HuR activity modulation as a novel anti-psoriatic pharmacological strategy

HuR is one of the most studied RNA Binding Proteins (RBPs involved in post-transcriptional regulation, capable of binding mRNA via AU-rich elements (AREs) in 3’-untranslated regions (3’-UTRs). HuR primarily localizes in the nucleus, however, following external stimuli (e.g., stress or inflammation), it translocates into the cytoplasm. It is ubiquitously expressed and acts as a pivotal regulator of cellular stability; its dysregulation is therefore strongly associated with the progression of c...

Polymer-Derived SiOC for Energy Applications

This thesis investigates polymer-derived silicon oxycarbide (SiOC) materials for advanced thermal insulation and lithium-ion battery applications. The work is organized into two parts. First, hybrid preceramic and inorganic SiOC aerogels were prepared via sol–gel processing of silicon alkoxides, followed by supercritical CO₂ drying, to achieve ultralow thermal conductivity and high optical transparency. Second, composite anodes were fabricated by embedding nanosilicon in a polymer-derived Si...

Injustice Along the "green" Energy Supply Chain, A Critical Analysis of the Transition Industry

The Production of Uneven Geographies: Environmental Hazard Exposure and Socioeconomic Inequality

This thesis examines how environmental, economic and digital change are reshaping the geographies of inequality. Adopting an interdisciplinary approach that integrates economic geography, environmental economics and critical urban studies, it argues how space is an active dimension that structures the allocation of resources and the distribution of costs and benefits. The analysis is organised around two interconnected themes. The first concerns the exposure, vulnerability, and resilience of...

Technologies, labour markets and workers: three essays on the consequences of technological change on labour

This thesis examines the consequences of technological change for employment, wages and the organization of work across labour markets and occupational groups. It combines a comparative cross-national perspective with case-study evidence from Germany in order to capture the labour market dynamics related to technological change at both the macro and micro levels. Substantively, the thesis addresses three interconnected research questions. First, it investigates how advanced digital technologi...

Through Smoke and Mirrors of the Post-Truth Era: Knowledge-Driven Generation as Algorithmic Resistance to Misinformation

The rapid spread of misinformation online poses a growing threat to public discourse and democratic society. Research has shown that simply flagging false content is insufficient; providing users with well-grounded explanations of why a claim is false leads to more durable belief revision than mere labeling. Yet the volume at which misinformation spreads online far exceeds the capacity of manual fact-checking, making its automation not merely desirable but necessary. Natural Language Generati...

Development and Application of An Integrated GC-MS/MS and GC-IRMS Analytical Approach in Food Quality Evaluation

Consumers, particularly those in developed countries, are becoming increasingly concerned not only about the composition of food products but also about their authenticity and geographical origin. Globalisation of food markets and the growing demand for high-quality natural ingredients have increased the economic value of many food products and flavourings. As a consequence, fraudulent practices such as adulteration, substitution, dilution, and mislabelling have become more frequent. Reliable...

SATELLITE IMAGE TIME SERIES CHANGE VECTOR ANALYSIS FOR LAND COVER CHANGE DETECTION

The exponential increase in the temporal availability of Satellite Image Time Series (SITS), driven by missions such as Sentinel-2, has fundamentally transformed the capability to monitor Earth’s surface dynamics. However, the exploitation of this data density is currently hindered by a methodological trade-off: while Deep Learning offers high predictive performance, it relies on prohibitive amounts of labeled data and lacks geometric transparency. Conversely, traditional physical methods lik...

Social Virtual Environments as ‘Third Places’: Co-Designing Socio-Relational Spaces For Autistic Young Adults