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Due to low intrinsic electrical conductivity, sluggish electrode kinetics occur in silicon dioxide (SiO2) as an anode material, which along with its low initial coulombic efficiency (CE) restrict its use in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). Herein, a magnetic field is employed within the cell to control the magnetoresistance of the SiO2 electrode, which not only enhances the overall performance but also improved the initial CE. In this regard, a chemical vapor deposition technique is used to deposit in situ SiO2 on the copper foil substrate, which is used directly to assemble a battery cell under a magnetic field. Although SiO2 is not a magnetic material, defects in SiO2 behave like a nano magnet under an applied magnetic field, which reduces scattering and random movement of charge carriers and aligns them towards conductive channels within the materials. As a result, charge carriers obtained from lithium-ions (Li+) on the anode surface travel through conductive channels due to which promising battery performance is observed. First, the SiO2/Cu electrode is used as an anode under different magnitudes of magnetic field (i.e. 800–2400 gauss) and an improvement in the initial CE but a lower negative magnetoresistance were observed. To increase the negative magnetoresistance of SiO2/Cu, in situ carbon is also coated, which offers an exceptional initial CE ∼ 96%, an excellent capacity retention even after long-term cycling for 1000 cycles (i.e., 2050 mA h g−1 at 100 mA g−1) and a commendable high-rate capability (i.e., 891 mA h g−1 at 2 A g−1). No doubt, the obtained findings are critical to developing high performing battery systems by coupling magnetoresistance with electrode kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epitranscriptomic RNA modifications have emerged as important regulators of the fate and function of viral RNAs. One prominent modification, the cytidine methylation 5-methylcytidine (m5C), is found on the RNA of HIV-1, where m5C enhances the translation of HIV-1 RNA. However, whether m5C functionally enhances the RNA of other pathogenic viruses remains elusive. Here, we surveyed a panel of commonly found RNA modifications on the RNA of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and found that HBV RNA is enriched with m5C as well as ten other modifications, at stoichiometries much higher than host messenger RNA (mRNA). Intriguingly, m5C is mostly found on the epsilon hairpin, an RNA element required for viral RNA encapsidation and reverse transcription, with these m5C mainly deposited by the cellular methyltransferase NSUN2. Loss of m5C from HBV RNA due to NSUN2 depletion resulted in a partial decrease in viral core protein (HBc) production, accompanied by a near-complete loss of the reverse transcribed viral DNA. Similarly, mutations introduced to remove the methylated cytidines resulted in a loss of HBc production and reverse transcription. Furthermore, pharmacological disruption of m5C deposition led to a significant decrease in HBV replication. Thus, our data indicate m5C methylations as a critical mediator of the epsilon elements' function in HBV virion production and reverse transcription, suggesting the therapeutic potential of targeting the m5C methyltransfer process on HBV epsilon as an antiviral strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The multifaceted switches are part of our everyday life from the macroscopic to the molecular world. A molecular switch operating in the solution and in the crystalline state is very different. In this review, we summarize the state‐of‐the‐art of smart molecular crystal switches based on molecular martensites. These crystal switches respond to external stimuli and reversibly change between states, retaining their macroscopic integrity. The operation of the switches predominantly relies on temperature alterations or mechanical stress, with emerging methods based on photothermal effects, photoisomerization, and host‐guest chemistry. The capability of changing the molecular orientation and interaction in smart molecular crystal switches offers opportunities in several applications, including actuators, reversibly shaping structural materials, optoelectronic and magnetic materials, as well as switchable porous materials. Smart molecular crystal switches have vast potential in modern scientific and technological progress. The ongoing research shapes a rich landscape for innovation and future scientific exploration across diverse disciplines.