MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that function as negative gene expression regulators. Emerging evidence shows that, except for function in the cytoplasm, miRNAs are also present in the nucleus. However, the functional significance of nuclear miRNAs remains largely undetermined. By screening miRNA database, we have identified a subset of miRNA that functions as enhancer regulators. Here, we found a set of miRNAs show gene-activation function. We focused on miR-24-1 and found that this miRNA unconventionally activates gene transcription by targeting enhancers. Consistently, the activation was completely abolished when the enhancer sequence was deleted by TALEN. Furthermore, we found that miR-24-1 activates enhancer RNA (eRNA) expression, alters histone modification, and increases the enrichment of p300 and RNA Pol II at the enhancer locus. Our results demonstrate a novel mechanism of miRNA as an enhancer trigger.

Coupling NiCoP bimetallic phosphide nanoparticles with alkali-induced 3D crinkled Ti3C2 effectively enhances the structural stability and improved reaction kinetics of anodes for SIBs.

Taking advantage of zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZIF-8), ZnS-SbS@C core-double shell polyhedron structure is synthesized through a sulfurization reaction between Zn dissociated from ZIF-8 and S from thioacetamide (TAA), and subsequently a metal cation exchange process between Zn and Sb, in which carbon layer is introduced from polymeric resorcinol-formaldehyde to prevent the collapse of the polyhedron. The polyhedron composite with a ZnS inner-core and SbS/C double-shell as anode for sodium ion batteries (SIBs) shows us a significantly improved electrochemical performance with stable cycle stability, high Coulombic efficiency and specific capacity. Peculiarly, introducing a carbon shell not only acts as an important protective layer to form a rigid construction and accommodate the volume changes, but also improves the electronic conductivity to optimize the stable cycle performance and the excellent rate property. The architecture composed of ZnS inner core and a complex SbS/C shell not only facilitates the facile electrolyte infiltration to reduce the Na-ion diffusion length to improve the electrochemical reaction kinetics, but also prevents the structure pulverization caused by Na-ion insertion/extraction. This approach to prepare metal sulfides based on MOFs can be further extended to design other nanostructured systems for high performance energy storage devices.

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attracted increased attention as a new rechargeable battery system as an alternative to LIBs because of the abundant sodium resources in the earth and low cost of sodium compounds. [3][4][5][6] However, it should be stressed that the lower energy capacity and poor cycling stability of SIBs than that of LIBs are the major obstacles for their potential large scale energy storage applications.In order to improve the energy density of SIBs, it is of great importance to rationally design electrode materials with high specifi c capacities and appropriate redox potentials. Up to date, various interlayered transition metal cathode materials for SIBs have been developed successfully, including NaCoO 2 , [ 7 ] NaFePO 4 , [ 8 ] NaMnO 2 , [ 9 ] and Na 3 V 2 (PO 4 ) 3 [10][11][12] by replacing Li ions with Na ions. However, high performance SIBs anodes are still challenging. Previous study shows that pure graphite SIBs anode does not demonstrate an excellent performance. [ 4 ] Ge and Fouletier [ 13 ] reported the electrochemical behavior of graphite SIBs anode only shows a capacity of only about 35 mA h g −1 . Kim et al. [ 14 ] improved the Na ion storage performance of SIBs anode based on natural graphite by using an ether-based electrolyte system. However, the reversible capacity is still lower, only about 150 mA h g −1 . Therefore, in order to obtain SIBs with high specifi c capacity, new anode materials with high capacity and low redox potential should be introduced. [ 4 ] Na alloy-based anodes have attracted much attention owing to the appropriate redox potentials and higher gravimetric and volumetric specifi c capacities, such as Sb, [15][16][17][18][19] Ge, [ 20 ] Sn, [21][22][23] and P [24][25][26][27][28] based materials. Sb shows excellent stable capacity retention performance because of its smaller volume expansion and reduced anisotropic mechanical stress. [ 19 ] However, it is hindered by its low theoretical specifi c capacity of 660 mA h g −1 and high price. [ 4,[15][16][17][18] Ge also cannot meet the requirement of SIBs due to its lower theoretical capacity of only 396 mA h g −1 . [ 6,20 ] Sn has the high electrical conductivity, low cost, environmental friendliness, and appropriate low chargedischarge potentials versus Na + /Na. [21][22][23] Sn can theoretically deliver a high capacity of 847 mA h g −1 , which corresponds to Different from previously reported mechanical alloying route to synthesize Sn x P 3 , novel Sn 4 P 3 /reduced graphene oxide (RGO) hybrids are synthesized for the fi rst time through an in situ low-temperature solution-based phosphorization reaction route from Sn/RGO. Sn 4 P 3 nanoparticles combining with advantages of high conductivity of Sn and high capacity of P are homogenously loaded on the RGO nanosheets, interconnecting to form 3D mesoporous architecture nanostructures. The Sn 4 P 3 /RGO hybrid architecture materials exhibit signifi cantly improved electrochemical performance of high reversible capacity, high-rate capability, and excellent cycling performance as sodium ion batterie...