Chapter 1 provides a general introduction to plants as medicines and the field of ethnopharmacology. It also provides an overview of the process of inflammation, in particular arachidonic acid metabolism.

The main literature review is presented in Chapter 2. It reviews the literature relating to the chemistry and pharmacology of 15 genera in the Zingiberaceae, with the focus on species included in the experimental work. The Zingiberaceae is rich in species used as traditional medicines or spices, but extensive information about their chemistry and pharmacology is available only for a few species, most notably ginger and turmeric (Curcuma longa). These attributes make the family an ideal target for a screening project, since phylogenetically related plant species usually display a significant degree of similarity in the kinds of secondary metabolites they produce.

Chapter 3 describes the preliminary experimental work with ginger. This work aimed at determining a suitable extraction solvent and method, guided by the activity of the extracts in a cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) bioassay. It also established an HPLC method suitable for the quantification of gingerols and shogaols in the extracts.

Seventeen ginger clones, including commercial cultivars and 12 experimental clones, were analysed by HPLC for their content of pungent compounds. The result of this work is reported in Chapter 4. Because ginger is a sterile cultigen, there is an increased likelihood that chemically distinct and genetically stable clones may exist. This work identified one cultivar that when compared with other clones contained a significantly higher level of pungent gingerols. The analysis included 12 tetraploid clones, but these did not display elevated gingerol production compared with their diploid parent cultivar.

The essential oils obtained from the same 17 ginger clones by steam distillation were analysed by GC-MS. These results are presented in Chapter 5. The oil from one particular clone was distinctly different from the others; this was the same clone that had a very high gingerol content. The essential oil of this clone differed from the others by having a lower citral content and higher levels of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons. The unique chemistry of this clone in terms of aroma, pungency and flavour should make it of interest to the flavour, fragrance and pharmaceutical industries.

Chapter 6 presents the results of the screening of 41 taxa in an in vitro cell-based bioassay for inhibition of PGE₂ production. A number of the samples were also tested for antioxidant activity in the oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) assay, for inhibition of nitric oxide production and for modulation of natural killer cell activity. Known medicinal plants, in particular ginger and turmeric, emerged as the most active in these assays. Included in the work were seven native Australian species not previously investigated for pharmacological activity. Two of these species showed good activity in the PGE₂ assay and were selected for further investigations.

Chapter 7 reports on the bioactivity-guided fractionation of these two native Australian species, Curcuma australasica and Pleuranthodium racemigerum. Inhibition of PGE₂ was used as the primary bioassay in this process, but fractions with high activity in that assay were also tested for cytotoxic properties. This work succeeded in isolating and structurally characterising a novel curcuminoid compound with potent PGE₂ inhibitory activity from P. racemigerum as well as two known compounds from C. australasica.

The final chapter (Chapter 8) provides a short summary and concluding remarks, and identifies areas for future research arising from the present work.

For the past 60 years or so, organisations have increasingly been using projects to achieve their strategic objectives. The World Bank suggests that 22% of the world’s USD $48 trillion GDP is gross capital formation, which is almost entirely project-based. In India the figure is 34%, and in China it is 45%. Moreover, there is the growing propensity across all industries to undertake more project-based activity within operating expenditures. With projects representing such a significant proportion of global economic activity, the importance of project management, including the human capital inputs, becomes apparent. Yet project management is a relatively young area of academic inquiry and is both broader and less mature as a discipline than more traditional examples such as engineering, medicine or law. Furthermore, it comprises knowledge areas that span the highly technical through to the softer disciplines. Skills can therefore be learned through academic study, experience or both, meaning there are few formal barriers to entry in this field of work and career. This study relates to career development theory and project management theory and more specifically to the individual career paths and development of project managers. A review of this body of theory led to the research problem, which is that not enough is known about serial project managers, including their career path experiences, their attitudes and perceptions about PM as a career and profession, their contribution to strengthening the PM profession, and their own future development needs. This problem of poor understanding has a plethora of implications, not only academically but for PM careerists, their profession and the industry sectors in which their services are in demand.

The study explores serial project managers in Queensland Australia, using a qualitative methodology. The specific technique or method used is semi-structured interviews, chosen because of its ability to provide maximum opportunity for complete and accurate communication of ideas between the researcher and participant. The sample group in this study comprised participants who could demonstrate at least equivalence to PMI’s PMP® credential, a globally recognised standard and arguably the best-known of its type at time of writing. In total there were 25 participants. Three research questions were deployed: (1) what have today’s PMs’ career path experiences been, (2) how do today’s PMs relate to their current situation including the PM profession, and (3) what are today’s PMs’ views on their career futures and development priorities? The research questions were supported by a larger set of interview questions.

The interpreted results of this study include nine conclusions in relation to the research questions and two in relation to the overall research problem. In relation to the research problem, the main conclusion of this study is that project managers tend to be highly experienced, multi-disciplined professionals whose association with the project management profession is often characterised by latency, emergence and self-identification. Moreover, with project management still being relatively young and emergent when compared to other and more traditional professions, the concept of the project manager career hence presents as a moving, impalpable target that whilst on the one hand benefits from being flexible to labour market demands, on the other hand seems inevitably encumbered with poor understanding, not least by project sponsors, early careerists and in many cases project managers themselves. This epitomises the situation of the serial project manager.

The objective of this thesis is to realise the state of animism within the context of the Australian landscape and argue a threefold benefit from adopting this different way of seeing and being. Firstly on a global scale for sustainable futures; secondly at the domestic level for the contribution it can make to the longstanding and ongoing debate within Australia of the relationship between self and landscape and how this shapes issues of identity and belonging; and thirdly, drawing upon this debate and at a deeper metaphysical level, as an alternative way of shaping a sense of human subjectivity in relationship to the natural world.

The path of critical inquiry pursued in this thesis involves an analysis of the state of animism within the Western metaphysical tradition that deals with the nature of the real. It tracks animism within this intellectual tradition up to the present-day position of post-modern relativity, whereby differences in cultural realities are deemed cultural constructs. It extends this school of thought to conclude that the difference in the Western and animistic consciousness is thereby also a demonstrable cultural construct. It then engages in an exercise in de-construction and re-inscription, by deconstructing the Western sense of subjectivity and re-inscribing it with an animistic one.

For this exercise I position myself as the deconstructed subject who is experimented upon and undergoes a process of re-inscription. This thesis is therefore necessarily a subjective narrative. The structure and form, whereby my personal narrative is interwoven with a theoretical exegesis, is framed by and engages with feminist theories and writing praxis.

The theoretical tool used for this exercise of personal deconstruction and re-inscription is an Indigenous Australian earth mother cultural foundation story that is associated with the Dreaming of the Seven Sisters of the Pleiades constellation. The thesis tracks an archetype contained in this story within the Western archaeo-mythological tradition and argues its potency can effect a shift in Western consciousness towards a more animistic way of being and seeing. This material’s effectiveness as a theoretical tool is subject to further critical analysis by applying the thesis findings to a physical/phenomenal site within the Australian landscape.

The installations for ‘paper memories’ aim to mark out the territory of memorial: its semiotics, functions and meanings. 'paper memories' consists of a studio practice exploring the link between memorial and the temporary nature of memory and the transitory act of remembrance.

The ‘paper memories’ project addresses primarily post-war, ‘western’ memorial. The central concern of ‘paper memories’ is the act of memorial-making across typologies, regions, cultures and places. ‘paper memories’ explores three key themes: the representation of absence within memorial practice; the ephemeral nature of memorials and the memorialising of public spaces.

The practice of ‘embodied research’ has been vital to the ‘paper memories’ project. In our visual contact with the object, we bear witness to its subject and commemorate it. My research has included visiting the World Trade Centre site in New York, Holocaust memorials in Europe and various memorials in Australia.

The thesis is presented in two volumes. Volume I contains the substantive text of the thesis and it is divided into two sections. Section I is comprised of the published (and/or publicly presented and critiqued) elements of the quantitative geoarchaeological research; and includes published examples of my attempts to present this data into wider environmental management and planning forums. It documents the development and refinement of a palaeogeographic model for the Mid-to-Late Holocene evolution of the coastal environment of Deception Bay, and reflects on the local cultural heritage management implications of this model. Section II is comprised of published and/or public domain materials that are either the immediate consequences of my participant activism in court proceedings relating to threats to the Aboriginal archaeological heritage of Deception Bay or works derived from my later contemplation of this activism, and the socio-cultural contexts from which it emerged. Together these documents substantiate my contribution to the emerging engagement of cultural geography with natural resource management through the development of the notion of ‘cognitive ownership’ as a means of accommodation of multiple viewpoints and values in landscape.

Volume II contains a series of Appendices. Each Appendix is comprised of a technical report that contains detailed discussion of the methods and results of one or more of the multiple analytical techniques used to develop the palaeogeographic model described and refined in Section I of the thesis. These technical reports therefore are the critical evidentiary support that substantiates the geoarchaeological research described in the published works presented in Section I of Volume I.

The overall objective of this thesis was to make an original and significant contribution to knowledge and understanding of C. nanus natural history, conservation status and ecology. Field studies were conducted with the objective of collecting demographic data. In this thesis, I also undertook comprehensive reviews of the scientific literature, museum collections and existing databases and brought together much scattered and relatively inaccessible data on this species‘ biology. This included desktop surveys of fossil sites that produced records from 57 sites and provided valuable perspective on its prehistoric distribution. Conservation status was also reviewed on a state by state basis. For Victoria, this included reviewing data contained in 133 published and unpublished fauna surveys conducted from 1968 to 2003. For Queensland, review of databases and previous reports documented that only 13 modern records exist. Available evidence suggests that C. nanus should be listed as "Vulnerable" in Victoria and "Endangered" in Queensland. For Tasmania, records were sparse (only 12 fauna survey reports with C. nanus out of 51 examined) and survey data were deficient for some areas, but known populations appear to be small and potentially at "risk" from habitat loss, inappropriate fire regimes and firewood collection. More refined information on extent of occurrence and area of occupancy (following IUCN definitions) are needed across the broader Australian range of C. nanus, as well as modelling to estimate population size. These are prerequisites for any nomination to list the species as threatened under Commonwealth legislation.

Field studies for C. nanus were needed because data in relation to demography, detectability, movements, habitat use, and reproduction are scarce. Field studies were conducted at Barren Grounds Nature Reserve, Jervis Bay National Park, and Royal National Park, all in south-eastern New South Wales. A total of 330 captures (156 individuals) were made of C. nanus between May 2002 and January 2007. Survey effort included 12,349 Elliott trap-nights, 2,530 pitfall trap-nights, 151 spotlighting hours, and 3285 checks of 130 installed nest-boxes. All methods employed successfully detected C. nanus, but they varied in efficiency. Captures were usually confined to sites that had the most prolific flowering of potential food plants. At several sites this was measured by scoring flowering intensity along transects. Late summer-early autumn proved to be the best time to survey for C. nanus as several important food plants were in flower, including Banksia serrata, and animal activity was relatively high.

Ecological studies at Barren Grounds revealed that births were restricted to the late-summer to early-winter months (February to June) as hibernation appeared to be recurrently employed during winter at this high elevation site (600 m asl), whereas at Royal, births occurred in all months except August and September. Litters of six surviving young were found on three occasions in Royal, the first such records for this species. Usually only four young are produced but there have been occasional reports of five young. In winter at Barren Grounds, C. nanus was extremely difficult to capture, and torpor appeared to be extensively used. Peaks in capture rates occurred in late summer, particularly amongst adult and sub-adult males, and coincided with nectar-production by several large flowered plants (e.g. B. serrata). There was high site fidelity and resident animals were re-trapped much more frequently than was expected. A total of 15 animals remained in the trapping record for 12 months or more. This included a male that was caught on 20 separate occasions over a 15–month period, and a female whose capture records extended for more than 3.5 years. These records confirm previously published statements regarding this species‘ longevity. Most captures were centred on an area of ecotonal vegetation (Banksia thicket) between the heathland and forest.

At Royal, more C. nanus captures were from 'recently unburnt‘ (>11 years post fire) vegetation (65 captures; 52 individuals) compared with 'recently burnt‘ (>3 years post fire) vegetation (45 captures; 36 individuals), although the difference was not significant. No significant difference in numbers captured per site was found between either the two fire ages or two habitat types sampled (forest and heath) based on trapping methods alone (Elliotts and pitfalls). However, C. nanus captures from nest-boxes were significantly influenced by habitat but not fire age. This result is likely to reflect the local abundance of tree hollows with the older heath being largely devoid of tree hollows. Indeed, radio-tracking in this habitat showed that animals often denned in the forest and then moved into the heath to forage at night. This suggests that there is a need for a habitat mosaic of forest and heath and with different age vegetation.

This study has provided an extensive review of the literature involving C. nanus which suggests that this species is patchy in its distribution. It also suggests that a range of survey methods may detect it but none is consistently better than another. The field work conducted has revealed that C. nanus may sometimes be locally abundant but this appears to be mediated by floral resources that may only be temporally abundant. It appears that C. nanus may show high mobility as it tracks the local abundance of floral resources. There also appears to be an elevation-induced influence on reproduction. That is, females in tableland populations (i.e. Barren Grounds) produced only one litter per year and during a restricted breeding period (December-February to June), whereas females in coastal populations (Royal National Park) bred throughout the year (almost any month) and could produce two litters. This pattern is consistent with studies of other coastal and tableland populations. An important hypothesis that can be advanced from the studies described here is that C. nanus is closely associated with ecotones which maximise floristic diversity, in order to satisfy its diet that is predominantly comprised of nectar and pollen. Thus, managing its habitat to maintain mosaics of habitat type and successional age will be fundamental to its conservation.

The model developed for E. dunnii was developed from correlation of data on growth with over seventy site and soil variables from across thirty-three plots with an average age of six years. The model provides an estimate of site productivity, in the form of site index at age 10 based on three simple site variables (rainfall, water storage capacity of the soil and altitude). The model for predicting growth of E. dunnii was relatively well correlated (R2 = 0.619) with site index at age 10.

In a similar manner a growth model for C. citriodora subsp. variegata across twenty four plots achieved good correlation (R2 = 0.710) between site index at age 10 with four site variables, two that related to water availability and two related to daily mean temperature. The patterns of the two species were quite different, confirming anecdotal observations of rapid early growth of E. dunnii compared to C. citriodora subsp. variegata but also showing the convergence of growth rates over time.

Extrapolation from the two models showed that potential gains of up to 18% in height growth could be made by applying the two models at each site to determine the optimal species for the site. The models were also used to examine alternative rainfall scenarios and quantified the effects of above and below average rainfall.

Root architecture was examined in established plantations of E. dunnii and C. citriodora subsp. variegata under three contrasting soil types. Results showed little support for the hypothesis that the fine roots of C. citriodora subsp. variegata penetrate better into poorly structured subsoils than the roots of E. dunnii. The root densities of both species in the subsoils of a Vertosol soil (with high levels of reactive, shrink-swell clays) were lower than for the other soil types.

Pot trials found contrasting root growth strategies between four species; E. dunnii, E. pilularis, C. citriodora subsp. variegata, and Grevillea robusta. In particular, E. dunnii and C. citriodora subsp. variegata had significantly lower root:shoot ratios thanG. robusta. E. dunnii and C. citriodora subsp. variegata had higher root:shoot ratios than E. pilularis, the difference being significantly different for C. citriodora subsp. variegata.

The younger C. citriodora subsp. variegata, in the pot trials, had higher root growth than E. dunnii but lower relative levels of fine roots, a difference not observed in older plantation trees. The change in root distribution over time provides an explanation of the rapid early growth of E. dunnii and the subsequent equalisation in growth by C. citriodora subsp. variegata as the trees mature.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in Indonesian economic development. They contribute the greatest part of national GDP, are the primary source of employment, support export growth and help the development of entrepreneurship, industry and the rural economy. SMEs in the textile industry supply the domestic market and for SMEs producing batik products, they support the existence of batik as an Indonesian heritage. This study focuses on companies that are medium-sized with between 20 and 99 employees or with assets of between US$500,000 and US$1 million.

The literature review describes HRM in Western and Indonesian contexts and also possible Indonesian cultural influences on HRM practices in Indonesia. Previous research has been dominated by studies on the adoption of sophisticated HRM practices by multi-national companies and attention is mostly focused on the influence of culture on the HRM strategies of big businesses. The literature review identifies a gap in the knowledge about the HRM practices of medium-sized enterprises in the Asia Pacific especially Indonesia. Recent research on the development of Indonesian HRM and has focuses on the adoption of strategic HRM practices as a course of action for solving companies’ problems after the Global Financial Crisis. However, these studies have not addressed the development of HRM practices in Indonesian medium-sized enterprises in the textiles industry.

This research uses a mixed methods approach to explore the HRM practices of medium-sized enterprises in the Textile Industry in Java, Indonesia. The research employs an exploratory sequential mixed method approach combining case study and survey methods. The philosophical paradigm of pragmatic realism that underlies the mixed method approach is examined and justified. Triangulation is enabled through the combination of case study and survey methods as well as through accessing other data sources such as company records. The multiple case study method was employed and four companies were examined. A survey was conducted to test the generalisability of the case-based findings.

The findings of the within-case analysis of each company and the cross case analysis confirmed that medium-sized proprietary limited (Pty. Ltd.) companies implemented formal HRM practices while family businesses had more informal practices. The characteristics of proprietary limited companies that differed from those of family business became the source of differences in HRM practices that is, formal organisational structures and clearer job description for each department. Furthermore, national and Javanese culture had a major influence on the companies’ HRM practices.

The case study findings and previous studies from the literature were then used in designing the questionnaire for the survey. Six hypotheses were also created to examine the relationships between HRM practices and culture and the company managers’ perceptions of performance. The first data collection yielded 228 responses (a response rate of 46.5%) and the second data collection which focused on proprietary limited companies, gathered data from 131 respondents (a response rate of 87.5%). The entire first survey findings from 228 respondents showed little evidence for the adoption of Western HRM practices. The disproportionate proportion of the family businesses compared to proprietary limited companies led to weak statistical results. Separate analysis of the family businesses (sample size: 147) also showed no empirical evidence of the adoption of Western HRM practices. However, analysis of the proprietary limited companies sample (81 respondents) indicated a significant positive relationship between the dependent variable of perception of company performance and the six independent variables of HRM practices including culture. This led to the decision to expand the number of proprietary limited companies in the sample and so additional data gathering occurred.

An analysis of proprietary limited companies using a larger sample (combined data - 209 respondents) confirmed the adoption of Western HRM practices. The correlations between each of the six independent variables and the dependent variable of perception of company performance showed positive results.The hypothesis testing was then applied only to the full sample of proprietary limited companies. The regression analysis generated a model that predicted company performance based on six independent variables of HRM practices and culture. The model suggested that four predictor variables (recruitment and selection, training and development, performance appraisal and industrial relations) significantly contributed to perception of company performance while the other two predictor variables (remuneration and rewards; and culture) did not.

Limitations of this study are concerned with the scope of the research which only covers a sample of firms in the textile industry in Java. HRM practices may be different in other industries and in other parts of Indonesia. Generalisations are therefore not made. Implications for practice include supporting family business to adopt more formal HR practices and record keeping. Finally, the findings of this study make important contributions to both research and practice. This study has contributed to the body of knowledge by enhancing our understanding of some medium-sized enterprises in Indonesia and their HRM practices which were found to be more developed in proprietary limited companies than in family businesses. This study has also added to the understanding of relations between the dominant Indonesian-Javanese cultural values and HRM practices in medium-sized companies in the textile industry.

The motivation behind this thesis derives from the literature, particularly as it applies to Thailand. This thesis used quarterly financial statement data so as to take into account seasonal/cyclical changes, which previous studies have ignored. The underlying reason for applying quarterly financial statement data is that it is believed that business failure is a dynamic process (Hossari 2006; and Shumway 2001). The methods used in this thesis are the Integrated Multi-Measure (IMM) approach (which comprises the Emerging Market Score model, comparative ratio analysis, and ratio trend analysis) and the logit model as a benchmarking measure. The successful classification rates of each individual measure are similar (approximately 57 per cent). The classification accuracy rate for the IMM approach is 64 per cent for the financially distressed firms while the logit model provides the classification accuracy rate of up to 86 per cent for the financially distressed firms.

The empirical results show that financial statement information can be used to adequately signal business failure in the Thai context in normal economic circumstances. This is consistent with the recent study by Beaver, McNichols and Rhie (2005) conducted in a western setting. Given this, the empirical results of this study could be used as a stepping stone for future researchers who are interested in finding the best predictors for failure by developing a ratio–based prediction model and assessing its classification accuracy.

The focal species of this investigation was Eucalyptus pilularis Smith (blackbutt) subgenus Eucalyptus (informally Monocalyptus), and is one of the most important species for solid wood production in Australia. As part of the development of suitable SNP markers for E. pilularis, two other species were included for comparative purposes, a closely related Eucalyptus pyrocarpa (large fruited blackbutt) and the more distantly related Eucalyptus globulus Labill (southern blue gum). These species are representative of the two largest Eucalyptus subgenera the Monocalyptus and Symphyomyrtus respectively, which include the majority of commercially important species.

Initial methodologies designed to target candidate genes using polymerase chain reaction confirmed previous microsatellite studies, where primers developed in the commercial Symphyomyrtus species would amplify genes in species represented in the distantly related Monocalyptus subgenera. Analysis of SNPs shared between the closely related E. pilularis and E. pyrocarpa provided evidence that three specific wood formation genes that may play a role in local adaptation of these species to different environments. Comparative analysis of SNPs shared between the Monocalyptus and Symphyomyrtus subgenera found that between 11-13% of SNPs were shared (trans-subgeneric SNPs). These trans-subgeneric SNPs are likely to have persisted in separate lineages for tens of millions of years prior to the split of theses subgenera and may be indicative of variation important for adaptation, which has been maintained by "balancing selection". Such trans-subgeneric SNPs may be important for long-term resilience of the Eucalyptus genus to re-occurring biotic and abiotic stresses.

Association testing of two genes thought to be under balancing selection (pectin methylesterase 6 and 7) in E. pilularis revealed that SNPs in these genes could explain variation observed in a wide array of physical wood properties. This provides the first direct DNA based evidence that some wood formation candidate genes that control variation in quantitative traits, are also under balancing selection, and therefore could be of adaptive importance. Because of the large number of trans-subgeneric SNPs identified in these genes, many informative SNPs are also likely to transfer to other species. This will facilitate the development of SNP marker in other commercial species within the diverse Eucalyptus genus. Associations were also identified in a gene sharing few trans-specific SNPs, the MYB2 transcription factor, where two non-synonymous SNPs unique to E. pilularis, appeared to control variation in the dimensional stability of drying timber. This thesis demonstrates the power of association studies to identify correlations between genotype and phenotype, even where the individual effect of a SNP accounts for only a minor proportion of variance in the trait. Further association testing with SNPs identified in this project, and other association studies in Eucalyptus will yield larger panels of informative SNP markers, that together will explain a large proportion of the heritable variation of phenotypes and therefore enable the uptake of MAS in Eucalyptus breeding programs.

Singapore nursing education has experienced a number of significant changes in recent years. The Singapore healthcare education industry is finding it increasingly difficult to compete for the limited pool of students. Many studies (e.g., Fonza & Tulker-Allen, 2007; Knox, Irving & Gharrity, 2001; Zysberg & Zisberg, 2008) reported that fewer qualified school leavers choose to be trained as nurses.

The focus of this study was to understand the factors that influence local post-secondary students’ preference of nursing profession, addressing the factors which are identified from various countries (Bolan & Grainger, 2003; Carpenito-Mayet, 2002; Jrasat, Samawi & Wilson, 2005; Law & Arthur, 2003; Liegler, 2000; Scanion, 2008; Sweet, 2004; While & Blackman, 1998; Wilson, 2006; Zysberg & Zisberg, 2008), and examining the significance of these factors. With this aim in mind, the research questions driving this study are as follows: (a) What are thekey factors that influence students choosing to study nursing? (b) How can factors identified internationally be related to the local context?

The main contribution of this study was the derivation of a model that amalgamates five identified factors; Ability, Optimism, Nursing Image, Parents Image in Nursing and Peers Image in Nursing that play a significant role in influencing students’ preference for nursing education as their choice for tertiary study was derived.

In the silvilcultural management of sawlog plantations thinning is often applied to assist with producing larger diameter logs in a shorter rotation. This study examined the unthinned control and two thinning intensities, including 300 stems/ha (SPH) and 600 SPH, implemented at an early age of 7.5 years in plantation-grown CCV and E. dunnii. Growth, crown traits and three non-destructive wood properties were assessed two years after thinning. Both growth and crown traits were influenced by thinning treatments in E. dunnii but only growth traits in CCV. These two species exhibited responses at different thinning intensities, with 300SPH responding for CCV and 600SPH for E. dunnii. Effects of thinning on the three wood properties were small. Furthermore, no strong relationships were observed between growth traits and wood properties. These results suggest that larger diameter trees can be produced through thinning in both CCV and E. dunnii plantations without any degrade in wood quality.

The three wood properties were assessed non-destructively on two opposite aspects of each stem. Variation around the stem for these measurements was inconsistent between species or thinning treatments. It is recommended to measure each wood trait on at least two aspects for the future assessments. On the other hand, the use of pilodyn penetration to determine basic density appears feasible for E. dunnii as the two variables had a strong and negative correlation.

Using a grounded theory methodological approach with semi-structured interviews of executives from large Australia-based organisations, data and indications as to the root causes of poor strategic decisions were obtained. The collected data were categorised, analysed and abstracted into higher-level concepts. Analysis of the interrelationships led to an understanding of the reciprocal effects of key concepts.

A grounded theory of strategic decision making was ultimately developed to address the research problem. The model is based on three key positive concepts—decision ecosystem, governance and leadership—and one negative concept—politics. For good decision making, the positive concepts should be present and robust. However, this study finds that this is an unlikely situation and that this represents a root cause for poor decision making. Additionally, Executives engaging in decision politics while making decisions is another significant root cause of poor strategic decision making. Decision politics are a manifestation of executive self-interest played out using tactics to avoid losses, blame or risks. The negative decision politics concept can be suppressed when the positive concepts are strong and act collectively and interdependently. The leader, typically the chief executive officer, is the main factor in constructing a strong interdependent decision framework comprising the positive concepts known as ‘decision equilibrium’, that yeilds the optimum decision-making environment and suppresses decision politics, thereby improving organisational strategic decision making.

The emergence of the knowledge economy is creating massive demands for internationally recognised tertiary education qualifications and has made transnational higher education a major and thriving export industry. Higher educational institutions are emphasising on the internationalisation of higher education for increasing international enrolments by conducting offshore programmes through overseas branch campuses, twinning and franchised arrangements.

The Malaysian Government, aiming to increase its exports of higher education, has a target of 100,000 foreign students by 2010. Major educational reforms to make the country a regional educational hub now permit qualified PHEIs to conduct their own degree programmes and invite reputable foreign universities to establish branch campuses. The National Higher Education Strategic Plan encourages PHEIs to improve educational quality, internationalise their curriculum, and upgrade their premises and to become high quality educational providers.

Growing international student mobility is driving the internationalisation of the Malaysian PHEIs by increasing domestic and offshore student enrolments and establishing branch campuses abroad. Malaysia is currently the 11th largest exporter of higher education.

Although Malaysian higher education exports are a major source of foreign exchange earnings, there was limited prior research on the effectiveness of Government policies to support the internationalisation efforts of the PHEIs. The literature was also silent on the desired strategies for PHEIs to achieve sustainable competitive advantage in the international higher education market. These factors justified the need for this research.

The research tested three propositions developed from a comprehensive literature review. Primary data was collected from an Experience Survey, a Focus Group meeting and a Questionnaire Survey and the analysed data resulted in several findings. These revealed that the PHEIs are committed to internationalisation. However, they face several challenges including the rivalry posed by Singapore and Vietnam which also emphasise on increasing higher education exports.

The research findings generated several recommendations for consideration by the educational authorities and the PHEIs. In line with the research objectives, the findings extended the body of knowledge on the research topic. They also contributed to new theory development as reflected by a modified framework for international ising higher education. Finally, the research offered recommendations for follow up research togeneralise the findings.

This study was undertaken as an exploration of the wild species of Oryza that might prove to possess comparable starch characteristics with that of cultivated rice. Analysis of the whole grain morphology of 17 wild species of rice by light microscopy found a diverse array of grain sizes and shapes which could be defined by the "standard rice breeders’ classification scale" that is routinely used for rice breeding evaluation. The range of colours of the grains of these species might also indicate their potential nutritional value as carriers of antioxidants in their pericarp.

The endosperm morphology of the wild species was subjected to an evaluation and comparison with domesticated rice. Wild rice species starch granule morphology, protein body shape and distribution and endosperm cell shape were similar to domesticated species, suggesting their starch has similar functional properties. The wild species exhibited pinholes, channels and internal cavities which had not been previously reported in rice. The presence of pinholes and channels in other cereal starches are favourable for starch processing quality, indicating these species might possess potential benefits in starch processing. The existence of distinctive sub aleurone layers are associated with high protein grains in other cereals; two of the wild species O. longiglumis and O. spontanea exhibited a distinctive sub aleurone layer, indicating that they are potential high protein species.

Evaluation of the physicochemical properties of starch of the wild species found they expanded greater than that of domesticated rice after cooking. Additionally, they all had intermediate apparent amylose content with a higher percentage of longer branch chain amylopectin which imparted a high gelatinization temperature but low viscosity parameters.

A comparative study of three different starch genes in domesticated and wild species of rice found a reasonable conservation in the coding regions across the species. Shared non-synonymous changes between non AA genome wild Oryza species and other cereals were observed, suggesting a probable parallel evolution of the genes. A concatenated dataset of the conserved regions produced a topology reflecting gene evolution and more or less the established phylogeny of wild species of Oryza genus. In combination, these studies suggest these wild species have potential to be a crop of their own right and/or can be used in O. sativa breeding programmes.