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Two Gonyaulax-like strains were established by isolating cells from Korean coastal waters, and their morphologies and molecular phylogenies based on SSU and LSU rRNA gene sequences were examined. The motile cells displayed neutral torsion and a plate formula typical for the genus Gonyaulax, and were characterized by a reticulated surface with many pores, and a marked antapical flange on the boundary between 1″″ and 2p or two prominent spines. The reticulate ornamentation was sometimes absent on the plate margin or on the entire plate. Pronounced rows of pores on the margins of precingular, cingular and postcingular plates were observed, and especially a distinct pore was always present on the margin of the anterior sulcal plate contacting with 1″. A spiniferate resting cyst had a red body, gonal and intergonal processes, and an antapical flange. In the phylogenetic tree, the Korean isolates had a close relationship to Gonyaulax membranacea and were clearly divergent from other Gonyaulax species. These species can be distinguished by the presence or absence of a distinct pore on the margin of the anterior sulcal plate in touch with 1″, and different process types in cyst morphology. Based on these morpho-molecular data, Gonyaulax kunsanensis sp. nov. is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A solar heat pump based on the photovoltaic photothermal (PV/T) module is a new technology that can improve the photovoltaic efficiency and recovery of waste heat in photovoltaic conversion. The comprehensive efficiency of a system can thus be greatly improved. At present, there is little research on the simulation of a solar heat pump based on the Simulink 2018 software. In this paper, PV/T modules are modeled and simulated using the Simulink software based on the typical meteorological parameters in Beijing city during summer and winter conditions. Considering the system characteristics of a simultaneous operation, the models of all components such as the compressor, condenser, evaporator, expansion valve, and heat storage tanks contained in a system are established based on the system's working principle, energy conservation equations, and some empirical formulas and then simulated. As PV/T modules are the key influencing factor for system performance, the model and simulation process are introduced in detail in this paper. The results show that the surface temperature of PV/T modules under different operating conditions are all significantly lower than that of ordinary photovoltaic panels. The average temperature of PV/T modules is only 15.2 °C, which is 20.2 °C lower than that of ordinary panels under summer conditions, and the average temperature of PV/T modules is only 0.5 °C, 17.8 °C lower than that of ordinary panels under winter conditions. The average photoelectric efficiency can be improved by 15.4% and 8.9%. And, the temperature change amplitude of PV/T modules is lower, which weakens the temperature fluctuation of the modules. The photovoltaic efficiency is therefore further increased. As a result, the power generation and photovoltaic efficiency are both improved significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammation characterized by dysregulated crosstalk between immune cells and keratinocytes. Here we show that the cyclic GMP‐AMP synthase (cGAS)‐stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is a key regulator of psoriatic inflammation in a mouse model. Platinum‐doped positively charged carbon dots (Pt‐CDs) were designed to inhibit the cGAS‐STING pathway. By inhibiting the cGAS‐STING pathway with Pt‐CDs, the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages was reduced, and the proinflammatory cytokines‐induced breakdown of immunological tolerance and overexpression of chemokines in keratinocytes was restored, which reversed the homeostatic imbalance through breaking these cytokines‐mediated intercellular positive feedback loop. Topical Pt‐CDs treatment exhibited therapeutic effects in imiquimod‐induced psoriasis mice without noticeable toxicity. The reversal of elevated expression of STING, phosphorylated STING, and downstream genes within psoriatic lesions indicates that Pt‐CDs effectively inhibit the cGAS‐STING pathway. This work suggests a promising strategy for psoriasis treatment by targeting the cGAS‐STING pathway with Pt‐CDs nanoinhibitor to restore skin homeostatic balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extant species of the dinoflagellate genus Gonyaulax are capable of producing resting cysts morphologically similar to different cyst-based genera, and their cyst-theca relationships are far from resolved. Here we have carried out germination experiments on several living cysts that resemble Spiniferites delicatus from the subtropical regions of China and Mexico. Both cyst and theca morphology were examined by light and scanning electron microscopy. A new species, Gonyaulax pospelovana, is described, characterized by a cingulum displacement and an overhang of twice its width, and two short antapical spines. The cysts of G. pospelovana had a granular surface and gonal processes with petaloid tips. Maximum likelihood and Bayesian inference analyses based on LSU and SSU rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains identified as G. pospelovana were monophyletic, forming a sister clade to Gonyaulax ellegaardiae and several presumable strains of Gonyaulax spinifera. One Chinese strain and two Mexican strains of G. pospelovana were examined for yessotoxin production using LC-MS/MS, but were not found to produce a detectable amount of toxins. Metabarcoding targeting the 18S V4 rRNA gene was performed on monthly collected samples in Xiamen Bay, China. A ZOTU (zero-radius operational taxonomic units) was detected that was consistent with G. pospelovana. Its maximum abundance was recorded in summer. Additionally, an OTU was identified as G. pospelovana from the Tara Oceans metabarcoding data, which occurred in the Indian and Pacific oceans at temperatures ranging from 28°C to 31°C, suggesting that it is a warm water species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Few studies have compared endoscopic balloon dilation (EBD) and surgery in the treatment of duodenal stricture in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). We performed a retrospective study to compare the efficacy and safety among patients with CD-associated duodenal stricture treated with EBD or surgery from October 2013 to December 2021. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate factors associated with recurrence-free or surgery-free survival. A total of 48 eligible patients were included, including 30 patients treated with EBD only and 18 patients treated with surgery. Patients treated with surgery experienced more symptomatic improvement (100% vs. 63.33%, p = 0.003) and significantly longer recurrence-free survival (6.31 [IQR: 3.00–8.39] years vs. 2.96 [IQR: 1.06–5.42] years, p = 0.01) but suffered more postprocedural adverse events (16.67% vs. 0.74% per procedure, p = 0.001). In patients initially treated with EBD (n = 41), a total of 11 (26.83%) required subsequent surgical intervention. Younger age at CD diagnosis (HR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.81–1.00, p = 0.04) was associated with a higher risk for subsequent surgery. Surgery for CD-associated duodenal strictures was associated with a longer recurrence-free survival. EBD was safe and effective with minimal postprocedural adverse events but led to a high frequency of recurrence. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The green microalga Dunaliella salina hyperaccumulates β‐carotene in the chloroplast, which turns its cells orange. This does not occur in the sister species Dunaliella tertiolecta. However, the molecular mechanisms of β‐carotene hyperaccumulation were still unclear. Here, we discovered the reasons for β‐carotene hyperaccumulation by comparing the morphology, physiology, genome, and transcriptome between the carotenogenic D. salina and the noncarotenogenic D. tertiolecta after transfer to high light. The differences in photosynthetic capacity, cell growth, and the concentration of stored carbon suggest that these species regulate the supply and utilization of carbon differently. The number of β‐carotene‐containing plastid lipid globules increased in both species, but much faster and to a greater extent in D. salina than in D. tertiolecta. Consistent with the accumulation of plastid lipid globules, the expression of the methyl‐erythritol‐phosphate and carotenoid biosynthetic pathways increased only in D. salina, which explains the de novo synthesis of β‐carotene. In D. salina, the concomitantly upregulated expression of the carotene globule proteins suggests that hyperaccumulation of β‐carotene also requires a simultaneous increase in its sink capacity. Based on genomic analysis, we propose that D. salina has genetic advantages for routing carbon from growth to carotenoid metabolism. Summary statement: Under high light, Dunaliella salina undergoes significant metabolic shifts, while Dunaliella tertiolecta primarily focuses on acclimation in photosynthesis. This metabolic contrast may explain the β‐carotene hyperaccumulation by redirecting carbon from growth to carotenoid metabolism shown in D. salina. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Psoriasis is a chronic skin inflammation characterized by dysregulated crosstalk between immune cells and keratinocytes. Here we show that the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway is a key regulator of psoriatic inflammation in a mouse model. Platinum-doped positively charged carbon dots (Pt-CDs) were designed to inhibit the cGAS-STING pathway. By inhibiting the cGAS-STING pathway with Pt-CDs, the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines in macrophages was reduced, and the proinflammatory cytokines-induced breakdown of immunological tolerance and overexpression of chemokines in keratinocytes was restored, which reversed the homeostatic imbalance through breaking these cytokines-mediated intercellular positive feedback loop. Topical Pt-CDs treatment exhibited therapeutic effects in imiquimod-induced psoriasis mice without noticeable toxicity. The reversal of elevated expression of STING, phosphorylated STING, and downstream genes within psoriatic lesions indicates that Pt-CDs effectively inhibit the cGAS-STING pathway. This work suggests a promising strategy for psoriasis treatment by targeting the cGAS-STING pathway with Pt-CDs nanoinhibitor to restore skin homeostatic balance., (© 2023 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)