Maximum Entropy COICOP Classification using Entity Forest

This thesis proposes a generative approach to COICOP classification using entity resolution and maximum entropy classification as a formal framework. The current limitations in COICOP classification are related to the corpus of item descriptions and lack of data. I propose a new perspective on the classification task at hand, as I argue that the underlying problem in classification is the data itself. Therefore, corpus and feature engineering are crucial when improving classification. The proposed approach aims to engineer the corpus to construct an entity forest from the item descriptions, where terms in the description are mapped to the roots and branches of trees in the entity forest. The results of the proposed approach are illustrated by a proof-of-concept with data from Statistics Norway. This thesis provides insight into the problems with previous approaches to COICOP classification and shows how we potentially can achieve true resolution and more accurate classification

Finnes det kjønnsforskjeller i viljen til å konkurrere, og kan dette forklares av overkonfidens og risikoaversjon?

Formålet med denne oppgaven har vært å undersøke om det finnes kjønnsforskjeller i viljen til å konkurrere, og om dette kan forklares av overkonfidens og risikoaversjon. Det er blant annet interessant å studere kjønnsforskjellene mellom kvinner og menn og se det opp mot observerte lønnsforskjeller og underrepresentasjon av kvinner i høytlønnede stillinger, som er et vanlig funn i industriland, og hvorvidt dette kan skyldes konkurranseforhold, som trivsel i konkurransedyktige miljø. For å utforske dette samlet vi inn kvantitativ data ved å utføre et eksperiment på et utvalg studenter ved Universitetet i Stavanger. Eksperimentet besto av besvarelse av et spørreskjema og utførelse av en praktisk oppgave. Spørreskjemaet var i hovedsak et hjelpemiddel for å kartlegge informasjon om deltakeren som kan si noe om konkurransevilje, overkonfidens og risikoaversjon. Eksperimentet utføres med pengeinsentiv der deltakeren får valget mellom å konkurrere alene og motta en sikker, men lavere gevinst, eller konkurrere mot en annen for en høyere, men usikker gevinst. Her måles konkurranseviljen i hovedsak av om deltakeren ønsker å konkurrere alene med piece rate- kompensasjon, eller mot en annen og velge turneringskompensasjon. Basert på tidligere teori og litteratur utviklet vi hypoteser som angir våre prediksjoner om hva forskningen ville finne. Oppgaven finner ingen statistisk signifikante kjønnsforskjeller i studenters vilje til å konkurrere. Oppgaven finner heller ingen signifikante bevis som støtter ideen om at overkonfidens og risikoaversjon kan forklare eventuelle kjønnsforskjeller i viljen til å konkurrere. Våre funn støtter tidligere forskning når vi testet om overkonfidens og risikoaversjon kunne forklare valget av kompensasjon, men motstrider tidligere litteratur som viser at det finnes kjønnsforskjeller i konkurransevilje. Det er viktig å merke seg at resultatene kan være påvirket av usikkerhet og begrensninger i utvalget og omfanget av studien som gjør det vanskelig å trekke noen klare konklusjoner. Videre forskning med større og mer representative utvalg er nødvendig for å bedre forstå emne

Finnes det kjønnsforskjeller i viljen til å konkurrere, og kan dette forklares av overkonfidens og risikoaversjon?

Formålet med denne oppgaven har vært å undersøke om det finnes kjønnsforskjeller i viljen til å konkurrere, og om dette kan forklares av overkonfidens og risikoaversjon. Det er blant annet interessant å studere kjønnsforskjellene mellom kvinner og menn og se det opp mot observerte lønnsforskjeller og underrepresentasjon av kvinner i høytlønnede stillinger, som er et vanlig funn i industriland, og hvorvidt dette kan skyldes konkurranseforhold, som trivsel i konkurransedyktige miljø. For å utforske dette samlet vi inn kvantitativ data ved å utføre et eksperiment på et utvalg studenter ved Universitetet i Stavanger. Eksperimentet besto av besvarelse av et spørreskjema og utførelse av en praktisk oppgave. Spørreskjemaet var i hovedsak et hjelpemiddel for å kartlegge informasjon om deltakeren som kan si noe om konkurransevilje, overkonfidens og risikoaversjon. Eksperimentet utføres med pengeinsentiv der deltakeren får valget mellom å konkurrere alene og motta en sikker, men lavere gevinst, eller konkurrere mot en annen for en høyere, men usikker gevinst. Her måles konkurranseviljen i hovedsak av om deltakeren ønsker å konkurrere alene med piece rate- kompensasjon, eller mot en annen og velge turneringskompensasjon. Basert på tidligere teori og litteratur utviklet vi hypoteser som angir våre prediksjoner om hva forskningen ville finne. Oppgaven finner ingen statistisk signifikante kjønnsforskjeller i studenters vilje til å konkurrere. Oppgaven finner heller ingen signifikante bevis som støtter ideen om at overkonfidens og risikoaversjon kan forklare eventuelle kjønnsforskjeller i viljen til å konkurrere. Våre funn støtter tidligere forskning når vi testet om overkonfidens og risikoaversjon kunne forklare valget av kompensasjon, men motstrider tidligere litteratur som viser at det finnes kjønnsforskjeller i konkurransevilje. Det er viktig å merke seg at resultatene kan være påvirket av usikkerhet og begrensninger i utvalget og omfanget av studien som gjør det vanskelig å trekke noen klare konklusjoner. Videre forskning med større og mer representative utvalg er nødvendig for å bedre forstå emnet

¨Net-working, or Not-working, it’s a small difference” : en kvalitativ undersøkelse av hvordan kvinnelige entreprenører bruker nettverk, og hvilke hindringer de møter i etableringen av egen virksomhet

Studentarbeid i økonomi og ledelse (bachelorgrad) - Universitetet i Nordland, 201

Study of polycrystalline Cu2ZnSnS4 films by Raman scattering

Cu2ZnSnS4 (CZTS) is a p-type semiconductor that has been seen as a possible low-cost replacement for Cu(In,Ga)Se2 in thin film solar cells. So far compound has presented difficulties in its growth, mainly, because of the formation of secondary phases like ZnS, CuxSnSx+1, SnxSy, Cu2−xS and MoS2. X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), which is mostly used for phase identification cannot resolve some of these phases from the kesterite/stannite CZTS and thus the use of a complementary technique is needed. Raman scattering analysis can help distinguishing these phases not only laterally but also in depth. Knowing the absorption coefficient and using different excitation wavelengths in Raman scattering analysis, one is capable of profiling the different phases present in multi-phase CZTS thin films. This work describes in a concise form the methods used to grow chalcogenide compounds, such as, CZTS, CuxSnSx+1, SnxSy and cubic ZnS based on the sulphurization of stacked metallic precursors. The results of the films’ characterization by XRD, electron backscatter diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy techniques are presented for the CZTS phase. The limitation of XRD to identify some of the possible phases that can remain after the sulphurization process are investigated. The results of the Raman analysis of the phases formed in this growth method and the advantage of using this technique in identifying them are presented. Using different excitation wavelengths it is also analysed the CZTS film in depth showing that this technique can be used as non destructive methods to detect secondary phases

Functional Analyses of Rare Germline Missense BRCA1 Variants Located within and outside Protein Domains with Known Functions

: The BRCA1 protein is implicated in numerous important cellular processes to prevent genomic instability and tumorigenesis, and pathogenic germline variants predispose carriers to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Most functional studies of missense variants in BRCA1 focus on variants located within the Really Interesting New Gene (RING), coiled-coil and BRCA1 C-terminal (BRCT) domains, and several missense variants in these regions have been shown to be pathogenic. However, the majority of these studies focus on domain specific assays, and have been performed using isolated protein domains and not the full-length BRCA1 protein. Furthermore, it has been suggested that BRCA1 missense variants located outside domains with known function are of no functional importance, and could be classified as (likely) benign. However, very little is known about the role of the regions outside the well-established domains of BRCA1, and only a few functional studies of missense variants located within these regions have been published. In this study, we have, therefore, functionally evaluated the effect of 14 rare BRCA1 missense variants considered to be of uncertain clinical significance, of which 13 are located outside the well-established domains and one within the RING domain. In order to investigate the hypothesis stating that most BRCA1 variants located outside the known protein domains are benign and of no functional importance, multiple protein assays including protein expression and stability, subcellular localisation and protein interactions have been performed, utilising the full-length protein to better mimic the native state of the protein. Two variants located outside the known domains (p.Met297Val and p.Asp1152Asn) and one variant within the RING domain (p.Leu52Phe) were found to make the BRCA1 protein more prone to proteasome-mediated degradation. In addition, two variants (p.Leu1439Phe and p.Gly890Arg) also located outside known domains were found to have reduced protein stability compared to the wild type protein. These findings indicate that variants located outside the RING, BRCT and coiled-coiled domains could also affect the BRCA1 protein function. For the nine remaining variants, no significant effects on BRCA1 protein functions were observed. Based on this, a reclassification of seven variants from VUS to likely benign could be suggested

BRCA1 Norway: comparison of classifcation for BRCA1 germline variants detected in families with suspected hereditary breast and ovarian cancer between different laboratories

Pathogenic germline variants in Breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1) predispose carriers to hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC). Through genetic testing of patients with suspected HBOC an increasing number of novel BRCA1 variants are discovered. This creates a growing need to determine the clinical significance of these variants through correct classification (class 1–5) according to established guidelines. Here we present a joint collection of all BRCA1 variants of class 2–5 detected in the four diagnostic genetic laboratories in Norway. The overall objective of the study was to generate an overview of all BRCA1 variants in Norway and unveil potential discrepancies in variant interpretation between the hospitals, serving as a quality control at the national level. For a subset of variants, we also assessed the change in classification over a ten-year period with increasing information available. In total, 463 unique BRCA1 variants were detected. Of the 126 variants found in more than one hospital, 70% were interpreted identically, while 30% were not. The differences in interpretation were mainly by one class (class 2/3 or 4/5), except for one larger discrepancy (class 3/5) which could affect the clinical management of patients. After a series of digital meetings between the participating laboratories to disclose the cause of disagreement for all conflicting variants, the discrepancy rate was reduced to 10%. This illustrates that variant interpretation needs to be updated regularly, and that data sharing and improved national inter-laboratory collaboration greatly improves the variant classification and hence increases the accuracy of cancer risk assessment.publishedVersio

DNA Methylation Score as a Biomarker in Newborns for Sustained Maternal Smoking during Pregnancy

Background: Maternal smoking during pregnancy, especially when sustained, leads to numerous adverse health outcomes in offspring. Pregnant women disproportionately underreport smoking and smokers tend to have lower follow-up rates to repeat questionnaires. Missing, incomplete, or inaccurate data on presence and duration of smoking in pregnancy impairs identification of novel health effects and limits adjustment for smoking in studies of other pregnancy exposures. An objective biomarker in newborns of maternal smoking during pregnancy would be valuable. Objectives: We developed a biomarker of sustained maternal smoking in pregnancy using common DNA methylation platforms. Methods: Using a dimension reduction method, we developed and tested a numeric score in newborns to reflect sustained maternal smoking in pregnancy from data on cotinine, a short-term smoking biomarker measured mid-pregnancy, and Illumina450K cord blood DNA methylation from newborns in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa). Results: This score reliably predicted smoking status in the training set (n = 1,057; accuracy = 96%, sensitivity = 80%, specificity = 98%). Sensitivity (58%) was predictably lower in the much smaller test set (n = 221), but accuracy (91%) and specificity (97%) remained high. Reduced birth weight, a well-known effect of maternal smoking, was as strongly related to the score as to cotinine. A three-site score had lower, but acceptable, performance (accuracytrain = 82%, accuracytest = 83%). Conclusions: Our smoking methylation score represents a promising novel biomarker of sustained maternal smoking during pregnancy easily calculated with Illumina450K or IlluminaEPIC data. It may help identify novel health impacts and improve adjustment for smoking when studying other risk factors with more subtle effects.publishedVersio

First analysis of the Severe Paediatric Asthma Collaborative in Europe registry.

New biologics are being continually developed for paediatric asthma, but it is unclear whether there are sufficient numbers of children in Europe with severe asthma and poor control to recruit to trials needed for registration. To address these questions, the European Respiratory Society funded the Severe Paediatric Asthma Collaborative in Europe (SPACE), a severe asthma registry. We report the first analysis of the SPACE registry, which includes data from 10 paediatric respiratory centres across Europe. Data from 80 children with a clinical diagnosis of severe asthma who were receiving both high-dose inhaled corticosteroid and long-acting β2-agonist were entered into the registry between January 2019 and January 2020. Suboptimal control was defined by either asthma control test, or Global Initiative for Asthma criteria, or ≥2 severe exacerbations in the previous 12 months, or a combination. Overall, 62 out of 80 (77%) children had suboptimal asthma control, of whom 29 were not prescribed a biologic. However, in 24 there was an option for starting a licensed biologic. 33 children with suboptimal control were prescribed a biologic (omalizumab (n=24), or mepolizumab (n=7), or dupilumab (n=2)), and for 29 there was an option to switch to a different biologic. We conclude that the SPACE registry provides data that will support the planning of studies of asthma biologics. Not all children on biologics achieve good asthma control, and there is need for new trial designs addressing biologic switching

An app-delivered self-management program for people with low back pain: protocol for the selfBACK randomized controlled trial.

Background: Low back pain (LBP) is prevalent across all social classes, in all age groups, and across industrialized and developing countries. From a global perspective, LBP is considered the leading cause of disability and negatively impacts everyday life and well-being. Self-management is a recommended first-line treatment, and mobile apps are a promising platform to support self-management of conditions like LBP. In the selfBACK project, we have developed a digital decision support system made available for the user via an app intended to support tailored self-management of nonspecific LBP. Objective: The trial aims to evaluate the effectiveness of using the selfBACK app to support self-management in addition to usual care (intervention group) versus usual care only (control group) in people with nonspecific LBP. Methods: This is a single-blinded, randomized controlled trial (RCT) with two parallel arms. The selfBACK app provides tailored self-management plans consisting of advice on physical activity, physical exercises, and educational content. Tailoring of plans is achieved by using case-based reasoning (CBR) methodology, which is a branch of artificial intelligence. The core of the CBR methodology is to use data about the current case (participant) along with knowledge about previous and similar cases to tailor the self-management plan to the current case. This enables a person-centered intervention based on what has and has not been successful in previous cases. Participants in the RCT are people with LBP who consulted a health care professional in primary care within the preceding 8 weeks. Participants are randomized to using the selfBACK app in addition to usual care versus usual care only. We aim to include a total of 350 participants (175 participants in each arm). Outcomes are collected at baseline, 6 weeks, and 3, 6, and 9 months. The primary end point is difference in pain-related disability between the intervention group and the control group assessed by the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire at 3 months. Results: The trial opened for recruitment in February 2019. Data collection is expected to be complete by fall 2020, and the results for the primary outcome are expected to be published in fall 2020. Conclusions: This RCT will provide insights regarding the benefits of supporting tailored self-management of LBP through an app available at times convenient for the user. If successful, the intervention has the potential to become a model for the provision of tailored self-management support to people with nonspecific LBP and inform future interventions for other painful musculoskeletal conditions