Body descriptions in biohacking and their overlaps and origins : a Swedish case study

This article researches what body descriptions are present within Swedish biohacking, what roots they have, and what overlaps they create between biohacking and other philosophical, political, and scientific discourses. As biohacking has become an increasingly popular subcultural influence incontemporary culture, not least when it comes to individual responsibility for ones health, the aim of the article is to show what other discourses are imported into the health discourse via the use of body descriptions. The study focuses on the most well known and influential Swedish biohacker, and the analysis is based on her use of body descriptions when communicating to her followers. Her use of body descriptions leads to transhumanism where the biological body is seen as a computer, libertarianism where the body is a stage for health entrepreneurism, and synthetic biology where the biological body is placed within a post genomic culture

Autonomous Driving via Imitation Learning in a Small-Scale Automotive Platform

Abstract In recent years, the advancement of autonomous driving (AD) technology has garnered significant interest. Traditionally, AD systems have relied on multiple submodules, each handling specific tasks such as perception, path planning, and vehicle control. However, an emerging alternative is the implementation of end-to-end systems, which directly process sensor input to predict vehicle control. While both reinforcement learning (RL) and imitation learning (IL) are utilized in end-to-end AD systems, RL often finds its strength in simulated environments, where agents learn through exploration and failure. In contrast, IL, learning from an expert model or human, proves more suitable for real-world applications, requiring substantially less data. This thesis presents an implementation of IL for achieving autonomous driving on a go-kart platform. Leveraging both behavioral cloning (BC) and Human Gated Dataset Aggregation (HG-DAgger), we compare the impact of using an interactive IL algorithm HG-DAgger compared to BC. Additionally, our research explores the use of different inputs, including color camera, stereo depth camera, IMU, and the position of ORB features. We also detail the development of a comprehensive software pipeline encompassing data collection, data formatting, model training, and go-kart control. For evaluation, the go-kart was driven around a track for three laps using the trained BC and HG-DAgger models, and assessed based on number of interventions required per lap, distance without accident, lap time, lap time deviation. The results from the evaluation indicate an improvement in performance from using HG-DAgger over BC as well as an improvement from using a stereo depth camera or the position of ORB features as supplementary inputs to the color camera and IMU

Is There a Paradigm Shift for On-Board Computing and Processing?

Today we see the need for increased processing performance, driven by increased digitalization and new services such as Software Defined Radio, real-time Image Processing and enhanced Compression techniques, Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning, Visual Navigation & Autonomous Control, Debris Removal etc. This, in combination with the bandwidth limitation in downlink channels present, the payload data needs to be processed and compressed on board before downlinked to the user on ground. Historically image processing in orbit has been performed using dedicated hardware and to certain extends software processing. These have been often, costly and in-flexible solutions, either using customized FPGAs or ASICs in order to achieve needed performance

Euploidy in somatic cells from R6/2 transgenic Huntington's disease mice

BACKGROUND: Huntington's disease (HD) is a hereditary neurodegenerative disorder caused by a CAG repeat expansion in the HD gene. The huntingtin protein expressed from HD has an unknown function but is suggested to interact with proteins involved in the cell division machinery. The R6/2 transgenic mouse is the most widely used model to study HD. In R6/2 fibroblast cultures, a reduced mitotic index and high frequencies of multiple centrosomes and aneuploid cells have recently been reported. Aneuploidy is normally a feature closely connected to neoplastic disease. To further explore this unexpected aspect of HD, we studied cultures derived from 6- and 12-week-old R6/2 fibroblasts, skeletal muscle cells, and liver cells. RESULTS: Cytogenetic analyses revealed a high frequency of polyploid cells in cultures from both R6/2 and wild-type mice with the greatest proportions of polyploid cells in cultures derived from skeletal muscle cells of both genotypes. The presence of polyploid cells in skeletal muscle in vivo was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridisation with centromeric probes. Enlarged and supernumerary centrosomes were found in cultures from both R6/2 and wild-type mice. However, no aneuploid cells could be found in any of the tissues. CONCLUSION: We conclude that polyploid cells are found in fibroblast and skeletal muscle cultures derived from both R6/2 and wild-type littermate mice and that aneuploidy is unlikely to be a hallmark of HD

Rättsskyddet som idrottare - Rätten att få ett uteslutningsbeslut prövat i domstol

Det finns väldigt många ideella föreningar vars verksamheter skiljer sig åt markant. Eftersom det inte finns någon speciallag rörande dessa, är rättstillämpningen rörande många frågor väldig rättsosäker. Som en naturlig följd härav, har domstolarna åtskiljt och kategoriserat de ideella föreningarna. Vid denna uppdelning har idrottsföreningar jämställts med sällskapsföreningar och åtskiljts från fackliga organisationer. Frågan är om samhällsutvecklingen har gjort att denna kategorisering inte längre kan anses tjänlig. Sigeman har ifrågasatt uppdelningen och poängterar likheterna mellan idrottsföreningar och fackliga organisationer, vilket inte har uppmärksammats av någon annan i doktrinen. Enligt min åsikt finns det anledning att utveckla Sigemans inställning, synnerligen eftersom han själv i princip inte har angett några grunder för sin uppfattning. Det är omöjligt att till fullo likställa dessa i många avseenden relativt olika typer av ideella föreningar. Istället är det legitimt att se de fackliga organisationerna som en utgångspunkt när idrottsföreningarna är föremål för rättstillämpningen.There are many non-profit associations, whose activity differ considerably. Since there is no applicable law for these associations, the adjudication process implies legal uncertainty in many cases. Therefore, the courts have seperated and categorized the non-profit associations. The sports associations and organizations for recreational activities have been qonsidered equal, and the sport associations have been seperated from the unions and bransch organisations. The question is if the development of society has made this categorization inappropriate. Sigeman has challenged the categorization and stresses the similarities between sports associations, unions and bransch organisations, wich have not been emphasized in the doctine before. In my opinion it is relevant to develop Sigeman’s approach, especially since he himself has failed to provide proof for his thesis. I also believe that it is impossible to completely equalize sports associations with unions and bransch organisations, since they vary significantly in some areas. Instead it is suitable to see the jurisdiction regardning unions as an example for the sports associations

Hypothalamic overexpression of mutant huntingtin causes dysregulation of brown adipose tissue.

Expression of mutant huntingtin (htt) protein has been shown to cause metabolic imbalance in animal models of Huntington disease (HD). The pathways involved are not fully understood but dysfunction of both the hypothalamus and brown adipose tissue (BAT) has been implicated. Here we show that targeted expression of mutant HTT in the hypothalamus leads to loss of the A13 dopaminergic cell group located in the zona incerta and reduced mRNA expression of neuropeptide Y1 receptor in the hypothalamus. Furthermore, this is accompanied by downregulation of uncoupling protein 1 expression and PPARγ coactivator-1 alpha in BAT and a rapid body weight gain. Taken together, our data might provide a mechanistic link between expression of mutant HTT, reduced activity of a hypothalamic dopaminergic pathway and dysfunction of BAT and in part explain the development of an obese phenotype in HD mouse models

Informellt lärda systemutvecklare: Är självlärande ett alternativ till formell utbildning?

Denna undersökning utforskar ett alternativ till formella utbildningar, en informell väg, till kunskap inom systemutveckling och programmering. Med hjälp av internet som primär kunskapskälla har dessa informellt lärda systemutvecklare lärt sig själva. Men är det gångbart att vara informellt lärd på dagens arbetsmarknad och hur skiljer sig en informellt lärd systemutvecklare från en formellt lärd? För att ta reda på detta vi gjort en kvalitativ analys genom att intervjua tre stycken informellt lärda systemutvecklare, respektive två formellt lärda samt tre arbetsgivare. I vår slutsats presenterar vi färdigheter som är typiska för informellt respektive formellt lärda systemutvecklare. I slutsatsen framgår det också om och varför det är möjligt att vara informellt lärd på dagens arbetsmarknad samt vilka faktorer som underlättar för att få en första fot in på arbetsmarknaden

Att surfa på den gröna vågen - Ett arbete om Corporate Social Responsibility, kundmedvetenhet och greenwashing inom turismbranschen

Problem: Idag implementerar allt fler företag olika typer av samhällsansvar, så kallat CSR-arbete, i sin verksamhet. Bredden i begreppet orsakar förvirring och problematik hos såväl företag som konsumenter. Detta i kombination med avsaknaden av en allmänt vedertagen definition och tydliga riktlinjer att följa i arbetet möjliggör för företag att ägna sig åt greenwashing. Syfte: Syftet med arbetet är att skapa större förståelse för den problematik som kan uppstå genom avsaknaden av en allmänt vedertagen definition av CSR, med fokus på greenwashing. Vi ämnar undersöka potentiella turismkonsumenters kunskap och medvetenhet i relation till termen CSR, samt huruvida denna medvetenhet påverkar deras resande och därmed ställer krav på företagen. Arbetet syftar även till att undersöka hur två olika turismföretag kan välja att arbeta med CSR, hur de förhåller sig till problematiken med greenwashing samt vilka problem och möjligheter de möter i sitt ansvarstagande arbete. Metod: Abduktivt arbetssätt, enkätundersökning och mailintervjuer. Resultat: Arbetet indikerar att turismkonsumenters medvetenhet är bristfällig vad gäller bland annat resandets påverkan, och problematiken med CSR, samtidigt som tilliten till företagen är hög. Dessa faktorer möjliggör greenwashing inom turismbranschen, men kan också ses som resultatet av problematiken

Outbreaks of Tularemia in a Boreal Forest Region Depends on Mosquito Prevalence

Background. We aimed to evaluate the potential association of mosquito prevalence in a boreal forest area with transmission of the bacterial disease tularemia to humans, and model the annual variation of disease using local weather data

Investigating the Relationships Between Hypothalamic Volume and Measures of Circadian Rhythm and Habitual Sleep in Premanifest Huntington’s Disease

Objective: Pathological changes within the hypothalamus have been proposed to mediate circadian rhythm and habitual sleep disturbances in individuals with Huntington’s disease (HD). However, investigations examining the relationships between hypothalamic volume and circadian rhythm and habitual sleep in individuals with HD are sparse. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the relationships between hypothalamic pathology and circadian rhythm and habitual sleep disturbances in individuals with premanifest HD. Methods: Thirty-two individuals with premanifest HD and twenty-nine healthy age- and gender-matched controls participated in this dual-site, cross-sectional study. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were performed to evaluate hypothalamic volume. Circadian rhythm and habitual sleep were assessed via measurement of morning and evening cortisol and melatonin levels, wrist-worn actigraphy, the Consensus Sleep Diary and sleep questionnaires. Information on mood, physical activity levels and body composition were also collected. Results: Compared to healthy controls, individuals with premanifest HD displayed significantly reduced grey matter volume in the hypothalamus, decreased habitual sleep efficiency and increased awakenings; however, no alterations in morning cortisol or evening melatonin release were noted in individuals with premanifest HD. While differences in the associations between hypothalamic volume and cortisol and melatonin output existed in individuals with premanifest HD compared to healthy controls, no consistent associations were observed between hypothalamic volume and circadian rhythm or habitual sleep outcomes. Conclusion: While significant differences in associations between hypothalamic volume and cortisol and melatonin existed between individuals with premanifest HD and healthy controls, no differences in circadian markers were observed between the groups. This suggests that circadian regulation is maintained despite hypothalamic pathology, perhaps via neural compensation. Longitudinal studies are required to further understand the relationships between the hypothalamus and circadian rhythm and habitual sleep disturbances in HD as the disease course lengthens