Production networks and industrial growth: interconnectedness as the cornerstone of the economy

This thesis delves into the application of network science in economic sciences , focusing on inter-industry production networks , offering a new perspective on how economic interdependencies can be analysed. The first empirical chapter starts with the study’s theoretical background, discusses the application of network science to understand complex questions within production networks, and introduces the threshold problem. After constructing the 2007 and 2012 US national production network using data from the Bureau of Economic Analysis Input-Output Accounts, it looks at the sensitivity of the interactions in the network topology and central industries to different threshold values, highlighting the importance of these thresholds in shaping the network. Secondly, the thesis examines the relationship between national production network characteristics and industrial growth. It introduces a network-based growth model based on the national production network and provides results that reveal that these characteristics can account for up to 29% of growth variance. This outcome highlights the potential of national production network metrics as explanatory variables in understanding industrial growth. After, the focus shifts to industry-specific analysis, specifically the storage battery industry and its supply chain. It introduces the concept of the ego network , discusses the challenges and relationships within this industry and explores the storage battery ego network. It analyses separately the simple upstream and downstream ego network and also the advanced ego network at the industry and network level. It identifies the indispensable industries (referring to them as integrator, allocator, and mediator industries) within the ego network, shedding light on supply chain dynamics and their role in ensuring resilience . The last part continues with the industry-specific perspective and examines the role of the storage battery ego network in industrial growth. It finds that 51% of an industry’s success is linked to its position within the ego network. In summary, this thesis advances the understanding of the intricate relationship inside production networks and emphasises the critical role of threshold values, the impact of network characteristics on growth, and the significance of industry-specific ego production networks

Decrease in REM latency and changes in sleep quality parallel serotonergic damage and recovery after MDMA: a longitudinal study over 180 days

The recreational drug ecstasy [3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)], has been found to selectively damage brain serotonin neurons in experimental animals, and probably in human MDMA users, but detailed morphometric analyses and parallel functional measures during damage and recovery are missing. Since there is evidence that serotonin regulates sleep, we have compared serotonergic markers parallel with detailed analysis of sleep patterns at three time-points within 180 d after a single dose of 15 mg/kg MDMA in male Dark Agouti rats. At 7 d and 21 d after MDMA treatment, significant (30-40%), widespread reductions in serotonin transporter (5-HTT) density were detected in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, most parts of the hypothalamus, and some of the brainstem nuclei. With the exception of the hippocampus, general recovery was observed in the brain 180 d after treatment. Transient increases followed by decreases were detected in 5-HTT mRNA expression of dorsal and median raphe nuclei at 7 d and 21 d after the treatment. Significant reductions in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep latency, increases in delta power spectra in non-rapid eye movement sleep and increased fragmentation of sleep were also detected, but all these alterations disappeared by the 180th day. The present data provide evidence for long-term, albeit, except for the hippocampus, transient changes in the terminal and cellular regions of the serotonergic system after this drug. Reduced REM latency and increased sleep fragmentation are the most characteristic alterations of sleep consistently described in depression using EEG sleep polygraphy

Stoichiometry and intracellular fate of TRIM-containing TCR complexes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studying the stoichiometry and intracellular trafficking of the T cell antigen receptor (TCR) is pivotal in understanding its mechanisms of activation. The αβTCR includes the antigen-binding TCRαβ heterodimer as well as the signal transducing CD3εγ, CD3εδ and ζ₂subunits. Although the TCR-interacting molecule (TRIM) is also part of the αβTCR complex, it has not been included in most reports so far.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We used the native antibody-based mobility shift (NAMOS) assay in a first dimension (1D) blue native (BN)-PAGE and a 2D BN-/BN-PAGE to demonstrate that the stoichiometry of the digitonin-solublized TRIM-containing αβTCR is TCRαβCD3ε₂γδζ₂TRIM₂. Smaller αβTCR complexes possess a TCRαβ CD3ε₂γδζ₂stoichiometry. Complexes of these sizes were detected in T cell lines as well as in primary human and mouse T cells. Stimulating the αβTCR with anti-CD3 antibodies, we demonstrate by confocal laser scanning microscopy that CD3ε colocalizes with ζ and both are degraded upon prolonged stimulation, possibly within the lysosomal compartment. In contrast, a substantial fraction of TRIM does not colocalize with ζ. Furthermore, TRIM neither moves to lysosomes nor is degraded. Immunoprecipitation studies and BN-PAGE indicate that TRIM also associates with the γδTCR.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Small αβTCR complexes have a TCRαβ CD3ε₂γδζ₂stoichiometry; whereas those associated with one TRIM dimer are TCRαβ CD3ε₂γδζ₂TRIM₂. TRIM is differentially processed compared to CD3 and ζ subunits after T cell activation and is not degraded. The γδTCR also associates with TRIM.</p

Oxidative Stress-Related Parthanatos of Circulating Mononuclear Leukocytes in Heart Failure

Background: The present study aims to examine the oxidative stress related activation of poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP), signs of parthanatos in circulating mononuclear leukocytes of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) that was rarely investigated in the human setting yet. Methods: Patients with CHF (n=20) and age, body mass index matched volunteers (n=15) with normal heart function were enrolled. C-reactive protein, N-terminal pro-brain type natriuretic peptide (pro-BNP), plasma total peroxide level (PRX), plasma total antioxidant capacity (TAC), oxidative stress index (OSI), leukocyte lipid peroxidation (4-hydroxynonenal; HNE), protein tyrosine nitration (NT), poly(ADP-ribosyl)ation (PARylation), and apoptosis inducing factor (AIF) translocation were measured in blood samples of fasting subjects. Results: Plasma PRX, leukocyte HNE, NT, PARylation and AIF translocation were significantly higher in the heart failure group. Pro-BNP levels in all study subjects showed significant positive correlation to PRX, OSI, leukocyte HNE, NT, PARylation and AIF translocation. Ejection fraction negatively correlated with same parameters. Among HF patients, positive correlation of pro-BNP with PRX, OSI and PARylation was still present. Conclusions: Markers of oxidative-nitrative stress, PARP activation and AIF translocation in blood components showed correlation to reduced cardiac function and the clinical appearance of CHF. These results may reinforce the consideration of PARP inhibition as a potential therapeutic target in CHF

Application of Membrane Filtration to Wastewater Desalination

The problem of wastewater with high content of salt is a frequent problem for the environmental authorities, because the existing municipal and industrial wastewater treatments are incapable to remove effectively inorganic compounds. In this paper an attempt was made to report new results with reverse osmosis (RO) and nano-filtration (NF) membranes to remove salts from fermentation wastewater.The basic target of the experiments was to find an industrial membrane, which can separate salts from fermentation wastewater with a high efficiency and the concentration of the clean water should satisfy the environmental regulation: salt concentration ≤ 2500 mg/L and COD concentration ≤ 1200 mgO2/L. RO process exhibited good salt rejection and effective removal of organics. The other aim of this study was to model the osmotic pressure and permeate flux in the wastewater using basic expressions, like van’t Hoff law and Rautenbach equations. The combination of the above models with experiment based constants gave a good tool for modeling salty wastewater