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Pseudomonas sp. SCA7, characterized in this study, was isolated from roots of the bread wheat Triticum aestivum . Sequencing and annotation of the complete SCA7 genome revealed that it represents a potential new Pseudomonas sp. with a remarkable repertoire of plant beneficial functions. In vitro and in planta experiments with the reference dicot plant A. thaliana and the original monocot host T. aestivum were conducted to identify the functional properties of SCA7. The isolate was able to colonize roots, modify root architecture, and promote growth in A. thaliana . Moreover, the isolate increased plant fresh weight in T. aestivum under unchallenged conditions. Gene expression analysis of SCA7-inoculated A. thaliana indicated a role of SCA7 in nutrient uptake and priming of plants. Moreover, confrontational assays of SCA7 with fungal and bacterial plant pathogens revealed growth restriction of the pathogens by SCA7 in direct as well as indirect contact. The latter indicated involvement of microbial volatile organic compounds (mVOCs) in this interaction. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analyses revealed 1-undecene as the major mVOC, and octanal and 1,4-undecadiene as minor abundant compounds in the emission pattern of SCA7. Additionally, SCA7 enhanced resistance of A. thaliana against infection with the plant pathogen Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000. In line with these results, SA- and JA/ET-related gene expression in A. thaliana during infection with Pst DC3000 was upregulated upon treatment with SCA7, indicating the ability of SCA7 to induce systemic resistance. The thorough characterization of the novel Pseudomonas sp. SCA7 showed a remarkable genomic and functional potential of plant beneficial traits, rendering it a promising candidate for application as a biocontrol or a biostimulation agent., Competing Interests: TK-N, PR, IS, SP, PS, MR, BW, J-PS, SK, MS, MR, and PF-B were employed by Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health., (Copyright © 2022 Kuhl-Nagel, Rodriguez, Gantner, Chowdhury, Schwehn, Rosenkranz, Weber, Schnitzler, Kublik, Schloter, Rothballer and Falter-Braun.)

Background: Functional neuroimaging of patients in the vegetative state has been shown to provide diagnostic and prognostic information beyond that which conventional behavioural assessments may allow. However, before these promising approaches may reach large numbers of patients through a standard clinical protocol, it is necessary to determine the utility of these assessments-i.e. the accuracy of their diagnoses., Methods and Results: This study demonstrated that, due to the nature of statistical testing and the absence of a 'ground truth' of consciousness, it is impossible to calculate the conventional measures of clinical utility-sensitivity and specificity-for diagnoses made on the basis of functional neuroimaging for command-following. Nevertheless, it is crucial for such measures to be determined in order for valuable clinical resources to be distributed wisely. Therefore, a number of alternative guidelines are offered for the estimation of clinical utility., Conclusions: By evaluating new and existing functional neuroimaging methods against the proposed guidelines, this study argues that it may be possible to achieve dramatically and efficiently improved diagnostic and prognostic accuracy for all vegetative state patients.