Surgical and Camouflage Orthodontic Treatment of Anterior Open Bite: Comparison of Profile Attractiveness.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the profile's attractiveness between the different protocols for treating the anterior open bite. METHODS: The sample comprised 39 patients with anterior open bite treated with or without extractions, divided into two groups: The surgical group (G1) comprised 21 subjects (10 males, 11 females) with a mean initial age of 21.86 years (SD = 5.09), treated with fixed orthodontic appliance followed by orthognathic surgery, for a total mean period of 2.53 years (SD = 0.61). The mean overbite was -5.01 mm (SD = 2.50); The camouflaged group (G2) comprised 18 subjects (9 males, 9 females), with a mean initial age of 20.47 years (SD = 4.19), treated only with fixed orthodontic appliance, for a total mean period of 2.56 years (SD = 0.94). The mean overbite was -4.28 mm (SD = 1.15). Lateral photographs from pretreatment and posttreatment were used. These photographs were evaluated by 46 laypeople and 67 dentists, who rated the attractiveness of each profile from 0 (most unattractive profile) to 10 (most attractive profile). Intergroup comparisons were performed with independent t-tests. RESULTS: Both groups presented improvement in the profile attractiveness with treatment (p < 0.001). Before treatment, the profile of the surgical group was significantly less attractive than the profile of the camouflaged group (p < 0.001). The surgical presented a more attractive profile at the final stage than the camouflaged group (p < 0.001). The surgical group showed a greater improvement in profile attractiveness with treatment than the camouflaged group (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: In the final stage, the surgical presented a more attractive and greater improvement in profile attractiveness than the camouflaged group. The laypeople and dentists judged similarly the initial profile attractiveness.

Estereótipos raciais e atratividade física facial: explorando suas implicações nas avaliações morais em saúde / Racial stereotypes and facial physical attractiveness: exploring their implications in moral assessments in healthcare

Resumo Neste estudo com 333 participantes, investigamos como estereótipos raciais e atratividade facial impactam as avaliações morais na área de saúde. Utilizamos imagens de rostos com diferentes níveis de atratividade em cenários de dilemas morais, realizando análises estatísticas, como ANOVA e ANCOVA, para examinar essas interações complexas. Descobrimos que a atratividade física influencia positivamente as avaliações morais apenas em cenários de baixo conflito moral, não se aplicando a situações de alto conflito ou impessoais. A relação entre a cor da pele autodeclarada e o sexo dos participantes só se confirmou em um cenário específico, destacando a complexidade dessas influências. As hipóteses três e quatro, que sugeriam que as identidades racial e moral dos participantes suprimiriam os efeitos dos estereótipos raciais e da atratividade facial, não foram confirmadas. Entretanto, observou-se que o perfil étnico dos rostos, junto com a motivação dos participantes para controlar preconceitos, influenciou positivamente as avaliações morais. Esses resultados são interpretados à luz de teorias sobre atração interpessoal, julgamento moral e relações intergrupais, fornecendo insights importantes para as complexas dinâmicas que moldam as avaliações morais na área da 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.

Economic Decisions, Attractiveness, and Intrasexual Competition during Menstrual Cycle in the Ultimatum Game.

Introduction: it seems that, in the phase of greatest fertility, women's intrasexual competition (toward attractive women who live nearby) increases due to access to resources, status, and biologically desirable partners. Objective: to compare the economic decisions (ED) during the ovulatory (OP) and luteal (LP) phases of the menstrual cycle (MC) with exposure to two stimuli: a photograph of a more attractive woman and a photograph of a less attractive woman, through the ultimatum game (UG). Methodology: the research followed a cross-sectional design between subjects to see group differences by contrasting hypotheses. The sampling was probabilistic, with a sample of 100 heterosexual women, students at a public university with an age range of 18 to 24 years, with regular MC, who did not use hormonal contraceptive methods and did not have any endocrine condition. The inverse counting method with confirmation was applied to identify CM phases; and the UG to evaluate the DE. Results: the phases of the MC had no effect on the ED; the women behaved similarly in their decisions, regardless of the phase of the cycle they were in or the type of stimulus to which they were exposed. Conclusion: OP and LP do not affect the ED of women when they are exposed to an attractive stimulus. The discussion is made considering the evolutionary theory of the ovulatory shift hypothesis.

Introducción: parece ser que, en su fase de mayor fertilidad, la competencia intrasexual de la mujer (con mujeres atractivas y que viven cerca) aumenta por el acceso a recursos, estatus y parejas biológicamente deseables. Objetivo: comparar las decisiones económicas (DE) en las fases ovulatoria (FO) y lútea (FL) del ciclo menstrual (CM) con exposición a dos estímulos: fotografía de una mujer de mayor atractivo y fotografía de una mujer de menor atractivo, a través del juego del ultimátum (UG). Metodología: la investigación tuvo un diseño cross-sectional entre sujetos para ver diferencia de grupos mediante contraste de hipótesis. El muestreo fue probabilístico, con una muestra de 100 mujeres heterosexuales, estudiantes de una universidad pública con un rango de edad de 18 a 24 años, con CM regulares, que no usaran métodos anticonceptivos hormonales y no tuvieran ninguna afección endocrina. Resultados: las fases del CM no tuvieron efectos sobre las DE; las mujeres se comportaron de forma similar en sus decisiones, sin importar la fase del ciclo en la que se encontraban o el tipo de estímulo al que fueron expuestas. Conclusión: las FO y FL no afectan las DE de las mujeres cuando son expuestas a un estímulo atractivo. La discusión se hace a la luz de la teoría evolutiva de la hipótesis del cambio ovulatorio.

Cuteness and the Power of Emotion.

Background: There is an agreement among individuals from different cultures in how they judge the cuteness of a face. There are observations suggesting that some preferences may be neurobiological rather than cultural. Most of the studies conducted use adult faces with a neutral expression; however, the mechanisms involved in rating cuteness are not exactly the same as those involved in the perception of attractiveness. Furthermore, it is not always taken into account that emotional expressions influence the impression on the beauty of a face. The objective of the study is to evaluate the influence of the different emotions on the perception of cuteness of children's faces. Materials and Methods: We included 60 adults and 21 children who observed 150 photographs of children's faces expressing the six basic emotions and had to rate facial cuteness. Results: Participants gave the highest cuteness score to faces with happy emotions (mean [M] = 6.89, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.48-7.30) and the lowest to those that expressed negative emotions (M = 5.32, 95% CI 4.87-5.78, t(160) = 5.08, P <.001). This was evidenced in adults and children of both genders, regardless of the gender of the stimulus. Conclusions: In our study, we found that facial expression generates an impact on the perception that a subject has on the cuteness of the face. The faces that show happiness were scored as more cute compared to those that expressed anger, disgust, or sadness. We suggest that expression of positive emotions, like a smile, could increase the conducts associated with caring, placing the child in a more favorable situation for the future.

Semiochemical delivery systems based on natural polymers to attract sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae).

BACKGROUND: The successful use of semiochemicals to attract insects to traps is based on research on the most suitable compounds and their release profiles over time. Based on the group's promising results, matrices with a more adequate release profile and more eco-friendly properties for the release of 1-hexanol were developed. To use a more suitable prototype in the field, the most promising systems were added to a capsule and evaluated in a wind tunnel. Behavioral experiments were performed using the sand fly species, Lutzomyia longipalpis, to evaluate the efficacy of the proposed system. METHODS: Different delivery systems were developed by varying the polymer (gellan gum and pectin) ratio, crosslinker (aluminum chloride) concentration, and glutaraldehyde removal.The delivery systems were loaded with 1-hexanol, and their release profiles were evaluated using gravimetric analysis under ambient and high-humidity conditions. When the matrix system was placed inside a plastic container, modulations in the active release profile were observed and the system could be reused. Actid attraction behaviors of the sand fly species, Lu. longipalpis, were evaluated in a wind tunnel when exposed to 1-hexanol-loaded release systems at different times. RESULTS: Among the four formulations evaluated, System 2 (gellan gum and pectin in a 1:1 ratio with 5% aluminum chloride) exhibited the most promising release profile, with greater uniformity and longer compound release time. The maximum 1-hexanol release uniformity was achieved over a longer time, mainly every 24 h, under both ambient and high-humidity conditions. System 2 can be reused at least once with the same structure. The wind tunnel trials exhibited efficient activation and attraction of Lu. longipalpis to 1-hexanol after 24, 48, and 72 h in System 2 placed inside the capsules. CONCLUSIONS: The polymeric matrix supplemented with 1-hexanol and introduced in plastic capsules showed promising results in attracting sand flies. This system can be used as a solution for other attractive compounds as well as in other applications where their release needs to be controlled or prolonged.

Pollen production per flower increases with floral display size across animal-pollinated flowering plants.

PREMISE: The number of open flowers on a plant (i.e., floral display size) can influence plant fitness by increasing pollinator attraction. However, diminishing marginal fitness returns with increasing floral display are expected as pollinators tend to visit more flowers per plant consecutively. An extended flower visitation sequence increases the fraction of ovules disabled by self-pollination (ovule discounting) and reduces the fraction of a plant's own pollen that is exported to sire seeds in other plants (pollen discounting). Hermaphroditic species with a genetic system that prevents self-fertilization (self-incompatibility) would avoid ovule discounting and its fitness cost, whereas species without such a genetically based barrier would not. Contrarily, pollen discounting would be an unavoidable consequence of a large floral display irrespective of selfing barriers. Nevertheless, the increasing fitness costs of ovule and pollen discounting could be offset by respectively increasing ovule and pollen production per flower. METHODS: We compiled data on floral display size and pollen and ovule production per flower for 1241 animal-pollinated, hermaphroditic angiosperm species, including data on the compatibility system for 779 species. We used phylogenetic general linear mixed models to assess the relations of pollen and ovule production to floral display size. RESULTS: Our findings provide evidence of increasing pollen production, but not of ovule production, with increasing display size irrespective of compatibility system and even after accounting for potentially confounding effects like flower size and growth form. CONCLUSIONS: Our comparative study supports the pollen-discount expectation of an adaptive link between per-flower pollen production and floral display across animal-pollinated angiosperms.

Behavioral responses of sand fly Nyssomyia neivai (Psychodidae: Phlebotominae) to 1-hexanol and light.

BACKGROUND: The search for attractive baits that may facilitate the capture of haematophagous insects has been epidemiologically relevant. Sand flies use chemical cues in different phases of their life cycles to find carbohydrate meals, mates, blood meals and oviposition sites. Few studies have related the behaviours of sand flies with volatile compounds that can influence their life cycles. Previous studies in our laboratory have shown that 1-hexanol released on filter paper is a good attractant for the sand fly Nyssomyia neivai, which is suspected in the transmission of the aetiologic agent of American cutaneous leishmaniasis. METHODS: In this study, we developed two release systems to modulated 1-hexanol release: system 1 contained gellan gum and pectin (4:1 ratio), 3% aluminium chloride and 1% glutaraldehyde; system 2 contained: gellan gum and pectin (4:1 ratio) and 3% aluminium chloride. After addition of 1-hexanol to each release system, trials were performed in a wind tunnel with Ny. neivai males and females (unfed, blood-fed and gravid) to evaluate activation and attraction responses. RESULTS: Males and unfed females showed the same response pattern to the systems. For both systems, the males and unfed females of the sand flies showed an activation response up to 24 h. The number of responsive gravid females was lower than unfed females for both systems. The blood-fed females showed no responses in any of the release systems. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that the state of the females (unfed, fed and gravid) can interfere with the sand fly responses to volatile compounds. Additionally, both systems evaluated with the compound showed effectiveness for sand fly attraction.

Makeup and Its Application Simulation Affect Women's Self-Perceptions.

Appearance modification is ancient, universal and influences other and self-perceptions. It has been rarely addressed how expectation of appearance modification would affect women's self-perception. We analyzed self-assessments of women without makeup and after having makeup professionally applied at four increasing levels (light, moderate, heavy 1, and heavy 2 makeup). In the simulation phase, women were treated with colorless cosmetics. Fifty Brazilian women (Mage = 24.26 years; SD = 5.53) rated themselves on attractiveness, health, self-esteem, femininity, satisfaction with appearance, age, dominance, confidence, and competence in all experimental conditions. Women in the simulation phase considered themselves more feminine, healthier, and with higher self-esteem than without makeup. In the real makeup phases, these ratings were higher than in the simulation phase. Appearance satisfaction and attractiveness did not differ between simulation and the real makeup phases, both being higher than without makeup. Confidence increased only in real makeup phases, but there was no effect on competence. Thus, real appearance modification and/or an expectation thereof can differently affect specific domains of self-evaluation.

Gestão participativa das partes interessadas em área de manancial: uma abordagem usando análise multicritério / Participatory management of stakeholders in spring area: an approach to multicriteria analysis

RESUMO A promulgação da Lei Federal n° 9.433, de 8 de janeiro de 1997, foi um marco político e técnico da gestão dos recursos hídricos no Brasil, ao instituir a Política Nacional de Recursos Hídricos, que, nos seus fundamentos, preconiza a gestão dos recursos hídricos descentralizada e a participação do Poder Público, dos usuários e das comunidades. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste artigo é estabelecer indicadores de sustentabilidade para a área de manancial do município de Paranavaí, no estado do Paraná, Brasil, usando uma abordagem de gestão participativa das partes interessadas associada a ferramentas de análise multicritério para auxílio à tomada de decisão. A área de manancial está inserida numa área de proteção ambiental (APA) denominada de APA Arara. Os métodos utilizados foram mapeamento cognitivo e measuring attractiveness by a categorical-based evaluation technique (MACBETH), aplicados durante uma conferência de decisão com a participação de diversos atores diretamente atingidos e fortemente interessados no tema, tais como órgãos gestores, produtores rurais, empresários do ramo imobiliário, vereadores, instituições de ensino superior etc. No fim da conferência de decisão, 14 indicadores foram definidos e seus pesos estabelecidos. Os resultados obtidos servem de subsídios para a gestão mais eficiente do recurso hídrico, pois conduziram à solução de maior comprometimento, ao envolver muitos atores representantes das partes interessadas. Além disso, mostraram que o uso combinado de mapas cognitivos e da abordagem MACBETH possibilitou a definição de indicadores de sustentabilidade para a APA de forma transparente e eficaz, demonstrando o sucesso na gestão participativa do recurso hídrico.

ABSTRACT The enactment of Federal Act nº 9433, on January 8th, 1997, was a political and technical milestone in water resources management in Brazil, by instituting the National Water Resources Policy which, in its foundations, stablishes decentralized management with the involvement of official authorities, customers and communities. In this context, the purpose of this paper is to set out sustainability indicators for a spring area in the municipality of Paranavaí, located in the state of Paraná, Brazil, using an approach based on the participatory management of stakeholders associated with multi-criteria analysis tools for decision-making support. The spring is located in an Environmental Protection Area, named APA Arara. The methodology consisted in cognitive mapping and the Measuring Attractiveness by a Categorical-Based Evaluation Technique (MACBETH) approach, applied during a decision conference attended by a number of agents directly affected by, and strongly interested in, the issue, such as managing agencies, rural producers, real estate businessmen, councilors, representatives of higher education institutions, among others. By the end of the decision conference, 14 indicators were defined and their weights stablished. The obtained results provide the basis for more efficient water resources management, as they led to the most committed solution by involving many different stakeholders. Furthermore, they showed that the combined use of cognitive maps and the MACBETH approach enabled the setting of sustainability indicators for the APA Arara in a transparent and effective way, emphasizing their success in the participatory water resources management.

Variability in human attractiveness to mosquitoes.

Blood-feeding mosquitoes locate humans spatially by detecting a combination of human-derived chemical signals, including carbon dioxide, lactic acid, and other volatile organic compounds. Mosquitoes use these signals to differentiate humans from other animals. Spatial abiotic factors (e.g. humidity, heat) are also used by mosquitoes to find a host. Mosquitoes cause discomfort and harm to humans, being vectors of many pathogens. However, not all humans suffer from mosquito bites with the same frequency or intensity. Some individuals are more attractive to mosquitoes than others, and this has an important impact on the risk of infection by pathogens transmitted by these vectors, such as arboviruses and malaria parasites. Variability in human attractiveness to mosquitoes is partially due to individual characteristics in the composition and intensity in the release of mosquito attractants. The factors that determine these particularities are diverse, modestly understood and still quite controversial. Thus, this review discusses the role of pregnancy, infection with malaria parasites (Plasmodium spp.), skin microbiota, diet, and genetics in human attractiveness to mosquitoes. In brief, pregnancy and Plasmodium infection increase the host attractiveness to mosquitoes. Skin microbiota and human genetics (especially HLA alleles) modulate the production of mosquito attractants and therefore influence individual susceptibility to these insects. There is evidence pointing to a role of diet on human susceptibility to mosquitoes, with some dietary components having a bigger influence than others. In the last part of the review, other factors affecting human-mosquito interactions are debated, with a special focus on the role of mosquito genetics, pathogens and environmental factors (e.g. wind, environmental disturbances). This work highlights that individual susceptibility to mosquitoes is composed of interactions of different human-associated components, environmental factors, and mosquito characteristics. Understanding the importance of these factors, and how they interact with each other, is essential for the development of better mosquito control strategies and studies focused on infectious disease dynamics.

The Attraction of Amazonian Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) to the Feces of Omnivorous Mammals Is Dependent on Their Diet: Implications for Ecological Monitoring.

The immense sampling effort used in ecological research on dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) has required large amounts of human feces to conduct experiments in the field. Thus, the amount of human feces available can be an important limiting factor for research. Therefore, dung from large omnivorous mammals, such as pig, has been used to reduce this limitation. Here, we evaluated how the type of diet can influence the attractiveness of omnivorous-mammal feces to Amazonian dung beetles. We sampled dung beetles in 10 fragments of Amazon rainforest in July 2018 (dry season) and March 2019 (rainy season), using pitfall traps baited with swill pig dung (household waste-based diet), grain pig dung (maize+soybean-based diet), and human feces (control) in Juína, Mato Grosso, Brazil. In all, 2,080 individuals from 51 species of dung beetles were collected. Between the pig dung evaluated, higher total abundance and species richness was captured with grain pig dung. However, the species composition and community structure were similar between pig dung types. Additionally, grain pig dung captured total species richness, species composition, and structure similar to that for human feces. Thus, although grain pig dung did not sample total abundance similar to human feces, this type of dung can be efficient for an accurate survey of the total species richness, species composition, and structure of dung beetles in the Amazon rainforest.

Sampling Flower Chafer Beetles (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) in the Amazon Rainforest: The Role of Bait Types and Trap Installation Heights.

The role of different bait types and trap installation heights for an accurate trapping of flower chafer beetles (Coleoptera: Cetoniidae) is still poorly understand worldwide, especially in the Neotropical region. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated how the type of bait and trap installation height can influence flower chafer beetle sampling in the Amazon rainforest. For this, we sampled flower chafer beetles monthly from June to December 2019 in five Amazon forest fragments, in Juína, Mato Grosso, Brazil. In each collecting fragment, we installed aerial traps at different heights (i.e., 1.5, 4.5, 7.5, and 10.5 m above ground) and randomly baited with 300 ml of each of the following bait types: banana + sugarcane juice mixture; pineapple + sugarcane juice mixture; beer; or red wine. We collected 412 individuals belonging to 12 species of Cetoniidae beetles. Traps baited with pineapple + sugarcane juice mixture captured greater abundance and species richness of flower chafer beetles. Moreover, traps at 4.5, 7.5, and 10.5 m caught a similar number of individuals and species, and significantly more than traps at 1.5 m. Thus, our results provide evidence that for an accurate sampling of flower chafer beetle assemblages in tropical forests, traps baited preferably with a ripe fruit (e.g., pineapple) and sugarcane juice mixture should are installed at least 4.5 m above ground.

Illegal trade of songbirds: an analysis of the activity in an area of northeast Brazil.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the chain and dynamics of the trade of wild birds between keepers and traders in an area of northeast Brazil. Profit from the purchase and sale of these animals in the trade chain was also estimated. METHODS: The information was obtained through interviews with direct participants in the wild bird trade chain. RESULTS: We recorded a total of 34 bird species involved in illegal trade. In general, the purchase and sale values of songbirds are associated with the attractiveness and songs of the birds. Regarding the commercial potential of the species, those with high numbers of traded individuals had higher average purchase values and, especially, sale values. Birds with lower purchase values showed higher sale profits and were sold in large numbers. The purchase and sale values of songbirds in the present study show a significant economic return for those involved in this activity. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study may provide data to support future studies on the conservation of wild birds, assisting in monitoring illegal trade, a persistent problem in the region studied.

Increased capture of Aedes aegypti (Linnaeus, 1762) (Diptera: Culicidae) by removing one ADULTRAP component

Abstract INTRODUCTION: Aedes aegypti is the main vector responsible for the transmission of numerous arboviruses. Adultrap® has been developed to catch these insects. METHODS: We tested the effectiveness of capturing adults with and without one of the components of Adultrap®. RESULTS: The mean number of insects caught by the original trap was 1.25 (standard deviation = 1.28), while the average obtained with the modified trap was 8.88 (standard deviation = 3.44). The medians were statistically different (p = 0.001) according to the Mann-Whitney test. CONCLUSIONS: The modification of Adultrap® increased the average catch of Ae. aegypti by up to seven times.

Vocal Parameters of Speech and Singing Covary and Are Related to Vocal Attractiveness, Body Measures, and Sociosexuality: A Cross-Cultural Study.

Perceived vocal attractiveness and measured sex-dimorphic vocal parameters are both associated with underlying individual qualities. Research tends to focus on speech but singing is another highly evolved communication system that has distinct and universal features with analogs in other species, and it is relevant in mating. Both speaking and singing voice provides relevant information about its producer. We tested whether speech and singing function as "backup signals" that indicate similar underlying qualities. Using a sample of 81 men and 86 women from Brazil and the Czech Republic, we investigated vocal attractiveness rated from speech and singing and its association with fundamental frequency (F0), apparent vocal tract length (VTL), body characteristics, and sociosexuality. F0, VTL, and rated attractiveness of singing and speaking voice strongly correlated within the same individual. Lower-pitched speech in men, higher-pitched speech and singing in women, individuals who like to sing more, and singing of individuals with a higher pitch modulation were perceived as more attractive. In men, physical size positively predicted speech and singing attractiveness. Male speech but not singing attractiveness was associated with higher sociosexuality. Lower-pitched male speech was related to higher sociosexuality, while lower-pitched male singing was linked to lower sociosexuality. Similarly, shorter speech VTL and longer singing VTL predicted higher sociosexuality in women. Different vocal displays function as "backup signals" cueing to attractiveness and body size, but their relation to sexual strategies in men and women differs. Both singing and speech may indicate evolutionarily relevant individual qualities shaped by sexual selection.

Assessment of Body Image, Sexual Function, and Attractiveness in Women With Genital Prolapse: A Cross-Sectional Study With Validation of the Body Image in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (BIPOP) Questionnaire.

INTRODUCTION: Women's sense of attractiveness and body image, and the impact of pelvic organ prolapse (POP) over these constructs, are likely influenced by social and cultural background. AIM: To evaluate sexual function and body image in women with POP, to compare the sense of attractiveness between women with and without POP, and to translate the Body Image in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (BIPOP) questionnaire into Brazilian Portuguese and validate it in this population. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study of 105 Brazilian women with POP, we administered the BIPOP (scored from 1 to 5, with higher scores indicating worse body image), the Female Sexual Function Inventory (FSFI) (scored from 2 to 36, with higher scores indicating lower risk for sexual dysfunction), and the Attractiveness subscale of the Body Attitudes Scale questionnaire (BAQ) (scored from 5 to 35, with higher score indicating better body image). We also included 100 control women who completed the BAQ Attractiveness subscale questionnaire. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: The main outcome measure included BIPOP, FSFI, and BAQ Attractiveness scores. RESULTS: Mean BIPOP scores were 3.09 ± 1.08 in women with any POP, 3.05 ± 1.00 in those with lesser-stage POP (1 or 2), and 3.13 ± 1.15 in those with advanced-stage POP (3 or 4). There were no significant differences in score according to prolapse staging (P = .71). FSFI scores were independently associated with BIPOP scores (ß = -0.052; P = .02). The mean scores for the BAQ Attractiveness subscale was 17.01 ± 4.07 in women with POP and 16.97 ± 4.60 in those without POP (P = .93). Older age was the sole characteristic associated with being sexually inactive in women with POP; regarding sexual function, a better body image and higher attractiveness scores were independently associated with a higher FSFI score. As for the Portuguese validation of the BIPOP instrument, the adapted version maintained good internal consistency (α = 0.908), good reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient, 0.94), and adequate construct validity. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Women with POP may not relate sexual function or attractiveness to POP extension. An impaired body image is associated with worse perception of attractiveness and increased risk for sexual dysfunction. STRENGTH & LIMITATIONS: As strengths, we used a specific genital body image scale, and this is first study of its kind among Brazilian women. As for weaknesses, we encountered low educational levels in the women with POP. CONCLUSION: Among women with POP, the anatomic features of the prolapse do not seem to interfere with genital body image or with sexual function. In addition, the presence of POP was not associated with being sexually active or inactive. Moroni RM, da Silva Lara LA, Ferreira CHJ, et al. Assessment of Body Image, Sexual Function, and Attractiveness in Women With Genital Prolapse: A Cross-Sectional Study With Validation of the Body Image in the Pelvic Organ Prolapse (BIPOP) Questionnaire. J Sex Med 2019;16:126-136.

Relationship between facial attractiveness and pupil diameter in young adults / Relação entre a atratividade facial e diâmetro pupilar em adultos jovens / Relación entre atratividad facial y diámetro de la pupila en adultos jóvenes

The objective of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between pupil diameter and facial attractiveness. Participated in the study 60 young adults (30 men and 30 women) between 18 and 26 years of age (M=20.65, SD=2.20). Ten different unfamiliar neutral faces (five men and five women) were used as stimuli. The pupil diameter of each face was manipulated with pupil diameters of 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6mm (10 faces x5 pupil diameters=50 stimuli). A two-step study was carried out with the same sample and the same sets of faces, seeking to understand the difference of responses between subjects of both sexes. In phase I, result indicated a significant difference in relation to the pupil diameter factor for both the men (ꭓ²=21.93, p<.05) and the women (ꭓ²=44.73, p<.05). In phase II, the results indicated significant differences in relation to the pupil size [F(1, 234)=19.06, p<0.05]. The post-hoc Tukey HSD test showed that both the men and the women differently judged the faces with a pupil diameter of 2mm in relation to the faces with pupil diameters of 3, 4, 5 and 6mm (p<.05). Also, a significant difference between the diameter of 5mm in relation to the diameter of 3mm (p<.05). In general, the results indicate that the pupil diameter is a structural component of the human face that plays an important role in the process of judging facial attractiveness.

O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar a relação entre o diâmetro da pupila e a atratividade facial. Participaram da pesquisa 60 jovens com idade entre 18 e 26 anos. Foram utilizadas dez faces de adultos jovens, manipulou-se o diâmetro de cada pupila com variações de 2, 3, 4, 5 e 6mm. Realizou-se um estudo em duas etapas: na fase I, o resultado indicou diferença significativa para o fator de diâmetro pupilar tanto para homens quanto para mulheres (p<0,05). Na fase II, os resultados indicaram diferenças significativas em relação ao tamanho da pupila (p<0,05). O teste post-hoc Tukey mostrou que tanto os homens quanto as mulheres avaliaram diferentemente as faces com diâmetro pupilar de 2mm (p<0,05). Em geral, os resultados indicam que o diâmetro da pupila é um componente da face humana que desempenha um importante função no processo de julgamento da atratividade facial.

El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar si existe una relación entre el diámetro pupilar y el atractivo facial. Participaron en la estudio 60 adultos jóvenes (30 hombres y 30 mujeres) entre 18 y 26 años de edad (M=20.65, DE=2.20). Se utilizaron como estímulos diez rostros neutrales desconocidos diferentes (cinco hombres y cinco mujeres). El diámetro de la pupila de cada cara se manipuló con diámetros de pupila de 2, 3, 4, 5 y 6mm (10 caras x5 diámetros de pupila=50 estímulos). Se realizó un estudio en dos etapas con la misma muestra y los mismos conjuntos de caras buscando entender la diferencia de respuestas entre sujetos de ambos sexos. En la fase I, el resultado indicó una diferencia significativa en relación al factor de diámetro de la pupila tanto para los hombres (ꭓ²=21.93, p <0.05) como para las mujeres (ꭓ²=44.73, p<0.05). En la fase II, los resultados indicaron diferencias significativas en relación al tamaño de la pupila [F(1, 234)=19,06, p<0,05]. La prueba post-hoc de Tukey HSD mostró que tanto los hombres como las mujeres evaluaron de manera diferente las caras con un diámetro pupilar de 2mm con respecto a las caras con diámetros pupilares de 3, 4, 5 y 6mm (p<0,05). Se observó una diferencia significativa entre el diámetro de 5mm en relación al diámetro de 3mm (p<0,05). En general, los resultados indican que el diámetro de la pupila es un componente estructural de la cara humana que desempeña una importante función en el proceso de juicio del atractivo facial.

Evaluation of the attractiveness of different gingival zeniths in smile esthetics

ABSTRACT Objective: To evaluate the smile attractiveness of different gingival zeniths by general dentists, orthodontists and laypersons and the esthetic perception in the symmetric and asymmetric changes in gingival zeniths. Methods: Posed photographs of five patients were taken and digitally manipulated in Keynote software, in the gingival zenith region, in increments of 0.5 to 1mm in maxillary central and lateral incisors, symmetrically and asymmetrically, in nine different ways for each patient. The photos were then uploaded to a website, where evaluators (general dentists, orthodontists and laypersons) could observe and vote according to their esthetic perception, scoring from 1 to 10, 1 being the least attractive and 10 the more attractive. Kruskal-Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests were used for comparison. Results: Asymmetric gingival zeniths were less attractive than symmetrical gingival zeniths; gingival zenith differences greater than 1mm were perceptible in the smile attractiveness, both by laypersons, general dentists and orthodontists. When comparing maxillary central incisors with maxillary lateral incisors, the aesthetic change performed in the central incisors are more perceptible than those performed in lateral incisors, both symmetrical and asymmetrical. In a general way, orthodontists and general dentists are more critical in the evaluation and perception of gingival zenith changes, with the laypersons perceiving this change only from 1mm of maxillary right central incisor asymmetrical change. Conclusions: Asymmetric gingival zeniths are less attractive than symmetrical ones. Gingival zenith differences greater than 1mm are perceptible in the smile attractiveness. Orthodontists and general dentists are more critical in evaluating smile esthetics.

RESUMO Objetivo: avaliar a atratividade e a percepção estética do sorriso com alterações simétricas e assimétricas dos zênites gengivais, por leigos, dentistas e ortodontistas. Métodos: foram tiradas fotografias posadas de cinco pacientes, de forma padronizada. Cada fotografia foi digitalmente manipulada no software Keynote, na região do zênite gengival, em incrementos de 0,5 a 1 mm, nos incisivos centrais e laterais superiores, de maneira simétrica e assimétrica, de nove formas diferentes para cada paciente. Posteriormente, essas fotografias foram dispostas em um website para que os avaliadores pudessem observá-las e, conforme sua percepção estética, dessem notas de 1 a 10, sendo 1 para pouco atrativa e 10 para muito atrativa. Foram utilizados os testes Kruskal-Wallis e Mann-Whitney para as comparações. Resultados: os zênites gengivais assimétricos foram considerados menos atrativos do que os simétricos. Diferenças entre os zênites gengivais maiores que 1 mm foram perceptíveis na atratividade do sorriso por todos os grupos de avaliadores. Quando comparados os incisivos centrais e laterais superiores, as alterações estéticas feitas nos incisivos centrais foram mais perceptíveis do que as feitas nos laterais, tanto as simétricas quanto as assimétricas. Os ortodontistas e os clínicos gerais foram mais críticos ao avaliar e perceber as alterações, com os leigos percebendo essa mudança somente a partir de 1 mm de alteração assimétrica no incisivo central superior direito. Conclusões: zênites gengivais assimétricos são menos atrativos do que os simétricos. Diferenças nos zênites maiores que 1 mm são perceptíveis na atratividade do sorriso. Ortodontistas e clínicos gerais são mais críticos ao avaliar sorrisos.

Atratividade do sorriso: um método simples para melhorar a percepção visual do dentista: desenvolvimento e teste-piloto com estudantes de pós-graduação / Smile attractiveness: a simple method to improve the dentist's visual perception: development and pilot test with postgraduate students

Objetivos: melhorar a percepção do dentista sobre a atratividade do sorriso através de avaliações objetivas. Material e métodos: fotografias frontais de sorrisos (envolvendo a área dos caninos) foram aleatoriamente escolhidas e dispostas em dois sentidos verticais variados (nivelado, abaixo) numa guia personalizada contendo quatro molduras labiais do sorriso (fino, médio, grosso, invertido). Os aspectos que influenciam a atratividade do sorriso (PD = proporção dentária, PV = posicionamento vertical dentário, EL = espessura labial, FG = festonamento gengival) também foram incluídos e uma nota final geral atribuída ao sorriso geral (SG). Adicionalmente, o formulário do exercício continha a opção "existe um implante?" e "qual sua localização?". Todos os itens foram avaliados através de escalas de Likert. A prevalência de respostas foi calculada para cada item. O teste de Wilcoxon (alfa = 5%) foi usado para verificar a possibilidade de diferença de opinião entre os nivelamentos horizontais e para uma mesma moldura de sorriso. Os níveis de confiabilidade (concordância absoluta = ICC e responsividade = Cronbach alfa) também foram avaliados. Resultados: um teste-piloto foi conduzido com 16 estudantes. Trinta e duas combinações foto/moldura labial foram geradas e apresentadas de forma randomizada. A avaliação geral do sorriso ficou em: pobre (11/32), mediano (6/32), bom (15/32) e muito bom (1/32). O número de acertos da possível posição do implante foi 13 em 32 tentativas. Diferenças estatisticamente significativas entre os nivelamentos foram observadas nas situações 1/17 (p=0,0001), 13/29 (p=0,02), 2/18 (p=0,0002), 6/22 (p=0,0001), 14/30 (p=0,0001), 7/23 (p=0,01) e 15/31 (p=0,039). Os maiores coeficientes de ICC e Cronbach alfa foram vistos para o sorriso geral e FG. Conclusão: a percepção visual do dentista pode ser treinada mudando-se a moldura labial e o nivelamento vertical dos dentes e é influenciada pelo festonamento gengival. O teste se mostrou útil na verificação da atratividade do sorriso.

Objectives: to improve the perception of the dentist on the smile attractiveness through objective evaluations. Material and methods: frontal photographs of smiles (involving the canine area) were randomly chosen and arranged in two different vertical directions (leveled, below) in a personalized guide containing four lip architectures (thin, medium, thick, inverted). The aspects that infl uence the smile attractiveness (PD = dental proportion, PV = vertical tooth position, EL = lip thickness, GS = gingival scalloping) were also included and a general final score attributed to the general smile (SA). Additionally, the exercise form contained questions such as "is there an implant?" and "what is your location?". All items were assessed using Likert scales. The prevalence of responses was calculated for each item. The Wilcoxon test was used to verify the possibility of differences between the horizontal leveling for the same smile architecture. The reliability levels (absolute agreement = ICC and responsiveness = Cronbach alpha) were also evaluated. Results: a pilot test was conducted with 16 students. Thirty-two photos/lip architecture combinations were generated and presented at random. The overall smile rating was: poor (11/32), average (6/32), good (15/32), and very good (1/32). The number of positive responses for implant position was 13 in 32 trials. Statistically significant differences were observed in the combinations 1/17 (p=0.0001), 13/29 (p=0.02), 2/18 (p=0.0002), 6/22 (p=0.0001), 14/30 (p=0.0001), 7/23 (p=0.01) and 15/31 (p=0.039). The highest ICC and Cronbach alpha values were seen for the general smile attractiveness (SA) and GS. Conclusion: the visual perception can be trained by changing the lip architecture and vertical leveling of the teeth and is influenced by gingival scalloping. This test proved to be useful in verifying the smile attractiveness.

Optimising Methods for Dung Beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Sampling in Brazilian Pastures.

Dung beetles are globally used in ecological research and are useful for assessing the effects of anthropic and natural changes in environment on biodiversity. Here we investigate how the choice of baits (human feces, cattle dung, carrion or a combination of all three) and sampling season influence the taxonomic and functional diversity of insects captured in traps in Brazilian pastures. We sampled dung beetles in July 2011 (dry season) and January 2012 (rainy season) in eight areas: four pastures with native grasses (e.g., Andropogon spp. and Axonopus spp.) and four pastures with introduced grasses (Urochloa spp.) in Aquidauana, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. To collect the insects, we used pitfall traps baited with carrion, cattle dung and human feces. A total of 7,086 dung beetles of 32 species were captured. In both pasture types, only traps baited with human feces captured similar abundance, species richness, and functional diversity compared with the sum total of beetles captured by the three bait types. The species richness and functional diversity were higher in the rainy season in both pasture types. Our results demonstrate that using human feces alone as bait and sampling dung beetles in the rainy season are potentially sufficient to ensure the greatest number of functional traits, species, and individuals in both pasture types. Thus, the best sampling method observed in this study may be useful for studies focused on dung beetle fauna survey and rigorous comparison among studies on these insects in Brazilian pastures.