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Autophagy is an intracellular catabolic process that controls infections both directly and indirectly via its multifaceted effects on the innate and adaptive immune responses. It has been reported that LPS stimulates this cellular process, whereas the effect of IL-36α on autophagy remains largely unknown. We, therefore, investigated how IL-36α modulates the endogenous and LPS-induced autophagy in THP-1 cells. The levels of LC3B-II and autophagic flux were determined by western blotting. The intracellular localization of LC3B was measured by immunofluorescence assay. The activation levels of signaling pathways implicated in autophagy regulation were evaluated by using a phosphokinase array. Our results showed that combined IL-36α and LPS treatment cooperatively increased the levels of LC3B-II and Beclin-1, stimulated the autophagic flux, facilitated intracellular redistribution of LC3B, and increased the average number of autophagosomes per cell. The IL36α/LPS combined treatment increased phosphorylation of STAT5a/b, had minimal effect on the Akt/PRAS40/mTOR pathway, and reduced the levels of phospho-Yes, phospho-FAK, and phospho-WNK1. Thus, this cytokine/PAMP combination triggers pro-autophagic biased signaling by several mechanisms and thus cooperatively stimulates the autophagic cascade. An increased autophagic activity of innate immune cells simultaneously exposed to IL-36α and LPS may play an important role in the pathogenesis of Gram-negative bacterial infections. SARS-CoV-2 can infect and replicate in esophageal cells and enterocytes, leading to direct damage to the intestinal epithelium. The infection decreases the level of angiotensin converting enzyme 2 receptors, thereby altering the composition of the gut microbiota. SARS-CoV-2 elicits a cytokine storm, which contributes to gastrointestinal inflammation. The direct cytopathic effects of SARS-CoV-2, gut dysbiosis, and aberrant immune response result in increased intestinal permeability, which may exacerbate existing symptoms and worsen the prognosis. By exploring the elements of pathogenesis, several therapeutic options have emerged for the treatment of COVID-19 patients, such as biologics and biotherapeutic agents. However, the presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the feces may facilitate the spread of COVID-19 through fecal-oral transmission and contaminate the environment. Thus, gastrointestinal SARS-CoV-2 infection has important epidemiological significance. The development of new therapeutic and preventive options is necessary to treat and restrict the spread of this severe and widespread infection more effectively.

The purpose of the thesis is to analyze how the automotive manufacturing companies being active in Hungary operate in global value chains, with a particular focus on suppliers. Although the topic of GVC is widespread and discussed in international literature, there is a gap in relation to the Hungarian automotive manufacturing industry, especially in the current situation when the COVID-19 pandemic affects the operation of the multinational enterprises. The main identified research question is the following: What is the value creation of the automotive manufacturing industry in Hungary within global value chain? The research process started with a comprehensive literature review and theoretical background analysis about the GVC concept (including the introduction of ‘Smile-curve’) and FDI investment in Central and Eastern Europe (including the characterization of near-shoring activities) and continued with conducting a sample survey and semi-structured interviews with the key car parts suppliers. Executive board, managerial level and engineers were the target persons both for the survey and for interviews. Based on the literature review, I formulated two hypotheses: 1. The theory of ‘Smile curve’ is also valid in case of the Hungarian automotive manufacturing industry, typically low value-added production processes take place in the country. 2. In addition to the central location, the cheap and skilled Hungarian labour was the most important factor in the near-shoring activities of multinational companies expanding to Hungary. In order to be able to accept or reject the first hypothesis about the relevance of the so called ‘Smile curve’ in the Hungarian automotive manufacturing industry, to define position of the automotive manufacturer companies being active in Hungary in the global automotive manufacturing value chain and to create an in-depth understanding about investment incentives of the Western European firms in the country, I prepared an online survey. To test my second hypothesis about the reasons of near-shoring activity in Hungary, I conducted 3 interviews with industry experts from TIER 1 companies of different size. The targeted automotive parts manufacturers are all suppliers of the 5 OEMs present in Hungary (Audi, BMW, Mercedes, Opel and Suzuki) among others. The new results of the doctoral dissertation are the following: I can reject the first hypothesis about the relevance of ‘Smile curve’ in the Hungarian automotive manufacturing industry, because beside manufacturing activities with low added value typically, also research and development activities take place at bigger multinational companies with higher added value. I can accept the second hypothesis about near-shoring in Hungary, because beside the ‘proximity to export markets’, the cheap but skilled labour was decisive when multinationals decided to invest in the country. The ‘positive support system’, ‘favourable tax conditions’, ‘government policy’ and ‘proximity to HQ’ were aspects that companies used, but they are rather neutral factors. The ‘good infrastructure’ is not so good in the real life and the ‘cheap raw material’ is not cheap, because firms have to deal with world market prices, thus, these were not attractive to investors. Further results about the business operations of the analyzed supplier companies: The purchasing decisions for the Hungarian production happens locally decisively, either independently or with involving the headquarter. The manufactured products are typically drive chains, body parts and electric sensors and the proportion of products designated by OEMs is rather high. Western Europe is the biggest export market of the companies analysed, followed by China, North-America and the Central Eastern European region. Relocation processes are not characteristic of the firms. If so, only from other country to Hungary and it is also determined by OEMs providing new opportunities for them. In some cases, wage costs and logistics also play a role in the relocation process. Electromobility and autonomous driving are the most affecting trends in the automotive manufacturing industry. The semiconductor shortage as a serious downside risk is also the result of the pandemic. The effects of COVID-19 are becoming less pronounced today, but the semiconductor crisis is continuing. Favourable tax conditions and higher value added are the success criteria that will help the Hungarian automotive manufacturing industry to remain competitive in the future. Professional trainings, more support for SMEs and favourable legal conditions are also important aspects. Today, the CEE region, including Hungary is a net exporter of knowledge-intensive goods. To improve its global competitiveness and to be able to move into higher-value-added goods and services, the region should invest more in R&D, infrastructure, education and collaboration between companies and universities. The key players in the automotive part manufacturing has realized that value added is a very important factor in the success of an industry and it can be increased due to investment in research and development and innovation. As revealed by the research, they have already established R&D centers and joint projects with universities (e.g. departments), so companies are well on their way to producing higher added value.

The spread of COVID-19 had radical impacts on the operation of higher education institutions. The University of Szeged, one of the leading universities in Hungary, Central Europe, adapted itself to the unprecedented pandemic situation in all its main pillars of operation: education, research, “third mission” activities, and high-quality medical care. Measures and actions included: transition to remote work, switch to online education, COVID-19 research projects, establishment of an epidemic hospital, H-UNCOVER nationwide screening, sustainability efforts and energy usage reduction. Thanks to conscious strategic planning, challenges could be handled efficiently, and quality performance was uninterrupted. Certain tools and practices are worth of consideration even in post-pandemic times as potential areas for development.

Abstract Bioethics has expanded considerably over the last few decades in the academic enterprise and policy arena. However, despite the progress, the history of bioethics exhibits methodological controversies among contributors in the field. Generally, the contention is related to bioethics' complex and contested relationship with philosophical theory, contributors' perspectivism, and a "reliance upon high-flying ethical theory," as well as "skepticism of the applied nature of bioethics," which further point to differences in interpretation of the logic and epistemology of morality and moral judgments. On the other hand, it is claimed that pragmatic ethics, mainly on the grounds of incorporating the components of different understandings of ethics, its interdisciplinarity, and its practical focus, avoid the controversies over the methods and goals of bioethics through a consideration of the context in ethical inquiry and serves as a method. In this dissertation, I focus on investigating the methodological dimensions of bioethics while emphasizing topical issues in the field, including gestational surrogacy, healthcare allocation, rationing, and organ trade and trafficking in Africa. On the whole, I look at the methodology and goals of bioethics mainly, from the point of view of pragmatist ethics, following the line of John Dewey's ethics. I also investigate specific moral problems in bioethics to further illuminate the methods of pragmatic bioethics and show the practical usefulness for solving specific moral dilemmas arising in a particular context. The dissertation is devided into seven chapters. In Chapter One, I discuss the background of the study and locate the problems of the study by showing the contested nature of the methodological terrain of bioethics. Further, I discus the disagreements about the logic and epistemology of morality, moral judgment and decision making, the nature of moral issues, and the practical goals of bioethics. Finally, I also look at how pragmatist bioethics avoids methodological disagreements in bioethics. In Chapter Two, I examine the methodological dimensions of bioethics and show how a pragmatist approach and consideration of context are relevant in bioethical investigations. I also provide an overview of the recently introduced context-sensitive methodologies, theories, and principles of bioethics in the global South and East and show the relevance of context-based bioethical research and bioethical deliberations. Finally, discusing the epistemic ground of morality and the nature of bioethics, I argue that a pragmatist-empirical turn in bioethics can help us think about and make decisions about specific bioethical dilemmas. In Chapter Three, I further discuss the meta-method of bioethics by examining Dewey's inquiry ethics and the case of gestational surrogacy. First, I mainly revisited Dewey's ethical inquiry method and pragmatist bioethics and then identified steps of pragmatist bioethical inquiry. Using these steps, I discuss the moral dilemma of gestational surrogacy at the level of a public issue that needs social policy and suggest pragmatic ways to come up with solutions. In the last part of this chapter, I undeline the significance of Dewey's emphasis on education, deliberative democracy, and institutions as the basis for solving bioethical issues arising in different societal contexts. Next, in Chapter Four, I examine the ethical dilemma of healthcare allocation and rationing from a pragmatist ethics perspective, again mainly following Dewey's work. The moral dilemma of distribution always entails rationing: denying service to someone to benefit others. Such aspects of allocation and rationing and the normative-relational aspect of disease and health render the problem morally controversial. It is not easy to reach on agreed upon principles of healthcare resource allocation and rationing applicable across different contexts. Hence, in this chapter, I argue that the moral challenges of healthcare rationing ought not to be addressed through an appeal to principles but rather through deliberation that embraces a more pragmatic and democratic approach to thinking with sensitivity to context. However, this does not mean that moral principles and values are unnecessary when allocating healthcare resources. In Chapter Five, I further illuminate the methods of pragmatist bioethics and moral challeges of healthcare allocation and rationing by using the context of African healthcare systems and the COVID-19 pandemic. In the first part of this chapter, I critically review the African healthcare crisis's factors and suggest pragmatist means to address justice issues in healthcare allocation in the region. In the second part, I present the worldwide and Sub-Saharan African situations during the COVID-19 pandemic and examine the place of moral principles in the allocation and rationing of healthcare resources. In this chapter, I mainly argue for the relevance of go