Políticas de integración de tecnologías y formación inicial de maestros en Uruguay

This article takes into discussion as problematic Initial Teacher Training (ITT) of Basic Education in Uruguay and analyses the place of information and communication technologies (ICT) in it, and also how they are influenced (Ball, 1998, 2001; Bowe, Ball Gold, 1992) by international policies and how they are recontextualized (Bernstein, 1993, 1998). The questions that guide the study are: What did the Global Agenda on ICT stated in the ITT? What influences do these policies have on ITT? How recontextualization process occurs? In the empirical part, the study collected and analyzed ITT plans and interviews with the director of the course, training teachers and students who are doing their teaching practice. These data, processed by content analysis, suggests that there is a global agenda that points to the need of ICT integration in education, and as a result, initial teacher training should have content that ensures the effective use ICT. This global agenda influences Uruguay’s education policies which are recontextualized through institutional practices that have to adapt to students and teacher’s needs. Nevertheless, at teacher training level, an investment is needed in order to achieve the objectives towards policies that aim at ICT integration.Este artículo, teniendo como problemática la Formación Inicial de Maestros (FIM) en Uruguay, analiza el lugar que en ella tienen las TIC  y cuáles son las influencias (Ball, 1998, 2001; Bowe, Ball Gold, 1992) que ejercen las políticas internacionales y cómo son recontextualizadas (Bernstein, 1993, 1998). Constituyen preguntas orientadores del estudio: ¿Qué dice la Agenda Global sobre las TIC en la FIM? ¿Qué influencia tienen estas políticas en la FIM? ¿Cómo ocurren procesos de recontextualización? En la componente empírica, el estudio recogió y analizó planes de FIM y entrevistas al director del curso, profesores que aseguran la formación y estudiantes que están realizando su práctica docente. Estos datos, tratados por análisis de contenido, permiten concluir que existe una agenda global que apunta a la necesidad de integración de las TIC en la educación, y como consecuencia de esto, los planes de formación inicial docente deben atender cuestiones que aseguren un uso efectivo de las tecnologías. Esta agenda global influencia las políticas educativas de Uruguay, las que sufren procesos de recontextualización a través de prácticas institucionales que las tienen que adaptar a las necesidades de los estudiantes y profesores. A pesar de eso, a nivel de la formación de maestros, aún es necesario un investimento que permita alcanzar los objetivos hacia los que apuntan las políticas de integración de las TIC. Este artigo, tendo como problemática a Formação Inicial de Professores (FIP) do Ensino Básico no Uruguai, analisa o lugar que nela têm as TIC e quais são as influências (Ball, 1998, 2001; Bowe, Ball Gold, 1992) que exercem as políticas internacionais e como são recontextualizadas (Bernstein, 1993, 1998). Constituem perguntas orientadoras do estudo: O que diz a Agenda Global sobre as TIC na FIP? Que influências têm estas políticas na FIP? Como ocorrem processos de recontextualização? Na componente empírica, o estudo recolhe e analisa planos de FIP e entrevistas ao diretor da instituição, professores que asseguram a formação e estudantes que estão em situação de estágio da prática docente. Estes dados foram tratados por análise de conteúdo e permitem concluir da existência de uma agenda global que aponta para a necessidade da integração das TIC na educação, e que deve ter como consequência planos de FIP que atendam a questões que assegurem o uso efetivo das TIC. Esta agenda global influencia as políticas educativas do Uruguai, que sofrem processos de recontextualização através de práticas institucionais que as adaptam às necessidades de estudantes e de professores. No entanto, a nível da FIP do Ensino Básico ainda é necessário um investimento que permita atingir os objetivos para que apontam as políticas de integração das TIC

A Generalized Approach for Testing the Association of a Set of Predictors with an Outcome: A Gene Based Test

In many analyses, one has data on one level but desires to draw inference on another level. For example, in genetic association studies, one observes units of DNA referred to as SNPs, but wants to determine whether genes that are comprised of SNPs are associated with disease. While there are some available approaches for addressing this issue, they usually involve making parametric assumptions and are not easily generalizable. A statistical test is proposed for testing the association of a set of variables with an outcome of interest. No assumptions are made about the functional form relating the variables to the outcome. A general function is fit using any statistical learning algorithm, with the SuperLearner algorithm suggested. The parameter of interest is the cross-validated risk and this is compared to an expected risk. A Wald test is proposed using the influence curve of the cross-validated risk to obtain the variance. It is shown both theoretically and via simulation that the test maintains appropriate type I error control and is more powerful than parametric tests under more general alternatives. The test is applied to an MS candidate gene study. Three separate analyses are performed highlighting the flexibility of the approach

XISMuS x-ray fluorescence imaging software for multiple samples

X-rays have long been used as a non-destructive analytical technique to investigate artefacts and objects that can be considered cultural heritage. With the unceasing development of technologies and miniaturization of electronics, X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis has undergone a natural evolution, being now extensively used in a bi-dimensional manner, scanning whole surfaces and generating astonishing amounts of data. Evaluating all this data demands a software distribution or at least a stand-alone algorithm. The former being an obvious choice, as software are easy to install and the learning curve is fast. Moreover, developing a proprietary algorithm is time consuming and not always needed for the average user. In this scope, XIMuS was developed as an ad hoc software for macro-XRF analysis (MA-XRF), with an intuitive and simple graphical user interface (GUI). The software provides several built-in tools, staple for the interpretation of X-ray fluorescence data, automated data evaluation and some novelty functionalities as data stitching. XISMuS creates an iterative user database as samples are loaded and compiled through usage, facilitating navigation through different datasets. Simultaneous samples can be loaded in separate instances for comparison purposes. Elemental mapping is made simple, the methods available are described and have each one an application for fast, balanced or precise calculations, supporting parallel computing. Ratios between elements in specific regions of the image can be measured while a region-derived spectrum is shown and updated live. Image correlation can be performed supporting the usage of threshold filters and/or region selection. Batch exporting is also available, cross-normalizing the input datasets

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An application of Random Forests to a genome-wide association dataset: Methodological considerations & new findings

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>As computational power improves, the application of more advanced machine learning techniques to the analysis of large genome-wide association (GWA) datasets becomes possible. While most traditional statistical methods can only elucidate main effects of genetic variants on risk for disease, certain machine learning approaches are particularly suited to discover higher order and non-linear effects. One such approach is the Random Forests (RF) algorithm. The use of RF for SNP discovery related to human disease has grown in recent years; however, most work has focused on small datasets or simulation studies which are limited.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using a multiple sclerosis (MS) case-control dataset comprised of 300 K SNP genotypes across the genome, we outline an approach and some considerations for optimally tuning the RF algorithm based on the empirical dataset. Importantly, results show that typical default parameter values are not appropriate for large GWA datasets. Furthermore, gains can be made by sub-sampling the data, pruning based on linkage disequilibrium (LD), and removing strong effects from RF analyses. The new RF results are compared to findings from the original MS GWA study and demonstrate overlap. In addition, four new interesting candidate MS genes are identified, <it>MPHOSPH9, CTNNA3, PHACTR2 </it>and <it>IL7</it>, by RF analysis and warrant further follow-up in independent studies.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>This study presents one of the first illustrations of successfully analyzing GWA data with a machine learning algorithm. It is shown that RF is computationally feasible for GWA data and the results obtained make biologic sense based on previous studies. More importantly, new genes were identified as potentially being associated with MS, suggesting new avenues of investigation for this complex disease.</p

A utilização da citogenética convencional e molecular na investigação de abortos espontâneos

Os abortos são frequentes na vida reprodutiva humana e podem ser do tipo espontâneo quando ocorrem antes da 20ª semana de gestação. O campo da citogenética, é aquele que estuda os cromossomos e suas peculiaridades, através dele é possível investigar as possíveis causas da perda, possibilitando assim a obtenção de respostas para alguns questionamentos advindos da perda gestacional, principalmente para a mulher, além de ser uma ferramenta importante no aconselhamento de casais. Trata-se de uma revisão narrativa como o objetivo de elucidar a importância da realização da citogenética convencional e molecular em perdas gestacionais espontâneas, devido ao impacto social causado por este e a possível contribuição através da obtenção de dados genéticos resultantes da investigação, elucidando assim a importância de tais exames serem incluídos na rotina hospitalar