Feedback for a better teaching - A general questionnaire to collect student ratings of teaching in Norwegian

The aim of the present work was to develop a Norwegian questionnaire for collecting student rating of teaching (SRT) at university level. For this purpose, an established international questionnaire (Trier Inventar zur Lehrevaluation, TRIL) was translated into Norwegian and evaluated using peer-evaluation of the questionnaire. The peer evaluators found that the questionnaire assess the important characteristics of teaching quality, is applicable in all academic fields, and provides feedback that can be utilized to improve teaching behaviour. Thus, the here developed Norwegian version of the TRIL appears to be a suitable instrument to obtain SRTs. However, factor-structure and psychometrical properties of the presented translation remain to be evaluated in future studies

The Role of Efficiency Justifications in U.S.-American and West German Merger Control Law: A Comparison

When merger control laws first emerged in the United States and West Germany in the early 1900s, some businessmen and economists argued that the efficiency of businesses was impeded by antimerger laws. They contended that only very large businesses could realize significant efficiencies, be internationally competitive, and attain technological progress. This paper analyzes the role that these efficiency arguments had on the laws in West Germany and the United States, respectively. German law mainly upheld the idea that preservation of competition was most important for business efficiency, but also included a provision that firms could put forward the social desirability of efficiency as a defense to anticompetitive mergers. American law, on the other hand, lacked such a possibility. It favored protecting the freedom and opportunity of firms without economic power over promoting efficiency of firms with economic power. As economic conditions began to worsen in the early 1970s, German policy continued to preserve the competitive market while making exceptions for the sake of efficiency. In contrast, American policy began to place more emphasis on autonomy of firms and nonintervention, and less emphasis on controlling concentration in the marketplace. This paper examines the treatment of efficiency as a beneficial factor in merger analysis

s-Block Metal Complexes

The coordination chemistry of the s-block metals spans diverse fields, ranging from shielded coordination compounds over hydride to organometallic complexes for diverse applications. New developments pertain, not only to the lithium and magnesium chemistry with inspiring examples, such as heterobimetallic or heteroleptic complexes with special reactivity patterns, but the heavy s-block metals have progressively gained attention in various fields. Subvalent magnesium(I) derivatives are increasingly being used for reduction reactions, turbo-Grignard reagents show enhanced reactivity and tolerance toward functional groups, hydrides act as hydrogen storage materials, heavy Grignard reagents are available by straight forward procedures—just to name a few examples. Quantum chemical calculations deal with unique bonding situations and the relevance of d-orbital participation has been discussed to understand structure-reactivity relationships. Especially the complexes of the heavy alkaline earth metals are catalytically active in diverse reactions, promoting hydrofunctionalization reactions and Lewis acid catalysis. This Special Issue aims to highlight the structural and chemical diversity of s-block metal complexes, as well as the broad field of applications

Competition and/or Efficiency: A Review of West German Antimerger Law as a Model for the Proposed Treatment of Efficiency Promotion under Section 7 of the Clayton Act

As many commentators have noted, the end of Ronald Reagan\u27s presidency likely will engender a renewed debate concerning the proper level of government intervention in business integrations. During the past eight years, the number and size of corporate mergers have risen astronomically. Such unchallenged mergers have occurred while the Reagan Administration and the Democrats in the United States Congress ( Congress ) have debated the appropriateness of merger control laws, both in testimony at oversight hearings and in conflicting proposals for amending Section 7 of the Clayton Act ( Section 7 ). The purpose of this Article is to demonstrate the need for legislative change in the Clayton Act. Such change should be based upon the merger control legislation enacted in the Federal Republic of Germany ( Germany ), which explicitly recognizes an appropriate role for the efficiency effects of mergers but, at the same time, often subordinates the role of efficiency to the quite separate goal of protecting competitive markets, when those goals conflict. This Article first will briefly summarize the existing state of United States antimerger law, insofar as Section 7 of the Clayton Act and its history incorporate efficiency considerations. The Article then will review the German merger control legislation, particularly focusing upon the efficiency considerations under Sections 22-24a of the Gesetzgegen Wettbewerbsbeschrankungen ( GWB ), and, finally, will suggest that the German model constitutes an appropriate compromise between the libertarian and populist extremes in the United States

A hydrogen-bridged adduct 3,4,6,7,8,9-hexa­hydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidin-1-ium [1,3-bis­(tert-butyl­dimethyl­sil­yloxy)-1,3-bis­(pyridin-2-yl)propan-2-yl­idene]nitro­nate acetonitrile monosolvate

The title compound, C7H14N3 +·C25H40N3O4Si2 −·CH3CN, was obtained by the reaction of 2-nitro-1,3-di(pyridin-2-yl)-1,3-di(tert-butyl­dimethyl­sil­yloxy)propane with 1,3,4,6,7,8-hexa­hydro-2H-pyrimido[1,2-a]pyrimidine. Two hydrogen bonds stabilize the Lewis acid/base pair of the nitro­nate and the guanidinium moiety with N⋯O distances of 2.772 (3) and 2.732 (3) Å. Both hydrogen atoms are more closely bound to the guanidinium [N—H distances of 0.83 (3) and 0.93 (3) Å] than to the nitro­nate moiety. The nitro­nate is double-bonded to the respective carbon with an N=C bond length of 1.316 (3) Å

Bis(2,4,6-trimethyl­phen­yl)zinc(II)

The title compound, [Zn(C9H11)2] or Mes2Zn (Mes = mesityl = 2,4,6-trimethyl­phen­yl), crystallizes with a quarter of a mol­ecule in the asymmetric unit. The ZnII atom is in a strictly linear environment with a Zn—C bond length of 1.951 (5) Å. Due to the imposed 2/m symmetry, both aromatic rings are coplanar. One of the methyl groups is disordered over two equally occupied positions

Synthesis and Structure of a New Bulky Hybrid Scorpionate/Cyclopentadienyl Ligand and its Lithium Complex

Abstract The reaction of 5‐(1‐adamantyl)‐3‐methyl‐1 H ‐pyrazole with dibromomethane yields a product mixture of bis(3‐adamantyl‐5‐methylpyrazolyl)methane (H 2 C(Pz Ad,Me ) 2 , 2 a ), (3‐adamantyl‐5‐methylpyrazolyl)‐(3‐methyl‐5‐adamantylpyrazolyl)methane ((H 2 C(Pz Ad,Me )(Pz Me,Ad ), 2 b ) and bis(3‐methyl‐5‐adamantylpyrazolyl)methane (H 2 C(Pz Me,Ad ) 2 , 2 c ). Lithiation of sterically congested H 2 C(Pz Ad,Me ) 2 ( 2 a ) and subsequent addition of diphenylfulvene yields lithium 1,1‐bis(3‐adamantyl‐5‐methylpyrazolyl)‐2,2‐diphenyl‐2‐ethyl‐ cyclo pentadienide, [(thf)Li{Cp−CPh 2 −CHPz Ad,Me }] ( 3 ) which is unable to form a thf adduct but can be hydrolyzed to H 5 C 5 −CPh 2 −CHPz Ad,Me ( 4 ). Adamantyl groups in 5‐position of bis(pyrazolyl)methane, i. e. 2 b and 2 c , prohibit formation of a fulvene adduct. For comparison reasons, [{H 5 C 5 −CPh 2 −CHPz Me2 }LiI] ( 1 b ) has been prepared via protolysis of (thf)lithium 1,1‐bis(3,5‐dimethylpyrazolyl)‐2,2‐diphenyl‐2‐ethyl‐ cyclo pentadienide, [(thf)Li{Cp−CPh 2 −CHPz Me2 }] ( 1 a ), in the presence of calcium iodide.imag

Development of highly sensitive tools to investigate the Salmonella Type III Secretion System

Bacteria have evolved different pathogenicity mechanisms to ensure their survival. One of them is the Type III Secretion System (T3SS). Salmonella employs the T3SS to secrete and inject effector proteins into the extracellular milieu and the host cell. Many methods have been established in the last few years to investigate the T3SS. However, none of these assays is sufficiently simple, quick or quantitative. Here, I present easy and rapid tools that allow detection of T3SS secreted proteins into the i.) extracellular environment; ii.) host cell and iii.) bacterial periplasm. The assays are based on the newly engineered luciferase NanoLuc (NLuc). NLuc proved to be a perfect reporter protein for T3SS proteins because of its high sensitivity and small size. In the first and second part of this thesis, the T3SS effector protein SipA served as fusion partner for NLuc to detect and quantify protein secretion in the extracellular environment and host cells. Thereafter, I could successfully extend the use of this system for high throughput screening to identify new T3SS inhibitors as well as to monitor real-time injection into host cells. The assembly of the T3SS occurs in a stepwise manner. Once the basal body and cytoplasmic components are assembled, the secretion of early substrates starts. When substrate specificity switching is induced by the autocleaved switching protein SpaS, the assembly of T3SS proceeds with the secretion of intermediate substrates. The regulation of this switching mechanism is unknown. The execution of needle length control is often connected to the substrate specificity switching and is believed to regulate the switching. However, genetic data challenge this model and suggest that these two events are independent of each other. Therefore, we wondered whether switching to the intermediate substrates and late substrates strictly requires the prior secretion of early substrates. In order to address this question, we sought to develop an assay to monitor periplasmic secretion in needle deficient mutants. For this, we utilized the split variant of NLuc and targeted the large fragment of splitNLuc, LgBiT, to the periplasm as a complementation partner of T3SS substrates tagged with the small fragment of splitNLuc, HiBiT. Optimization of the assay required longer than expected as we faced different biological and technical challenges, e.g. in targeting LgBiT exclusively and stably to the periplasm and in detecting a specific luminescence signal in the periplasmic compartment. Eventually, we overcame all issues and were able to successfully use the assay in proof-of-concept experiments. We also generated the most suitable needle deficient mutants: With the tool and strains we established, it will finally be possible to deepen our understanding of the process of substrate specificity switching.Bakterien besitzen Pathogenitätsmechanismen, um ihr eigenes Überleben zu sichern. Ein solches Pathogenitätsmechanismus ist das nadelähnliche Type III Sekretionsystem (T3SS). In den letzten Jahren wurden viele Methoden entwickelt, um T3SS sezernierte oder injizierte Proteine zu detektieren. Jedoch ist keine dieser Methoden einfach, schnell und unkompliziert, um ausreichend direkte Aussagen über die Quantität der Proteine zu treffen oder Kinetiken messen zu können. Dabei würde ein solcher Assay helfen, viele relevante biologische Fragen über das T3SS zu beantworten und auch hilfreich bei der Entdeckung von Inhibitoren gegen das T3SS sein. In dieser Arbeit präsentiere ich Methoden, die es uns erlauben, Proteine des T3SS i.) in der extracellulären Umgebung, ii.) in der Wirtszelle und iii) im Periplasma quantitativ und schnell zu detektieren. Dafür nutzte ich das von Promega neu entwickelte Reporterprotein NanoLuc (NLuc). Im ersten und zweiten Teil dieser Arbeit wurde NLuc an das sezernierte Effektorprotein SipA fusioniert, welches durch das T3SS in die extrazelluläre Umgebung und in die Wirtszelle transportiert wird. Der auf NLuc basierende Sekretions- und Injektionsassay bewies sich für das T3SS als sehr sensitiv und ermöglichte die Quantifizierung von SipA in verschiedenen Mutanten. Dieser neu etablierte Assay funktionierte bei Hochdurchsatzmessungen für die Entwicklung und Entdeckung von Inhibitoren als auch für Messungen der Kinetik, um die zeitliche Sekretion und Injektion zu beobachten. Die Assemblierung des T3SS erfolgt schrittweise. Wenn der substratspezifische Wechsel durch das selbstgespaltene Schaltprotein SpaS induziert wird, wird der Aufbau des T3SS mit der Sekretion von Zwischensubstraten fortgesetzt. Die Regulation dieses Mechanismus ist unbekannt. Die Ausführung der Nadellängenkontrolle wird oft mit diesem Wechsel verbunden. Genetische Daten stellen dieses Modell jedoch in Frage und legen nahe, dass diese beiden Ereignisse unabhängig voneinander sind. Wir fragten uns, ob der Wechsel zu intermediären Substraten und späten Substraten unbedingt die vorherige Sezernierung der frühen Substrate erfordert. Um diese Frage zu klären, versuchten wir, einen Assay zu entwickeln, der die periplasmatische Sekretion in nadeldefizienten Mutanten detektiert. Dazu verwendeten wir die Split-Variante von NLuc. Das große Fragment von splitNLuc, LgBiT wurde als Komplementationspartner für die mit dem kleinen Fragment, HiBiT fusionierte T3SS Substrate ins Periplasma transloziert. Wir wurden mit verschiedenen Herausforderungen konfrontiert. Letztendlich haben wir alle Probleme überwunden und konnten den Assay erfolgreich in Proof-of-Concept-Experimenten einsetzen. Wir generierten auch die am besten geeigneten nadeldefekten Mutanten: Mit dem Assay und den Stämmen, die wir etabliert haben, wird es schließlich möglich sein, unser Verständnis des Prozesses vom substratspezifischen Wechsel zu vertiefen

Transport across cell membranes is modulated by lipid order

This study measures the uptake of various dyes into HeLa cells and determines simultaneously the degree of membrane lipid chain order on a single cell level by spectral analysis of the membrane-embedded dye Laurdan. First, this study finds that the mean generalized polarization (GP) value of single cells varies within a population in a range that is equivalent to a temperature variation of 9 K. This study exploits this natural variety of membrane order to examine the uptake as a function of GP at constant temperature. It is shown that transport across the cell membrane correlates with the membrane phase state. Specifically, higher membrane transport with increasing lipid chain order is observed. As a result, hypothermal-adapted cells with reduced lipid membrane order show less transport. Environmental factors influence transport as well. While increasing temperature reduces lipid order, it is found that locally high cell densities increase lipid order and in turn lead to increased dye uptake. To demonstrate the physiological relevance, membrane state and transport during an in vitro wound healing process are analyzed. While the uptake within a confluent cell layer is high, it decreases toward the center where the membrane lipid chain order is lowest

Synthesis, Structure, and Stability of Lithium Arylphosphanidyl‐diarylphosphane Oxide

The reaction of LiP(H)Tipp ( 2a ) and KP(H)Tipp ( 2b , Tipp = C 6 H 2 ‐2,4,6‐ i Pr 3 ), which are accessible via metalation of Tipp‐PH 2 ( 1 ), with bis(4‐ tert ‐butylphenyl)phosphinic chloride yields Tipp‐P=P(OM)Ar 2 [M = Li ( 3a ) and K ( 3b )]. These complexes show characteristic chemical 31 P shifts and large 1 J PP coupling constants. These compounds degrade with elimination of the phosphinidene Tipp‐P: and the alkali metal diarylphosphinites M–O–PAr 2 [M = Li ( 4a ) and K ( 4b )]. The phosphinidene forms secondary degradation products (like the meso and R,R/S,S ‐isomers of diphosphane Tipp‐P(H)–P(H)Tipp ( 5 ) via insertion into a P–H bond of newly formed Tipp‐PH 2 ), whereas the crystallization of [Tipp‐P=P(OLi)Ar 2 · LiOPAr 2 · LiCl · 2Et 2 O] 2 (i.e. [ 3a·4a· LiCl · 2Et 2 O] 2 ) succeeds from diethyl ether. The metathesis reactions of LiP(Si i Pr 3 )Tipp and LiP(Si i Pr 3 )Mes (Mes = C 6 H 2 ‐2,4,6‐Me 3 ) with Ar 2 P(O)Cl yield Ar*‐P=P(OSi i Pr 3 )Ar 2 (Ar* = Mes, Tipp) which degrade to Ar 2 POSi i Pr 3 and other secondary products.image John Wiley & Sons, Ltd