Data Science for all : a stroll in the foothills.

Data science presents both opportunities and threats to conventional statistics courses. Opportunities include being at the bleeding edge of data analysis, and learning new ways to model phenomena; threats include the challenge of learning new skills and reviewing fundamental assumptions about explanation, prediction and modeling. Powerful data visualisations makes it easier to introduce students to fundamental statistical ideas associated with multivariate data. Data science provides methods to tackle problems that are intractable using analytic methods. Students need to learn how to model complex problems, and to understand the problematic nature of modeling – and they need to consider the practical and ethical implications of their (and others’) work. Here, we offer a stroll into the foothills, along with aphorisms and heuristics for data analysts

Processing of DMSP magnetic data: Handbook of programs, tapes, and datasets

The DMSP F-7 satellite was an operational Air Force meteorological satellite which carried a magnetometer for geophysical measurements. The magnetometer was located within the body of the spacecraft in the presence of large spacecraft fields. In addition to stray magnetic fields, the data have inherent position and time inaccuracies. Algorithms were developed to identify and remove time varying magnetic field noise from the data. These algorithms are embodied in an automated procedure which fits a smooth curve through the data and then identifies outliers and which filters the predominant Fourier component of noise from the data. Techniques developed for Magsat were then modified and used to attempt determination of the spacecraft fields, of any rotation between the magnetometer axes and the spacecraft axes, and of any scale changes within the magnetometer itself. Software setup and usage are documented and program listings are included in the Appendix. The initial and resulting data are archived on magnetic cartridge and the formats are documented

A response to White and Gorard: Against inferential statistics: How and why current statistics teaching gets it wrong

White and Gorard make important and relevant criticisms of some of the methods commonly used in social science research, but go further by criticising the logical basis for inferential statistical tests. This paper comments briefly on matters we broadly agree on with them and more fully on matters where we disagree. We agree that too little attention is paid to the assumptions underlying inferential statistical tests, to the design of studies, and that p-values are often misinterpreted. We show why we believe their argument concerning the logic of inferential statistical tests is flawed, and how White and Gorard misrepresent the protocols of inferential statistical tests, and make brief suggestions for rebalancing the statistics curriculum

Symmetric diffeomorphic modeling of longtudinal structural MRI

This technology report describes the longitudinal registration approach that we intend to incorporate into SPM12. It essentially describes a group-wise intra-subject modeling framework, which combines diffeomorphic and rigid-body registration, incorporating a correction for the intensity inhomogeneity artifact usually seen in MRI data. Emphasis is placed on achieving internal consistency and accounting for many of the mathematical subtleties that most implementations overlook. The implementation was evaluated using examples from the OASIS Longitudinal MRI Data in Non-demented and Demented Older Adults

Proposed sampling methods for the Madagascar regional geochemical mapping project

This report was prepared prior to the commencement of the Madagascar geochemical sampling in June 2005. In the absence of any orientation phase for the project, the suggested sampling methodology is based on the experience gained from previous international geochemical mapping projects, particularly Mauritania and Morocco. Detailed procedures for collecting stream sediment and panned concentrate samples are given along with information on how sites and samples should be numbered and sample field cards completed. The annexes to the report contain useful information that will be relevant and helpful to the project