Katarzyna Dziewanowska

Expression of an active spinach acyl carrier protein-I/protein-A gene fusion.

A synthetic gene encoding spinach acyl carrier protein I (ACP-I) was fused to a gene encoding the Fc-binding portion of staphylococcal protein A. This gene fusion, under the control of the λPR promoter, was expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli producing a 42 kDa fusion protein. This fusion protein was phosphopantethenylated in E. coli. In vitro the ACP portion of the fusion protein was able to participate in acyl ACP synthetase reactions, plant malonyl-CoA:ACP transacylase (MCT) reactions, and plant fatty acid synthetase (FAS) reactions. Inhibitory effects of high ACP concentrations on in vitro plant FAS were observed with the unfused ACP-1 but not with the fusion protein. As with unfused ACP-I, the fusion protein was a poor substrate for E. coli FAS reactions. When injected into rabbits, the fusion protein was also able to generate antiserum to spinach ACP-I.

Wanting it all: the challenges of managing young talent in transition economies

The purpose of this paper is to identify challenges of talent management (TM) of transition economies, based on a study of employee and employer obligations as elements of anticipatory psychological contracts (APC) among young entrants to labor market. The authors aim to analyze how APC differ between transitional and non-transitional countries and also if there are differences between transitional countries.,The authors used a quantitative research design and conducted a survey using the PC inventory among business students in Poland and Slovenia and the UK (as a control group).,The authors found that APC in transitional countries differ significantly from the control group, with Polish and Slovenian APCs being more transactional and less relational than in the UK. Also, there are several differences between Poland and Slovenia, suggesting that Central and Eastern Europe transitional countries cannot be considered a single region in this respect.,The authors identified challenges related to TM in transitional countries based on APC characteristics and proposed several ways in which employers and educators could help to build more realistic expectations and thus helping young talents with their transition from education to labor market. By increasing the understanding of APC employers can improve their TM practices for the young talents.,The study offers unique insights into APC of the young entrants to labor market in transitional countries, with regard to both employee and employer obligations. The three types of APC were studied along with particular dimensions of APC. The authors linked TM to the APC characteristics. Based on the results, the authors propose that socio-economic context as well as national culture should be considered as antecedents of APC formation and given more attention in both psychological contract and TM research.

Indolylacetic acid oxidase in dormant apple embryos

The IAA oxidase activity was studied during the culture of dormant apple embryos. The effect of different factors on this enzyme activity was investigated either by adding them to the reaction mixture or to the culture medium. Phloridzin was found to be the best phenolic cofactor. The development of IAA oxidase activity was stimulated by phloridzin and GA3. The properties of apple embryos IAA oxidase allow to postulate the presence of two enzyme systems able to oxidize IAA in the material studied. The involvement of peroxidase activity in IAA oxidation was also investigated. The differences in the changes of peroxidase and IAA oxidase activities during the culture of dormant apple embryos do not permit to consider the activity of peroxidases to be identical with that of IAA oxidase.AbstractByla sledována aktivita oxidázy IAA během pěstování dormantních jabloňových embryí. Vliv různých faktorů na aktivitu tohoto enzymu byl sledován bud jejich přidáním do reakční směsi nebo do kultivačního media. Bylo zjištěno, že floridzin je nejlepší fenolický kofaktor. Aktivita oxidázy kyseliny indolyloctové byla stimulována floridzinem a GA3. Vlastnosti IAA oxidázy jabloňových embryí prozrazují přítomnost dvou enzymatických systémů schopných oxidovat kyselinu indolyloctovou ve studovaném materiálu. Dále byla sledována závislost aktivity peroxidázy na oxidaci IAA. Rozdíly ve změnách aktivity peroxidázy a IAA oxidázy během kultivace dormantních jabloňových embryí nesvěděí pro identitu aktivity peroxidázy a IAA oxidázy.

Non-decarboxylating transformation of indol-3-ylacetic acid in apple seeds

An enzyme extract from apple(Pyrus malus Borb.) seeds which causes the disappearance of free indol-3-ylacetic acid (IAA) requires the presence of oxygen, but is not inhibited by cyanide. Using 1-14C-IAA it has been demonstrated that the IAA transformation is not accompanied by its decarboxylation. Decarboxylating IAA oxidase is absent during the whole period of apple seed cold stratification. Free IAA has not been detected in dormant apple seeds and in seeds stratified at low temperature. It appears during stratification at 25 °C. Ethyl ester of IAA and indol-3-ylacetyl aspartate have been identified in dormant and after-ripened seeds. Exogenous 1-14C IAA taken up by apple embryos is converted into conjugates with aspartate and short peptides containing an aspartate moiety.

Value types in higher education – students’ perspective

ABSTRACT The purpose of the paper is to propose the service-dominant logic in marketing as a framework for analysing the value co-creation process in the higher education sector and present the results of a quantitative study (a survey) conducted among business students from four Polish public universities. The results of the study led to identification of 40 factors of importance, later classified into seven value types expected by business students from their universities: functional, relational, intrinsic, epistemic, conditional, extrinsic and emotional value, with the first three types of value being the most important from students’ perspective. These findings lead to several managerial implications regarding the teaching methods and academic curriculum design, which are presented in the final section of the paper.

Doświadczenia we wspólnotach wokół marki w szkolnictwie wyższym

This paper is of theoretical nature and its objective it to present the possibility of application of the concept of brand community based on consumer experiences as enablers of value in higher education. The paper briefly presents the challenges facing the higher education sector as a justification for undertaking innovative actions by organizations operating in this sector. Also, a broader theoretical context is drawn connecting consumer communities with the concept of the experience economy according to which consumer experiences are enablers of value co-created within brand communities.

Value in shopping experiences in the perception of Polish consumers

The purpose of this paper is to identify the types of value that arise in the shopping context and the factors that determine it, as well as to present consumer attitudes towards the value generated by experiential marketing activities. The paper presents the results of five focus group interviews, during which typical shopping experiences and examples of experience shopping environment were discussed. The results show that during ordinary shopping activities participants of the study focused mainly on utilitarian aspects of value (e.g., price and time). While they clearly appreciated the entertainment and intellectual value provided by experiential marketing, they judged its potential to be rather a one-time event than a part of their regular shopping activity. This suggests that for Polish consumers receiving the basic utilitarian value during their shopping experiences is preferable to memorable experiences unless they become emotionally involved.