Bridging the gulf: experimental evidence on migration’s impact on tolerance and internationalism

Immigration has been shown to drive ethnocentrism and anti-globalization attitudes in native-born populations. Yet understanding how global integration shapes intercultural relations also necessitates clear evidence on how migration affects the attitudes of migrants. We argue that migration can foster tolerance, cosmopolitan identities, and support for international cooperation among migrants who experience sustained contact with other cultural groups. We evaluate this theory with the first randomized controlled trial resulting in overseas migration, which connected individuals in India with job opportunities in the Persian Gulf region’s hospitality sector. Two years after the program began, individuals in the treatment group were significantly more accepting of ethnic, cultural, and national outgroups. Migration also bolstered support for international cooperation and cultivated cosmopolitan identities. Qualitative and quantitative evidence links these changes to intercultural contact overseas. By focusing on migrants rather than native-born individuals, our study illustrates how cross-border mobility can facilitate rather than undermine global integration

Can party elites shape the rank-and-file? Evidence from a recruitment campaign in India

Recruiting a large number of ground workers is crucial for running effective modern election campaigns. It is unclear if party leaders can influence the quality and quantity of the unpaid rank-and-file workforce as they can with prized nominations for candidates. We analyze a field experiment conducted by an Indian party that randomized recruitment messages reaching 1% of a 13-million-person electorate to join its rank-and-file. Contrary to concerns that parties can only attract a few poor-quality volunteers, we show that elite efforts can shape the rank-and-file. In fact, specific strategies can increase the size, enhance the gender and ethnic diversity, and broaden the education and political skills of recruits. Strategies that signal gender inclusiveness have a lasting impact on some dimensions up to three years later. Taken together, this paper provides the first causal evidence that rank-and-file recruitment is an opportunity for elites to influence long-term party development

Doxycycline protects against ROS-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and ISO-induced heart failure.

In addition to their anti-bacterial action, tetracyclines also have complex biological effects, including the modification of mitochondrial protein synthesis, metabolism and gene-expression. Long-term clinical studies have been performed using tetracyclines, without significant side effects. Previous studies demonstrated that doxycycline (DOX), a major tetracyclin antibiotic, exerted a protective effect in animal models of heart failure; however, its exact molecular mechanism is still unknown. Here, we provide the first evidence that DOX reduces oxidative stress-induced mitochondrial fragmentation and depolarization in H9c2 cardiomyocytes and beneficially alters the expression of Mfn-2, OPA-1 and Drp-1 -the main regulators of mitochondrial fusion and fission-in our isoproterenol (ISO)-induced heart failure model, ultimately decreasing the severity of heart failure. In mitochondria, oxidative stress causes a shift toward fission which leads to mitochondrial fragmentation and cell death. Protecting mitochondria from oxidative stress, and the regulation of mitochondrial dynamics by drugs that shift the balance toward fusion, could be a novel therapeutic approach for heart failure. On the basis of our findings, we raise the possibility that DOX could be a novel therapeutic agent in the future treatment of heart failure

DOX protects against the H₂O₂–induced cell death.

<p>A wide range of doxycycline concentrations (50 nM, 100 nM, 300 nM, 1 μM, 10 μM) were applied to H₂O₂ –stressed (0.3 mM, 3h) H9c2 cells. All concentrations of DOX significantly improved the cell viability (**P < 0.01).</p

Mitochondrial depolarization and fragmentation in H9c2 cardiomyocytes.

<p><b>(A)</b> Mitochondrial fragmentation was induced in H9c2 cells after incubation with 400 μM H₂O₂ for 5 hours, at which time the mitochondrial filaments disappeared and fragmented mitochondria with lengths shorter than 2 μm were observed instead. Doxycycline reduced or completely prevented ROS—induced mitochondrial fragmentation at the concentration of 5 μM. <b>(B)</b> DOX protected H9c2 cells from apoptosis by preventing the depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane. Green and red fluorescence images of the same field were acquired using a fluorescent microscope equipped with a digital camera. The images were merged to demonstrate depolarization of Δψ in vivo, indicated by loss of the red component of the merged image. Some red fragments can also be seen, representing the fragmented mitochondria. Representative merged images of three independent experiments are presented (#P < 0.05, C vs. H₂O₂ and *P < 0.05, H₂O₂ vs. DOX+H₂O₂).</p

DOX favorably modulates the expression of Mfn-2, OPA-1 and the phophoryltaion of Drp-1.

<p>Representative western blot analysis of Mfn-2, OPA-1, Drp-1 and pDrp-1^Ser616 and densitometric evaluation is shown. PhosphoDrp-1^Ser616 bands were normalized to the appropriate Drp-1 bands. Representative blots and bar diagrams of three independent experiments are presented. C: control animals, ISO: animals 8 weeks after ISO administration; ISO + DOX: animals treated with doxycycline, 8 weeks after ISO administration; DOX: animals treated with doxycycline for 8 weeks. Values are mean ± SEM. # P < 0.05 vs control, *P < 0.05 vs. ISO.</p

Effect of doxycycline on the Ventricular Weight/Tibia Length (VW/TL) ratio and on plasma BNP.

<p>Effect of doxycycline on the Ventricular Weight/Tibia Length (VW/TL) ratio and on plasma BNP.</p