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Movements of plant pathogenic microorganisms in uncontaminated areas occur today at an alarming rate, driven mainly by global trade and climate change. These invaders can trigger new disease outbreaks able to impact the biodiversity and economies of vast territories and affect a variety of ecosystem services. National and supranational regulatory deficiencies, such as inadequate quarantine measures and ineffective early pathogen detection at ports of entry, exacerbate the issue. Thus, there is an urgent need for accurate and rapid diagnostic tools to intercept invasive and nonindigenous plant pathogens. The LAMP (Loop-mediated isothermal AMPlification) technique is a robust, flexible tool representing a significant advance in point-of-care (POC) diagnostics. Its user-friendliness and sensitivity offer a breakthrough in phytosanitary checks at points of entry (harbors and airports), for disease and pest surveillance at vulnerable sites (e.g., nurseries and wood-processing and storage facilities), and for territorial monitoring of new disease outbreaks. This review highlights the strengths and weaknesses of LAMP, emphasizing its potential to revolutionize modern plant disease diagnostics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on allometric theory and scaling laws, numerous mathematical models have been proposed to study ontogenetic growth patterns of animals. Although deterministic models have provided valuable insight into growth dynamics, animal growth often deviates from strict deterministic patterns due to stochastic factors such as genetic variation and environmental fluctuations. In this study, we extend a general model for ontogenetic growth proposed by West et al. to stochastic models for ontogenetic growth by incorporating stochasticity using white noise. According to data variance fitting for stochasticity, we propose two stochastic models for ontogenetic growth, one is for determinate growth and one is for indeterminate growth. To develop a universal stochastic process for ontogenetic growth across diverse species, we approximate stochastic trajectories of two stochastic models, apply random time change, and obtain a geometric Brownian motion with a multiplier of an exponential time factor. We conduct detailed mathematical analysis and numerical analysis for our stochastic models. Our stochastic models not only predict average growth well but also variations in growth within species. This stochastic framework may be extended to studies of other growth phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) on platinum (Pt) electrocatalysts involves the generation of hydrogen atoms and the formation of hydrogen molecules. It is commonly believed that the sites on the surfaces of the terrace (111, 110, and 100) domains are responsible for the formation of hydrogen molecules. However, the electrochemistry of the hydrogen atom generation is not well understood. We created edge-rich platinum electrocatalysts using nano-fabrics comprising entire single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) as templates and supports. We then conducted the HER on the edge-rich Pt/SWCNT hybridized electrocatalysts and gained new insights into the electrochemical properties and functions of the edge sites. We propose that the edge sites are oxidized and serve two important functions: they act as atomic barriers, allowing electrons to accumulate within the terrace (111, 110, and 100) domains, and they transfer the electrons to the hydronium ions in the electrical double layer through discharge. Enhancing the discharge capability of the electrocatalysts is an efficient way to reduce the amount of platinum required, and this can be applied to various precious metal-based electrocatalysts to enhance their electrocatalytic activities and durability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs) provide the confined microenvironment required for stromal cells to interact with immune cells to initiate adaptive immune responses resulting in B cell differentiation. Here, we studied three patients from two families with functional hyposplenism, absence of tonsils, and complete lymph node aplasia, leading to recurrent bacterial and viral infections. We identified biallelic loss-of-function mutations in LTBR, encoding the lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR), primarily expressed on stromal cells. Patients with LTβR deficiency had hypogammaglobulinemia, diminished memory B cells, regulatory and follicular T helper cells, and dysregulated expression of several tumor necrosis factor family members. B cell differentiation in an ex vivo coculture system was intact, implying that the observed B cell defects were not intrinsic in nature and instead resulted from LTβR-dependent stromal cell interaction signaling critical for SLO formation. Collectively, we define a human inborn error of immunity caused primarily by a stromal defect affecting the development and function of SLOs. Editor's summary: Inborn errors of immunity are caused by monogenic mutations that result in dysregulation of the immune system. By performing whole-exome sequencing in patients presenting with recurrent respiratory tract infections, Ransmayr et al. identified that biallelic loss-of-function mutations in the lymphotoxin beta receptor (LTβR) result in an inborn error of immunity characterized by an absence of functional secondary lymphoid organs (SLOs). LTβR signaling is required in stromal cells to shape the tissue architecture of SLOs and promote humoral immunity. These findings demonstrate that, in humans, mutations in LTβR result in a stromal defect and immunodeficiency. —Hannah Isles [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the oncogenic mechanism of endoplasmic reticulum stress‐CAF (ERS‐CAF) subpopulation in chordoma remains unknown. Here, single‐cell RNA sequencing, spatial transcriptomics, GeoMx Digital Spatial Profiler, data‐independent acquisition proteomics, bulk RNA‐seq, and multiplexed quantitative immunofluorescence are used to unveil the precise molecular mechanism of how ERS‐CAF affected chordoma progression. Results show that hypoxic microenvironment reprograms CAFs into ERS‐CAF subtype. Mechanistically, this occurrs via hypoxia‐mediated transcriptional upregulation of IER2. Overexpression of IER2 in CAFs promotes chordoma progression, which can be impeded by IER2 knockdown or use of ERS inhibitors. IER2 also induces expression of ERS‐CAF marker genes and results in production of a pro‐tumorigenic paracrine GMFG signaling, which exert its biological function via directly binding to ITGB1 on tumor cells. ITGB1 inhibition attenuates tumor malignant progression, which can be partially reversed by exogenous GMFG intervention. Further analyses reveal a positive correlation between ITGB1high tumor cell counts and SPP1+ macrophage density, as well as the spatial proximity of these two cell types. Clinically, a significant correlation of high IER2/ITGB1 expression with tumor aggressive phenotype and poor patient survival is observed. Collectively, the findings suggest that ERS‐CAF regulates SPP1+ macrophage to aggravate chordoma progression via the IER2/GMFG/ITGB1 axis, which may be targeted therapeutically in future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current goals for implementing the hydrogen economy have highlighted a need to further optimize water‐splitting technologies for clean hydrogen production. Proton exchange membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) is a leading technology, but further optimizations of anode materials including the porous transport layer (PTL) and the adjacent catalyst layer (CL) are required to increase overall cell performance and reduce cost. This literature review describes advances in PTL development and characterization, highlighting early PTL characterization work and most common methods including capillary flow porometry and mercury intrusion porometry, optical imaging, neutron and x‐ray radiography, and x‐ray computed tomography. The article also discusses PTL protective coatings and their characterizations, focusing on platinum group metal (PGM)‐based coatings, alternative non‐PGM‐based coatings, post‐treated PTLs, and investigations into thin PGM‐based coatings. Furthermore, it highlights the integration of the PTL and the adjacent CL along with associated characterization challenges. Lastly, this review discusses future developments in the characterization needed to improve PEMWE's performance and long‐term durability are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

American plum line pattern virus (APLPV) is the most infrequently reported Ilarvirus infecting stone fruit trees and is of sufficient severity to be classified as an EPPO quarantine A1 pathogen. In late spring, yellow line pattern symptoms were observed on leaves in a few flowering cherries (Prunus serrulata Lindl.) grown in a public garden in Northwest Italy. RNA extracts from twenty flowering cherries were submitted to Ilarvirus multiplex and APLPV-specific RT-PCR assays already reported or developed in this study. One flowering cherry (T22) with mixed prunus necrotic ringspot virus (PNRSV) and prune dwarf virus (PDV) infection also showed infection with APLPV. Blastn analysis of PCR products of the full coat protein (CP) and movement protein (MP) genes obtained from flowering cherry T22 showed 98.23% and 98.34% nucleotide identity with reference APLPV isolate NC_003453.1 from the USA. Then, a LAMP-specific assay was designed to facilitate the fast and low-cost identification of this virus either in the laboratory or directly in the field. The developed assay allowed not only the confirmation of APLPV (PSer22IT isolate) infection in the T22 flowering cherry but also the identification of APLPV in an asymptomatic flowering cherry tree (TL1). The LAMP assay successfully worked with crude flowering cherry extracts, obtained after manually shaking a single plant extract in the ELISA extraction buffer for 3–5 min. The developed rapid, specific and economic LAMP assay was able to detect APLPV using crude plant extracts rather that RNA preparation in less than 20 min, making it suitable for in-field detection. Moreover, the LAMP assay proved to be more sensitive in APLPV detection in flowering cherry compared to the specific one-step RT-PCR assay. The new LAMP assay will permit the estimation of APLPV geographic spread in the territory, paying particular attention to surrounding gardens and propagated flowering cherries in ornamental nurseries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing interest in green hydrogen as an energy vector, advances in all types of electrolysers are urgently needed. Imaging methods utilising X-rays and neutrons are seen as highly complementary techniques for visualising, analysing and quantifying the properties of electrolysers, whose materials and operational processes span multiple length and timescales. In this perspective, we first outline four key challenge areas for all electrolyser technologies: using less, using alternative materials, increasing durability and recycling, and introduce the various materials (and their corresponding feature sizes and relevant imaging methods) found in the components of the four main electrolyser types anion exchange membrane (AEM), polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM), alkaline water electrolyser (AWE) and solid oxide electrolyser cell (SOEC). After introducing key relevant concepts for X-ray and neutron imaging, we present a detailed summary of the use of these techniques for the imaging of electrolyser technologies. As highlighted throughout the review, these two methods, when used in a complementary manner, are able to capture the full breadth of complex, multiscale, multiphase materials and dynamics that occur in electrolyser technologies. Finally, we give our perspective on the areas we foresee as being highly important for future complementary, multiscale studies of electrolyser materials. By harnessing the power of both imaging methods together, we can ensure the accelerated discovery and optimisation of the next generation of electrolyser technologies, ensuring a stable and reliable supply of green hydrogen in the coming decades and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The process of drug discovery and pre‐clinical testing is currently inefficient, expensive, and time‐consuming. Most importantly, the success rate is unsatisfactory, as only a small percentage of tested drugs are made available to oncological patients. This is largely due to the lack of reliable models that accurately predict drug efficacy and safety. Even animal models often fail to replicate human‐specific pathologies and human body's complexity. These factors, along with ethical concerns regarding animal use, urge the development of suitable human‐relevant, translational in vitro models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a major cause of upper respiratory tract (URT) disease in cats that can lead to acute or subacute illness. It is highly contagious and widespread in the feline population, with many cats being asymptomatic carriers. However, FCV infection can also cause various clinical problems, resulting in high morbidity rates. Unfortunately, existing diagnostic techniques are not always sufficiently quick or specific enough to detect the virus, making it difficult to diagnose and treat. The current study compared the diagnostic abilities of different methods—polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP)—to detect FCV in clinical samples from cats. The development of rapid and sensitive diagnostic methods is crucial for timely healing, reducing the risk of severe symptoms, and preventing the spread of viruses. Feline calicivirus (FCV) is a highly contagious virus that causes upper respiratory tract disease, commonly known as cat flu. It is widely distributed worldwide and poses a major threat to feline health. Therefore, it is essential to find an efficient and rapid method for detecting FCV. In this study, the colorimetric reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay, using neutral red as an indicator, was developed and validated to target the ORF2 gene of FCV for the first time. Additionally, the study compared the diagnostic abilities of polymerase chain reaction (PCR), nested PCR, and RT-LAMP assays for detecting FCV in clinical samples. The optimized RT-LAMP amplification was carried out at 56.3 °C. The technique visually detected FCV within 70 min, with a limit of detection of 14.3 × 101 copies/µL, and showed no cross-reactivity with other feline pathogens. Out of 54 oropharyngeal swab samples, 17 tested positive for FCV using both nested PCR and RT-LAMP, while only one tested positive using conventional PCR. The positivity rate was higher with nested PCR and RT-LAMP (31.48%) compared to conventional PCR (1.85%). Consequently, these results demonstrated the effectiveness of the colorimetric RT-LAMP assay developed in this study as an alternative for diagnosing FCV in cats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Noise can positively and negatively affect the systems it interacts with. When the right amount of noise is added to a weak signal, it can make it easier to detect, a phenomenon known as stochastic resonance. Our research focused on applying noise to improve human reaction times. We observed a significant decrease in the reaction times after placing subjects in the beneficial noise branch close to the optimal point. These findings suggest a novel approach to enhancing human performance in tasks that require faster reaction times, such as sports. Noise is commonly seen as a disturbance but can influence any system it interacts with. This influence may not always be desirable, but sometimes it can improve the system's performance. For example, stochastic resonance is a phenomenon where adding the right amount of noise to a weak signal makes it easier to detect. This is known as sub-threshold detection. This sub-threshold detection's natural fingerprint is the fact that the threshold values follow an inverse U-shaped curve as the noise intensity increases. The minimum threshold value is the point of maximum sensitivity and represents the optimal point that divides the dynamics in two. Below that point, we can find the beneficial noise branch, where the noise can facilitate better detection. Above that point, the common detrimental noise concept can be found: adding noise hinders signal detection. The nervous system controls the movements and bodily functions in the human body. By reducing the sensory thresholds, we can improve the balance of these functions. Additionally, researchers have wondered if noise could be applied to different senses or motor mechanisms to enhance our abilities. In this work, noise is used to improve human reaction times. We tested the hypothesis that visual reaction times decrease significantly when the subject's perception is in the beneficial noise branch and closer to the optimal point than outside of this condition. Auditory noise was introduced in 101 human subjects using an interface capable of searching for the right amount of noise to place the subject in the beneficial noise branch close to the optimal point. When comparing the results, the reaction times decreased when the subjects were at the optimal point compared to when the subjects were outside of such conditions. These results reveal the possibility of using this approach to enhance human performance in tasks requiring faster reaction times, such as sports. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lasiodiplodia theobromae is an emerging threat and the main pathogenic fungi associated with basal stem rot of passion fruit in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Current pathogen identification protocols are labor-intensive and time-consuming, emphasizing the need for more efficient methods to enable precise surveillance of L. theobromae for early detection and warning. The present study sought to develop a rapid colorimetric LAMP assay for early detection and surveillance of L. theobromae in passion fruit plants. For that, amplifications of ITS locus were performed on fungal genomic DNA using conventional PCR, with the specific primer pair ITS1 and ITS4. The hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB)-dependent colorimetric LAMP assay was then optimized by varying primer sets, inner primers concentration, reaction temperatures and incubation time. A microbial lysis buffer was employed to extract genomic DNA from stems infected with L. theobromae. The prime LAMP primer set targeting the ITS region of L. theobromae was designed and an HNB based colorimetric LAMP assay was optimized. Various optimization parameters were evaluated, with the optimal conditions determined as 1.6 μM of each FIB and BIP, 0.2 μM of each F3 and B3, and incubation at 65 °C for 40 min. This ITS-based LAMP assay could effectively distinguish L. theobromae from less dominant pathogens in passion fruits with a detection limit of 3 pg for ITS locus amplicons. Our proposed method utilizing a microbial lysis buffer enables rapid and cost-effective detection of L. theobromae DNA in early-infected passion fruit plants, eliminating the need for microbial cultivation and DNA purification., (© 2025. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

The resistance of tumors to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) may be intricately linked to cellular senescence, although definitive clinical validation remains elusive. In this study, comprehensive pan-cancer scRNA-seq analyses identify fibroblasts as exhibiting the most pronounced levels of cellular senescence among tumor-associated cell populations. To elucidate this phenomenon, a fibroblast senescence-associated transcriptomic signature (FSS), which correlated strongly with protumorigenic signaling pathways and immune dysregulation that fosters tumor progression, is developed. Leveraging the FSS, the machine learning (ML) framework demonstrates exceptional accuracy in predicting ICI response and survival outcomes, achieving superior area under curve (AUC) values across validation, testing, and in-house cohorts. Strikingly, FSS consistently outperforms established signatures in predictive robustness across diverse cancer subtypes. From an integrative analysis of 17 CRISPR/Cas9 libraries, CDC6 emerges as a pivotal biomarker for pan-cancer ICI response and prognostic stratification. Mechanistically, experimental evidence reveals that CDC6 in tumor cells orchestrates fibroblast senescence via TGF-β1 secretion and oxidative stress, subsequently reprogramming the tumor microenvironment and modulating ICI response. These findings underscore the translational potential of targeting fibroblast senescence as a novel therapeutic strategy to mitigate immune resistance and enhance antitumor efficacy., (© 2024 The Author(s). Advanced Science published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Green hydrogen (H 2 ) is an essential component of global plans to reduce carbon emissions from hard-to-abate industries and heavy transport. However, challenges remain in the highly efficient H 2 production from water electrolysis powered by renewable energies. The sluggish oxygen evolution restrains the H 2 production from water splitting. Rational electrocatalyst designs for highly efficient H 2 production and oxygen evolution are pivotal for water electrolysis. With the development of high-performance electrolyzers, the scale-up of H 2 production to an industrial-level related activity can be achieved. This review summarizes recent advances in water electrolysis such as the proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer (PEMWE) and anion exchange membrane water electrolyzer (AEMWE). The critical challenges for PEMWE and AEMWE are the high cost of noble-metal catalysts and their durability, respectively. This review highlights the anode and cathode designs for improving the catalytic performance of electrocatalysts, the electrolyte and membrane engineering for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) optimizations, and stack systems for the most promising electrolyzers in water electrolysis. Besides, the advantages of integrating water electrolyzers, fuel cells (FC), and regenerative fuel cells (RFC) into the hydrogen ecosystem are introduced. Finally, the perspective of electrolyzer designs with superior performance is presented., (© 2024 The Author(s). Small Methods published by Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a rare cell population in tumors that are responsible for tumor recurrence and metastasis. They are a priority as therapeutic targets, however, assays targeting CSCs have been limited by expanding and maintaining CSCs in vitro. Here, the authors find that gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-nanoclay hybrid hydrogels can induce and enrich colorectal CSCs assisted by three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting. The presence of the nanoclay increases the printability, Young's modulus, pore size, and cytocompatibility of the hydrogels. Bioprinted GelMA-nanoclay hydrogels promote the formation of spheroids expressing elevated levels of the stemness markers LGR5, CD133, CD26, and SOX2. Cancer cells grown in GelMA-nanoclay hydrogel possess higher self-renewal and differentiation capacity in vitro and higher tumorigenic capacity in vivo. GelMA-nanoclay hydrogels induce CSCs by stimulating the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. Further studies demonstrate that spheroids from GelMA-nanoclay hydrogels possess increased stemness, higher consistency, yield, and sensitivity to the anti-CSC compounds compared to the classic CSC-enrichment model. Collectively, this study may provide a valuable biomaterial and method for inducing and enriching CSCs, to facilitate the effective CSC-targeting drug screening., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

Continuous-variable (CV) quantum information processing harnesses versatile experimental tools that leverage the power of infinite-dimensional oscillators controlled by a single qubit. Increasingly available elementary Rabi gates have been proposed as a resource for implementing universal CV gates, but the requirement of many weak, non-commuting gates is a bottleneck in scaling up such an approach. In this study, we propose a resource-efficient technique using Fourier expansion to implement arbitrary non-linear phase gates in a single oscillator. This method reduces the number of sequentially required gates exponentially. These gates represented by cubic, quartic, and other arbitrary nonlinear potentials have applications in CV quantum information processing with infinite-dimensional oscillators controlled by a single qubit. Our method outperforms previous approaches and enables the experimental realization of a wide range of applications, including the development of bosonic quantum sensors, simulations, and computation using trapped ions and superconducting circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nonadiabatic holonomic quantum computation based on the geometric phase is robust against the built-in noise and decoherence. In this work, we theoretically propose a scheme to realize nonadiabatic holonomic quantum gates in a surface electron system, which is a promising two-dimensional platform for quantum computation. The holonomic gate is realized by a three-level structure that combines the Rydberg states and spin states via an inhomogeneous magnetic field. After a cyclic evolution, the computation bases pick up different geometric phases and thus perform a holonomic gate. Only the electron with spin up experiences the holonomic gate, while the electron with spin down is decoupled from the state-selective driving fields. The arbitrary controlled-U gate encoded on the Rydberg states and spin states can then be realized. The fidelity of the output state exceeds 0.99 with experimentally achievable parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Researchers have been seeking for the most technically‐economical water electrolysis technology for entering the next‐stage of industrial amplification for large‐scale green hydrogen production. Various membrane‐based electrolyzers have been developed to improve electric‐efficiency, reduce the use of precious metals, enhance stability, and possibly realize direct seawater electrolysis. While electrode engineering is the key to approaching these goals by bridging the gap between catalysts design and electrolyzers development, nevertheless, as an emerging field, has not yet been systematically analyzed. Herein, this review is organized to comprehensively discuss the recent progresses of electrode engineering that have been made toward advanced membrane‐based electrolyzers. For the commercialized or near‐commercialized membrane electrolyzer technologies, the electrode material design principles are interpreted and the interface engineering that have been put forward to improve catalytic sites utilization and reduce precious metal loading is summarized. Given the pressing issues of electrolyzer cost reduction and efficiency improvement, the electrode structure engineering toward applying precious metal free electrocatalysts is highlighted and sufficient accessible sites within the thick catalyst layers with rational electrode architectures and effective ions/mass transport interfaces are enabled. In addition, this review also discusses the innovative ways as proposed to break the barriers of current membrane electrolyzers, including the adjustments of electrode reaction environment, and the feasible cell‐voltage‐breakdown strategies for durable direct seawater electrolysis. Hopefully, this review may provide insightful information of membrane‐based electrode engineering and inspire the future development of advanced membrane electrolyzer technologies for cost‐effective green hydrogen production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. Yak is found in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and represents a meat of high nutritional value and good flavor. However, the production of yak is limited, and yak meat adulteration is a growing concern in the marketplace. To protect consumer rights and prevent unfair competition, it is necessary to use an efficient assay to identify the species of yak meat rapidly and accurately being sold. Methods. Loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) combined with hydroxy naphthol blue (HNB) was used to identify potential adulterants. The specificity and sensitivity tests of yak-derived components were carried out to achieve the monitoring of yak-derived components. Results. The optimal color development was achieved with an external primer-to-internal primer ratio of 400 nmol/L : 1200 nmol/L, 1.5 mmol/L dNTP, and 0.32 U/μL Bst DNA polymerase with 5 mmol/L MgSO4 at 62°C amplification temperature. The detection sensitivity of LAMP-HNB for yak-derived DNA was up to 1 pg/μL. Conclusion. The LAMP-HNB assays provided a valuable tool for the identification of yak gene from adulterated meat. This further enabled the LAMP-HNB assay to be applicable in the identification of other meat products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study proposes a phosphosilicate glass (PSG)-based electrolyte gate synaptic transistor with varying phosphorus (P) concentrations. A metal oxide semiconductor capacitor structure device was employed to measure the frequency-dependent (C-f) capacitance curve, demonstrating that the PSG electric double-layer capacitance increased at 103 Hz with rising P concentration. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy spectra analysis facilitated a theoretical understanding of the C-f curve results, examining peak differences in the P-OH structure based on P concentration. Using the proposed synaptic transistors with different P concentrations, changes in the hysteresis window were investigated by measuring the double-sweep transfer curves. Subsequently, alterations in proton movement within the PSG and charge characteristics at the channel/PSG electrolyte interface were observed through excitatory post-synaptic currents, paired-pulse facilitation, signal-filtering functions, resting current levels, and potentiation and depression characteristics. Finally, we demonstrated the proposed neuromorphic system's feasibility based on P concentration using the Modified National Institute of Standards and Technology learning simulations. The study findings suggest that, by adjusting the PSG film's P concentration for the same electrical stimulus, it is possible to selectively mimic the synaptic signal strength of human synapses. Therefore, this approach can positively contribute to the implementation of various neuromorphic systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The experimental observation of quantum phase transitions predicted by the quantum Rabi model in quantum critical systems is usually challenging due to the lack of signature experimental observables associated with them. Here, we describe a method to identify the dynamical critical phenomenon in the quantum Rabi model consisting of a three-level atom and a cavity at the quantum phase transition. Such a critical phenomenon manifests itself as a sudden change of steady-state output photons in the system driven by two classical fields, when both the atom and the cavity are initially unexcited. The process occurs as the high-frequency pump field is converted into the low-frequency Stokes field and multiple cavity photons in the normal phase, while this conversion cannot occur in the superradiant phase. The sudden change of steady-state output photons is an experimentally accessible measure to probe quantum phase transitions, as it does not require preparing the equilibrium state. Quantum Rabi model as an outstanding model can support superradiant phase transitions, and gets increasing interest in the quantum physics. This work presents an effective method to demonstrate the dynamical critical phenomenon in quantum Rabi model without preparing the Confirmed equilibrium state, i.e., a sudden change of the photon number distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dressing electronic quantum states with virtual photons creates exotic effects ranging from vacuum-field modified transport to polaritonic chemistry, and squeezing or entanglement of modes. The established paradigm of cavity quantum electrodynamics maximizes the light-matter coupling strength Ω R / ω c , defined as the ratio of the vacuum Rabi frequency and the frequency of light, by resonant interactions. Yet, the finite oscillator strength of a single electronic excitation sets a natural limit to Ω R / ω c . Here, we enter a regime of record-strong light-matter interaction which exploits the cooperative dipole moments of multiple, highly non-resonant magnetoplasmon modes tailored by our metasurface. This creates an ultrabroadband spectrum of 20 polaritons spanning 6 optical octaves, calculated vacuum ground state populations exceeding 1 virtual excitation quantum, and coupling strengths equivalent to Ω R / ω c = 3.19 . The extreme interaction drives strongly subcycle energy exchange between multiple bosonic vacuum modes akin to high-order nonlinearities, and entangles previously orthogonal electronic excitations solely via vacuum fluctuations.The authors show an original approach to achieve strong light-matter interaction harnessing the coupling between plasmonic resonators and the Landau resonances of an underlying quantum well, demonstrating remarkably high coupling strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The ground state of an artificial atom ultrastrongly coupled to quantized modes is entangled and contains an arbitrary number of virtual photons. The problem of their detection has been raised since the very birth of the field, but despite the theoretical efforts still awaits experimental demonstration. Recently, experimental problems have been addressed in detail showing that they can be overcome by combining an unconventional design of the artificial atom with advanced coherent control. In this work, we study a simple scheme of control-integrated continuous measurement, which makes remarkably favorable the tradeoff between measurement efficiency and backaction showing that the unambiguous detection of virtual photons can be achieved within state-of-the-art quantum technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the limitations of quantum device manufacturing technology, the number of qubits in current quantum computing devices is still relatively limited. Distributed quantum computing, as an emerging quantum computing paradigm, aims to achieve larger-scale quantum computation. To reduce the cost of state transfer and routing in distributed quantum circuits, this paper focuses on the transmission direction of global gates generated after quantum circuit partitioning. We provide a threshold for the number of state transfers required for converting global gates to local gates in the entire circuit. We propose a method to evaluate the quality of transmission directions and utilize a genetic algorithm to find the optimal transmission directions for minimizing the transmission cost of distributed quantum circuit. Based on the optimized transmission directions, this paper maps the qubits in the logical circuit to a distributed quantum architecture model and presents a method for converting global gates to local gates in the quantum circuit. The routing process of distributed quantum circuits is simulated. Experimental results show that compared to existing methods for reducing the number of state transfers, the proposed algorithm can achieve a lower overall cost for executing distributed quantum circuits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As the simplest and most fundamental model describing the interaction between light and matter, a breakdown in the rotating wave approximation of the Rabi model leads to phase transition versus coupling strength when the frequency of the qubit greatly surpasses that of the oscillator. In addition to the phase transition revealed in the ground state, we show that the dynamics of physical quantities can reflect such a phase transition for this model. In addition to the excitation of the bosonic field in the ground state, we show that the witness of inseparability (entanglement), mutual information, quantum Fisher information, and the variance of cavity quadrature can be employed to detect the phase transition in quench. We also reveal the negative impact of temperature on checking the phase transition by quench. This model can be implemented using trapped ions, superconducting artificial atoms coupled bosonic modes, and quantum simulations. By reflecting the phase transition in a fundamental quantum optics model without imposing the thermodynamic limit, this work offers an idea to explore phase transitions by nonequilibrium process for open quantums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an inexpensive and reliable microstructured electrode for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is developed. This cathode is made of Earth‐abundant elements consisting of iron phosphide as an electrocatalyst and carbon felt (CF) as a flexible conductive scaffold. Its porous character and binder‐free FeP coverage over the carbon fibers generate a high number of accessible active sites for the reaction, achieving a high value of the electrochemically active surface area. The electrode reaches 100 mA ⋅ cm−2 by applying only −53 mV vs RHE at 50 °C in 0.5 M H2SO4, demonstrating excellent electrocatalytic activity for the HER and outstanding stability in acidic electrolyte. Furthermore, the feasibility of these electrodes for industrial application is evaluated using a PEM electrolyzer. The developed prototype with a cathodic area of 1.8 cm2 shows a very promising performance, reaching 14.9 mmol H2 ⋅ h−1 ⋅ cm−2 (corresponding to 800 mA ⋅ cm−2) at a voltage of only 2.1 V. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Myzus persicae (Sulzer) is a globally distributed crop pest with a wide host range. The L1014F mutation in the voltage‐gated sodium channel has been implicated in mediating resistance to pyrethroid insecticides in M. persicae. Control failures in crop production are frequently attributed to inaccurate or delayed detection of M. persicae resistance. Thus, simple and effective tools for detecting resistant M. persicae are required to develop rapid and flexible pest control strategies. The resistance assay and L1014F mutation frequency assay results showed that the L1014F mutation frequency could infer M. persicae's resistance level to pyrethroid insecticides. Therefore, in our study, we established a Loop‐Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP)‐based method to detect the L1014F mutation in the voltage‐gated sodium channel of M. persicae. This method uses single aphid crude extract DNA as a template, and the full reaction can be completed in 1 h in a relaxed temperature range. The results could also be obtained by colour change without any molecular detection. We have also optimized the reaction system and procedures to improve the accuracy of the assay to over 95%. Based on this, we can detect the mutation frequency of voltage‐gated sodium channel L014F in M. persicae field populations in a non‐laboratory setting, such as in the field, in a stable, accurate, and rapid manner. This method facilitates quick determination of the resistance of M. persicae populations, followed by guide field control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present an industrial end-user perspective on the current state of quantum computing hardware for one specific technological approach, the neutral atom platform. Our aim is to assist developers in understanding the impact of the specific properties of these devices on the effectiveness of algorithm execution. Based on discussions with different vendors and recent literature, we discuss the performance data of the neutral atom platform. Specifically, we focus on the physical qubit architecture, which affects state preparation, qubit-to-qubit connectivity, gate fidelities, native gate instruction set, and individual qubit stability. These factors determine both the quantum-part execution time and the end-to-end wall clock time relevant for end-users, but also the ability to perform fault-tolerant quantum computation in the future. We end with an overview of which applications have been shown to be well suited for the peculiar properties of neutral atom-based quantum computers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proton exchange membrane water electrolyzers (PEMWEs) are an attractive technology for renewable energy conversion and storage. By using green electricity generated from renewable sources like wind or solar, high-purity hydrogen gas can be produced in PEMWE systems, which can be used in fuel cells and other industrial sectors. To date, significant advances have been achieved in improving the efficiency of PEMWEs through the design of stack components; however, challenges remain for their large-scale and long-term application due to high cost and durability issues in acidic conditions. In this review, we examine the latest developments in engineering PEMWE systems and assess the gap that still needs to be filled for their practical applications. We provide a comprehensive summary of the reaction mechanisms, the correlation among structure–composition–performance, manufacturing methods, system design strategies, and operation protocols of advanced PEMWEs. We also highlight the discrepancies between the critical parameters required for practical PEMWEs and those reported in the literature. Finally, we propose the potential solution to bridge the gap and enable the appreciable applications of PEMWEs. This review may provide valuable insights for research communities and industry practitioners working in these fields and facilitate the development of more cost-effective and durable PEMWE systems for a sustainable energy future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The geometric phase has the intrinsic property of being resistant to some types of local noises as it only depends on global properties of the evolution path. Meanwhile, the non-Abelian geometric phase is in the matrix form, and thus can naturally be used to implement high performance quantum gates, i.e., the so-called holonomic quantum computation. This article reviews recent advances in nonadiabatic holonomic quantum computation, and focuses on various optimal control approaches that can improve the gate performance, in terms of gate fidelity and robustness. Besides, we also pay special attention to its possible physical realizations and some concrete examples of experimental realizations. Finally, with all these efforts, within state-of-the-art technology, the performance of the implemented holonomic quantum gates can outperform the conventional dynamical ones, under certain conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hybrid quantum systems in the ultrastrong, and even more in the deep-strong, coupling regimes can exhibit exotic physical phenomena and promise new applications in quantum technologies. In these nonperturbative regimes, a qubit–resonator system has an entangled quantum vacuum with a nonzero average photon number in the resonator, where the photons are virtual and cannot be directly detected. The vacuum field, however, is able to induce the symmetry breaking of a dispersively coupled probe qubit. We experimentally observe the parity symmetry breaking of an ancillary Xmon artificial atom induced by the field of a lumped-element superconducting resonator deep-strongly coupled with a flux qubit. This result opens a way to experimentally explore the novel quantum-vacuum effects emerging in the deep-strong coupling regime. Hybrid quantum systems, such as superconducting qubits interacting with microwave photons in resonators, offer a rich platform for exploring fundamental physics. Wang et al. observe parity symmetry breaking in a probe qubit dispersively coupled to a resonator in the deep-strong coupling regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To the existing list of alternative formulations of quantum mechanics, a new version of the non-Hermitian interaction picture is added. What is new is that, in contrast to the more conventional non-Hermitian model-building recipes, the primary information about the observable phenomena is provided not only by the Hamiltonian but also by an additional operator with a real spectrum (say, R (t) ) representing another observable. In the language of physics, the information carried by R (t) ≠ R † (t) opens the possibility of reaching the exceptional-point degeneracy of the real eigenvalues, i.e., a specific quantum phase transition. In parallel, the unitarity of the system remains guaranteed, as usual, via a time-dependent inner-product metric Θ (t) . From the point of view of mathematics, the control of evolution is provided by a pair of conjugate Schrödiner equations. This opens the possibility od an innovative dyadic representation of pure states, by which the direct use of Θ (t) is made redundant. The implementation of the formalism is illustrated via a schematic cosmological toy model in which the canonical quantization leads to the necessity of working with two conjugate Wheeler-DeWitt equations. From the point of view of physics, the "kinematical input" operator R (t) may represent either the radius of a homogeneous and isotropic expanding empty Universe or, if you wish, its Hubble radius, or the scale factor a (t) emerging in the popular Lemaitre-Friedmann-Robertson-Walker classical solutions, with the exceptional-point singularity of the spectrum of R (t) mimicking the birth of the Universe ("Big Bang") at t = 0 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Proper catalyst coated membrane (CCM) methods are significant for membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of PEM-based electrolytic dehumidification. In this work, four CCM processes, doctor blade, decal, electrostatic spraying, and modified pneumatic spraying methods, were employed for fabricating dehumidifier assemblies with low-load (0.6 mg/cm2) IrO2 catalyst layers (CLs). The physical and electrochemical properties of the as-prepared CLs were characterized, and the mass transfer resistance and dehumidification rate of the MEA were tested during actual operations. The optimal hot-pressing parameters were also determined. Results showed that the modified pneumatic spraying method can significantly improve the pore distribution and CL flatness by promoting the evaporation of solvent from catalyst slurry. The charge-transfer and ohmic resistances of MEA was 25.3 and 27.8 mΩ/cm2, respectively, which are the best values for those prepared using the four methods. The dehumidification rate was also the highest (0.105 g/h), 20–40% higher than that of other methods. Although the overall mass transfer resistance of assembly prepared by the electrostatic spraying was low, the CL structure was obviously loose and unable to bind to the membrane surface tightly, leading to high electrochemical resistance (6.6-fold that of pneumatic spray method). Besides, catalyst particles tend to agglomerate using the doctor blade method. The pore size of the CL prepared using the decal method was found to be too small (<300 nm), hindering reactant transfer and resulting in a low overall mass transfer coefficient. This study provides a practical direction for the preparation of economical and high-performance dehumidifiers or electrolyzers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hop latent viroid (HLVd) is a severe disease of cannabis, causing substantial economic losses in plant yield and crop value for growers worldwide. The best way to control the disease is early detection to limit the spread of the viroid in grow facilities. This study describes MFDetectTM as a rapid, highly sensitive, and high-throughput tool for detecting HLVd in the early stages of plant development. Furthermore, in the largest research study conducted so far for HLVd detection in cannabis, we compared MFDetectTM with quantitative RT-PCR in a time course experiment using different plant tissues, leaves, petioles, and roots at different plant developmental stages to demonstrate both technologies are comparable. Our study found leaf tissue is a suitable plant material for HLVd detection, with the viroid titer increasing in the infected leaf tissue with the age of plants. The study showed that other tissue types, including petiole and roots, were equally sensitive to detection via MFDetectTM. The assay developed in this research allows the screening of thousands of plants in a week. The assay can be scaled easily to provide growers with a quick turnaround and a cost-effective diagnostic tool for screening many plants and tissue types at different stages of development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Olive trees (Olea europea L.) are constantly threatened by many viruses, such as the olive leaf yellowing-associated virus (OLYaV), that belong to the Olivavirus genus, family Closteroviridae. In this work, the OLYaV incidence in different regions of Italy and Spain, which represent the two most important European areas for olive production, was evaluated through the development of a real-time reverse transcription-loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) for reliable and sensitive OLYaV detection. The specificity and accuracy of the developed real-time RT-LAMP assay were determined; the assay showed that potential cross-reactivity with other viruses belonging to the Closteroviridae family was excluded. The LAMP assay detected OLYaV with a higher sensitivity than conventional end-point RT-PCR, detecting a total of 1.34 × 10−2 genome copies. A total of 80 and 120 plants of different olive cultivars from Spain (Comunitat Valenciana, Andalusia) and Italy (Sicily, Calabria, Apulia, Lazio, and Umbria) regions were tested, respectively. The percentage of infected plants was 46.25% and 30% for Spain and Italy, respectively, while the most susceptible cultivars were "Serrana Espadán" and "Villalonga" from Comunitat Valenciana and Andalusia regions (Spain) and "Ogliarola barese" from Apulia region (Italy). In addition, the survey demonstrated that the real-time RT-LAMP showed good sensitivity for OLYaV-positive sample detection, especially on asymptomatic olive trees. For this reason, the developed assay could be very suitable for phytopathological laboratories as a reliable and efficient method for a rapid and sensitive routine test on olive samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Viral pathogens are major concern nowadays. Bacterial CRISPR/Cas systems help in defending the host body against different pathogens including viruses too. This system contains restriction enzymes that introduce dsDNA breaks on target site to make the virus non-functional by damaging its genes. Coronavirus, HIV and Herpes viruses are causing mortality all around the world. To control the spread of disease, early detection and treatment is required. CRISPR system due to its high efficiency provides a platform to restrict the viral entry into host cell, viral genome editing and eliminate the latent infections. In this review, the CRISPR strategies against three major viral diseases are put under consideration: Coronavirus, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Herpesvirus associated diseases. Three CRISPR/Cas systems have been discussed including CRISPR/Cas12, CRISPR/Cas9 and CRISPR/Cas13 that are used against the above listed viruses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3D hydrogel-based cell cultures provide models for studying cell behavior and can efficiently replicate the physiologic environment. Hydrogels can be tailored to mimic mechanical and biochemical properties of specific tissues and allow to produce gel-in-gel models. In this system, microspheres encapsulating cells are embedded in an outer hydrogel matrix, where cells are able to migrate. To enhance the efficiency of such studies, a lab-on-a-chip named 3D cell migration-chip (3DCM-chip) is designed, which offers substantial advantages over traditional methods. 3DCM-chip facilitates the analysis of biochemical and physical stimuli effects on cell migration/invasion in different cell types, including stem, normal, and tumor cells. 3DCM-chip provides a smart platform for developing more complex cell co-cultures systems. Herein the impact of human fibroblasts on MDA-MB 231 breast cancer cells' invasiveness is investigated. Moreover, how the presence of different cellular lines, including mesenchymal stem cells, normal human dermal fibroblasts, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells, affects the invasive behavior of cancer cells is investigated using 3DCM-chip. Therefore, predictive tumoroid models with a more complex network of interactions between cells and microenvironment are here produced. 3DCM-chip moves closer to the creation of in vitro systems that can potentially replicate key aspects of the physiological tumor microenvironment., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are one of the determinants of tumor heterogeneity and are characterized by self-renewal, high tumorigenicity, invasiveness, and resistance to various therapies. To overcome the resistance of traditional tumor therapies resulting from CSCs, a strategy of double drug sequential therapy (DDST) for CSC-enriched tumors is proposed in this study and is realized utilizing the developed double-layered hollow mesoporous cuprous oxide nanoparticles (DL-HMCONs). The high drug-loading contents of camptothecin (CPT) and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) demonstrate that the DL-HMCON can be used as a generic drug delivery system. ATRA and CPT can be sequentially loaded in and released from CPT3@ATRA3@DL-HMCON@HA. The DDST mechanisms of CPT3@ATRA3@DL-HMCON@HA for CSC-containing tumors are demonstrated as follows: 1) the first release of ATRA from the outer layer induces differentiation from CSCs with high drug resistance to non-CSCs with low drug resistance; 2) the second release of CPT from the inner layer causes apoptosis of non-CSCs; and 3) the third release of Cu + from DL-HMCON itself triggers the Fenton-like reaction and glutathione depletion, resulting in ferroptosis of non-CSCs. This CPT3@ATRA3@DL-HMCON@HA is verified to possess high DDST efficacy for CSC-enriched tumors with high biosafety., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)

The strong coupling of optical resonators results in a mode splitting proportional to the coupling strength, which can be achieved with metal‐dielectric‐metal (MDM) cavities that have similar thickness and refractive index. However, an active control of the mode coupling is challenging. Here, an alternative configuration of an MDM cavity coupled with a Guided‐Mode‐Resonator (GMR) is explored. The GMR grating is fabricated on top of the MDM cavity, such that the coupling can be tuned by the thickness of the central metal. The typical modal anti‐crossing (with a splitting of ≈50–65 meV) detected in the angular dispersion of the GMR‐MDM is observed. Excellent agreement of the experimental reflectance with simulations allows to report the angular dispersion from −50° to 50°. The anisotropy of the GMR modes enables to switch in and out of the strong coupling by changing the polarization of the incident light. Moreover, the asymmetry of the GMR‐MDM architecture induces a side‐dependent response. The MDM cavity is only transparent at its resonances, which leads to a suppression of all modes outside the resonance bands when impinging from the MDM side. These features are highly interesting for optoelectronic applications such as optical switches and multi‐level optical multiplexing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work outlines the communication strategy for a 3‐year pan‐European campaign on plant health. The document starts with a situational analysis that gives an overview of the current political, economic, social, and technological situation with emphasis on plant trade and plant health. The main objectives, target audiences (TAs), and key messages of the campaign are then defined. The TAs are labelled as curious travellers (P1), hobby farmers (P2), and young parents (P3). The main objectives of the campaign are to raise awareness of the importance of plant health and to trigger their critical thinking. For P1 and P2, the two targets with potentially more hazardous behaviours and higher potential for being mobilised and becoming advocates, the final objective is to activate them and encourage them to become advocates for plant health among their informal communities. Communication and engagement activities have been identified for each campaign year in relation to the different targets to achieve the campaign objectives. The document includes a stakeholder mapping. which identifies the most important actors, divided into eight groups, to be involved in the actions to increase the success of the campaign. The complete list of stakeholders is provided as an annex in an Excel format, which allows the information to be filtered according to key variables. Stakeholders have also been ranked and prioritised according to a matrix that leverages TA impact and stakeholder interest. The last part of the work describes the evaluation methodology for the campaign. The approach is based on three main evaluation domains: process, outcome, and impact evaluation. The campaign is designed to allow for a localised, flexible, and modular structure to be implemented at the national level by Member States (MSs). Indeed, it sets out a common framework, while leaving a high degree of tailoring and freedom. This publication is linked to the following EFSA Supporting Publications articles: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2023.EN-8023/full, http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.2903/sp.efsa.2023.e210502/full [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Various diseases and pests cause serious damage to vegetable crops during the growing season and after harvesting. Growers attempt to minimize losses by protecting their crops, starting with seed and seedling treatments and followed by monitoring their stands. In many cases, synthetic pesticide treatments are applied. Integrated pest management is currently being employed to minimize the impact of pesticides upon human health and the environment. Over the last few years, "smart" approaches have been developed and adopted in practice to predict, detect, and quantify phytopathogen occurrence and contamination. Our review assesses the currently available ready-to-use tools and methodologies that operate via visual estimation, the detection of proteins and DNA/RNA sequences, and the utilization of brand-new innovative approaches, highlighting the availability of solutions that can be used by growers during the process of diagnosing pathogens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work presents a novel porous transport layer (PTL), the hydrochannel PTL, that enables improved water management and record high round trip efficiency in unitized reversible fuel cells (URFCs). URFCs require rapid transport of O2 and H2O to provide high performance in both fuel cell and water electrolyzer operation, but cell design is complicated by conflicting water management requirements: electrolyzers perform best with high liquid water saturation, whereas fuel cells perform best when liquid water saturation is as low as possible while still maintaining effective ionomer hydration. The hydrochannel PTL circumvents this obstacle by providing hydrophilic channels for water transport through an otherwise hydrophobic PTL, enabling optimal performance in both fuel cell and water electrolyzer modes. Neutron radiography measurements of water content in both operating modes confirm that the hydrochannel PTL enables high performance due to its improved water management capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tomato leaf curl New Delhi virus (ToLCNDV) represents a threat to economically important horticultural crops. A real-time loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for in-field ToLCNDV detection was developed, coupled to a rapid sample preparation method, and tested both in field and laboratory conditions on zucchini squash, tomato, and pepper samples. A set of six LAMP primers was designed for specific ToCLNDV detection, targeting a 218-nucleotide sequence within the AV1 gene. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of the real-time LAMP assay and comparison with canonical PCR were evaluated. The real-time LAMP assay developed was about one-thousand times more sensitive than the conventional PCR method, detecting a total of 4.41 × 102 genome copies as minimum target; no cross-reactivity was detected with the other geminiviruses used as the outgroup. The rapid sample preparation method allows for a reliable detection with a low reaction delay (≈2–3 min) compared to canonical DNA extraction, providing results in less than 45 min. Lastly, an increase in ToLCNDV-positive sample detection was observed compared to PCR, in particular for asymptomatic plants (85% and 71.6%, respectively). The real-time LAMP assay developed is a rapid, simple, specific, and sensitive technique for ToLCNDV detection, and it can be adopted as a routine test, for both in-field and laboratory conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We propose a frequency-tunable source to emit entangled microwave photons on the platform of a superconducting circuit, in which two superconducting transmission-line resonators are coupled via a capacitor and one resonator is inserted with a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) in the center. By pumping the circuit appropriately with an external coherent microwave signal through the SQUID, microwave photons are emitted in pairs out of the circuit. The entanglement between the two modes is demonstrated by numerically calculating the second-order coherence function and the logarithmic negativity of the output microwave signals. Due to the tunability of SQUID's equivalent inductance, the frequencies of the entangled microwave photons can be tuned by an external flux bias in situ. Our proposal paves a new way for obtaining entangled frequency-tunable two-mode microwave photons. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]