Machine Learning-Guided Performance Evaluation of an All-Liquid Electrochromic Device.

Electrochromic devices, capable of modulating light transmittance under the influence of an electric field, have garnered significant interest in the field of smart windows and car rearview mirrors. However, the development of high-performance electrochromic devices via large-scale explorations under miscellaneous experimental settings remains challenging and is still an urgent problem to be solved. In this study, we employed a two-step machine learning approach, combining machine learning algorithms such as KNN and XGBoost with the reality of electrochromic devices, to construct a comprehensive evaluation system for electrochromic materials. Utilizing our predictive evaluation system, we successfully screened the preparation conditions for the best-performing device, which was experimentally verified to have a high transmittance modulation amplitude (62.6%) and fast response time (5.7 s/7.1 s) at 70 A/m2. To test its stability, experiments over a long cycle time (1000 cycles) are performed. In this study, we develop an innovative framework for assessing the performance of electrochromic material devices. Our approach effectively filters experimental samples based on their distinct properties, substantially minimizing the expenditure of human and material resources in electrochromic research. Our approach to a mathematical machine learning evaluation framework for device performance has effectively propelled and informed research in electrochromic devices.

Genetic epidemiology and plasmid-mediated transmission of mcr-1 by Escherichia coli ST155 from wastewater of long-term care facilities.

Long-term care facilities (LTCFs) for older people play an important and unique role in multidrug-resistant organism transmission. Herein, we investigated the genetic characteristics of mobile colistin resistance gene (mcr-1)-carrying Escherichia coli strains isolated from wastewater of LTCFs in Shanghai. Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by agar dilution methods. Whole-genome sequencing and plasmid sequencing were conducted, and resistance genes and sequence types of colistin in E. coli isolates were analyzed. Core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST) analysis was performed by the Ridom SeqSphere+ software. Phylogenetic tree through the maximum likelihood method was constructed by MEGA X. Out of 306 isolates, only 1 E. coli named ECSJ33 was found, and the plasmid pECSJ33 from ECSJ33 harbored the mcr-1 gene that was located with 59,080 bp belonging to IncI2 type. The plasmid pECSJ33 was capable of conjugation with an efficiency of 2.9 × 10-2. Bioinformatic analysis indicated pECSJ33 shared backbone with the previously reported mcr-1-harboring pHNGDF93 isolated from fish source. Moreover, the cgMLST analysis revealed that ECSJ33 belongs to different lineages from those reported from previous E. coli strains but shared high similarity to NCTC11129 in cluster 11. The phylogenetic tree revealed MCR-1 of ECSJ33 in this study was mostly of animal food origin and that they were closely related. Our study firstly reports detection of genome sequence of a multidrug-resistant mcr-1-harboring E. coli ST155 from wastewater of LTCF source in China. The data may prove that the plasmid pECSJ33 belongs to food origin and help to understand the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms and genomic features of colistin resistance under One Health approach.IMPORTANCEOne Escherichia coli named ECSJ33 was found from wastewater of a long-term care facility (LTCF) and the plasmid pECSJ33 from ECSJ33 harbored the mobile colistin resistance gene (mcr-1) that was located with 59,080 bp belonging to IncI2 type, which was capable of conjugation with an efficiency of 2.9 × 10-2. This paper firstly reports an mcr-1-carrying E. coli strain ST155 isolated from LTCF in China. Comparative genomics analysis indicated pECSJ33 shared backbone with the previously reported mcr-1-harboring pHNGDF93 isolated from fish source. The phylogenetic tree revealed MCR-1 protein of ECSJ33 in this study was mostly of animal food origin and that they were closely related. Therefore, the pECSJ33 could be considered as food-origin transmission mcr-1-harboring plasmid.

Establishment and application of recombinase polymerase amplification combined with a lateral flow dipstick for the detection of mcr-1 in uncultured clinical samples.

OBJECTIVES: The rapid dissemination of the mcr-1 gene via plasmid-mediated transfer has raised concerns regarding the efficacy of colistin as a last-resort treatment for multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacterial infections. Current mcr-1 gene detection methods mainly focus on cultured bacteria, which is a complex and time-consuming process requiring skilled personnel, making it unsuitable for field analysis. METHODS: A rapid detection technique combining recombinase polymerase amplification with a lateral flow dipstick targeting uncultured clinical samples was developed. RESULTS: This new method targeting the mcr-1 gene region (23 232-23 642 bp, no. KP347127.1) achieved a low detection limit of 10 copies/µL. The whole process was carried out with high specificity and was completed within 20 min. The evaluation assay was conducted using 45 human faecal samples; 16 strains yielded a 98% accuracy, closely matching antimicrobial susceptibility outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: The novel method integrates nucleic acid extraction, isothermal amplification, and a test assay, suggesting the potential for timely colistin resistance surveillance in frontline disease control and healthcare settings, supporting future prevention and clinical standardization efforts.

Long Non-Coding RNA ZSCAN16-AS1 Promotes the Malignant Progression of Melanoma Through Regulating the miR-503-5p/ARL2 Axis.

Background: LncRNA zinc finger and SCAN domain containing 16 antisense RNA 1 (ZSCAN16-AS1), a newly identified lncRNA, has been proven to accelerate hepatocellular carcinoma progression. However, the function and molecular mechanism of ZSCAN16-AS1 in melanoma are still unknown. Methods: The level of ZSCAN16-AS1 in melanoma tissues was detected and reported in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and GEO#GSE15605. CCK-8, Transwell and flow cytometry assays were used to explore the role of ZSCAN16-AS1 in melanoma cells. Luciferase reporter assays and RNA pull-down assays were used to verify the molecular mechanism of ZSCAN16-AS1. Results: Here, we found that ZSCAN16-AS1 expression was increased in melanoma. We confirmed that ZSCAN16-AS1 promotes the growth and metastasis of melanoma. ZSCAN16-AS1 exerts its pro-tumour role through sponging of miR-503-5p to liberate ADP-ribosylation factor-like protein 2 (ARL2) mRNA transcripts. Conclusion: These results demonstrated the role and molecular mechanism of ZSCAN16-AS1 in the occurrence and development of melanoma. Therefore, ZSCAN16-AS1 may be used as a specific biomarker in the diagnosis and treatment of melanoma patients.

Prevalence of colistin-resistant mcr-1-positive Escherichia coli isolated from children patients with diarrhoea in Shanghai, 2016-2021.

OBJECTIVES: The emergence of the plasmid-mediated colistin resistance 1 (mcr-1) of Escherichia coli has become a global health concern. This study reports the prevalence of mcr-1 among E. coli isolates from patients with diarrheal disease in Shanghai and the genetic characterization of mcr-1-harbouring plasmids. METHODS: A total of 1723 E. coli strains were collected from the faeces of patients with diarrheal disease in all sentinel hospitals in Shanghai from 2016 to 2021. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed by broth microdilution and plasmid conjunction transfer assay was carried out using E. coli C600 as the recipient. The mcr-1-positive E. coli strains (MCRPEC) were subjected to molecular characterization and bioinformatic analysis of the mcr-1-bearing plasmids that they harboured. RESULTS: Only 5 (0.28%) strains were found to harbour the mcr-1 gene using PCR screening. Plasmid conjugation assay and whole-genome sequencing indicated that EC16500, one MCRPEC strain that co-exhibited mcr-1, blaTEM-1, blaOXA-1, qnrS1, qnrS2, arr-3, and catB3, could be conjugated to EC C600 by horizontal transfer with an average efficiency of 3.2 × 10-5. The plasmid pEC16500 harboured similar backbones as p70_2_15, pECGD-8-33, pNCYU-29-19-1_MCR1, and pIBMC_mcr1, and was shown to be encoded within a type IV secretion system (T4SS)-containing 32.6 kbp IncX4, next to the pap2-like membrane-associated gene, to form a 2.4-kb cassette. Furthermore, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed a similarity between other MCR-1-homolog proteins, indicating that the five E. coli isolates were colistin-resistant. CONCLUSION: Our data represents a significant snapshot of colistin resistance mcr-1 genes and highlights the need to increase active surveillance, especially among children under five years of age, in Shanghai. Great effort needs to be taken to avoid further dissemination of plasmid-mediated colistin resistance among clinically relevant Gram-negative bacterial pathogens.

Stability and genetic insights of the co-existence of blaCTX-M-65, blaOXA-1, and mcr-1.1 harboring conjugative IncI2 plasmid isolated from a clinical extensively-drug resistant Escherichia coli ST744 in Shanghai.

Background: Co-existence of colistin, ß-lactam and carbapenem in multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae isolates poses a serious threat to public health. In this study, we investigated and characterized the co-occurrence of blaCTX-M-65, blaOXA-1, and mcr-1.1 strain isolated from a clinical extensively-drug-resistant Escherichia coli ST744 in Shanghai. Methods: Antimicrobial susceptibility test was carried out by agar dilution methods. Whole genome sequencing was conducted, and resistance genes, and sequence types of colistin in E. coli isolates were analyzed. Plasmid stability and amino acid mutations were assessed in E. coli isolates. Results: A colistin resistant E. coli ST744, named ECPX221, was identified out of 145 fecal samples collected. The strain carries a 60,168 IncI2 plasmid with the mcr-1.1 gene. The strain also has blaCTX-M-65, blaOXA-1, dfrA14, qnrS1, cmlA5, arr2, ampC, aph(4)-Ia, sul1, and aadA5 resistance genes. The plasmid pECPX221 was capable of conjugation with an efficiency of 2.6 × 10-2. Notably, 45% of the transconjugants were determined as mcr-1.1-harboring in the colistin-free environment after 60 generation of passage. No mutations occurred in pmrB, mgrB, and phoPQ gene in the mcr-1.1-harboring transconjugants. Bioinformatic analysis indicated pECPX221 shared highly similar backbone with the previously reported mcr-1.1-harboring pAH62-1, pMFDS1339.1, pSCZE4, and p2018-10-2CC. Furthermore, sequencing and phylogenetic analyses revealed a similarity between other MCR-1-homolog proteins, indicating that ECPX221 was colistin resistant. Conclusion: The stable transferable mcr-1.1-harboring plasmid found in the E. coli ST744 strain indicated the high risk to disseminate the extensively-drug-resistance phenotype among Enterobacteriaceae.

Polarized electron acceleration in beam-driven plasma wakefield based on density down-ramp injection.

We investigate the precession of electron spins during beam-driven plasma-wakefield acceleration based on density down-ramp injection by means of full three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. A relativistic electron beam generated via, e.g., laser wakefield acceleration, serves as the driving source. It traverses the prepolarized gas target and accelerates polarized electrons via the excited wakefield. We derive the criteria for the driving beam parameters and the limitation on the injected beam flux to preserve a high degree of polarization for the accelerated electrons, which are confirmed by our 3D PIC simulations and single-particle modeling. The electron-beam driver is free of the prepulse issue associated with a laser driver, thus eliminating possible depolarization of the prepolarized gas due to ionization by the prepulse. These results provide guidance for future experiments towards generating a source of polarized electrons based on wakefield acceleration.