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Stereotyping at the multicultural workplace. The case of Jewish, Chinese, and American immigrant in multicultural workplaces in Singapore and Malaysia
No full textAntisemitism, the stereotype or prejudice against the Jewish community, has gained significant global attention, particularly in the aftermath of the Israel-Hamas conflict, also known as the Gaza War. According to the Anti-Defamation League, there has been a reported increase of over 300% in antisemitic incidents since the war, primarily in the United States and European countries. Concurrently, discussions around the opposite phenomenon, philosemitism, have also seen a notable rise.
This dissertation explores the impact of stereotyping in multicultural workplaces, with a focus on Singapore and Malaysia, two nations recognized for their rich cultural diversity and global workforce integration. By analysing stereotypes associated with Jewish, alongside with Chinese and American immigrants, the study investigates the coexistence of positive (philosemitic) and negative (antisemitic) stereotypes and their influence on managerial decision-making processes. Through a survey-based quantitative research methodology, data was collected from working adults in both countries to assess perceptions of immigrant employees under varied workplace scenarios, including positive contributions and professional mistakes. The findings highlight significant variations in how stereotypes—both positive and negative—shape workplace experiences, particularly in aspects such as recognition, punishment, and career progression.
The research reveals that stereotypes play a dual role: while positive stereotypes, such as perceptions of financial acumen or socioeconomic status, may lead to elevated expectations, they can also result in unrealistic pressures and role pigeonholing. Negative stereotypes, on the other hand, perpetuate biases that hinder inclusion and equality, impacting managerial decisions related to hiring, promotions, and disciplinary actions. The study further identifies that the geopolitical context, cultural nuances, and historical associations of ethnic groups contribute to the persistence of these stereotypes in professional environments.
A comparative analysis of Singapore and Malaysia demonstrates how their differing socio-political frameworks—Singapore’s meritocracy and Malaysia’s affirmative action policies—affect the prevalence and impact of stereotypes. While Singapore’s diverse yet hierarchical workplace minimizes overt discrimination, biases remain evident in subtler forms, such as philosemitism, "Chinese privilege" and the preferential treatment of Western expatriates. Conversely, Malaysia’s ethnic-based policies may create additional layers of complexity in addressing workplace stereotyping, particularly concerning non-Malay employees.
The findings reveal nuanced biases shaped by cultural and geopolitical contexts, offering critical insights for fostering inclusive practices in globalized work environments. This study contributes to the literature on workplace diversity by addressing gaps related to immigrant and ethnic stereotypes, proposing strategies to mitigate biases and enhance equity in professional settings
Mid-infrared chalcogenide glass fibre lasers for operation beyond 4 μm wavelength
No full textThe 3–50 μm Mid-infrared (MIR) wavelengths have vast potential across many applications, including healthcare, environmental monitoring, industrial process control and security systems, due to their overlap with the “fingerprint region” of molecular absorption. However, fibre-based light sources in the MIR range are currently limited, particularly beyond 4 μm. Chalcogenide glass optical fibres are promising candidates for enabling lasing in the beyond 4 μm, thanks to their broad MIR transmission window and capacity for rare earth dopant solubility. This project focuses on the development of fibre lasers beyond 4 μm, using Ce3+ doped step-index chalcogenide glass fibre. The MIR Photonics Group at the University of Nottingham reported the first fibre laser operating beyond 4 μm in 2021 but the power output was not measured and also there were difficulties in repeating the result with many fibre samples indicating an issue with fibre geometry or quality.
An initial focus of this thesis was on identifying four key types of defects observed in chalcogenide glass fibres, produced both prior to and during this study. These defects – cladding defects, hole defects at the core/cladding interface, scale-like defects on the fibre outer surface, and particle formations on cleaved chalcogenide fibre end-faces – were believed to have negative impacts on the key properties of chalcogenide fibres i.e. optical loss, mechanical strength, laser damage threshold. Among these defects, the hole defects at the core/cladding interface were considered the most concerning due to their proximity to the fibre’s core which is the most critical portion of the fibre.
To produce hole-defect-free Ce3+ doped step-index chalcogenide glass fibres, a new fibre fabrication process, termed the co-extruded-rod-in-tube method by the author in this project was developed. This technique introduced an additional inner-cladding layer in the traditional core-cladding structure; this inner-cladding layer was co-extruded with the core material to form a first core-cladding structure which was then inserted in the outer-cladding tube to be drawn to fibre. Scanning electron microscopy analysis of the cleaved fibre samples made using the co-extruded-rod-in-tube confirmed the successful elimination of hole defects at the core/inner-cladding interface.
Lasing was achieved at ∼4.65 μm, pumped by a 4.15 μm quantum cascade laser. The newly fabricated Ce3+ doped step-index chalcogenide fibre produced a maximum output power of ∼7.2 ± 0.1 mW, with a slope efficiency of 2.7 ± 0.1% and a threshold of ∼49.8 ± 0.5 mW. These results represent a significant step towards the realisation of efficient fibre-based MIR laser sources beyond the 4 μm wavelength.
This project has made substantial progress in the understanding and management of defects in chalcogenide fibres, bringing the goal of developing highly efficient MIR fibre lasers closer to fruition
Design and Validation of CMOS Atom Chips for Electronics and Sensor Integration in Cold Atom Devices
Get PDFCold atoms have proven to be a promising medium for numerous sensing and timing applications. Atomic clocks have provided the definition of the second since the 1960s and are essential for navigation and telecommunications. Increasingly precise clocks are capable of measuring small changes in the gravitational potential, which can be used to detect seismic activity, and atomic clock networks have been suggested for detecting dark matter. Cold atom-based gyroscopes have already demonstrated stability comparable to light-based gyroscopes, with the potential to exceed them.
For all of these applications, a compact and mobile system is required. Atom chips use microfabricated wires to produce magnetic traps that can confine atoms close to the surface of the chip using modest current. We hope to combine the mature fields of semiconductor fabrication with atom chips to produce chip-scale cold atom systems with electronics, trapping structures, antennas, sensors, and optics all integrated into a substrate. Our current work focuses on the integration of sensors and electronics through the production of CMOS-based atom chips.
The first CMOS atom chip was designed at the University of Applied Sciences of Wiener Neustadt (FHWN) and features a Z-wire with an adjustable geometry and photodiodes. Part of this thesis described the design and progress in implementing an experimental system built to measure the performance of this first chip. Rb atoms are accumulated and cooled in a magneto-optical trap, then sub-Doppler cooled to 70µK and loaded into an Ioffe trap located below the CMOS chip, generated by a copper Z-wire.
In parallel to the construction of this experimental system, further iterations of CMOS atom chips are being developed. Described in this thesis is the design of the second generation chip, referred to as chip1. This chip is designed to perform an atom chip Mach-Zehnder interferometric scheme using spatial modes, but with sensors and electronics integrated onto the chip. In addition to the modifiable Z-wire, this chip features avalanche photodiodes and single-photon avalanche photodiodes designed to detect very low light intensities, Hall sensors for magnetic field measurement, a direct-digital synthesiser for generating RF fields, and a serial interface for communication with the chip
Exploiting Multicomponent Polymerisations for Non-Viral Gene Delivery
No full textRNA is a powerful therapeutic technology, with the potential to treat many conventionally “undruggable” diseases, however, RNA needs a vector to enter cells. Cationic polymers offer one effective vector technology, which could provide a scalable and highly adaptable platform for RNA delivery. However, polymeric vectors are yet to make it to the clinic and lipid nanoparticles are currently the most commonly used vector in clinical settings. The development of novel families of highly functionalised polycations could provide a new range of vectors that efficiently deliver RNA without the immunogenicity of lipid nanoparticles and target a wider range of tissue types.
Multicomponent reactions (MCRs) provide a means to efficiently synthesise highly functionalised molecules by combining multiple functional groups in just one step. This work used two MCRs, the Passerini 3-component reaction (P3CR) and the Ugi 4-component reaction (U4CR), for the synthesis of novel polycationic biomaterials for RNA delivery. The flexibility of these reactions, and the inherent biodegradability of the products offers much potential for the development of complex products with good cytocompatibility.
In Chapter 2, a family of novel polycations were synthesised directly from the P3CR, which was used to combine bifunctional monomers via a step growth polymerisation method. A small polymer library was developed and further broadened by the use of click-reactions for polymer post-functionalisation. Following investigations in 2D cell culture the polymers were found to be non-cytotoxic, although they did not efficiently deliver RNA to cells. However, they did display an unusual, intrinsic luminescent behaviour on incubation with cells.
Work in Chapter 3 instead utilised the P3CR as a post-functionalisation technique for end-capping of poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs). PBAEs are a widely studied polymeric vector, with good cytocompatibility and transfection efficiency, the end-caps of various PBAEs have been found to have a significant impact on their properties and transfection capability. By employing the P3CR as an end-capping procedure it was possible to synthesise a family of novel polymers by incorporating different aldehyde and isocyanide components into the end groups of an acid terminated PBAE. The materials were then tested for RNA delivery and cytocompatibility with model RNAs across different cell lines. Many of the polymers were found to outperform the amine terminated PBAE control, without increasing cytotoxicity. Under certain conditions, transfection efficiency for select polymers was even found to match or exceed that of Lipofectamine, a commercial transfection agent.
Finally, in Chapter 4, a range of the same diacid monomers developed in Chapter 2 were also applied to the U4CR, which was also used as a direct step growth polymerisation technique, in this instance by combining the diacids with diamines alongside aldehydes and isocyanides. Again, a small polymer library was synthesised by this technique and screened for transfection efficiency with mRNA. Whilst many of the polymers showed little to no transfection capability, several of the polymers delivered significant amounts of RNA. However, those polymers that induced the greatest protein expression were also found to be cytotoxic. Different formulations and RNA doses were trialled to mitigate this, but no conditions were found that reduced toxicity without also reducing transfection efficiency.
Overall, this work amounts to the development of entirely new polymer families synthesised from direct multicomponent polymerisations: the first polycations synthesised by Passerini 3-component polymerisation; and the first Ugi 4-component reaction derived polymers used for RNA delivery. In addition, this work also reports, the first recorded use of the P3CR for modification of PBAEs, which was found to enhance their capacity for RNA delivery. These materials provide a foundation for future research and demonstrate that these isocyanide-based MCRs provide flexible and efficient synthetic tools for future polymer synthesis
Detecting Dark Domain Walls in a Topologically-Tailored Vacuum Chamber
Get PDFWe propose a laboratory experiment to detect the fifth force mediated by a new light scalar field. The symmetron is a light scalar field which couples quadratically to matter, with a symmetry-breaking potential that takes the form of a symmetric double well. As the characteristic phase transition of the symmetron field occurs, topological defects or ‘domain walls’ can form. It is hoped that by designing and manufacturing a topologically tailored vacuum chamber, we can ensure that these domain walls are long-lived by pinning them to the interior of the chamber. A good vacuum will result in a very low density environment in which the symmetron can couple to matter with gravitational strength, or more strongly, and the effects of the scalar field on a matter particle are potentially observable via a particle experiment involving ultracold atoms. As a cloud of cold atoms approaches the domain wall, it will experience the fifth force mediated by the scalar field and can be deflected or reflected off the domain wall. We also consider the effects of domain walls on light that passes through them. The deflection or reflection of matter due to the presence of a domain wall is a signature of the fifth force and could constrain some previously unconstrained parts of the dark sector
Integrating stability and flexibility in complex socio-technical systems: the case of the GB rail system
Get PDFConventional approaches to operational safety management rely on centralised hierarchical control structures, emphasising strict adherence to standards to minimise risks and uncertainty. This method aims to maintain stability and reduce variability in processes and behaviours, creating a predictable operational environment. This centralised control approach is dominant in modern complex sociotechnical systems in which safety is critical. Researchers have challenged this approach, arguing that the complexity and uncertainty in modern systems render preestablished, standardised control measures insufficient. They advocate for developing adaptive systems capable of navigating complexity and uncertainty, arguing that flexibility to handle contingencies in context by local actors is crucial.
These two approaches represent contrasting paradigms in operational safety management: one emphasising stability and central control, and the other prioritising flexibility and decentralised, local control. The challenge is to reconcile these contrasting approaches and find effective ways to integrate them.
The Great British (GB) railway system offers a unique opportunity to explore this contradiction and a clear example of the importance of such integration. Rail is a complex sociotechnical system where operational safety is managed through a centralised control approach. With recent and upcoming sector reforms, budget cuts, and post-pandemic changes in service demands, the GB rail industry is facing unprecedented uncertainty and pressures, necessitating increased efficiency and flexibility. Thus, it is essential to explore ways to integrate the existing safety management approach with alternative methods directed to increase flexibility and adaptation.
Overall, this doctoral research investigates that integration. The aim is to explore ways to increase flexibility in work processes and behaviours without compromising the system’s stability and safety. To do so, stability and flexibility are used as key concepts. The research adopts a dualist stance, investigating these concepts as separate yet not necessarily antithetical.
A variety of qualitative methods were employed in this research, resulting in four studies. Study 1 (Chapter 5) uses document analysis and interview data to explore how standards provide users with the flexibility needed to adapt to specific contextual circumstances. Study 2 (Chapter 6) uses interview data and document analysis to describe the railway standards development process, demonstrating how central control and operational realities are bridged through collaborative rulemaking.
Study 3 (Chapter 7) explores issues around stability and flexibility in railway operations management by interviewing individuals involved in rulemaking. The study draws conclusions regarding the risks, barriers, and preconditions of flexibility, highlighting important functions of centralisation. It also describes how the system faced and dealt with demands for high stability and high flexibility during the COVID-19 pandemic. Chapter 8 (Study 4) presents a case study conducted in a Rail Operating Centre. Using observations, interviews, and documents as data sources, the study examines the activities of rail infrastructure incident controllers, describing sources of stability and flexibility in real-life practice.
Overall, the main findings relate to:
• The system is performance-focused; safety is a quality and a precondition for performance.
• The risks associated with flexibility and the importance of maintaining a holistic view of the system, the risks and the operation. Mechanisms to bridge centralisation and decentralisation are described.
• The greatest barriers to increasing flexibility – and thus integrating both approaches – are social. The findings highlight the importance of interprofessional understanding and managing social processes to increase flexibility safely and efficiently.
• While the research describes stability and flexibility-enhancing mechanisms, understanding the degree of stability and flexibility needed is crucial. A framework to consider the mechanisms available in relation to differing operational needs is proposed (Chapter 9)
These findings have implications for both theory and practice, and the thesis concludes by reflecting on its contributions. The research provides insights useful for those involved in the safe and efficient management of rail operations. It also highlights issues that seem obvious to industry professionals but are often overlooked by researchers, provides empirical evidence to support safety research and theory, and offers a foundation for future investigations
Integrating the use of endophyte-infected grasses (Barrier Festulolium) as a biological control method to combat aphids (Myzus persicae) and virus yellows in sugar beet
Get PDFMore than half of the UK sugar demand and 25% of the European sugar demand is met by indigenously grown sugar beet, making it one of the most economically important crops. The biggest threat to the sugar beet industry is virus yellows (VY) transmitted by peach potato aphids (Myzus persicae). The VY complex that consists of three different viruses, can cause yield losses ranging from 10 – 70% depending on the specificity and severity of the infection. Historically, neonicotinoids were used to control these viral vectors, however recent bans on these systemic pesticides owing to the harm they cause to beneficials has created a vacuum with no alternative available to combat the aphids and VY diseases (Francis et al., 2022). Thus, biological alternatives like endophyte-infected-infected grasses can play an important role in helping control pests and diseases. Barrier Festulolium is one such endophytic grass species developed by New Zealand based CropMark SeedsTM. Barrier associates with the symbiotic fungal species Epichloë uncinata. This fungus lives within the grass tissues and when under stress it releases lolines, a class of alkaloid based volatile compounds, that in turn has been proven to keep pests away in grassland systems. This project aimed to try and integrate these grasses into sugar beet cultivation in the UK with the hypothesis being that if the sugar beet can take up some of these lolines secreted by the grass, it may help confer deterrence to aphids, potentially reducing virus incidence. As part of the investigation, Barrier Festulolium as a seed meal at four different doses (25%, 50%, 100% and 200%) was trialled in a controlled environment along with a field trial looking three different seed rates of the grass (10, 20, 30 kg/ha and control) and four different cultivation strategies (strip treated, shallow till, deep till and glyphosate) in each of the seed rates. The controlled environment results showed that the seed meal applications did not prevent VY infection, but induced beneficial responses in crop, helping keep the beet canopies greener for longer. Additionally, they also had a biostimulant effect on the sugar beet with increases in canopy and root biomass in the higher doses. The results from the field trial showed similar results – while the endophytic grass did not prevent aphids and virus yellow infections, it did seem to affect disease as there were more individual plants with yellowed canopies rather than large patches. There were also significant differences in leaf chlorophyll content at higher grass seed rates, with the glyphosate and strip treated plots showing the greenest canopies. However, the shallow till treatments at 20 and 30 kg/ha proved detrimental to sugar beet, with lowest plant establishment, more stressed canopies with higher temperatures and lowest leaf chlorophyll, proving how crucial it is to ensure that the grass is destroyed at the right time to ensure minimal competition or phytotoxic effects on the beet. Overall, while the endophytic grass doesn’t prevent aphids/virus from affecting the beet, they are still a worthy biological alternative, as the beet show healthier canopies for longer and increased biomass accumulations, potentially translating to higher yields
Polyurethane degrading enzymes: Structural analysis and development.
No full textPlastics are a group of materials that, due to their highly desirable properties and low production costs, have become ubiquitous in daily lives across the globe. The term ‘Plastic’ is typically used to describe fully synthetic polymers derived largely from petrochemical monomers. Plastics tend to be extremely resistant to environmental and bacterial degradation, this is a very desirable material characteristic, but has led to their accumulation in the environment, where their longevity now poses a rapidly growing problem. Polyurethanes are just one type of these plastics that are contributing toward this growing plastic waste problem. Up to 6% of all plastic production is polyurethanes and current recycling methods for these materials are limited, meaning much of this material ends its life in landfill. The growing plastic waste problem has led to many developments in plastic waste management in recent years, one of which is a biological solution utilising enzymatic degradation. This novel solution aims to break down plastic waste into its constituent chemical monomers using enzymes. So far, much of the research and development has focused on enzymes capable of degrading poly(ethylene) terephthalate, however this study looks to shift this attention towards a polyurethane degrading enzyme and producing a viable recycling method. In this study, the in silico structural analysis of an insufficiently investigated polyurethane degrading enzyme elucidated a novel binding region. These insights were used to inform the rational design and development of a novel polyurethane degrading enzyme from a well characterised esterase with no previous plastic degrading capabilities. The resultant novel enzyme, EST2_Eng, was shown to degrade a commercially relevant polyurethane substrate at a similar level to current enzymes, with a mass loss of 0.7% in solid cubes and 4.5% mass loss in pretreated cubes. This was achieved at comparatively lower temperatures of 30°C. This not only shows that this binding region can confer polyurethane activity to other enzymes but also that it may provide a new route to a viable recycling process with lower energy requirements
From consumer collectives to brand organisations: an online ethnographic study of the formation of human brand organisations in China
Get PDFThis thesis investigates the formation of human brand organisations within the Chinese context, using Chinese celebrity fans collectives as a starting point and representative examples. Specifically, the research focus on How do Chinese celebrity fans, as consumers of human brands, form their own entities online, and what characteristics do such consumer collectives exhibit? An 18-month online ethnographic study, grounded in symbolic interactionism and grounded theory, addresses key gaps in existing brand community research, including the limited focus on human brands, the unclear distinction between consumer-initiated and company-sponsored communities, and the lack of attention to the early stages of brand community formation.
The study introduces the concept of "fan organisations", defined as more disciplined and structured groups formed by fans with clear organisational strategies and task allocations, distinguishing them from traditional fan communities. In contrast to the typical brand communities initiated by companies and characterised by consumer behaviour, fan organisations are initiated by consumers themselves and engage in collective work to increase the value of celebrities as human brands. This leads to the development of the broader concept of 'brand organisations', characterised by five key dimensions: productivity, independence, hierarchy, consistency and adaptability. Taken together, a brand organisation is defined as "a form of human association independently and spontaneously established and operated by brand consumers that maintains consistent brand production through a clear internal hierarchy." These features distinguish brand organisations from traditional brand communities and provide a deeper understanding of how such entities are formed and structured in the Chinese context.
Finally, the research explains how brand organisations are formed by identifying three key constructs – production-oriented consumers, language-centred rituals and brand content - that collectively form the brand organisation. These findings offer significant theoretical contributions, redefining the nature of fan and brand organisations in the contemporary Chinese context and addressing identified gaps in brand community research
The Christian faith of Charles Dickens: virtue over doctrine
Get PDFThis thesis explores the religious worldview of Charles Dickens. It is intended as a contribution to the debate around whether Dickens had a truly Christian faith, or alternatively a confused mixture of beliefs, or even no faith at all. The thesis argues that Dickens had a distinctively Christian faith that stressed faith in action and displaying virtues within a Christian framework, rather than focusing on determining correct theology and doctrine. Dickens’ reactions to both Evangelicalism and Catholicism are explored to determine the nature of his objections to both and what these objections reveal about Dickens’ own beliefs. It is argued that Dickens’ criticisms of both faith traditions reveal his concern that Christianity should primarily consist in actively following the example of Jesus by displaying care for others in a spirit of Christian charity, goodness, and compassion. Dickens’ attitudes towards women, death, and the afterlife are also explored, and the thesis reveals that Dickens’ religious interests went beyond the purely social concern for which he is known. The thesis makes another contribution by breaking with previous research and emphasising Dickens’ magazine work and personal correspondence. These elements of Dickens’ writing and editing are generally considered secondary to his novels and frequently overlooked. However, this research shows that Dickens’ magazines and letters are rich sources of information that provide a more holistic view of Dickens’ religious views, since he more often directly addresses religious matters within them than he does in his novels. It is hoped that this thesis will show the importance of looking beyond just the published novels of Dickens, or indeed other authors, and encourage further studies that use other sources
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