O estudo da substantividade de uma composição aromática/fragrância em pele em função do ciclo menstrual é de relevância científica, pois a literatura científica menciona, sem conclusões significativas, que os hormônios sexuais manifestam inúmeros efeitos fisiológicos na pele e de percepção olfativa, principalmente nas fases ovulatória e lútea comparadas às demais fases do ciclo menstrual. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo investigar se os hormônios sexuais influenciam na sensibilidade olfativa e, se as alterações fisiológicas na pele afetam a performance da fragrância durante o ciclo menstrual. Para tanto, foi empregada a avaliação sensorial e determinada a escala de magnitude categórica LMS (escala de magnitude com rótulos) para a quantificação da intensidade de perfume no experimento. O estudo da estabilidade normal da composição aromática definiu a melhor composição para a fase experimental. O estudo clínico foi realizado em quatro fases do ciclo menstrual (menstrual, folicular, ovulatória e lútea) e, cada uma, a intensidade de perfume foi avaliada em 5 tempos experimentais (inicial; 1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6h). Em paralelo, foram analisadas as medidas biomecânicas da pele (perda de água transepidérmica, corneometria e sebumetria) e um indivíduo do sexo masculino foi considerado como controle de pele no estudo. As medidas biomecânicas não foram significativas para influenciar na sensiblidade olfativa. A percepção foi maior na fase lútea quando a mulher avaliava sua pele e menor quando avaliava a pele do homem em relação às outras fases. Conclui-se que os hormônios sexuais afetaram a sensibilidade olfativa em diferentes fases do ciclo, porém as alterações fisiológicas provavelmente não interferiram na percepção olfativa e este fato nos orienta para o desenvolvimento de fragrâncias e instiga à pesquisa de matérias-primas aromáticas que influenciam no comportamento da mulher ou até mesmo na atração entre os sexos. / The Substantivity study of the aromatic composition/fragrance on the skin in function of menstrual cycle is the big issue because of the scientific literature says, with no significant conclusions, which the sex hormones demonstrate wide physiologic effects in the skin and in the olfactory perception, particularly, in the ovulatory and luteal phases versus other ones of the menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to investigate if the sex hormones influence on the olfactory perception and their physiologic effects in the skin might change the fragrance performance during the menstrual cycle. Thus it was employed a sensory evaluation and was defined the LMS scale (labeled magnitude scale) to score the fragrance intensity in the assessment. The stability test defined the best aromatic composition/fragrance to the experiment. The clinical study was conducted in four phases of the menstrual cycle (menstrual, follicular, ovulatory and luteal) and, each one, the perfume intensity was evaluated in 5 experimental times (initial, 1,5h, 3,0h, 4,5h and 6h) in parallel with the bioengineer measurement of the skin (transepidermal water loss, moisturizing and sebum content) and a man was considered a skin control in the experiment. The bioengineer measurement was no significant to influence the olfactory perception; however, the fragrance perception in the luteal phase was higher when the woman evaluated her skin and lower when she evaluated man skin in comparison to the other phases. In summary, the sex hormones influenced the olfactory perception in different phases of the menstrual cycle; however, the skin physiologic effects did not affect the olfactory perception probably and this issue helps to development fragrances and instigates to discover aromatic raw materials that influence woman behavior or even the sex attraction.

Aim The overall aim was to investigate Swedish elite athlete’s perceptions about the effects of the menstrual cycle on sports performance. The research questions applied was: 1. How do elite athletes perceive the effects of the menstrual cycle on performance, and do they adjust training or competition accordingly? 2. How do elite athletes perceive the knowledge and beliefs within the area, among their coaches? Method A cross-sectional study design was applied using an online questionnaire for data collection. The study group of interest were female Swedish elite athletes, from both team and individual sports. Teams and athletes defined as ‘elite athletes’ were contacted and offered participation. All data collected from the questionnaire was processed in IBM SPSS® where both descriptive and analytic statistics was performed. The Shapiro-Wilk test was used to test the assumptions of normality for the data, Chi2-tests and Fisher’s exact test were used to examine relationships between variables in the sample and the statistical significance level for analysis was set at p ≤ 0.05. Results Both menstrual- and premenstrual symptoms (PMS) effected the athletes in the sample. The psychological PMS affected close to 70% of the sample in at least one aspect and the symptoms menstrual bleeding affected majority of the sample (82%). The phases were athletes perceived themselves perform the best and the worst were different, with majority of the sample perceiving their worst performance being close to bleeding. This may be an effect of the negative symptoms associated with the bleeding phase. Both coaches’ and athletes’ perceived knowledge were considerably low, as well as athletes’ possibilities to discuss menstrual problems with their coach. Conclusions Elite athletes perceive negative effects of the menstrual cycle and somewhat experience variations in performance throughout the cycle. The knowledge within the area, especially for people involved in female sports, needs to improve. / Syfte och frågeställningar Det övergripande syftet var att undersöka svenska elitidrottares uppfattningar om effekterna av menstruationscykeln på deras prestationsförmåga. Frågeställningarna var: 1. Hur uppfattar elitidrottare effekterna av menstruationscykeln på deras prestation och anpassar de träning eller tävling i enlighet med detta? 2. Hur uppfattar elitidrottare kunskapen och åsikterna inom det specifika området, bland sina tränare? Metod En tvärsnittsstudie genomfördes med hjälp av webb-enkät för datainsamling. Studiegruppen av intresse var kvinnliga svenska elitidrottare, från både lag och individuella idrotter. Lag och idrottare som kunde definieras som "elitidrottare" kontaktades och erbjöds deltagande. All insamlade data från enkä̈ten behandlades i IBM SPSS där både beskrivande och analytisk statistik genomfördes. Shapiro-Wilk’s test användes för att testa antaganden om normalfördelning för data, Chi2-test och Fisher’s exakta test användes för att undersöka samband mellan variabler i urvalet och den statistiska signifikansnivån för analys var ≤ 0.05. Resultat Både menstruella- och premenstruella symptom (PMS) påverkade idrottarna i studiegruppen. De psykologiska PMS påverkade nära 70% av deltagarna i åtminstone ett avseende och symptom vid menstruationsblödning drabbade majoriteten av gruppen (82%). De faser i menstruationscykeln där idrottarna upplevde sin bästa- respektive sämsta prestation var olika, med en majoritet av gruppen som upplevde sin sämsta prestation i samband med blödning. Detta kan vara en effekt av de negativa symtom som är förknippade med blödningsfasen. Både tränares och idrottarnas upplevda kunskap var förhållandevis låg, liksom idrottarnas möjligheter till att diskutera menstruationsproblem med sin tränare. Slutsatser Elitidrottare upplever negativa effekter av menstruationscykeln och upplever vissa variationer i prestation under cykeln. Kunskapen inom området, speciellt för de involverade i kvinnlig idrott, behöver förbättras.

Este projeto teve por objetivo investigar se existem diferenças nos julgamentos de atratividade de faces masculinizadas e feminilizadas entre mulheres durante a etapa folicular tardia e na etapa luteal (fases do ciclo menstrual) e se estas se correlacionam às alterações dos níveis hormonais. Foram incluídas 30 mulheres voluntárias, na faixa etária de 18 a 42 anos com ciclos menstruais regulares, com duração entre 24 e 33 dias, sem uso de anticoncepcional hormonal (AH). Foram utilizados para a avaliação da atratividade facial dois protótipos faciais: um de uma face feminina e outro de face masculina. De cada um desses protótipos foram confeccionadas mais quatro faces, cujos traços de duas foram masculinizados e das outras duas foram feminilizados em diferentes graus. Foram realizadas duas sessões experimentais para cada participante. A primeira sessão foi na etapa folicular tardia do ciclo menstrual e a segunda na etapa luteal do ciclo. Em cada sessão, a participante era instruída a ordenar decrescentemente as faces conforme o quão atraente cada uma lhe parecerá. Em seguida a participante classificava as faces em três grupos: Amigo, Inimigo e Amante. Posteriormente foi colhida a amostra de sangue para posteriores análises dos níveis hormonais. Ou seja, tanto na etapa folicular tardia quanto na luteal, as participantes avaliaram as imagens das faces e doaram uma amostra de sangue. As frequências foram comparadas e verificou-se que para as faces masculinas masculinizadas e a face neutra foram consideradas as mais atraentes na fase folicular tardia e na fase lútea. Na fase folicular tardia, para as faces masculinas, quanto mais masculinizadas elas forem, maior sua pontuação no grupo Amante. Na fase lútea, a face original masculina e todas as faces masculinas masculinizadas foram mais frequentemente classificadas ao grupo Amante, mas a face 50% masculinizada teve um aumento na qualificação de Inimigo. E finalmente, não foi verificada uma correlação entre os níveis hormonais e a preferência por faces mais masculinizadas ou feminilizada. Não foi evidenciada uma mudança significativa na preferência do julgamento das faces; observando-se que existe sempre uma preferência por faces mais masculinizadas para faces masculinas, e preferência por faces mais feminilizadas para faces femininas, independente das fases do ciclo menstrual. / This project aimed to investigate whether there are differences in attractiveness judgments of masculinized and feminized faces by women during the late follicular and the luteal phases (phases of the menstrual cycle) and whether these judgments correlate with hormonal level changes. Thirty women with age between 18 and 42 years old, with regular menstrual cycles lasting between 24 and 33 days, and without use of hormonal contraceptive (AH) were volunteers in this study. Stimuli were images of a female and a male prototypical faces that by computer morphing technique generated other faces with exaggeration of the gender traits by 25% and 50%. Two experimental sessions, the first in the late follicular phase and the second in the luteal phase, were conducted for each participant to judge the attractiveness of the faces, sorting them from the highest to lowest attractive. Finishing this task, the participant classified the faces into three groups: \"Friend\", \"Enemy\" or \"Lover.\" After each session in both menstrual phases blood sample of the participant was collected for further hormone level analysis. The masculinized male face and the original male face were chosen as more attractive in the follicular phase and the late luteal phase. Besides, in the late follicular phase, the more masculinized are the male faces, the higher is their score into the \"Lover\" group. In the luteal phase, also all masculinized and the original male faces were classified more frequently into the Lover group, but also the 50% masculinized male face was more frequently classified into the Enemy group. And finally, there was no correlation between hormone levels and preference for more masculinized or more feminized faces. Then, there is no evidence that hormonal levels change the face preferences. There was always a preference for masculinized faces to male faces, and preference for feminized faces for female faces, regardless of the menstrual cycle phases.

Vaginal fluid is most often found at crime scenes where a sexual assault has taken place or on clothing or other items collected from sexual assault victims or perpetrators. Because the victim is generally known in these cases, detection of vaginal fluid is not a matter of individual identification, as it might be for semen identification. Instead, linkages can be made between victim and suspect if the sexual assault was carried out digitally or with a foreign object (e.g., bottle, pool cue, cigarette, handle of a hammer or other tool, etc.). If such an object is only analyzed for DNA and the victim is identified, the suspect may claim that the victim’s DNA is present because she handled and/or is the owner of the object and not because it was used to sexually assault her; identification of vaginal fluid residue would alleviate such uncertainty. Most of the research conducted thus far regarding methods for the identification of vaginal fluid involves mRNA biomarkers and identification of various bacterial strains.1-3 However, these approaches require extensive sample preparation and laboratory analysis and have not fully explored the genomic differences among all body fluid RNAs. No existing methods of vaginal fluid identification incorporate both high specificity and rapid analysis.4 Therefore, a new rapid detection method is required. Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is an emerging technique with high sensitivity for the forensic analysis of various body fluids. This technique has the potential to improve current vaginal fluid identification techniques due to its ease-of-use, rapid analysis time, portability, and non-destructive nature. For this experiment, all vaginal fluid samples were collected from anonymous donors by saturation of a cotton swab via vaginal insertion. Samples were analyzed on gold nanoparticle chips.4 This nanostructured metal substrate is essential for the large signal-enhancement effect of SERS and also quenches any background fluorescence that sometimes interferes with normal Raman spectroscopy measurements.5 Vaginal fluid SERS signal variation of a single sample over a six-month period was evaluated under both ambient and frozen storage conditions. Vaginal fluid samples were also taken from 10 individuals over the course of a single menstrual cycle. Four samples collected at one-week intervals were obtained from each individual and analyzed using SERS. The SERS vaginal fluid signals showed very little variation as a function of time and storage conditions, indicating that the spectral pattern of vaginal fluid is not likely to change over time. The samples analyzed over the span of one menstrual cycle showed slight intra-donor differences, however, the overall spectral patterns remained consistent and reproducible. When cycle spectra were compared between individuals, very little donor-to-donor variation was observed indicating the potential for a universal vaginal fluid signature spectrum. A cross-validated, partial least squares – discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) model was built to classify all body fluids, where vaginal fluid was identified with 95.0% sensitivity and 96.6% specificity, which indicates that the spectral pattern of vaginal fluid was successfully distinguished from semen and blood. Thus, SERS has a high potential for application in the field of forensic science for vaginal fluid analysis.

A área de perfumaria no mundo vem se desenvolvendo a cada dia buscando maior conhecimento das matérias-primas aromáticas, desde suas reações, estabilidade até suas interações com o substrato onde é aplicado, sempre em busca do conhecimento de todas as variáveis que possam influenciar a relação perfume-substrato e a aceitação dos consumidores, medida por meio da avaliação sensorial. Apesar de muitos estudos sobre a relação perfume-pele, poucos envolveram a relação com ciclo menstrual. Neste estudo o objetivo foi correlacionar às análises sensorial e instrumental (medidas biomecânicas e cromatográficas), estudar as matérias-primas aromáticas em função do ciclo menstrual. O estudo envolveu indivíduos com idade entre 18-40 anos: 29 mulheres e 3 homens, estes usados como grupo controle. Cada voluntária teve 40 &#181;l da composição aromática Ciclo 1910 aplicado no antebraço, onde foram feitas as medidas biomecânicas (corneometria, sebumetria e TEWL) nos tempos inicial e 6h. Nos tempos inicial, 1.5h, 3h, 4,5h e 6h se auto-avaliaram sensorialmente a intensidade de perfume por meio de escala sensorial de magnitude rotulada (LMS) e foram coletados os compostos aromáticos liberados pela técnica de headspace e analisados por espectrometria com cromatografia a gás e detetor de massa (CGMS). Realizou-se também medidas biomecânicas de corneometria, sebumetria e TEWL interescapulares em 5 voluntárias nos tempos inicial e 6h para comparação. Os resultados obtidos foram que as fases do ciclo não interferiram nas variáveis biomecânicas (p>0,05) quando analisadas isoladamente. Para as medidas realizadas no antebraço, os índices de Corneometria (p<0,001) e TEWL (p: 0,011) na região tratada apresentou média maior que a do controle. A média dos índices de Corneometria e Sebumetria da região do antebraço tratada foi menor (p<0,001) que da região interescapular. Na análise cromatográfica não houve um padrão de resposta em diferentes fases do ciclo. As correlações entre a avaliação sensorial e instrumental (cromatografia e propriedades biomecânicas) não observaram nenhum nível de correlação (p>0,05). A Cromatografia (dados cromatográficos) foi maior na fase Folicular que nas fases Menstrual e Ovulatória (p=0,003), ao considerar como variável resposta em função do ciclo menstrual e da avaliação sensorial. Houve uma forte correlação positiva entre a análise sensorial e a avaliação na pele do homem (p<0,001). No entanto, o fator intrínseco do indivíduo Mulher influenciou na resposta, ocasionando grande variabilidade, porém percebeu-se claramente que os hormônios sexuais interferiram na resposta sensorial, cromatográfica e biomecânica da pele. / The perfumery in the world has been developed everyday bringing more knowledge about aromatic raw-materials, as from chemistry reactions, stability until their interactions with substrate where is applied, always looking for variables could influence in the relation perfume-substrate and consumer acceptability, measured by sensory evaluation. Despite a lot of studies were done on this subject, few involved effects as function of menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to correlate sensory and instrumental analysis (biomechanical and chromatographic measurements), to study the olfactory profile of raw materials in function of menstrual cycle. The study involved people with 18-40 years old: 29 volunteers, three men, who were used as control group. Each volunteer had 40 &#181;l of perfume applied on forearm, where were done Biomechanical measurements (Corneometer, Sebumeter and TEWL) at initial and 6h, At time initial, 1.5h, 3h, 4.5h and 6h; they did self-sensory assessment in perfume intensity in own forearm using labeled magnitude scale (LMS) and also where aromatic compounds released were collected by headspace technique spectrometry and gas chromatography with mass detector (CGMS). In addition, it was done biomechanical measurements (Corneometer, Sebumeter and TEWL) on interscapular region at initial and 6h for comparing. Resulting that the phases of the cycle did not affect the biomechanical variables (p > 0.05) when analyzed individually. For measurements in the forearm, Corneometry index (p < 0.001) and TEWL (p=0.011) in the treated area were higher than the control. The average of the Sebumetry, Corneometry indexes of the forearm treated was lower (p <0.001) than the interscapular region. In the analysis of chromatographic, there was a standard response at different stages of the menstrual cycle, however the analysis by individual had no a pattern response to the release of aromatic compounds. The correlations between sensory and instrumental (chromatography and biomechanical properties) did not observe any correlation (p> 0.05). But when considering chromatography as the response variable as a function of the menstrual cycle and the sensory evaluation, the follicular phase was higher than the Menstrual and Ovulatory phase (p=0.003). There was a strong positive correlation between sensory analysis and evaluation on men skin (p<0.001). However, the intrinsic factor of the individual woman influenced the response, leading to large response variability; however, see clearly that sex hormones interfere in the sensory response, chromatographic and biomechanics of the skin.

A área de perfumaria no mundo vem se desenvolvendo a cada dia buscando maior conhecimento das matérias-primas aromáticas, desde suas reações, estabilidade até suas interações com o substrato onde é aplicado, sempre em busca do conhecimento de todas as variáveis que possam influenciar a relação perfume-substrato e a aceitação dos consumidores, medida por meio da avaliação sensorial. Apesar de muitos estudos sobre a relação perfume-pele, poucos envolveram a relação com ciclo menstrual. Neste estudo o objetivo foi correlacionar às análises sensorial e instrumental (medidas biomecânicas e cromatográficas), estudar as matérias-primas aromáticas em função do ciclo menstrual. O estudo envolveu indivíduos com idade entre 18-40 anos: 29 mulheres e 3 homens, estes usados como grupo controle. Cada voluntária teve 40 &#181;l da composição aromática Ciclo 1910 aplicado no antebraço, onde foram feitas as medidas biomecânicas (corneometria, sebumetria e TEWL) nos tempos inicial e 6h. Nos tempos inicial, 1.5h, 3h, 4,5h e 6h se auto-avaliaram sensorialmente a intensidade de perfume por meio de escala sensorial de magnitude rotulada (LMS) e foram coletados os compostos aromáticos liberados pela técnica de headspace e analisados por espectrometria com cromatografia a gás e detetor de massa (CGMS). Realizou-se também medidas biomecânicas de corneometria, sebumetria e TEWL interescapulares em 5 voluntárias nos tempos inicial e 6h para comparação. Os resultados obtidos foram que as fases do ciclo não interferiram nas variáveis biomecânicas (p>0,05) quando analisadas isoladamente. Para as medidas realizadas no antebraço, os índices de Corneometria (p<0,001) e TEWL (p: 0,011) na região tratada apresentou média maior que a do controle. A média dos índices de Corneometria e Sebumetria da região do antebraço tratada foi menor (p<0,001) que da região interescapular. Na análise cromatográfica não houve um padrão de resposta em diferentes fases do ciclo. As correlações entre a avaliação sensorial e instrumental (cromatografia e propriedades biomecânicas) não observaram nenhum nível de correlação (p>0,05). A Cromatografia (dados cromatográficos) foi maior na fase Folicular que nas fases Menstrual e Ovulatória (p=0,003), ao considerar como variável resposta em função do ciclo menstrual e da avaliação sensorial. Houve uma forte correlação positiva entre a análise sensorial e a avaliação na pele do homem (p<0,001). No entanto, o fator intrínseco do indivíduo Mulher influenciou na resposta, ocasionando grande variabilidade, porém percebeu-se claramente que os hormônios sexuais interferiram na resposta sensorial, cromatográfica e biomecânica da pele. / The perfumery in the world has been developed everyday bringing more knowledge about aromatic raw-materials, as from chemistry reactions, stability until their interactions with substrate where is applied, always looking for variables could influence in the relation perfume-substrate and consumer acceptability, measured by sensory evaluation. Despite a lot of studies were done on this subject, few involved effects as function of menstrual cycle. The aim of this study was to correlate sensory and instrumental analysis (biomechanical and chromatographic measurements), to study the olfactory profile of raw materials in function of menstrual cycle. The study involved people with 18-40 years old: 29 volunteers, three men, who were used as control group. Each volunteer had 40 &#181;l of perfume applied on forearm, where were done Biomechanical measurements (Corneometer, Sebumeter and TEWL) at initial and 6h, At time initial, 1.5h, 3h, 4.5h and 6h; they did self-sensory assessment in perfume intensity in own forearm using labeled magnitude scale (LMS) and also where aromatic compounds released were collected by headspace technique spectrometry and gas chromatography with mass detector (CGMS). In addition, it was done biomechanical measurements (Corneometer, Sebumeter and TEWL) on interscapular region at initial and 6h for comparing. Resulting that the phases of the cycle did not affect the biomechanical variables (p > 0.05) when analyzed individually. For measurements in the forearm, Corneometry index (p < 0.001) and TEWL (p=0.011) in the treated area were higher than the control. The average of the Sebumetry, Corneometry indexes of the forearm treated was lower (p <0.001) than the interscapular region. In the analysis of chromatographic, there was a standard response at different stages of the menstrual cycle, however the analysis by individual had no a pattern response to the release of aromatic compounds. The correlations between sensory and instrumental (chromatography and biomechanical properties) did not observe any correlation (p> 0.05). But when considering chromatography as the response variable as a function of the menstrual cycle and the sensory evaluation, the follicular phase was higher than the Menstrual and Ovulatory phase (p=0.003). There was a strong positive correlation between sensory analysis and evaluation on men skin (p<0.001). However, the intrinsic factor of the individual woman influenced the response, leading to large response variability; however, see clearly that sex hormones interfere in the sensory response, chromatographic and biomechanics of the skin.

<p>Menstruationscykelns inverkan på kvinnors preferenser för mäns ansikten</p><p>Sammanfattning</p><p>Detta är en systematisk replikation av Penton-Voaks och Perrets studie (1999) då en preferens hos kvinnor för maskuliniserade ansiktsdrag under hög befruktningsrisk i menstruationscykeln hittades. Dessa drag tros vara en ärlig signal för goda gener och immunokompetens hos män. Oklarhet råder huruvida detta gäller för olika populationer. 36 svenska universitetsstuderande kvinnor fick därför välja ut de mest fysiskt attraktiva ansiktena, utifrån maskuliniserade och feminiserade bildserier, vid hög respektive låg befruktningsrisk. Ingen signifikant skillnad hittades mellan de olika faserna. Resultaten indikerar att fynden för menstruella preferensskiften inte är robusta över olika populationer och att det eventuellt är flera evolutionära mekanismer som opererar samtidigt. Alternativt kan kulturella faktorer spela en större roll än vad som tidigare förutsatts.</p> / <p>Women’s Preferences for Male Facial Masculinity Across the Menstrual Cycle</p><p>Abstract</p><p>This is a systematic replication of the Penton-Voak and Perret study (1999) where a preference for masculinized faces was found at high conception risk in the menstrual cycle. These traits are believed to be honest signals of good genes and immunocompetence. It is uncertain if these findings are robust across different populations. 36 Swedish college students were asked to pick out the most “physically attractive” male faces from masculinized and feminized stimuli at high and low risk of conception. No significant differences were found between the phases. The results indicate that the findings for a menstrual preference shift are not consistent with the original study . Perhaps several evolutionary mechanisms are operating at the same time, and cultural factors might have a greater influence than previously supposed.</p>

Menstruationscykelns inverkan på kvinnors preferenser för mäns ansikten Sammanfattning Detta är en systematisk replikation av Penton-Voaks och Perrets studie (1999) då en preferens hos kvinnor för maskuliniserade ansiktsdrag under hög befruktningsrisk i menstruationscykeln hittades. Dessa drag tros vara en ärlig signal för goda gener och immunokompetens hos män. Oklarhet råder huruvida detta gäller för olika populationer. 36 svenska universitetsstuderande kvinnor fick därför välja ut de mest fysiskt attraktiva ansiktena, utifrån maskuliniserade och feminiserade bildserier, vid hög respektive låg befruktningsrisk. Ingen signifikant skillnad hittades mellan de olika faserna. Resultaten indikerar att fynden för menstruella preferensskiften inte är robusta över olika populationer och att det eventuellt är flera evolutionära mekanismer som opererar samtidigt. Alternativt kan kulturella faktorer spela en större roll än vad som tidigare förutsatts. / Women’s Preferences for Male Facial Masculinity Across the Menstrual Cycle Abstract This is a systematic replication of the Penton-Voak and Perret study (1999) where a preference for masculinized faces was found at high conception risk in the menstrual cycle. These traits are believed to be honest signals of good genes and immunocompetence. It is uncertain if these findings are robust across different populations. 36 Swedish college students were asked to pick out the most “physically attractive” male faces from masculinized and feminized stimuli at high and low risk of conception. No significant differences were found between the phases. The results indicate that the findings for a menstrual preference shift are not consistent with the original study . Perhaps several evolutionary mechanisms are operating at the same time, and cultural factors might have a greater influence than previously supposed.

Ball State University LibrariesLibrary services and resources for knowledge buildingMasters ThesesThere is no abstract available for this thesis.

Prostaglandins are integral mediators in reproductive processes but their exact role in uterine function is still not clear. In addition, ethical restraints have limited the availability of human tissue to investigate uterine prostanoid receptor populations. The aim of this thesis was to characterise the prostanoid receptors on the human and rat myometrium in order to evaluate the potential of the rat as an animal model of human uterine function and disease. For functional analysis of myometrial prostanoid receptors the immersion technique was utilised. LC-ESI-MS/MS was also used to measure the ex vivo myometrial release of prostanoid metabolites. The results show that both the rat and human uterus displays cyclical changes in uterine motility, with myogenicity greatest in the follicular and oestrus stages. The data also indicate that whilst the human uterus is responsive to EP3, EP2, TP, FP and IP receptor agonists, a functional population of only EP3, EP2 and FP receptors is present on the rat uterus, although the TP receptor appears to be upregulated at gestation and post-partum. The results also show that myometrial prostanoid release in the human uterus is cyclically regulated, with the greatest amount of prostaglandins being released during the late follicular stage. In conclusion, although similarities do exist with regard to the ovarian regulation of uterine motility in both the rat and human uterus, the differences in the apparent functional prostaglandin receptor populations between the two species suggest further work is required before the rat can be used as a model of human uterine function.