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Date:15SundayDecember 2024Lecture
The Clore Center for Biological Physics
More information Time 12:45 - 14:30Title Rationally designed functionalization of single-walled carbon nanotubes for real-time monitoring of active processesLocation Nella and Leon Benoziyo Physics LibraryLecturer Prof. Gili Bisker
lunch will be reserved at 12:45Organizer Clore Center for Biological PhysicsContact Abstract Show full text abstract about <p>Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCN...» <p>Semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) fluoresce in the near-infrared (NIR) range, which overlaps with the transparency window of biological samples, and they do not photobleach or blink. These properties make SWCNTs uniquely suited for long-term imaging and sensing applications. Using tailored surface functionalization, SWCNTs can act as dynamic optical nanosensors, transducing biochemical changes in their environment into modulations in fluorescence intensity. Owing to their intrinsic physicochemical and optical properties, SWCNTs can provide real-time, spatiotemporal information on active processes across scales, from molecular interactions to whole organism dynamics.</p><p>Here, I will discuss different strategies for utilizing rationally designed functionalized SWCNTs to probe active biological processes. These include monitoring enzymatic activity, tracking supramolecular self-assembly and disassembly, and mapping in vivo processes. These findings showcase the potential of near-infrared fluorescent SWCNTs to provide insights into dynamic biological systems.</p><p><strong>LINK FOR STUDENTS INTERESTED MEETING PROF. GILI BISKER 14:30-15:15 Link</strong></p><p> </p><p><strong>FOR THE LATEST UPDATES AND CONTENT ON SOFT MATTER AND BIOLOGICAL PHYSICS AT THE WEIZMANN, VISIT OUR WEBSITE</strong>: https://www.biosoftweizmann.com/</p> -
Date:16MondayDecember 2024Colloquia
Molecular junctions with semimetal contacts: a promising milestone on the roadmap to molecular thermoelectricity
More information Time 11:00 - 12:15Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallLecturer Prof. Yoram Selzer
Nano Center, TAUOrganizer Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials ScienceHomepage Contact Abstract Show full text abstract about The efficiency of a thermoelectric (TE) device depends on ...»
The efficiency of a thermoelectric (TE) device depends on the extent to which, in response to a given temperature gradient, its electron/hole transport symmetry at the Fermi level is broken. This requirement makes molecular junctions highly promising for TE applications due to their non-linear transmission properties. Yet, in the absence of an efficient method to tune the position of the Fermi level within the transmission landscape of these junctions, the Seebeck values of metal-molecules-metal junctions are typically |S|≤50μV/K, while based on their electrical and thermal conductance, it should be |S|≥1mV/K to be relevant for applications. I will describe our effort to reach this goal, which recently has culminated in molecular junctions with the semimetal Bismuth (Bi) as one of their leads and with |S| in the required mV/K range. Unlike the conventional approach to tweak the transmission properties by modifying the structure of the molecules, here the high Seebeck is a result of molecularly induced deterministic changes in the density of states within the Bi lead in the form of quantized 2D interfacial states, that in turn result in highly non-linear transport properties. I will argue that this effect is just one glimpse into the very rich and complex terra incognita of molecular layers on semimetals. -
Date:16MondayDecember 2024Lecture
Foundations of Computer Science Seminar
More information Time 11:15 - 12:15Title Accountability in Threshold CryptographyLocation Jacob Ziskind BuildingLecturer Lior Rotem
StanfordOrganizer Department of Computer Science and Applied MathematicsContact Abstract Show full text abstract about Threshold cryptography has been fundamental to secure distri...» Threshold cryptography has been fundamental to secure distributed protocols for over three decades. However, it often comes at the expense of accountability: when secret information is shared among multiple parties, it can be difficult to determine who is at
fault if this information is leaked or misused.
In this talk, I will present a recent line of works that demonstrate that this trade-off is not inherent—we can indeed build accountable threshold cryptosystems. Most of the talk will focus on accountability in secret sharing. Suppose Alice uses a t-out-of-n secret sharing scheme to store her secret key on n servers. This guarantees that the servers learn nothing about her secret key, even if t-1 of them collude. But what happens if some servers decide to sell their shares? In this case, Alice should be able to hold them accountable; otherwise, they have a risk-free incentive to sell her shares. A secret sharing scheme that allows Alice to trace the leak back to the corrupted servers is called a traceable secret sharing scheme. I will present new definitions and practical constructions for traceable secret sharing, based on the natural and widely-used schemes of Shamir and Blakley. -
Date:17TuesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Global virus outbreaks: Interferons as 1st responders
More information Time 09:30 - 10:30Location Nella and Leon Benoziyo Building for Biological SciencesLecturer Prof. Eleanor N. Fish
Dept. of Immunology, University of Toronto, CanadaOrganizer Department of Biomolecular SciencesContact Abstract Show full text abstract about <p>Viral infections pose a major threat to human healt...» <p>Viral infections pose a major threat to human health. Vaccines protect from specific</p><p>infections, yet newly emerging or pandemic viral strains that exhibit genetic drift or reassortment</p><p>of genes preclude immediate responses using a vaccine strategy. Moreover, for SARS CoV-2,</p><p>although current vaccines reduce severity of disease, they do not protect from re-infection,</p><p>resulting in persistent community transmission and outbreaks. The emergence of drug resistance</p><p>also mitigates against pathogen-specific antiviral drugs. A complementary strategy focusing on</p><p>the host not the pathogen is the basis for development of broad-spectrum antivirals.</p><p>Our immediate response to any and all virus infections is the immediate production of interferon</p><p>(IFN). Data reveal that the robustness of an IFN response to respiratory infections, determines</p><p>the outcome – an aggressive or mild infection. We provide evidence that an IFN response to viral</p><p>infection, and/or IFN treatment, induces an activated phenotype in target cells that results in an</p><p>antiviral state and an optimized innate immune response, regardless of the virus. We extended</p><p>these findings to examine the therapeutic potential of IFN treatment in hospitalized individuals</p><p>infected with SARS and showed that IFN treatment accelerated viral clearance and reduced lung</p><p>abnormalities. Similarly, using human lung explants, IFN treatment cleared infection against</p><p>H5N1 avian and pandemic H1N1 influenza strains. During the Ebola virus outbreak in West</p><p>Africa, we conducted a clinical study in Guinea and provided evidence of increased survival</p><p>associated with IFN treatment. At the start of the COVID-19 pandemic we undertook a clinical</p><p>study in Wuhan, China, providing evidence that early treatment with an inhaled IFN accelerated</p><p>viral clearance, reduced inflammation and also reduced lung abnormalities. Given that limiting</p><p>transmission is the solution to shutting down any outbreak, we next conducted a clinical trial to</p><p>determine whether IFN treatment of SARS CoV-2 exposed, but uninfected individuals, would</p><p>protect from infection. We provide evidence that prophylactic treatment with IFN limits</p><p>household transmission, being most effective when the infected case in the household has a high</p><p>viral burden.</p> -
Date:17TuesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Understanding drug resistance in leukaemia with computer simulations (and some experiments)
More information Time 14:00 - 15:00Lecturer Prof. Ran Friedman Organizer Department of Chemical and Structural Biology -
Date:18WednesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Special Guest Seminar
More information Time 10:00 - 12:00Title Endocrine Cell Development in Human Fetal Thyroid Across Health and DiseaseLocation Max and Lillian Candiotty BuildingLecturer Dr. Hassan Massalha
Wellcome Sanger Institute and University of Cambridge, UKOrganizer Department of Immunology and Regenerative BiologyContact -
Date:18WednesdayDecember 2024Lecture
A Computational Perspective on Supercooled and Glassy Water
More information Time 11:00 - 11:00Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallLecturer Prof. Pablo G. Debenedetti Organizer Ben May Center for Chemical Theory and ComputationHomepage Contact -
Date:18WednesdayDecember 2024Lecture
spotlight on science
More information Time 12:30 - 14:00Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallContact -
Date:18WednesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Why did the RNA Cross the (Nano) Road? To Get to the Other Side
More information Time 12:30 - 14:00Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallLecturer Dr. Gil Haimovich
Spotlight on Science lecture sponsored by the Staff Scientists CouncilContact Abstract Show full text abstract about <p>All cells communicate with their neighbors. One typ...» <p>All cells communicate with their neighbors. One type of connection between animal cells is called Tunneling Nanotubes. These are open-ended natural tubes that allow cells to share small molecules, proteins, and even organelles.</p><p></p><p>In the Gerst lab, we mostly study the transport of messenger-RNA molecules, which carry the information needed to produce proteins inside the cell. One amazing discovery that we made was finding out that mRNAs can also be transferred between cells through these nanotubes. We still don’t know exactly how or why. But we can use it!</p><p></p><p>In this talk, I will describe the journey from the initial discovery to our plans to use it as a novel type of RNA therapeutic for rare genetic diseases.</p> -
Date:18WednesdayDecember 2024Lecture
ABC CHATS: Shira Eting
More information Time 14:00 - 15:30Title Based on values, Delivering valueLocation George and Esther Sagan Students' Residence HallLecturer Shira Eting - Vintage Investment Partners Contact Abstract Show full text abstract about <p>During her conversation, Shira will share her perso...» <p>During her conversation, Shira will share her personal journey and share what has led her to each decision and what are her key learnings.</p><p>She will also share more about her position today as a Partner at Vintage, leading their investments in Healthcare and Climate.</p><p>Join our ABC CHATS, Where CEOs share their ABC’s on scientific leadership, breakthroughs and failures throughout their personal stories</p> -
Date:19ThursdayDecember 2024Lecture
Geometric Functional Analysis and Probability Seminar
More information Time 13:30 - 14:30Title Directional expansivity in ergodic Z^d systems and its applicationsLocation Jacob Ziskind BuildingLecturer Sasha Fish
SydneyOrganizer Department of MathematicsContact Abstract Show full text abstract about By ergodicity, any set of positive measure is expanded to a ...» By ergodicity, any set of positive measure is expanded to a set of full measure under all translations in Z^d. But what happens if we restrict the translations to a specific line in Z^d? In this talk, we will explore this question and, using Furstenberg’s correspondence principle, demonstrate that the set of volumes of all simplices in Z^d formed by vertices of a positive-density set always contains an infinite arithmetic progression. This talk is based on joint works with M. Björklund (Chalmers) and S. Skinner (Sydney). -
Date:19ThursdayDecember 2024Lecture
Reprogramming the Immune System: A New Avenue in Cancer Treatment
More information Time 14:00 - 15:00Location Max and Lillian Candiotty BuildingLecturer Prof. Mira Barda-Saad
The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life SciencesOrganizer Moross Integrated Cancer Center (MICC)Contact -
Date:22SundayDecember 2024Lecture
Making Climate Tech Work – Policies that Drive Innovation
More information Time 13:00 - 14:00Location Nella and Leon Benoziyo Building for Plant and Environmental SciencesLecturer Prof. Alon Tal
Host: Prof. Ron Milo, IES DirectorOrganizer The Institute for Environmental Sustainability , Sustainability and Energy Research Initiative (SAERI)Contact -
Date:23MondayDecember 2024Lecture
The Israel Rubinstein 4th Memorial Lecture -"The challenge of rechargeable batteries with very high energy density and prolonged cycle life: from basic science to practical devices"
More information Time 11:00 - 12:00Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallLecturer Prof. Doron Aurbach
Bar Ilan University, Department of ChemistryOrganizer Department of Molecular Chemistry and Materials ScienceContact Abstract Show full text abstract about The development of high energy density, long running recharg...» The development of high energy density, long running rechargeable batteries like
Li ion batteries, that power so successfully all mobile electronic devices, can be
considered as the greatest success of modern electrochemistry.
However, the basis for this success was the capability of exploring most complex
electrodes, electrolyte solutions and reactive interfaces by most sophisticated
electroanalytical tools in conjunction with advanced spectroscopic and microscopic
was a first-rate leader in electroanalytical ז"ל techniques. Professor Israel Rubinstein
chemistry. I learned a lot from him.
The main theme of this presentation is to examine what is the true horizons for advanced
high energy density batteries that can promote the electro-mobility revolution. The
limiting factor in Li-ion batteries in terms of energy density, cost, potential, durability
and cycling efficiency are the cathode materials used. We will examine most energetic
cathode materials and novel approaches we developed for their stabilization. We
describe in this lecture which electrode materials can be relevant, methodologies
of their stabilization by doping, coating, and affecting electrodes surface chemistry
by the use of active additives. Most important cathode materials are comprising the
5 elements Li,Ni,Co,Mn,O at different stoichiometries that determine voltage and
specific capacities. We will explain how the stoichiometry dictates basic cathodes
properties.1,2 We will discuss the renaissance of Li metal-based rechargeable batteries.3
We have learned how the stabilize Li metal anodes in rechargeable batteries using
reactive electrolyte solutions that induce excellent passivation through controlled
surface reactions. The emphasis is on fluorinated co-solvents that open the door for a
very rich surface chemistry that forms passivating surface films that behave as ideal
solid electrolyte interphase on both anodes and cathodes in advanced secondary Li
batteries. This field provides fascinating examples how systematic basic scientific
work leads to development of most practical devices for energy storage & conversion. -
Date:24TuesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Winter STAR Workshop
More information Time 10:00 - 18:00Location Jacob Ziskind Building -
Date:24TuesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Anterior-Posterior Insula Circuit Mediates Retrieval of a Conditioned Immune Response in Mice
More information Time 12:30 - 13:30Location Gerhard M.J. Schmidt Lecture HallLecturer Pnina Hadad Organizer Department of Brain SciencesContact Abstract Show full text abstract about <p>The brain can form associations between sensory inf...» <p>The brain can form associations between sensory information of inner and/or outer world (e.g. Pavlovian conditioning) but also between sensory information and the immune system. The phenomenon which was described in the last century is termed conditioned immune response (CIR) but very little is known about neuronal mechanisms subserving it. The conditioned stimulus can be a given taste and the unconditioned stimulus is an agent that induces or reduces a specific immune response. Over the last years, we and others revealed molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying taste valance representation in the anterior insular cortex (aIC). Recently, a circuit in the posterior insular cortex (pIC) encoding the internal representation of a given immune response was identified. Together, it allowed us to hypothesize and prove that the internal reciprocal connections between the anterior and posterior insula encode CIR. One can look at CIR as a noon declarative form of Nocebo effect and thus we demonstrate for the first time a detailed circuit mechanism for Placebo/Nocebo effect in the cortex.</p> -
Date:25WednesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Winter STAR Workshop
More information Time 10:00 - 18:00Location Jacob Ziskind Building -
Date:25WednesdayDecember 2024Lecture
Machine Learning and Statistics Seminar
More information Time 11:15 - 12:15Title Communal AI - Open, Collaborative & Accessible LLMsLocation Jacob Ziskind BuildingLecturer Leshem Choshen
MITOrganizer Department of Computer Science and Applied MathematicsContact Abstract Show full text abstract about Developing better Language Models would benefit a myriad of ...» Developing better Language Models would benefit a myriad of communities. However, it is prohibitively costly. The talk would describe collaborative approaches to pretraining, such as model merging, which allows the combining of several specialized models into one. Then, it would introduce efficient evaluation to reduce overheads and touch on other accessible and collaborative aspects that best harness the expertise and diversity in Academia. -
Date:26ThursdayDecember 2024Cultural Events
An intimate meeting with the families of the hostages Tal Shoham and Yagev Buchshtab
More information Time 09:45 - 11:15Location Nella and Leon Benoziyo Building for Biological SciencesOrganizer Department of Molecular Cell BiologyContact -
Date:26ThursdayDecember 2024Lecture
Winter STAR Workshop
More information Time 10:00 - 18:00Location Jacob Ziskind Building