Business Rules: Die Wissensverarbeitung erreicht die Betriebswirtschaft ; Einsatzmöglichkeiten und Marktübersicht

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Intraspecific trait variation and trade-offs within and across populations of a toxic dinoflagellate

Abstract Intraspecific trait diversity can promote the success of a species, as complementarity of functional traits within populations may enhance its competitive success and facilitates resilience to changing environmental conditions. Here, we experimentally determined the variation and relationships between traits in 15 strains of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium ostenfeldii derived from two populations. Measured traits included growth rate, cell size, elemental composition, nitrogen uptake kinetics, toxin production and allelochemical potency. Our results demonstrate substantial variation in all analysed traits both within and across populations, particularly in nitrogen affinity, which was even comparable to interspecific variation across phytoplankton species. We found distinct trade-offs between maximum nitrogen uptake rate and affinity, and between defensive and competitive traits. Furthermore, we identified differences in trait variation between the genetically similar populations. The observed high trait variation may facilitate development and resilience of harmful algal blooms under dynamic environmental conditions

Synthesis and crystal structure of 1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazoniumcyclo-octadecane bis(4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxyacetate)

The title compound was prepared by the reaction of 1,4,10,13-tetraoxa-7,16-diazacyclo-octadecane with 4-chloro-2-methyl-phenoxyacetic acid in a ratio of 1:2. The structure has been proved by the data of elemental analysis, IR spectroscopy, NMR (1H, 13C) technique and by X-ray diffraction analysis. Intermolecular hydrogen bonds between the azonium protons and oxygen atoms of the carboxylate groups were found. Immunoactive properties of the title compound have been screened. The compound has the ability to suppress spontaneous and Con A-stimulated cell proliferation in vitro and therefore can be considered as immunodepressant

The Value of Administrative Staff for Internationalization

Administrative staff, including those working for international offices, housing officials, and many others play a key role in international higher education. Without their professionalism and involvement, virtually all aspects of university internationalization would fail

Survival and identity : understanding university groupings in times of change

Over the last decades, Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) have been undergoing a phase of transition existing in high velocity environments. HE reforms that include diverse phenomena - from world rankings to financial independence from the state, market dependence, increasing accountability, among others - throw HEIs into a "state of uncertainry", especially regarding strategies for survival and ensuring identity in an increasingly globalised and competitive higher education market. HEIs are looking for tactical solutions to manage these pressures and groupings are considered one of them. HEI groupings also need to survive in a market of other competing groupings, raising the question which groupings might it be best to belong to and what might be the implications of choices made. The dissertation provides a new and in-depth description and analysis of HEI groupings concerning identity as well as the importance of coherence on certain dimensions and properties. It also provides some practical advice on HEI grouping management regarding Survival criteria and maintaining identity in particular. The thesis explores critical factors for the survival of HEI groupings, such as a sufficient level of internal coherence in three dimensions (temporality, spatiality, sociality), the production of social externalities and private benefits, the establishment of a brand, and the maintenance of an identity. The research is founded on the theory of voluntary clubs (Potoski/Prakash) and organisational identity (Gioia). It also analyses the use of visualisation software to grasp the core problems or challenges of a grouping. To this end, a qualitative approach combining documents, interviews, statistical data and surveys has been used. The research findings suggest that there is no "best buy"; rather that each HEI has to analyse its reasons to enter a grouping critically, that groupings need to serve different needs, and not every grouping can cater for every need. However, there are factors critical for survival, most prominently the aspect of identity. Additionally, the thesis provides evidence for the usefulness of visualisation software to depict complex settings as well as the relevance of the theory of voluntary clubs and Gioia's organisational identity metaphor for describing, explaining and understanding HEI groupings, on the one hand, and critical aspects for possible failure, on the other.EThOS - Electronic Theses Online ServiceGBUnited Kingdo

Getting internationalization back on track

“How can we make sure that students receive the right learning outcomes that make them ready for a world that is more and more interculturally and internationally connected? What does that mean for faculty development? What are the implications for the assessment of students? How can instruments such as study abroad, international classrooms, teaching in another language, recruitment of international students and cross-border delivery, contribute to that process? In other words: how can we make sure that all students and not only the small elite of already internationally oriented students and faculty receive the basic intercultural and international skills and knowledge they need in current society?” By Uwe Brandenburg, project manager and partner at the Centre for Higher Education Development Consult, Germany and Hans de Wit, professor of internationalization, Amsterdam University of Applied Sciences, the Netherlands, and director of the Centre for Higher Education Internationalization at the Università Cattolica Sacro Cuore, Milan, Italy. This article in the Guardian Professional (Higher Education Network): ‘Higher education is losing sight of what internationalisation is all about