The aim of this paper is to define a communications centre model in an insurance company that essentially has two objectives. The first objective is focused on providing quality support with the ...sales process thereby creating a strategic advantage over the competition while the second objective is focused on improving the link between internal organizational units whose behaviour can often render decision-making at all levels difficult. The function of sales is fundamental for an insurance company. Whether an insurance company will fulfil its basic function, which is transfer of risk from the insured party to the insurer who agrees to reimburse incidental damages to the damaged party and distribute them among all members of the risk group on the principles of reciprocity and solidarity, depends on successful sales and billing (Andrijašević &Petranović, 1999). For an insurance company to operate successfully in a demanding market, it is necessary to meet the needs of potential clients who then must be at the centre of all the activities of the insurer. A satisfied policy holder, who is respected by the insurer as a partner, is a guarantee that the sales of insurance services will be successful and that the insured party will come back to the same insurance company. In the era of globalization and all-pervading new technologies and modes of communication, policy holders need to be able to communicate with insurance company employees. Quality communication is a good foundation for a sales conversation. A fast flow of all types of information within an organisation using a single communication module makes decision-making at all levels quicker and easier.
Poljoprivreda je važan sektor za sve zemlje svijeta, bez obzira na njihov nivo razvoja. Razvijen i efikasan sektor poljoprivrede pruža sigurnost kada je u pitanju snabdjevenost hranom. Veliki broj ...siromašnog stanovništva zemalja u razvoju preživljava baveći se poljoprivredom.
U Republici Hrvatskoj se veliki broj privrednih subjekata bavi poljoprivrednom proizvodnjom, bilo da su registrirani kao obiteljska poljoprivredna gospodarstva (OPG), poljoprivredna zadruga ili trgovačko društvo. Budući da se poljoprivredna proizvodnja obavlja „pod otvorenim nebom“ karakterizira ju posebna vrsta rizika, a to je izloženost utjecajima prirode koji su teško predvidivi i koji ovaj sektor čine izrazito nesigurnim. Osiguranje poljoprivredne proizvodnje često je jedini način da poljoprivredni proizvođači zaštite svoje usjeve, nasade i plodove od štetnih utjecaja uzrokovanih sve vidljivijim klimatskim promjenama.
U doktorskoj disertaciji autor provedenim empirijskim istraživanjem dokazuje postavljene hipoteze u upravljanju rizicima osiguranja usjeva, nasada i plodova, uspoređujući tržišta osiguranja različitih zemalja s tržištem osiguranja poljoprivredne proizvodnje Republike Hrvatske te moguće pravce razvoja ovog segmenta tržišta osiguranja u Republici Hrvatskoj i široj regiji zemalja. Kad je riječ o razvoju tržišta osiguranja poljoprivredne proizvodnje, radi se o vrsti osiguranja koja je nedovoljno razvijena i koja ima velike mogućnosti za rast u sljedećem razdoblju. Pretpostavke da se to dogodi su uz porast svijesti kod proizvođača o potrebi osiguranja proizvodnje i razvoj novih osiguravateljnih proizvoda te utjecaj vladinih institucija i javnog sektora u kreiranju uspješnijih modela osiguranja u poljoprivredi od kojih je jedan izvorno predstavljen u doktorskoj disertaciji
Rad ne sadrži sažetak na drugom jeziku.
Poljoprivreda je važan sektor za sve zemlje svijeta, bez obzira na njihov nivo razvoja. Razvijen i efikasan sektor poljoprivrede pruža sigurnost kada je u pitanju snabdjevenost hranom. Veliki broj siromašnog stanovništva zemalja u razvoju preživljava baveći se poljoprivredom.
U Republici Hrvatskoj se veliki broj privrednih subjekata bavi poljoprivrednom proizvodnjom, bilo da su registrirani kao obiteljska poljoprivredna gospodarstva (OPG), poljoprivredna zadruga ili trgovačko društvo. Budući da se poljoprivredna proizvodnja obavlja „pod otvorenim nebom“ karakterizira ju posebna vrsta rizika, a to je izloženost utjecajima prirode koji su teško predvidivi i koji ovaj sektor čine izrazito nesigurnim. Osiguranje poljoprivredne proizvodnje često je jedini način da poljoprivredni proizvođači zaštite svoje usjeve, nasade i plodove od štetnih utjecaja uzrokovanih sve vidljivijim klimatskim promjenama.
U doktorskoj disertaciji autor provedenim empirijskim istraživanjem dokazuje postavljene hipoteze u upravljanju rizicima osiguranja usjeva, nasada i plodova, uspoređujući tržišta osiguranja različitih zemalja s tržištem osiguranja poljoprivredne proizvodnje Republike Hrvatske te moguće pravce razvoja ovog segmenta tržišta osiguranja u Republici Hrvatskoj i široj regiji zemalja. Kad je riječ o razvoju tržišta osiguranja poljoprivredne proizvodnje, radi se o vrsti osiguranja koja je nedovoljno razvijena i koja ima velike mogućnosti za rast u sljedećem razdoblju. Pretpostavke da se to dogodi su uz porast svijesti kod proizvođača o potrebi osiguranja proizvodnje i razvoj novih osiguravateljnih proizvoda te utjecaj vladinih institucija i javnog sektora u kreiranju uspješnijih modela osiguranja u poljoprivredi od kojih je jedan izvorno predstavljen u doktorskoj disertaciji
Temperature- and pH-sensitive hydrogels based on
N-isopropylacrylamide (NiPAAm) and itaconic acid (IA) were applied for immobilization of lipase from
Candida rugosa (CRL). The hydrogels were ...synthesized by free radical crosslinking copolymerization in the presence of lipase. Characterization of samples by swelling studies, at pH 2.20 and 6.80 at a temperature of 37
°C, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared analysis (FT-IR) confirmed that the degree of crosslinking, the non-ionic/ionic (NiPAAm/IA) ratio and the enzyme content had impacts on the hydrogel structure, mechanical properties, morphology and swelling kinetics. All hydrogels demonstrated protein loading efficiencies as high as 95
wt.%. A specific activity of the immobilized lipase of around 38
IU/g was attained for an enzyme loading of 20.0
wt.%. As a result, improved pH and temperature optima values were obtained for the immobilized systems in relation to those for the free lipase.
Meat is a nutritionally valuable food which is susceptible to microbiological contamination and spoilage. Major foodborne pathogenic bacteria, such as Salmonella spp., Listeria monocytogenes and ...Yersinia enterocolitica, are often associated with meat. These causative factors are at the top of the list of reported zoonoses in humans. In order to increase the microbiological quality of meat, alternative substances have been used in recent decades, including essential oils, compounds obtained by extraction from plants, which are a “safe” alternative to chemical and synthetic additives, in order to achieve antimicrobial and antioxidant effects. Many studies show the antibacterial effect of essential oils. The effect of essential oils on bacteria includes the inhibition of growth (bacteriostatic effect) or destruction of bacteria (bactericidal effect). This paper presents commercially available essential oils recognized as safe for use in food industry, their antibacterial effects against food-borne bacteria in vitro, the mechanisms of action of these essential oils on Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, as well as their application on a meat model.
This study reports the synthesis of polymeric matrices based on N-isopropylacrylamide and itaconic acid and its application for immobilization of lipase from Candida rugosa. The lipase was ...immobilized by entrapment method. Free and immobilized lipase activities, pH and temperature optima, and storage stability were investigated. The optimum temperature for free and entrapped lipase was found to be 40 and 45°C, while the optimum pH was observed at pH 7 and 8, respectively. Both hydrolytic activity in an aqueous medium and esterolytic activity in an organic medium have been evaluated. Maximum reaction rate ( V max ) and Michaelis-Menten constants ( K m ) were also determined for immobilized lipase. Storage stability of lipase was increased as a result of immobilization process. Furthermore, the operational stability and reusability of the immobilized lipase in esterification reaction have been studied, and it was observed that after 10 cycles, the residual activity for entrapped lipase was as high as 50%, implying that the developed hydrogel and immobilized system could provide a promising solution for the flavor ester synthesis at the industrial scale.
The series of poly(N-isopropylacrylamide-co-itaconic acid) hydrogels, with lipase from Candida rugosa as a model protein, were synthesized by free radical copolymerization. The composition of ...hydrogels was varied by monomers ratio, crosslinking agent concentration and amounts of lipase, which was loaded by in situ polymerization. All samples were characterized regarding morphology. The investigation of hydrogel swelling properties revealed their pH and temperature sensitive character. Protein loading efficiency, release profiles and the specific activity yield of the released lipase were also investigated as a function of hydrogel composition, protein content and pH, at the physiological temperature of 37°C. Copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide and itaconic acid presented high lipase loading efficiency. Another very important feature of these copolymers was that the protein release kinetic strongly depended on the pH value of the medium. The diffusion exponents values around 1 denoted that these hydrogel compositions could be adjusted to follow near zero-order kinetics. Namely, hydrogel formulations released low amounts of lipase at pH 2.20, but much higher released protein quantities were observed at pH 6.80 enabling these copolymers to be attractive candidates as site specific protein oral drug delivery systems.
Stimuli responsive pH- and temperature-sensitive hydrogel drug delivery systems, as those based on N-isopropylacrylamide (NiPAAm) and itaconic acid (IA), have been attracting much of the attention of ...the scientific community nowadays, especially in the field of drug release. By adjusting comonomer composition, the matrix is enabled to protect the incorporated protein in the highly acidic environment of upper gastrointestinal tract and deliver it in the neutral or slightly basic region of the lower intestine. The protein/poly(NiPAAm-co-IA) hydrogels were synthetized by free radical crosslinking copolymerization and were characterized concerning their swelling capability, mechanical properties, and morphology. The pore structure and sizes up to 1.90 nm allowed good entrapment of lipase molecules. Model protein, lipase from Candida rugosa, was entrapped within hydrogels upon mild conditions that provided its protection from harmful environmental influences. The efficiency of the lipase entrapment reached 96.7%, and was dependent on the initial concentration of lipase solution. The swelling of the obtained hydrogels in simulated pH and temperature of gastrointestinal tract, the lipase entrapment efficiency, and its release profiles from hydrogels were investigated as well.
Temperature and pH-sensitive hydrogels, based on
N
-isopropylacrylamide and itaconic acid, with varying comonomer ratios and crosslinking agent content, were prepared by free radical crosslinking ...copolymerization. The immobilization of lipase from
Candida rugosa
was carried out by post-loading entrapment method at different temperatures until equilibrium swelling was achieved. The effects of the hydrogel composition and the immobilization temperature on the hydrogel-binding capacity, immobilized lipase specific activity, as well as the enzyme leakage were studied. It was found that the NiPAAm/IA ratio, crosslinking agent concentration and the temperature at which the entrapment was performed significantly affected the hydrogel-binding capacity. The biocatalysts obtained by entrapment into hydrogel with the highest itaconic acid content at 5 °C exhibited both highest binding capacity and the highest specific activity, but appeared to be less suitable for repeated uses than those obtained at 25 °C.
To overcome the problems of free enzyme application as catalysts in chemical reactions, i.e., high costs of isolation and purification processes, high sensitivity to process conditions, insufficient ...enzyme stability etc., different immobilization techniques need to be used. Immobilization to/within solid support improves enzyme stability decreasing its denaturation. This paper deals with hydrogels of N-isopropylacrylamide and itaconic acid with incorporated nonionic surfactants (Triton X-100, Brij 30 and Tween 80) synthesized in distilled water at room temperature by free radical polymerization. These hydrogels were used as supports for immobilization of enzyme, lipase from Candida rugosa by post-entrapment method. The aim was to investigate the effect of the non-ionic surfactants on the lipase binding capacity, as well as on its hydrolytic activity. In order to characterize the obtained hydrogels, FT-IR analysis has been performed. Further, the swelling behaviour of these samples in buffer solution of pH 6.80 has been investigated. The dynamic-mechanical properties of hydrogels have been studied, too. The immobilized lipase showed somewhat reduced hydrolytic activity, compared to the activity of free lipase as well as in comparison to the lipase immobilized to the reference sample (sample synthesized under the same polymerization conditions, but in the absence of surfactants). It was concluded that the addition of surfactants increased the hydrogel mesh size. The surfactant addition did not affect the dynamic-mechanical properties of the investigated hydrogels. The largest percentage of specific activity and yield of activity were presented by the reference sample, too. It is obvious that the absence of surfactants charged groups has no influence on the lipase binding capacity, and the obtained activity yields are to be expected.