A Study of Singapore's English Channel Television Commercials and Sex-Role Stereotypes

Chun Wah LEE Ewha Womans University Press 2003 Asian Journal of Women's Studies(AJWS) Vol.9 No.3

The stereotyping of females and their use as sex objects in advertisements has been a hot topic of research. Advertisers tend to use women as 'decorative' items in various promotional strategies. This study focuses on the nature of female stereotyping in Singapore's television industry. A content analysis of one working week of television commercials was conducted on Singapore's English language channel. The coding technique was derived from works such as Craig (1992) and Furnham and Bihar (1993), while various variables were employed to examine how and in what situations women were portrayed in these commercials. The study revealed that women were depicted in diverse roles―ranging from homemaking and baby-caring to endorsing beauty products and working in offices. However, some degree of sex-stereotyping is still prevalent. The study argues that advertisers should portray men and women in more equal partnerships, since the latter now have to manage the increasing demands imposed by work and family.

Fluoxetine Simultaneously Induces Both Apoptosis and Autophagy in Human Gastric Adenocarcinoma Cells

( Wah Wah Po ),( Wynn Thein ),( Phyu Phyu Khin ),( Tin Myo Khing ),( Khin Wah Wah Han ),( Chan Hee Park ),( Uy Dong Sohn ) 한국응용약물학회 2020 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.28 No.2

Fluoxetine is used widely as an antidepressant for the treatment of cancer-related depression, but has been reported to also have anti-cancer activity. In this study, we investigated the cytotoxicity of fluoxetine to human gastric adenocarcinoma cells; as shown by the MTT assay, fluoxetine induced cell death. Subsequently, cells were treated with 10 or 20 μM fluoxetine for 24 h and analyzed. Apoptosis was confirmed by the increased number of early apoptotic cells, shown by Annexin V- propidium iodide staining. Nuclear condensation was visualized by DAPI staining. A significant increase in the expression of cleaved PARP was observed by western blotting. The pan-caspase inhibitor Z-VAD-FMK was used to detect the extent of caspase-dependent cell death. The induction of autophagy was determined by the formation of acidic vesicular organelles (AVOs), which was visualized by acridine orange staining, and the increased expression of autophagy markers, such as LC3B, Beclin 1, and p62/SQSTM 1, observed by western blotting. The expression of upstream proteins, such as p-Akt and p-mTOR, were decreased. Autophagic degradation was evaluated by using bafilomycin, an inhibitor of late-stage autophagy. Bafilomycin did not significantly enhance LC3B expression induced by fluoxetine, which suggested autophagic degradation was impaired. In addition, the co-administration of the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine and fluoxetine significantly increased fluoxetine-induced apoptosis, with decreased p-Akt and markedly increased death receptor 4 and 5 expression. Our results suggested that fluoxetine simultaneously induced both protective autophagy and apoptosis and that the inhibition of autophagy enhanced fluoxetine-induced apoptosis through increased death receptor expression.

Benzyl Isothiocyanate-Induced Cytotoxicity via the Inhibition of Autophagy and Lysosomal Function in AGS Cells

( Wah Wah Po ),( Won Seok Choi ),( Tin Myo Khing ),( Ji-yun Lee ),( Jong Hyuk Lee ),( Joon Seok Bang ),( Young Sil Min ),( Ji Hoon Jeong ),( Uy Dong Sohn ) 한국응용약물학회 2022 Biomolecules & Therapeutics(구 응용약물학회지) Vol.30 No.4

Gastric adenocarcinoma is among the top causes of cancer-related death and is one of the most commonly diagnosed carcinomas worldwide. Benzyl isothiocyanate (BITC) has been reported to inhibit the gastric cancer metastasis. In our previous study, BITC induced apoptosis in AGS cells. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effect of BITC on autophagy mechanism in AGS cells. First, the AGS cells were treated with 5, 10, or 15 μM BITC for 24 h, followed by an analysis of the autophagy mechanism. The expression level of autophagy proteins involved in different steps of autophagy, such as LC3B, p62/SQSTM1, Atg5-Atg12, Beclin1, p-mTOR/mTOR ratio, and class III PI3K was measured in the BITC-treated cells. Lysosomal function was investigated using cathepsin activity and Bafilomycin A1, an autophagy degradation stage inhibitor. Methods including qPCR, western blotting, and immunocytochemistry were employed to detect the protein expression levels. Acridine orange staining and omnicathepsin assay were conducted to analyze the lysosomal function. siRNA transfection was performed to knock down the LC3B gene. BITC reduced the level of autophagy protein such as Beclin 1, class III PI3K, and Atg5-Atg12. BITC also induced lysosomal dysfunction which was shown as reducing cathepsin activity, protein level of cathepsin, and enlargement of acidic vesicle. Overall, the results showed that the BITC-induced AGS cell death mechanism also comprises the inhibition of the cytoprotective autophagy at both initiation and degradation steps.

Phenotypic and Genotypic Analysis of Anti-Tuberculosis Drug Resistance in <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> Isolates in Myanmar

Aung, Wah Wah,Ei, Phyu Win,Nyunt, Wint Wint,Swe, Thyn Lei,Lwin, Thandar,Htwe, Mi Mi,Kim, Kyung Jun,Lee, Jong Seok,Kim, Chang Ki,Cho, Sang Nae,Song, Sun Dae,Chang, Chulhun L. The Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine 2015 Annals of Laboratory Medicine Vol.35 No.5

<P><B>Background</B></P><P>Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most serious health problems in Myanmar. Because TB drug resistance is associated with genetic mutation(s) relevant to responses to each drug, genotypic methods for detecting these mutations have been proposed to overcome the limitations of classic phenotypic drug susceptibility testing (DST). We explored the current estimates of drug-resistant TB and evaluated the usefulness of genotypic DST in Myanmar.</P><P><B>Methods</B></P><P>We determined the drug susceptibility of <I>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</I> isolated from sputum smear-positive patients with newly diagnosed pulmonary TB at two main TB centers in Myanmar during 2013 by using conventional phenotypic DST and the GenoType MTBDR<I>plus</I> assay (Hain Lifescience, Germany). Discrepant results were confirmed by sequencing the genes relevant to each type of resistance (<I>rpoB</I> for rifampicin; <I>katG</I> and <I>inhA</I> for isoniazid).</P><P><B>Results</B></P><P>Of 191 isolates, phenotypic DST showed that 27.7% (n=53) were resistant to at least one first-line drug and 20.9% (n=40) were resistant to two or more, including 18.3% (n=35) multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) strains. Monoresistant strains accounted for 6.8% (n=13) of the samples. Genotypic assay of 189 isolates showed 17.5% (n=33) MDR-TB and 5.3% (n=10) isoniazid-monoresistant strains. Genotypic susceptibility results were 99.5% (n=188) concordant and agreed almost perfectly with phenotypic DST (kappa=0.99; 95% confidence interval 0.96-1.01).</P><P><B>Conclusions</B></P><P>The results highlight the burden of TB drug resistance and prove the usefulness of the genotypic DST in Myanmar.</P>

Music Composition using Natural Motion of Fish based on Running Average Background Model

Wah-Seng Yap,Dong-Chan Cho,Whoi-Yul Kim 한국멀티미디어학회 2011 한국멀티미디어학회 국제학술대회 Vol.2011 No.-

This paper describes a technique of generating music from the natural motion of fish which are detected via the running average background subtraction method. The motion of the fish will create musical notes on another frame which will be analyzed and played by a music playing module that is proposed in this paper called “Physic X”. This module is not only capable of generating natural sounding music but it can also interact with the fishes in the fish tank as well. A human interaction system is also added to encourage human participation in the music generating process.

The role of domestic demand in the economic growth of Malaysia: A cointegration analysis

Wah, Lai Yew 한국국제경제학회 2004 International Economic Journal Vol.18 No.3

For the past four decades (1961-2000), the Malaysian economy grew at an impressive average rate of 6.8 per cent per annum. The rapid growth has been attributed, in part, to the tremendous success in the export-oriented industrialization policy. Several empirical studies on export-led growth for Malaysia have, however, led to inconclusive and mixed results. This may be due to the exclusion of domestic demand in the bivariate or multivariate models used in the studies. This study re-examines the role of domestic demand in economic growth in Malaysia. Using a three-variable cointegration analysis, the study shows that there exists short run bilateral causalities among the three variables which imply that both the export-led growth and domestic demand-generated growth hypotheses are at least valid in the short run. On the other hand, the results are not supportive of the export-led growth hypothesis in the long run. Instead, the highly significant positive impact of domestic expenditure on economic growth implies that use of domestic demand as the catalyst for growth is appropriate. [F43]

Music Generation from Motion of Fish based on Running Averaging Background Subtraction Method

Wah-Seng Yap(얍와셍),Dong-Chan Cho(조동찬),Whoi-Yul Kim(김회율) 한국콘텐츠학회 2011 한국콘텐츠학회 종합학술대회 논문집 Vol.9 No.1

Comparison between obese and non-obese nonalcoholic fatty liver disease

Wah-Kheong Chan 대한간학회 2023 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.29 No.-

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a spectrum of liver conditions that are characterized by excess accumulation of fat in the liver, and is diagnosed after exclusion of significant alcohol intake and other causes of chronic liver disease. In the majority of cases, NAFLD is associated with overnutrition and obesity, although it may be also found in lean or non-obese individuals. It has been estimated that 19.2% of NAFLD patients are lean and 40.8% are non-obese. The proportion of patients with more severe liver disease and the incidence of all-cause mortality, liver-related mortality, and cardiovascular mortality among non-obese and obese NAFLD patients varies across studies and may be confounded by selection bias, underestimation of alcohol intake, and unaccounted weight changes over time. Genetic factors may have a greater effect towards the development of NAFLD in lean or non-obese individuals, but the effect may be less pronounced in the presence of strong environmental factors, such as poor dietary choices and a sedentary lifestyle, as body mass index increases in the obese state. Overall, non-invasive tests, such as the Fibrosis-4 index, NAFLD fibrosis score, and liver stiffness measurement, perform better in lean or non-obese patients compared to obese patients. Lifestyle intervention works in non-obese patients, and less amount of weight loss may be required to achieve similar results compared to obese patients. Pharmacological therapy in non-obese NAFLD patients may require special consideration and a different approach compared to obese patients.

A Novel Tail Light Pairing System for Detecting Vehicles at Night using Histogram of Oriented Gradient

Wah-Seng Yap,Dong-Chan Cho,Jae-Ho Yun,Whoi-Yul Kim 한국자동차공학회 2011 한국자동차공학회 학술대회 및 전시회 Vol.2011 No.11

There are many features that can be used to detect vehicles at night. However, not all of them are relevant or useful in determining between a vehicle and a non-vehicles object. This paper summarizes some of the common but important geometry features such as vehicle symmetry check, width ratio, and area differences are used to verify vehicles. In addition to previously stated features, this paper proposed the use of histogram of the oriented gradient (HOG) as a feature in making the classifier. Edge information is not normally used as features for night scenes due to the lacking of visible edge lines of objects at night. However, through observations, it is found that close range vehicles provides enough edge information to be perceived as one and vehicles that are far away too provides a special edge characteristic that enables it be classified as a vehicle. Therefore the usage of edge information can help increase vehicle validation rate and reduces false positives. Before the validation process can be made, an initial candidate tail lights pairing process need to be first made by searching for candidate tail light pair that satisfies certain general constraints. In other words a hypothesis is first made by selecting every possible pair that match a simple rule such as checking whether the pair of lights are located under the same horizontal line before further validation test is made to draw a more conclusive decision. Random forest is chosen as a tool in constructing the classifier for its speed, robustness, and simplicity. This paper assumes that the candidate tail lights are provided as inputs and the classifier proposed here functions as a pairing device to accurately pair detected tail lights of a same vehicle. Candidate tail lights can be extracted by using algorithms as simple as red color extraction. However, a better candidate tail light extractor will reduce the initial amount of regions to be validated later and will thus improve performance.

Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD): A State-of-the-Art Review

Wah-Kheong Chan,Kee-Huat Chuah,Ruveena Bhavani Rajaram,Lee-Ling Lim,Jeyakantha Ratnasingam,Shireene Ratna Vethakkan 대한비만학회 2023 Journal of obesity & metabolic syndrome Vol.32 No.3

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is the latest term for steatotic liver disease associated with metabolic syndrome. MASLD is the most common cause of chronic liver disease and is the leading cause of liver-related morbidity and mortality. It is important that all stakeholders be involved in tackling the public health threat of obesity and obesity-related diseases, including MASLD. A simple and clear assessment and referral pathway using non-invasive tests is essential to ensure that patients with severe MASLD are identified and referred to specialist care, while patients with less severe disease remain in primary care, where they are best managed. While lifestyle intervention is the cornerstone of the management of patients with MASLD, cardiovascular disease risk must be properly assessed and managed because cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of mortality. No pharmacological agent has been approved for the treatment of MASLD, but novel anti-hyperglycemic drugs appear to have benefit. Medications used for the treatment of diabetes and other metabolic conditions may need to be adjusted as liver disease progresses to cirrhosis, especially decompensated cirrhosis. Based on non-invasive tests, the concepts of compensated advanced chronic liver disease and clinically significant portal hypertension provide a practical approach to stratifying patients according to the risk of liver-related complications and can help manage such patients. Finally, prevention and management of sarcopenia should be considered in the management of patients with MASLD.