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Lundgren Tours (LT) is an awarding-winning regional tour company founded by a student entrepreneur in 2016. In 2020, the UK left the EU and the country's first Covid-19 patients were identified, leading to international anti-coronavirus restrictions and the cancellation of tours for 12 months. The case considers several aspects (explained in ‘Themes’) of the catastrophe through the founder's eyes, revealing the influence of entrepreneurial psychological capital and how striving to survive disaster can lead to new strengths and opportunities.

Purpose Poland’s political and economic transition of 1989 resulted in a cultural trauma experienced by consumers, which has influenced their perception of the retail experience. However, younger Polish consumers can remember neither communism nor the transition period. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the differences in perception of customer experiences in retail between Poland’s pre- and post-transitional generations. Design/methodology/approach A quantitative survey is first conducted with a sample of 1,045 Polish consumers measuring their perception of utilitarian and hedonic customer experiences in retail environments. Then, five qualitative focus group interviews with 29 participants provide an in-depth understanding of the survey results. Findings The quantitative study suggests that the pre-transitional generation is focused on utilitarian experiences, whereas the post-transitional generation is attracted to hedonic experiences in retail environments. The qualitative study provides an understanding of how the utilitarian and hedonic aspects of customer retail experiences are perceived and how the cultural trauma manifests in consumers’ values. Originality/value The study provides a new perspective on the customer experience in retail contexts from a society that has undergone a cultural trauma. The findings focus on generational differences in consumer attitudes toward hedonic and utilitarian experiences in a post-transition society and expand the theory of cultural trauma into the field of customer retail experience.

Research background: The paper focuses on value co-creation and co-destruction during online consumption. The current understanding of the concept of value is based on the premise that value emerges from interactions leading to exchange among multiple actors, including customers and companies. This implies the active role of all participants and leads to diversified outcomes, both positive (value co-creation) and negative (value co-destruction). The phenomenon of value co-destruction is studied in the context of online consumption, which is particularly suitable as it allows for consumer proactivity and participation in the process of exchange. Purpose: The first purpose of the study is the conceptualization and operationalization of value co-creation and co-destruction. The second aim is to estimate the frequency of activities that can be conceptualized as various dimensions of online value co-creation/co-destruction. Research methodology: The empirical part presents the results of an exploratory study based on a survey (PAPI) conducted on a sample of 212 university students. Results: The main findings suggest that although young people regularly practice online consumption, they tend to behave in a rather passive manner and their value co-creation/co-destruction behaviours are limited to mostly price and promotion related activities. Novelty: Value co-destruction is a recent and understudied phenomenon. This paper proposes a conceptualization and operationalization of a value co-destruction concept.

The aim of the study was to investigate the influence of consumers’ socio-demographic characteristics on their preferred types of experiences. A quantitative study (CATI) on a representative sample of 1045 Polish consumers was conducted to achieve the research objective. The results of the study show that Polish consumers are interested mostly in immersive and passive participation in consumption experiences. Demographic variables such as gender, age, income and place of residence appear to have a statistically significant influence on the preferred type of consumption experience. The conducted research contributes to the discussion on understanding the dimensions of the consumer experience.

The objective of the paper is to explore young people's motives for pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities instead of a professional career in the public sector or a corporation. As young people increasingly consider alternatives to a traditional career, it is useful to understand what lies behind their entrepreneurial career choice in order to advise small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) how to attract a young workforce. A qualitative study consisting of 16 in-depth, semi-structured interviews with young entrepreneurs in Poland, Slovenia and the United Kingdom (UK) identifies a variety of internal and external factors influencing the entrepreneurs' career decisions that were found to be largely homogenous across different countries and contexts. These influences operate at micro, mezzo and macro levels. The findings are explained through Kegan's theory of self-meaning making as well as the SME context and particularities, providing an understanding of what attracts and deters young people facing career choices.

Contemporary careers are changing and face many challenges. This creates a need for innovative cross-cultural and multidisciplinary research. In this chapter, twenty-three participants in a European/South Korean research mega-project provide an overview of their diverse experiences of trans-national, trans-sectoral, and trans-generational work. First, the project’s architects explore the context and rationale in five countries, selection of partners, securing funding and the underpinning principles of ‘strategic entrepreneurship’ and ‘multi-sociation’. Key workstream leaders then outline the project content, including diplomacy in research design, reflecting gender, ensuring impact, capturing learning, communicating to various audiences. Major aspects of Implementation are described: quality management, managing academics and risk, transnational and trans-sectorial working (between academia and industry), novel methodologies and finally the career implications for PhD students involved. These are honest and pragmatic reflections on the way to best practice.

Celem artykułu jest przedstawienie współdzielenia samochodów (car sharing - CS), ze szczególnym uwzględnieniem samochodów elektrycznych jako interdyscyplinarnego obszaru badawczego. Dotyczy to nie tylko nauk społecznych - zarządzania (strategii czy marketingu), socjologii, ekonomii (w tym ekonomii współdzielenia), psychologii konsumenta, lecz także urbanistyki, nauk inżynierskich (elektrotechniki czy energetyki) czy wreszcie ekologii. Dopiero wykorzystanie szerszej perspektywy pozwala na zrozumienie znaczenia współdzielenia pojazdów, a w tym pojazdów elektrycznych, we współczesnych procesach społecznych i ekonomicznych. Diagnoza czynników mogących wpłynąć na powszechne wykorzystanie car sharingu, który traktujemy jako element reakcji miast na kongestię i smog, wymaga nawiązania do wiedzy z zakresu wskazanych wcześniej dyscyplin naukowych. Podstawowa wartość niniejszego artykułu polega na tym, że zapewnia wielowątkowe spojrzenie na konsumenta i prosumenta, mobilność miejską i ekosystem energetyczny z punktu widzenia ekonomii współdzielenia i samochodu zero/niskoemisyjnego. W ostatnich latach liczba artykułów badawczych dotyczących car sharingu rośnie (Ferrero, Perboli, Rosano i Vesco, 2018), jednak dominują opracowania pisane z punktu widzenia pojedynczej, rzadziej dwóch dyscyplin naukowych. Proponujemy rozszerzenie tej perspektywy. Choć w kategoriach badawczych niniejsza praca ma charakter wstępny i eksploracyjny, przyjęcie szerokiej perspektywy obserwacji powinno pozwolić na nawiązanie dialogu między dyscyplinami, aby zapewnić lepsze formułowanie problemów badawczych i rozwiązywanie dylematów społeczno-ekonomicznych w dziedzinie ekonomii współdzielenia, a też lepiej wprowadzić zagadnienie współdzielenia do obszaru nauk o zarządzaniu. The aim of the article is to present car sharing, with particular emphasis on electric car sharing, as an interdisciplinary research area. This applies not only to social sciences - management (strategy or marketing), sociology, economics (including the sharing economy), consumer psychology, but also to urban planning, engineering sciences (electrical engineering or energy) and, finally, ecology. Only the use of a broader perspective allows the understanding of the importance of car sharing, including electric vehicles, in contemporary social and economic processes. The diagnosis of factors that may affect the widespread use of car sharing, which we treat as an element of cities’ response to congestion and smog, requires a reference to the knowledge of the previously mentioned scientific disciplines. The core value of this article is that it provides a multi-faceted perspective on the consumer and prosumer, urban mobility and the energy ecosystem from the point of view of the sharing economy and zero/low carbon cars. In recent years, the number of research articles on car sharing has been growing (Ferrero, Perboli, Rosano, & Vesco, 2018); however, studies written from the point of view of a single, less often two scientific disciplines dominate. We propose to extend this perspective. Although, in research terms, this work is preliminary and exploratory, adopting a broad observation perspective should allow for establishing a dialogue between disciplines to ensure better formulation of research problems and solve socio-economic dilemmas not only in the field of the sharing economy, and to better introduce the issue of car sharing to the area of management sciences.

This paper is of empirical nature and its objective is to identify categories of effects of the value co-creation process in higher education from the employee perspective, as well as types of benefits and costs associated with the research process. The paper consists of two parts: the first presents an overview of the literature on service-dominant logic in marketing and the process of value co-creation, while in the second part the results of qualitative study (individual interviews) are presented and discussed.

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.

Artykul przedstawia wyniki badania ilościowego (ankieta), na podstawie ktorego zidentyfikowane zostaly moduly doświadczen w usludze edukacyjnej w szkolnictwie wyzszym. W ich sklad wchodzą wymiary: intelektualny, relacyjny (2 moduly), behawioralny (2 moduly), emocjonalny i sensoryczny. Ponadto zweryfikowano związek wyroznionych modulow z lojalnością studentow wobec uczelni i postrzeganiem jej wizerunku. Związek ten najsilniejszy jest dla modulow intelektualnego i emocjonalnego. W koncowej cześci artykulu zawarte są praktyczne implikacje wynikające z badania.

In this paper we analyse the phenomenon of the global young consumer. Taking the example of young people from South Korea and Poland, we show similarities and differences in their reaction to modern socio-cultural trends influencing consumption patterns. The globalization process is believed to affect most young people designated Generation Y. They were brought up in the Internet age, which ease homogenization of cultural values, attitudes and consumer behaviour. On the other hand, the impact of local culture on their behaviour as consumers must still be considered. The results of quantitative studies conducted among 200 young Korean and Polish consumers were investigated. A research tool, in the form of six indices measuring the attitudes towards modern socio-cultural trends influencing consumer behaviour, was used (materialism, impulsive consumption, greening, virtualization, virtual tribalism, tribalism in real space). The findings suggest that there are significant differences in the level of materialism, greening and tribalism in real space between young Poles and Koreans while their attitudes to behaviour connected to Internet usage are similar. Therefore, the assumption can be made that the widespread use of new technologies is a characteristic feature that bonds Generation Y on a global scale while other aspects of consumer behaviour remain strongly influenced by local cultures. This makes a significant contribution to knowledge of marketing strategy planning in global companies targeting young consumers. It seems that the ethnocentric approach can be implemented only in the new technologies sector while for other products and services the polycentric strategy is more appropriate.

Myxococcus xanthus can vary its phenotype or 'phase' to produce colonies that contain predominantly yellow or tan cells that differ greatly in their abilities to swarm, survive and develop. Yellow variants are proficient at swarming (++) and tend to lyse in liquid during stationary phase. In contrast, tan variants are deficient in swarming (+) and persist beyond stationary phase. The phenotypes and transcriptomes of yellow and tan variants were compared with mutants affected in phase variation. Thirty-seven genes were upregulated specifically in yellow variants including those for production of the yellow pigment, DKxanthene. A mutant in DKxanthene synthesis produced non-pigmented (tan) colonies but still phase varied for swarming suggesting that pigmentation is not the cause of phase variation. Disruption of a gene encoding a HTH-Xre-like regulator, highly expressed in yellow variants, abolished pigment production and blocked the ability of cells to switch from a swarm ++ to a swarm (+) phenotype, showing that HTH-Xre regulates phase variation. Among the four genes whose expression was increased in tan variants was pkn14, which encodes a serine-threonine kinase that regulates programmed cell death in Myxococcus via the MrpC-MazF toxin-antitoxin complex. High levels of phosphorylated Pkn14 may explain why tan cells enjoy enhanced survival.

Staphylococcus aureus invades a variety of mammalian cells and escapes from the endosome to multiply in the cytoplasm. We had previously hypothesized that the molecular events leading to escape of S. aureus from the endosome involved the Agr virulence factor regulatory system. In this report we demonstrate that temporal changes in intracellular activation of the Agr regulon correlates with expression of membrane active toxins. Also, the initial expression of Agr by even small numbers of staphylococci resulted in the permeabilization of the endosomal membrane and the eventual escape of bacteria into the cytoplasm by 3 h post invasion. After Agr downregulation, a second peak of expression coincided with increased permeability of the host cell membrane. In contrast to the parental strain, an Agr-mutant was unable to escape into the cytoplasm and was observed in intact endosomes as late as 5 h post invasion. These data provide evidence that staphylococcal virulence factor production during invasion of host cells is mediated by an Agr-dependent process that is most accurately described in the context of diffusion sensing.

Myxococcus xanthus undergoes phase variation during growth to produce predominantly two colony phenotypes. The majority are yellow colonies containing swarm-proficient cells and a minority are tan colonies containing swarm-deficient cells. Comparison of the transcriptomes of a yellow variant, a tan variant, and three tan mutants led to the identification of differentially-regulated genes that define key segments of the phase variation pathway. For example, expression of genes for the yellow pigment DKxanthene and the antibiotic myxovirescin was increased significantly in yellow variants. In contrast, expression of the siderophore myxochelin, hemin binding proteins, and iron transport proteins was increased specifically in tan strains. Thus, a consequence of phase variation is that yellow cells shift from producing antibiotic and pigment to producing components involved in acquisition of iron, which may increase fitness during periods of iron limitation. Multiple protein kinases and HTH-Xre DNA-binding proteins identified in this study may be involved in the regulatory hierarchy that governs phase variation.

Bacteria have developed various mechanisms for inducing internalization into nonprofessional phagocytes (8, 9). A shared requirement is that a molecular interaction must occur between a bacterial surface adhesin and a host ligand in the cytoplasmic membrane. This interaction must be of sufficiently high affinity to induce signal transduction through the membrane, resulting in cytoskeletal rearrangements and uptake of the organism (14, 37). For some organisms, a simple model involving the binding of a bacterial adhesin to its host receptor is sufficient to induce uptake. Yersinia species and Listeria monocytogenes are examples of organisms with this pattern of uptake. The adhesins on these facultative intracellular pathogens bind directly to integrins or E-cadherin, respectively, with an affinity that is sufficient to induce internalization (15, 24). A number of reports have described bacterial surface adhesins, which adhere to host extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins. The ECM binding proteins are termed MSCRAMMS, and Staphylococcus aureus expresses several of these proteins with different ligand specificities (17, 18, 27). We demonstrated previously that the S. aureus surface adhesin responsible for stimulating signal transduction upon uptake by nonprofessional phagocytes is one of its MSCRAMMs, fibronectin (Fn) binding protein (FnBP) (6). Our data were confirmed in two additional publications (22, 28). This finding raised several questions regarding the nature of the molecular interactions at the host cell surface. Fn is the ECM protein commonly associated with integrins. It is known that Fn is bivalent and can serve as a bridging molecule between FnBP and the host cell integrins (17, 26, 39). Although other bacteria use Fn as a link to adhere to host tissues, the mechanisms by which this linkage could induce internalization are less clear. For example, Tran Van Nhieu and Isberg showed that coating of S. aureus with Fn did not lead to efficient internalization (37). It was proposed that the binding affinity between Fn and integrins was not sufficient to induce uptake. Interestingly, at least one organism, Neisseria gonorrhoeae has overcome this limitation by employing a heparin-containing accessory coreceptor, which is necessary to induce maximal internalization by HEp-2 cells (39). The present study was initiated to identify potential cellular ligands and other molecular requirements for uptake of S. aureus by nonprofessional phagocytes. Using a variety of methods, we found that FnBP binds directly to heat shock protein 60 (Hsp60) on the membranes of human and bovine epithelial cells. Fn and β1 integrins are also required for maximal uptake. Based on these combined results, a potential model to explain the molecular interactions leading to uptake of S. aureus is proposed.

Selection of transformed plants is a fundamental requirement for plant molecular breeding. We have developed the use of thesulI gene, whose application has already been described in tobacco [17] for selection in the important potato cultivar Russet Burbank. We found that theSulI marker is highly effective, with efficiency comparable to that ofnptII. Analysis of the effect of thesulI gene on folate metabolism in Russet Burbank under sulfa drug selection demonstrates thatsulI may be an important tool for analysis of folate metabolism in plants.

Gliding motility is critical for normal development of spore-filled fruiting bodies in the soil bacterium Myxococcus xanthus. Mutations in mgl block motility and development but one mgl allele can be suppressed by a mutation in masK, the last gene in an operon adjacent to the mgl operon. Deletion of the entire 5.5 kb masABK operon crippled gliding and fruiting body development and decreased sporulation. Expression of pilAGHI, which encodes type IV pili (TFP) components essential for social (S) gliding, several cryptic pil genes, and a LuxR family protein were reduced significantly in the Δmas mutant while expression of the myxalamide operon was increased significantly. Localization and two-hybrid analysis suggest that the three Mas proteins form a membrane complex. MasA-PhoA fusions confirmed that MasA is an integral cytoplasmic membrane protein with a ≈100 amino acid periplasmic domain. Results from yeast two-hybrid assays showed that MasA interacts with the lipoprotein MasB and MasK, a protein kinase and that MasB and MasK interact with one another. Additionally, yeast two-hybrid analysis revealed a physical interaction between two gene products of the mas operon, MasA and MasB, and PilA. Deletion of mas may be accompanied by compensatory mutations since complementation of the Δmas social gliding and developmental defects required addition of both pilA and masABK.

MglA, a 22-kDa protein related to monomeric GTPases, is required for the normal operation of the A (Adventurous) and S (Social) motility and for multicellular development of Myxococcus xanthus. To determine how MglA controls A- and S-motility, MglA was assayed biochemically and its cellular location was determined. His-tagged MglA hydrolyzed GTP slowly in vitro at a rate nearly identical to that of Ras showing that MglA has GTPase activity. Immunofluorescence microscopy of fixed cells from liquid showed that MglA was associated with helical track similar to the MreB spiral that spanned the length of the cell. The distribution pattern of MglA depended on the type of surface from which cells were harvested. In cells gliding on 1.5% (w/v) agar, the helical pattern gave way to punctate clusters of MglA-Yfp at the poles and along the long axis (lateral clusters). The lateral clusters emerged near the leading pole as the cell advanced coincident with a decrease in the intensity of the MglA-Yfp cluster at the leading pole. Newly formed lateral clusters remained fixed with regard to the substratum as the cell moved forward, similar to focal adhesion complexes described for AglZ, a protein partner of MglA. Lateral clusters did not form in cells gliding in methylcellulose, a polymer that stimulates S-motility at low cell density; rather MglA-Yfp was diffuse in the cytoplasm and more concentrated at the poles. The results suggest that conditions that favor S-motility prevent the formation of lateral clusters of MglA, which are associated with A-motility functions. © 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Embryos of apple (Malus domestica Borh. cv. Antonowka) were treated with 1 mM gaseous HCN for 6 h and cultured under a 12 h photoperiod. HCN pretreatment stimulated germination, increased the length of hypocotyls, shortened the main root and decreased the percentages of seedlings with asymmetrically grown as well as with asymmetrically greened cotyledons. High activity of β-cyanoalanine synthase (EC 4.4.1.9) and a sharp increase in cyanogen content during embryo culture suggested very low levels of endogenous HCN. despite the activity of HCN releasing enzymes. The obtained data allow us to postulate an important role for cyanide in the regulatory complex controlling dormancy in apple seeds. Experiments with respiratory inhibitors indicated, however, that HCN pretreatment affected neither the alternative electron transport pathway nor residual respiration.

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.

Staphylococcus aureus invades a variety of mammalian cells and escapes from the endosome to multiply in the cytoplasm. We had previously hypothesized that the molecular events leading to escape of S. aureus from the endosome involved the Agr virulence factor regulatory system. In this report we demonstrate that temporal changes in intracellular activation of the Agr regulon correlates with expression of membrane active toxins. Also, the initial expression of Agr by even small numbers of staphylococci resulted in the permeabilization of the endosomal membrane and the eventual escape of bacteria into the cytoplasm by 3 h post invasion. After Agr downregulation, a second peak of expression coincided with increased permeability of the host cell membrane. In contrast to the parental strain, an Agr-mutant was unable to escape into the cytoplasm and was observed in intact endosomes as late as 5 h post invasion. These data provide evidence that staphylococcal virulence factor production during invasion of host cells is mediated by an Agr-dependent process that is most accurately described in the context of diffusion sensing.

Staphylococcus aureus expresses several surface proteins that promote adherence to host cell extracellular matrix proteins, including fibronectin (Fn). Since this organism has recently been shown to be internalized by nonprofessional phagocytes, a process that typically requires high-affinity binding to host cell receptors, we investigated the role of its Fn binding proteins (FnBPs) and other surface proteins in internalization by the bovine mammary gland epithelial cell line (MAC-T). Efficient internalization of S. aureus 8325-4 required expression of FnBPs; an isogenic mutant (DU5883), not expressing FnBPs, was reduced by more than 95% in its ability to invade MAC-T cells. Moreover, D3, a synthetic peptide derived from the ligand binding domain of FnBP, inhibited the internalization of the 8325-4 strain in a dose-dependent fashion and the efficiency of staphylococcal internalization was partially correlated with Fn binding ability. Interestingly, Fn also inhibited the internalization and adherence of S. aureus 8325-4 in a dose-dependent manner. In contrast to internalization, adherence of DU5883 to MAC-T was reduced by only approximately 40%, suggesting that surface binding proteins, other than FnBPs, can mediate bacterial adherence to cells. Adherence via these proteins, however, does not necessarily result in internalization of the staphylococci. An inhibitor of protein tyrosine kinase, genistein, reduced MAC-T internalization of S. aureus by 95%, indicating a requirement for a host signal transduction system in this process. Taken together, these results indicate that S. aureus invades nonprofessional phagocytes by a mechanism requiring interaction between FnBP and the host cell, leading to signal transduction and subsequent rearrangement of the host cell cytoskeleton.

The beta-toxins produced by Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus intermedius were purified to homogeneity from culture supernatants. Although the toxin from S. aureus has been throughly studied, less is known about its unique counterpart from S. intermedius. This is the first reported purification and analysis of the S. intermedius beta-toxin. Both toxins have similar enzymatic properties, belong to the class of neutral sphingomyelinases C, and have a high specificity for sphingomyelin. They also hydrolyze lysophosphatidylcholine at a much slower rate, but have no activity toward phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, or phosphatidylserine. The kinetic parameters determined for both proteins (apparent Km 1.4 mM, Vmax 100 mmol/min/microg protein) are identical. Despite these similarities, the size and amino acid composition of the two beta-toxins differ. Molecular mass values, determined by electrophoresis and gel filtration, indicate that the both enzymes are single polypeptides. The decrease in sphingomyelinase activity of S. aureus beta-toxin upon pretreatment with dithiothreitol (DTT) indicates the presence of a disulfide bond in the protein. In contrast, DTT has no effect on the enzymatic activity of S. intermedius beta-toxin. This observation is consistent with the absence of detectable cysteine residue in the protein. N-terminal amino acid sequences determined for the first 19 residues of both beta-toxins also differ, only nine of the first 19 residues are identical. Further evidence that the two proteins differ was obtained by immunological analysis which demonstrated crossreactivity but a lack of identity.

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.

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.

A new triterpene diol was isolated from dry Calendula officinalis flowers. Its structure was proved as 3,21-di-OH-ursa-12-en.

PurposeThe 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.Design/methodology/approachThe 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).FindingsThe 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.Practical implicationsThe 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.Originality/valueThe 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.

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.