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Empowering women through employment: determinants and impacts
Get PDFThis thesis comprises three empirical papers examining the determinants and consequences of
women’s employment in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, with a specific
focus on Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Using large-scale nationally representative datasets and
robust econometric methods, the thesis explores how early childbirth, maternal employment,
and legal reforms shape women’s labour force participation, sectoral integration, and family
wellbeing outcomes.
The first paper investigates how the age at first birth influences women’s employment
outcomes in Egypt. Using data from the 2008 and 2014 Egypt Demographic and Health
Surveys (EDHS), the chapter employs Propensity Score Matching (PSM), logistic and
multinomial logit models, and a Two-Stage Residual Inclusion (2SRI) approach to address
endogeneity. Results indicate that early motherhood (before age 20) significantly reduces the
employment, particularly in wage jobs. Delaying childbirth increase employment, and higher
education levels moderate the negative effects of early childbirth, although the penalties persist
even among educated women.
The second paper examines the impact of maternal employment on child health in
Egypt, using pooled EDHS data from 2005, 2008, and 2014. Applying an instrumental variable
approach (2SLS), the chapter finds that maternal employment increases the likelihood of child
stunting by 12.6%. The effects are more pronounced among children under two and vary across
maternal occupations: employment in service jobs is associated with reduced stunting but
higher rates of wasting, while physically demanding jobs show no significant associations.
These findings highlight trade-offs between income and caregiving time, particularly during
early childhood.
The third paper evaluates the impact of Saudi Arabia’s 2019 legal reforms—removing
male guardianship restrictions, improving travel and work rights, and introducing anti-discrimination measures—on female labour force participation. Using Labour Force Survey
data from 2019 and 2022, the chapter applies a before-and-after framework and Propensity
Score Matching. The results show that women’s employment increased by 10.5% following
the reforms, with notable gains in male-dominated sectors such as construction and trade.
Although the reforms primarily targeted women, a small positive spillover effect is observed
on male employment. The findings are framed within feminist legal theory and human capital
theory, illustrating the interplay between legal reforms and labour market structures
The effect of cysteine on the resistance mechanisms including oxidative stress resistance, acid resistance and quorum sensing of Listeria monocytogenes
No full textListeria monocytogenes is a ubiquitous foodborne pathogen that can proliferate and survive
under stress conditions by adjusting various resistance mechanisms. Consumption of food
contaminated with this bacterium can cause listeriosis, which has symptoms ranging from mild
stomach issues to more severe conditions like blood infection, stillbirth and miscarriage. L.
monocytogenes requires specific nutrients such as carbon, sulphur, amino acids and nitrogen
sources for growth, proliferation and survival under stressful conditions. One of the essential
amino acids for L. monocytogenes is cysteine. L. monocytogenes can be found in various
cysteine-rich foods, including milk and dairy products, meat products, radishes and cabbage in
ready-to-eat salads. Several outbreaks of human listeriosis have been associated with some of
these foods, such as seafood, hot dogs, and soft cheeses.
A review has been conducted (Chapter 1) to investigate cysteine transporters and their roles in
the resistance mechanisms of various microorganisms, including L. monocytogenes. CtaP is
one of the cysteine transporters in L. monocytogenes and plays a role in growth, host cell
attachment and virulence. However, a recent study stated that CtaP does not play a role in
cysteine transport, but GSH (glutathione) in L. monocytogenes. A whole transcriptomic
analysis was conducted to assess gene expression changes related to ctaP and the effects of
exogenous cysteine, providing insight into its potential regulatory functions (Chapter 3).
Previous studies have shown that cysteine is necessary for the swarming motility of Salmonella
Typhimurium and Serratia marcescens. However, the role of cysteine in the motility behaviour
of L. monocytogenes remains poorly understood. Due to the known effects of ctaP on virulence
and host cell attachment, we also investigate the role of cysteine transporter ctaP and
extracellular cysteine on swimming, swarming and biofilm formation of L. monocytogenes
(Chapter 2). Transcriptomic data have shown that different concentrations of cysteine led to
varying transcription levels of flagella and chemotaxis genes.
Quorum sensing is one of the main pathways affected by the presence of exogenous cysteine
in the environment. Moreover, the GAD system, the most important acid resistance mechanism
in L. monocytogenes, has been associated with the QS pathway based on transcriptomic data.
c-di-AMP, a second messenger, plays a role in various stress responses by influencing the
expression of QS-related genes. Therefore, the role of c-di-AMP on the acid resistance (Chapter
4) and oxidative stress resistance (Chapter 5) of L. monocytogenes have been investigated by
using pdeA-lacking cells. As part of the ongoing research on oxidative stress and catalase
activity, the effects of environmental factors, such as the presence of acid and salt, have also
been examined (Chapter 6)
Horizontal gene transfer of molecular weapons can reshape bacterial competition
Get PDFBacteria commonly use molecular weaponry to kill or inhibit competitors. Genes encoding many weapons and their associated immunity mechanisms can be transmitted horizontally. These transfer events are striking because they appear to undermine bacterial weapons when given to competing strains. Here, we develop an ecological model of bacterial warfare to understand the impacts of horizontal gene transfer. Our model predicts that weapon gene transfer from an attacker to a target strain is possible, but will typically occur at a low rate such that transfer has a negligible impact on competition outcomes. We tested the model empirically using a transmissible plasmid encoding colicin E2, a potent antibacterial toxin produced by Escherichia coli. As predicted by the model, we find that toxin plasmid transfer is feasible during warfare, but the resulting transconjugants remain rare. However, exploring the model further reveals realistic conditions where transfer is predicted to have major impacts. Specifically, the model predicts that whenever competing strains have access to unique nutrients, transconjugants can proliferate and reach high abundances. In support of these predictions, short- and long-term experiments show that transconjugants can thrive when nutrient competition is relaxed. Our work shows how horizontal gene transfer can reshape bacterial warfare in a way that benefits a weapon gene and strains that receive it. Interestingly, we also find that there is little cost to a strain that transfers a weapon gene, which is expected to further enable the horizontal gene transfer of molecular weapons
Dyad arrangement affects perceived valence intensity
Get PDFThe perception of emotional expressions is affected by our knowledge and experience, and the context in which they are presented. Social interactions are a natural context in which expressions are viewed, yet we are only beginning to understand how they impact our perception. In three online studies, we investigated whether social interaction contexts impact on the perceived valence intensity of emotional whole-body stimuli. We manipulated whether the dyads were presented within a social interaction or not by changing their arrangement (face-to-face, and back-to-back, respectively). Emotionally expressive dyads were presented, where both individuals expressed the same basic emotion (happy-happy, angry-angry, or neutral-neutral), and we measured the perceived intensity of the interactants’ valence. In Experiment 1, participants (N = 68) perceived happy and angry bodies to be more intensely positive and negative, respectively, when presented face-to-face than back-to-back for an unlimited duration. In Experiment 2, we limited the presentation duration to 500ms, and found that participants (N = 65) perceived angry bodies as more intensely negative when presented face-to-face than back-to-back. In Experiment 3, we replaced one of the interactants with an arrow, and manipulated their arrangement. Participants (N = 64) rated the intensity of the bodies similarly irrespective of their arrangement with the arrows. Our findings show that interaction contexts influence the perception of interactants’ valence intensity, and the effects are not driven by attentional cueing. These results have implications for how interactions are perceived, which may inform how we respond when we encounter groups of people in everyday life
Towards thermal resilience: integrating human thermal adaptation, urban design, and decision-making strategies in social-ecological-technological systems
No full textThe compounding effects of climate change and urbanization cause Urban Heat
Island and more frequent heatwave events, bringing heat-related health risks to city
dwellers. Enhancing thermal resilience is crucial for improving the abilities of the
built environment and humans to mitigate and adapt to urban overheating and
requires integrative efforts in Social-Ecological-Technological Systems (SETS)
strategies. However, it is not clear how humans interact with the urban environment
to design thermally comfortable spaces, to what extent they can adapt to perceived
outdoor thermal comfort, and what effective strategies can be formulated. Therefore,
the overarching aim of this research is to investigate mechanisms and strategies for
enhancing thermal resilience of the built environments within SETS dimensions,
focusing on both human thermal adaptation and the role of urban design in
mitigating the adverse effects of extreme heat events. A mixed methods approach is
conducted for a better understanding of the complex essence of thermal resilience
in China and the UK contexts. Major contributions and key findings involve:
First, human-urban interaction and adaptation mechanisms for thermal resilience
are constructed. The processes contain three parts: human thermal adaptation to
comfort, design scenarios including Green Infrastructure (GI), urban canyons, and
building stock, as well as key driving forces from SETS.
Second, thermal resilience indicates that people living in a hot climate for a long
period can endure more heat in outdoor spaces during heatwaves. People actively
participate in various behavioural adaptation measures rather than passive
recipients of thermal environments. Protective measures against heatwaves also
need to be provided for pedestrians, including more shaded places with efficient
ventilation design for sheltering.
Third, the radiation impact of shading scenarios on outdoor thermal comfort was
thoroughly evaluated by simulations. GI and artificial shading through trees and
sun sails respectively can significantly lower mean radiant temperature. These
shading strategies suggest being integrated into urban design to mitigate heat stress
and support human adaptation.
Finally, thermal resilience can be understood as a technology-oriented concept and
its constituents contain mutual influences. Strategies for policy development and
planning as well as low-carbon building standards and codes are of priority. The
identified interventions and strategies can practically assist policymakers to
mitigate overheating risks and facilitate urban heat adaptation
Do chameleons lead better? A meta-analysis of the self-monitoring and leadership relationship
Get PDFThe relationship between self-monitoring and leadership has been debated. We attempt to resolve this debate through a meta-analysis (N = 9,029 across 55 samples). Since this is the first meta-analysis that focuses on this relationship, we were able to study both focal constructs at a granular level. As hypothesized, self-monitoring is positively associated with leadership emergence and leadership effectiveness. Whereas self-monitoring is positively related to managerial leadership, its relationship with transactional leadership is non-significant. Contrary to our prediction that self-monitoring is negatively related to authentic leadership and to transformational leadership, we found positive relationships. Importantly, the relationship between self-monitoring and leadership variables is typically non-significant when the latter is measured by subordinate ratings. This casts doubt on the general finding that self-monitoring is positively related to leadership. Also, the relationships significantly differ when self-monitoring was measured by different scales. Implications for theory and practice are discussed
Atypical vocal imitation of speech and song in autism spectrum disorder: evidence from Mandarin speakers
Get PDFVocal imitation in English-speaking autistic individuals has been shown to be atypical. Speaking a tone language such as Mandarin facilitates vocal imitation skills among non-autistic individuals, yet no studies have examined whether this effect holds for autistic individuals. To address this question, we compared vocal imitation of speech and song between 33 autistic Mandarin speakers and 30 age-matched non-autistic peers. Participants were recorded while imitating 40 speech and song stimuli with varying pitch and duration patterns. Acoustic analyses showed that autistic participants imitated relative pitch (but not absolute pitch) less accurately than non-autistic participants for speech, whereas for song the two groups performed comparably on both absolute and relative pitch matching. Regarding duration matching, autistic participants imitated relative duration (inter-onset interval between consecutive notes/syllables) less accurately than non-autistic individuals for both speech and song, while their lower performance on absolute duration matching of the notes/syllables was presented only in the song condition. These findings indicate that experience with tone languages does not mitigate the challenges autistic individuals face in imitating speech and song, highlighting the importance of considering the domains and features of investigation and individual differences in cognitive abilities and language backgrounds when examining imitation in autism
Embedding entrepreneurship and technology literacy in the student curriculum: a case study of a module for real estate students
Get PDFEnsuring a pedagogical emphasis on practical entrepreneurial experiences and technology literacy is essential across all educational stages. This paper presents a pioneering case study of curriculum innovation in higher education, specifically within real estate and planning programs. The 'Managing Change in the Real Estate Sector' module is examined as a transformative initiative that integrates entrepreneurship and technology literacy in a subject-specific curriculum. Leveraging experiential learning principles, the module design addresses industry demands and aligns with contemporary educational paradigms. The systemic impact of the module is explored at the student, curriculum, and wider university levels. The study reveals positive outcomes, marked by enhanced student satisfaction, skills development, and industry engagement. The impact extends beyond the classroom, influencing curriculum design and receiving commendation at both internal and external levels. The paper concludes by discussing the broader implications for higher education, emphasizing adaptability and innovation
Perceptual sensitivity to changes in interpersonal distance when observing social interactions: the effects of dyad arrangement and orientation
Get PDFIn recent years, there has been growing interest in how we perceive dyadic interactions between people. It has been proposed that pairs of individuals shown upright and face-to-face recruit a form of configural processing, similar to that engaged by upright faces. This processing is thought to aid the detection and interpretation of social interactions. Dyadic arrangements shown back-to-back or upside-down are not thought to engage configural dyad processing. One of the key advantages conveyed by configural face processing is greater sensitivity to the spatial relationships between facial features when faces are viewed upright, than when viewed upside-down. If upright dyads arranged face-to-face engage similar configural processing that is not engaged by non-facing or inverted dyads, participants should therefore exhibit disproportionate sensitivity to the spatial relations between the constituent actors under these conditions. In four well-powered experiments, we find no evidence for this prediction: participants exhibited similar levels of sensitivity to changes in interpersonal distance regardless of whether dyads were shown upright or inverted, face-to-face or back-to-back. In contrast, we observe clear evidence that upright presentation affords greater sensitivity to inter-feature spatial relationships (interocular distance) when viewing faces. These results suggest that any configural processing engaged by upright facing dyads likely differs qualitatively from that engaged by upright faces