Genetic divergence, range expansion and possible homoploid hybrid speciation among pine species in Northeast China.

Although homoploid hybrid speciation in plants is probably more common than previously realized, there are few well-documented cases of homoploid hybrid origin in conifers. We examined genetic divergence between two currently widespread pines in Northeast China, Pinus sylvestris var. mongolica and Pinus densiflora, and also whether two narrowly distributed pines in the same region, Pinus funebris and Pinus takahasii, might have originated from the two widespread species by homoploid hybrid speciation. Our results, based on population genetic analysis of chloroplast (cp), mitochondrial (mt) DNA, and nuclear gene sequence variation, showed that the two widespread species were divergent for both cp- and mtDNA variation, and also for haplotype variation at two of eight nuclear gene loci surveyed. Our analysis further indicated that P. sylvestris var. mongolica and P. densiflora remained allopatric during the most severe Quaternary glacial period that occurred in Northeast China, but subsequently exhibited rapid range expansions. P. funebris and P. takahasii, were found to contain a mixture of chlorotypes and nuclear haplotypes that distinguish P. sylvestris var. mongolica and P. densiflora, in support of the hypothesis that they possibly originated via homoploid hybrid speciation following secondary contact and hybridization between P. sylvestris var. mongolica and P. densiflora.

Milk powder induced lipid peroxidation reduction using Ku Ding tea (Lactuca taiwaniana Maxim) in rats.

The effects of Ku Ding tea (Lactuca taiwaniana Maxim) and milk powder on biochemical and immunological parameters of Sprague-Dawley rats were investigated and the possibility of use of Ku Ding tea to reduce physiological discomfort of drinking milk powder was assessed. Eighty rats were randomly assigned to four treatments: basal diet (control), basal diet plus whole milk powder (WM), basal diet plus Ku Ding tea (KD) and basal diet plus whole milk powder and Ku Ding tea (MK). Data was collected on animals' final body weight, hematological values, blood biochemical parameters, antioxidation parameters and immune organ weight index. Results showed that final body weight of male KD was significantly lower than that of WM. White blood cell count, monocyte count and granulocyte count of KD rats were significantly lower than those of WM. Compared to the control, single milk powder supplementation numerically increased plasma malondialdehyde. The malondialdehyde in the male KD and MK rats were lower than those in WM and control, although the differences were not significant. No significant differences were found in Na(+)K(+)-adenosine triphosphatase activity, spleen and thymus index in each group. Consumption of Ku Ding tea appeared to lower lipid peroxidation that was induced by milk powder in the rats.

Effects of substitution of different levels of steam-flaked corn for finely ground corn on lactation and digestion in early lactation dairy cows.

Eight multiparous Holstein cows, 4 of them fitted with rumen cannulas, were used to test the effects of substitution of steam-flaked corn (SFC) for equal amounts of finely ground corn (FGC) in diets on feed intake and digestion, blood metabolites, and lactation performance in early lactation dairy cows. Cows were fed 4 diets in a replicated 4 x 4 Latin square design. The fistulated cows formed 1 replicate. Each experimental period lasted for 3 wk. The 4 diets contained 0, 10, 20, or 40% SFC and 40, 30, 20, or 0% FGC (dry matter basis), respectively. The milk protein content and yield, milk solid nonfat content and yield, plasma glucose concentration, and dry matter intake increased as the proportion of SFC increased in diets. Apparent total tract digestibilities of dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and average ruminal fluid NH(3)-N concentration decreased with increasing levels of SFC. The ruminal fluid pH was not affected by the substitution of SFC for FGC. The 20% SFC substitution improved digestion of crude protein, yield of fat-corrected milk, milk lactose content, fat, and fat yield. The 40% SFC substitution increased urea concentration in both plasma and milk. It was concluded that 20% of SFC substitution for FGC appeared to be an appropriate level in diet for early lactation dairy cows.

Bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

There has been concern regarding the use of controversial paradigms for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to manage treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of bilateral rTMS compared with unilateral and sham rTMS in patients with TRD. PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, EAGLE and NTIS databases were searched to identify relevant studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on bilateral rTMS for TRD patients were included. The response was defined as the primary outcome, and remission was the secondary outcome. Ten RCTs that included 634 patients met the eligibility criteria. The risk ratio (RRs) of both the primary and secondary outcomes of bilateral rTMS showed non-significant increases compared to unilateral rTMS (RR=1.01, P=0.93; odds ratio [OR]=0.77, P=0.22). Notably, the RR of the primary bilateral rTMS outcome was significantly increased compared to that for sham rTMS (RR=3.43, P=0.0004). The results of our analysis demonstrated that bilateral rTMS was significantly more effective than sham rTMS but not unilateral rTMS in patients with TRD. Thus, bilateral rTMS may not be a useful paradigm for patients with TRD.

Effect of leachate recycle and inoculation on microbial characteristics of municipal refuse in landfill bioreactors.

Population development of key groups of anaerobic and aerobic bacteria involved in municipal refuse decomposition under laboratory landfill bioreactors with and without leachate recycle and inoculation was measured since modeling municipal refuse was landfilled in bioreactors for about 210 days. Hydrolytic fermentative bacteria (HFB), hydrogen-producing acetogenic bacteria (HPAB), methane-producing bacteria (MPB), sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB), anaerobic and aerobic cellulolytic bacteria and denitrabacteria were enumerated by the most probable number technique. The results showed that the dominant microorganism groups were the methanogenic bacteria including hydrolytic fermentative, hydrogen-producing acetogenic and methane-producing bacteria. They were present in fresh refuse but at low values and positively affected by leachate recycle and refuse inoculation. The amounts of HFB or HPAB in digesters D4 and D5 operated with inoculation and leachate recycle reached their maximum values of 10(10)-10(12) cells/g dry refuse for HFB or 10(5)-10(6) cells/g dry refuse for HPAB on day 60, in digester D3 operated with leachate recycle on day 120 for HFB (10(9) cells/g dry refuse) or on day 90 for HPAB (10(5) cells/g dry refuse), and in digesters D1 and D2 on day 210 for HFB (10(9) cells/g dry refuse) or on day 90 for HPAB (10(4)-10(6) cells/g dry refuse). The population of methane-producing bacteria in digesters D4 and D5 sharply increased on days 60 and 90 respectively, however in digesters D1, D2 and D3 on day 120. Leachate recycle and inoculation changed the cellulolytic microorganisms composition of refuse ecosystem, the higher amounts of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria were measured in digesters D4 and D5 (10(7) cells/g dry refuse), followed by digesters D3 (10(6) cells/g dry refuse), D2 or D1(10(4) cells/g dry refuse). However, the amounts of aerobic cellulolytic bacteria were much lower than that of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria. And it was higher in digester D3 than those in digesters D1, D2, D4 and D5. The amounts of SRB and denitrabacteria were also higher in digester D5 than those in digesters D1, D2, D3 and D4. Refuse decomposition could be accelerated by leachate recycle and inoculation in the view of microorganism development.

Bilateral repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation for treatment-resistant depression: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

There has been concern regarding the use of controversial paradigms for repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to manage treatment-resistant depression (TRD). This meta-analysis assessed the efficacy of bilateral rTMS compared with unilateral and sham rTMS in patients with TRD. PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, PsycINFO, Web of Science, EAGLE and NTIS databases were searched to identify relevant studies, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on bilateral rTMS for TRD patients were included. The response was defined as the primary outcome, and remission was the secondary outcome. Ten RCTs that included 634 patients met the eligibility criteria. The risk ratio (RRs) of both the primary and secondary outcomes of bilateral rTMS showed non-significant increases compared to unilateral rTMS (RR=1.01, P=0.93; odds ratio [OR]=0.77, P=0.22). Notably, the RR of the primary bilateral rTMS outcome was significantly increased compared to that for sham rTMS (RR=3.43, P=0.0004). The results of our analysis demonstrated that bilateral rTMS was significantly more effective than sham rTMS but not unilateral rTMS in patients with TRD. Thus, bilateral rTMS may not be a useful paradigm for patients with TRD.

Effects of different nonionic surfactants on in vitro fermentation characteristics of cereal straws.

The effects of 3 nonionic surfactants (NIS), including alkyl polyglucoside (APG), sorbitan trioleate (Span85), and polyoxyethylene sorbitan monostearate (Tween80), on in vitro fermentation characteristics of maize stover, rice straw, and wheat straw were examined using an in vitro gas production technique. Four levels each of APG, Span85, and Tween80 [0, 0.02, 0.05, and 0.1% (vol/vol) of incubation solution] were tested in a 4 x 4 x 4 factorial arrangement. The NIS generally increased the in vitro maximal gas production (A), but decreased the lag time of cereal straws. The effects of NIS on the rate of gas production (B) were related to the surfactant type and fermented substrate. The NIS generally increased IVDMD and in vitro OM disappearance (IVOMD) of cereal straws, but responses were dose dependent. The NIS increased total VFA concentration of in vitro fermentation supernatant for maize stover and wheat straw, but decreased total VFA concentration for rice straw. The effects of NIS on the molar proportions of acetate, propionate, and butyrate were dependent on the dose and type of NIS and on fermented substrate. Several interactive effects were noted between or among 3 surfactants (APG, Span85, and Tween80) on in vitro gas production variables, IVD-MD, IVOMD, and VFA for each straw; the optimal combinations of 2 or 3 types of NIS were determined according to the responses of IVDMD and IVOMD to NIS addition. The results of this study suggest that NIS may improve in vitro fermentation of low quality roughages and have potential application as feed additives in ruminant production.

Morphological fractions, chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics of maize stover of five genotypes.

Five morphological fractions (leaf blade, leaf sheath, stem, husk and cob) of stover of five maize genotypes, namely waxy, conventional, fodder, sweet and high-oil maize, respectively, were used to test the effects of genotype and morphological fractions on chemical composition and in vitro fermentation characteristics. The waxy maize had a higher (P < 0.05) stem but lower (P < 0.05) leaf blade proportion and fodder maize had a higher (P < 0.05) leaf blade but lower (P < 0.05) leaf sheath proportion than other genotypes, respectively. Maize genotype had a significant effect (P < 0.001) on the chemical composition of stover parts except for organic matter (OM) concentration. Chemical composition of stover parts was affected (P < 0.001) by morphological fractions. The interaction effects between genotype and morphological fraction on the fiber content of stover parts were significant. Over 0.40 and 0.50 of phosphorus (P) and crude protein (CP) of whole-plant maize stover were averagely contributed by leaf blade. Leaf blade, stem and cob contributed over 0.75 of OM, CP, P and fiber in the whole plant. There were significant effects of genotype and morphological fraction on both in vitro gas production parameters and in vitro organic matter disappearance of maize stovers. The genotype and morphological fraction of maize stover and their interaction had significant effects on NH3-N and total volatile fatty acid concentration and the molar proportion of volatile fatty acid in the supernatant after 72 h of incubation except for valeric acid. The present data indicated that the genotype and morphological fraction of maize resulted in variation in the nutritive value of maize stover.

Effects of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme supplementation on in vitro fermentation characteristics of low-quality cereal straws.

The effects of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme preparation (containing cellulase and xylanase) on in vitro fermentation characteristics of rice straw, wheat straw, maize stover, and maize stover silage were examined using an in vitro gas production technique. Four levels of yeast culture and fibrolytic enzyme supplements (0, 2.5, 5.0, and 7.5 g/kg of straw DM, respectively) were tested in a 4 x 4 factorial arrangement. Supplementation of yeast culture increased the cumulative gas production, theoretical maximum of gas production, rate of gas production, IVDMD, and in vitro OM disappearance (IVOMD), and decreased the lag time for each type of straw. Fibrolytic enzyme supplementation tended to increase cumulative gas production, theoretical maximum of gas production, and rate of gas production; prolonged lag time of gas production; and enhanced IVDMD and IVOMD for 4 types of cereal straws, with the significance of this effect being dependent on the level of supplemented enzymes. There were significant interactions between fibrolytic enzymes and yeast on all in vitro gas production parameters, IVDMD, and IVOMD of each type of straw. The outcome of this research indicated that the application of fibrolytic enzyme preparation and yeast culture could improve in vitro gas production fermentation of cereal straws.