The MYC/miR-150/MYB/ZDHHC11 network in B-cell lymphoma

The study of this thesis is related to the previously established MYC/miR-150/MYB/ZDHHC11 network regulating Burkitt lymphoma (BL) growth. Our first aim was to study the role of this network in Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL). We found a similar role of three of the network components, while miR-150 overexpression showed no or only very mild effects on HL and DLBCL growth. Therefore, we considered miR-150 as a BL-specific component. Our second aim was to study the specific roles of the protein coding and circular ZDHHC11 gene products. ZDHHC11 belongs to a family of 24 ZDHHC proteins that are characterized by a DHHC motif which mediates palmitoylation. Loss of palmitoylation induced apoptosis in three B-cell lymphoma subtypes indicating the overall importance of protein palmitoylation for B-cell lymphoma. Based on the observed expression patterns we pinpointed seven DHHC family members that might be relevant in B-cell lymphoma. Further studies to elucidate the role of the ZDHHC11 protein were hampered due to difficulties in detecting the protein but provided some evidence that this protein is not a critical factor in regulating BL growth. Lastly, we showed that circular ZDHHC11 RNA transcripts do play a critical role in growth of B cell lymphoma, but this effect is independent of binding miR-150, as deletion of the miR-150 binding site region did not alter the observed phenotype. In summary, we extended current knowledge on the role of the MYC/miR-150/MYB/ZDHHC11 network and addressed the function of ZDHHC11 transcripts and protein in B-cell lymphoma

Financial Development and Economic Growth: Evidence from China in 1978-2009

This thesis examines the relationship between financial development and economic growth. By reviewing previous theories and empirical studies about financial development and economic growth and financial development process in China, I assumed that there is a positive relationship between financial development and economic growth in China case. Then I use time series annual data from 1978 to 2009 to set up a short-term model and long-term model. By running causality test and regression, I find that in the short term, if financial sectors in China develop well and provide more monetary services for economic activities, it will promote Chinese economic growth. At the same time, if Chinese economy develops very well, financial sectors will get benefit from the good economic environment. But if banks provide too much loan, the economic growth rate will slow down. In the long term, there is not really obvious positive effect between economic growth and financial development in China case as expected. But efficient bank loans are helpful for promoting economic growth

Converse symmetry and Intermediate energy values in rearrangement optimization problems

This paper discusses three rearrangement optimization problems where the energy functional is connected with the Dirichlet or Robin boundary value problems. First, we consider a simple model of Dirichlet type, derive a symmetry result, and prove an intermediate energy theorem. For this model, we show that if the optimal domain (or its complement) is a ball centered at the origin, then the original domain must be a ball. As for the intermediate energy theorem, we show that if $\alpha,\beta$ denote the optimal values of corresponding minimization and maximization problems, respectively, then every $\gamma$ in $(\alpha,\beta)$ is achieved by solving a max-min problem. Second, we investigate a similar symmetry problem for the Dirichlet problems where the energy functional is nonlinear. Finally, we show the existence and uniqueness of rearrangement minimization problems associated with the Robin problems. In addition, we shall obtain a symmetry and a related asymptotic result

Data Collection Mode Effects On Political Knowledge

Given the popularity of political knowledge questions in political science research, it is critical to understand the measurement of this question type. This study examines the data collection mode effect on political knowledge questions. Specifically, responses to political knowledge questions between face-to-face and Web surveys, and between computer-assisted self-interview (CASI) and Web surveys are compared using the 2012 American National Election Studies. The results suggest that a significant mode effect exists for political knowledge questions. Among the 13 knowledge questions examined, 10 exhibited significant differences between modes. In general, Web surveys elicit more accurate answers than face-to-face and CASI. Easy access to information through the Internet may contribute to the higher level of political knowledge among Web respondents. This finding suggests that political knowledge as measured in Web surveys is not equivalent to that from face-to-face surveys. The result suggests that previously established relationships between political knowledge and political involvement in face-to-face surveys may be different in Web surveys

Analyticity of free boundary in an optimal harvesting problem

This note revisits an optimisation problem pertaining to the optimal harvesting of a marine species. The existence of solutions and the corresponding optimal conditions they satisfy have already been proved. It is known that the optimal solutions can be identified with n-dimensional shapes. We will obtain an interesting result concerning the free boundary of the optimal shapes. Indeed, we will prove that if a parameter in the admissible set is kept sufficiently small then the free boundaries will be real analytic hypersurfaces