Prevalent, protective, and convergent IgG recognition of SARS-CoV-2 non-RBD spike epitopes

The molecular composition and binding epitopes of the immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies that circulate in blood plasma following SARS-CoV-2 infection are unknown. Proteomic deconvolution of the IgG repertoire to the spike glycoprotein in convalescent subjects revealed that the response is directed predominantly (>80%) against epitopes residing outside the receptor-binding domain (RBD). In one subject, just four IgG lineages accounted for 93.5% of the response, including an N-terminal domain (NTD)-directed antibody that was protective against lethal viral challenge. Genetic, structural, and functional characterization of a multi-donor class of “public” antibodies revealed an NTD epitope that is recurrently mutated among emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern. These data show that “public” NTD-directed and other non-RBD plasma antibodies are prevalent and have implications for SARS-CoV-2 protection and antibody escape

Prayers to Kāli: practicing radical numinosity

Prayers to Kāli is an invocation of the radical-sacred as a way into decolonization, liberation, and healing. The radical-sacred, as I conceive of it, is broadly to do with the work of retrieving our spiritual dimensions as an inextricable part of queer, and decolonial futurities. The construction and performance of decolonial, queer-feminist theory, and knowledge discourses as fundamentally located in communities of coalition, new modes of resistance and cosmologies, form the theoretical foil of this paper. The broader aim of the paper is to highlight the significance of spiritual, corporeal, and emotional knowledges in the work of decoloniality and dismantling systems of oppression. I locate this exploration within the narrative specifics of contemporary spirit- poetry from Tamil Nadu; a radical, border site where these connections and dimensions of decoloniality, gender, desire, and resistance play out

Orange Fluorescent Ru(III) Complexes Based on 4'-Aryl Substituted 2,2':6',2aEuro(3)-Terpyridine for OLEDs Application

A series of ruthenium (III) complexes of the formulae Ru(4-Mephtpy)(2)]Cl-3(1) Ru(L (1) )], Ru(3,4,5-tmphtpy)(2)]Cl-3(2) Ru(L (2) )], and Ru(4-thptpy)(2)]Cl-3(3) Ru(L (3) )], (where L = terpy = 2.2':6'2aEuro(3) terpyridine ligands) are synthesized. The complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, spectroscopic and electrochemical data. The density functional theory (DFT) outlines the geometric optimisation and electronic charge transition of these complexes. Photophysical studies describe that the luminescence of Ru(III) complexes is due to electronic transition between the energy levels of singly unoccupied molecular orbitals (SUMO) and singly occupied molecular orbitals (SOMO). It also exhibits the potential charge transfer to pi-pi* and n-pi* states due to MLCT and ILCT processes of the complexes. The observed bands centered at 591 and 620 nm demonstrate that these emissions originated from the transition of SUMO to SOMO energy levels, that is, from the radiative decay from the doublet exciton. Due to the heavy metal effect of Ru(III) ions the photophysical behaviour depends on the MLCT process. In conclusion, that the all three Ru(L (1) -L (3) ) complexes are fallen orange emission

Switching from sky blue to deep green fluorescent Zn(II) complexes for OLEDs applications

Three new Zn(II) 4'-aryl substituted 2,2':6', 2'-terpyridine (terpy) complexes of the type Zn(Ln)(2)]NO3 complexes (where, L-1 = 4'-(4-methylphenyl)-2,2':6', 2'-terpyridine, L-2 = 4'-(3,4,5-trimethoxyphenyl)-2,2':6', 2'-terpyridine, and L-3 = 4'-(2-thiophenyl)-2,2':6', 2'-terpyridine) were successfully synthesized and photophysical characterizations were done for OLEDs applications. The UV-visible absorption spectra of the complexes exhibited an intense absorption band in the range of 240-380 nm owing to a spin-allowed intraligand (pi-pi*) charge transition. The addition of an electron-donating aryl substituent into the terpy ligand within the complexes induced a significant red-shift of the spectrum. A solid state photoluminescence (PL) analysis revealed a transition from sky blue to green, while the complexes in the DMSO solution which possessed the most emissions appeared sky to deep blue, respectively. A cyclic voltammetry investigation of the complexes revealed a quasi-reversible reduction where the estimated electrochemical data concurred with theoretical calculations. Moreover, the complexes showed an optical band gap of 3.40-3.51 eV and a HOMO level from -6.64 to -6.47 eV. In addition, all the complexes depicted an excellent thermal stability. Hence, the presented complexes are promising candidates for blue and green fluorescent OLEDs application as electron transport as well as electroluminescent material

Estimation of the thermal diffusivity of solids based on `instantaneous velocimetry' using an interferometer

A conceptually new approach is proposed to estimate the thermal diffusivity of optically transparent solids at ambient temperature based on the `position-dependent instantaneous velocity' of isothermal surfaces using a self-reference interferometer. A new analytical model is proposed using the exact solution to relate the instantaneous velocity of isothermal surfaces with the thermal diffusivity of solids. The experiment involves setting up a one-dimensional non-stationary heat flow inside the solid via step-temperature excitation to launch a spectrum of dissimilar `moving isothermal surfaces' at the origin. Moving isothermal surfaces exhibit macroscale `rectilinear translatory motion'; the instantaneous velocity of any isothermal surface at any location in the heat-affected region is unique and governed by the thermal diffusivity of the solids. The intensity pattern produced by the self-reference interferometer encodes the moving isothermal surfaces into the corresponding moving intensity points. The instantaneous velocities of the intensity points are measured. For a given thermo-optic coefficient, the corresponding values of the isothermal surfaces are predicted to estimate the thermal diffusivity of the solids using BK7 glass as an example. Another improved method is proposed in which thermal diffusivity is estimated without measuring thermo-optic coefficient and quartz glass is utilized as a specimen. The results obtained using the proposed approaches closely match with the literature value

Spatial distribution pattern of taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity of woody flora in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India

Abstract Background The insular nature and unique geographical set up of Andaman and Nicobar Islands has led to the evolution of variety of rare and distinct flora with high endemism. Despite several efforts to document the floristic richness of the islands, there are no efforts to understand the spatial patterns in the taxonomic and phylogenetic diversity, and thence to arrive at the biogeographic origin and evolutionary history of the vegetation of this Island archipelago. Methods We used a fine scale spatial distribution and abundance data of woody plants documented from 841 grids along with their phylogenetic data and estimated metrics of taxonomic and phylogenetic similarity to identify taxonomically and phylogenetically distinct woody plant ‘phytoregions’ within Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We then arrived at the spatial patterns of the taxonomic richness and diversity and, of phylogenetic diversity across the entire Archipelago. Results We found that taxonomic richness and diversity of woody flora is high in Andaman and low in Nicobar Islands, whereas Nicobar Islands have a more phylogenetically diverse woody flora compared to Andaman. We identified three distinct woody plant ‘phytoregions’ within Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The three identified ‘phytoregions’ broadly match with the geographically isolated Island groups such as Andaman, Car Nicobar and Great Nicobar Islands; these ‘phytoregions’ also highlight the existence of two broadly distinct biogeographic zones of woody plants within the Islands. Conclusion Our analysis provides new insights into the spatial patterns of diversity of woody flora in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. We show that (i) both taxonomic and evolutionary affinities identify distinct ‘phytoregions’ closely segregated across the geographic distribution of the major islands of the archipelago, and (ii) there are two distinct biogeographic zones, i.e. Andaman flora most closely allied with flora of South western Burma and Nicobar more related with the flora of Malayan peninsula and Sumatra

Crystal structure of nematogenic 4, 4-bis(pentyloxy) azoxy benzene

4,4-bis(pentyloxy)azoxy benzene, C22H30N2O3, forms a mesophase at 341.5 K and melts at 396.2 K, with an intermediate highly ordered smectic phase. The crystal structure is triclinic PT, Z = 2 with a = 7.428(2), b = 8.267(1), c = 17.868(3) Ư,a = 97.73(1), β = 98.66(2), y = 101.25(2)°, Dc = 1.323, Dm = 1.289 g/cm3. The structure was solved using MULTAN 80 and refined by full-matrix least-squares calculations to R = 0.0427 for 1960 observed reflections [I > 2.50 < (I)]. The molecules are in their most extended trans conformation. They are nearly planar and packed in alternate sheets in which all the molecular long axes are either in head or tail conflguration