The Core Competencies for Chinese Language Teachers in Taiwan: A Multiple Criteria Decision Making Approach

There were two research questions in this study: what are the most important competencies for Chinese language teachers; and what is the priority for the competencies? This study applied the DEMATEL to analyze competencies from 15 experts. The results showed that competencies were categorized into four dimensions. They were Culture, Instruction, Communication, and Professional Development. Each dimension had multiple criteria. There were three kinds of criteria under the dimension of Culture. They were ‘global awareness,’ ‘intercultural communication,’ and ‘Chinese culture.’ The dimension of Instruction had three kinds of criteria. They were ‘instructional perspective,’ ‘teaching method,’ and ‘assessment.’ There were three kinds of criteria under the dimension of Communication. They were ‘oral Chinese,’ ‘learner\u27s language,’ and ‘expression ability.’ Finally, the criteria of ‘Chinese grammar,’ ‘use of technology’, and ‘collaborate with colleagues’ were categorized under the dimension of Professional Development. Overall, the four dimensions from the literature review were divided into 12 criteria. In the aspect of four dimensions, the sequence in terms of the degree of influence was ‘instruction,’ ‘professional development,’ communication’, and ‘culture.’ In general, the ‘instruction’ was considered by the experts as a most important dimension of competency for Chinese language teachers. In the aspect of 12 criteria, the sequence in terms of the degree of influence was ‘instructional perspective,’ ‘teaching method,’ ‘Chinese grammar,’ ‘collaboration with colleagues’, ‘use of technology’, ‘oral Chinese,’ ‘intercultural communication,’ ‘learner\u27s language,’ ‘expression ability,’ ‘global awareness,’ ‘Chinese culture’, and ‘assessment.’ In general, the ‘instructional perspective’ was considered by the experts as a most important criterion of competency for Chinese language teachers. Findings can be used to improve the quality of Chinese language teachers in many ways

2-Methyl-4-trifluoro­meth­yl-1,3-thia­zole-5-carboxylic acid

In crystal of the title compound, C6H4F3NO2S, mol­ecules are linked by O—H⋯N and C—H⋯O hydrogen bonds, forming chains

A Global Decision Support System for Garment Manufacturing by Using Genetic Algorithm

In the recent years, each industry has to face the situation of making the decisions from global markets, especially the industries within lower technicality. These industries earn money hardly in the perfectly competitive markets. Sometimes, decision makers have to decide how to allot orders in the different factories because of distinctive requests from individual consumer. It is necessary to find a way to help managers with making a decision and allotting orders effectively. The purpose of this study tries to develop a decision support system (DSS) to help the managers and decision makers of a real garment industry In Taiwan to decide order allocation, and we used genetic algorithm (GA) for analysis tools and results would be showed by visual graphs to assist managers in decision making. By decision support systems, managers and decision makers might decide order allocation quickly and save the costs. Finally, the decision support system results in a visional frame within lowest cost, and managers decide order allocation with effectiveness by graphs. With this information, decision makers might make different decisions in unlike situations for dissimilar goals. The system had developed to be used easily and suitable to the garment industries and other similar manufacturing industries

The role of the transcription factor Rbpj in the development of dorsal root ganglia

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The dorsal root ganglion (DRG) is composed of well-characterized populations of sensory neurons and glia derived from a common pool of neural crest stem cells (NCCs), and is a good system to study the mechanisms of neurogenesis and gliogenesis. Notch signaling is known to play important roles in DRG development, but the full scope of Notch functions in mammalian DRG development remains poorly understood.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we used <it>Wnt1-Cre </it>to conditionally inactivate the transcription factor Rbpj, a critical integrator of activation signals from all Notch receptors, in NCCs and their derived cells. Deletion of <it>Rbpj </it>caused the up-regulation of <it>NeuroD1 </it>and precocious neurogenesis in DRG early development but led to an eventual deficit of sensory neurons at later stages, due to reduced cell proliferation and abnormal cell death. In addition, gliogenesis was delayed initially, but a near-complete loss of glia was observed finally in <it>Rbpj</it>-deficient DRG. Furthermore, we found P75 and Sox10, which are normally expressed exclusively in neuronal and glial progenitors of the DRG after the NCCs have completed their migration, were co-expressed in many cells of the DRG of <it>Rbpj </it>conditional knock-out mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data indicate that Rbpj-mediated canonical Notch signaling inhibits DRG neuronal differentiation, possibly by regulating <it>NeuroD1 </it>expression, and is required for DRG gliogenesis <it>in vivo</it>.</p

Bifurcation and hysteresis of flow pattern transition in a shallow molten silicon pool with Cz configuration

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Bcl-2 expression predicts sensitivity to chemotherapy in breast cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Numerous studies have yielded inconclusive results regarding the relationship between anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2 expression and the sensitivity to chemotherapy in the patients with breast cancer. The purpose of the current study was therefore to elaborate their relationship. METHODS, FINDINGS: A total of 23 previously published eligible studies involving 2,467 cases were identified and included in this meta-analysis. Negative Bcl-2 expression was associated with good chemotherapy response in breast cancer patients (total objective response [OR]: risk ratio [RR] = 1.16, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.02-1.32, p = 0.026; total complete response [CR]: RR = 1.67, 95% CI = 1.24-2.24, p = 0.001; pathological CR: RR = 1.92, 95% CI = 1.38-2.69, p < 0.001). In further stratified analyses, this association remained for sub-groups of response in neoadjuvant chemotherapy setting, especially pathological CR. Besides, negative Bcl-2 expression was significantly associated with good OR and pathological CR in anthracycline-based chemotherapy subgroup. Furthermore, there were significant links between negative Bcl-2 expression and taxane-based chemotherapy with pathological CR, but not OR. CONCLUSION: The results of the present meta-analysis suggest that Bcl-2 expression is a predictive factor for chemotherapy sensitivity in breast cancer patients. They could also potentially benefit further clinical treatment for breast cancers

The correlation between the plasma concentration of gemcitabine and short-term efficacy and adverse reactions in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry

AbstractBackground: Worldwide, non-small cell lung cancers have the highest incidence and mortality rates of all cancers. Gemcitabine (2’,2’-difluoro-2’-deoxycytidine or dFdC, C9H11F2N304) is widely used as the first-line chemo-reagent for lung cancer patients whose tumors have been diagnosed to be at an advanced stage and are therefore unresectable. Objective: The objective of this systematic study was to establish the correlation between the plasma concentration of gemcitabine and short-term clinical efficacy and adverse reactions in patients with advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the lung using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Material and methods: In total, 53 patients were given the chemotherapy medications, gemcitabine and cisplatin, every 3 weeks. Plasma concentrations of gemcitabine were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. A modified methodology of the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry system was verified and performed to detect plasma concentrations of gemcitabine. The clinical endpoints – short-term clinical efficacy and adverse reactions – were evaluated after two cycles. Results: The plasma concentration range of gemcitabine in 53 patients was 1.58-28.70μg/ml (mean 14.37±8.63μg/ml), with 28 patients in the &gt;15μg/ml group (mean 21.76±3.45μg/ml), and 25 patients in the ≤15μg/ml group (mean 6.09±3.57μg/ml). The clinical benefit rate (CBR) of the &gt;15μg/ml group was significantly higher than that of the 15μg/ml group (p&lt;0.05). The incidences of leukopenia and neutropenia, thrombocytopenia and grade III-IV gastrointestinal reactions in the &gt;15μg/ml group were significantly higher than in the ≤15μg/ml group (p&lt;0.05). There was no statistical difference between the two groups in terms of the incidences of reduced hemoglobin, liver and kidney function damage, allergic reaction and rash (p&gt;0.05). The analysis of the plasma concentration of gemcitabine and the percentage of reduction in neutrophil count (NEUT) (r2 = 0.3212; p&lt;0.05) and platelet (PLT) (r2 = 0.6439; p&lt;0.05) showed a significant positive correlation. Conclusions: In patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer, a high plasma concentration of gemcitabine can improve the short-term clinical efficacy of treatment, but increase the incidence of grade III-IV adverse reactions. [Ethiop. J. Health Dev. 2021; 35(1):72-82] Key words: Non-small cell lung cancer, gemcitabine, plasma concentration, short-term efficacy, adverse reaction

2-(1,3-Dithian-2-yl­idene)-1-phenyl­butane-1,3-dione

The title compound, C13H12O2S2, belonging to the group of dioxoketene cyclic S,S-acetals, was prepared from the corresponding dione in high yield. In the structure, the C=O and C=C bonds are not coplanar, with O=C—C=C torsion angles of −36.8 (4) and −21.0 (4)°. The dithian ring has a twisted conformation

Overcome Cancer Cell Drug Resistance Using Natural Products

Chemotherapy is one of the major treatment methods for cancer. However, failure in chemotherapy is not uncommon, mainly due to dose-limiting toxicity associated with drug resistance. Management of drug resistance is important towards successful chemotherapy. There are many reports in the Chinese literature that natural products can overcome cancer cell drug resistance, which deserve sharing with scientific and industrial communities. We summarized the reports into four categories: (1) in vitro studies using cell line models; (2) serum pharmacology; (3) in vivo studies using animal models; and (4) clinical studies. Fourteen single compounds were reported to have antidrug resistance activity for the first time. In vitro, compounds were able to overcome drug resistance at nontoxic or subtoxic concentrations, in a dose-dependent manner, by inhibiting drug transporters, cell detoxification capacity, or cell apoptosis sensitivity. Studies in vivo showed that single compounds, herbal extract, and formulas had potent antidrug resistance activities. Importantly, many single compounds, herbal extracts, and formulas have been used clinically to treat various diseases including cancer. The review provides comprehensive data on use of natural compounds to overcome cancer cell drug resistance in China, which may facilitate the therapeutic development of natural products for clinical management of cancer drug resistance