Gender Labour Discrimination in the Higher Education System: A Case of Georgia

Introduction. Discrimination, especially gender discrimination, is one of the main challenges of the modern labour market. Even though different countries have appropriate policies as well as the desire and readiness of society, gender discrimination remains an unsolved problem in all spheres of activity. Although women's participation and educational opportunities have increased, and they are actively involved in academic activities, according to research, the level of discrimination in this field remains high. The management apparatus of organizations should take into account the fact that discrimination is not only a violation of the country's legislation but also has a negative impact on both the image of the organization and its final results. Aim and tasks. This research aims to identify gender discrimination in the higher education system and provide solutions using Georgia. Results. The study aims to outline gender discrimination issues in Georgia and its impact on people's personal lives and health. A total of 759 respondents employed at a higher educational institution were interviewed. Despite the fact that the government of Georgia has developed legislative reforms to eliminate discrimination, the results of the study revealed significant problems in the higher education system of Georgia in terms of gender discrimination. Part of them state that they were victims of discrimination most often at the workplace. The results revealed that gender discrimination affected people's health and personal lives. Conclusions. Managers must consider many factors to achieve the intended results for an organisation. However, one of the most essential challenges for enhancing employee labour productivity is the creation of a place to work, where the issue of discrimination plays a significant role. Attention was also focused on the factors causing discrimination, to which managers should pay attention to take appropriate measures. The study analysed how men and women perceive the conflicts caused by discrimination in the labour market. Also, it revealed the perception and vision of the ways of solving these conflicts among women and men

Cytokine-mediated protection of human dendritic cells from prostate cancer-induced apoptosis is regulated by the Bcl-2 family of proteins

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the United States, and second in cancer-induced mortality. It is likely that tumour-induced immunosuppression is one of the reasons for low treatment efficacy in patients with advanced prostate cancer. It has been recently demonstrated that prostate cancer tissue is almost devoid of dendritic cells (DC), the major antigen-presenting cells responsible for the induction of specific antitumour immune responses. In this study, we have tested the hypothesis that prostate cancer induces progressive suppression of the DC system. We found that co-incubation of human DC with three prostate cancer cell lines led to the high levels of premature apoptosis of DC, which were significantly higher than in DC cultures co-incubated with normal prostate cells or blood leucocytes. Stimulation of DC for 24 hours with CD40 ligand (CD154), IL-12 or IL-15 prior to their co-incubation with prostate cancer cells resulted in a significant increase in DC survival in the tumour microenvironment. Furthermore, activation of DC with these cytokines was also accompanied by increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x L in DC, suggesting a possible mechanism involved in DC protection from apoptotic death. In summary, our data demonstrate that prostate cancer induces active elimination of DC in the tumour microenvironment. Stimulation of DC by CD154, IL-12 or IL-15 leads to an increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-x L and increased resistance of DC to prostate cancer-induced apoptosis. These results suggest a new mechanism of tumour escape from immune recognition and demonstrate the cytokine-based approaches which might significantly increase the efficacy of DC-based therapies for cancer. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Dendritic cell defects in patients with cancer: mechanisms and significance

Dendritic cells (DCs) are a complex network of antigen-presenting cells that have an essential role in the modulation of primary immunity. There has been increasing evidence that DCs isolated from patients with malignancy demonstrate functional deficiencies that inhibit the capacity to mount an effective anti-tumor response. In this issue of Breast Cancer Research, Pinzon-Charry and colleagues investigate one of the possible mechanisms by which tumors induce DC dysfunction to evade host immune surveillance. They demonstrate that DCs isolated from the circulation of patients with early-stage breast cancer exhibit increased rates of spontaneous apoptosis. In vitro studies suggest that a soluble factor secreted by breast cancer cells is responsible for this phenomenon. In contrast, ex vivo conditioning of DCs with CD-40 ligand and IL-12 was protective against tumor-induced apoptosis

Dendritic cell density and activation status in human breast cancer – CD1a, CMRF-44, CMRF-56 and CD-83 expression

Low CD1a-positive putative dendritic cell numbers in human breast cancer has recently been described and may explain the apparent ‘poor immunogenicity’ previously reported in breast cancer. Little attention has been given to dendritic cell activation within the tumour microenvironment, which is another reason why the in-situ immune response may be severely deficient. We have therefore examined CD1a expression as a marker for dendritic cells, together with CMRF-44 and -56 as markers of dendritic cell activation status, in 40 human breast cancers. The results demonstrate few or no CD1a-positive putative dendritic cells and minimal or no expression of the dendritic cell activation markers. Both dendritic cell number and dendritic cell activation appear substantially deficient in human breast cancers, regardless of tumour histological grade

Chemomodulation of human dendritic cell function by antineoplastic agents in low noncytotoxic concentrations

The dose-delivery schedule of conventional chemotherapy, which determines its efficacy and toxicity, is based on the maximum tolerated dose. This strategy has lead to cure and disease control in a significant number of patients but is associated with significant short-term and long-term toxicity. Recent data demonstrate that moderately low-dose chemotherapy may be efficiently combined with immunotherapy, particularly with dendritic cell (DC) vaccines, to improve the overall therapeutic efficacy. However, the direct effects of low and ultra-low concentrations on DCs are still unknown. Here we characterized the effects of low noncytotoxic concentrations of different classes of chemotherapeutic agents on human DCs in vitro. DCs treated with antimicrotubule agents vincristine, vinblastine, and paclitaxel or with antimetabolites 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine and methotrexate, showed increased expression of CD83 and CD40 molecules. Expression of CD80 on DCs was also stimulated by vinblastine, paclitaxel, azacytidine, methotrexate, and mitomycin C used in low nontoxic concentrations. Furthermore, 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine, methotrexate, and mitomycin C increased the ability of human DCs to stimulate proliferation of allogeneic T lymphocytes. Thus, our data demonstrate for the first time that in low noncytotoxic concentrations chemotherapeutic agents do not induce apoptosis of DCs, but directly enhance DC maturation and function. This suggests that modulation of human DCs by noncytotoxic concentrations of antineoplastic drugs, i.e. chemomodulation, might represent a novel approach for up-regulation of functional activity of resident DCs in the tumor microenvironment or improving the efficacy of DCs prepared ex vivo for subsequent vaccinations

Targeting the tumor vasculature to enhance T cell activity.

T cells play a critical role in tumor immune surveillance as evidenced by extensive mouse-tumor model studies as well as encouraging patient responses to adoptive T cell therapies and dendritic cell vaccines. It is well established that the interplay of tumor cells with their local cellular environment can trigger events that are immunoinhibitory to T cells. More recently it is emerging that the tumor vasculature itself constitutes an important barrier to T cells. Endothelial cells lining the vessels can suppress T cell activity, target them for destruction, and block them from gaining entry into the tumor in the first place through the deregulation of adhesion molecules. Here we review approaches to break this tumor endothelial barrier and enhance T cell activity

Cancer Biomarker Discovery: The Entropic Hallmark

Background: It is a commonly accepted belief that cancer cells modify their transcriptional state during the progression of the disease. We propose that the progression of cancer cells towards malignant phenotypes can be efficiently tracked using high-throughput technologies that follow the gradual changes observed in the gene expression profiles by employing Shannon's mathematical theory of communication. Methods based on Information Theory can then quantify the divergence of cancer cells' transcriptional profiles from those of normally appearing cells of the originating tissues. The relevance of the proposed methods can be evaluated using microarray datasets available in the public domain but the method is in principle applicable to other high-throughput methods. Methodology/Principal Findings: Using melanoma and prostate cancer datasets we illustrate how it is possible to employ Shannon Entropy and the Jensen-Shannon divergence to trace the transcriptional changes progression of the disease. We establish how the variations of these two measures correlate with established biomarkers of cancer progression. The Information Theory measures allow us to identify novel biomarkers for both progressive and relatively more sudden transcriptional changes leading to malignant phenotypes. At the same time, the methodology was able to validate a large number of genes and processes that seem to be implicated in the progression of melanoma and prostate cancer. Conclusions/Significance: We thus present a quantitative guiding rule, a new unifying hallmark of cancer: the cancer cell's transcriptome changes lead to measurable observed transitions of Normalized Shannon Entropy values (as measured by high-throughput technologies). At the same time, tumor cells increment their divergence from the normal tissue profile increasing their disorder via creation of states that we might not directly measure. This unifying hallmark allows, via the the Jensen-Shannon divergence, to identify the arrow of time of the processes from the gene expression profiles, and helps to map the phenotypical and molecular hallmarks of specific cancer subtypes. The deep mathematical basis of the approach allows us to suggest that this principle is, hopefully, of general applicability for other diseases

Business plan for Establishing a new Tearoom in Prague

Hlavním cílem této bakalářské práce je sestavení podnikatelského plánu pro zatím neexistující čajovnu, která se bude nacházet v Praze. Cílem tohoto plánu je zhodnocení finanční ziskovosti a náročnosti budoucí čajovny, na základě, kterého posoudím, zdali je reálné tuto čajovnu otevírat v mém vybraném městě. Práce je rozdělena do tří částí. V první části se budu zabývat teorií, kde popíši jednotlivé části podnikatelského plánu a celkově pojmy týkající se podnikání. Druhá část by byla věnována metodologické části, kde provedu marketingový výzkumu trhu. Provedu dotazníkové šetření a výsledky popíši. Poslední a jako třetí část je část praktická, do které aplikuji všechny teoretické znalosti a zpracuji podnikatelský plán nové čajovny. Na konec vše vyhodnotím.The main idea of this bachelor thesis is the preparation of a business plan for a fictional shisha bar located in Prague. The goal of this plan would be to evaluate the profitability and expected difficulties of establishing and running said shisha bar, based on which the decision would be made whether the location is suitable or not. The thesis is divided into three parts. Part one is focused on theory – the individual parts of the business plan and additional business terminology. The second part focuses on methodology – with market research, including questionnaires being done and results presented. The final part is a practical one, in which all theoretical knowledge gained would be implemented into the final business plan, followed by the conclusion at the end

Optimization of the communication mix of a company selling art supplies

The thesis focuses on the issues of PPC advertising and its utilization within the online marketing communication mix of a specific e-commerce platform. The aim of the thesis was to conduct an analysis of PPC advertising campaigns in Google Ads and Sklik systems, propose optimization strategies, and implement ongoing adjustments to enhance the effectiveness and performance of these PPC campaigns. The theoretical part of the thesis addresses the marketing mix, particularly within the online environment, emphasizing PPC marketing including various ad types, campaign structures, and tools for performance analysis and optimization. The practical section involves an analysis of existing campaigns, identifying shortcomings, and introducing optimization steps that are subsequently implemented and evaluated. The primary contribution of this thesis lies in providing a practical example of the optimization process aimed at improving the performance, effectiveness, and revenue of PPC campaigns.Diplomová práce se zaměřuje na problematiku PPC reklamy a jejího využití v rámci online marketingového komunikačního mixu konkrétního e-shopu. Cílem práce bylo provést analýzu PPC reklamních kampaní v systémech Google Ads a Sklik, navrhnout optimalizační postupy a realizovat průběžné úpravy s cílem zvýšit efektivitu a výkonnost těchto PPC kampaní. Teoretická část práce se věnuje marketingovému mixu, zejména v rámci online prostředí. Dále se zaměřuje na PPC marketing včetně typů reklam, struktury kampaní a nástrojů pro analýzu a optimalizaci výkonu. Praktická část práce se zabývá analýzou stávajících kampaní a na základě zjištěných nedostatků představuje optimalizační kroky, které jsou implementovány a následně zhodnoceny. Hlavním přínosem této diplomové práce je praktický příklad optimalizačního procesu s cílem zvýšení výkonnosti, efektivity a tržeb PPC kampaní