Weizmann Institute of Science

VASP cooperates with zyxin to organize mechanically competent adhesions

Abstract Focal adhesions (FAs) are dynamic macromolecular assemblies that anchor the actin cytoskeleton to the extracellular matrix via integrin receptors, thereby regulating cell morphology and migration. Here, we show that the vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) cooper...

Decoupling T cell cytotoxicity: a CCL21+ICAM1-based synthetic immune niche enhances tumor elimination by accelerating lytic hit delivery

Preserving T cell cytotoxic function during ex vivo expansion remains a major challenge for adoptive cancer immunotherapy. A synthetic immune niche (SIN) composed of immobilized CCL21 and ICAM1 was shown to improve T cell expansion while preserving cytotoxicity; however, it remai...

Autonomous Biogenesis of Early and Late Assembly Intermediates of a Large Ribosomal Subunit in a Minimal System

Abstract Cell-free autonomous biogenesis of ribosomes is important for the bottom-up assembly of an artificial cell and for engineering of functional ribosomes with novel activities. The challenge lies in establishing conditions for a single-step multicomponent synthesis and asse...

Context Matters: Developing NOS Understanding in Authentic Science Learning Settings

Abstract Understanding the nature of science (NOS) is considered by policymakers and science education researchers as a critical part of students’ scientific literacy, yet research shows that both students and teachers often lack an adequate NOS understanding. This study investig...

Constant-Factor Hardness for Densest k-Subgraph from a Weighted Cut Gap

We give a polynomial-time reduction from an NP-hard weighted cut gap to constant-factor inapproximability of Densest k-Subgraph on simple unweighted graphs. We also describe a single-instance gap reduction showing that the hardness persists when k is exactly half the number of ve...

Exploring transcriptomic and genomic latent variable correction approaches in differential expression analysis

Abstract Background Differential expression analysis is a central tool for studying the biological processes altered in human diseases via transcriptomic signatures. However, transcriptomic datasets are systematically confounded by latent variables from two distinct sources: unme...

Millimeter-Scale, Atomically Controlled 2D Topological Insulators Revealed by Multimodal Spectroscopy

Abstract Quantum spin Hall insulators, also known as 2D topological insulators, are crucial 2D systems hosting topologically protected edge states. The working temperature of this topological quantum phase is dictated by the inverted bandgap. However, the previously identified la...

Column-Density Estimation from the Equivalent Widths of Absorption Doublets

Abstract $\mathrm{Na~\textsc {i}~D}\,$ absorption is widely used to estimate the dust extinction toward Galactic and extragalactic sources, but the inferred column densities are unreliable once the lines saturate. We present an analytical framework for estimating column densities...

Convex subgroups are concentrated

Abstract We show that every convex subgroup of a left-ordered group is concentrated. This resolves a question of Bowditch who asked if every maximal cyclic subgroup of a free group is concentrated within his study of diffuse groups. We also express concentrated as a form of conve...

Resolving Transient Electron–Phonon Coupling with Time-Resolved Spontaneous Raman Spectroscopy

Abstract Understanding the interaction of charge carriers with lattice vibrations in the quasi-equilibrium regime is crucial for semiconductor functionality. However, the structural signatures of these interactions are often too subtle for conventional ultrafast techniques to det...

Characterising semi-simple Lie algebras by their Borel nilpotent radical

We show that semi-simple Lie algebras can be characterized by their maximal nilpotent subalgebra, which is the same as the nilpotent radical of a Borel subalgebra.

Chirality-Induced One-Way Magnetoresistance in Gold Nanocrystals

Abstract Magnetoresistance (MR), a cornerstone for quantum materials and quantum devices, is usually symmetric (sometimes antisymmetric) under magnetic field reversal. Here, we report a chirality-induced one-way magnetoresistance (ChiMR) in gold nanocrystals, where MR is strongly...

Heteronuclear polarization transfers between spin-locked and anti-longitudinal spin states in the NMR of liquids and spinning solids

Recently, a three-spin rotating-frame nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) analog of the cross effect, whereby polarization was transferred between two 13Cs and an 15N in a single crystal, was reported. This effect is closely related to the mixed rotational and rotary resonance (MIRR...

Decay of Correlations for the Massless Hierarchical Liouville Model in Infinite Volume

Abstract Let $$A=(A_v)_{v\in \mathcal {T}}$$ A = ( A v ) v ∈ T be the balanced Gaussian Branching Random Walk on a d -ary tree $$\mathcal {T}$$ T and let $$M^A$$ M A be the multiplicative chaos with parameter $$\gamma \in (0, \sqrt{2\log d})$$ γ ∈ ( 0 , 2 log d ) constructed from...

Analytic nonlinear theory of shear banding in amorphous solids

The aim of this paper is to offer an analytic theory of the shear banding instability in amorphous solids that are subjected to athermal quasi-static shear. To this aim we derive nonlinear equations for the displacement field, including the consequences of plastic deformation on...

SN 2024iss: A Multiwavelength Exposé of a Type IIb Supernova with an Early-time Ultraviolet Spectrum and Shock-breakout Constraints

Abstract We present multiwavelength observations and analysis of SN 2024iss, a Type IIb supernova (SN IIb) located at ∼14 Mpc. The first Zwicky Transient Facility detection of SN 2024iss is ∼40 minutes after first light (one of the earliest detections of a SN IIb to date) and a H...

Tightness for branching random walk in a space-inhomogeneous random environment

We consider the maximum Mt of branching random walk in a space-inhomogeneous random environment on Z. In this model the branching rate while at some location x∈Z is randomized in an i.i.d. manner. We prove that there is a centering m˜t depending only on the environment such that...

The gene-regulatory evolution of the human skeleton

Abstract Skeletal modifications were central to human evolution, enabling adaptations for bipedalism, large cranial vaults and childbirth 1 . Despite their importance, the genetic changes that gave rise to the unique human form remain mostly unknown 2 . Here we systematically map...

Controlling Spin Filtering through Molecular Length in Helical Aromatic Oligomers

Chiral 8-amino-2-carboxylic acid quinoline-based aromatic oligoamide foldamers with lengths up to circa 5 nm were synthesized to investigate their spin filtering properties. A thiolated quinoline monomer was designed and incorporated at one extremity of the chiral helices to enab...

Microbiome-host communication via vaccenic acid modulates LRH-1/NR5A2 activity and ameliorates metabolic liver disease

Abstract Interactions between microbiota and the host can profoundly affect human health. In particular, microbiota-derived metabolites influence liver physiology and contribute to the development of metabolic diseases, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying microbiome-host comm...