A review of vortex pinning in REBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7-x) coated conductors

REBa_(2)Cu_(3)O_(7-x)exhibits outstanding qualities such as a high irreversible field(7 T)and strong current-carrying capacity(77 K,10^(6) A cm^(-2)),making it ideal for high magnetic field applications such as fusion,accelerators,and nuclear magnetic resonance.However,the degradation of in-field critical current density(Jc)due to vortex motion is a significant hurdle.Research indicates that improving vortex pinning can notably enhance Jc in REBCO,showing promise for its future high-field applications.This review explores vortex pinning mecha-nisms,artificial pinning centers(APCs),and how environmental conditions affect pinning characteristics,highlighting advancements in vortex pinning for REBCO in magnetic fields.Different methods for introducing APCs are discussed and compared for evaluating their efficacy in achieving optimal nanoparticle distri-butions and consequent superconducting performance improvements,under-scoring the importance of nano-defect features(type,size,and distribution)in optimizing the superconducting properties of the REBCO.Additionally,the re-view tackles current challenges,shares recent research breakthroughs,and out-lines future research directions for designing pinning landscapes to further improve REBCO performance.

A novel non-invasive identification of genome editing mutants from insect exuviae

With the wide application of genome editing in insects, a simple and efficient identification method is urgently needed to meet the increasing demand for mutation detection. Here, taking migratory locusts as a model system, we developed a non-invasive method to accurately identify genome-edited mutants by using DNA from insect exuviae. We compared the quantity and quality of genomic DNA from exuviae in five instar hoppers and found that the 1st instar exuviae had the highest DNA yield and content, while the 3rd instar exuviae had the best quality. Consensus genotypes were identified from genomic DNA of hoppers at different developmental stages in the same individuals. Moreover, we demonstrated that the amplification products from DNA extracted from locust exuviae are the consensus sequences with those from the hemolymph and foreleg pre-tarsus. Therefore, non-invasive samples provide the same genotyping results as minimally invasive and invasive samples of the same individuals. Furthermore, this identification method that uses genomic DNA from exuviae can be used for early screening of positive genome-edited individuals in each generation for adult crossing. In our study, the non-invasive identification method was not only simpler and provided results earlier than existing methods, but also had a better reproducibility and accuracy. This non-invasive identification approach using genomic DNA from exuviae can be adapted to meet the growing demand for genetic analysis and will find wide application in insect genome editing research.