Differentiated Threat and the Genesis of Prejudice: Group-Specific Antecedents of Homonegativity, Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, and Anti-Immigrant Attitudes

In this article we argue that an exclusive focus on the generalized aspect of prejudice limits understanding of the structure and genesis of prejudice towards particular out-groups. In order to conceptualize the specific nature of particular prejudices, we propose the differentiated threat approach. This framework postulates that different out-groups challenge diverse realistic and symbolic interests, and that these out-group specific threats affect various socio-economic strata and cultural groups differentially. The differentiated threat approach is applied to analyse majority-group Belgians’ attitudes towards immigrants, Muslims, Jews and homosexuals. The results show that a common denominator of prejudice can be distinguished, but that the prejudices towards the various out-groups contain substantively relevant unique components that are influenced by socio-demographic and attitudinal predictors in diverging ways. Gender traditionalism is found to reinforce homonegativity and temper Islamophobia at the same time. Feelings of relative deprivation are more strongly related to Islamophobia than to other forms of prejudice, and are unrelated to homonegativity. Religious involvement plays a more decisive role in the formation of antiSemitism and homonegativity than it does in the other forms of prejudice. Anti-immigration attitudes show a class gradient that is absent in attitudes towards other out-groups. Our results evidence that the concrete realization of attitudes towards a specific out-group cannot be understood without paying attention to structural and contextual factors, such as social positions, the nature of inter-group relations, power balances and elite discourses

Gedifferentieerde dreiging en de verklaring van vooroordelen: Anti-immigranten attitudes, islamofobie, antisemitisme en homonegativiteit vergeleken

Deze bijdrage stelt dat een te eenzijdige aandacht voor de veralgemeende component van vooroordelen een obstakel vormt om de structuur en genese van vooroordelen tegenover specifeke groepen te begrijpen. We stellen een model van gedifferentieerde dreiging voor dat toelaat het particuliere karakter van specifeke vooroordelen te conceptualiseren en te toetsen. Deze benadering postuleert dat verschillende uitgroepen diverse economische en culturele belangen uitdagen, en dat deze specifeke bedreigingen diverse socio-economische lagen en culturele segmenten van de bevolking in verschillende mate treffen. Vervolgens passen we het model van gedifferentieerde dreiging toe om de houdingen van autochtone Belgen tegenover immigranten, moslims, joden en homoseksuelen te analyseren. De resultaten tonen aan dat het inderdaad mogelijk is om een gemeenschappelijke component in de diverse vooroordelen te onderscheiden. Maar tegelijkertijd bevatten de onderscheiden vooroordelen elk een relevante, unieke component die op verschillende wijze samenhangt met structurele kenmerken en attitudes. Traditionele genderopvattingen, bijvoorbeeld, hebben tegelijkertijd een versterkend effect op homonegativiteit en een temperende invloed op islamofobie. Gevoelens van relatieve deprivatie zijn dan weer sterker gerelateerd met islamofobie dan met andere vormen van vooroordeel en hebben helemaal geen impact op homonegativiteit. Religiositeit speelt een meer beslissende rol in de formatie van antisemitisme en homonegativiteit dan het geval is bij andere vooroordelen

Protein processing characterized by a gel-free proteomics approach

We describe a method for the specific isolation of representative N-terminal peptides of proteins and their proteolytic fragments. Their isolation is based on a gel-free, peptidecentric proteomics approach using the principle of diagonal chromatography. We will indicate that the introduction of an altered chemical property to internal peptides holding a free α-N-terminus results in altered column retention of these peptides, thereby enabling the isolation and further characterization by mass spectrometry of N-terminal peptides. Besides pointing to changes in protein expression levels when performing such proteome surveys in a differential modus, protease specificity and substrate repertoires can be allocated since both are specified by neo-N-termini generated after a protease cleavage event. As such, our gel-free proteomics technology is widely applicable and amenable for a variety of proteome-driven protease degradomics research

LAI determination in dune vegetation: a comparison of different techniques

Research was conducted in the nature reserve De Westhoek (De Panne, Belgium) in order to determine leaf-area-index (LAI) in different dune vegetation types by both direct (destructively) and indirect optical measurements. The destructive LAI determination was conducted in herbaceous and shrub vegetation types. It was found that the LAI of herbaceous vegetation ranges between 0.87 and 4.60 and the LAI of shrub vegetation between 2.25 and 3.58. Ground-based optical determination of LAI was only conducted in the shrub vegetation, by means of the SunScan (Delta-T Devices Ltd, Cambridge, UK). This indirect LAI method systematically overestimated direct LAI. Another applied optical method is the hemispherical photography (Nikon Coolpix 5000 camera). Airborne remote sensing data are used to establish a relationship between direct LAI and some vegetation indices. Based on the above established relationship a map of the horizontal LAI distribution in the nature reserve De Westhoek will be produced

Principles guiding embryo selection following genome-wide haplotyping of preimplantation embryos.

STUDY QUESTION How to select and prioritize embryos during PGD following genome-wide haplotyping? SUMMARY ANSWER In addition to genetic disease-specific information, the embryo selected for transfer is based on ranking criteria including the existence of mitotic and/or meiotic aneuploidies, but not carriership of mutations causing recessive disorders. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Embryo selection for monogenic diseases has been mainly performed using targeted disease-specific assays. Recently, these targeted approaches are being complemented by generic genome-wide genetic analysis methods such as karyomapping or haplarithmisis, which are based on genomic haplotype reconstruction of cell(s) biopsied from embryos. This provides not only information about the inheritance of Mendelian disease alleles but also about numerical and structural chromosome anomalies and haplotypes genome-wide. Reflections on how to use this information in the diagnostic laboratory are lacking. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION We present the results of the first 101 PGD cycles (373 embryos) using haplarithmisis, performed in the Centre for Human Genetics, UZ Leuven. The questions raised were addressed by a multidisciplinary team of clinical geneticist, fertility specialists and ethicists. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS Sixty-three couples enrolled in the genome-wide haplotyping-based PGD program. Families presented with either inherited genetic variants causing known disorders and/or chromosomal rearrangements that could lead to unbalanced translocations in the offspring. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Embryos were selected based on the absence or presence of the disease allele, a trisomy or other chromosomal abnormality leading to known developmental disorders. In addition, morphologically normal Day 5 embryos were prioritized for transfer based on the presence of other chromosomal imbalances and/or carrier information. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION Some of the choices made and principles put forward are specific for cleavage-stage-based genetic testing. The proposed guidelines are subject to continuous update based on the accumulating knowledge from the implementation of genome-wide methods for PGD in many different centers world-wide as well as the results of ongoing scientific research. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS Our embryo selection principles have a profound impact on the organization of PGD operations and on the information that is transferred among the genetic unit, the fertility clinic and the patients. These principles are also important for the organization of pre- and post-counseling and influence the interpretation and reporting of preimplantation genotyping results. As novel genome-wide approaches for embryo selection are revolutionizing the field of reproductive genetics, national and international discussions to set general guidelines are warranted. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) The European Union's Research and Innovation funding programs FP7-PEOPLE-2012-IAPP SARM: 324509 and Horizon 2020 WIDENLIFE: 692065 to J.R.V., T.V., E.D. and M.Z.E. J.R.V., T.V. and M.Z.E. have patents ZL910050-PCT/EP2011/060211-WO/2011/157846 (‘Methods for haplotyping single cells’) with royalties paid and ZL913096-PCT/EP2014/068315-WO/2015/028576 (‘Haplotyping and copy-number typing using polymorphic variant allelic frequencies’) with royalties paid, licensed to Cartagenia (Agilent technologies). J.R.V. also has a patent ZL91 2076-PCT/EP20 one 3/070858 (‘High throughout genotyping by sequencing’) with royalties paid

Expanding the host range of hepatitis C virus through viral adaptation

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) species tropism is incompletely understood. We have previously shown that at the level of entry, human CD81 and occludin (OCLN) comprise the minimal set of human factors needed for viral uptake into murine cells. As an alternative approach to genetic humanization, species barriers can be overcome by adapting HCV to use the murine orthologues of these entry factors. We previously generated a murine tropic HCV (mtHCV or Jc1/mCD81) strain harboring three mutations within the viral envelope proteins that allowed productive entry into mouse cell lines. In this study, we aimed to characterize the ability of mtHCV to enter and infect mouse hepatocytes in vivo and in vitro Using a highly sensitive, Cre-activatable reporter, we demonstrate that mtHCV can enter mouse hepatocytes in vivo in the absence of any human cofactors. Viral entry still relied on expression of mouse CD81 and SCARB1 and was more efficient when mouse CD81 and OCLN were overexpressed. HCV entry could be significantly reduced in the presence of anti-HCV E2 specific antibodies, suggesting that uptake of mtHCV is dependent on viral glycoproteins. Despite mtHCV's ability to enter murine hepatocytes in vivo, we did not observe persistent infection, even in animals with severely blunted type I and III interferon signaling and impaired adaptive immune responses. Altogether, these results establish proof of concept that the barriers limiting HCV species tropism can be overcome by viral adaptation. However, additional viral adaptations will likely be needed to increase the robustness of a murine model system for hepatitis C. IMPORTANCE: At least 150 million individuals are chronically infected with HCV and are at risk of developing serious liver disease. Despite the advent of effective antiviral therapy, the frequency of chronic carriers has only marginally decreased. A major roadblock in developing a vaccine that would prevent transmission is the scarcity of animal models that are susceptible to HCV infection. It is poorly understood why HCV infects only humans and chimpanzees. To develop an animal model for hepatitis C, previous efforts focused on modifying the host environment of mice, for example, to render them more susceptible to HCV infection. Here, we attempted a complementary approach in which a laboratory-derived HCV variant was tested for its ability to infect mice. We demonstrate that this engineered HCV strain can enter mouse liver cells but does not replicate efficiently. Thus, additional adaptations are likely needed to construct a robust animal model for HCV

Collagen type XIV is proportionally lower in the lung tissue of patients with IPF

Abnormal deposition of extracellular matrix (ECM) in lung tissue is a characteristic of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). Increased collagen deposition is also accompanied by altered collagen organization. Collagen type XIV, a fibril-associated collagen, supports collagen fibril organization. Its status in IPF has not been described at the protein level yet. In this study, we utilized publicly available datasets for single-cell RNA-sequencing for characterizing collagen type XIV expression at the gene level. For protein level comparison, we applied immunohistochemical staining for collagen type XIV on lung tissue sections from IPF patients and compared it to lung tissue sections from never smoking and ex-smoking donors. Analyzing the relative amounts of collagen type XIV at the whole tissue level, as well as in parenchyma, airway wall and bronchial epithelium, we found consistently lower proportions of collagen type XIV in all lung tissue compartments across IPF samples. Our study suggests proportionally lower collagen type XIV in IPF lung tissues may have implications for the assembly of the ECM fibers potentially contributing to progression of fibrosis.</p