Genome-wide signatures of population bottlenecks and diversifying selection in European wolves.

Genomic resources developed for domesticated species provide powerful tools for studying the evolutionary history of their wild relatives. Here we use 61K single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) evenly spaced throughout the canine nuclear genome to analyse evolutionary relationships among the three largest European populations of grey wolves in comparison with other populations worldwide, and investigate genome-wide effects of demographic bottlenecks and signatures of selection. European wolves have a discontinuous range, with large and connected populations in Eastern Europe and relatively smaller, isolated populations in Italy and the Iberian Peninsula. Our results suggest a continuous decline in wolf numbers in Europe since the Late Pleistocene, and long-term isolation and bottlenecks in the Italian and Iberian populations following their divergence from the Eastern European population. The Italian and Iberian populations have low genetic variability and high linkage disequilibrium, but relatively few autozygous segments across the genome. This last characteristic clearly distinguishes them from populations that underwent recent drastic demographic declines or founder events, and implies long-term bottlenecks in these two populations. Although genetic drift due to spatial isolation and bottlenecks seems to be a major evolutionary force diversifying the European populations, we detected 35 loci that are putatively under diversifying selection. Two of these loci flank the canine platelet-derived growth factor gene, which affects bone growth and may influence differences in body size between wolf populations. This study demonstrates the power of population genomics for identifying genetic signals of demographic bottlenecks and detecting signatures of directional selection in bottlenecked populations, despite their low background variability.

Cyclic voles and shrews and non-cyclic mice in a marginal grassland within European temperate forest.

Cyclic population dynamics of small mammals are not restricted to the boreal and arctic zones of Eurasia and North America, but long-term data series from lower latitudes are still less common. We demonstrated here the presence of periodic oscillations in small mammal populations in eastern Poland using 22-year (1986-2007) trapping data from marginal meadow and river valley grasslands located in the extensive temperate woodland of Bialowieza Primeval Forest. The two most common species inhabiting meadows and river valleys, root vole Microtus oeconomus and common shrew Sorex araneus, exhibited synchronous periodic changes, characterised by a 3-year time lag as indicated by an autocorrelation function. Moreover, the cycles of these two species were synchronous within both habitats. Population dynamics of the striped field mouse Apodemus agrarius was not cyclic. However, this species regularly reached maximum density 1 year before the synchronized peak of root voles and common shrews, which may suggest the existence of interspecific competition. Dynamics of all three species was dominated by direct density-dependent process, whereas delayed density dependent feedback was significant only in the root vole and common shrew. Climatic factors acting in winter and spring (affecting mainly survival and initial reproduction rates) were more important than those acting in summer and autumn and affected significantly only the common shrew. High temperatures in winter and spring had positive effects on autumn-to-autumn changes in abundance of this species, whereas deep snow in combination with high rainfall in spring negatively affected population increase rates in common shrew.

[The long-term follow up after trabeculectomy]. / Dlugoterminowe wyniki operacyjnego leczenia jaskry metoda trabekulektomii.

THE AIM OF THE STUDY: To estimate the efficacy of trabeculectomy for primary open angle glaucoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Since 1990 to 2000 we observed 91 eyes of 79 patients (53 women and 26 men) aged 39-86. The results of performed surgery were valued directly after the trabeculectomy and in period of over 8 years. We carried out the examinations of visual acuity, intraocular pressure, visual field, state of optic nerve head, type of bleb following trabeculectomy and the necessity of applying additional topical treatment. The trabeculectomies were performed in a typical way. Some surgeons made a square or triangular superficial scleral flap based at the limbus, measuring from 2.5 x 3.0 to 4 x 4 mm or 3 x 3 mm. The deep block of scleral tissue with trabeculum (from 0.5 x 1.0 to 2.5 x 3.0 mm) was excised, the superficial cauterisation and the peripheral iridectomy were performed in every case. The scleral flap and conjunctiva were sutured with 10/0 Ethilon, 8/0 Vicryl or 6/0 Mersilk. RESULTS: The patients were divided into 3 groups depending on observation period: I--up to 4 years, II--from 5 to 8 years, III--over 8 years. We confirmed the normalisation of IOP in 80%, 73%, 90% and the successful control of visual field (no progress) in 82%, 77%, 70% of adequate groups. In the first and second group 45-50% of patients could resist from topical treatment, but after 8 years as many as 80% required additional pharmacological treatment. CONCLUSION: The trabeculectomy is the effective surgery in most patients with open angle glaucoma. The effectiveness of trabeculectomy can be controlled by the size of extracted deep scleral flap with trabeculum. For the stability of visual field it is necessary to keep the intraocular pressure at 13-18 mm Hg level.

Highly sensitive spectrophotometric microdetermination of sulphoxides.

The reaction of sulphoxides with trifluoroacetic anhydride and iodide in acetone medium to produce iodine, which can be used for their titrimetric determination, has been adapted for spectrophotometric determination of sub-mu mole amounts of sulphoxides.

A new method for the iodometric determination of sulphoxides.

A method is described for determination of sulphoxides through their reaction with iodide in a trifluoroacetic acid/acetone medium to produce iodine, which is then titrated with thiosulphate.