The effect of melatonin, a hormone that triggers biological rhythms, was examined in relation to food intake and macronutrient selection. Wistar rats (n = 48) of both sexes were divided into 3 groups and offered a simultaneous choice of 2 diets: a carbohydrate-rich diet and a protein-rich diet, with a different type of carbohydrate and protein in each of the groups. Increased short- (4h post-injection) and long-term (12h post-injection) nocturnal total food intake was found following intraperitoneal administration of melatonin (10 000 and 15 000 pg/ml blood) at dark onset. Melatonin increased short-term carbohydrate-rich diet intake similarly across sensory contrasting diets (dextrin/cornstarch, cornstarch, and sucrose/cornstarch) and genders. However, melatonin caused an inconsistent increase in protein-rich diet intake across the various diets (casein, soy isolate, and egg protein) and genders. In conclusion, melatonin favors carbohydrate intake at the beginning of the activity period, and may act as a time indicator that provides a night signal.

Thesis (PhD) -- University of South Australia, 1999

Chinese migrants play a serious role in their destination countries, and through demand, support high values in destination property and financial markets. Therefore, Chinese investors’ investment motivations, preferences and behaviours have a significant impact on the New Zealand economy. The objectives of this research are: to investigate the preferences (what kind of investment assets they prefer) and the motivations (why they chose New Zealand as their investment destination) of Chinese migrant investors. The findings will be a useful element in explaining New Zealand’s economic development, and in making financial decisions. It also will be important for the development of New Zealand’s growing finance industry and equity market. The researcher collected data from 20 respondents who are Chinese migrant investors who have made New Zealand their home. The collected data examines investors’ preferences and motivations, such as what kind of investment assets they prefer and the motivations which drive them to invest in New Zealand or elsewhere. Using a grounded theory methodology, the researcher draws some findings from the data analysis. Furthermore, using a constant comparative method, the researcher develops some preferred choices which explain Chinese migrant investors’ investment preferences and motivations. The core findings (called phenomena or categories) of Chinese migrant investors’ preferences and motivations in this study are listed below:  Home-bias investment behaviour – that is mainly China and New Zealand  Following past performance / herding behaviour  Seeking speculative opportunities – high return, high risk  Over confidence  Taxation evasion  Financial privacy Considering these core categories, the researcher re-tested and re-analysed all interview data. Two refined themes are drawn: 1. Chinese investors don’t understand investment; they seek speculative investment opportunities exemplifying non-professional opportunistic behaviours. 2. Chinese investors don’t take New Zealand as their preferred investment destination until they arrive in New Zealand. Finally, the researcher reconsiders both themes and other inferences, to develop a theory from the ground – exaggerated Chinese financial investment experiences are relayed to other Chinese, and influence investment preferences and motivations.

Chinese migrants play a serious role in their destination countries, and through demand, support high values in destination property and financial markets. Therefore, Chinese investors’ investment motivations, preferences and behaviours have a significant impact on the New Zealand economy. The objectives of this research are: to investigate the preferences (what kind of investment assets they prefer) and the motivations (why they chose New Zealand as their investment destination) of Chinese migrant investors. The findings will be a useful element in explaining New Zealand’s economic development, and in making financial decisions. It also will be important for the development of New Zealand’s growing finance industry and equity market. The researcher collected data from 20 respondents who are Chinese migrant investors who have made New Zealand their home. The collected data examines investors’ preferences and motivations, such as what kind of investment assets they prefer and the motivations which drive them to invest in New Zealand or elsewhere. Using a grounded theory methodology, the researcher draws some findings from the data analysis. Furthermore, using a constant comparative method, the researcher develops some preferred choices which explain Chinese migrant investors’ investment preferences and motivations. The core findings (called phenomena or categories) of Chinese migrant investors’ preferences and motivations in this study are listed below:  Home-bias investment behaviour – that is mainly China and New Zealand  Following past performance / herding behaviour  Seeking speculative opportunities – high return, high risk  Over confidence  Taxation evasion  Financial privacy Considering these core categories, the researcher re-tested and re-analysed all interview data. Two refined themes are drawn: 1. Chinese investors don’t understand investment; they seek speculative investment opportunities exemplifying non-professional opportunistic behaviours. 2. Chinese investors don’t take New Zealand as their preferred investment destination until they arrive in New Zealand. Finally, the researcher reconsiders both themes and other inferences, to develop a theory from the ground – exaggerated Chinese financial investment experiences are relayed to other Chinese, and influence investment preferences and motivations.

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Missouri-Columbia, 2007. / The entire dissertation/thesis text is included in the research.pdf file; the official abstract appears in the short.pdf file (which also appears in the research.pdf); a non-technical general description, or public abstract, appears in the public.pdf file. Title from title screen of research.pdf file (viewed on March 24, 2009) Vita. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.Sc.(Consumer Science)) -- University of Pretoria, 2008. / Abstract in English. Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (M.B.A.) - Carleton University, 2002. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 169-176). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D. individual interdisciplinary)--Washington State University, May 2008. / Includes bibliographical references.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 1990. / Vita. Abstract. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 116-119). Also available via the Internet.

Thesis(M.S.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references (p.127-129).