Cross-cultural effects of color, but not morphological masculinity, on perceived attractiveness of men's faces

This is the post-print version of the Article. The official published version can be accessed from the link below - Copyright @ 2012 ElsevierMuch attractiveness research has focused on face shape. The role of masculinity (which for adults is thought to be a relatively stable shape cue to developmental testosterone levels) in male facial attractiveness has been examined, with mixed results. Recent work on the perception of skin color (a more variable cue to current health status) indicates that increased skin redness, yellowness, and lightness enhance apparent health. It has been suggested that stable cues such as masculinity may be less important to attractiveness judgments than short-term, more variable health cues. We examined associations between male facial attractiveness, masculinity, and skin color in African and Caucasian populations. Masculinity was not found to be associated with attractiveness in either ethnic group. However, skin color was found to be an important predictor of attractiveness judgments, particularly for own-ethnicity faces. Our results suggest that more plastic health cues, such as skin color, are more important than developmental cues such as masculinity. Further, unfamiliarity with natural skin color variation in other ethnic groups may limit observers' ability to utilize these color cues

Daily consumption of a fruit and vegetable smoothie alters facial skin color

Consumption of dietary carotenoids or carotenoid supplements can alter the color (yellowness) of human skin through increased carotenoid deposition in the skin. As fruit and vegetables are the main dietary sources of carotenoids, skin yellowness may be a function of regular fruit and vegetable consumption. However, most previous studies have used tablets or capsules to supplement carotenoid intake, and less is known of the impact of increased fruit and vegetable consumption on skin color. Here, we examined skin color changes in an Asian population (Malaysian Chinese ethnicity) over a six week dietary intervention with a carotenoid-rich fruit smoothie. Eighty one university students (34 males, 47 females; mean age 20.48) were assigned randomly to consuming either a fruit smoothie (intervention group) or mineral water (control group) daily for six weeks. Participants’ skin yellowness (CIELab b*), redness (a*) and luminance (L*) were measured at baseline, twice during the intervention period and at a two-week follow-up, using a handheld reflectance spectrophotometer. Results showed a large increment in skin yellowness (p<0.001) and slight increment in skin redness (p<0.001) after 4 weeks of intervention for participants in the intervention group. Skin yellowness and skin redness remained elevated at the two week follow up measurement. In conclusion, intervention with a carotenoid-rich fruit smoothie is associated with increased skin redness and yellowness in an Asian population. Changes in the reflectance spectrum of the skin suggest that this color change was caused by carotenoid deposition in the skin

Facial Skin Coloration Affects Perceived Health of Human Faces

Numerous researchers have examined the effects of skin condition, including texture and color, on the perception of health, age, and attractiveness in human faces. They have focused on facial color distribution, homogeneity of pigmentation, or skin quality. We here investigate the role of overall skin color in determining perceptions of health from faces by allowing participants to manipulate the skin portions of color-calibrated Caucasian face photographs along CIELab color axes. To enhance healthy appearance, participants increased skin redness (a*), providing additional support for previous findings that skin blood color enhances the healthy appearance of faces. Participants also increased skin yellowness (b*) and lightness (L*), suggesting a role for high carotenoid and low melanin coloration in the healthy appearance of faces. The color preferences described here resemble the red and yellow color cues to health displayed by many species of nonhuman animals

Lip colour affects perceived sex typicality and attractiveness of human faces

The luminance contrast between facial features and facial skin is greater in women than in men, and women's use of make-up enhances this contrast. In black-and-white photographs, increased luminance contrast enhances femininity and attractiveness in women's faces, but reduces masculinity and attractiveness in men's faces. In Caucasians, much of the contrast between the lips and facial skin is in redness. Red lips have been considered attractive in women in geographically and temporally diverse cultures, possibly because they mimic vasodilation associated with sexual arousal. Here, we investigate the effects of lip luminance and colour contrast on the attractiveness and sex typicality (masculinity/femininity) of human faces. In a Caucasian sample, we allowed participants to manipulate the colour of the lips in colour-calibrated face photographs along CIELab L* (light - dark), a* (red-green), and b* (yellow-blue) axes to enhance apparent attractiveness and sex typicality. Participants increased redness contrast to enhance femininity and attractiveness of female faces, but reduced redness contrast to enhance masculinity of men's faces. Lip blueness was reduced more in female than male faces. Increased lightness contrast enhanced the attractiveness of both sexes, and had little effect on perceptions of sex typicality. The association between lip colour contrast and attractiveness in women's faces may be attributable to its association with oxygenated blood perfusion indicating oestrogen levels, sexual arousal, and cardiac and respiratory health.7 page(s

Tuotannollisen toiminnan kehittämisen esiselvitys Oulun Eteläisessä:TUTOES-hankkeen loppuraportti

Abstract There is a growing demand of updating the operations management of Finnish SMEs to match the international level. Therefore, internationally comparable knowledge and education is needed. Enterprises’ operational excellence and efficient operations, as well as, growth and internationalization can be supported by creating and offering knowledge suitable for their context and coaching the entrepreneurs. There has not been overview report of operations management status of the SMEs in Oulu South region. A systematic model for evaluating and developing the operations management has been missing. Various operational excellence maturity models and KPI’s have been created in international research. In the feasibility study - The operational excellence maturity model and KPI’s for SMEs were created. - The current state of operations management on the selected SMEs in Oulu South region were analyzed. - An operational excellence training program for the SMEs was planned. - Students of higher education were involved in the collaboration with the enterprises. In the feasibility study new, reliable and comparable information was created of the current state of the operations management and the development in SMEs in the Oulu South region by using the developed maturity model. Based on the results, sales became the most important focus area for development. In order to enhance the knowhow of business development experts and entrepreneurs, a model of coaching programme was planned, along with the content and implementation plan of the sales coaching programme. Students of University of Oulu and University of Applied Sciences studied operation management and collaborated with companies by collecting information of the state of the operation management by utilizing the created model. Results of the feasibility study form a background for an extensive program that aims to enhance the profitability and competitiveness of the SMEs. Project was accomplished by the University of Oulu Oulu Southern Institute (OSI) and Centria University of Applied Sciences.Tiivistelmä Suomalaisissa pk-yrityksissä on kasvava tarve tuotannollisen toiminnan johtamisen päivittämiseen kansainväliselle tasolle. Tähän tarvitaan kansainvälisesti vertailukelpoista tietoa ja koulutusta. Yritysten toiminnallista erinomaisuutta, kustannustehokkuutta sekä kasvua ja kansainvälistymistä voidaan tukea tuottamalla ja tarjoamalla niiden kontekstiin sopivaa tietoa sekä tarjoamalla yrittäjälle valmennusta. Oulun Eteläisen pk-yritysten tuotannollisen toiminnan johtamisen tilasta ei ole ollut kokonaiskuvaa. Systemaattinen malli on puuttunut tuotannollisen johtamisen arvioimiseksi ja kehittämiseksi. Kansainvälisessä tutkimuksessa on luotu monia tuotannollisen toiminnan johtamisen maturiteettimalleja ja mittaristoja. Esiselvityshankkeen toimenpiteinä - Kehitettiin pk-yritysten tuotannollisen toiminnan johtamisen kypsyysmalli ja sitä kuvaava mittaristo. - Tehtiin Oulun Eteläisen alueen pk-yritysten tuotannollisen toiminnan johtamisen analyysi otannan perusteella. - Suunniteltiin valmennusohjelman perusmalli pk-yritysten tuotannollisen toiminnan johtamisen kehittämiseksi. - Osallistettiin korkeakouluopiskelijoita yhteistyöhön yritysten kanssa. Esiselvityshankkeessa saatiin uutta, luotettavaa ja vertailtavaa tietoa alueen pk-yritysten tuotannollisen toiminnan johtamisen nykytilasta ja kehittämistarpeista hyödyntämällä kehitettyä työkalua. Tulosten perusteella keskeisimmäksi kehittämisalueeksi nousi myynti. Yritysrajapinnassa toimivien sekä yrittäjien tietotaidon syventämisen tueksi laadittiin valmennusohjelman perusmalli ja myynnin sparrausvalmennuksen sisältö- ja toteutussuunnitelma. Oulun yliopiston ja Centria-ammattikorkeakoulun opiskelijat perehtyivät tuotannon johtamiseen ja tekivät yhteistyötä yritysten kanssa hankkimalla tietoa yrityksen tuotannollisen johtamisen tilasta hyödyntäen luotua työkalua. Esiselvityshankkeen tulokset pohjustavat laajempaa kokonaisuutta, jonka tavoitteena on yritysten kannattavuuden ja kilpailukyvyn parantaminen. Hankkeen toteuttivat Oulun yliopiston Oulun Eteläisen instituutti (OEI) ja Centria ammattikorkeakoulu