Genetic polymorphism in the signal peptide of AACT may be associated with individual susceptibility to the development of COPD, because the AACT/Ala-15 genotype is predominantly found in patients with COPD. It is suggested that AACT/Ala-15 genotype may be less protective against smoking injury.

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In computing sciences (e-Sciences) we need computer power, excellent algorithms and programming power in order to solve scientific problems leading to discoveries and development of innovative new products. So far, the computer power and the computing algorithms have been developed incredibly, and have provided enormous contributions to e-Sciences and e-Productions. Problem solving environments (PSE) support the programming power in e-Sciences and e-Productions, and have been studied actively for a few decades. In this paper a distributed PSE, named D-NCAS is presented, and a computer-assisted mathematical modeling support is also discussed in D-NCAS, which helps users solve partial differential equation (PDE) based problems in scientific computing. The D-NCAS PSE inputs a problem description and outputs a program flow, a C-language source code for the problem and also a document for the program. Each PSE module is distributed on networklinked distributed computers. The PSE holds all the information of the problem: PDEs, discretization scheme, mesh information, equation manipulation results, designed program structure, variable and constant definitions and program itself. The PSE concept has been opening a new direction for the computer-assisted programming or development of scientific simulation programs or CAEs.

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In this study, we have developed a three-dimensional finite element method for solving the equations of electrical and thermal flows. The 3D analysis of bulk material and wire array element was demonstrated, and electrical potential and temperature distributions were calculated in thermoelectric elements of bulk bismuth and wire array structures for various boundary conditions. The influence of wire array structure on effective thermal conductivity of the element was discussed in this study. It was clarified that thermal exchange between bismuth wire and glass template in wire array element plays a very important role for reduction of thermal conductivity.