Syftet med denna studie var att undersöka om tjänstemän och arbetare skiljer sig åt i självskattad arbetstillfredsställelse samt att studera om arbetstillfredsställelse kan prediceras utifrån prediktorerna kön, ålder, anställningstid och facklig tillhörighet. Studien utfördes på ett statligt universitet i södra Sverige. Samplet bestod av 80 anställda från fyra avdelningar, ekonomiavdelningen, personalavdelningen, IT-avdelningen och lokal- och serviceavdelningen. Av dessa var 26 arbetare och 54 tjänstemän, baserat på facklig tillhörighet. Studiens mätinstrument bestod av en enkät baserad på Sigvard Rubenowitz test om psykosocial arbetsmiljökartläggning (PAK). Testet mäter arbetstillfredsställelse utifrån subskalorna egenkontroll, stimulans från arbetet, arbetsgemenskap, arbetsledningsklimat och arbetsbelastning. Statistisk prövning med med  t-test och multipel regressionsanalys visade en signifikant skillnad mellan arbetare och tjänstemän där tjänstemän upplevde högre egenkontroll, mer stimulans från arbetet och högre arbetsbelastning. Anställningstid var en signifikant prediktor för arbetsbelastning och ålder visade sig vara en signifikant prediktor för arbetsledningsklimat och stimulans från arbetet. / The purpose of this study was to examine if blue- and white collar workers differ in self-rated job-satifaction  and  also to find out if job-satisfacaction can be predicted by gender, age, period of employment and union affiliation. The study was performed at a state university in southern Sweden. The sample consisted of 80 employees from four different departments, the accounting department, the department of human reosurces, the IT department and the service department. Of these were 26 blue collar-workers and 54 white collar-workers based on union affiliation. The questionnaire was about psychosocial work environment (PAK) and is based on the test of Sigvard Rubenowitz. The test measures job-satisfaction by five different scales, self-control, work management, working community, work incentive and work load. Statistical analysis with t-test and multiple regression analysis revealed a significant difference between blue collar workers and white collar workers where white collar-workers felt more work incentive, more self-control and felt a higher work load. The result also revealed that period of employment was a significant predictor for work load and age was a significant predictor for work management and work incentive.

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Nile red and Nile blue are intensely colored fluorescent dyes from the benzophenoxazine family. Modification of the donor amine with varying alkyl substituents was achieved with the principle aim being to investigate differences, both optical and physical, between dye scaffolds outfitted with secondary amines versus tertiary amines. These changes to the dyes’ architectural framework gave holistic effects to the bulk molecule by modulating hydrophobicity, optical properties, and protein binding constants to human serum albumin.

Twenty-two different unialgal clonal isolates have been obtained at random for experimental purposes over a period of about one year. Also, during this period, at least 12 other species or strains have been isolated into unialgal cultures which had not yet been identified and/or significantly cleared of heterotrophic contaminants.

Recent advances in the analysis of intrinsic markers, particularly stable isotopes, have allowed great insight into interactions between different stages of the annual cycle of migratory birds. Hydrogen isotope ratios, because of strong latitudinal trends in their distribution, have been widely used to address long-distance movements of migratory birds. Likewise, carbon isotope ratios have been useful in examinations of habitat quality because of their responsiveness to changes in plant community composition. However, basic assumptions underlying the use of certain isotopes have yet to be adequately examined. Additionally, much of the research regarding seasonal interactions in migratory songbirds comes from study of a single species, and it is unclear whether these findings are applicable to a wider range of migrant songbirds. In this study, I collected tissue samples from black-throated blue warblers (Dendroica caerulescens) at a breeding site in New Hampshire to address two important questions regarding stable isotopes and the investigation of seasonal interactions. First, using feather samples from both adult and juvenile birds, I investigated the influence of age, molt timing, and reproductive effort in determining the stable hydrogen isotope ratios that are incorporated into tissue samples. Secondly, I took claw samples from adult birds to examine the importance of winter habitat quality, as inferred through carbon isotope ratios, in determining subsequent reproductive success. I found that hydrogen isotope ratios in feather samples were significantly influenced by both age and molt timing, though not by reproductive effort. The mechanism underlying age-related isotopic variation is unclear, but may be widespread among passerines. In addition, this study is the first to note a significant seasonal trend in feathers grown throughout a breeding season, although the mechanism for this pattern is also unclear. Taken together, these findings have important implications for the use of hydrogen isotope ratios for purposes of geographic assignment. Further research is needed to determine the prevalence and magnitude of age-related and seasonal trends in hydrogen isotope ratios. I recommend that future studies note the age class of birds when sampling for hydrogen isotopes, and researchers should attempt to collect feathers grown early in the molt cycle. Analysis of carbon isotope ratios from claw samples indicated that winter habitat quality did not directly influence subsequent reproductive success. However, winter habitat quality may have an indirect influence on reproductive output. Females from higher quality wintering sites were in significantly better body condition on the breeding grounds, and settled on more insect-rich breeding territories. Both body condition on the breeding grounds and breeding territory quality have previously been shown to influence subsequent reproductive success, in this and other songbird species. These results indicate that winter habitat quality may be important in determining future reproductive success for black-throated blue warblers, and interactions between events during the wintering and breeding periods may need to be incorporated into future population models for this species.

C. imicola has been described as a species complex in South Africa on the basis of taxonomy, with at least seven species world-wide. Phylogenetic validity of five taxa within the Imicola group, namely C. imicola s.s., C. loxodontis, C. bolitinos and two currently unconfirmed species - Culicoides Sp. 30 (tuttifruitti) and Culicoides Sp. 107 (kwagga), were established using mtDNA COI sequence data, which confirmed their identity, not only as separate genetic entities, but also in exact correlation with the sibling species based on morphological and ecological parameters. In addition, the separate species status was reinforced for C. kwagga and C. tuttifrutti, which showed BCL of 100 with respect to C. imicola, using sequence data from the ITS-2 nuclear rRNA gene spacer region, and the mtDMA 16S gene respectively. Phylogeographical studies were undertaken using all three genomic regions, and revealed that C. imicola is present in Europe as C. imicola in sensu stricto, which acts as the vector for AHSV and BTV in this region. Intra-specific variation was highest in the COI amplicon, and extremely low in both ITS-2 and 16S regions. Phylogenetic resolution of internal clades was poorly supported for each gene region, and haplotype sharing suggests that the C. imicola populations across this wide geographical range are highly heterogeneous, with a high degree of haplotype mixing. Ecological field studies were carried out in farmyards in Spain and Portugal. When population composition of C. imicola was determined alongside host preference, it was found that although C. imicola are present in farms around cows, domestic fowl and pigs, they are present in higher numbers, comprise a higher total % of Culicoides caught and are present in a more stable population around horses. These results have serious implications for the spread of AHSV in these regions of Iberia where equestrian stud farms, producing quality polo and racing horses, play a significant part in the economy of the area.