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

Morphogenetic characteristics during establishment of two Bromus catharticus accesses.

Morphogenetic characteristics of two accesses of Bromus catharticus Vahl. (Agros-tologia and Platano) were studied during the establishment period. The experiment was carried out in greenhouse at UFPEL, Animal Science Department, using pots in a completely randomized design with eight replications, from June 19th to August 11th, in 2006. Plants were evaluated with intervals from two to three days in a week. Length and number of the leaf blades in the main tillers were measured, with scale and marked with a colour wire. Leaf appearance rate and phyllochron did not differ significantly (p>0.05) for both accesses, however, leaf elongation rate of Platano was higher (pAs características morfogênicas de dois acessos de Bromus catharticus Vahl. (Agrosto-logia e Platano) foram estudados na fase de estabelecimento. O experimento foi realizado em casa de vegetação do Departamento de Zootecnia-UFPel, em vasos plásticos, em delineamento completamente casualizado com 8 repetições, no período de 19 de junho a 11 de agosto de 2006. Usou-se a técnica de perfilhos marcados medindo-se o comprimento e número de lâminas a intervalos de 2 a 3 dias, com início em 10 de julho. Foram calculadas a taxa de aparecimento e expansão foliar e filocrono. A taxa de aparecimento foliar e filocrono não diferiram significativamente (p>0,05), entretanto, a taxa de expansão foliar do acesso Platano (

Screening of antibacterial extracts from plants native to the Brazilian Amazon Rain Forest and Atlantic Forest

More than 20% of the world's biodiversity is located in Brazilian forests and only a few plant extracts have been evaluated for potential antibacterial activity. In the present study, 705 organic and aqueous extracts of plants obtained from different Amazon Rain Forest and Atlantic Forest plants were screened for antibacterial activity at 100 µg/ml, using a microdilution broth assay against Staphylococcus aureus, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli. One extract, VO581, was active against S. aureus (minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) = 140 µg/ml and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) = 160 µg/ml, organic extract obtained from stems) and two extracts were active against E. faecalis, SM053 (MIC = 80 µg/ml and MBC = 90 µg/ml, organic extract obtained from aerial parts), and MY841 (MIC = 30 µg/ml and MBC = 50 µg/ml, organic extract obtained from stems). The most active fractions are being fractionated to identify their active substances. Higher concentrations of other extracts are currently being evaluated against the same microorganisms

Clinical outcome in chronic myeloid leukemia after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: the experience of the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of FUNFARME/BRAZIL using FISH

Investigation of the efficacy of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo-HSCT) in chronic myeloid leukemia patients is essential to predict prognosis and survival. In 20 patients treated at the Bone Marrow Transplantation Unit of São José do Rio Preto (São Paulo, Brazil), we used fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) to investigate the frequency of cells with BCR/ABL rearrangement at diagnosis and at distinct intervals after allo-HSCT until complete cytogenetic remission (CCR). We investigated the disease-free survival, overall survival in 3 years and transplant-related mortality rates, too. Bone marrow samples were collected at 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 12, and 24 months after transplantation and additional intervals as necessary. Success rate of the FISH analyses was 100%. CCR was achieved in 75% of the patients, within on average of 3.9 months; 45% patients showed CCR within 60 days after HSCT. After 3 years of the allo-HSCT, overall survival rate was 60%, disease-free survival was 50% and the transplant-related mortality rate was 40%. The study demonstrated that the BCR-ABL FISH assay is useful for follow-up of chronic myeloid leukemia patients after HSCT and that the clinical outcome parameters in our patient cohort were similar to those described for other bone marrow transplantation units. ©FUNPEC-RP

Rendimento de forragem e valor nutritivo de gramíneas anuais de estação fria submetidas a sombreamento por Pinus elliottii e ao sol pleno Forage yield and nutritive value of cool-season annual forage grasses shaded by Pinus elliottii trees and at full-sun

Avaliou-se o efeito do sombreamento provocado por duas densidades arbóreas em uma floresta de Pinus elliottii Engelm. com 10 anos de idade sobre o rendimento e o valor nutritivo da forragem de três gramíneas de ciclo hibernal. Como tratamentos, avaliou-se a combinação de dois fatores (3 x 3) em um delineamento experimental de parcelas subdivididas com três repetições, no qual as parcelas foram as condições luminosas (proporcionadas por duas densidades arbóreas: 555 e 333 árvores/ha e luz solar plena) e as subparcelas as espécies forrageiras azevém-anual (Lolium multiflorum Lam.); aveia-preta (Avena strigosa Schreb.); e aveia-branca (A. sativa L.) cv. Fapa 2. A semeadura foi realizada entre 25/7/2005 e 5/8/2005 e entre 26 e 27/4/2006. O rendimento de matéria seca foi estimado em avaliações durante o estádio vegetativo (aos 104 dias após a semeadura em 2006) e em pleno florescimento (aos 132 e 170 dias, em 2005 e 2006, respectivamente). O valor nutritivo da forragem foi avaliado considerando os teores médios de proteína bruta (PB) e a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria orgânica (DIVMO). O sombreamento moderado reduziu em 57% o rendimento médio de forragem dos três genótipos avaliados, mas aumentou em 2,3% o teor de proteína bruta (PB) e em 5,5% a digestibilidade in vitro (DIVMO) quando as plantas estavam em florescimento pleno. Entre as espécies forrageiras avaliadas, a aveia-branca e a aveia-preta apresentam maior potencial para utilização em sistemas silvipastoris na Região Sul.<br>It was evaluated the shading effect induced by two tree densities of a ten-year-old slash pine (Pinus elliottii Engelm.) forest, and at full sun, on forage dry matter yield and nutritive value of three cool-season annual grasses. Treatments were a combination of two main factors: a) three light conditions induced by two tree densities (333 e 555 stems/ha) and at full sun; b) three cool-season annual forage grasses: Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.), common oat (Avena sativa L.) cv. Fapa-2, and black-oat (Avena strigosa Schreb.). A split-plot experimental design, with three replications, was used. The main plots were the light conditions affected by tree density and the subplots were the different forage species. Sowing dates were from July 25 to August 5, 2005 and April 26 and 27, 2006. In order to determine forage DM yield, plants were hand-clipped at the vegetative stage (104 days after sowing, in 2006) and at full bloom (132 and 170 days, in 2005 e 2006, respectively). Forage nutritive value was accessed by determining crude protein (CP) concentration and in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD). Results showed that when plants were at the full bloom stage and under moderate shading, forage DM yield was reduced by 57%, forage CP content was increased by 2,3%, and IVOMD was raised by 5,5%, compared to plants at full sun. In terms of their potential utilization, common oat and black-oat show promise for regional silvopastoral systems in southern Brazil