Teachers' professional development in a community

The goal of this article was to study teachers' professional development related to web-based learning in the context of the teacher community. The object was to learn in what kind of networks teachers share the knowledge of web-based learning and what are the factors in the community that support or challenge teachers professional development of web-based learning. The findings of the study revealed that there are teachers who are especially active, called the central actors in this study, in the teacher community who collaborate and share knowledge of web-based learning. These central actors share both technical and pedagogical knowledge of web-based learning in networks that include both internal and external relations in the community and involve people, artefacts and a variety of media. Furthermore, the central actors appear to bridge different fields of teaching expertise in their community. According to the central actors' experiences the important factors that support teachers' professional development of web-based learning in the community are; the possibility to learn from colleagues and from everyday working practices, an emotionally safe atmosphere, the leader's personal support and community-level commitment. Also, the flexibility in work planning, challenging pupils, shared lessons with colleagues, training events in an authentic work environment and colleagues' professionalism are considered meaningful for professional development. As challenges, the knowledge sharing of web-based learning in the community needs mutual interests, transactive memory, time and facilities, peer support, a safe atmosphere and meaningful pedagogical practices. On the basis of the findings of the study it is suggested that by intensive collaboration related to web-based learning it may be possible to break the boundaries of individual teachership and create such sociocultural activities which support collaborative professional development in the teacher community. Teachers' in-service training programs should be more sensitive to the culture of teacher communities and teachers' reciprocal relations. Further, teacher trainers should design teachers' in-service training of web-based learning in co-evolution with supporting networks which include the media and artefacts as well as people.

Teachers' professional development in a community

The goal of this article was to study teachers' professional development related to web-based learning in the context of the teacher community. The object was to learn in what kind of networks teachers share the knowledge of web-based learning and what are the factors in the community that support or challenge teachers professional development of web-based learning. The findings of the study revealed that there are teachers who are especially active, called the central actors in this study, in the teacher community who collaborate and share knowledge of web-based learning. These central actors share both technical and pedagogical knowledge of web-based learning in networks that include both internal and external relations in the community and involve people, artefacts and a variety of media. Furthermore, the central actors appear to bridge different fields of teaching expertise in their community. According to the central actors' experiences the important factors that support teachers' professional development of web-based learning in the community are; the possibility to learn from colleagues and from everyday working practices, an emotionally safe atmosphere, the leader's personal support and community-level commitment. Also, the flexibility in work planning, challenging pupils, shared lessons with colleagues, training events in an authentic work environment and colleagues' professionalism are considered meaningful for professional development. As challenges, the knowledge sharing of web-based learning in the community needs mutual interests, transactive memory, time and facilities, peer support, a safe atmosphere and meaningful pedagogical practices. On the basis of the findings of the study it is suggested that by intensive collaboration related to web-based learning it may be possible to break the boundaries of individual teachership and create such sociocultural activities which support collaborative professional development in the teacher community. Teachers' in-service training programs should be more sensitive to the culture of teacher communities and teachers' reciprocal relations. Further, teacher trainers should design teachers' in-service training of web-based learning in co-evolution with supporting networks which include the media and artefacts as well as people.

Teachers' professional development in a community

The goal of this article was to study teachers' professional development related to web-based learning in the context of the teacher community. The object was to learn in what kind of networks teachers share the knowledge of web-based learning and what are the factors in the community that support or challenge teachers professional development of web-based learning. The findings of the study revealed that there are teachers who are especially active, called the central actors in this study, in the teacher community who collaborate and share knowledge of web-based learning. These central actors share both technical and pedagogical knowledge of web-based learning in networks that include both internal and external relations in the community and involve people, artefacts and a variety of media. Furthermore, the central actors appear to bridge different fields of teaching expertise in their community. According to the central actors' experiences the important factors that support teachers' professional development of web-based learning in the community are; the possibility to learn from colleagues and from everyday working practices, an emotionally safe atmosphere, the leader's personal support and community-level commitment. Also, the flexibility in work planning, challenging pupils, shared lessons with colleagues, training events in an authentic work environment and colleagues' professionalism are considered meaningful for professional development. As challenges, the knowledge sharing of web-based learning in the community needs mutual interests, transactive memory, time and facilities, peer support, a safe atmosphere and meaningful pedagogical practices. On the basis of the findings of the study it is suggested that by intensive collaboration related to web-based learning it may be possible to break the boundaries of individual teachership and create such sociocultural activities which support collaborative professional development in the teacher community. Teachers' in-service training programs should be more sensitive to the culture of teacher communities and teachers' reciprocal relations. Further, teacher trainers should design teachers' in-service training of web-based learning in co-evolution with supporting networks which include the media and artefacts as well as people.

Lagerverwaltung und Bestandsmanagement in dezentral gesteuerten Systemen

Die Verwaltung von Lagerbeständen in Unternehmen muss erhebliche Anforderungen an die Datenverfügbarkeit, -sicherheit und -konsistenz erfüllen. Dies wird heute durch eine zentrale Datenhaltung in Lagerverwaltungssystemen gewährleistet. Auf der anderen Seite ist in vielen Bereichen (z. B. Materialfluss- und Transportsteuerung, Produktionssteuerung) eine Entwicklungstendenz in Richtung dezentraler Steuerungsstrategien zu beobachten, welche eine erhöhte Flexibilität und reduzierte Komplexität versprechen. Im Rahmen eines von der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) geförderten Projekts werden im vorliegenden Beitrag Konzepte zur verteilten Gestaltung von Lagerverwaltungssystemen vorgestellt und diskutiert.

LQTS-associated mutation A257G in α1-syntrophin interacts with the intragenic variant P74L to modify its biophysical phenotype.

The SNTA1-encoded α1-syntrophin (SNTA1) missense mutation, p.A257G, causes long QT syndrome (LQTS) by pathogenic accentuation of Nav1.5's sodium current (I Na). Subsequently, we found p.A257G in combination with the SNTA1 polymorphism, p.P74L in 4 victims of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) as well as in 3 adult controls. We hypothesized that p.P74L-SNTA1 could functionally modify the pathogenic phenotype of p.A257G-SNTA1, thus explaining its occurrence in non-LQTS populations. The SNTA1 variants p.P74L, p.A257G, and the combination variant p.P74L/p.A257G were engineered using PCR-based overlap-extension and were co-expressed heterologously with SCN5A in HEK293 cells. I Na was recorded using the whole-cell method. Compared to wild-type (WT), the significant increase in peak I Na and window current found with p.A257G was reversed by the intragenic variant p.P74L (p.P74L/p.A257G). These results report for the first time the intragenic rescue of an LQT-associated SNTA1 mutation when found in combination with the SNTA1 polymorphism p.P74L, suggesting an ever-increasing picture of complexity in terms of genetic risk stratification for arrhythmia.

Quantitative MRI of spinal cord injury in a rat model: Correlative studies

Serial quantitative and correlative studies of experimental spinal cord injury (SCI) in rats were conducted using three-dimensional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Correlative measures included morphological histopathology, neurobehavioral measures of functional deficit, and biochemical assays for N-acetyl-aspartate (NAA), lactate, pyruvate, and ATP. A spinal cord injury device was characterized and provided a reproducible injury severity. Injuries were moderate and consistent to within $\pm$20% (standard deviation). For MRI, a three-dimensional implementation of the single spin-echo FATE (Fast optimum angle, short TE) pulse sequence was used for rapid acquisition, with a 128 x 128 x 32 (x,y,z) matrix size and a 0.21 x 0.21 x 1.5 mm resolution. These serial studies revealed a bimodal characteristic in the evolution in MRI pathology with time. Early and late phases of SCI pathology were clearly visualized in $T\sb2$-weighted MRI, and these corresponded to specific histopathological changes in the spinal cord. Centralized hypointense MRI regions correlated with evidence of hemorrhagic and necrotic tissue, while surrounding hyperintense regions represented edema or myelomalacia. Unexpectedly, $T\sb2$-weighted MRI pathology contrast at 24 hours after injury appeared to subside before peaking at 72 hours after injury. This change is likely attributable to ongoing secondary injury processes, which may alter local $T\sb2$ values or reduce the natural anisotropy of the spinal cord. MRI, functional, and histological measures all indicated that 72 hours after injury was the temporal maximum for quantitative measures of spinal cord pathology. Thereafter, significant improvement was seen only in neurobehavioral scores. Significant correlations were found between quantitated MRI pathology and histopathology. Also, NAA and lactate levels correlated with behavioral measures of the level of function deficit. Asymmetric (rostral/caudal) changes in NAA and lactate due to injury indicate that rostral and caudal segments from the injury site are affected differently by the injury. These studies indicate that volumetric quantitation of MRI pathology from $T\sb2$-weighted images may play an important role in early prediction of neurologic deficit and spinal cord pathology. The loss of $T\sb2$ contrast at 24 hours suggests MR may be able to detect certain delayed mechanisms of secondary injury which are not resolved by histopathology or other radiological modalities. Furthermore, in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS) studies of SCI may provide a valuable addition source of information about changes in regional spinal cord lactate and NAA levels, which are indicative of local metabolic and pathological changes. ^

A regional climate palaeosimulation for Europe in the period 1500–1990 – Part 2: Shortcomings and strengths of models and reconstructions

This study compares gridded European seasonal series of surface air temperature (SAT) and precipitation (PRE) reconstructions with a regional climate simulation over the period 1500–1990. The area is analysed separately for nine subareas that represent the majority of the climate diversity in the European sector. In their spatial structure, an overall good agreement is found between the reconstructed and simulated climate features across Europe, supporting consistency in both products. Systematic biases between both data sets can be explained by a priori known deficiencies in the simulation. Simulations and reconstructions, however, largely differ in the temporal evolution of past climate for European subregions. In particular, the simulated anomalies during the Maunder and Dalton minima show stronger response to changes in the external forcings than recorded in the reconstructions. Although this disagreement is to some extent expected given the prominent role of internal variability in the evolution of regional temperature and precipitation, a certain degree of agreement is a priori expected in variables directly affected by external forcings. In this sense, the inability of the model to reproduce a warm period similar to that recorded for the winters during the first decades of the 18th century in the reconstructions is indicative of fundamental limitations in the simulation that preclude reproducing exceptionally anomalous conditions. Despite these limitations, the simulated climate is a physically consistent data set, which can be used as a benchmark to analyse the consistency and limitations of gridded reconstructions of different variables. A comparison of the leading modes of SAT and PRE variability indicates that reconstructions are too simplistic, especially for precipitation, which is associated with the linear statistical techniques used to generate the reconstructions. The analysis of the co-variability between sea level pressure (SLP) and SAT and PRE in the simulation yields a result which resembles the canonical co-variability recorded in the observations for the 20th century. However, the same analysis for reconstructions exhibits anomalously low correlations, which points towards a lack of dynamical consistency between independent reconstructions.

Metabolism, oxidative stress and territorial behaviour in a female colour polymorphic cichlid fish

Intrasexual selection on body coloration is thought to play an important role in the evolution of colour polymorphism, but its physiological underpinnings have received limited attention. In the colour polymorphic cichlid Neochromis omnicaeruleus, three fully sympatric female colour morphs— a plain morph (P) and two conspicuously coloured blotched morphs, black-and-white blotched (WB) and orange blotched (OB)—differ in agonistic behaviour. We compared routine metabolic rate (when females were housed in social isolation), short-term energetic costs of interacting with a same-colour rival housed in an adjacent transparent chamber and oxidative stress between the three female colour morphs. WB females had a lower routine metabolic rate compared with the other colour morphs. WB females also had a lower active metabolic rate during inter-female interactions than OB females, while OB females used more oxygen per unit aggressive act than the other two colour morphs. However, there were no consistent differences in oxidative stress between the three morphs. Concerted divergence in colour, behaviour and metabolism might contribute to the evolution of these polymorphisms in sympatry.

Decomposing speed of information processing in elementary cognitive tasks

Many studies obtained reliable individual differences in speed of information processing (SIP) as measured by elementary cognitive tasks (ECTs). ECTs usually employ response times (RT) as measure of SIP, but different ECTs target different cognitive processes (e.g., simple or choice reaction, inhibition). Here we used modified versions of the Hick and the Eriksen Flanker task to examine whether these tasks assess dissociable or common aspects of SIP. In both tasks, task complexity was systematically varied across three levels. RT data were collected from 135 participants. Applying fixed-links modeling, RT variance increasing with task complexity was separated from RT variance unchanging across conditions. For each task, these aspects of variance were represented by two independent latent variables. The two latent variables representing RT variance not varying with complexity of the two tasks were virtually identical (r = .83). The latent variables representing increasing complexity in the two tasks were also highly correlated (r = .72) but clearly dissociable. Thus, RT measures contain both task-unspecific, person-related aspects of SIP as well as task-specific aspects indicating the cognitive processes manipulated with the respective task. Separating these aspects of SIP facilitates the interpretation of individual differences in RT.

The "Profiles" document: a modern revision of the objectives of undergraduate medical studies in Switzerland

The Joint Commission of the Swiss Medical Schools (SMIFK/CIMS) decided in 2000 to establish a Swiss Catalogue of Learning Objectives (SCLO) for undergraduate medical training, which was adapted from a similar Dutch blueprint. A second version of the SCLO was developed and launched in 2008. The catalogue is a prerequisite for the accreditation of the curricula of the six Swiss medical faculties and defines the contents of the Federal Licensing Examination (FLE). Given the evolution of the field of medicine and of medical education, the SMIFK/CIMS has decided to embark on a total revision of the SCLO. This article presents the proposed structure and content of Profiles, a new document which, in the future, will direct the format of undergraduate studies and of the FLE. Profiles stands for the Principal Relevant Objectives for Integrative Learning and Education in Switzerland. It is currently being developed by a group of experts from the six Swiss faculties as well as representatives of other institutions involved in these developments. The foundations of Profiles are grounded in the evolution of medical practice and of public health and are based on up-to-date teaching concepts, such as EPAs (entrustable professional activities). An introduction will cover the concepts and a tutorial will be displayed. Three main chapters will provide a description of the seven 2015 CanMEDS roles, a list of core EPAs and a series of ≈250 situations embracing the most frequent and current conditions affecting health. As Profiles is still a work in progress, it is hoped that this paper will attract the interest of all individuals involved in the training of medical students.

Origin and history of ureilitic material in the solar system: The view from asteroid 2008 TC3 and the Almahata Sitta meteorite

Asteroid 2008 TC3 (approximately 4m diameter) was tracked and studied in space for approximately 19h before it impacted Earth's atmosphere, shattering at 44-36km altitude. The recovered samples (>680 individual rocks) comprise the meteorite Almahata Sitta (AhS). Approximately 50-70% of these are ureilites (ultramafic achondrites). The rest are chondrites, mainly enstatite, ordinary, and Rumuruti types. The goal of this work is to understand how fragments of so many different types of parent bodies became mixed in the same asteroid. Almahata Sitta has been classified as a polymict ureilite with an anomalously high component of foreign clasts. However, we calculate that the mass of fallen material was 0.1% of the pre-atmospheric mass of the asteroid. Based on published data for the reflectance spectrum of the asteroid and laboratory spectra of the samples, we infer that the lost material was mostly ureilitic. Therefore, 2008 TC3 probably contained only a few percent nonureilitic materials, similar to other polymict ureilites except less well consolidated. From available data for the AhS meteorite fragments, we conclude that 2008 TC3 samples essentially the same range of types of ureilitic and nonureilitic materials as other polymict ureilites. We therefore suggest that the immediate parent of 2008 TC3 was the immediate parent of all ureilitic material sampled on Earth. We trace critical stages in the evolution of that material through solar system history. Based on various types of new modeling and re-evaluation of published data, we propose the following scenario. (1) The ureilite parent body (UPB) accreted 0.5-0.6Ma after formation of calcium-aluminum-rich inclusions (CAI), beyond the ice line (outer asteroid belt). Differentiation began approximately 1Ma after CAI. (2) The UPB was catastrophically disrupted by a major impact approximately 5Ma after CAI, with selective subsets of the fragments reassembling into daughter bodies. (3) Either the UPB (before breakup), or one of its daughters (after breakup), migrated to the inner belt due to scattering by massive embryos. (4) One daughter (after forming in or migrating to the inner belt) became the parent of 2008 TC3. It developed a regolith, mostly 3.8Ga ago. Clasts of enstatite, ordinary, and Rumuruti-type chondrites were implanted by low-velocity collisions. (5) Recently, the daughter was disrupted. Fragments were injected or drifted into Earth-crossing orbits. 2008 TC3 comes from outer layers of regolith, other polymict ureilites from deeper regolith, and main group ureilites from the interior of this body. In contrast to other models that have been proposed, this model invokes a stochastic history to explain the unique diversity of foreign materials in 2008 TC3 and other polymict ureilites.

Comparative studies of Hox genes in mammalian limb and vertebral pattern formation

Divergence of anterior-posterior (AP) limb pattern and differences in vertebral column morphology are the two main examples of mammalian evolution. The Hox genes (homeobox containing gene) have been implicated in driving evolution of these structures. However, regarding Hox genes, how they contribute to the generation of mammalian morphological diversities, is still unclear. Implementing comparative gene expression and phenotypic rescue studies for different mammalian Hox genes could aid in unraveling this mystery. In the first part of this thesis, the expression pattern of Hoxd13 gene, a key Hox gene in the establishment of the limb AP pattern, was examined in developing limbs of bats and mice. Bat forelimbs exhibit a pronounced asymmetric AP pattern and offer a good model to study the molecular mechanisms that contribute to the variety of mammalian limbs. The data showed that the expression domain of bat Hoxd13 was shifted prior to the asymmetric limb plate expansion, whereas its domain in mice was much more symmetric. This finding reveals a correlation between the divergence of Hoxd13 expression and the AP patterning difference in limb development. The second part of this thesis details a phenotypic rescue approach by human HOXB1-9 transgenes in mice with Hoxb1-9 deletion, The mouse mutants displayed homeosis in cervical and anterior thoracic vertebrae. The human transgenes entirely rescued the mouse mutants, suggesting that these human HOX genes have similar functions to their mouse orthologues in anterior axial skeletal patterning. The anterior expressing human HOXB transgenes such as HOXB1-3 were expressed in the mouse embryonic trunk in a similar manner as their murine orthologues. However, the anterior boundary of human HOXB9 expression domain was more posterior than that of the mouse Hoxb9 by 2-3 somites. These data provide the molecular support for the hypothesis that Hox genes are responsible for maintaining similar anterior axial skeletal architectures cervical and anterior thoracic regions, but different architectures in lumbar and posterior thoracic regions between humans and mice. ^

Rare earth and other element contents and speciations in samples from Core AKO26-35, Pacific Ocean, Southwest Basin

Ferromanganese micro- and macronodules in eupelagic clays at Site AKO26-35 in the Southwest Pacific Basin were studied in order to check REE distribution during ferromanganese ore formation in non-productive zones of the Pacific Ocean. Host sediments and their labile fraction, ferromanganese micronodules (in size fractions 50-100, 100-250, 250-500, and >500 ?m) from eupelagic clays (horizons 37-10, 105-110, 165-175, and 189-190 cm), and buried ferromanganese micronodules (horizons 64-68, 158-159, and 165-166 cm) were under study. Based on partition analysis data anomalous REE enrichment in eupelagic clays from Site AKO26-35 is related to accumulation of rare earth elements in iron hydroxophosphates. Concentration of Ce generally bound with manganese oxyhydroxides is governed by oxidation of Mn and Ce in ocean surface waters. Micronodules (with Mn/Fe from 0.7 to 1.6) inherit compositional features of the labile fraction of bottom sediments. Concentrations of Ce, Co, and Th depend on micronodule sizes. Enrichment of micronodules in hydrogenic or hydrothermal matter is governed by their sizes and by a dominant source of suspended oxyhydroxide material. The study of buried ferromanganese micronodules revealed general regularities in compositional evolution of oxyhydroxide matrices of ferromanganese micro- and macronodules. Compositional variation of micro- and macronodules relative to the labile fraction of sediments in the Pacific non-productive zone dramatically differs from the pattern in bioproductive zones where micronodule compositions in coarser fractions are similar to those in associated macronodules and labile fractions of host sediments due to more intense suboxidative diagenesis.