Alexandria Holen & Martin Moreno Interviewing Abby Miller

This is the transcript of the interview that Alexandria Holen and Martin Moreno had with Abby Miller on December 7th, 2020. Abby Miller is the President of the Pre-Pt club at Humboldt, so the interviewed involved a student\u27s view and a club organization. Within the interview, Miller discussing how this pandemic has been a challenge but was bale to find some benefits as well. She told how the club was doing and what a club looks like now during COVID. Abby talks us through what her day looked like before and after COVID. The feelings of other students is brought up and how professor seem to doing from a student\u27s view

Development of a Simulator for Prototyping Reinforcement Learning based Autonomous Cars

Autonomous driving is a research field that has received attention in recent years, with increasing applications of reinforcement learning (RL) algorithms. It is impractical to train an autonomous vehicle thoroughly in the physical space, i.e., the so-called ’real world’; therefore, simulators are used in almost all training of autonomous driving algorithms. There are numerous autonomous driving simulators, very few of which are specifically targeted at RL. RL-based cars are challenging due to the variety of reward functions available. There is a lack of simulators addressing many central RL research tasks within autonomous driving, such as scene understanding, localization and mapping, planning and driving policies, and control, which have diverse requirements and goals. It is, therefore, challenging to prototype new RL projects with different simulators, especially when there is a need to examine several reward functions at once. This paper introduces a modified simulator based on the Udacity simulator, made for autonomous cars using RL. It creates reward functions, along with sensors to create a baseline implementation for RL-based vehicles. The modified simulator also resets the vehicle when it gets stuck or is in a non-terminating loop, making it more reliable. Overall, the paper seeks to make the prototyping of new systems simple, with the testing of different RL-based systems.Development of a Simulator for Prototyping Reinforcement Learning based Autonomous CarspublishedVersio

Design of, and Learning from Simulator-based Contingency Training in Aquaculture

Contingency training in sea-based aquaculture becomes an increasingly important part of the emergency preparedness. Like other industries, this is especially related to new technologies being introduced to support critical emergency preparedness functions, as well as communication technology and new ways of interaction between involved parties in crisis situations. Simulators adapted to the relevant physical environments are useful approaches for contingency training as part of the emergency preparedness. Such means makes it possible to practice for activities and decisions in realistic emergency preparedness situations that are difficult to carry out in a real physical environment. There exist simulator centres in Norway adapted for training in both normal operations and emergency situations. These centres are mostly aimed at the maritime industry but have not so far covered the specific needs seen in the aquaculture industry when it comes to emergency preparedness. This paper documents the process and knowledge gained by taking part in the planning work with industrial partners leading up to a contingency exercise, observing its execution-, and the evaluation afterwards. By carrying out this pilot of a simulator-based contingency exercise, the industry partners in collaboration with research partners will achieve a basis for further testing, evaluation, and development of contingency training fitted for the needs in the aquaculture industry.publishedVersio

Towards Using Reinforcement Learning for Autonomous Docking of Unmanned Surface Vehicles

Author's accepted manuscriptProviding full autonomy to Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USV) is a challenging goal to achieve. Autonomous docking is a subtask that is particularly difficult. The vessel has to distinguish between obstacles and the dock, and the obstacles can be either static or moving. This paper developed a simulator using Reinforcement Learning (RL) to approach the problem. We studied several scenarios for the task of docking a USV in a simulator environment. The scenarios were defined with different sensor inputs and start-stop procedures but a simple shared reward function. The results show that the system solved the task when the IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) and GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System) sensors were used to estimate the state, despite the simplicity of the reward function.acceptedVersio

Patient-reported outcome measures after hip fracture in patients with chronic cognitive impairment: results from 34.675 patients in the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register

Aims: Hip fracture patients have high morbidity and mortality. Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) assess the quality of care of patients with hip fracture, including those with chronic cognitive impairment (CCI). Our aim was to compare PROMs from hip fracture patients with and without CCI, using the Norwegian Hip Fracture Register (NHFR). Methods: PROM questionnaires at four months (n = 34,675) and 12 months (n = 24,510) after a hip fracture reported from 2005 to 2018 were analyzed. Pre-injury score was reported in the four-month questionnaire. The questionnaires included the EuroQol five-dimension three-level (EQ-5D-3L) questionnaire, and information about who completed the questionnaire. Results: Of the 34,675 included patients, 5,643 (16%) had CCI. Patients with CCI were older (85 years vs 81 years) (p < 0.001), and had a higher American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification compared to patients without CCI. CCI was unrelated to fracture type and treatment method. EQ-5D index scores were lower in patients with CCI after four months (0.37 vs 0.60; p < 0.001) and 12 months (0.39 vs 0.64; p < 0.001). Patients with CCI had lower scores for all dimensions of the EQ-5D-3L pre-fracture and at four and 12 months. Conclusion: Patients with CCI reported lower health-related quality of life pre-fracture, at four and 12 months after the hip fracture. PROM data from hip fracture patients with CCI are valuable in the assessment of treatment. Patients with CCI should be included in future studies.publishedVersio

Nordic survey on assessment and treatment of fluid overload in intensive care

Funding Information: Acknowledgment to the physicians who helped with pretesting and supervision in the development of the survey: Maj Kjaergaard Kamper, Margrethe Duch Christensen, Lars Hein, Ulrik Skram, Dorthea Christensen, and Christian Sahl. Acknowledgment to the physicians who helped distribute the survey in their departments: Jon Henrik Laake, Christoffer Grant Sølling, Peter Toft, Elsebeth Haunstrup, Karina Baekby Houborg, Anne Højager Nielsen, Bodil Steen Rasmussen, Hansjörg Selter, Helle Scharling Pedersen, Mette Krag Vogelius, Thomas Strøm, Bjørn Mygil, Mads Kristian Holten, Michelle Chew, Per Martin Bådstøløkken, Johan Olsson, Erik Bruno, Thomas Kander, Nicklas Jonsson, Johan Mårtensson, Mattias Ringh, Anders, Paulsson, Christian Kahlbom, Marcus Castegren, Michael Haney, Karl Silvhamn, Minna Tallgren, Erika Wilkman, Sari Karlsson, Timo Porkkala, Stepani Bendel, Juha Koskenkari, Sami Mäenpää, Ari Alaspää, Tadeusz Kaminski, Johanna Kaunisto, Sanna-Maria Pohjanpaju, Björn Jäschke, Jouko Kähkönen and Antti Mäkelä, Eirik Alnes Buanes, Christian Magnus Langberg, Per Erik Ernø, Kay Rudi Karlsen, and Anne Cecilie Tvedten. Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Zeuthen, Wichmann, Schønemann-Lund, Järvisalo, Rubenson-Wahlin, Sigurðsson, Holen and Bestle.Introduction: Fluid overload in patients in the intensive care unit (ICU) is associated with higher mortality. There are few randomized controlled trials to guide physicians in treating patients with fluid overload in the ICU, and no guidelines exist. We aimed to elucidate how ICU physicians from Nordic countries define, assess, and treat fluid overload in the ICU. Materials and methods: We developed an online questionnaire with 18 questions. The questions were pre-tested and revised by specialists in intensive care medicine. Through a network of national coordinators. The survey was distributed to a wide range of Nordic ICU physicians. The distribution started on January 5th, 2022 and ended on May 6th, 2022. Results: We received a total of 1,066 responses from Denmark, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Iceland. When assessing fluid status, respondents applied clinical parameters such as clinical examination findings, cumulative fluid balance, body weight, and urine output more frequently than cardiac/lung ultrasound, radiological appearances, and cardiac output monitoring. A large proportion of the respondents agreed that a 5% increase or more in body weight from baseline supported the diagnosis of fluid overload. The preferred de-resuscitation strategy was diuretics (91%), followed by minimization of maintenance (76%) and resuscitation fluids (71%). The majority declared that despite mild hypotension, mild hypernatremia, and ongoing vasopressor, they would not withhold treatment of fluid overload and would continue diuretics. The respondents were divided when it came to treating fluid overload with loop diuretics in patients receiving noradrenaline. Around 1% would not administer noradrenaline and diuretics simultaneously and 35% did not have a fixed upper limit for the dosage. The remaining respondents 63% reported different upper limits of noradrenaline infusion (0.05–0.50 mcg/kg/min) when administering loop diuretics. Conclusion: Self-reported practices among Nordic ICU physicians when assessing, diagnosing, and treating fluid overload reveals variability in the practice. A 5% increase in body weight was considered a minimum to support the diagnosis of fluid overload. Clinical examination findings were preferred for assessing, diagnosing and treating fluid overload, and diuretics were the preferred treatment modality.Peer reviewe

Transcriptional and functional effects of lithium in bipolar disorder iPSC-derived cortical spheroids

Lithium (Li) is recommended for long-term treatment of bipolar disorder (BD). However, its mechanism of action is still poorly understood. Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived brain organoids have emerged as a powerful tool for modeling BD-related disease mechanisms. We studied the effects of 1 mM Li treatment for 1 month in iPSC-derived human cortical spheroids (hCS) from 10 healthy controls (CTRL) and 11 BD patients (6 Li-responders, Li-R, and 5 Li non-treated, Li-N). At day 180 of differentiation, BD hCS showed smaller size, reduced proportion of neurons, decreased neuronal excitability and reduced neural network activity compared to CTRL hCS. Li rescued excitability of BD hCS neurons by exerting an opposite effect in the two diagnostic groups, increasing excitability in BD hCS and decreasing it in CTRL hCS. We identified 132 Li-associated differentially expressed genes (DEGs), which were overrepresented in sodium ion homeostasis and kidney-related pathways. Moreover, Li regulated secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines and increased mitochondrial reserve capacity in BD hCS. Through long-term Li treatment of a human 3D brain model, this study partly elucidates the functional and transcriptional mechanisms underlying the clinical effects of Li, such as rescue of neuronal excitability and neuroprotection. Our results also underscore the substantial influence of treatment duration in Li studies. Lastly, this study illustrates the potential of patient iPSC-derived 3D brain models for precision medicine in psychiatry.publishedVersio

Critical research gaps and translational priorities for the successful prevention and treatment of breast cancer

INTRODUCTION Breast cancer remains a significant scientific, clinical and societal challenge. This gap analysis has reviewed and critically assessed enduring issues and new challenges emerging from recent research, and proposes strategies for translating solutions into practice. METHODS More than 100 internationally recognised specialist breast cancer scientists, clinicians and healthcare professionals collaborated to address nine thematic areas: genetics, epigenetics and epidemiology; molecular pathology and cell biology; hormonal influences and endocrine therapy; imaging, detection and screening; current/novel therapies and biomarkers; drug resistance; metastasis, angiogenesis, circulating tumour cells, cancer 'stem' cells; risk and prevention; living with and managing breast cancer and its treatment. The groups developed summary papers through an iterative process which, following further appraisal from experts and patients, were melded into this summary account. RESULTS The 10 major gaps identified were: (1) understanding the functions and contextual interactions of genetic and epigenetic changes in normal breast development and during malignant transformation; (2) how to implement sustainable lifestyle changes (diet, exercise and weight) and chemopreventive strategies; (3) the need for tailored screening approaches including clinically actionable tests; (4) enhancing knowledge of molecular drivers behind breast cancer subtypes, progression and metastasis; (5) understanding the molecular mechanisms of tumour heterogeneity, dormancy, de novo or acquired resistance and how to target key nodes in these dynamic processes; (6) developing validated markers for chemosensitivity and radiosensitivity; (7) understanding the optimal duration, sequencing and rational combinations of treatment for improved personalised therapy; (8) validating multimodality imaging biomarkers for minimally invasive diagnosis and monitoring of responses in primary and metastatic disease; (9) developing interventions and support to improve the survivorship experience; (10) a continuing need for clinical material for translational research derived from normal breast, blood, primary, relapsed, metastatic and drug-resistant cancers with expert bioinformatics support to maximise its utility. The proposed infrastructural enablers include enhanced resources to support clinically relevant in vitro and in vivo tumour models; improved access to appropriate, fully annotated clinical samples; extended biomarker discovery, validation and standardisation; and facilitated cross-discipline working. CONCLUSIONS With resources to conduct further high-quality targeted research focusing on the gaps identified, increased knowledge translating into improved clinical care should be achievable within five years

The structural variation landscape in 492 Atlantic salmon genomes

Structural variants (SVs) are a major source of genetic and phenotypic variation, but remain challenging to accurately type and are hence poorly characterized in most species. We present an approach for reliable SV discovery in non-model species using whole genome sequencing and report 15,483 high-confidence SVs in 492 Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) sampled from a broad phylogeographic distribution. These SVs recover population genetic structure with high resolution, include an active DNA transposon, widely affect functional features, and overlap more duplicated genes retained from an ancestral salmonid autotetraploidization event than expected. Changes in SV allele frequency between wild and farmed fish indicate polygenic selection on behavioural traits during domestication, targeting brain-expressed synaptic networks linked to neurological disorders in humans. This study offers novel insights into the role of SVs in genome evolution and the genetic architecture of domestication traits, along with resources supporting reliable SV discovery in non-model species.Peer reviewe