Exploring Attitudes Toward “Sugar Relationships” Across 87 Countries: A Global Perspective on Exchanges of Resources for Sex and Companionship

The current study investigates attitudes toward one form of sex for resources: the so-called sugar relationships, which often involve exchanges of resources for sex and/or companionship. The present study examined associations among attitudes toward sugar relationships and relevant variables (e.g., sex, sociosexuality, gender inequality, parasitic exposure) in 69,924 participants across 87 countries. Two self-report measures of Acceptance of Sugar Relationships (ASR) developed for younger companion providers (ASR-YWMS) and older resource providers (ASR-OMWS) were translated into 37 languages. We tested cross-sex and cross-linguistic construct equivalence, cross-cultural invariance in sex differences, and the importance of the hypothetical predictors of ASR. Both measures showed adequate psychometric properties in all languages (except the Persian version of ASR-YWMS). Results partially supported our hypotheses and were consistent with previous theoretical considerations and empirical evidence on human mating. For example, at the individual level, sociosexual orientation, traditional gender roles, and pathogen prevalence were significant predictors of both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS. At the country level, gender inequality and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. However, being a woman negatively predicted the ASR-OMWS, but positively predicted the ASR-YWMS. At country-level, ingroup favoritism and parasite stress positively predicted the ASR-OMWS. Furthermore, significant cross-subregional differences were found in the openness to sugar relationships (both ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS scores) across subregions. Finally, significant differences were found between ASR-YWMS and ASR-OMWS when compared in each subregion. The ASR-YWMS was significantly higher than the ASR-OMWS in all subregions, except for Northern Africa and Western Asia

Validation of the Short Version (TLS-15) of the Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45) Across 37 Languages

Love is a phenomenon that occurs across the world and affects many aspects of human life, including the choice of, and process of bonding with, a romantic partner. Thus, developing a reliable and valid measure of love experiences is crucial. One of the most popular tools to quantify love is Sternberg’s 45-item Triangular Love Scale (TLS-45), which measures three love components: intimacy, passion, and commitment. However, our literature review reveals that most studies (64%) use a broad variety of shortened versions of the TLS-45. Here, aiming to achieve scientific consensus and improve the reliability, comparability, and generalizability of results across studies, we developed a short version of the scale—the TLS-15—comprised of 15 items with 5-point, rather than 9-point, response scales. In Study 1 (N = 7,332), we re-analyzed secondary data from a large-scale multinational study that validated the original TLS-45 to establish whether the scale could be truncated. In Study 2 (N = 307), we provided evidence for the three-factor structure of the TLS-15 and its reliability. Study 3 (N = 413) confirmed convergent validity and test–retest stability of the TLS-15. Study 4 (N = 60,311) presented a large-scale validation across 37 linguistic versions of the TLS-15 on a cross-cultural sample spanning every continent of the globe. The overall results provide support for the reliability, validity, and cross-cultural invariance of the TLS-15, which can be used as a measure of love components—either separately or jointly as a three-factor measure

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

A preliminary study on the role of personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases on self-reported health across countries

ObjectivesInfectious diseases are often associated with decline in quality of life. The aim of this study is to analyze the relationship between personal history of communicable, i.e., infectious and parasitic diseases and self-rated health.Study designSecondary analysis of a large dataset multi-country observational study.MethodsWe used a four-pronged analysis approach to investigate whether personal history of infectious and parasitic diseases is related to self-reported health, measured with a single item.ResultsThree of the four analyses found a small positive effect on self-reported health among those reporting a history of pathogen exposure. The meta-analysis found no support but large heterogeneity that was not reduced by two classifications of countries.ConclusionPersonal history of infectious and parasitic diseases does not reduce self-reported health across a global sample

Cross-cultural data on romantic love and mate preferences from 117,293 participants across 175 countries

Psychological studies on close relationships have often overlooked cultural diversity, dynamic processes, and potentially universal principles that shape intimate partnerships. To address the limited generalizability of previous research and advance our understanding of romantic love experiences, mate preferences, and physical attractiveness, we conducted a large-scale cross-cultural survey study on these topics. A total of 404 researchers collected data in 45 languages from April to August 2021, involving 117,293 participants from 175 countries. Aside from standard demographic questions, the survey included valuable information on variables relevant to romantic relationships: intimate, passionate, and committed love within romantic relationships, physical-attractiveness enhancing behaviors, gender equality endorsement, collectivistic attitudes, personal history of pathogenic diseases, relationship quality, jealousy, personal involvement in sexual and/or emotional infidelity, relational mobility, mate preferences, and acceptance of sugar relationships. The resulting dataset provides a rich resource for investigating patterns within, and associations across, a broad range of variables relevant to romantic relationships, with extensive opportunities to analyze individual experiences worldwide

Omecamtiv mecarbil in chronic heart failure with reduced ejection fraction, GALACTIC‐HF: baseline characteristics and comparison with contemporary clinical trials

Aims: The safety and efficacy of the novel selective cardiac myosin activator, omecamtiv mecarbil, in patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) is tested in the Global Approach to Lowering Adverse Cardiac outcomes Through Improving Contractility in Heart Failure (GALACTIC‐HF) trial. Here we describe the baseline characteristics of participants in GALACTIC‐HF and how these compare with other contemporary trials. Methods and Results: Adults with established HFrEF, New York Heart Association functional class (NYHA) ≥ II, EF ≤35%, elevated natriuretic peptides and either current hospitalization for HF or history of hospitalization/ emergency department visit for HF within a year were randomized to either placebo or omecamtiv mecarbil (pharmacokinetic‐guided dosing: 25, 37.5 or 50 mg bid). 8256 patients [male (79%), non‐white (22%), mean age 65 years] were enrolled with a mean EF 27%, ischemic etiology in 54%, NYHA II 53% and III/IV 47%, and median NT‐proBNP 1971 pg/mL. HF therapies at baseline were among the most effectively employed in contemporary HF trials. GALACTIC‐HF randomized patients representative of recent HF registries and trials with substantial numbers of patients also having characteristics understudied in previous trials including more from North America (n = 1386), enrolled as inpatients (n = 2084), systolic blood pressure < 100 mmHg (n = 1127), estimated glomerular filtration rate < 30 mL/min/1.73 m2 (n = 528), and treated with sacubitril‐valsartan at baseline (n = 1594). Conclusions: GALACTIC‐HF enrolled a well‐treated, high‐risk population from both inpatient and outpatient settings, which will provide a definitive evaluation of the efficacy and safety of this novel therapy, as well as informing its potential future implementation

The Influence of Low-Molecular-Weight Monomers (TEGDMA, HDDMA, HEMA) on the Properties of Selected Matrices and Composites Based on Bis-GMA and UDMA

Bisphenol A-glycidyl methacrylate (bis-GMA) and urethane dimethacrylate (UDMA) are usually combined with low-viscosity monomers to obtain more desirable viscosity, handling characteristics and general properties. The present study determined the flexural strength (FS), flexural modulus (FM), diametral tensile strength (DTS), and hardness (HV) of five matrices and composites based on these resins. The polymerization shrinkage stress (PSS) was also studied for the composites. The polymer matrices were formed using bis-GMA and UDMA. TEGDMA, HEMA and HDDMA acted as co-monomers. The composites had 45 wt.% of filler content. The highest FS and FM were obtained from the UDMA/bis-GMA/TEGDMA/HEMA matrix and the composite (matrix + filler). The best DTS values were obtained from the UDMA/bis-GMA/HEMA matrix and the composite. One of the lowest values of FS, FM, and DTS was obtained from the UDMA/bis-GMA/HDDMA matrix and the composite. All the composites demonstrated similar hardness values. The lowest polymerization shrinkage stress was observed for the UDMA/bis-GMA/TEGDMA/HEMA composite, and the highest PSS was observed for the UDMA/bis-GMA/TEGDMA/HDDMA composite. The addition of HEMA had a positive effect on the properties of the tested materials, which may be related to the improved mobility of the bis-GMA and UDMA monomers.</jats:p

(Invited) Studies of Luminescence Efficiency of BaWO₄:Ce Crystals

Barium tungstate crystals are interesting and relatively new medium for stimulated Raman scattering for applications in Raman shifters of laser radiation [1]. Good quality BaWO4 crystals can be grown by Czochralski technique and doped with rare-earth ions. Doping with trivalent ions require charge compensation which may be provided, for example, by structural defects or proper codoping with alkaline metal ions. Crystals posses sheelite structure with the space group I41/a. Results of studies of BaWO4:Ce crystals and crystals codoped with Na are presented in this work. Optical absorption in the vis-UV and infrared range and Raman spectra has been studied. In the UV the crystals shows typical absorption for Ce3+ with two bands peaked at 320 nm and 285 nm, which are associated with lowest energy 4f-5d transitions. However only very weak Ce3+ luminescence is observed even at 10 K, contrary to some reports on this subject [2]. In the mid-infrared range several absorption bands are visible which may be associated with lattice absorption. Besides of lines associated with single TO phonon modes in the range up to 1000 cm-1  the additional lines appear around 1700 cm-1 and 2600 cm-1. Origin of these lines is discussed in this work. Raman spectra at room temperature show very sharp lines with the highest energy line at 927 cm-1. Some additional much broader lines are observed above 1200 cm-1 [3]. Their origin is most probably associated with combination of various phonon modes. In addition to that very sharp lines due to the 4f-4f transitions in the Ce3+ ions are visible around 2200 cm-1 and 2350 cm-1. There are at least four of these lines in each group which are related to the multisite structure of RE doping in these crystals. The crystal field analysis allows identifying nature of these lines. The transitions associated with Ce3+ ions are very strongly coupled with the lattice and they undergo very important broadening with increase of temperature. This is explained as a result of electron-phonon coupling, enhanced by the matching inter-level spacing of the 2F7/2 state with phonon energies. BaWO4 has the largest energy gap among several tungstates with scheelite structure [4]. It is in good agreement with the values of ionic radii of cations constituting the host. The conduction band is dominated by the W6+ 5d states. On the other hand the luminescence efficiency of Ce3+ dopand in BaWO4 is the lowest among the (Ca, Sr,­  Ba)WO­4, which have smaller band-gap than BaWO4. It may be associated with resonant position of the lowest 5d state of Ce3+ in the conduction band or with the thermally activated crossover between the 4f 5d state and the 4f states. The large band gap of BaWO4 rather shows that the latter mechanism is operative as the luminescence quenching mechanism. High pressure luminescence studies in diamond anvil cell, which should help to resolve this question will be presented in this work. Acknowledgements: This work was supported by the Polish National Science Center (project 2015/17/B/ST5/01658) References: [1] Pavel Cerný, Helena Jelínková, Tasoltan T. Basiev, and Peter G. Zverev, IEEE J. Quantum Electronics 38 (2002) 1471 [2] K.V. Dabre, S.J.Dhoble, Jyoti Lochab, J. Luminescence 149 (2014) 348. [3] Donggang Ran, Hairui Xia, Shangqian Sun, Peng Zhao, Fengqin Liu, Zongcheng Ling, Wenwei Ge, Huaijin Zhang, Jiyang Wang, Cryst. Res. Technol. 41 (2006) 1189 [4] R. Lacomba-Perales, J. Ruis-Fuertes, D. Errandonea, D. Martinez-Garcia, and A. Segura, EPL 83 (2008) 370002 </jats:p