Henry T.

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Transnasal flexible laryngoscopy is considered an aerosol generating procedure. A negative pressure face shield (NPFS) was developed to control aerosol from the patient during laryngoscopy. The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the NPFS at controlling virus aerosol compared to a standard disposable plastic face shield. The face shields were placed on a simulated patient coughing machine. MS2 bacteriophage was used as a surrogate for SARS-CoV-2 and was aerosolized using the coughing machine. The aerosolized virus was sampled on the inside and outside of the face shields. The virus aerosol concentration was not significantly different between the inside and outside of the traditional plastic face shield (p = 0.12). However, the particle concentrations across all particle sizes measured were significantly decreased outside the face shield. The virus and particle concentrations were significantly decreased (p < 0.01) outside the NPFS operating at a flow rate of 38.6 L per minute (LPM). When the NPFS was operated at 10 LPM, virus concentrations were not significantly different (p = 0.09) across the face shield. However, the number particle concentrations across all particle sizes measured were significantly different (p < 0.05).

Late embryogenesis abundant (LEA) proteins play important roles in regulating plant growth and responses to various abiotic stresses. In this research, a genome-wide survey was conducted to recognize the LEA genes in Glycine max. A total of 74 GmLEA was identified and classified into nine subfamilies based on their conserved domains and the phylogenetic analysis. Subcellular localization, the duplication of genes, gene structure, the conserved motif, and the prediction of cis-regulatory elements and tissue expression pattern were then conducted to characterize GmLEAs. The expression profile analysis indicated that the expression of several GmLEAs was a response to drought and salt stress. The co-expression-based gene network analysis suggested that soybean LEA proteins may exert regulatory effects through the metabolic pathways. We further explored GnLEA4_19 function in Arabidopsis and the results suggests that overexpressed GmLEA4_19 in Arabidopsis increased plant height under mild or serious drought stress. Moreover, the overexpressed GmLEA4_19 soybean also showed a drought tolerance phenotype. These results indicated that GmLEA4_19 plays an important role in the tolerance to drought and will contribute to the development of the soybean transgenic with enhanced drought tolerance and better yield. Taken together, this study provided insight for better understanding the biological roles of LEA genes in soybean.

Soybean seed sugars are among the most abundant beneficial compounds for human and animal consumption in soybean seeds. Higher seed sugars such as sucrose are desirable as they contribute to taste and flavor in soy-based food. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to use the ‘Forrest’ by ‘Williams 82’ (F × W82) recombinant inbred line (RIL) soybean population (n = 309) to identify quantitative trait loci (QTLs) and candidate genes that control seed sugar (sucrose, stachyose, and raffinose) contents in two environments (North Carolina and Illinois) over two years (2018 and 2020). A total of 26 QTLs that control seed sugar contents were identified and mapped on 16 soybean chromosomes (chrs.). Interestingly, five QTL regions were identified in both locations, Illinois and North Carolina, in this study on chrs. 2, 5, 13, 17, and 20. Amongst 57 candidate genes identified in this study, 16 were located within 10 Megabase (MB) of the identified QTLs. Amongst them, a cluster of four genes involved in the sugars’ pathway was collocated within 6 MB of two QTLs that were detected in this study on chr. 17. Further functional validation of the identified genes could be beneficial in breeding programs to produce soybean lines with high beneficial sucrose and low raffinose family oligosaccharides.

Scientific advances in biosensor technology are leading to the potential of wearable biosensors for salivary biomarker detection. This review aims to identify the current status of intraoral biosensor technology that can be used to monitor systemic diseases. A total of 11 studies were identified for inclusion, which included nine different devices, including modified mouthguards, retainers, toothbrushes, and dental floss. Out of the 11 studies, 8 studied continuous biomarker monitoring, and the remaining 3 were point-of-care applications. A total of seven biomarkers were studied, six of which investigated the intraoral detection of salivary glucose levels using glucose oxidase enzyme. All the sensors demonstrated excellent sensitivity (minimum R = 0.9928) and selectivity. The study designs were proof of concept, with five studies including in vivo components. We concluded that while there are established links between salivary biomarkers and systemic health, there is a lack of mature intraoral biosensor research. Refinement of biosensor design and data analysis is required to improve patient acceptability by promoting more discrete, real-time, low-cost, and wireless devices. Further research that utilises the biosensor technology in large controlled clinical trials will be required to confirm clinical applicability before intraoral biosensor technology can be integrated into routine health monitoring.

Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, MD 21287, USA