Different Levels Of Attractiveness Research Articles

Racial stereotypes and facial physical attractiveness: exploring their implications in moral assessments in healthcare.

In this study of 333 participants, we investigated how racial stereotypes and facial attractiveness impact moral evaluations in healthcare. We used pictures of faces with different levels of attractiveness in moral dilemma scenarios, performing statistical analyses such as ANOVA and ANCOVA to examine these complex interactions. We found that physical attractiveness positively influences moral evaluations only in low moral conflict scenarios and does not apply to high conflict or impersonal situations. The relationship between self-declared skin color and participants' gender was only confirmed in a specific scenario, highlighting the complexity of these influences. Hypotheses three and four, which suggested that participants' ethnic and moral identity would suppress the effects of racial stereotypes and facial attractiveness, were not confirmed. However, we observed that the ethnic profile of the faces and the participants' motivation to control prejudice positively influenced moral evaluations. These results are interpreted in light of theories on interpersonal attraction, moral judgment, and intergroup relationships, providing essential insights into the complex dynamics that shape moral evaluations in healthcare.

Estereótipos raciais e atratividade física facial: explorando suas implicações nas avaliações morais em saúde

Abstract In this study of 333 participants, we investigated how racial stereotypes and facial attractiveness impact moral evaluations in healthcare. We used pictures of faces with different levels of attractiveness in moral dilemma scenarios, performing statistical analyses such as ANOVA and ANCOVA to examine these complex interactions. We found that physical attractiveness positively influences moral evaluations only in low moral conflict scenarios and does not apply to high conflict or impersonal situations. The relationship between self-declared skin color and participants’ gender was only confirmed in a specific scenario, highlighting the complexity of these influences. Hypotheses three and four, which suggested that participants’ ethnic and moral identity would suppress the effects of racial stereotypes and facial attractiveness, were not confirmed. However, we observed that the ethnic profile of the faces and the participants’ motivation to control prejudice positively influenced moral evaluations. These results are interpreted in light of theories on interpersonal attraction, moral judgment, and intergroup relationships, providing essential insights into the complex dynamics that shape moral evaluations in healthcare.

Chub movement is attracted by the collision sounds associated with spawning activities

Cyprinids (carps, chubs and minnows) possess well-developed hearing and high sensitivity to sound pressure. The sensitive hearing may assist cyprinids with searching for food, territory defense, and mating behavior. Many paired fishes violently shake in sand and gravel while spawning in rivers. However, no study has examined the ecological importance of the collision sound made by the behavior. This study examined whether cohabitated chubs (Opsariichthys evolans and Zacco platypus) use the collision sound as a signal to locate spawning events so they can be a male satellite or egg eater. Three types of sounds (i.e., collision sound, music noise and ambient noise) were played with or without jerkbaits at the midstream of the Keelung River, Taiwan during the spawning season in 2018 and 2019. Generalized linear mixed models were then built to examine the effects of the sound types and the presence of jerkbaits on the number of individuals that the two chubs attracted. Results showed significantly different levels of attractiveness among the three sound types, with the collision sound attracting most fishes, including both females and males, followed by music noise and ambient noise. The presence of jerkbaits increased the number of fishes attracted, but the effect was only statistically marginally significant. These results suggest that the collision sound as an acoustic signal may be more important than a visual signal for the chubs to locate spawning events of other mating pairs, probably because of the longer transmission distance of the former. The present study demonstrates the ecological meanings of the collision sounds made in association with spawning activities of the chubs and implies that the native chub's spawning activities may be affected by the introduced Z. platypus. More studies on the interactions between these cohabitated chubs will benefit the conservation of native chubs.

Does regional economic integration promote urban land use efficiency? Evidence from the Yangtze River Delta, China

In limited geographical space, improving urban land use efficiency (ULUE) can help cities achieve goals related to sustainable land use. In the era of regional economic integration, the interaction between cities has increased, affecting the urban land use within regions. In this way, regional economic integration has a significant impact on ULUE. However, previous works have overlooked the fact that economies with different urban scales have different levels of attractiveness to factors, which renders regional factor flow unidirectional. By strengthening the one-way flow of regional factors, regional economic integration has different impacts on different cities' ULUEs. In order to bridge these gaps, we divided the 29 cities in the Yangtze River Delta into two types by urban scale, and discussed the impact of government integration strategies with the help of the two-stage least squares method (2SLS). Empirical results show that regional economic integration can significantly increase ULUE. The ULUE in large cities has been improved considering scale and technology, while those in small cities have only been improved with respect to technology. It was also found that governments' strategies can promote economic integration. This shows that the government should treat regional integration as a strategic goal, guide cities at all levels to actively participate in it and make efforts to achieve high-quality coordinated development.

Binary Surfactant-Mediated Tunable Nanotip Growth on Gold Nanoparticles and Applications in Photothermal Catalysis.

Plasmonic nanostructures with sharp tips are widely used for optical signal enhancement because of their strong light-confining abilities. These structures have a wide range of potential applications, for example, in sensing, bioimaging, and surface-enhanced Raman scattering. Au nanoparticles, which are important plasmonic materials with high photothermal conversion efficiencies in the visible to near-infrared region, have contributed greatly to the development of photothermal catalysis. However, the existing methods for synthesizing nanostructures with tips need the assistance of poly(vinylpyrrolidone), thiols, or biomolecules. This greatly hinders signal detection because of stubborn residues. Here, we propose an efficient binary surfactant–mediated method for controlling nanotip growth on Au nanoparticle surfaces. This avoids the effects of surfactants and can be used with other Au nanostructures. The Au architecture tip growth process can be controlled well by adjusting the ratio of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide to hexadecyltrimethylammonium chloride. This is due to the different levels of attraction between Br−/Cl− and Au3+ ions. The surface-enhanced Raman scattering and catalytic abilities of the synthesized nanoparticles with tips were evaluated by electromagnetic simulation and photothermal catalysis experiments (with 4-nitrothiophenol). The results show good potential for use in surface-enhanced Raman scattering applications. This method provides a new strategy for designing plasmonic photothermal nanostructures for chemical and biological applications.

Vertical distribution of Bemisia tabaci on soybean and attractiveness of cultivars

AbstractThe reduction in the number and frequency of insecticide applications in transgenic crops has favored population outbreaks of Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) in various Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner) soybean cultivars [Glycine max (L.) Merrill; Fabaceae], reflecting the fact that plants have different levels of attractiveness to insects. The identification of Bt soybean cultivars resistant to whitefly represents a viable and effective control alternative. The objective of this study was to characterize the vertical distribution of insects on the plant and to identify Bt soybean cultivars less attractive to B. tabaci. The insects used were collected in tomato crops, and the whitefly population was maintained on leaf cabbage plants. Fifteen soybean cultivars were evaluated to determine attractiveness to whitefly. Soybean plants were stratified into upper, middle, and lower thirds. Multiple‐choice and no‐choice bioassays were carried out with the 15 cultivars. Subsequently, 10 cultivars were selected for a new multiple‐choice assay. The parameters evaluated were the number of adults per leaflet and number of eggs cm−2; the degree of colonization by nymphs was determined only in the multiple‐choice assay. The density and length of trichomes of the 15 cultivars were also characterized. It was shown that the upper third of the plant was the most attractive, having the largest number of adults and colonizing nymphs. The cultivars BRS 9280RR, M 8808, and M 8644IPRO showed low levels of B. tabaci infestation by adults, eggs, and nymphs in the bioassays performed. There was a negative correlation between trichome length and density with the number of adults, eggs, and degree of colonization by nymphs. The vertical distribution and attractiveness of soybean cultivars to whitefly are discussed.

Isolation and identification of attractants from the pupae of three lepidopteran species for the parasitoid Chouioia cunea Yang.

Chouioia cunea Yang (Hymenoptera: Eulophidae) is a parasitic wasp and natural enemy of several lepidopteran pests during their pupal stage. The volatiles from pupae of three hosts, Hyphantria cunea (Arctiidae), Antheraea pernyi (Saturniidae) and Lymantria dispar (Erebidae), were analyzed and compared to elucidate the chemical cues used by C. cunea to locate its hosts. The attraction of C. cunea to H. cunea pupae has no obvious association with the types of plant leaves consumed by H. cunea before pupation. C. cunea exhibited the strongest attraction to the pupae of H. cunea, followed by those of A. pernyi and L. dispar based on behavioral experiments. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and GC-electroantennography (GC-EAD) analyses showed that these three host pupae consisted of essentially the same active volatile components but at different relative amounts. Active components derived from these pupae by GC-EAD were alkanes from C12 to C27, and C. cunea showed different levels of attraction to different single compounds. Host location by C. cunea primarily depends on common compounds emanating from the pupae of several host species. The relative amount of each component varies across host species, guiding host preferences by C. cunea. Optimal blends of several components were identified. Understanding the chemical cues used by C. cunea to locate its host could increase the possibility of developing attractants for parasitic wasps and subsequently increasing the parasitism rate of C. cunea on various hosts. © 2019 Society of Chemical Industry.

The Effects of Facial Attractiveness and Familiarity on Facial Expression Recognition.

The classic theory of face perception holds that the invariant (e.g., identity and race) and variant (e.g., expression) dimensions of face information are independent of one another. Two separate neural systems are involved in face processing. However, the dynamic theory of face perception indicates that these two neural systems interact bidirectionally. Accordingly, by using the emotion categorization task and morph movies task, we investigated the influence of facial attractiveness on facial expression recognition and provided further evidence supporting the dynamic theory of face perception in both the static and dynamic contexts. In addition, this research used familiar celebrities (including actors, television personalities, politicians, and comedians) and explored the role of familiarity in face perception. In two experiments, the participants were asked to assess the expressions of faces with different levels of attractiveness and different levels of familiarity. We found that regardless of being in a static or dynamic face situation, happy expressions on attractive faces can be recognized more quickly, highlighting the advantage of happy expression recognition. Moreover, in static and dynamic familiar face situations, familiarity has a greater impact on expression recognition, and the influence of attraction on expression recognition may be weakened or even unaffected. Our results show that facial attractiveness influences the recognition of facial expressions in both static and dynamic contexts and highlight the importance of familiarity in face perception.

Expectations and service quality: perceived performance at low-season events

Purpose Events play a strategic role to attract tourist flows especially during the low season. The purpose of this paper is to explore the gap between consumers’ expectations and actual satisfaction at cultural events. Design/methodology/approach A principal components analysis identifies a set of orthogonal factors related to visitors’ expectations and actual satisfaction at two different events. The empirical data were collected during two events. The geographical setting is Sardinia (Italy) where two important cultural events are held in the low season: the Cavalcata (held at the end of May) and the Sartiglia (held during Carnival). A representative random sample is collected taking into account gender, age and visitors’ nationality heterogeneity (Italian, English-speakers, French and Spanish). Findings Some homogeneous findings have been obtained for the two events, regardless of the different levels of attractiveness. Notably, both the events are perceived as authentic and as the expression of identity. On the whole, the empirical results indicate that the events were able to generate high levels of satisfaction. Research limitations/implications The main limitation of this research is that the data refer to only one year, while a wider time series could allow a more accurate evaluation of both the expectations and the performance results deriving from the management of the two events. The findings provide directions to local policy makers to adopt tailored strategies to boost strengths and to contrast weaknesses of low season events. Practical implications The methodological approach presented in this paper helps practitioners and policy makers to deepen their understanding of visitors’ actual experience as well as to improve the overall quantity and quality of services offered during the events. Social implications An in-depth analysis of the perceived quality of the services provided at events can allow public and private organizers to identify critical issues, enabling them to improve event planning, efficiency, profitability and overall performance. Originality/value This paper employs an “Importance-Performance” model (Martilla and James, 1977; Riviezzo et al., 2009) to study the gap between visitors’ expectations and their perceived performance in two events held during the low tourist season. Thanks to the use of an equivalent survey, the comparison offered the opportunity to highlight common features that allowed a generalization of results and a broader discussion.

Saliency Object Detection Based on Regions Merging and Its Application in Image Retrieval

In image retrieval, due to ignore the fact that different regions of the image have different levels of attraction to the human visual system in the traditional, so features are extracted of the entire image, result in the time is increased of the features matching. So we apply saliency object detection to image retrieval. However, extracting the saliency objects with complex background in the image is still a challenging problem. Thus we propose a region merging strategy to solve this problem. First, boundary super-pixels are clustered to generate the initial saliency map. Next, adjacent regions are merged by sorting the multiple feature values of each region. Finally, we get the final saliency map by merging regions by means of the distance from regions to the image center and the length of the boundary. After we apply the final saliency map to image retrieval. The experiments demonstrate that our method performs favorably on three datasets than state-of-art.

Preferential access to awareness of attractive faces in a breaking continuous flash suppression paradigm.

Facial attractiveness is a core facial attribute in social interactions. This study used a breaking continuous flash suppression (b-CFS) paradigm to investigate whether facial attractiveness can be processed unconsciously. In the b-CFS paradigm, a monocularly viewed visual stimulus is erased from visual awareness by rapidly flashing, high-contrast masks presented to the other eye. Faces with different levels of attractiveness but an emotionally neutral expression were presented under CFS, and the time taken to break CFS was measured. Our results demonstrated that attractive faces were detected more quickly than unattractive ones, indicating privileged processing of attractive faces (Experiment 1). This effect dissipated when facial images were scrambled to disrupt the face-like configuration (Experiment 2) but was still observed in cases of inverted faces (Experiment 3). These results indicate that preconscious processing of facial attractiveness requires a face-like configuration but does not necessarily require information about precise metrical relationships between facial features.

The importance of an ecologically valid method in the evaluation of toddler interaction with coloured liquid laundry detergent capsules.

The colour and appearance of liquid laundry capsules have been implicated in the risk of attracting the attention of toddlers, and therefore contributing to poisoning incidents in the home by encouraging interaction. This research set out to explore if differences in colours and contrasting colour designs used in mono and multi-coloured capsules result in different levels of attractiveness. This was performed using two study settings: a laboratory setting (out of context), and by comparison, a more ecologically valid setting, mimicking the real-world. Capsule attractiveness to toddlers was measured by visual attention (measured through eye tracking) and grasping choice (measured as frequency of grasping in a behavioural task). Results from the research in the out of context setting showed statistically significant differences in visual attention and grasping choice between colours and contrasting designs. In the visual attention study a preference for multi-coloured capsules was shown. In the grasping choice study, in addition to multi-coloured, mono-coloured white or purple capsules were also preferred. In the more ecologically valid setting, there were no statistically significant differences in the visual attention or grasping choice between any of the capsules. These results were consistent with each other and in line with market data reflecting poisoning incident rates, which show no change with colour or contrasting colour design. We suggest that the results from out of context studies might not be a reliable indicator of real world behaviour. Given the importance of toddler home safety, using a methodology that is aligned with market numbers is crucial to develop countermeasures.

A Study of Creating Face Photographs Set Including Different Levels of Attractiveness.

This study was aimed to create a set of photographs including human faces with neutral expression and different levels of attractiveness that can be utilized scientifically by different disciplines and for different scopes. In total, 186 students (120 females, 66 males) volunteered to be photographed in passport style with a neutral expression. In these pictures there was no make-up, earring, or piercing. These photographs were evaluated by the participants for the neutrality and attractiveness. The secondary sex characteristics of the faces were also assessed. Symmetrical faces were created by taking the mirror image of the right and left sides of the faces because sufficient number of photographs could not be obtained at the first stage. According to the evaluations of these photographs by the participants, 26 attractive (13 females, 13 males) and 26 average (13 females, 13 male) faces were selected for the final set. Finally, a set of 52 photographs representing human faces with neutral expression with different levels of attractiveness is developed. According to the measurement of the secondary sexual characteristics, attractive and average faces differ in terms of the width of the eyes, the nasal area, and the length of the chin. Thus, a scientific-based FaceSet including different levels of the attractiveness has been available for the use by those concerned.

Measuring Neural Responses to Apparel Product Attractiveness

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to investigate a neural mechanism of apparel product attractiveness and (b) to compare consumers’ brain responses to apparel product attractiveness with their self-reported responses. Based on Davidson’s frontal asymmetry theory, the researchers explored whether hemispheric asymmetry actually exists when consumers view apparel products with different levels of attractiveness. A total of 34 right-handed college students participated in the electroencephalography experiment. Measurements were obtained by recording the electrical activity of the left and right frontal areas of the brain while subjects were viewing apparel products. Supporting Davidson’s theory, the researchers found that a statistically significant difference of frontal asymmetry exists between attractive and unattractive apparel products. The findings of this study suggest that the frontal asymmetry score can be an alternative way to measure consumers’ unconscious responses to apparel product attractiveness.

Exact Solution Methods for a Generalized Assignment Problem with Location/Allocation Considerations

We investigate modeling approaches and exact solution methods for a generalized assignment problem with location/allocation (GAPLA) considerations. In contrast with classical generalized assignment problems, each knapsack in GAPLA is discretized into consecutive segments having different levels of attractiveness. To maximize a total reward function, the decision maker decides not only about item knapsack assignments, but also the specific location of items within their assigned knapsacks and their total space allocation within prespecified lower and upper bounds. Mathematical programming formulations are developed for single and multiple knapsack variants of this problem along with valid inequalities, preprocessing routines, and model enhancements. Further, a branch-and-price algorithm is devised for a set partitioning reformulation of GAPLA, and is demonstrated to yield substantial computational savings over solving the original formulation using branch-and-bound/cut solvers such as CPLEX over challenging problem instances.

Understanding museum visitors’ experience: a comparative study

Purpose– The purpose of this paper is to examine museum visitors’ experience. The objective of the research is to explore preferences, behaviour, overall. This study experience and the determinants on repeated visits to two heritage sites. In particular, a more comprehensive regression approach is introduced and employed to compare results at two regional museums.Design/methodology/approach– First, a factor analysis identifies a set of orthogonal factors related to visitors’ perceptions on their positive and negative experiences at two different museums. Second, a two-step cluster analysis is implemented to identify specific demand segments. Third, a regression analysis reveals the key determinants that influence visitors’ perceptions on the quality of services provided at the cultural sites. The empirical data were collected at two archaeological museums located in Sardinia and Trentino Alto Adige (Italy).Findings– On the whole, some homogeneous findings have been obtained for the two cultural sites, regardless of the different levels of attractiveness exerted by these two museums. Moreover, the outcomes highlight that the two museums need to be reinterpreted and reorganised with the provision of supplementary services, able to satisfy a broader audience, and enriching their traditional mission that is to collect, preserve and exhibit the archaeological heritage.Practical implications– The methodological approach presented in this paper is for practitioners and curators to deepen their understanding of their consumers and to improve the overall quantity and quality of services offered.Originality/value– This paper presents a novel and integrated approach to investigate customers’ experience and their needs with the aim of improving the overall quality of the services provided at the museum. The proposed methodology is used to analyse multidimensional aspects of the visit to a cultural site. Within the literature on museum marketing and management, this methodological framework can be regarded as an alternative approach to analyse visitors’ experience, characteristics, behaviour, preferences and to elicit specific characteristics of different segments of demand.

Characterizing volatiles and attractiveness of five brassicaceous plants with potential for a 'push-pull' strategy toward the cabbage root fly, Delia radicum.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released by plants are involved in various orientation processes of herbivorous insects and consequently play a crucial role in their reproductive success. In the context of developing new strategies for crop protection, several studies have previously demonstrated the possibility to limit insect density on crops using either host or non-host plants that release attractive or repellent VOCs, respectively. The cabbage root fly, Delia radicum, is an important pest of brassicaceous crops for which control methods have to be implemented. Several studies have shown that plant odors influence cabbage root fly behavior, but only few VOCs have been identified so far. The present study aimed at selecting both plants and olfactory stimuli that could be used in the development of a "push-pull" strategy against the cabbage root fly. Olfactometer results revealed that plants belonging to the same family, even to the same species, may exhibit different levels of attractiveness toward D. radicum. Plants that were found attractive in behavioral observations were characterized by high release rates of distinct terpenes, such as linalool, β-caryophyllene, humulene, and α-farnesene. This study represents a first step to identify both attractive plants of agronomic interest, and additional volatiles that could be used in the context of trap crops to protect broccoli fields against the cabbage root fly.

The effects of facial attractiveness and perceiver's mate value on adaptive allocation of central processing resources

Faces capture cognitive resources, and more attractive faces capture more resources. But to be of adaptive value this proportionality should be modulated by properties of the perceiver, including their own level of attractiveness. Here we investigated the allocation of central processing resources for perceivers at different levels of mating market value (high, low) in response to target faces of different levels of attractiveness (attractive, unattractive). We tracked attention allocation by measuring event-related brain potentials (ERPs) from the scalp of men while they viewed and rated images of women's faces. As expected, a main effect of attractiveness was found such that attractive faces garnered the largest brain responses. However, perceiver's market value and target face attractiveness interacted, as brain responses to unattractive faces were significantly larger in the low-market-value condition compared to the high-market-value condition, whereas responses to attractive faces were stable across market values. Thus, for men at least, allocation of attention is adaptively modulated by both the attractiveness of a target face and their own market value. The more attractive an individual perceives themselves to be, the less processing resources they appear to devote to the unattractive faces in their environment.

Body Mass Index and Physical Attractiveness: Evidence From a Combination Image-Alteration/List Experiment

The list experiment is used to detect latent beliefs when researchers suspect a substantial degree of social desirability bias from respondents. This methodology has been used in areas ranging from racial attitudes to political preferences. Meanwhile, social psychologists interested in the salience of physical attributes to social behavior have provided respondents with experimentally altered photographs to test the influence of particular visual cues or traits on social evaluations. This experimental research has examined the effect of skin blemishes, hairlessness, and particular racial attributes on respondents’ evaluation of these photographs. While this approach isolates variation in particular visual characteristics from other visual aspects that tend to covary with the traits in question, it fails to adequately deal with social desirability bias. This shortcoming is particularly important when concerned with potentially charged visual cues, such as body mass index (BMI). The present article describes a novel experiment that combines the digital alteration of photographs with the list experiment approach. When tested on a nationally representative sample of Internet respondents, results suggest that when shown photographs of women, male respondents report differences in levels of attractiveness based on the perceived BMI of the photographed confederate. Overweight individuals are less likely than their normal weight peers to report different levels of attractiveness between high-BMI and low-BMI photographs. Knowing that evaluations of attractiveness influence labor market outcomes, the findings are particularly salient in a society with rising incidence of obesity.

Free energy landscapes for colloidal crystal assembly

We compute free energy landscapes (FELs) for tunable depletion attraction between micron sized colloids for which the potentials, microscopic phase behavior, and microstructure have been directly measured in previous work. Umbrella sampling in conjunction with NVT Monte Carlo (MC) simulations is used to construct FELs that capture important fluid and crystalline states observed in Stokesian Dynamic (SD) and Brownian Dynamic (BD) simulations using the same depletion potential. Order parameters are identified to produce 1D and 2D FELs at different levels of attraction that indicate transition states and local minima along assembly trajectories towards a perfect FCC crystal. Our results demonstrate a modeling approach that could be used in conjunction with microscopic sensing and actuation (e.g. tunable attraction) to obtain low-defect, single domain, colloidal crystals.