The main focus of my thesis has been to develop protocols for generating antigen-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and T helper cells (TH) for adoptive transfer to treat cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease and prostate cancer. CMV viremia is a severe complication in immunocompromised stem cell transplanted patients. Prostate cancer is a leading cause of death for men in Western countries. Although different in nature, CMV-infected cells and prostate cancer cells can both be eliminated through specific activation of the adaptive immune system. To generate CMV pp65-specific T cells, I utilized dendritic cells (DCs) modified with an HLA-A*0201/pp65495-503 peptide, a recombinant adenovirus coding for pp65, in vitro transcribed pp65 mRNA and a recombinant pp65 protein. Peptide stimulation yielded large numbers of peptide-specific CD8+ T cells with high lytic activity while adenovirus or mRNA stimulation resulted in the expansion of CTLs against multiple pp65 epitopes. The recombinant protein activated primarily CD4+ TH cells. Stimulation with DCs co-modified with pp65 mRNA and pp65 protein simultaneously generated both pp65-specific CTLs and TH cells. Such T cells would cover all pp65 epitopes while avoiding potential virus related biohazards. The mRNA/protein combinatory approach can be used to stimulate T cells ex vivo from virtually all stem cell donors for adoptive T cell transfer. I have identified two immunogenic HLA-A*0201-restricted peptide epitopes from the prostate tissue antigen TARP. Repeated stimulations with TARP peptide-pulsed DCs yielded up to 20% TARP-directed CD8+ T cells even when starting from undetectable frequencies (<0.01%). The T cells could be sorted to 99% purity and expanded 1000-fold with retained specificity and activity. We also detected TARP-directed CD8+ T cells in the blood of prostate cancer patients. Therefore, TARP seems to have potential as antigen in DC vaccination or adoptive T cell therapy of prostate cancer.

Šiame darbe plačiau nagrinėjama auklėjimo įtaka, kaip patyčių tarp vaikų atsiradimo priežastis ir, kaip šio reiškinio prevencijos galimybė, taip pat šeimos ir mokyklos bendradarbiavimo svarba siekiant sumažinti smurto tarp vaikų apraiškas bei empatijos, socialinių įgūdžių, savivertės ugdymas ir agresijos slopinimas kaip svarbiausios stiprios asmenybės savybės, kurių turėjimas gali ženkliai sumažinti patyčių mastą. Darbo tikslas - ištirti šeimos požiūrį į patyčių reiškinį mokykloje ir tėvų pasirengimą deramai padėti savo vaikams. Remiantis moksline, psichologine bei pedagogine literatūra bei atliktu empiriniu tyrimu teigtina, kad šeimos auklėjimo stilius gali būti patyčių priežastimi. Vaikas, kuris iš šeimos atsineša agresyvų bendravimo stilių, tiesiog nemoka kitaip bendrauti. Šeima – tai visuomenės ir valstybės pagrindas, svarbiausia terpė, kurioje žmogus auga. Tai žmonių sąjunga, galinti užtikrinti visapusišką vaiko poreikių tenkinimą, gebanti tinkamai parengti vaiką svarbiems gyvenimo darbams, išugdyti tvirtą, turintį savo nuomonę bei vertybių orientaciją, pilietį. Vaikas turi augti kiek galima saugesnėje aplinkoje, kad vėliau turėtų mažiau bėdų. Juk visų pirma, tinkamo elgesio ir draugiško bendravimo vaikai mokosi šeimoje. Naudoti smurtą kaip būdą spręsti konfliktams tarp individų, grupių ir tautų pirmiausia išmokstame šeimos aplinkoje. Šeimos auklėjimo stilius gali būti patyčių priežastimi. Vaikas, kuris iš šeimos atsineša agresyvų bendravimo stilių, nemoka kitaip... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This paper deals with the influence of upbringing as the cause of taunting among children and also as a means of preventing children from this behaviour. The paper points out the importance of the cooperation between school and family aiming to reduce the manifestation of taunting among children and shows empathy, social skills, self-esteem and suppression of aggression as the main qualities of a strong personality, which can considerably reduce the extent of taunting. The aim of the paper is to examine the family’s attitude towards taunting at school and parents’ preparation to help their children. On the base of scientific and psycho-pedagogical literature and empirical investigation it is maintained that taunting can be the cause of the family upbringing style. Family is the backbone of society and state, the most important environment where a person grows up. This is the union between people that can ensure the complete satisfaction of a child’s needs, his/her preparation for future challenges as well as upbringing of a strong, independent, having his/her own system of values citizen. A child should grow up in the safest environment possible so that later he/she would have less trouble. Primarily a child learns to adopt an appropriate behaviour and develop friendly relations in a family. Violence as a way of solving a conflict among individuals, groups and nations is bred in the family environment. The family upbringing style can be the cause of taunting. The child whose... [to full text]

Tyrimo tikslas – nustatyti subjektyviai suvokiamą atitikimą tarp asmens ir organizacijos vertybių skirtingose darbuotojų grupėse bei jo sąsajas su pasitenkinimu darbu ir emociniu išsekimu. Tyrime dalyvavo 133 (9 vyrai ir 124 moterys) valstybinės įstaigos darbuotojai. Tyrimo metodai: Cable ir DeRue sukurta subjektyviai suvokiamo atitikimo tarp asmens ir organizacijos skalė, Spector pasitenkinimo darbu klausimynas, emocinio išsekimo skalė iš Maslach ir Jackson sukurto klausimyno, taip pat buvo užduoti papildomi klausimai apie darbuotojų sociodemografines charakteristikas. Tyrimo rezultatai parodė, kad subjektyviai suvokiamas atitikimas tarp asmens ir organizacijose vertybių skirtingose darbuotojų amžiaus, gaunamo atlyginimo ir užimamų pareigų grupėse nesiskiria, tačiau skiriasi skirtinguose įmonės padaliniuose ir tarp skirtingas pareigas užimančių socialinio darbo padalinio darbuotojų. Taip pat rezultatai atskleidė, kad didesnis subjektyviai suvokiamas atitikimas tarp asmens ir organizacijos vertybių siejasi su didesniu darbuotojų pasitenkinimu darbu ir mažesniu emociniu išsekimu. / The aim of the study was to assess subjective person-organization values fit in different employees’ groups, and to determine subjective person-organization values fit’s impact on job satisfaction and emotional exhaustion. The subjects of the study were 133 (9 men, 124 women) employees from public organization. Methods: perceived fit scale from Cable and DeRue questionnaire about subjective fit, Spector’s Job Satisfaction Survey, emotional exhaustion scale from Maslach and Jackson Burnout Inventory, and additional questions about employees’ social and demographical characteristics. The results of the study showed that subjective person-organization value fit is similar in different employees’ age, wage, and position groups, but differs among separate departments and different positions in social work department. The results also revealed that higher subjective person-organization values fit is related to higher level of job satisfaction and lower level of emotional exhaustion among employees.

Vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų teorija nagrinėja vadovo ir pavaldinio tarpusavio darbinius santykius. Vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų teorija pabrėžia, jog vadovas formuoja su kiekvienu iš savo pavaldinių kokybiškai skirtingus santykius. Teorija reikšminga ir tuo, kad ne tik vadovas, bet ir pavaldinys traktuojamas kaip svarbus ir lygiavertis diadinių darbinių santykių kūrėjas. Tyrime naudojome R. C. Liden ir J. M. Maslyn (1998) sukurtą Vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų daugiadimensinį modelį, kuris teigia, jog vadovo-pavaldinio socialiniai mainai yra daug sudėtingesnis reiškinys nei bendras socialinių mainų kokybės rodiklis ir apima emocinę, lojalumo, bendradarbiavimo, profesinės pagarbos dimensijas. Komunikacija tarp vadovo ir pavaldinio įvardijama kaip viena iš sąlygų vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų kokybei formuotis. Tuo tarpu vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų kokybė susijusi su jų įsipareigojimu organizacijai, pasitenkinimui darbu ir pan. Šiame darbe kėlėme prielaidą, jog vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų kokybė yra tarpinis kintamasis tarp vadovo ir pavaldinio grįžtamojo ryšio ir tarp vadovo ir pavaldinio įsipareigojimo organizacijai bei pasitenkinimo darbu. Tyrimo rezultatai rodo, jog vadovo ir pavaldinio grįžtamojo ryšio teikimas ir siekimas yra svarbus rodiklis prognozuojant vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų kokybę. Nors vadovo-pavaldinio socialinių mainų kokybė prognozuoja ne visus vadovo ir pavaldinio įsipareigojimo organizacijai bei pasitenkinimo... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / Leader-Member Exchange theory analyse work relationships between leader and member. Leader-Member Exchange theory underlines that leader forms distinct quality relationships with each member. The theory is meaningful also because leader and member are treated as both equally important for creation of work relationships. We used in our research Leader-Member Exchange multidimensional model, created by R. C. Liden and J. M. Maslyn (1998), which states that leader-member exchanges are more complex than general leader-member exchange quality index and involves affect, loyalty, contribution and professional respect dimensions. Leader-member exchange quality process is conditioned by communication between leader and member. Also, organizational commitment, work satisfaction and so on of leaders and member are conditioned by Leader-member exchange quality. In our research we made assumption that leader-member exchange quality is mediate variable between feedback of leader and member and organizational commitment and work satisfaction of leader and member. Our research indicates that feedback between leader and member is important indicator of leader-member exchange quality prognosis. Leader-member exchange quality prognosticates not all aspects of organizational commitment and work satisfaction of leader and member, still, according to research results, we can state that leader-member exchange quality is mediate variable between feedback of leader and member and organizational... [to full text]

Submitted by Weichao Wang (weichao.wang@fgv.edu.br) on 2018-05-11T16:03:27Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Wang2018_Thesis_TARP_Interbank_Risk_May9.pdf: 2618673 bytes, checksum: dc1254edf6febf9dacf740dc3f7d48a8 (MD5) / Rejected by Diego Andrade (diego.andrade@fgv.br), reason: A ordem dos documentos está errada. on 2018-05-14T18:11:37Z (GMT) / Submitted by Weichao Wang (weichao.wang@fgv.edu.br) on 2018-05-14T18:24:47Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Wang2018_Thesis_TARP_Interbank_Risk_May9.pdf: 2618806 bytes, checksum: add9b0e474645e1acb2fd7f4b86eb1f2 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by ÁUREA CORRÊA DA FONSECA CORRÊA DA FONSECA (aurea.fonseca@fgv.br) on 2018-05-15T16:30:20Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Wang2018_Thesis_TARP_Interbank_Risk_May9.pdf: 2618806 bytes, checksum: add9b0e474645e1acb2fd7f4b86eb1f2 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-18T12:30:42Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Wang2018_Thesis_TARP_Interbank_Risk_May9.pdf: 2618806 bytes, checksum: add9b0e474645e1acb2fd7f4b86eb1f2 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-05-09 / I investigate how the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) affected the stressed interbank money market trading during the recent financial crisis via a difference-in-difference (DiD) design. I find that the TARP capital injection significantly enlarged the interbank exposure for the TARP recipients relative to others, particularly for banks in smaller size, with lower level of interbank trading and located in relatively poor economic conditions. I further test whether the distorted interbank liquidity position of the TARP recipients stimulated their credit risk appetite. I find that TARP recipient banks with larger interbank exposure also significantly shifted to riskier credit portfolios than others after the TARP implementation, suggested by estimates on forward- and backward-looking risk measures. Results are robust to the instrumental variable analysis, the sample self-selection model, the propensity score matching analysis, various placebo experiments and alternative econometric models. My results are most consistent with the “capital spillover” hypothesis that banks used the TARP capital to develop more interconnected interbank relationships, and the moral hazard effect that higher future bailout expectation and increased systemic relevance jointly construct a “new government safety net” for the TARP beneficiaries to take excessive credit risks under the implicitly perceived “too interconnected to fail” protection.

The objective of this diploma thesis is to examine the relationship between executive compensation and bank performance. We study the executive pay structure of the U.S. largest 100 bank holding companies during period 2002-2009. Our data analysis describes differences between behaviour of TARP recipients and the banks that did not receive state financial help with consideration of financial crisis effect. We use econometric model to test the dependence of bank performance measures and particular elements of executive remuneration - total sum, bonus, stock award and option award. The relationship is generally considered as weak, but we also find linkage between TARP recipients' compensation and Market Capitalisation and on the other hand non-TARP bank appeared to define compensation according to earning per share. A special attention is devoted to executive remuneration structures of TARP recipients with weakest results and their comparison with Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act and TARP standards. JEL Classification: G21, G35, G38, K23 Keywords: Executive compensation, bank performance, Troubled Asset Relief Program, performance-related pay, corporate governance, financial crisis, executives

<p>Prostate cancer is one leading cause of cancer-related death among men in Western countries. The standard therapies for localized prostate cancer include radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy. Such measures are relatively effective in the short term, but many patients ultimately relapse. These patients may benefit from a combination of standard therapy and oncolytic virus therapy. My work aimed to develop viruses for this purpose.</p><p>TARP is a protein that in males is specifically expressed in prostate epithelial and cancer cells. In my thesis, I characterized the TARP promoter and showed that TARP expression is regulated at the transcriptional level by testosterone through binding of the androgen receptor in the proximal TARP promoter. I further developed TARP promoter-based regulatory sequences for prostate-specific gene expression. A sequence comprising a PSA enhancer, a PSMA enhancer and the TARP promoter was constructed and designated PPT. An adenoviral vector containing the PPT sequence shielded from transcriptional interference by an H19 insulator showed high prostate-specific transcriptional activity in human cells both in the presence and absence of testosterone. However, in experimental murine prostate cancer the PPT sequence is not active. Therefore, a two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system was used together with the PPT sequence to develop an adenovirus that confers prostate-specific transgene expression also in murine cells.</p><p>I constructed a conditionally replicating adenovirus where the E1A gene expression is controlled by an H19 insulator-shielded PPT regulatory sequence, Ad[I/PPT-E1A]. This virus exhibited absolute prostate specificity in terms of E1A expression, viral replication and cytolysis <i>in vitro</i> and <i>in vivo</i>. Importantly, our virus is active both in the presence and absence of testosterone, which may prove beneficial for patients treated by hormonal withdrawal. </p><p>Hopefully, my work will improve existing gene therapy strategies for prostate cancer and in the long term improve the prognosis for patients with prostate cancer.</p>

Prostate cancer is one leading cause of cancer-related death among men in Western countries. The standard therapies for localized prostate cancer include radical prostatectomy and radiation therapy. Such measures are relatively effective in the short term, but many patients ultimately relapse. These patients may benefit from a combination of standard therapy and oncolytic virus therapy. My work aimed to develop viruses for this purpose. TARP is a protein that in males is specifically expressed in prostate epithelial and cancer cells. In my thesis, I characterized the TARP promoter and showed that TARP expression is regulated at the transcriptional level by testosterone through binding of the androgen receptor in the proximal TARP promoter. I further developed TARP promoter-based regulatory sequences for prostate-specific gene expression. A sequence comprising a PSA enhancer, a PSMA enhancer and the TARP promoter was constructed and designated PPT. An adenoviral vector containing the PPT sequence shielded from transcriptional interference by an H19 insulator showed high prostate-specific transcriptional activity in human cells both in the presence and absence of testosterone. However, in experimental murine prostate cancer the PPT sequence is not active. Therefore, a two-step transcriptional amplification (TSTA) system was used together with the PPT sequence to develop an adenovirus that confers prostate-specific transgene expression also in murine cells. I constructed a conditionally replicating adenovirus where the E1A gene expression is controlled by an H19 insulator-shielded PPT regulatory sequence, Ad[I/PPT-E1A]. This virus exhibited absolute prostate specificity in terms of E1A expression, viral replication and cytolysis in vitro and in vivo. Importantly, our virus is active both in the presence and absence of testosterone, which may prove beneficial for patients treated by hormonal withdrawal. Hopefully, my work will improve existing gene therapy strategies for prostate cancer and in the long term improve the prognosis for patients with prostate cancer.

Studentų pažangą geriausiai nusako jų studijų dalykų bei bakalauro darbo vertinimai. Šiaulių universitete Matematikos ir informatikos fakultete Matematikos bei Matematikos ir informatikos bakalauro studijų programose pagrindiniai studijų dalykai yra: Matematinė analizė, Algebra, Fizika, Geometrija, Kompiuterinės matematikos sistemos ir Programavimo pagrindai. Bakalauro darbe analizuojame Šiaulių universiteto Matematikos ir informatikos fakulteto Matematikos bei Matematikos ir informatikos bakalauro studijų programų studentų įstojusių 2004–2008 pasiekimus. Šio darbo tikslas yra nustatyti, kuris iš pagrindinių studijų dalykų vertinimų labiausiai susijęs su baigiamojo bakalauro darbo vertinimu. Šiam ryšiui nustatyti naudojame koreliacinę analizę bei tiesinę regresiją. / Students’ advancement is described by their evaluation of study subjects and Bachelor's work. Basic subjects in Bachelor's degree program at Siauliai University, Faculty of Mathematics and Informatics are: Mathematical analysis, Algebra, Geometry, Physics, Computer mathematics system and Programming fundamentals. In Bachelor's work, we investigate a relation between 6 study subjects and Bachelor's work evaluations of students who entranced in 2004–2008. To describe this relation we use correlation analysis and linear regression.

Šiame magistro darbe nagrinėjamos gamintojo civilinės atsakomybės už netinkamos kokybės produktais padarytą žalą taikymo sąlygos. Pagrindinis dėmesys darbe skiriamas Tarybos Direktyvos dėl atsakomybės už gaminius su trūkumais nuostatų analizei bei aiškinimui. Atsižvelgiant į tai, kad Europos Teisingumo Teismo praktika nagrinėjamais klausimais nėra labai gausi, o Lietuvos Aukščiausiojo Teismo priimtų sprendimų šiuo klausimu apskritai nėra, didžiulę reikšmę, siekiant darbe išsikeltų tikslų, turi užsienio valstybių, tokių kaip Jungtinės Karalystės, Vokietijos, Austrijos ir kitų, teismų priimti sprendimai. Siekiant tinkamai atskleisti aspektus, susijusius su netinkamos kokybės sąvoka, didelis dėmesys taip pat skiriamas Europos valstybių ir Jungtinių Amerikos Valstijų teisės doktrinai. Iš vienos pusės, vienodas griežtos gamintojo atsakomybės sąlygų aiškinimas ir taikymas yra vartotojų teisių garantas. Kita vertus, nevienodas sąlygų aiškinimas turi įtakos ne tik ekonominiams gamintojų interesams, bet ir bendrosios rinkos konkurencinei struktūrai ir laisvam prekių judėjimui. Taigi šis magistro darbas atskleidžia trūkumo, žalos ir priežastinio ryšio koncepcijų gamintojo atsakomybėje problematiką, koncentruojantis ties netinkamos kokybės sąvokos ir jos kriterijų aiškinimu. Direktyva įtvirtina griežtos atsakomybės taikymą žalos, padarytos defektiniais produktais atžvilgiu, todėl būtent gaminio netinkama kokybė, o ne gamintojo faktinis elgesys (atsargumo laipsnis) yra atsakomybės... [toliau žr. visą tekstą] / This master thesis analyses conditions of the strict civil liability of the producer for the damage caused by defective products. The main attention is paid to the analysis and interpretation of provisions of Council Directive on the approximation of the laws, regulations and administrative provisions of the Member States concerning liability for defective products. Whereas practise of European Court of Justice is not very rich regarding these issues and there is no any judicial practise of Lithuanian Supreme Court, judicial practise of foreign countries, such as United Kingdom, Germany, Austria and others, are of significant importance seeking the aims of this master thesis. To disclose properly the issue of defectiveness, attention is also drawn in the analysis of legal doctrine of theorists of the Europe counties as well as authors of United States of America. On the one hand, equal interpretation and application of conditions of the strict liability of producer is a guarantee of consumers’ rights and helps to ensure the same degree of protection of the consumers in the Member States. On the other hand, unequal application of these conditions concerns not only economic interests of the producers themselves but also affects competitive structure and free movement of goods within the common market. Thus this master thesis discloses the main problems found in the concepts of defect, damage and causation in this liability, concentrating on the meaning of defectiveness and its... [to full text]