Possible influence of Gondwanan glaciation on low-latitude carbonate sedimentation and trans-equatorial faunal migration: the lower Permian of South China

Peculiar Early Permian palaeontological and sedimentological features are reviewed from South China, including characteristic Early Permian cold-water Gondwanan brachiopod taxa and faunas from Sichuan and Guizhou provinces, widespread rosettes and irregular aggregates of calcite prisms ('Chrysanthemum Stones') within the Qixia limestones, and lack of significant Early Permian reef buildups. The occurrences of these features are at odds with the currently widely held view that South China was located in a palaeotropical, warm-water setting throughout the Permian and hence harboured a highly diverse shallow marine biota. In this paper, I propose a working hypothesis, suggesting that influence of at least cool water masses may have intermittently occurred in South China during the Early Permian, which facilitated the formation of the cool water-influenced palaeontological and sedimentological features and promoted the interchanges of cool to cold water marine faunas between the Gondwanan and Boreal Realms. These cool water masses may have been transported to low-latitude regions as deep currents from northern and eastern shelves of Gondwanaland and upwelled along the western coast of South China as well as within the relatively deep-water basins of central South China. Prevalence of these meridional, north-directed deep cold water currents during the Early Permian may have been related to the glaciation event of Gondwanaland. An alternative and/or additional source of cooling may have also originated from strong easterly palaeoequatorial boundary currents operating within the Palaeotethys at times during the Early Permian, inducing and/or enhancing upwelling of cool to cold water masses in the eastern Palaeotethys. This latter scenario is analogous to the occasional 'La Nina' effect (opposite to the 'El Nino' effect) at the equatorial belt of the modern Pacific Ocean.

Cultural issues in online learning - is blended learning a possible solution?

The emergence of cross-cultural classrooms has been steadily increasing in Australian tertiary institutions, due to the growing population of international students enrolling to complete their degrees. This increase in international students has signified a change in the student demographics, thus recognizing the differences in students’ learning styles, and indicating that a more flexible approach is needed for learner content delivery. Research has suggested that students from different cultures have varying compatibility with different learning environments. With tertiary institutions now expanding towards the online forum for delivery of units, these compatibilities of students are even more evident. Hence, in order to ensure that all students are able to participate in this domain, preparations are needed to accommodate all cultural types. Therefore with the emphasis on creating flexible learning environments for all students the blended learning approach has been suggested as a solution.

An exploration of massively multiplayer online role playing games : their application to public relations education and possible future public relations practice

Social communication technologies present exciting and challenging opportunities for public relations professionals. Although not new the latest online attraction grabbing the attention of educators and companies around the globe are the virtual worlds known as Massively-Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Games (MMORPGs). This paper will examine MMORPGs - in particular Second Life - and consider their potential as an educational medium and relevance to the practice of public relations. The paper argues that MMORPGs slwuld be taken seriously by educators and public relations professionals alike and not simply be treated as online entertainment.

Anticipating the uptake and possible implication of digital imaging within the construction industry

Photography within the construction industry is merging into a new form of image capture and output that is a mix of conventional photography and digital imagery. As this transition takes place it is anticipated that the credibility of the image may also change within in the communication chain that links the various disciplines within the building industry. The following paper presents the development and results of a pilot survey of building professionals, which addresses the quality, content and authenticity of both conventional photography and digitally produced images used within the construction industry.

Integrated governance: a possible solution for a sustainable private sector led development in Bangladesh?

In the quest for 'good governance', the developing countries have embarked on ambitious NPM style market-oriented reform policies mainly advocated by international development agencies (IDA) over the last two decades. Bangladesh has been pursuing decades of market-oriented reforms advocated by IDAs with the prime objectives of achieving an efficient, cost effective service delivery through increased involvement of the private sector. The shift towards marketisation has led to a complex, horizontal and networked structure of partnerships between state and non state actors. The private sector and NOOs are now delivering goods and services which were once the exclusive domain of the state. These changes have however, not been associated with changes in institutional arrangements, safeguards and regulation required to support the private sector led development, which is not sustained independently of the context in which it operates. Using the agriculture input sector as an exemplar, this paper explores the constraints of sustainable private sector led development. The paper argues that the main impediment to private sector led development in this sector centre on lack of good governance. In addition, lack of an integrated market structure, market information, capacity and awareness building are other factors that are inhibiting the private sector led development. We argue that a functional governance model is required in Bangladesh that engages the state, civil society and the private sector to work effectively in a participatory approach to deal with the constraints of private sector led development and for improving good governance.

E-government: a possible solution to the problems of the agricultural input market in Bangladesh?

Although e-government offers unique opportunities for streamlining good governance, there remains considerable skepticism about its applicability in developing countries due to their lack of required level of infrastructural, technological, legal and human development. This paper argues that developing countries can introduce e-government practices by re-engineering their existing infrastructure rather than waiting for massive investments and perfect technological advancements. Using Bangladesh- a developing country- as an exemplar, this paper assesses the applicability and prospects of e-government practices in dealing with the problems in the agricultural input sector which is predominantly associated with poor, marginalised and semi-illiterate farmers. The utilization of the Bangladesh case study has important implications for examining and highlighting the probable introduction of e-government practices in developing countries.

A possible journey to an Australian knowledge management framework

World wide there is a transition towards knowledge-based economies In order to foster them, many economies have built frameworks in conjunction with world forums that promote international cooperation. Our research focuses on Australia, an economy that has been named by the OECD as knowledge-based. Specifically, the paper appraises the transition towards knowledge economies in general. We then examine the Australian context through the implemented eEurope framework with the intent of providing suggestions to Australia in its transition towards building its knowledge management
framework.