Agonist-antagonist myoneural interface surgery on the proprioceptive reconstruction of rat hind limb.

Currently, prosthesis users rely on visual cues to control their prosthesis. One reason for this is that prostheses cannot provide users with proprioceptive functional signals. For this reason, we propose an agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI) surgery. We examined how this surgery affects the restoration of motor function and proprioceptive reconstruction in the hind limb of Sprague-Dawley rats. The procedure entails grafting the soleus muscle, suturing the two tendon ends of the soleus muscle, and anastomosing the tibial and common peroneal nerves to the soleus muscle. We found that, following surgery, AMI rats exhibited improved neurological repair, shorter walking swings, braking, propulsion, and stance times, and greater compound action potentials than control rats. This means that in rats with neurological impairment of the hind limb, the proposed AMI surgical method significantly improves postoperative walking stability and muscle synergy. AMI surgery may become an option for regaining proprioception in the lost limb.

Recaticimab Monotherapy for Nonfamilial Hypercholesterolemia and Mixed Hyperlipemia: The Phase 3 REMAIN-1 Randomized Trial.

BACKGROUND: Monoclonal antibodies against proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) have been used to reduce the level of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), but require either biweekly or monthly dosing frequency. Recaticimab is a new humanized monoclonal antibody selectively targeting PCSK9, with long-acting characteristic. OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and safety of recaticimab monotherapy in patients with nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipemia at low-to-moderate atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk, and to explore different dosing strategies to provide patients with flexible administration options. METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, phase 3 study conducted at 59 sites in China. Patients with fasting LDL-C ≥2.6 to <4.9 mmol/L, fasting triglyceride ≤5.6 mmol/L, and 10-year ASCVD risk score <10% were randomly assigned (2:2:2:1:1:1) to receive subcutaneous injections of recaticimab at 150 mg every 4 weeks (Q4W), 300 mg every 8 weeks (Q8W), or 450 mg every 12 weeks (Q12W), or matching placebo, on background lipid-lowering diet. Primary endpoint was percentage change in LDL-C from baseline to week 12 for 150 mg Q4W and 450 mg Q12W and to week 16 for 300 mg Q8W. RESULTS: A total of 703 patients underwent randomization and received recaticimab (n = 157, 156, and 155 for 150 mg Q4W, 300 mg Q8W, and 450 mg Q12W, respectively) or placebo (n = 78, 79, and 78, respectively). Compared with placebo, recaticimab further reduced LDL-C by 49.6% (95% CI: 44.2%-54.9%) at 150 mg Q4W, 52.8% (95% CI: 48.3%-57.2%) at 300 mg Q8W, and 45.0% (95% CI: 41.0%-49.0%) at 450 mg Q12W (P < 0.0001 for all comparisons). Safety with recaticimab was comparable to placebo. After 12 or 16 weeks of treatment, patients who received recaticimab continued treatment until week 24, whereas those allocated to placebo were switched to recaticimab treatment with the same dosing strategy. Both 24-week recaticimab and 12- or 8-week recaticimab switched from placebo were effective. With 24 weeks of recaticimab treatment, the most common treatment-related adverse event was injection site reaction (n = 23 [4.9%]). CONCLUSIONS: Recaticimab monotherapy yielded significant LDL-C reductions and showed comparable safety vs placebo in patients with nonfamilial hypercholesterolemia and mixed hyperlipemia at low-to-moderate ASCVD risk, even with an infrequent dosing interval up to Q12W.

Ionic Potential Relaxation Effect in a Hydrogel Enabling Synapse-Like Information Processing.

The next-generation brain-like intelligence based on neuromorphic architectures emphasizes learning the ionic language of the brain, aiming for efficient brain-like computation and seamless human-computer interaction. Ionic neuromorphic devices, with ions serving as information carriers, provide possibilities to achieve this goal. Soft and biocompatible ionic conductive hydrogels are an ideal substrate for constructing ionic neuromorphic devices, but it remains a challenge to modulate the ion transport behavior in hydrogels to mimic neuroelectric signals. Here, we describe an ionic potential relaxation effect in a hydrogel device prepared by sandwiching a layer of polycationic hydrogel (CH) between two layers of neutral hydrogel (NH), allowing this device to simulate various electrical signal patterns observed in biological synapses, including short- and long-term plasticity patterns. Theoretical and experimental results show that the selective permeation and hysteretic diffusion of ions caused by the anion selectivity of the CH layer are responsible for potential relaxation. Such an effect allows us with hydrogels to enable synapse-like information processing functions, including tactile perception, learning, memory, and neuromorphic computing. Additionally, the hydrogel device can operate stably even under 180° bending and 50% tensile strain, expanding the pathway for implementing advanced brain-like intelligent systems.

Erosion of cultivated kelp facilitates dissolved organic carbon release.

Growing trend of interests for contributions of cultivation of kelp to carbon sequestration have been driven globally. Saccharina japonica is an important cultivated seaweed, with erosion phenomenon usually occurs at the distal part of the frond in S. japonica throughout the growth cycle. However, the dynamics of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) release induced by erosion of S. japonica are not well understood. This study revealed that erosion induced a substantial increase in DOC release, with a 14% increase under low light (LL) conditions and a 54% increase under high light (HL) conditions. A 10 cm of long slit cut into the distal part of S. japonica increased the rate of DOC release by 56% under LL conditions, and by 13% under HL conditions. Additionally, the epibiotic microorganisms facilitate the release of DOC, and the effects were even more pronounced in erosive S. japonica. Conversely, the proximal part of S. japonica exhibited a higher photosynthetic carbon fixation capacity, with a carbon-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio approximately 1.76 times higher than that in distal part. During the growth of S. japonica, excess photosynthetic products were often transported from the proximal part into distal part, further facilitating DOC release. In summary, DOC released induced by erosion of S. japonica could make contributions to oceanic carbon sequestration.

ChatMol: interactive molecular discovery with natural language.

MOTIVATION: Natural language is poised to become a key medium for human-machine interactions in the era of large language models. In the field of biochemistry, tasks such as property prediction and molecule mining are critically important yet technically challenging. Bridging molecular expressions in natural language and chemical language can significantly enhance the interpretability and ease of these tasks. Moreover, it can integrate chemical knowledge from various sources, leading to a deeper understanding of molecules. RESULTS: Recognizing these advantages, we introduce the concept of conversational molecular design, a novel task that utilizes natural language to describe and edit target molecules. To better accomplish this task, we develop ChatMol, a knowledgeable and versatile generative pretrained model. This model is enhanced by incorporating experimental property information, molecular spatial knowledge, and the associations between natural and chemical languages. Several typical solutions including large language models (e.g. ChatGPT) are evaluated, proving the challenge of conversational molecular design and the effectiveness of our knowledge enhancement approach. Case observations and analysis offer insights and directions for further exploration of natural-language interaction in molecular discovery. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: Codes and data are provided in https://github.com/Ellenzzn/ChatMol/tree/main.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Resistance to Wheat Dwarf Virus in Hexaploid Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.).

Wheat dwarf virus (WDV, genus Mastrevirus, family Geminiviridae) is one of the causal agents of wheat viral disease, which severely impacts wheat production in most wheat-growing regions in the world. Currently, there is little information about natural resistance against WDV in common wheat germplasms. CRISPR/Cas9 technology is being utilized to manufacture transgenic plants resistant to different diseases. In the present study, we used the CRISPR/Cas9 system targeting overlapping regions of coat protein (CP) and movement protein (MP) (referred to as CP/MP) or large intergenic region (LIR) in the wheat variety 'Fielder' to develop resistance against WDV. WDV-inoculated T1 progenies expressing Cas9 and sgRNA for CP/MP and LIR showed complete resistance against WDV and no accumulation of viral DNA compared with control plants. Mutation analysis revealed that the CP/MP and LIR targeting sites have small indels in the corresponding Cas9-positive plants. Additionally, virus inhibition and indel mutations occurred in T2 homozygous lines. Together, our work gives efficient results of the engineering of CRISPR/Cas9-mediated WDV resistance in common wheat plants, and the specific sgRNAs identified in this study can be extended to utilize the CRISPR/Cas9 system to confer resistance to WDV in other cereal crops such as barley, oats, and rye.

Transdiagnostic Symptom Domains are Associated with Head Motion During Multimodal Imaging in Children.

Background: Head motion is a challenge for neuroimaging research in developmental populations. However, it is unclear how transdiagnostic symptom domains including attention, disruptive behavior (e.g., externalizing behavior), and internalizing problems are linked to scanner motion in children, particularly across structural and functional MRI. The current study examined whether transdiagnostic domains of attention, disruptive behavior, and internalizing symptoms are associated with scanner motion in children during multimodal imaging. Methods: In a sample of 9,045 children aged 9-10 years in the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study, logistic regression and linear mixed-effects models were used to examine associations between motion and behavior. Motion was indexed using ABCD Study quality control metrics and mean framewise displacement for the following: T1-weighted structural, resting-state fMRI, diffusion MRI, Stop-Signal Task, Monetary Incentive Delay task, and Emotional n-Back task. The Child Behavior Checklist was used as a continuous measure of symptom severity. Results: Greater attention and disruptive behavior problem severity was associated with a lower likelihood of passing motion quality control across several imaging modalities. In contrast, increased internalizing severity was associated with a higher likelihood of passing motion quality control. Increased attention and disruptive behavior problem severity was also associated with increased mean motion, whereas increased internalizing problem severity was associated with decreased mean motion. Conclusion: Transdiagnostic domains emerged as predictors of motion in youths. These findings have implications for advancing development of generalizable and robust brain-based biomarkers, computational approaches for mitigating motion effects, and enhancing accessibility of imaging protocols for children with varying symptom severities.

Inherent Temporal Metamaterials with Unique Time-Varying Stiffness and Damping.

Time-varying metamaterials offer new degrees of freedom for wave manipulation and enable applications unattainable with conventional materials. In these metamaterials, the pattern of temporal inhomogeneity is crucial for effective wave control. However, existing studies have only demonstrated abrupt changes in properties within a limited range or time modulation following simple patterns. This study presents the design, construction, and characterization of a novel temporal elastic metamaterial with complex time-varying constitutive parameters induced by self-reconfigurable virtual resonators (VRs). These VRs, achieved by simulating the resonating behavior of mechanical resonators in digital space, function as virtualized meta-atoms. The autonomously time-varying VRs cause significant temporal variations in both the stiffness and loss factor of the metamaterial. By programming the time-domain behavior of the VRs, the metamaterial's constitutive parameters can be modulated according to desired periodic or aperiodic patterns. The proposed time-varying metamaterial has demonstrated capabilities in shaping the amplitudes and frequency spectra of waves in the time domain. This work not only facilitates the development of materials with sophisticated time-varying properties but also opens new avenues for low-frequency signal processing in future communication systems.

Using Electrical Muscle Stimulation to Enhance Electrophysiological Performance of Agonist-Antagonist Myoneural Interface.

The agonist-antagonist myoneural interface (AMI), a surgical method to reinnervate physiologically-relevant proprioceptive feedback for control of limb prostheses, has demonstrated the ability to provide natural afferent sensations for limb amputees when actuating their prostheses. Following AMI surgery, one potential challenge is atrophy of the disused muscles, which would weaken the reinnervation efficacy of AMI. It is well known that electrical muscle stimulus (EMS) can reduce muscle atrophy. In this study, we conducted an animal investigation to explore whether the EMS can significantly improve the electrophysiological performance of AMI. AMI surgery was performed in 14 rats, in which the distal tendons of bilateral solei donors were connected and positioned on the surface of the left biceps femoris. Subsequently, the left tibial nerve and the common peroneus nerve were sutured onto the ends of the connected donor solei. Two stimulation electrodes were affixed onto the ends of the donor solei for EMS delivery. The AMI rats were randomly divided into two groups. One group received the EMS treatment (designated as EMS_on) regularly for eight weeks and another received no EMS (designated as EMS_off). Two physiological parameters, nerve conduction velocity (NCV) and motor unit number, were derived from the electrically evoked compound action potential (CAP) signals to assess the electrophysiological performance of AMI. Our experimental results demonstrated that the reinnervated muscles of the EMS_on group generated higher CAP signals in comparison to the EMS_off group. Both NCV and motor unit number were significantly elevated in the EMS_on group. Moreover, the EMS_on group displayed statistically higher CAP signals on the indirectly activated proprioceptive afferents than the EMS_off group. These findings suggested that EMS treatment would be promising in enhancing the electrophysiological performance and facilitating the reinnervation process of AMI.

Sequentially timed all-optical mapping photography with quantitative phase imaging capability.

Sequentially timed all-optical mapping photography (STAMP) is considered a powerful tool to observe highly dynamic events; however, its application is significantly hindered by its incapability to acquire quantitative phase images. In this work, by integrating diffraction phase microscopy (DPM) and STAMP, we achieve ultrafast single-shot quantitative phase imaging with a frame rate of up to 3.3 trillion fps. The performance of the system is evaluated using a homemade phase module. Experimental results show that the system can accurately record the propagation of laser filamentation in air. We believe our method will greatly enhance the capability of STAMP to measure highly transparent targets.

Combined application of biochar and peatmoss for mitigation of drought stress in tobacco.

Drought poses a significant ecological threat that limits the production of crops worldwide. The objective of this study to examine the impact of soil applied biochar (BC) and peatmoss (PM) on the morpho-biochemical and quality traits of tobacco plants under drought conditions. In the present experiment work, a pot trial was conducted with two levels of drought severity (~ well-watered 75 ± 5% field capacity) and severe drought stress (~ 35 ± 5% field capacity), two levels of peatmoss (PM) @ 5% [PM+ (with peatmoss) and PM- (without peatmoss)] and three levels of rice straw biochar (BC0 = no biochar; BC1 = 150 mg kg- 1; and BC2 = 300 mg kg- 1 of soil) in tobacco plants. The results indicate that drought conditions significantly impacted the performance of tobacco plants. However, the combined approach of BC and PM significantly improved the growth, biomass, and total chlorophyll content (27.94%) and carotenoids (32.00%) of tobacco. This study further revealed that the drought conditions decreased the production of lipid peroxidation and proline accumulation. But the synergistic approach of BC and PM application increased soluble sugars (17.63 and 12.20%), soluble protein (31.16 and 15.88%), decreased the proline accumulation (13.92 and 9.03%), and MDA content (16.40 and 8.62%) under control and drought stressed conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the combined approach of BC and PM also improved the leaf potassium content (19.02%) by limiting the chloride ions (33.33%) under drought stressed conditions. Altogether, the balanced application of PM and BC has significant potential as an effective approach and sustainable method to increase the tolerance of tobacco plants subjected to drought conditions. This research uniquely highlights the combined potential of PM and BC as an eco-friendly strategy to enhance plant resilience under drought conditions, offering new insights into sustainable agricultural practices.

Carbonic anhydrase encapsulation using bamboo cellulose scaffolds for efficient CO2 capture and conversion.

Utilizing carbonic anhydrase (CA) to catalyze CO2 hydration offers a sustainable and potent approach for carbon capture and utilization. To enhance CA's reusability and stability for successful industrial applications, enzyme immobilization is essential. In this study, delignified bamboo cellulose served as a renewable porous scaffold for immobilizing CA through oxidation-induced cellulose aldehydation followed by Schiff base linkage. The catalytic performance of the resulting immobilized CA was evaluated using both p-NPA hydrolysis and CO2 hydration models. Compared to free CA, immobilization onto the bamboo scaffold increased CA's optimal temperature and pH to approximately 45 °C and 9.0, respectively. Post-immobilization, CA activity demonstrated effective retention (>60 %), with larger scaffold sizes (i.e., 8 mm diameter and 5 mm height) positively impacting this aspect, even surpassing the activity of free CA. Furthermore, immobilized CA exhibited sustained reusability and high stability under thermal treatment and pH fluctuation, retaining >80 % activity even after 5 catalytic cycles. When introduced to microalgae culture, the immobilized CA improved biomass production by ∼16 %, accompanied by enhanced synthesis of essential biomolecules in microalgae. Collectively, the facile and green construction of immobilized CA onto bamboo cellulose block demonstrates great potential for the development of various CA-catalyzed CO2 conversion and utilization technologies.

Phillyrin promotes autophagosome formation in A53T-αSyn-induced Parkinson's disease model via modulation of REEP1.

BACKGROUND: The preservation of autophagosome formation presents a promising strategy for tackling neurological disorders, such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Mitochondria-associated endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membranes (MAM) serve not only as a focal point linked to various neurological disorders but also play a crucial role in supporting the biogenesis of autophagosomes. PURPOSE: This investigation aimed to elucidate the neuroprotective properties of phillyrin against PD and its underlying mechanisms in promoting autophagosome formation. METHODS: ER and mitochondria co-localization was assessed via fluorescent staining. Annexin V-fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) fluorescence was employed to quantify accessible cardiolipin (CL) on mitochondrial surfaces. The levels of CL within the MAM fraction of SH-SY5Y cells were evaluated using a CL probe assay kit. Monodansylcadaverine staining was utilized to detect autophagosome formation in SH-SY5Y cells. In an A53T-alpha-synuclein (αSyn)-induced PD mouse model, the anti-PD properties of phillyrin were assessed using open field, pole climbing, and rotarod tests, as well as immunohistochemistry staining of TH+ neurons in the brain sections. RESULTS: In A53T-αSyn-treated SH-SY5Y cells, phillyrin facilitated autophagosome formation by suppressing CL externalization and restoring MAM integrity. Phillyrin enhanced the localization of receptor expression-enhancing protein 1 (REEP1) within MAM and mitochondria, bolstering MAM formation. Increased REEP1 levels in mitochondria, attributed to phillyrin, enhanced the interaction between REEP1 and NDPK-D, thereby reducing CL externalization. Furthermore, phillyrin exhibited a dose-dependent enhancement of motor function in mice, accompanied by an increase in the abundance of dopaminergic neurons within the substantia nigra. CONCLUSIONS: These findings illuminate phillyrin's ability to enhance MAM formation through upregulation of REEP1 expression within MAM, while concurrently attenuating CL externalization via the REEP1-NDPK-D interaction. These mechanisms bolster autophagosome biogenesis, offering resilience against A53T-αSyn-induced PD. Thus, our study advances the understanding of phillyrin's complex mechanisms and underscores its potential as a therapeutic approach for PD, opening new avenues in natural product pharmacology.

Stabilization Strategies of Lithium Metal Anode Toward Dendrite-Free Lithium-Sulfur Batteries.

Lithium-sulfur (Li-S) batteries are considered as a most promising rechargeable lithium metal batteries because of their high energy density and low cost. However, the Li-S batteries mainly suffer the capacity decay issue caused by the shutting effect of lithium polysulfides and the safety issues arising from the Li dendrites formation. This review outlines the current issues of Li-S batteries. Furthermore, we comprehensively summarized the challenges encountered by Li anode in Li-S batteries, such as the heterogeneous deposition of the Li anode, the unstable solid electrolyte interface (SEI) layer, and volume expansion. Moreover, research progresses in the stabilization strategies of Li anodes (physical approaches, optimization of electrolyte, surface protection layer, and design of current collector) is discussed in detail. Lastly, the remaining challenges and future research directions of Li metal anode stabilization in Li-S batteries are also present.

Neural mechanisms underlying competition-induced optimal decisions in individuals with high entrepreneurial intention.

In a rapidly changing and uncertain business environment, individuals with high entrepreneurial intention (HEI) inevitably need to compete or cooperate with others to maximize their gains. However, the effects of competition and cooperation on the risky decision-making and neural mechanisms of individuals with HEI are not clear. By combining the modified Devil Task and electroencephalogram (EEG) technology, the current study showed that a competition context is more likely to motivate optimal decisions and enhance the total decision gains for individuals with HEI than a cooperation context. A positive relationship between the frequency of optimal decisions and the total gains of decision-making for individuals with HEI was also found, and this relationship was mediated by the degree of entrepreneurial intention. The EEG results showed that individuals with HEI made decisions in the competition context with greater P2 amplitude of frontal regions than in the cooperation context, and source localization analyses revealed that this difference in brain activity was manifested in the medial prefrontal cortex. Finally, the results revealed a positive relationship between the P2 amplitude and the degree of entrepreneurial intention of individuals with HEI. Overall, the study suggests that competition is an effective way to motivate individuals with HEI to make optimal decisions and, thus, maximize their profits, providing new perspectives on ways to promote successful entrepreneurship.

Mapping Endocytic Vesicular Acidification with a pH-Responsive DNA Nanomachine.

Mapping the endocytic vesicular acidification process is of prior importance to better understand the health and pathological processes of cells. Herein, by integrating a pH-sensitive i-motif and a pair of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) into a tetrahedral DNA framework (TDF), we develop a pH-responsive DNA nanomachine, allowing for efficient sensing of pH from 7.0 to 5.5 via the pH-triggered spatial proximity modulation of FRET. The inheriting endo-lysosome-targeting ability of TDF enables spatiotemporal tracking of endocytic vesicle acidification during the endosomal maturation process. Analysis of pH-dependent FRET response at single fluorescent spot level reveals the significant difference of endocytic vesicular acidification between normal and cancer cells. The performance of pH-responsive DNA nanomachine underlines its potential for studies on vesicle acidification-related pathologies as a universal platform.

New potential selective estrogen receptor modulators in traditional Chinese medicine for treating menopausal syndrome.

Women go through several predictable conditions and symptoms during menopause that are caused by age, changes in sex hormone levels, and other factors. Conventional menopause hormone therapy has raised serious concerns about the increased risks of cancers, blood clots, depression, etc. Selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) that can be both agonists and antagonists of estrogen receptors in a tissue-specific manner are being developed to reduce the health concerns associated with menopause hormone therapy. Here, we have searched the Chinese national traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) patent database to identify potential SERM-like compounds with reduced health risks. TCM has been widely used for treating complex symptoms associated with menopause syndrome and thus can be a particularly rich source for pharmaceutical alternatives with SERM properties. After extensive literature review and molecular simulation, we conclude that protopanaxatriol, paeoniflorin, astragalin, catalpol, and hyperoside among others may be particularly promising as SERM-like compounds in treating the menopausal syndrome. Compounds in TCM hold promise in yielding comparable outcomes to hormone therapy but with reduced associated risks, thus presenting promising avenues for their clinical applications.

Significant improvement of n-contact performance and wall plug efficiency of AlGaN-based deep ultraviolet light-emitting diodes by atomic layer etching.

The reactive ion etching (RIE) process is needed to fabricate deep ultraviolet (DUV) light-emitting diodes (LEDs). However, the n-contact performance deteriorates when the high-Al n-AlGaN surface undergoes RIE, leading to decreased LED performance. In this study, we employed an atomic layer etching (ALE) technology to eliminate surface damage generated during the mesa etching process, thus enhancing the n-Al0.65Ga0.35N ohmic contact. The improved contact performance reduced LED operation voltage and mitigated device heat generation. It was observed that DUV LEDs treated with 200 cycles of ALE showed a reduction in operating voltage from 8.3 to 5.2 V at 10 mA, with a knee voltage of 4.95 V. The peak wall plug efficiency (WPE) was approximately 1.74 times that of reference devices. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis revealed that ALE removed the surface damage layer induced by plasma etching, eliminating surface nitrogen vacancies and increasing surface electron concentration. Consequently, it facilitated better ohmic contact formation on n-Al0.65Ga0.35N. This study demonstrates that the ALE technology achieves etching with minor surface damage and is suitable for use in III-nitride materials and devices to remove surface defects and contaminations, leading to improved device performance.

Pan-genome analysis of 13 Spinacia accessions reveals structural variations associated with sex chromosome evolution and domestication traits in spinach.

Structural variations (SVs) are major genetic variants that can be involved in the origin, adaptation and domestication of species. However, the identification and characterization of SVs in Spinacia species are rare due to the lack of a pan-genome. Here, we report eight chromosome-scale assemblies of cultivated spinach and its two wild species. After integration with five existing assemblies, we constructed a comprehensive Spinacia pan-genome and identified 193 661 pan-SVs, which were genotyped in 452 Spinacia accessions. Our pan-SVs enabled genome-wide association study identified signals associated with sex and clarified the evolutionary direction of spinach. Most sex-linked SVs (86%) were biased to occur on the Y chromosome during the evolution of the sex-linked region, resulting in reduced Y-linked gene expression. The frequency of pan-SVs among Spinacia accessions further illustrated the contribution of these SVs to domestication, such as bolting time and seed dormancy. Furthermore, compared with SNPs, pan-SVs act as efficient variants in genomic selection (GS) because of their ability to capture missing heritability information and higher prediction accuracy. Overall, this study provides a valuable resource for spinach genomics and highlights the potential utility of pan-SV in crop improvement and breeding programmes.

Electrochemical biosensors for clinical detection of bacterial pathogens: advances, applications, and challenges.

Bacterial pathogens are responsible for a variety of human diseases, necessitating their prompt detection for effective diagnosis and treatment of infectious diseases. Over recent years, electrochemical methods have gained significant attention owing to their exceptional sensitivity and rapidity. This review outlines the current landscape of electrochemical biosensors employed in clinical diagnostics for the detection of bacterial pathogens. We categorize these biosensors into four types: amperometry, potentiometry, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, and conductometry, targeting various bacterial components, including toxins, virulence factors, metabolic activity, and events related to bacterial adhesion and invasion. We discuss the merits and challenges associated with electrochemical methods, underscoring their rapid response, high sensitivity, and specificity, while acknowledging the necessity for skilled operators and potential interference from biological and environmental factors. Furthermore, we examine future prospects and potential applications of electrochemical biosensors in clinical diagnostics. While electrochemical biosensors offer a promising avenue for detecting bacterial pathogens, further research in optimizing the robustness and surmounting the challenges hindering their seamless integration into clinical practice is imperative.