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In a context of intensified globalisation, knowledge diaspora as "trans-national human capital" have become increasingly valuable to society. With an awareness of a need for more empirical studies especially in Australia, this article concentrates on a group of academics who were working at a major university in Australia and came originally from the Chinese mainland. The study explores their life, work and international research collaborations, using a case study approach with semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. The study found that while globalisation shapes the work and the contributions to Australia, by academics from China, they exert their initiatives to respond to and further reshape globalisation. Equipped with their Chinese cultural and educational backgrounds, academic experience in the West, and active membership in the international knowledge system, the Chinese knowledge diaspora are a modern kind of cosmopolitan literati. They are aware of the impact of globalisation and contribute actively to higher education internationalisation in both Australia and China, have maintained their cultural identity and made good use of their Chinese educational background. Their international collaborations, however, are more likely to be with the scholars from Western countries due to some difficulties they have experienced in China and Australia, and to the current setup of the global knowledge system.

In a context of intensified globalisation, knowledge diaspora as "trans-national human capital" have become increasingly valuable to society. With an awareness of a need for more empirical studies especially in Australia, this article concentrates on a group of academics who were working at a major university in Australia and came originally from the Chinese mainland. The study explores their life, work and international research collaborations, using a case study approach with semi-structured interviews as the data collection method. The study found that while globalisation shapes the work and the contributions to Australia, by academics from China, they exert their initiatives to respond to and further reshape globalisation. Equipped with their Chinese cultural and educational backgrounds, academic experience in the West, and active membership in the international knowledge system, the Chinese knowledge diaspora are a modern kind of cosmopolitan literati. They are aware of the impact of globalisation and contribute actively to higher education internationalisation in both Australia and China, have maintained their cultural identity and made good use of their Chinese educational background. Their international collaborations, however, are more likely to be with the scholars from Western countries due to some difficulties they have experienced in China and Australia, and to the current setup of the global knowledge system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the online DVD market in Australia, which has not been researched so far, and to examine whether the pricing patterns in this market exhibit any regularity consistent or inconsistent with research findings in other markets. Design/methodology/approach - A longitudinal data set of 27,030 price observations were collected weekly over one year. Various statistical tests - in particular, a least-squares dummy variable (LSDV) panel data model with serial correlation - were applied to the data. Findings - In general, the online branches of multi-channel retailers have higher average prices and standard deviations than pure internet retailers. Overall, market prices decrease over time significantly within the sample period - about 17.4 per cent decrease for all titles, however, with popular titles' prices decreasing faster than those of random titles. Furthermore, prices do not seem to converge between the two types of online retailers. For individual retailers, brand name effect seems to matter in the results, with a significant difference on prices. Research limitations/implications - This is an empirical study on a specific market. More data, testing and comparison are needed for any generalization of the findings whether they are consistent in the global sense. Practical implications - Online marketers of different types of retailers may need to reflect on their pricing policies whether their pricing strategies have any space for improvement on profitability. Originality/value - This study investigates the price movement of the Australian online DVD market using data collected over a one year time span. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electron spin resonance (ESR) thermochronometry can in principle be used for reconstructing thermal histories of the upper ~ 2 km of the Earth's crust. We have analysed the ESR ages of Al and Ti centres in quartz from Fergusons Hill-1 borehole in the Otway Basin, Australia, to assess their trap parameters under natural conditions. The apparent ESR ages of both centres decrease with increasing temperature (42.9–56.2 °C). A feasible sequential quadratic programming optimisation algorithm was applied to determine the optimal trap parameters based on the assumption of first order kinetics and thermally static condition. The estimated activation energy and frequency factor of the Al centre in quartz were 1.5 eV and 1.1 × 1011 s−1, respectively. This was in excellent agreement with a re-analysis of samples from the Eldzhurtinskiy granite, a highly dynamic geologic system, for which we obtained 1.5 eV and 1.0 × 1011 s−1. The trap parameters of the Ti centre could not be obtained from first order kinetics for the Fergusons Hill samples, but the samples from the Eldzhurtinskiy yielded 1.6 eV and 2.4 × 1011 s−1. Further studies on trap kinetics under better controlled laboratory conditions are required for ESR thermochronometry. • ESR ages of Al and Ti centres decrease with increasing depth (941–1693 m). • The trap parameters are estimated by first order kinetic model. • Trap parameters of Al centre are consistent between two sites with varied origin. • The closure temperature of ESR thermochronometry is investigated. • The limits of ESR thermochronometry are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Studies in the northern hemisphere suggest that the numbers of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) births vary depending on the season of the year. We wished to determine if a southern hemisphere study would show the same seasonal changes, and whether particular weather conditions were associated with the numbers of ALS births. Birth data from a case-control study of Australian residents were used to relate monthly birth rates of ALS to the seasons and weather conditions. The results were compared with previous studies in Japan, Sweden and Switzerland. Four hundred and ninety-one Australian sporadic ALS patients and 629 controls (partners, friends, and community volunteers) completed a self-reported questionnaire that included dates of birth. Australian ALS birth rates increased between late summer and early winter, and decreased between mid-winter and early summer. Similar patterns were seen in Japan and Sweden. Monthly average humidity correlated positively with the numbers of ALS births in Australia, Sweden, and Japan. In conclusion, seasonal differences in ALS birth rates in the southern hemisphere are similar to those in two out of three northern hemisphere countries. Early life factors related to weather conditions, such as increased humidity leading to more infectious diseases and allergens, need to be further investigated in ALS.