Sample identification and pedigree reconstruction in Wolverine (Gulo gulo) using SNP genotyping of non-invasive samples

For conservation genetic studies using non-invasively collected samples, genome-wide data may be hard to acquire. Until now, such studies have instead mostly relied on analyses of traditional genetic markers such as microsatellites (SSRs). Recently, high throughput genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has become available, expanding the use of genomic methods to include non-model species of conservation concern. We have developed a 96-marker SNP array for use in applied conservation monitoring of the Scandinavian wolverine (Gulo gulo) population. By genotyping more than a thousand non-invasively collected samples, we were able to obtain precise estimates of different types of genotyping errors and sample dropout rates. The SNP panel significantly outperforms the SSR markers (and DBY intron markers for sexing) both in terms of precision in genotyping, sex assignment and individual identification, as well as in the proportion of samples successfully genotyped. Furthermore, SNP genotyping offers a simplified laboratory and analysis pipeline with fewer samples needed to be repeatedly genotyped in order to obtain reliable consensus data. In addition, we utilised a unique opportunity to successfully demonstrate the application of SNP genotype data for reconstructing pedigrees in wild populations, by validating the method with samples from wild individuals with known relatedness. By offering a simplified workflow with improved performance, we anticipate this methodology will facilitate the use of non-invasive samples to improve genetic management of many different types of populations that have previously been challenging to survey

The Phenomenon of Separation and Its Consequences: The Experiences of Eight Adults

Att människor som levt tillsammans väljer att gå skilda vägar är i dagens samhälle ett vanligtförekommande fenomen. Många berörs på något sätt och det finns skäl att anta att detpåverkar människors beteenden och upplevelser av relationer. Syftet med föreliggande studievar att skapa en djupare förståelse för hur människor upplever sig ha påverkats av enseparation. För att kunna uppfylla syftet användes en fenomenografisk ansats. Data samladesin genom semistrukturerade intervjuer med åtta individer och analyserades med hjälp av entematisk innehållsanalys. Fyra av deltagarna hade föräldrar som separerat då de var barnvarav en av de även själv hade separerat, två individer vars föräldrar separerade i tonårensamt två individer som själva genomgått en separation. Resultatet visade att tilliten irelationer till andra, främst i kärleksrelationer påverkade individerna på ett negativt sätt tillföljd av att de upplevt en separation. Resultatet visade också att individerna har utvecklatstrategier för att hantera separationer och konsekvenser av en separation. De intervjuadebeskrev att anknytningen till föräldrarna på ett eller annat sätt varit bristande. I vissa fallredan i tidig ålder, till båda föräldrarna, men även i de fall där anknytningen varit god tillden ena föräldern verkar det inte vara tillräckligt för att skydda individerna från problem isina egna kärleksrelationer.In today´s society it is a common phenomenon for people who have lived together to goseparate ways. Several people are affected and there are reasons to believe that it affectspeople’s behaviors and experiences of relationships. The purpose of this study was to get adeeper understanding of how people experience that they have been affected by a separation.To fulfill the purpose a phenomenographic method was used. To collect data, eightparticipants were interviewed, and data was analyzed through a thematic content analysismethod. Four of the participants had parents who had separated when they were children andone of them had also separated from a partner. Two of them had parents who had separatedwhen they were teenagers, and two had separated from a partner. The results showed that thetrust to other people, mainly in romantic relationships, was negatively affected afterexperiencing a separation. The results also showed that these individuals had developeddifferent strategies to cope better with separations as well as consequences of a separation.The participants described that the attachment to their parents was lacking in some way oranother. Some of them experienced lacking attachment at an early age, some to both theirparents, but even when experiencing good attachment to one of their parents it was notenough to protect them from having problems in their own relationships

Sociala mediestrategier : - En studie om svenska företags sociala mediastrategier

Syfte: Syftet med uppsatsen är att utifrån ett kommunikationsperspektiv redogöra för vilka strategier svenska företag använder sig av inom sociala medier. Problem: Den nya utvecklingen av tekniken har förändrat sättet hur människor kommunicerar. Detta har i sin tur påverkat förutsättningar för företag och organisationer som vill nå ut till publiken. På tre år har sociala medier blivit denpopuläraste aktiviteten på Internet. Därför borde det vara naturligt för företag att använda sig av sociala medier som en del av deras kommunikationsstrategi. Metod: Studien grundas på kvalitativa telefon- och e-postintervjuer med sex svenska företag. Vi utförde ljudupptagning på de intervjuer där det var möjligt, för att få så rikt material som möjligt till vår analys. Resultat: Resultatet visar att det verkar finnas okunskap på företagen kring sociala mediestrategier och därmed otydliga strategier. Det visade sig att företagen använder sig av alla de fyra strategier som presenteras i studien, mer eller mindre då de går hand i hand, dock verkar de inte vara medvetna om det

Sample identification and pedigree reconstruction in Wolverine (Gulo gulo) using SNP genotyping of non-invasive samples

For conservation genetic studies using non-invasively collected samples, genome-wide data may be hard to acquire. Until now, such studies have instead mostly relied on analyses of traditional genetic markers such as microsatellites (SSRs). Recently, high throughput genotyping of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) has become available, expanding the use of genomic methods to include non-model species of conservation concern. We have developed a 96-marker SNP array for use in applied conservation monitoring of the Scandinavian wolverine (Gulo gulo) population. By genotyping more than a thousand non-invasively collected samples, we were able to obtain precise estimates of different types of genotyping errors and sample dropout rates. The SNP panel significantly outperforms the SSR markers (and DBY intron markers for sexing) both in terms of precision in genotyping, sex assignment and individual identification, as well as in the proportion of samples successfully genotyped. Furthermore, SNP genotyping offers a simplified laboratory and analysis pipeline with fewer samples needed to be repeatedly genotyped in order to obtain reliable consensus data. In addition, we utilised a unique opportunity to successfully demonstrate the application of SNP genotype data for reconstructing pedigrees in wild populations, by validating the method with samples from wild individuals with known relatedness. By offering a simplified workflow with improved performance, we anticipate this methodology will facilitate the use of non-invasive samples to improve genetic management of many different types of populations that have previously been challenging to survey

ABO blood groups, RhD factor and their association with subclinical atherosclerosis assessed by carotid ultrasonography

Background: The ABO blood group system has previously been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), where non-O blood group individuals have shown an increased risk. Studies assessing early atherosclerotic disease while also including RhD are few. We aimed to determine whether the ABO and RhD blood groups are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in a healthy population. Methods: We included 3532 participants from the VIPVIZA trial with available carotid ultrasonography results to assess subclinical disease. Information about blood groups was obtained from the SCANDAT-3 database, where 85% of VIPVIZA participants were registered. Results: RhD− individuals aged 40 years showed increased carotid intima–media thickness (B 1.09 CI 95% 1.03; 1.14) compared to RhD+ individuals. For ABO, there were no differences in ultrasonography results when assessing the whole study population. However, 60-year-old individuals with heredity for CVD and a non-O blood group had decreased odds for carotid plaques (OR 0.54 CI 95% 0.33; 0.88). Conclusions: RhD blood group is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in younger individuals, indicating a role as a mediator in the atherosclerotic process. In addition, a non-O blood group was associated with decreased subclinical atherosclerosis in individuals aged 60 and with heredity (corresponding to the group with the highest atherosclerotic burden)

ABO Blood Groups, RhD Factor and Their Association with Subclinical Atherosclerosis Assessed by Carotid Ultrasonography

Background: The ABO blood group system has previously been associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD), where non-O blood group individuals have shown an increased risk. Studies assessing early atherosclerotic disease while also including RhD are few. We aimed to determine whether the ABO and RhD blood groups are associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in a healthy population. Methods: We included 3532 participants from the VIPVIZA trial with available carotid ultrasonography results to assess subclinical disease. Information about blood groups was obtained from the SCANDAT-3 database, where 85% of VIPVIZA participants were registered. Results: RhD− individuals aged 40 years showed increased carotid intima–media thickness (B 1.09 CI 95% 1.03; 1.14) compared to RhD+ individuals. For ABO, there were no differences in ultrasonography results when assessing the whole study population. However, 60-year-old individuals with heredity for CVD and a non-O blood group had decreased odds for carotid plaques (OR 0.54 CI 95% 0.33; 0.88). Conclusions: RhD blood group is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in younger individuals, indicating a role as a mediator in the atherosclerotic process. In addition, a non-O blood group was associated with decreased subclinical atherosclerosis in individuals aged 60 and with heredity (corresponding to the group with the highest atherosclerotic burden)

DNA-basert overvåking av den skandinaviske jervebestanden 2020

Flagstad, Ø., Kleven, O., Brandsegg, H., Spets, M. H., Eriksen, L. B., Andersskog, I. P. Ø., Johansson, M., Ekblom, R., Ellegren, H. & Brøseth, H. 2021. DNA-basert overvåking av den skandinaviske jervebestanden 2020. NINA Rapport 1956. Norsk institutt for naturforskning. Genetiske analyser er implementert som et viktig verktøy i rovviltovervåkingen i Skandinavia. I særlig grad har antallet DNA-analyser av ekskrementer økt betydelig. Siden tidlig på 2000-tallet er det gjennomført rutinemessig innsamling og påfølgende DNA-analyser over store deler av jervens utbredelsesområde i Norge og Sverige. Individbestemmelse fra DNA-profilene til de innsamlede prøvene har gitt en bedre forståelse av bestandsstørrelse, populasjonsstruktur og ut-veksling mellom delbestander. I denne rapporten redegjør vi for antall individer identifisert fra DNA i Norge, Sverige og Finland vinteren 2020. Vi presenterer også bestandsestimater for Norge og Sverige basert på en nylig utviklet romlig fangst-gjenfangst modell. Fra totalt 2234 fungerende prøver ble det påvist 707 individer i Norge, Sverige og Finland i 2020, Tilsvarende tall for forrige vinter var 744 påviste jerver fra 2440 prøver. Totalt var det 339 jerver som var registrert med en eller flere prøver i Norge i 2020, sammenlignet med 340 individer i 2019. Tilsvarende tall for Sverige var 381 individer i 2020 og 415 i 2019. På skandinavisk nivå i 2020 var hver av de registrerte jervene i gjennomsnitt representert med 3,2 prøver. Den geografiske representasjonen synes å være god for de fleste regioner og län med jerveforekomst i Skandinavia, med unntak av Norrbotten hvor innsamling av DNA-prøver ikke har vært like høyt prioritert i 2020 som i de tre foregående år. Basert på den romlige fangst-gjenfangst modellen ble bestanden av jerv i Norge og Sverige beregnet til 991 (95% CrI (kredibelt intervall): 941-1044) individer i 2020 sesongen, som fordeler seg med 613 (95% CrI: 572-657) individer i Sverige og 378 (95% CrI: 356-400) individer i Norge. Det er høy presisjon på anslagene med relativt liten usikkerhet, som også gjelder på rovviltregionsnivå i Norge og länsnivå i Sverige. Sammenligner man bestandsestimatene med anslagene fra ynglehitellingene er overensstemmelsen meget god. God overensstemmelse mellom de to metodiske tilnærmingene er betryggende, og tyder på at vi har meget god oversikt over be-standsstørrelse og bestandsutvikling for jervbestanden i Skandinavia. Det er ikke bare bestandsdynamikk som kan analyseres med romlige fangst-gjenfangst modeller. Også overlevelse, rekruttering og tetthet, og eventuelle endringer i disse parameterne over tid, kan studeres nærmere. Sammen med høyere oppløsning i de genetiske analysene, bl.a. i form av langt mer presise slektskapsanalyser, kan vi i enda større grad enn tidligere analysere og forstå detaljer i jervens bestandsdynamikk, reproduksjonsbiologi og vandringsadferd