diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index ab2aeb2e7..cf21fdb8e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -44,6 +44,22 @@ Try Live Editor previews of future releases: <a href="https://develop.git.mermai
 
 <a href="https://mermaid-js.github.io/mermaid/landing/"><img src="https://github.com/mermaid-js/mermaid/blob/master/docs/intro/img/book-banner-post-release.jpg" alt="Explore Mermaid.js in depth, with real-world examples, tips & tricks from the creator... The first official book on Mermaid is available for purchase. Check it out!"></a>
 
+## Table of content
+
+<details>
+<summary>Expand contents</summary>
+
+- [About](#about)
+- [Examples](#examples)
+- [Release](#release)
+- [Related projects](#related-projects)
+- [Contributors](#contributors)
+- [Security and safe diagrams](#security-and-safe-diagrams)
+- [Reporting vulnerabilities](#reporting-vulnerabilities)
+- [Appreciation](#appreciation)
+
+</details>
+
 ## About
 
 <!-- <Main description>   -->
diff --git a/demos/sequence.html b/demos/sequence.html
index b2733a384..3345fed17 100644
--- a/demos/sequence.html
+++ b/demos/sequence.html
@@ -164,6 +164,13 @@
       end
     </pre>
 
+    <pre class="mermaid">
+    sequenceDiagram
+      actor Alice
+      actor John
+      Alice-xJohn: Hello John, how are you?
+      John--xAlice: Great!
+    </pre>
     <script type="module">
       import mermaid from './mermaid.esm.mjs';
       mermaid.initialize({
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 098e91c30..d2ca53ce0 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
   "version": "10.2.4",
   "description": "Markdownish syntax for generating flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams, gantt charts and git graphs.",
   "type": "module",
-  "packageManager": "pnpm@8.10.2",
+  "packageManager": "pnpm@8.10.4",
   "keywords": [
     "diagram",
     "markdown",
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.spec.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.spec.ts
index 2b360d447..5a5ffa4db 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.spec.ts
@@ -681,3 +681,82 @@ describe('given text representing a method, ', function () {
     });
   });
 });
+
+describe('given text representing an attribute', () => {
+  describe('when the attribute has no modifiers', () => {
+    it('should parse the display text correctly', () => {
+      const str = 'name String';
+
+      const displayDetails = new ClassMember(str, 'attribute').getDisplayDetails();
+
+      expect(displayDetails.displayText).toBe('name String');
+      expect(displayDetails.cssStyle).toBe('');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the attribute has public "+" modifier', () => {
+    it('should parse the display text correctly', () => {
+      const str = '+name String';
+
+      const displayDetails = new ClassMember(str, 'attribute').getDisplayDetails();
+
+      expect(displayDetails.displayText).toBe('+name String');
+      expect(displayDetails.cssStyle).toBe('');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the attribute has protected "#" modifier', () => {
+    it('should parse the display text correctly', () => {
+      const str = '#name String';
+
+      const displayDetails = new ClassMember(str, 'attribute').getDisplayDetails();
+
+      expect(displayDetails.displayText).toBe('#name String');
+      expect(displayDetails.cssStyle).toBe('');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the attribute has private "-" modifier', () => {
+    it('should parse the display text correctly', () => {
+      const str = '-name String';
+
+      const displayDetails = new ClassMember(str, 'attribute').getDisplayDetails();
+
+      expect(displayDetails.displayText).toBe('-name String');
+      expect(displayDetails.cssStyle).toBe('');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the attribute has internal "~" modifier', () => {
+    it('should parse the display text correctly', () => {
+      const str = '~name String';
+
+      const displayDetails = new ClassMember(str, 'attribute').getDisplayDetails();
+
+      expect(displayDetails.displayText).toBe('~name String');
+      expect(displayDetails.cssStyle).toBe('');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the attribute has static "$" modifier', () => {
+    it('should parse the display text correctly and apply static css style', () => {
+      const str = 'name String$';
+
+      const displayDetails = new ClassMember(str, 'attribute').getDisplayDetails();
+
+      expect(displayDetails.displayText).toBe('name String');
+      expect(displayDetails.cssStyle).toBe(staticCssStyle);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the attribute has abstract "*" modifier', () => {
+    it('should parse the display text correctly and apply abstract css style', () => {
+      const str = 'name String*';
+
+      const displayDetails = new ClassMember(str, 'attribute').getDisplayDetails();
+
+      expect(displayDetails.displayText).toBe('name String');
+      expect(displayDetails.cssStyle).toBe(abstractCssStyle);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.ts
index e288eefde..f112dd4dd 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/class/classTypes.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export class ClassMember {
         this.visibility = firstChar as Visibility;
       }
 
-      if (lastChar.match(/[*?]/)) {
+      if (lastChar.match(/[$*]/)) {
         potentialClassifier = lastChar;
       }
 
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.js b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.js
index da67248f1..9a693aabf 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/flowDb.js
@@ -201,6 +201,13 @@ export const updateLinkInterpolate = function (positions, interp) {
  */
 export const updateLink = function (positions, style) {
   positions.forEach(function (pos) {
+    if (pos >= edges.length) {
+      throw new Error(
+        `The index ${pos} for linkStyle is out of bounds. Valid indices for linkStyle are between 0 and ${
+          edges.length - 1
+        }. (Help: Ensure that the index is within the range of existing edges.)`
+      );
+    }
     if (pos === 'default') {
       edges.defaultStyle = style;
     } else {
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/parser/flow-style.spec.js b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/parser/flow-style.spec.js
index 1ab754308..5b0f740bd 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/parser/flow-style.spec.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/flowchart/parser/flow-style.spec.js
@@ -286,6 +286,30 @@ describe('[Style] when parsing', () => {
     expect(edges[0].type).toBe('arrow_point');
   });
 
+  it('should handle style definitions within number of edges', function () {
+    expect(() =>
+      flow.parser
+        .parse(
+          `graph TD
+    A-->B
+    linkStyle 1 stroke-width:1px;`
+        )
+        .toThrow(
+          'The index 1 for linkStyle is out of bounds. Valid indices for linkStyle are between 0 and 0. (Help: Ensure that the index is within the range of existing edges.)'
+        )
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('should handle style definitions within number of edges', function () {
+    const res = flow.parser.parse(`graph TD
+    A-->B
+    linkStyle 0 stroke-width:1px;`);
+
+    const edges = flow.parser.yy.getEdges();
+
+    expect(edges[0].style[0]).toBe('stroke-width:1px');
+  });
+
   it('should handle multi-numbered style definitions with more then 1 digit in a row', function () {
     const res = flow.parser.parse(
       'graph TD\n' +
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts
index b8962395e..7c38a8016 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/sequenceRenderer.ts
@@ -829,6 +829,11 @@ export const draw = function (_text: string, id: string, _version: string, diagO
     bounds.insert(activationData.startx, verticalPos - 10, activationData.stopx, verticalPos);
   }
 
+  log.debug('createdActors', createdActors);
+  log.debug('destroyedActors', destroyedActors);
+
+  drawActors(diagram, actors, actorKeys, false);
+
   // Draw the messages/signals
   let sequenceIndex = 1;
   let sequenceIndexStep = 1;
@@ -1028,14 +1033,12 @@ export const draw = function (_text: string, id: string, _version: string, diagO
     }
   });
 
-  log.debug('createdActors', createdActors);
-  log.debug('destroyedActors', destroyedActors);
-
-  drawActors(diagram, actors, actorKeys, false);
   messagesToDraw.forEach((e) => drawMessage(diagram, e.messageModel, e.lineStartY, diagObj));
+
   if (conf.mirrorActors) {
     drawActors(diagram, actors, actorKeys, true);
   }
+
   backgrounds.forEach((e) => svgDraw.drawBackgroundRect(diagram, e));
   fixLifeLineHeights(diagram, actors, actorKeys, conf);
 
diff --git a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
index f81147c10..31e6dc2a8 100644
--- a/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
+++ b/packages/mermaid/src/diagrams/sequence/svgDraw.js
@@ -324,7 +324,7 @@ const drawActorTypeParticipant = function (elem, actor, conf, isFooter) {
   const center = actor.x + actor.width / 2;
   const centerY = actorY + 5;
 
-  const boxpluslineGroup = elem.append('g').lower();
+  const boxpluslineGroup = elem.append('g');
   var g = boxpluslineGroup;
 
   if (!isFooter) {