obstructive sleep apnea

The aim of this article is to provide a detailed description for obstructive sleep apnea regarding its signs and symptoms, the way it is diagnosed, the risk factors, management, the role of dentists and oral appliances in treatment. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a potentially life-threatening disorder characterized by repeated collapse of the upper airway during sleep, with periodic cessation of breathing for more than ten seconds. Dental professionals have a unique doctor patient relationship that can help them in recognizing the sleep disorder and co-managing the patients along with a physician or a sleep specialist. Oral appliance therapy is an important treatment modality for sleep apnea patient

Scientia Horticulturae

Not AvailableCoconut is grown along the coasts and islands that are vulnerable to climate change-induced sea level rise. Though coconut is considered moderately salt tolerant, our understanding on the growth and physiological response to sea water, either inundation or subsurface water contamination, is very limited. This understanding will enable to effectively manage coconut in coastal systems under future climatic scenarios. In this study, ten month old hydroponically grown coconut seedlings were subjected to 0, 10, 25, 50, 75 and 100 % of sea water substitution (SWS), equivalent to 2.17, 8.32, 16.32, 30.03, 42.14 and 53.69 dS m?1 EC, respectively. Substituting Hoagland solution in hydroponic system by sea water of increasing concentration (>50 % SWS) significantly changed physiological processes; Fv/Fm decreased and rs increased as early as 7 and 18 days after treatment imposition (DAT), respectively which led to significant decline in leaf area and root length expansion as early as 24 DAT. At 25 % SWS, root system (root length and root biomass) was stable but the aerial part biomass was declined by 47 %. On the other hand plant height, leaf area, collar girth and biomass accumulation of seedlings under 10 % SWS (8.32 EC) was on par with the control plants suggesting coconut seedlings could tolerate 10 % SWS. Though, PN declined by 19 % and 43 % at 10 % and 25 % SWS, respectively and a similar decline in gs without a concomitant change in leaf water potential suggested that root-generated signals regulated the stomatal movement in coconut under salinity. Still the biomass accumulation at 10 % SWS was not affected by decline in PN. Under increasing sea water treatments, most of the Na+ absorbed was compartmentalized in root and shoot, while leaf had more accumulation of K+, that ensured high K+/Na+ ratio in the leaves which is an important salinity tolerant mechanism observed in coconut. The leaf Cl? content also had strong negative correlation with [PN] (r=-0.873) and biomass (r=-0.833), therefore in addition to K+ and Na+ homeostasis, the level of tolerance to the increased Cl? content in the leaves may also play an important role in salinity tolerance of coconut. This understanding will help in making appropriate strategies for managing coconut grown at coastal systems in the face of sea level rise under climate change

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Not AvailableVirus-resistant transgenic plants form an essential constituent of crop protection measures. Tomato is an important vegetable crop grown throughout the world for its nutritional benefits and tomatobased processed food consumption. However, the production levels of tomato are threatened by many viral infections. In the absence of resistant tomato genotypes (where available genetic sources or resistance are scarce), development of transgenic resistance to pathogenic viruses is indispensable. The last couple of decades have witnessed substantial progress in incorporating virus resistance trait in tomato. This chapter provides overview of the strategies and successful instances of transgenic virus resistance with special emphasis on prominent viruses infecting tomato. Various approaches to incorporate virus resistance in tomato from antisense RNA expression, through various RNA interference (RNAi) based strategies and foray in to genome editing techniques are discussed. The significant achievements made in developing transgenic resistance to combat Tomato leaf curl viruses, ground nut bud necrosis virus and Cucumber mosaic virus are presented. Also, the utility of employing recently emerging genome editing tool in incorporating resistance to tomato viruses is also discussed.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableIn addition to expression of foreign proteins, crop genetic engineering based on small noncoding RNAs (sncRNAs) form an integral component of crop improvement programs. ncRNA-based genetic manipulation is a potent gene silencing tool whenever repression of gene(s) is desired. Gene silencing is achieved mainly by deploying sncRNAs like small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and artificial miRNAs (amiRNAs). It also offers an opportunity for crop metabolic engineering employing synthetic trans-acting siRNAs (syn-tasiRNAs). Since ncRNA-based genetically modified (GM) crops differ significantly from first-generation protein-based transgenics, there are many apprehensions with regard to off-target and nontarget effects as well as mutational effects on the efficacy of ncRNA silencing, etc. Despite the apprehensions associated with ncRNA-based GM crops, the technology has been successfully employed for crop genetic engineering in 12 crops, incorporating traits ranging from resistance to pathogen, allergen removal, nutritional improvement, etc. The chapter discusses other pertinent issues like persistence of ncRNAs, food and feed safety, and future prospects of ncRNA-based GM crops.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableCoconut (Cocos nucifera L.), belonging to the family Arecaceae, has earned the epithet ‘Kalpavriksha’ (“Tree of Life”) because of its multitude of uses. Changing and future climate scenarios have imposed severe constraints on the production of coconut with simulation studies revealing that productivity will be severely affected. Nevertheless, plant genomics has offered many novel approaches to meet the exigencies of climate change by identifying novel genetic sources for future climatic conditions and developing suitable cultivars to tolerate increased drought, high temperature, pests, and diseases’ complex. The perennial and open-pollinated nature of the crop and its long gestation period has hampered the application of genomics in coconut improvement. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies have helped in the generation of enormous genomic and transcriptomic sequence information at a relatively low cost. Also, breeders’ toolbox has been improved with the availability of various techniques such as molecular marker kits, association mapping, and genomic selection. This chapter describes the impact of climate change in coconut, progresses made in the field of coconut genomics, and various approaches being followed to develop climate-smart coconut.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableGenetic engineering (GE) approaches have been effectively deployed to incorporate foreign genes of economic and/or agricultural importance in crops. Ever since Powell et al. in 1986 showed virus resistance through GE approach, numerous crop plants have been genetically modified to impart virus resistance. Greater understanding of host-virus interactions in the wake of RNA silencing phenomenon have further opened up small non-coding RNAs based virus management strategies. This chapter discusses research priorities, approaches and accomplishments in the field of virus resistant transgenic plants in India. Various genetic modification strategies namely coat protein mediated resistance through RNA silencing have been successfully deployed to develop virus resistance. Transgenic lines have been licensed to private sector, in crops like tomato, and significant progress has been made in crops like potato, rice etc. However, a major bottle-neck in developing successful transgenic crop in legumes, cucurbits and other crops, where viral infection is a serious menace is the lack of suitable regeneration and transformation protocols. Hence, this chapter also deliberates upon potential pitfalls of genetic engineering approaches that require intensive research efforts. Further, as a way forward, it is also proposed to explore recently emerging genome editing tools to combat phytopathogenic viruses.Not Availabl

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Not AvailableMungbean yellow mosaic India virus (MYMIV) belonging to the family Geminiviridae and the genus Begomovirus is a severe pathogen of tropical legumes including soybean. The absence of genetically mapped loci conferring resistance together with the genetic diversity of begomoviruses infecting soybean warrants the utilization of RNA interference (RNAi) technology to develop virus resistance. However, viral suppressors of RNAi (VSRs) reduce the efectiveness of RNA silencing. Here, we report the efectiveness of Agrobacterium-mediated transient expression of shRNA, targeting a conserved region of AC2 ORF (a VSR) of MYMIV, in conferring virus resistance in soybean. Transient expression of shRNA showed progressive reduction of the viral titre estimated by the MYMIV-derived AC2 gene copy numbers from the initial inoculum by approximately 80-fold 20 days post-application. In addition, the newly emerging leaves exhibited symptom recovery. Thus, this study proves that AC2 of MYMIV is a potent target gene for obtaining RNAi-mediated virus resistance in soybean. Agroinfltration-based delivery of shRNA was an efcient means of gene silencing and could pave way for the development of transgenic virus-resistant soybean genotypeNot Availabl

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