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

Spectroscopic Investigation of Oil Pollution on the Surface and at Various Depths of the Odra River

Wskazano na postępujący proces degradacji środowiska naturalnego Morza Bałtyckiego i rzeki Odry, wynikający z przedostających się do akwenów produktów ropopochodnych. Wskazano na obszar objęty pomiarami oraz metodykę prowadzenia badań. Na podstawie wieloletnich pomiarów podano uśrednione wyniki zaolejenia na powierzchni wód estuarium Odry. Przeprowadzono sondażowe badania rozkładu pionowego zanieczyszczeń olejowych wody w wybranych punktach estuarium Odry.The process of progressive degradation of natural environment of the Baltic Sea and the Odra River caused by oil products has been presented. The authors describe the examined area and measurement techniques. The mean values of oil contamination of the Odra River superficial layer have been calculated on the basis of measurements carried out for many years. Besides, the distribution of the oil pollution of water in the perpendicular cross-section at selected points of the Odra River has been presented

Ekonomiczna ocena stosowania nawożenia azotem i biostymulatorów wzrostu w produkcji kukurydzy uprawianej na ziarno

The study aimed to determine the impact of using biostimulants and nitrogen fertilization on the profitability of growing two cultivars of maize grown for grain with different FAO earliness class. The studies were conducted in three vegetation seasons of 2015–2017. Data comes from a farm specializing in plant production. The economic assessment was made using the European Union (EU) method based on the standard gross margin (SGM). Operating income and profitability ratios were also calculated. Yields of studied maize cultivars were varied; on average, in the three examined years, the ‘P8400’ cultivar gave the best yield – 11.68 t ha–1, using nitrogen fertilization 160 kg N ha–1 and biostimulant Asahi SL. The lowest yield was obtained for the ‘PR38N86’ cultivar – 6.7 t ha–1, lacking nitrogen fertilization and without a growth stimulator. The highest profitability index (calculated with subsidies) on average over three years of research was achieved with nitrogen fertilization 120 kg N ha–1 and without the use of a growth biostimulant, for the ‘P8400’ cultivar – 188.54%, and the ‘PR38N86’ cultivar – 185.27%