Algorithms that forget: Machine unlearning and the right to erasure

rticle 17 of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) contains a right for the data subject to obtain the erasure of personal data. The right to erasure in the GDPR gives, however, little clear guidance on how controllers processing personal data should erase the personal data to meet the requirements set out in Article 17. Machine Learning (ML) models that have been trained on personal data are downstream derivatives of the personal data used in the training data set of the ML process. A characteristic of ML is the non-deterministic nature of the learning process. The non-deterministic nature of ML poses significant difficulties in determining whether the personal data in the training data set affects the internal weights and adjusted parameters of the ML model. As a result, invoking the right to erasure in ML and to erase personal data from a ML model is a challenging task. This paper explores the complexities of enforcing and complying with the right to erasure in a ML context. It examines how novel developments in machine unlearning methods relate to Article 17 of the GDPR. Specifically, the paper delves into the intricacies of how personal data is processed in ML models and how the right to erasure could be implemented in such models. The paper also provides insights into how newly developed machine unlearning techniques could be applied to make ML models more GDPR compliant. The research aims to provide a functional understanding and contribute to a better comprehension of the applied challenges associated with the right to erasure in ML

The third country problem under the GDPR: enhancing protection of data transfers with technology

The overall objective of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR)1 is two-fold: To contribute to the protection of privacy and personal data and to promote the free flow of personal data within the protected area2 through uniform regulations and homogenized interpretations of those regulations. If a controller or processor in the protected area (the exporter) transfers personal data to a country, region, or international organization outside the EEA, the exporter gets the advantage of the free flow of personal data to an area without homogenized data protection rules and interpretations. Under such circumstances, it is imperative to establish requirements that contribute to the initial objective of the GDPR, the protection of privacy and personal data. In EU data protection law, this requirement is known as the ‘essentially equivalent’ requirement.4 If personal data are to be transferred outside the protected area, the receiving country must have a level of personal data protection ‘essentially equivalent’ to the protected area

An EST-based approach for identifying genes expressed in the intestine and gills of pre-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar)

BACKGROUND: The Atlantic salmon is an important aquaculture species and a very interesting species biologically, since it spawns in fresh water and develops through several stages before becoming a smolt, the stage at which it migrates to the sea to feed. The dramatic change of habitat requires physiological, morphological and behavioural changes to prepare the salmon for its new environment. These changes are called the parr-smolt transformation or smoltification, and pre-adapt the salmon for survival and growth in the marine environment. The development of hypo-osmotic regulatory ability plays an important part in facilitating the transition from rivers to the sea. The physiological mechanisms behind the developmental changes are largely unknown. An understanding of the transformation process will be vital to the future of the aquaculture industry. A knowledge of which genes are expressed prior to the smoltification process is an important basis for further studies. RESULTS: In all, 2974 unique sequences, consisting of 779 contigs and 2195 singlets, were generated for Atlantic salmon from two cDNA libraries constructed from the gills and the intestine, accession numbers [Genbank: CK877169-CK879929, CK884015-CK886537 and CN181112-CN181464]. Nearly 50% of the sequences were assigned putative functions because they showed similarity to known genes, mostly from other species, in one or more of the databases used. The Swiss-Prot database returned significant hits for 1005 sequences. These could be assigned predicted gene products, and 967 were annotated using Gene Ontology (GO) terms for molecular function, biological process and/or cellular component, employing an annotation transfer procedure. CONCLUSION: This paper describes the construction of two cDNA libraries from pre-smolt Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and the subsequent EST sequencing, clustering and assigning of putative function to 1005 genes expressed in the gills and/or intestine

Association of landscape and environmental variables with the recruitment of the freshwater pearl mussel (Margaritifera margaritifera) in Norway

Using data from 309 localities with freshwater pearl mussel, Margaritifera margaritifera, in Norway, we analyzed the effect of several landscape and environmental variables on this species’ recruitment. Median summer air temperature and, to a lesser extent, percentage wetland cover in the catchment were the strongest (negative) influences on recruitment. This is the first study to show an effect of air temperature on recruitment across a wide range of populations. The results are of importance for the conservation of the species, particularly in the context of climate change. Margaritifera margaritifera Recruitment Norway Air temperature Wetland coverpublishedVersio

Kidney function and markers of renal damage after renal denervation. Does method of measurement matter? The Reshape CV-Risk Study

Data suggest that renal denervation (RDN) in treatment-resistant hypertension (TRHT) is safe in terms of renal function. However, most studies report kidney function as creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), which may be biased by non-renal factors. Damage markers other than albuminuria have never been evaluated after RDN. In this non-randomized RDN trial, we studied changes in kidney function, assessed as measured GFR (mGFR) and various GFR estimates, six months and two years after RDN. We also examined changes in albuminuria and a biomarker of tubular dysfunction. Adult non-diabetic patients with TRHT and eGFR ≥45 ml/min/1.73 m2 were recruited from hypertension clinics. Before bilateral RDN, mGFR was measured by iohexol clearance. We estimated eGFR from serum creatinine and cystatin C (eGFRcrea, eGFRcys, and eGFRcreacys), and albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR) and N-acetyl-β-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)-creatinine ratio (NAG-CR) were measured in spot urines. All measurements were repeated after six and twenty-four months. Twenty patients, mean age 54 (±9) years and baseline mGFR 83 (±20) ml/min/1.73 m2 underwent RDN. After six months, mGFR fell, eGFRcrea remained unchanged, whereas eGFRcys and eGFRcreacys increased. At 2 years’ follow-up, eGFRcreacys was significantly lower than at baseline. mGFR was 78 (±28) ml/min/1.73 m2. Change in ambulatory systolic BP predicted change in eGFRcrea. Urinary NAG-CR, but not ACR, increased during follow-up. Different GFR assessments gave diverging results after RDN. Therefore, care should be taken to method when evaluating kidney function after RDN. Increases in a tubular dysfunction biomarker suggest that kidney damage may occur. Long-term renal follow-up is needed after RDN

Modelled salmon lice dispersion and infestation patterns in a sub-arctic fjord

Salmon lice infestation is a major challenge for the aquaculture industry in Norway, threatening wild salmonid populations and causing welfare problems for farmed salmon. Lice dispersion and infestation patterns are simulated by combining a high-resolution hydrodynamic model for the Norwegian coast and fjords with an individual-based model for salmon lice. We here present results from Altafjorden, a sub-arctic fjord with large stocks of wild salmonids, where the inner part is protected as a National Salmon Fjord. The outer part of the fjord hosts several fish farms, and our simulations demonstrate how ocean currents can disperse lice between farms as well as into the protected part of the fjord. The relative contributions from the farms in the different parts of the fjord depends on their locations relative to the currents and circulation patterns in the fjord. Knowledge of how the highly variable water currents disperse salmon lice within fjord systems is necessary for managing farm locations and production quotas, if the goal is to minimize infestation pressure on wild salmonids and between fish farms.publishedVersio

Effects of biometrics, location and persistent organic pollutants on blood clinical-chemical parameters in polar bears (Ursus maritimus) from Svalbard, Norway

Embargo until 31 May 2020.In the present study, blood clinical-chemical parameters (BCCPs) were analysed in 20 female and 18 male Svalbard polar bears (Ursus maritimus) captured in spring 2007. The aim was to study how age, body condition (BC), biometrics, plasma lipid content and geographical location may confound the relationship between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) including PCBs, HCB, chlordanes, DDTs, HCHs, mirex and OH-PCBs and the concentrations of 12 specific BCCPs (hematocrit [HCT], hemoglobin [HB], aspartate aminotransferase [ASAT], alanine aminotransferase [ALAT], γ-glutamyltransferase [GGT], creatine kinase [CK], triglycerides [TG], cholesterol [CHOL], high-density lipoprotein [HDL], creatinine (CREA], urea, potassium (K]), and to investigate if any of these BCCPs may be applied as potential biomarkers for POP exposure in polar bears. Initial PCA and O-PLS modelling showed that age, lipids, BC and geographical location (longitude and latitude) were important parameters explaining BCCPs in females. Following subsequent partial correlation analyses correcting for age and lipids, multiple POPs in females were still significantly correlated with HCT and HDL (all p < 0.05). In males, age, BM, BC and longitude were important parameters explaining BCCPs. Following partial correlation analyses correcting for age, biometrics, lipids and longitude in males, multiple POPs were significantly correlated with HCT, ASAT, GGT and CHOL (all p < 0.05). In conclusion, several confounding parameters has to be taken into account when studying the relations between BCCPs and POPs in polar bears. When correcting for these, in particular HCT may be used as a simple cost-efficient biomarker of POP exposure in polar bears. Furthermore, decreasing HDL concentrations and increasing CHOL concentration with increasing POP concentrations may indicate responses related to increased risk of cardiovascular disease. We therefore suggest to further study POP exposure and lipidome response to increase knowledge of the risk of cardiometabolic syndrome in polar bears.acceptedVersio

Efficacy of mobilisation with movement in chronic shoulder pain: Protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis of controlled trials

Introduction Shoulder pain affects approximately one in four adults and is thus one of the most common musculoskeletal problems. Only 50% of patients who begin treatment for shoulder pain are cured within 6 months. There is a need for systematic reviews to estimate the effectiveness of shoulder treatments. We decided to evaluate the effect of mobilisation with movement (MWM) on chronic shoulder pain in a systematic review. Methods and analysis The review will include controlled trial articles identified via five electronic databases (PubMed, Embase, Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Physiotherapy Evidence Database and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials), reference lists, citations searches and experts in the field. Only controlled trials involving participants with a mean duration of pain of ≥3 months, in which the effectiveness of MWM has been compared with non-invasive treatments, sham mobilisation or wait-and-see will be included. The included trials will be synthesised with random effects meta-analyses. Risk-of-bias will be assessed with the Physiotherapy Evidence Database 0–10 point scale. Ethics and dissemination The review does not require ethics approval as it is based on anonymised data from trial reports. The results of the review will be disseminated through a peer-reviewed publication.publishedVersio

A novel probabilistic survey method for at sea sampling in pelagic fisheries – the Norwegian catch sampling lottery

Reliable information on the age- and size-structure of the annual harvest of major commercial fish stocks is crucial input to analytical stock assessments. Such information is usually obtained from landing data (census of biomass) combined with biological sampling of selected landings. In this paper we describe a novel catch sampling method that we have developed and implemented for the major Norwegian pelagic fisheries that have annual landings around 1 million tonnes in recent years. The new sampling regime gradually implemented from 2018 is based on three pillars; probabilistic sampling of hauls, use of electronic logbook, and co-sampling. By a minor modification of the electronic logbook the vessels in the pelagic fishery now report the catch quantity at haul level immediately after each catch operation. This electronic report is automatically submitted to the Institute of Marine Research (IMR), where a random draw by computer in real time determines if a small sample of fish should be taken from that haul by the fishermen and be frozen and transported to IMR for analysis. Nearly 100% of the hauls annually goes through this “lottery”, and compliance (fraction of samples received) is currently around 60% and increasing. The sampling regime has been operationalized in cooperation with the fishing industry.publishedVersio

Modellering av lakseluskopepoditter langs norskekysten – sammenligning mellom gammel og ny partikkelspredningsmodell

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