Integrated Calendar

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.

<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>

<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>

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.

<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.&nbsp; The conditioned stimulus can be a given taste and the unconditioned stimulus is an agent that induces or reduces a specific immune response.&nbsp; 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.&nbsp; 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>

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.