Raffles Institution

Music performance anxiety is a common psychological phenomenon in the field of music performance, exerting a significant impact on the physical and mental state, performance quality, and career development of performers. It typically manifests in three dimensions: physiological, psychological and behavioural symptoms. Existing research employs both quantitative and qualitative approaches, each with distinct emphases. This paper systematically analyses the differences between these two research paradigms by comparing two representative case studies. The comparison is structured around several key dimensions: research objectives, research design, sample selection, data types, analytical methods, presentation of results, strategies for ensuring reliability and validity, and the role of the researcher. The paper begins with a literature review, followed by a detailed comparison of quantitative and qualitative methods across the aforementioned dimensions. It concludes with a discussion of the advantages and limitations of each approach in exploring the causes and manifestations of performance anxiety, in relation to the research questions. Findings indicate that quantitative research is characterised by reproducibility, standardisation, and structured procedures for data collection and analysis, making it particularly suitable for exploring the prevalence and predictors of performance anxiety. In contrast, qualitative research offers flexibility and depth, enabling a nuanced understanding of performers' psychological responses in specific contexts. Ultimately, the choice of research method should be guided by the specific aims and questions of the study. In practical research, quantitative and qualitative research can be used together to give full play to the advantages of both methods.

Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) is an autoimmune condition of the central nervous system, primarily involving the optic nerves and spinal cord. Patients typically present with visual disturbance, limb weakness or sensory deficits, and bladder dysfunction. However, atypical and nonspecific presentations may occur, including persistent nausea and vomiting due to involvement of the area postrema.We report the case of a 26-year-old female patient who presented with a one-month history of intractable vomiting, associated with epigastric discomfort (worse prior to vomiting), reduced appetite, and significant weight loss of approximately 7-8 kg over one month. She had been admitted two times prior to presentation, with extensive investigations that were unremarkable.During admission, she also reported blurred vision and was noted to have horizontal nystagmus. Brain MRI demonstrated areas of altered signal intensity involving the brainstem and cervicomedullary junction, along the floor of the fourth ventricle, initially raising concern for Wernicke’s encephalopathy. She received intravenous thiamine without clinical improvement. Further evaluation, including whole-spine MRI and autoimmune serology, revealed positivity for aquaporin-4 (AQP4) IgG antibodies, confirming NMOSD. She was treated with intravenous methylprednisolone and tocilizumab, resulting in marked symptomatic improvement.This case highlights NMOSD as an important and often under-recognized cause of intractable nausea and vomiting, which may delay diagnosis and treatment. A thorough neurological history and examination are essential in patients with persistent unexplained vomiting to ensure timely recognition and initiation of appropriate therapy.

This study analyzes the comments on AI-generated visual art on social media, focusing on emotional and thematic aspects. With the rise of AI-generated content on social media platforms such as DALLE and Midjourney, AI art has gained both positive and negative attention. This mixed-methods study uses emotion analysis and thematic modeling to investigate the audience's response to the art of AI-generation. The study uses two sets of frameworks: Machine-Driven Classification of Open-Ended Responses (MDCOR) and Sentiment and Emotion Network Analysis (SENA) to classify and analyze social media comments to grasp the emotional tone of the discussion and AI art-related issues. The data shows that the social media debate about authenticity, author identity and whether AI will replace human artists presents a complex picture of enthusiasm, doubt and worry. The study also found that the public's impression will change in the process of interacting with AI art. This study provides a comprehensive framework for understanding public opinion and lays the foundation for further investigation of the social and cultural impact of AI on art and creativity.

Abstract Background: Cognitive frailty (CF), the co-occurrence of physical frailty and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) without dementia, is an at-risk state for adverse outcomes. While frailty and MCI are individually linked to cardiovascular dysfunction, mechanisms underlying their co-occurrence remain unclear. Purpose: To investigate whether CF is associated with circulating biomarkers of cardiac dysfunction, and to examine if these biomarkers modify associations between CF and future cognitive decline. Methods: 303 Singaporean memory clinic patients were followed up annually for five years. Plasma levels of N-terminal pro–B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP), growth differentiation factor-15 (GDF-15), and high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) were measured by immunoassays. Cognitive status was defined using the Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR; 0 = unimpaired, 0.5 = MCI). Physical frailty was measured with 30-item Frailty Index (FI ≥0.18 = frail). CF was defined as CDR 0.5 and FI ≥0.18. Results: Among 303 participants (mean age, 71.7±7.7years; 52.1% female), 35 (11.6%) had CF. CF participants had higher NT-proBNP, GDF-15, and hs-cTnT levels (all p < 0.001). Frailty significantly interacted with MCI (CDR=0.5) for NT-proBNP (β 2.10; 95% C.I. 0.59-3.61; p=0.006). CF predicted for greater 5-year cognitive decline (β –0.15; 95% C.I. -0.27 to -0.03; p=0.013), with steeper decline evident in those with higher NT-proBNP (β –0.27; 95% C.I. -0.53 to -0.01; p=0.038). Conclusion: CF is associated with elevated cardiac dysfunction biomarkers and accelerated cognitive decline. High NT-proBNP exacerbates this decline, highlighting cardiovascular pathways as potential intervention targets for CF.

The group theory, as one of the cornerstones of the modern algebra, has a profound historical trajectory that reflects the evolution of the mathematical thought. This comprehensive paper analyses the historical development of the group theory and provides an overview of the interconnectedness of the several key theorems in the group theory: The Lagranges Theorem, the Fermats Little Theorem and the Eulers Theorem. This paper begins by establishing the modern group-theoretical framework within the Lagranges Theorem on the link between the order of groups and that of its subgroups. Then, an extension onto other related theorems are provided. In all, this paper is highly interlinking among the ideas in group theory. Ultimately, this study not only demonstrates the beauty of mathematical interconnections but also highlights their continuing relevance for the modern applications, showing how the classical results remain relevant to guide contemporary explorations in algebra, number theory, and related disciplines.

Abstract Background: The matrisome comprises extracellular matrix-related proteins that are frequently dysregulated in cancer. We previously described a 29-gene Tumor Matrisome Index (TMI) that predicted clinical outcomes across different cancers. One of the 29 genes is mamdc2, which encodes for MAM-domain containing protein 2 that is overexpressed in breast cancer but downregulated in lung cancer. Despite the differential expression in tumor versus normal tissue, the function of MAMDC2 in tumour progression is poorly defined. Methods: Using the TCGA-HNSC dataset, we examined mamdc2 expression and performed survival analyses. We used qRT-PCR to compare the endogenous expression of mamdc2 in patient-derived HNSCC lines and a normal squamous epithelial cell line Het1A. We also examined the subcellular localization by immunofluorescence. Using overexpression and knockdown (KD) studies, we assessed the effects of MAMDC2 on tumor cell proliferation, migration and invasion. To identify gene targets regulated by MAMDC2, we performed RNA-seq in MAMDC2-KD versus control. Results: In the TCGA-HNSC cohort, mamdc2-high group demonstrated shorter progression-free survival and poorer overall survival than mamdc2-low group. Relative to the normal squamous epithelial cell line, mamdc2 was downregulated in HN26 (derived from a patient without distant metastasis) and upregulated in HN1, HN19, HN43, HN64, HN90 (derived from patients with distant metastasis). Immunofluorescence showed that MAMDC2-FLAG was localized to the cytoplasm and nucleus of HNSCC cells, suggesting possible transcriptional function. Overexpression of mamdc2 in HN26 significantly enhanced tumor cell proliferation. MAMDC2-KD significantly reduced the migration and invasion of HN43 and HN90 cells. MAMDC2-KD also significantly decreased the expression of IGFBP3, which is associated with cell motility and growth. Conclusion: Collectively, the results suggest that high mamdc2 expression promotes tumor progression and associates with poorer survival outcomes in HNSCC. MAMDC2 may promote HNSCC cell motility through interaction with IGFBP3 and the work is still ongoing to ascertain this interaction. Citation Format: Kah Yee Goh, Terence You De Cheng, Yunjin Go, Su Chin Tham, Sheryl Ke Ying Tay, Rachel Shiyi Lu, N Gopalakrishna Iyer, Su Bin Lim, Darren Wan-Teck Lim. Functional Role of Matrisome-related Gene MAMDC2 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of Frontiers in Cancer Science 2024; 2024 Nov 13-15; Singapore. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(15_Suppl):Abstract nr P14.