A framework for benchmarking of homogenisation algorithm performance on the global scale

The International Surface Temperature Initiative (ISTI) is striving towards substantively improving our ability to robustly understand historical land surface air temperature change at all scales. A key recently completed first step has been collating all available records into a comprehensive open access, traceable and version-controlled databank. The crucial next step is to maximise the value of the collated data through a robust international framework of benchmarking and assessment for product intercomparison and uncertainty estimation. We focus on uncertainties arising from the presence of inhomogeneities in monthly mean land surface temperature data and the varied methodological choices made by various groups in building homogeneous temperature products. The central facet of the benchmarking process is the creation of global-scale synthetic analogues to the real-world database where both the "true" series and inhomogeneities are known (a luxury the real-world data do not afford us). Hence, algorithmic strengths and weaknesses can be meaningfully quantified and conditional inferences made about the real-world climate system. Here we discuss the necessary framework for developing an international homogenisation benchmarking system on the global scale for monthly mean temperatures. The value of this framework is critically dependent upon the number of groups taking part and so we strongly advocate involvement in the benchmarking exercise from as many data analyst groups as possible to make the best use of this substantial effort.

Optimized on-line enantioselective capillary electrophoretic method for kinetic and inhibition studies of drug metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes.

Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of a chiral drug can significantly differ between application of the racemate and single enantiomers. During drug development, the characteristics of candidate compounds have to be assessed prior to clinical testing. Since biotransformation significantly influences drug actions in an organism, metabolism studies represent a crucial part of such tests. Hence, an optimized and economical capillary electrophoretic method for on-line studies of the enantioselective drug metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes was developed. It comprises a diffusion-based procedure, which enables mixing of the enzyme with virtually any compound inside the nanoliter-scale capillary reactor and without the need of additional optimization of mixing conditions. For CYP3A4, ketamine as probe substrate and highly sulfated γ-cyclodextrin as chiral selector, improved separation conditions for ketamine and norketamine enantiomers compared to a previously published electrophoretically mediated microanalysis method were elucidated. The new approach was thoroughly validated for the CYP3A4-mediated N-demethylation pathway of ketamine and applied to the determination of its kinetic parameters and the inhibition characteristics in presence of ketoconazole and dexmedetomidine. The determined parameters were found to be comparable to literature data obtained with different techniques. The presented method constitutes a miniaturized and cost-effective tool, which should be suitable for the assessment of the stereoselective aspects of kinetic and inhibition studies of cytochrome P450-mediated metabolic steps within early stages of the development of a new drug.

Cerebellar Pathology Does Not Impair Performance on Identification or Categorization Tasks

In comparison to the basal ganglia, prefrontal cortex, and medial temporal lobes, the cerebellum has been absent from recent research on the neural substrates of categorization and identification, two prominent tasks in the learning and memory literature. To investigate the contribution of the cerebellum to these tasks, we tested patients with cerebellar pathology (seven with bilateral degeneration, six with unilateral lesions, and two with midline damage) on rule-based and information-integration categorization tasks and an identification task. In rule-based tasks, it is assumed that participants learn the categories through an explicit reasoning process. In information-integration tasks, optimal performance requires the integration of information from multiple stimulus dimensions, and participants are typically unaware of the decision strategy. The identification task, in contrast, required participants to learn arbitrary, color-word associations. The cerebellar patients performed similar to matched controls on all three tasks and performance did not vary with the extent of cerebellar pathology. Although the interpretation of these null results requires caution, these data contribute to the current debate on cerebellar contributions to cognition by providing boundary conditions on understanding the neural substrates of categorization and identification, and help define the functional domain of the cerebellum in learning and memory.

Family Preservation Conference Participants and the Internet: Opinions about On-Line Continuing Education

Development of distance and distributed learning continuing education (CE) opportunities for human services workers requires existence of such CE offerings, participant access to the Internet, knowledge of the Internet's use, and willingness to enroll in such programs. A survey of human services professionals who attended the Family Preservation Annual Conferences in 2000 (N = 230) and 2002 (N - 197) revealed that 92% (n = 206) of 2000 survey participants and 98% (192) of 2002 survey participants have used the Internet, while 76% of 2000 and 56% of 2002 respondents reported no formal training in the use of the Internet and its features. Findings are reported that reveal substantial interest among subjects in the Internet as a medium for continuing education programs for professional development.

Comparación entre dos tipos de aprendizajes : presencial y on line

Fil: Castro, N. M.. Universidad Nacional de Cuyo. Facultad de Odontología

Tutoría on-line : "desafío y creatividad". Relato de experiencia

En este trabajo se comentará la experiencia, de dirigir una TESINA, por medio de la Red. Guiar al alumno en un trabajo de investigación que será su trabajo final para optar al grado universitario de Licenciatura en Bibliotecología, cuyo contacto con el docente fue únicamente "a distancia", durante el tiempo que demandó la realización de la investigación, siendo la defensa del trabajo, el único momento de relación interpersonal. Asumiendo la responsabilidad como si fuera en forma presencial, se llevaron a cabo las diferentes instancias de guía y evaluación, la diferencia está en algunos métodos y recursos utilizados, en la consulta propiamente dicha, que el dominio de la Red otorga mediante la aplicación del Portafolio. Esto dará cuenta al docente del desarrollo cognitivo del estudiante, compartido por el alumno. Con la aplicación del Portafolio electrónico, la evaluación debe ser un proceso continuo con permanente retroalimentación.

Tutoría on-line : "desafío y creatividad". Relato de experiencia

En este trabajo se comentará la experiencia, de dirigir una TESINA, por medio de la Red. Guiar al alumno en un trabajo de investigación que será su trabajo final para optar al grado universitario de Licenciatura en Bibliotecología, cuyo contacto con el docente fue únicamente "a distancia", durante el tiempo que demandó la realización de la investigación, siendo la defensa del trabajo, el único momento de relación interpersonal. Asumiendo la responsabilidad como si fuera en forma presencial, se llevaron a cabo las diferentes instancias de guía y evaluación, la diferencia está en algunos métodos y recursos utilizados, en la consulta propiamente dicha, que el dominio de la Red otorga mediante la aplicación del Portafolio. Esto dará cuenta al docente del desarrollo cognitivo del estudiante, compartido por el alumno. Con la aplicación del Portafolio electrónico, la evaluación debe ser un proceso continuo con permanente retroalimentación.

Tutoría on-line : "desafío y creatividad". Relato de experiencia

En este trabajo se comentará la experiencia, de dirigir una TESINA, por medio de la Red. Guiar al alumno en un trabajo de investigación que será su trabajo final para optar al grado universitario de Licenciatura en Bibliotecología, cuyo contacto con el docente fue únicamente "a distancia", durante el tiempo que demandó la realización de la investigación, siendo la defensa del trabajo, el único momento de relación interpersonal. Asumiendo la responsabilidad como si fuera en forma presencial, se llevaron a cabo las diferentes instancias de guía y evaluación, la diferencia está en algunos métodos y recursos utilizados, en la consulta propiamente dicha, que el dominio de la Red otorga mediante la aplicación del Portafolio. Esto dará cuenta al docente del desarrollo cognitivo del estudiante, compartido por el alumno. Con la aplicación del Portafolio electrónico, la evaluación debe ser un proceso continuo con permanente retroalimentación.