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Publication EFFECTS OF HYBRID WORKING ON QUANTITY SURVEYORS IN SINGAPORE(2022) GUO YUNTING; THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT; JONATHAN LIAN KHIN MINGThe COVID-19 pandemic has led to major changes to the way employees in companies work. Hybrid Working (HW), being the new work normal, is transforming the original five day office work week to certain days of Work from Home (WFH). This study explores the effects of Hybrid Working on Quantity Surveyors (QS) in the context of Singapore as little research were conducted in this field. The objectives of the dissertation include 1) Find out whether QS age and gender affects their attitudes towards HW, 2) Investigate whether different genders and work environment, caregivers and non-caregivers affect QS productivity and conduciveness and 3) Document effects of HW on governmental and private agencies’ QS conduciveness and productivity. The non-probability snowball sampling was used for data collection. Microsoft Excel and JASP were tools utilised for frequency table and t-test analysis. The key findings entail, firstly, most QS surveyed preferred HW as it reaps the WFH benefits such as reduced transportation duration, reduced costs, and flexibility. Secondly, paramount challenges of HW include prolong work hours, socialising issues, communication as well as work environment issues. Statistically significant differences were obtained for perceived conduciveness and productivity in the following categories: Gender and/or Work Environment, Caregiver and/or Non-caregivers, Private and/or Public sector. The results provide deep insights on QS employees' attitudes and preferences towards HW. This is useful in transforming the QS sector, to better keep and attract talents within the industry.Publication INVESTIGATING THE ROLE OF INNATE LYMPHOID CELLS AND Tc17 IN HUMAN HEPATOCELLULAR CARCINOMA(2023-01-17) LEE YUN HUA; DEAN'S OFFICE (MEDICINE); Haiyan Liu; Suk Peng Chew; Herbert SchwarzPublication INTEGRATED FACILITIES MANAGEMENT PRACTICES LEADING TO COST EFFECTIVENESS IN FACILITY MANAGEMENT(2024) NUR ATIKAH UMAIRAH BINTE MD ROSLAN; THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT; TEO HO PINFacility Management (FM) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the efficient operation and maintenance of built environments, encompassing a wide range of functions aimed at supporting the core activities of organizations. In the context of Singapore's dynamic and rapidly evolving urban landscape, the effective management of facilities is imperative to meet the growing demands of various industries and sectors. One approach that has garnered increasing attention in recent years is Integrated Facility Management (IFM), which emphasizes the holistic and integrated management of multiple facility services to optimize performance and achieve cost savings. The integration of IFM practices has emerged as a strategic imperative for FM practitioners and organizations seeking to enhance operational efficiency, reduce costs, and improve service delivery. By consolidating various facility management functions under a unified framework, IFM aims to streamline operations, leverage synergies, and maximize the utilization of resources. However, while the potential benefits of IFM are widely recognized, there remains a need for empirical research to elucidate the extent to which IFM practices contribute to cost effectiveness within the Singaporean context. This dissertation seeks to address this gap in the literature by examining the relationship between IFM practices and cost effectiveness in FM operations in Singapore. Through a systematic analysis of IFM strategies and their impact on cost savings and operational efficiency, this study aims to provide valuable insights into the efficacy of IFM in driving cost effective facility management practices. By investigating the adoption and implementation of IFM practices across various industries and sectors, this research endeavors to identify best practices and key determinants of success in achieving cost effectiveness in FM.Publication VENTILATION RATE IN SINGAPORE’S MARKETS AND ITS IMPACT ON THE SPREAD OF RESPIRATORY DISEASES(2023) TAN MEI NA; THE BUILT ENVIRONMENT; CHEW LUP WAIAs Singapore has a tropical climate with relatively high temperatures and humidity throughout the year, the environment of the markets and hawker centres is ideal for the spread of respiratory diseases. In 2021, Singapore recorded high transmission of COVID-19 cases in its markets and hawker centres. This research aims to determine the relationship between the ventilation rate of the six markets and hawker centres in Singapore and the spread of respiratory diseases. This study uses observational skills and objective measurements to obtain data. The results are compared to a list of ventilation components discussed in the literature reviews to determine whether the ventilation performance of the individual market is up to standard. The results obtained from the observational research indicate that North Bridge Road Market & Food Centre is the only market that failed to meet expectations. On the other hand, the objective research indicates that the wind speeds measured in two of the COVID-19 clusters are relatively low. The p-value of 0.405, 0.317 and 0.396, for wind speed, temperature and relative humidity from the t-test suggests that the ventilation rate does not have an impact on the spread of respiratory diseases. This is supported by the chi-square test which shows that all the ventilation components have a p-value higher than 0.05. Therefore, both tests reached the same conclusion that the ventilation rates in Singapore’s markets do not have an impact on the spread of respiratory diseases.Publication INFLUENCER-GENERATED ORGANIC CONTENT AND FIRM STRATEGIES(2023-06-27) GAO SHIWEN; MARKETING; Wei Shi LimConsumers are now increasingly relying on social media to discover new products and acquire information about product fit. Influencer-generated organic product reviews, as an independent source of product information, play an increasingly important role in consumers’ purchase decisions. We develop a game-theoretic model to examine whether and how an influencer’s organic product review affects a firm’s advertising and pricing strategies, profit, and consumer surplus. We find that in the presence of consumer search, the influencer’s organic content interacts with the firm’s strategies, suggesting new ways for a firm to manage the influencer’s seemingly independent content. Our results also show that the two types of information (influencer’s organic review and firm-created ad) can be complements or substitutes when the firm targets experts only and the cost of review production is low. Our findings complement the existing research on influencers and offer managerial implications for marketers and policymakers.Publication COMBUSTION AND EMISSIONS FORMATION IN DIESEL ENGINE FUELED BY POLYOXYMETHYLENE DIMETHYL ETHER AND ITS BLENDS(2021-05-07) LIN QINJIE; MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; Yang WenmingThe use of alternative oxygenated fuels is imperative for reducing harmful emissions, especially soot particles. Amongst the various oxygenates, polyoxymethylene dimethyl ether, or PODEn, has the highest potential largely due to its high oxygen content and cetane number. A highly compact and reliable PODE3 mechanism consisting of 61 species and 190 reactions has been developed based on decoupling methodology. The major reaction pathway of the PODE3 sub-mechanism, consists of only 11 species and 17 reactions. Another PODE3 mechanism consisting of 120 species and 560 reactions has also been developed for soot prediction. Furthermore, an engine experiment has been conducted using realistic PODE3/diesel blends to ascertain the characteristics of PODE3 combustion in a practical setting. It has been found that PODE3 addition generally leads to decrements in soot and the usage of PODE3 has minimal impact on fuel economy due to the high density of PODE3.Publication STUDY OF NOVEL LOW DIMENSIONAL MATERIALS SYNTHESIZED THROUGH CHEMICAL VAPOR DEPOSITION(2021-01-26) YAN JIAXIN; MATERIALS SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING; Chua Hock Chuan, DanielNovel low dimensional materials have been studied, including synthesis study and application study. Chemical Vapor Deposition, a versatile methodology, has been employed as the main synthesis methodology. Specifically, three groups of materials are the subjects of this comprehensive study. They are: the group of MoS2/MoO2 nanoflowers and nanoflakes, the group of WOx nanowires/nanoneedles, and the group of CuS nanoflakes. MoS2 and MoO2 were tested for their catalytic ability for hydrogen evolution reaction. It was found that MoO2 samples displayed the overall strongest catalytic ability, followed by a hybrid structure and then by MoS2. For WOx nanostructures, they were tested for their heat reflecting property and field emission property. It was found that samples deposited with W17O47 nanoneedles can function as good thermal shielding material due their ability to absorb and reflect NIR wavelength while permitting passage of the visible spectrum. Additionally, due to the metallic nature of W17O47, they can also function as viable field emitters. Lastly, CuS nanoflakes were tested for their ability as dye degradation catalysts. The results reveal that the nanoflakes can effectively decompose methylene blue dye under UV light illumination, resulting in around 55% reduction in characteristic absorption after 2 hours.Publication ELECTROCHEMICAL DETECTION AND CATALYTIC OXIDATION OF AROMATIC POLLUTANTS IN WASTEWATER(2022-08-18) ZHANG YI; CHEMICAL & BIOMOLECULAR ENGINEERING; Kun-Lin YangPhenol and aniline are common aromatic pollutants in wastewaters. Herein, we developed a treatment strategy with H2O2 and iron-tetraamidomacrocyclic ligand (Fe-TAML) catalyst, based on oligomerization of phenol or aniline into oligomers. Through coagulation, oligomers aggregate and form insoluble particles, allowing us to remove not only the pollutant but also total organic carbon (TOC) and total nitrogen (TN). For 1000 ppm of aniline, only 2 ppm Fe-TAML and 800 ppm H2O2 are needed to reduce aniline below 27 ppm. To complement the treatment strategy, we also developed electrochemical sensors based on square wave voltammetry and amperometry for phenol and aniline detection in real time. Such information is important for process optimization and minimization of chemical usage. With a pre-concentration step with an 0.8-V applied voltage on a graphite electrode, 0.1 ppb of phenol and aniline can be detected. The strategy with minimal chemical usage is potentially useful for industrial wastewater treatment.Publication INVESTIGATING THE EFFECTS AND MECHANISMS OF A BRIEF LOVING KINDNESS MEDITATION SESSION ON PROSOCIAL INTENTIONS(2022-04-06) GOH QI RONG; PSYCHOLOGY; TONG MUN WAI EDDIE; LOHSNAH JEEVANADAMAlthough in recent years, research on Lovingkindness Meditation has looked into its interpersonal prosocial effects, empirical studies are lacking and the mediators of this process are not well understood. Although Lovingkindness Meditation is made up of two components: directing lovingkindness to oneself and to others, their differential prosocial effects are also not clear. The current study hypothesizes that affective and cognitive empathy are mediators between a brief Lovingkindness Meditation and prosocial intentions and a Lovingkindness Meditation with both components of lovingkindness will confer additional benefits than a Lovingkindness Meditation with only one component. The results suggests that the prosocial effects of Lovingkindness Meditation is mediated by affective empathy and only for a Lovingkindness Meditation that directs lovingkindness to oneself. Additionally, a Lovingkindness Meditation that directed lovingkindness to both oneself and others conferred lesser prosocial benefits than a Lovingkindness Meditation that directed lovingkindness to oneself only. Future studies should work towards understanding why a Lovingkindness Meditation that directs lovingkindness to others seemingly reduces prosocial intentions and why cognitive empathy is not a mediator in the relationship between a brief LovingKindness Meditation and prosocial intentions.Publication "YOU'RE RELATED!": PHILIPPINE POLITICAL DYNASTIES ON WOMEN'S REPRESENTATION(2020-04-10) YEO TZE HUI MARVIN; POLITICAL SCIENCE; JAMIE DAVIDSONAccording to the annual Global Gender Gap Report for the past several years, the Philippines was ranked highly for its progress on narrowing in the gender gap. Politically, women seem to be better represented, at least numerically, as compared to other democracies. The republic has had two female presidents and a record-breaking number of women lawmakers and judges since the end of the Marcos authoritarian regime. For a country plagued with violent crimes and widening socioeconomic inequality, the Philippines has outdone expectations for its progress on women’s causes. However, an overwhelming majority of women politicians are part of an elite-based entity, known as political dynasties. Political dynasties have been a hallmark of Filipino politics and seem to have substantially contributed to women’s representation. This paper will illuminate the effects of political dynasties on women’s representation and how it has guided, or coerced, women’s policy priorities and agendas. By drawing from empirical case studies from dynastic and non-dynastic women, I find that women from political families are less inclined to advocate for women’s causes. This paper will argue that political dynasties are not worth the cost despite contributing to the number of women in politics. Instead, dynastic women have undermined the quality of governance and are mostly indifferent to work on behalf of other women, just like their male relatives.