When and why moral exemplars fail to motivate intergroup reconciliation

In societies with collective memories of their group’s historical victimization, the modes of conflict resolution conventionally proposed in social psychology may be ineffective. The present study aimed to examine the effectiveness of moral-exemplar interventions. Moral exemplars are individuals who have risked some important aspects of their life to save lives of other social groups’ members. In two experimental studies (N total = 405), we tested the hypothesis that the presentation of stories of past ingroup or outgroup moral exemplars improves intergroup relationships. We also test the effects of prototypicality of the moral exemplars by manipulating the frequency of helping behavior in the perpetrator group. Also, we used open-ended question to investigate qualitatively how moral exemplars are viewed by participants. We have failed to find positive effects of moral-exemplar interventions. Our findings suggest that moral exemplars might even have adverse effects on intergroup attitudes. Qualitative analysis confirmed that the in-group moral exemplar can be used as an ‘alibi’ to justify the in-group’s transgressions, while the out-group moral exemplar was subtyped. Importantly, our findings do not invalidate, but complement the moral-exemplar intervention literature, by offering insights to future work with such interventions

ADSORPTION OF PROTAMINE AND PAPAIN PROTEINS ON SAPONITE

Due to the increased importance of bionanocomposites, protamine and papain proteins were adsorbed on Na+ and on Cs+-exchanged saponite from aqueous solution. protein analysis of equilibrium solutions and thermogravimetric analyses of biocomposites were used to prepare adsorption isotherms, Based on the isotherm shape, and on the amounts of protein adsorbed and the amounts of Na+ and Cs+ released, the initial protein sorption apparently was due to ion exchange. Additional sorbed protein was weakly retained and could be removed by washing with water. From ion exchange, the average charge of the protamine adsorbed was estimated to be +13.1 to +13.5, Similar papain measurements could not be made due to partial decomposition. Quantitatively, protamine was adsorbed at levels Lip to 400 mg/g on Na+-saponite and 200 mg/g on Cs+-saponite. The maximum protamine adsorption was 650 to 700 mg/g for Na+-saponite and 350-400 mg/g for Cs+-saponite. Protamine was sorbed to edge surfaces and the basal spacing of the interlamellar region of saponite was 1.75 nm. Protamine displaced only 36% of the Cs+ in Cs+-saponite and expanded the interlamellar region by 36% for a basal spacing of 1.6 nm. Papain sorption to Na+-saponite occurred by a two-step process: (1) adsorption to saponite particle external surfaces Followed, (2) by partial intercalation. Quantitatively, Papain was adsorbed up to 100 mg/g for Na+- and Cs+-saponite. Greater initial papain concentrations resulted in a 450 mg/g maximum for Na+-saponite, but no increase above 100 mg/g for Cs+-saponite. Papain apparently only sorbed to external Cs+-saponite Surfaces that were estimated to be 33-40 m(2)/g. Step-wisc thermal decomposition of the saponitc-protein composites occurred between 300 and 800 degrees C

A pivotal role for galectin-1 in fetomaternal tolerance.

International audienceA successful pregnancy requires synchronized adaptation of maternal immune-endocrine mechanisms to the fetus. Here we show that galectin-1 (Gal-1), an immunoregulatory glycan-binding protein, has a pivotal role in conferring fetomaternal tolerance. Consistently with a marked decrease in Gal-1 expression during failing pregnancies, Gal-1-deficient (Lgals1(-/-)) mice showed higher rates of fetal loss compared to wild-type mice in allogeneic matings, whereas fetal survival was unaffected in syngeneic matings. Treatment with recombinant Gal-1 prevented fetal loss and restored tolerance through multiple mechanisms, including the induction of tolerogenic dendritic cells, which in turn promoted the expansion of interleukin-10 (IL-10)-secreting regulatory T cells in vivo. Accordingly, Gal-1's protective effects were abrogated in mice depleted of regulatory T cells or deficient in IL-10. In addition, we provide evidence for synergy between Gal-1 and progesterone in the maintenance of pregnancy. Thus, Gal-1 is a pivotal regulator of fetomaternal tolerance that has potential therapeutic implications in threatened pregnancies

Publisher Correction:GPCRmd uncovers the dynamics of the 3D-GPCRome

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