Class dynamics of development: a methodological note

This article argues that class relations are constitutive of developmental processes and central to understanding inequality within and between countries. In doing so it illustrates and explains the diversity of the actually existing forms of class relations, and the ways in which they interplay with other social relations such as gender and ethnicity. This is part of a wider project to re- vitalise class analysis in the study of development problems and experiences

Backbone heterojunction photocatalysts for efficient sacrificial hydrogen production from water

A common strategy to improve the efficiency of organic photocatalysts for hydrogen production from aqueous mixtures is to create bulk heterojunction nanoparticles comprised of intermixed donor and acceptor phases that allow for efficient charge separation after photoexcitation. However, many of these systems possess poor stability due to aggregation of these nanoparticles under operating conditions. Moreover, the use of surfactants, that inhibit aggregation and promote donor-acceptor phase intermixing, can form an insulating barrier that reduces the photocatalytic efficiency of these nanoparticles. Here, we bypassed these issues by preparing a single-component organic heterojunction-type polymer, P40, in which a molecular donor, pyrene, is tethered to poly(fluorene-co-dibenzo[b,d]thiophene sulfone), a conjugated polymer acceptor. By tethering the donor and acceptor together, phase intermixing is guaranteed without the need for costly post-synthesis processing or insulating surfactants. Moreover, the influence of pyrene in P40 was determined to be multifaceted, as it influences the dynamics of the excited state, the aggregate microstructure, and the local solvent environment. P40 was found to have an exceptional external quantum efficiency of 38% at 420 nm in the presence of triethylamine as a hole scavenger, the highest value reported for any linear conjugated polymer to date for sacrificial hydrogen production

Mapping the human genetic architecture of COVID-19

The genetic make-up of an individual contributes to the susceptibility and response to viral infection. Although environmental, clinical and social factors have a role in the chance of exposure to SARS-CoV-2 and the severity of COVID-191,2, host genetics may also be important. Identifying host-specific genetic factors may reveal biological mechanisms of therapeutic relevance and clarify causal relationships of modifiable environmental risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 infection and outcomes. We formed a global network of researchers to investigate the role of human genetics in SARS-CoV-2 infection and COVID-19 severity. Here we describe the results of three genome-wide association meta-analyses that consist of up to 49,562 patients with COVID-19 from 46 studies across 19 countries. We report 13 genome-wide significant loci that are associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection or severe manifestations of COVID-19. Several of these loci correspond to previously documented associations to lung or autoimmune and inflammatory diseases3–7. They also represent potentially actionable mechanisms in response to infection. Mendelian randomization analyses support a causal role for smoking and body-mass index for severe COVID-19 although not for type II diabetes. The identification of novel host genetic factors associated with COVID-19 was made possible by the community of human genetics researchers coming together to prioritize the sharing of data, results, resources and analytical frameworks. This working model of international collaboration underscores what is possible for future genetic discoveries in emerging pandemics, or indeed for any complex human disease