Meta-analysis shows forest soil CO2 effluxes are dependent on the disturbance regime and biome type.

Forest soil CO2 efflux (FCO2 ) is a crucial process in global carbon cycling; however, how FCO2 responds to disturbance regimes in different forest biomes is poorly understood. We quantified the effects of disturbance regimes on FCO2 across boreal, temperate, tropical and Mediterranean forests based on 1240 observations from 380 studies. Globally, climatic perturbations such as elevated CO2 concentration, warming and increased precipitation increase FCO2 by 13% to 25%. FCO2 is increased by forest conversion to grassland and elevated carbon input by forest management practices but reduced by decreased carbon input, fire and acid rain. Disturbance also changes soil temperature and water content, which in turn affect the direction and magnitude of disturbance influences on FCO2 . FCO2 is disturbance- and biome-type dependent and such effects should be incorporated into earth system models to improve the projection of the feedback between the terrestrial C cycle and climate change.

When things get MESI: The Manipulation Experiments Synthesis Initiative-A coordinated effort to synthesize terrestrial global change experiments.

Responses of the terrestrial biosphere to rapidly changing environmental conditions are a major source of uncertainty in climate projections. In an effort to reduce this uncertainty, a wide range of global change experiments have been conducted that mimic future conditions in terrestrial ecosystems, manipulating CO2 , temperature, and nutrient and water availability. Syntheses of results across experiments provide a more general sense of ecosystem responses to global change, and help to discern the influence of background conditions such as climate and vegetation type in determining global change responses. Several independent syntheses of published data have yielded distinct databases for specific objectives. Such parallel, uncoordinated initiatives carry the risk of producing redundant data collection efforts and have led to contrasting outcomes without clarifying the underlying reason for divergence. These problems could be avoided by creating a publicly available, updatable, curated database. Here, we report on a global effort to collect and curate 57,089 treatment responses across 3644 manipulation experiments at 1145 sites, simulating elevated CO2 , warming, nutrient addition, and precipitation changes. In the resulting Manipulation Experiments Synthesis Initiative (MESI) database, effects of experimental global change drivers on carbon and nutrient cycles are included, as well as ancillary data such as background climate, vegetation type, treatment magnitude, duration, and, unique to our database, measured soil properties. Our analysis of the database indicates that most experiments are short term (one or few growing seasons), conducted in the USA, Europe, or China, and that the most abundantly reported variable is aboveground biomass. We provide the most comprehensive multifactor global change database to date, enabling the research community to tackle open research questions, vital to global policymaking. The MESI database, freely accessible at doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7153253, opens new avenues for model evaluation and synthesis-based understanding of how global change affects terrestrial biomes. We welcome contributions to the database on GitHub.

Comparison of Proximal Anti-Rotation Intramedullary Nail and Femoral Head Replacement for the Treatment of Femoral Intertrochanteric Fractures in Elderly Patients.

Objective: To compare and analyze the effects of proximal femoral nail anti-rotation (PFNA) and femoral head replacement in treating elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fracture. Methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on clinical data of elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures from February 2019 to February 2021 in the hospital. Patients were divided into a control group (PFNA) and a study group (femoral head replacement) based on surgical methods after propensity score matching. Perioperative indicators, hematocrit (HCT), hemoglobin (Hb), hip function, and complications one year after surgery were compared between the two groups after excluding confounding factors. Result: Both groups had complete follow-ups without any cases lost. The study group had longer surgical time, higher intraoperative blood loss, and greater postoperative drainage volume compared to the control group, while the hospital stay and weight-bearing starting time were shorter in the study group (P < .05). There were statistically significant differences in HCT and Hb after surgery between the two groups (P < .05). One year after surgery, the excellent and good rate of hip function was 90.28% in the study group and 76.39% in the control group (P < .05). The total incidence rate of postoperative early complications was higher in the study group, while the total incidence rate of late postoperative complications was lower in the study group compared to the control group (P < .05). Conclusion: PFNA and femoral head replacement have their respective advantages in treating elderly patients with femoral intertrochanteric fractures. PFNA causes less trauma to patients but has poorer postoperative hip function recovery, while femoral head replacement causes greater trauma to patients but has better postoperative hip function recovery. Therefore, the appropriate surgical method can be selected based on the patient's specific conditions.

Study on the Influence of Metal Ions on the Dispersion of Fine Calcium Gangue Minerals.

In this study, the calcium gangue material calcite (−10 µm) was used to investigate the effects of different kinds of metal ions and dosages on the dispersion behavior of calcite. The test results showed that the dispersion behavior of calcite was poor under strongly alkaline conditions without the addition of metal ions, and the reason for that was calcite dissolved ions. The degree of influence of different metal ions on calcite dispersion behavior was Fe3+ > Mg2+ > Na+. The three metal ion dosage tests showed that the dispersion behavior of calcite became poorer with the increase of metal ion dosage. This mainly showed that with the increase of Na+ dosage, the trend of the dispersion behavior of calcite was not obvious, but with the increase of Fe3+ and Mg2+ dosage, the trend of calcite dispersion behavior changed more. The dispersion behavior of calcite was devastated by 5 × 10−4 mol/L Fe3+ at pH = 4−12. The different mechanisms of the three metal ions were identified by zeta potential, solution chemistry, and XPS analysis. Na+ only changed the zeta potential value of the calcite surface, which acted as a compressed electric double layer. However, the formation of metal hydroxide species or metal hydroxide surface precipitation due to the adsorption of Fe3+ and Mg2+ on the mineral surface resulted in the change of the dispersion behavior of calcite.

Effect of Unavoidable Ion (Ca2+) in Pulp on the Dispersion Behavior of Fine Smithsonite.

The efficient dispersion of particles is a prerequisite for the efficient flotation of fine smithsonite. However, unavoidable ions (Ca2+) in the pulp have become a challenge for the efficient separation of fine smithsonite, due to the high content of pulp and small radius of hydrated ions. Therefore, the dispersion behavior and mechanism of Ca2+ action on smithsonite are important for improving the efficiency of smithsonite flotation. In this study, the effects of Ca2+ on the dispersion behavior of fine smithsonite were studied using a turbidity test. The results showed that the dispersion behavior of smithsonite was good in the absence of Ca2+ at a range of pH = 4−12. However, the measured turbidity values of smithsonite decreased with the addition of calcium ions. In particular, the dispersion behavior of smithsonite became worse at pH > 10. Zeta potential test results showed that the smithsonite's surface potential shifted positively, and the absolute value of potential decreased in the presence of Ca2+. The results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis showed that calcium ions were adsorbed on the smithsonite surface, which may have caused ion exchange or the generation of calcium hydroxide precipitation leading to particle coalescence behavior. The calculations of solution chemistry and DLVO theory indicated that calcium ions adsorbed on the surface of smithsonite to form Ca(OH)+ or precipitation, which reduced the potential energy of interparticle interactions and led to the disruption of dispersion behavior of smithsonite.

An Insight into Anti-Inflammatory Activities and Inflammation Related Diseases of Anthocyanins: A Review of Both In Vivo and In Vitro Investigations.

Anthocyanin is a type of flavonoid pigment widely present in fruits and vegetables. It can not only be used as natural pigment, but also has a variety of health functions, for instance, anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-tumor, and neuroprotective activities. Persistent proinflammatory status is a major factor in the development, progression, and complications of chronic diseases. Not surprisingly, there are thus many food ingredients that can potentially affect inflammation related diseases and many studies have shown that anthocyanins play an important role in inflammatory pathways. In this paper, the inflammation related diseases (such as, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and cancer) of anthocyanins are introduced, and the anti-inflammatory effect of anthocyanins is emphatically introduced. Moreover, the anti-inflammatory mechanism of anthocyanins is elaborated from the aspects of NF-κB, toll like receptor, MAPKs, NO, and ROS and the main efficacy of anthocyanins in inflammation and related diseases is determined. In conclusion, this review aims to get a clear insight into the role of anthocyanins in inflammation related diseases.

Zinc Recovery from Wulagen Sulfide Flotation Plant Tail by Applying Ether Amine Organic Collectors.

Separating oxidized zinc minerals from flotation tailings is always a challenge. In this study, a flotation tailing from Wulagen zinc mine in China (Zn grade < 1%) was processed using froth flotation with combinations of amines (OPA 10, OPA 1214, OPA 13, DDA) and Na2S to study the effects of these amines on the zinc recovery as well as their interactions with other reagents, aiming to screen out a proper reagent scheme to improve zinc separation from extremely low-grade zinc flotation tailings. The results show that different amines led to different flotation performance, and the collectors were ranked as OPA 1214, OPA 13, OPA 10 and DDA in a decreasing order based on flotation collectivity and selectivity. An increase in the concentration of each collector increased the zinc recovery but reduced the concentrate zinc grade. Interactions were also observed between different amines and Na2S and Na2SiO3, and OPA 1214 outdid the others in saving the usage of both the Na2S and Na2SiO3. The measured adsorption of collector onto smithsonite was found to correlate well with flotation test results. It was concluded that hydrocarbon chains can be held accountable for the difference in the flotation performance with different amines. The longer the hydrocarbon chain, the stronger the hydrophobic association ability of amine, which is conducive to the selective amine adsorption onto sulfurized smithsonite particles and hence the smithsonite flotation.

Genetic control of fatty acid composition in coconut (Cocos nucifera), African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis), and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera).

MAIN CONCLUSION: Predominant gene isoforms and expression bias in lipid metabolism pathways are highly conserved between oil-producing Arecaceae crop species coconut and oil palm, but diverge in non-oil-producing species date palm. Coconut (Cocos nucifera), African oil palm (Elaeis guineensis) and date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) are three major crop species in the Arecaceae family for which genome sequences have recently become available. Coconut and African oil palm both store oil in their endosperms, while date palm fruits contain very little oil. We analyzed fatty acid composition in three coconut tissues (leaf, endosperm and embryo) and in two African oil palm tissues (leaf and mesocarp), and identified 806, 840 and 848 lipid-related genes in 22 lipid metabolism pathways from the coconut, African oil palm and date palm genomes, respectively. The majority of lipid-related genes were highly homologous and retained in homologous segments between the three species. Genes involved in the conversion of pyruvate to fatty acid had a five-to-sixfold higher expression in the coconut endosperm and oil palm mesocarp than in the leaf or embryo tissues based on Fragments Per Kilobase of transcript per Million mapped reads values. A close evolutionary relationship between predominant gene isoforms and high conservation of gene expression bias in the lipid and carbohydrate gene metabolism pathways was observed for the two oil-producing species coconut and oil palm, differing from that of date palm, a non-oil-producing species. Our results elucidate the similarities and differences in lipid metabolism between the three major Arecaceae crop species, providing important information for physiology studies as well as breeding for fatty acid composition and oil content in these crops.

Facile synthesis of nickel-doped Co9S8 hollow nanoparticles with large surface-controlled pseudocapacitive and fast sodium storage.

Transition metal sulfides are considered to be promising candidates as anodes for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). However, their further applications are limited by poor electrical conductivity and sluggish electrochemical kinetics. We report, for the first time, nickel-doped Co9S8 hollow nanoparticles as SIB anodes with enhanced electrical conductivity and a large pseudocapacitive effect, leading to fast kinetics. This compound exhibits excellent sodium storage performance, including a high capacity of 556.7 mA h g-1, a high rate capability of 2000 mA g-1 and an excellent stability up to 200 cycles. The results demonstrate that nickel-doped Co9S8 hollow nanoparticles are a promising anode material for SIBs.

Distribution, Seasonal Variations and Ecological Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Foliar Dust of Nanjing, China.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are of concern for both ecosystem and human health due to their potential teratogenic, carcinogenic, and mutagenic properties. The concentration of ∑16PAHs in foliar dust ranged from 49.4 to 19,018.1 µg kg-1, with a mean value of 7074.5 µg kg-1. There were significant seasonal variations in the concentration of ∑16PAHs, with the concentration in winter being almost twice as high as in summer. Similarly, the differences between PAH profiles in different seasons indicated that they had common sources, which were attributed to the combined effect of regional transport and local emissions. The diagnostic ratios of indicator compounds indicated that PAHs detected in foliar dust originated from a mixture of gasoline vehicle emissions, biomass, and coal combustion in Nanjing. According to the ecological risk classification of ∑16PAHs, the ecological risk caused by PAHs was high since the value of RQ∑16PAHs(MPCs) was ≥ 1 and RQ∑16PAHs(NCs) were ≥ 800. The mean values for RQ∑16PAHs(MPCs) and RQ∑16PAHs(NCs) were 14.8 and 2368.9, which indicated a relatively high ecological risks of PAHs in foliar dust in Nanjing.

[Family function and its relationship with clinical prognosis in patients with major depressive disorder].

OBJECTIVE: To explore characteristics of family function in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD), and to evaluate relationships between family function and prognosis of major depressive episode (MDE).
 Methods: Forty-six patients with MDD were recruited in the outpatient or inpatient departments of Wuhan Mental Health Center from September 1, 2014 to August 31, 2015. At the baseline, the patients and their co-resident family members were interviewed for psychiatric screening and diagnosis, and the family function of each patient's family was assessed by Family Assessment Device (FAD). After clinic service or hospitalization, the patients were followed up by telephone until they recovered from the MDE (within 12 months since the follow-up) or for 12 months if they had not achieved remission. Forty-two mentally healthy subjects, with no family members diagnosis for psychiatric diseases, and matched with MDD patients for age, sex, number of children, family roleand socioeconomic status, were recruited from a community. The family function of the MDD families and the controls were compared by independent sample-T test, and the relationship between family function and duration of the MDE was analyzed by Pearson's correlation.
 Results: MDD families exhibited higher FAD scores in 5 dimensions than control families except for affective involvement and behavior control (P<0.01). Patients with relatively good family function showed significantly shorter duration of MDE and higher proportion of remission within 6 months since the follow-up (P<0.01 and P<0.05). All the dimensions of FAD demonstrated significant positive correlation with the duration of MDE except for the behavior control.
 Conclusion: Families with MDD patients show impairments in multiple dimensions of family function, and the family functions of MDD patients are correlated with the prognosis of MDE. Improvement of family function may contribute to better prognosis of MDD.

Exploiting transcriptome data for the development and characterization of gene-based SSR markers related to cold tolerance in oil palm (Elaeis guineensis).

BACKGROUND: The oil palm (Elaeis guineensis, 2n = 32) has the highest oil yield of any crop species, as well as comprising the richest dietary source of provitamin A. For the tropical species, the best mean growth temperature is about 27°C, with a minimal growth temperature of 15°C. Hence, the plantation area is limited into the geographical ranges of 10°N to 10°S. Enhancing cold tolerance capability will increase the total cultivation area and subsequently oil productivity of this tropical species. Developing molecular markers related to cold tolerance would be helpful for molecular breeding of cold tolerant Elaeis guineensis. RESULTS: In total, 5791 gene-based SSRs were identified in 51,452 expressed sequences from Elaeis guineensis transcriptome data: approximately one SSR was detected per 10 expressed sequences. Of these 5791 gene-based SSRs, 916 were derived from expressed sequences up- or down-regulated at least two-fold in response to cold stress. A total of 182 polymorphic markers were developed and characterized from 442 primer pairs flanking these cold-responsive SSR repeats. The polymorphic information content (PIC) of these polymorphic SSR markers across 24 lines of Elaeis guineensis varied from 0.08 to 0.65 (mean = 0.31 ± 0.12). Using in-silico mapping, 137 (75.3%) of the 182 polymorphic SSR markers were located onto the 16 Elaeis guineensis chromosomes. Total coverage of 473 Mbp was achieved, with an average physical distance of 3.4 Mbp between adjacent markers (range 96 bp - 20.8 Mbp). Meanwhile, Comparative analysis of transcriptome under cold stress revealed that one ICE1 putative ortholog, five CBF putative orthologs, 19 NAC transcription factors and four cold-induced orhologs were up-regulated at least two fold in response to cold stress. Interestingly, 5' untranslated region of both Unigene21287 (ICE1) and CL2628.Contig1 (NAC) both contained an SSR markers. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, a series of SSR markers were developed based on sequences differentially expressed in response to cold stress. These EST-SSR markers would be particularly useful for gene mapping and population structure analysis in Elaeis guineensis. Meanwhile, the EST-SSR loci were inducible expressed in response to low temperature, which may have potential application in identifying trait-associated markers in oil palm in the future.

Evolution characteristics and influencing factors of information network in Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

In the context of the digital information era, the impact of "The Internet Plus," "Big Data," and other technologies on urban social development has been far beyond any preceding era, under the influence of information technology, urban agglomeration space exhibits a new layout. Based on the search engine data of eleven cities in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area from 2012 to 2021, this research constructs the inter-city information network strength linkage matrix to examine the evolution characteristics of city network structure and its driving causes. The results reveal that (1) the overall information linkage strength exhibits a pattern of steadily growing the radiating effect from the leading cities of Guangdong, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong to the surrounding cities, and a closer and more balanced information linkage network is gradually built. (2) Guangzhou-Shenzhen-Hong Kong-Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area information linkage absolute control advantage, four cities Foshan, Dongguan, Zhuhai, Macao regional hub position steadily highlighted. The entire information connection network of the urban agglomerations tends to be flat and polycentric at the same time. (3) The regional core-edge hierarchy is well established, with the four cities of Guangzhou, Dongguan, Shenzhen, and Hong Kong creating a northwest-southeast orientation. The core metropolis regions of Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao in the Greater Bay Area increasingly exert a radiation spreading effect to the northeast and southwest. (4) The urban economy, transportation distance, and information infrastructure have substantial effects on the information connection intensity network of urban clusters.

Construction of a Diagnostic Model and a lncRNA-Associated ceRNA Network Based on Apoptosis-Related Genes for Schizophrenia.

Methods: Gene expression profiles and apoptosis-related data were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus and Molecular Signature databases, respectively. Apoptosis-related differentially expressed mRNAs (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) from blood samples between the schizophrenia and healthy control individuals were screened. A diagnostic model was developed using the data from univariate and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression analyses, followed by validation using the GSE38485 dataset. Cases were divided into low-risk (LR) and high-risk (HR) groups based on the risk score of the model, and differences in immune gene sets and pathways between these two groups were compared. Finally, a ceRNA network was constructed by integrating long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), DEMs, and DEGs. Results: A diagnostic model containing 15 apoptosis-related genes was developed and its diagnostic efficiency was found to be robust. The HR group was correlated with higher immune scores of chemokines, cytokines, and interleukins; it was also significantly involved in pathways such as pancreatic beta cells and early estrogen response. A ceRNA network composed of 2 lncRNAs, 14 miRNAs, and 5 mRNAs was established. Conclusions: The established model is a potential tool to improve the diagnostic efficiency of patients with schizophrenia, and the nodes included in the ceRNA network might serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for schizophrenia.

Identification of novel biomarkers linking depressive disorder and Alzheimer's disease based on an integrative bioinformatics analysis.

BACKGROUND: Previous reports revealed that a history of major depressive disorder (MDD) increased the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The immune disorder is associated with MDD and AD pathophysiology. We aimed to identify differentially expressed immune-related genes (DEIRGs) that are involved in the pathogenesis of MDD and AD. METHODS: We downloaded mRNA expression profiles (GSE76826 and GSE5281) from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. The R software was used to identify DEIRGs for the two diseases separately. Functional enrichment analysis and PPI network of DEIRGs were performed. Finally, the relationship between shared DEIRGs and immune infiltrates of AD and MDD were analyzed, respectively. RESULTS: A total of 121 DEIRGs linking AD and MDD were identified. These genes were significantly enriched in immune-related pathways, such as the JAK-STAT signaling pathway, regulation of chemotaxis, chemotaxis, cytokine-cytokine receptor interaction, and primary immunodeficiency. Furthermore, three shared DEIRGs (IL1R1, CHGB, and NRG1) were identified. Correlation analysis between DEIRGs and immune cells revealed that IL1R1 and NRG1 had a negative or positive correlation with some immune cells both in AD and MDD. CONCLUSION: Both DEIRGs and immune cell infiltrations play a vital role in the pathogenesis of AD and MDD. Our findings indicated that there are common genes and biological processes between MDD and AD, which provides a theoretical basis for the study of the comorbidity of MDD and AD.

Isoxanthanol has protective and anti-inflammatory effects on subchondral bone deterioration in experimental osteoarthritic rat model.

In the present study isoxanthanol was investigated for treatment of monosodium iodoacetate (MIA)-induced osteoarthritis (OA) in vivo. The study demonstrated that isoxanthanol inhibited excessive release of interleukin-6, NO and PGE2 in RAW264.7 cells treated with LPS in dose dependent manner. The effects of isoxanthanol were examined in a rat model of osteoarthritis (OA) and observed to amelio-rate inflammatory damage and protect against OA. Moreover, in vivo data also confirmed inhibition of interleukin-6, NO and PGE2 levels in LPS-induced OA-rats. Deterioration of knee subchondral bone in LPS-induced OA-rats was also prevented effectively by isoxanthanol-treatment. Therefore, isoxanthanol prevents subchondral bone deterioration in OA rats via targeting inflammatory processes.

Abnormal hubs in global network as potential neuroimaging marker in generalized anxiety disorder at rest.

Background: Mounting studies have reported altered neuroimaging features in generalized anxiety disorder (GAD). However, little is known about changes in degree centrality (DC) as an effective diagnostic method for GAD. Therefore, we aimed to explore the abnormality of DCs and whether these features can be used in the diagnosis of GAD. Methods: Forty-one GAD patients and 45 healthy controls participated in the study. Imaging data were analyzed using DC and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) methods. Results: Compared with the control group, increased DC values in bilateral cerebellum and left middle temporal gyrus (MTG), and decreased DC values in the left medial frontal orbital gyrus (MFOG), fusiform gyrus (FG), and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex (PCC). The ROC results showed that the DC value of the left MTG could serve as a potential neuroimaging marker with high sensitivity and specificity for distinguishing patients from healthy controls. Conclusion: Our findings demonstrate that abnormal DCs in the left MTG can be observed in GAD, highlighting the importance of GAD pathophysiology.

Sexual function of 612 male addicts treated by methadone.

OBJECTIVE: To determine sexual function in 612 male addicts with methadone maintenance therapy (MMT), analyze its cause and explore the treatment strategies. METHODS: Self-made questionnaire and International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) were used in 612 male addicts receiving MMT. RESULTS: The number of addicts who felt worse sexual function was significantly more than those who felt better sexual function (P<0.01). About 88.6% addicts were dissatisfied with their current sexual function, 90.7% of whom were willing to continuously receive MMT. The number of addicts suffering from hyposexuality and erectile dysfunction (ED) was significantly increased at post-MMT than at pre-MMT (P<0.01), while the number of addicts with normal sexuality and inhibitive ejaculation decreased significantly (P<0.01). Both the dose of methadone and the age of subjects were negatively correlated with IIEF-5 scores. Correlation between the duration of MMT and IIEF-5 scores was not found. CONCLUSION: MMT might deteriorate sexual function in male addicts. To improve the compliance of MMT and sexual function in male addicts, the dose of methadone should be adjusted to minimally effective one.

Combined Column and Mechanical Flotation Cell Process for the Beneficiation of Sanshandao Gold Ore.

Semi-industrial tests were conducted to investigate the feasibility and efficiency of a combined column and mechanical flotation cell process for the beneficiation of Sanshandao low-grade gold ore. The results showed that the performance of the combined flotation process of the cyclonic-static microbubble flotation column (FCSMC) and mechanical flotation cells was superior to that of the mechanical flotation cell, while the flowsheet was simplified. FCSMC is efficient when used on fine particles, whereas a mechanical flotation cell is effective for coarse particles. Thus, the combined flotation process exhibited a better separation performance by employing the strengths of both methods. The use of the combined FCSMC and cell flotation process showed promising results for a producing grade of 48.24 g/t gold with 96.13% recovery. The combined column and cell flotation process introduces a new approach for the separation of low-grade gold ore.

Salinity Drives Functional and Taxonomic Diversities in Global Water Metagenomes.

A tight association between microbial function and taxonomy is the basis of functional prediction based on taxonomy, but such associations have been controversial in water biomes largely due to the probable prevalence of functional redundancy. However, previous studies on this topic used a relatively coarse resolution of ecosystem functioning, potentially inflating the estimated functional redundancy. Thus, a comprehensive evaluation of the association between high-resolution functional traits and taxonomic diversity obtained from fresh and saline water metagenomic data is urgently needed. Here, we examined 938 functionally and taxonomically annotated water metagenomes obtained worldwide to scrutinize the connection between function and taxonomy, and to identify the key driver of water metagenomes function or taxonomic composition at a global scale. We found that pairwise similarity of function was significantly associated with taxonomy, though taxonomy had higher global dissimilarity than function. Classification into six water biomes resulted in greater variation in taxonomic compositions than functional profiles, as the key regulating factor was salinity. Fresh water microbes harbored distinct functional and taxonomic structures from microbes in saline water biomes, despite that taxonomy was more susceptible to gradient of geography and climate than function. In summary, our results find a significant relationship between taxonomic diversity and microbial functioning in global water metagenomes, although microbial taxonomic compositions vary to a larger extent than functional profiles in aquatic ecosystems, suggesting the possibility and necessity for functional prediction of microorganisms based on taxonomy in global aquatic ecosystems.