• Journal of Information Science Theory and Practice
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.17-28
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• 2019

Dengue infection is becoming a serious global health threat. Public awareness is a pre-requisite for the successful implementation of dengue prevention programs. The main purpose of this study was to investigate dengue-related information needs and seeking behavior of the general public in Singapore. Some areas covered by this study were: importance of dengue-related information needs, preferred channels for seeking information, and respondents' perceptions of using dengue-related information. A questionnaire was used for data collection and 152 individuals participated in this study. Data analysis showed that the most sought after information concerned: dengue-related medicines, primary symptoms of dengue infection, and different possible treatments. The popular channels for seeking information were: websites of hospitals and other health agencies, the social media, television, and newspapers. Medical staff, such as doctors and nurses, were trusted for providing accurate information. Although credibility of social media was considered low, respondents were using it due to its easy accessibility. The findings of this study will be useful to government health departments in Singapore as well as in other countries suffering from dengue, hospitals, and public welfare agencies involved in public health awareness campaigns.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.277-281
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• 2019

Recto-vaginal fistulas are difficult to treat due to their high recurrence rate. Currently, no single surgical intervention is universally regarded as the best treatment option for recto-vaginal fistulas. We present a case of recurrent recto-vaginal fistula surgically treated with a gracilis pull-through flap. The surgical goals in this patient were complete excision of the recto-vaginal fistula and introduction of fresh, vascularized muscle to seal the fistula. A defunctioning colostomy was performed 1 month prior to the present procedure. The gracilis muscle and tendon were mobilized, pulled through the freshened recto-vaginal fistula, passed through the anus, and anchored externally. Excess muscle and tendon were trimmed 1 week after the procedure. Follow-up at 4 weeks demonstrated complete mucosal coverage over an intact gracilis muscle, and no leakage. At 8 weeks post-procedure, the patient resumed sexual intercourse with no dyspareunia. At 6 months post-procedure, her stoma was closed. The patient reported transient fecal staining of her vagina after stoma reversal, which resolved with conservative treatment. The fistula had not recurred at 20 months post-procedure. The gracilis pull-through flap is a reliable technique for a scarred vagina with an attenuated recto-vaginal septum. It can function as a well-vascularized tissue plug to promote healing.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.160-172
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• 2022

Background: The authors established an in vitro model of diabetic neuropathy based on the culture system of primary neurons and Schwann cells (SCs) to mimic similar symptoms observed in in vivo models of this complication, such as impaired neurite extension and impaired myelination. The model was then utilized to investigate the effects of insulin on enhancing neurite extension and myelination of diabetic neurons. Methods: SCs and primary neurons were cultured under conditions mimicking hyperglycemia prepared by adding glucose to the basal culture medium. In a single culture, the proliferation and maturation of SCs and the neurite extension of neurons were evaluated. In a co-culture, the percentage of myelination of diabetic neurons was investigated. Insulin at different concentrations was supplemented to culture media to examine its effects on neurite extension and myelination. Results: The cells showed similar symptoms observed in in vivo models of this complication. In a single culture, hyperglycemia attenuated the proliferation and maturation of SCs, induced apoptosis, and impaired neurite extension of both sensory and motor neurons. In a co-culture of SCs and neurons, the percentage of myelinated neurites in the hyperglycemia-treated group was significantly lower than that in the control group. This impaired neurite extension and myelination was reversed by the introduction of insulin to the hyperglycemic culture media. Conclusions: Insulin may be a potential candidate for improving diabetic neuropathy. Insulin can function as a neurotrophic factor to support both neurons and SCs. Further research is needed to discover the potential of insulin in improving diabetic neuropathy.

• Steel and Composite Structures
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.465-481
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• 2022

This paper presents a comprehensive integrity assessment of welded structural components, including uniform high- and low-cycle fatigue assessment of welded plate joints and fatigue-induced fracture assessment of welded plate joints. This study reports a series of fatigue and fracture tests of welded plate joints under three-point bending. To unify the assessment protocol for high- and low-cycle fatigue of welded plate joints, this study develops a numerical damage assessment framework for both high- and low-cycle fatigue. The calibrated damage material parameters are validated through the smooth coupon specimens. The proposed damage-based fatigue assessment approach describes, with reasonable accuracy, the total fatigue life of welded plate joints under high- and low-cycle fatigue actions. Subsequently, the study performs a tearing assessment on the ductile crack extension of the fatigue-induced crack. The tearing assessment diagram derives from the load-deformation curve of a single-edge notched bend, SE(B) specimen and successfully predicts the load-crack extension relation for the reported welded plate joints during the stable tearing process.

• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.594-605
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• 2023

Acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in the Asia-Pacific region, and mortality rates differ between countries in the region. Systems of care have been shown to play a major role in determining AMI outcomes, and this review aims to highlight pre-hospital and in-hospital system deficiencies and suggest possible improvements to enhance quality of care, focusing on Korea, Japan, Singapore and Malaysia as representative countries. Time to first medical contact can be shortened by improving patient awareness of AMI symptoms and the need to activate emergency medical services (EMS), as well as by developing robust, well-coordinated and centralized EMS systems. Additionally, performing and transmitting pre-hospital electrocardiograms, algorithmically identifying patients with high risk AMI and developing hospital networks that appropriately divert such patients to percutaneous coronary intervention-capable hospitals have been shown to be beneficial. Within the hospital environment, developing and following clinical practice guidelines ensures that treatment plans can be standardised, whilst integrated care pathways can aid in coordinating care within the healthcare institution and can guide care even after discharge. Prescription of guideline directed medical therapy for secondary prevention and patient compliance to medications can be further optimised. Finally, the authors advocate for the establishment of more regional, national and international AMI registries for the formal collection of data to facilitate audit and clinical improvement.

• Journal of Contemporary Eastern Asia
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.43-58
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• 2020

This study examines media used for information in the East Asian countries of China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and Singapore, using data from the World Values Survey. The sharing of Confucian culture may lead to a uniform media structure across these nations. Another possibility is technological determinism, which would also lead to similarity across nations. However, it is possible that countries are at different stages of technology development and will eventually become more similar. An opposing notion is that differences in other values among nations predict digital media use. To examine the evidence considering these possibilities, we factor analyze each population's use of nine traditional and digital media to see how similar the structures are. What results is a three-dimensional solution for four out of five countries, except Singapore, which has a more simple two-dimensional structure. Analysts regard Singapore as the most digitally connected society, which raises the question as to whether it is higher on a technological development trajectory, to which other countries may transition. Perhaps a more simple media use structure is an adaptation to increasing information load. As well, as mobile devices have become a primary means of accessing the range of traditional and social media, it may have an expanded role in reducing media channel entropy. In terms of frequency of media use, Singapore is highest, while China is the lowest. Singapore stands out in high mobile use, and China for low Internet use. There appear to be developmental differences across the nations. Regressions on Internet use for 18 values indices find different values predictors in the East Asian countries, ruling out Confucianism as producing similar media patterns.

• Journal of architectural history
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• v.23 no.6
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• pp.27-37
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• 2014

Early 20th century Singapore was faced with the problem of overcrowding. The attendant problems of a rapid increase in population density, namely the lack of proper housing and sanitation, resulted in the issue of an appropriate residential environment emerging as an important task in urban planning. It was necessary to construct housing estates in order to solve this issue. At that time, the British colonial government attempted to transplant modern technology into the construction process of a residential complex system. However, Singapore's climate and traditional lifestyle made it impossible to apply the British modern system in a straightforward manner, and in the process, a number of transformations emerged. With a specific focus on the Tiong Bahru estate, one of Singapore's representative public housing projects, from the 1930s through the 1950s, this study intends to look at the way in which such residential estates were assimilated into local surroundings, and the effect of the transplantation of British concepts of modern housing theory. Therefore, the study is divided into an examination of the estate both before and after the turning point of World War II. This study confirms that the difference between the pre-war and post-war planning strategies for the Tiong Bahru estate were made according to the concept of 'open space.'

• Journal of the Korean School Mathematics Society
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.441-457
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• 2016

The purpose of this study is to analyze Korean students' mathematics achievement characteristics and draw implications for better math education in schools through comparing the results of three east Asian top level countries, Korea, Singapore, and Japan in PISA 2012 results. As a results, the rate of correct answers of Korea students was relatively low compared with those of Singapore, but relatively higher than Japan. From the results of effect size, similar results from t-test was discovered. As shown in analysis according to sub-elements in math assessment framework, the Korean students had low effect size in every sub-elements than Singapore. and they had high effect size at most of sub-elements than Japan, except "personal" context. In top performing level(above level 5), the Korean students had high effect size at "quantities" in mathematical contents, and "employ" in mathematical processes compared with Singapore. And they had row effect size at 6 sub-elements compared with Japan.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3155-3160
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• 2016

Background: L-asparaginase (ASNase) is commonly used in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and natural killer (NK)/T-cell lymphoma. This study was designed to describe the incidence of toxicity associated with ASNase in Asian adults. Secondary objectives were to investigate the management and impact of toxicity on subsequent ASNase use, and to compare the actual management against current recommendations. Materials and Methods: In this retrospective, multi-center, observational study, Asian patients ${\geq}18$ years old who received ${\geq}1$ dose of the native E. coli ASNase from 2008 to 2013 were included. Patients were excluded if they did not receive ASNase. Endpoints of this study were development of specific toxicities, whether ASNase was discontinued or re-challenged, and developmentg of recurrent toxicity. All data analyses were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: A total of 56 patients were analyzed. Mean (${\pm}SD$) age was 36.2 (${\pm}15.2$) years old, with 62.5% being males, 55.4% with ALL and 28.6% with NK/T-cell lymphoma. Hypersensitivity (12.5%) was associated with the highest incidence of toxicity (6 out of 7 patients had Grade 3 and 4 toxicity), followed by 10.7% for hepatic transaminitis, 3.6% for non-CNS thrombosis and 1.8% each for hyperbilirubinemia and pancreatitis. Hypersensitivity recurred in the 3 patients who were re-challenged with E. coli ASNase. Conclusions: ASNase is associated with a wide range of toxicities, with hypersensitivity being the most commonly observed among Asian adult patients.

• Fashion & Textile Research Journal
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.797-807
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• 2013

This study aims to provide basic information that would be useful to develop more specialized fashion design products for launching Korean Wave fashion, especially in Singapore market where Korean Wave culture has been expanding significantly. To identify recognition level of Korean Wave fashion, customer survey was conducted to females in their late 10s to early 20s. The analysis on the current fashion market also was made, which showed the result that the elegant style was dominant in the local fashion market. According to the customer survey result, K-pop was the most influential on Korean Wave. Amongst the female K-pop stars, 2NE1 was ranked the first who most of those surveyed wanted to copy her fashion style, and the ranking followed by Girl's Generation and BoA. With this result, it would be recommended to reflect K-pop star's style in designing fashion products as design and style turned out to be the most important factors that those surveyed considered upon clothing purchase. However, there should be various promotion activities in order to make Korea fashion brands known to the public because only 24.6% of those surveyed responded that they were aware of Korean fashion brands launched in Singapore market. Nevertheless, as those respondents were willing to buy Korean fashion brand products, there would be plenty of potential to succeed in Singapore market if there would be continuous efforts to raise Korean brand awareness.