a relatively more severe history of infectious diseases, and by participants currently dating compared to those in established relationships. The strongest predictor of attractiveness-enhancing behaviors was social media usage. Other predictors, in order of effect size, included adhering to traditional gender roles, residing in countries with less gender equality, considering oneself as highly attractive or, conversely, highly unattractive, TV watching time, higher socioeconomic status, right-wing political beliefs, a lower level of education, and personal individualistic attitudes. This study provides novel insight into universal beauty-enhancing behaviors by unifying evolutionary theory with several other complementary perspectives

Hybrid Nanoparticles of Citrate-Coated Manganese Ferrite and Gold Nanorods in Magneto-Optical Imaging and Thermal Therapy

The development of nanomaterials has drawn considerable attention in nanomedicine to advance cancer diagnosis and treatment over the last decades. Gold nanorods (GNRs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been known as commonly used nanostructures in biomedical applications due to their attractive optical properties and superparamagnetic (SP) behaviors, respectively. In this study, we proposed a simple combination of plasmonic and SP properties into hybrid NPs of citrate-coated manganese ferrite (Ci-MnFe2O4) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-coated GNRs (CTAB-GNRs). In this regard, two different samples were prepared: the first was composed of Ci-MnFe2O4 (0.4 wt%), and the second contained hybrid NPs of Ci-MnFe2O4 (0.4 wt%) and CTAB-GNRs (0.04 wt%). Characterization measurements such as UV-Visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed electrostatic interactions caused by the opposing surface charges of hybrid NPs, which resulted in the formation of small nanoclusters. The performance of the two samples was investigated using magneto-motive ultrasound imaging (MMUS). The sample containing Ci-MnFe2O4_CTAB-GNRs demonstrated a displacement nearly two-fold greater than just using Ci-MnFe2O4; therefore, enhancing MMUS image contrast. Furthermore, the preliminary potential of these hybrid NPs was also examined in magnetic hyperthermia (MH) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) modalities. Lastly, these hybrid NPs demonstrated high stability and an absence of aggregation in water and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) medium. Thus, Ci-MnFe2O4_CTAB-GNRs hybrid NPs can be considered as a potential contrast agent in MMUS and PAI and a heat generator in MH

Hybrid Nanoparticles of Citrate-Coated Manganese Ferrite and Gold Nanorods in Magneto-Optical Imaging and Thermal Therapy

The development of nanomaterials has drawn considerable attention in nanomedicine to advance cancer diagnosis and treatment over the last decades. Gold nanorods (GNRs) and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have been known as commonly used nanostructures in biomedical applications due to their attractive optical properties and superparamagnetic (SP) behaviors, respectively. In this study, we proposed a simple combination of plasmonic and SP properties into hybrid NPs of citrate-coated manganese ferrite (Ci-MnFe2O4) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide-coated GNRs (CTAB-GNRs). In this regard, two different samples were prepared: the first was composed of Ci-MnFe2O4 (0.4 wt%), and the second contained hybrid NPs of Ci-MnFe2O4 (0.4 wt%) and CTAB-GNRs (0.04 wt%). Characterization measurements such as UV-Visible spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) revealed electrostatic interactions caused by the opposing surface charges of hybrid NPs, which resulted in the formation of small nanoclusters. The performance of the two samples was investigated using magneto-motive ultrasound imaging (MMUS). The sample containing Ci-MnFe2O4_CTAB-GNRs demonstrated a displacement nearly two-fold greater than just using Ci-MnFe2O4; therefore, enhancing MMUS image contrast. Furthermore, the preliminary potential of these hybrid NPs was also examined in magnetic hyperthermia (MH) and photoacoustic imaging (PAI) modalities. Lastly, these hybrid NPs demonstrated high stability and an absence of aggregation in water and phosphate buffer solution (PBS) medium. Thus, Ci-MnFe2O4_CTAB-GNRs hybrid NPs can be considered as a potential contrast agent in MMUS and PAI and a heat generator in MH