Stomatal pores are vital for the diffusion of gasses into and out of land plants and are, therefore, gatekeepers for photosynthesis and transpiration. Although much published literature has described the intercellular signaling and transcriptional regulators involved in early stomatal development, little is known about the cellular details of the local separation between sister guard cells that give rise to the stomatal pore or how formation of this pore is achieved. Using three-dimensional (3D) time-lapse imaging, we found that stomatal pore formation in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) is a highly dynamic process involving pore initiation and enlargement and traverses a set of morphological milestones in 3D. Confocal imaging data revealed an enrichment of exocytic machinery, de-methyl-esterified pectic homogalacturonan (HG), and an HG-degrading enzyme at future pore sites, suggesting that both localized HG deposition and degradation might function in pore formation. By manipulating HG modification via enzymatic, chemical, and genetic perturbations in seedling cotyledons, we found that augmenting HG modification promotes pore formation, whereas preventing HG de-methyl-esterification delays pore initiation and inhibits pore enlargement. Through mechanical modeling and experimentation, we tested whether pore formation is an outcome of sister guard cells being pulled away from each other upon turgor increase. Osmotic treatment to reduce turgor pressure did not prevent pore initiation but did lessen pore enlargement. Together, these data provide evidence that HG delivery and modification, and guard cell pressurization, make functional contributions to stomatal pore initiation and enlargement.

The United States is heavily impacted by the COVID‐19 pandemic starting in 2020. Demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) domestically, along with global surge in demand for PPE during the pandemic, overwhelmed supply chains, leading to acute PPE shortages. This article analyzes the PPE supply and demand in the United States by employing data collected by GetUsPPE, a data hub used throughout the pandemic to coordinate support efforts, including connecting facilities in need of PPE with donated supplies. In this article, PPE requests were examined by facility type (acute vs. non‐acute care), geographic location, and PPE type. The research team observed that PPE demand was dispersed across the United States. In the beginning of the pandemic when demand was highest, most requesting facilities self‐reported as acute care facilities, whereas non‐acute care facilities predominated after June 2020. Additionally, the demand for respirators, disinfecting wipes, gowns, face shields, and surgical masks peaked in response to the first, second, and third waves of COVID‐19. This analysis can be utilized in the future to optimize the tracking of PPE shortages and relief efforts.

Human prion diseases are a group of rare and fatal diseases without a cure. Symptoms include rapidly progressive dementia, ataxia, myoclonus, akinetic mutism, and visual disturbances. A broad differential is required to consider prion disease as a diagnosis and rule out other conditions. Historically, to confirm the diagnosis of prion disease, a brain biopsy was needed. Over the past few decades, brain MRI, video electroencephalogram, lumbar puncture results, and a thorough clinical assessment have helped arrive at a probable diagnosis. We present the case of a 60-year-old female with a rapidly worsening altered mental status who received an early diagnosis of prion disease with the help of imaging and lab results. This case shows that a timely diagnosis of prion disease is important to allow the patient and their families to prepare for the inevitable fatality of the disease and discuss the goals of care.