The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is proud to announce the successful completion of its inaugural Ladino International Summer School, an innovative academic program aimed at preserving the endangered Ladino language. This course is the first of its kind in Israel and possibly the world, offering an intensive educational experience dedicated to teaching Ladino, a language deeply rooted in the Sephardic Jewish heritage.

The two-week course brought together 28 students, with approximately half of them from Israel, and other from around the world, US, Europe and Asia. The participants, many of whom were drawn to the course by a desire to reconnect with their familial roots, engaged in daily studies focused on Ladino grammar, vocabulary, and cultural history. The immersive curriculum also included research visits to libraries with Ladino collections and guided tours of Jerusalem, where the echoes of Ladino-speaking communities still linger in the historic alleys and buildings.

Dr. Ilil Baum, a Ladino lecturer at the Hebrew University and Bar-Ilan University, highlighted the significance of the course in the context of the language’s precarious state: "Ladino is classified as a language in a serious danger of extinction. The younger generations are no longer inheriting it, and today, it is mostly a language of nostalgia, associated with family traditions, cuisine, and folklore."

The course also offered students the rare opportunity to engage in direct conversations with veteran Ladino speakers, providing them with a deeper understanding of the language's living history. This interaction not only enriched the students' linguistic skills but also connected them to a broader cultural narrative that transcends borders.

This pioneering initiative reflects the Hebrew University’s ongoing commitment to the preservation and promotion of endangered languages. The success of the Ladino Summer Course has instilled hope among its organizers and participants that the Ladino language will continue to be spoken and cherished for generations to come.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 81st according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

 

 

 

 

 

 

In an extraordinary stride for cellular agriculture, Professor Yaakov Nahmias, founder of Believer Meats, and a multidisciplinary team at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and the cultivated meat industry unveiled a pioneering continuous manufacturing process for cultivated meat. This innovation tackles the industry's critical challenges of scalability and cost-effectiveness.

The study, "Continuous Manufacturing of Cultivated Meat: Empirical Economic Analysis," published in Nature Food, demonstrates the use of tangential flow filtration (TFF) for the continuous manufacturing of cultivated meat. The new bioreactor assembly permits biomass expansion to 130 billion cells per liter, achieving yields of 43% weight per volume. The process was carried out continuously over 20 days, enabling daily biomass harvests.  Additionally, the research introduces an animal component-free culture medium, priced at just $0.63 per liter, which supports the long-term, high-density culture of chicken cells. In other words, this continuous manufacturing method could significantly reduce the cost and complexity of cultivated meat production, potentially bringing it closer to everyday consumers.

"We were inspired by how Ford’s automated assembly line revolutionized the car industry 110 years ago,” stated Prof. Nahmias. "Our findings show that continuous manufacturing enables cultivated meat production at a fraction of current costs, without resorting to genetic modification or mega-factories. This technology brings us closer to making cultivated meat a viable and sustainable alternative to traditional animal farming."

Bruce Friedrich, President of The Good Food Institute, expressed his support, stating, “GFI applauds the spirit of openness that continues to characterize cultivated meat researchers like Dr. Koby Nahmias and his colleagues, who understand that showing the scientific potential of cultivated meat will benefit all scientists working in the field.”

This research represents a significant advance in the economic feasibility of cultivated meat, addressing previous concerns about high costs and low yields. Utilizing this empirical data, the team conducted a techno-economic analysis of a hypothetical 50,000-liter production facility. The analysis indicates that the cost of production of cultivated chicken could theoretically be reduced to $6.20 per pound, aligning with the price of organic chicken.

Dr. Elliot Swartz, Principal Scientist at Cultivated Meat, The Good Food Institute emphasized the significance of the study’s findings, stating “This important study provides numerous data points that demonstrate the economic feasibility of cultivated meat. The study confirms early theoretical calculations that serum-free media can be produced at costs well below $1/L without forfeiting productivity, which is a key factor for cultivated meat achieving cost-competitiveness.” Dr. Swartz added that “Empirical data is the bedrock for any cost model of scaled cultivated meat production, and this study is the first to provide real-world empirical evidence for key factors that influence the cost of production, such as media cost, metabolic efficiency, and achievable yields in a scalable bioprocess design.”

While the authors acknowledged that various other factors would affect the final market price of cultivated meat, this research underscores the potential of continuous manufacturing to significantly lower production costs, making cultivated meat more accessible to consumers and competitive with conventional meat products.

This study not only highlights the promise of cellular agriculture in meeting the global demand for animal products but also aligns with broader environmental and ethical objectives by reducing reliance on traditional livestock farming.

The research represents the first demonstration of cost-efficient manufacturing of cultivated meat and the first empirical economic analysis based on solid data. It is a collaborative effort involving engineers, biologists, and chemists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and ADM-funded Believer Meats, which is currently building the world's first large-scale industrial production facility for cultivated chicken.

As global demand for animal protein is expected to double by 2050, cellular agriculture offers a solution to meet this demand, especially as resource-intensive livestock production reaches its peak capacity. Despite recent FDA approvals for cultivated meat production, large-scale production of cultivated meat has yet to become a reality. Previous techno-economic analyses suggested economic challenges, ranging from factory to raw materials costs, casting doubt about the viability of cultivated meat production.

This work presents groundbreaking solutions, including novel filter stack perfusion that reduced factory costs, an animal component-free medium that reduced raw material costs, and continuous manufacturing that increased factory capacity, projecting an annual production of 2.14 million kg of cultivated chicken at cost parity with USDA organic chicken even for a small 50,000-liter facility.

This technological advancement could have a profound impact on animal welfare, food safety, and food security, addressing the needs of a global population increasingly affected by climate change. The study is expected to generate significant interest across multiple disciplines and resonate in popular media due to its implications for the future of humanity.

The research paper titled “Continuous Manufacturing of Cultivated Meat: Empirical Economic Analysis” is available in Nature Food and can be accessed at https://www.nature.com/articles/s43016-024-01022-w

https://doi.org/10.1038/s43016-024-01022-w

Researchers:

Laura Pasitka¹, Guy Wissotsky², Muneef Ayyash^1,2, Nir Yarza², Gal Rosoff², Revital Kaminker2, Yaakov Nahmias^1,2,3

Institutions:

1) Grass Center for Bioengineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

2) Believer Meats; Rehovot

3) Silberman Institute of Life Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

 

 

 

Professor Asher Cohen, President of the Hebrew University, stated: "The presence of three Israeli universities in the list of the top 100 universities globally is an exceptional achievement in such a challenging and complex year. The Hebrew University's rise to 81st place in the world's most prestigious academic ranking is a testament to the groundbreaking research and commitment to excellence that we uphold as a way of life. We take pride in and extend our gratitude to the university's researchers, academic staff, and administrative team, who continue to promote excellent research daily. We will continue to be the most important civilian institution for the city of Jerusalem, the State of Israel, and a source of international pride."

Professor Tamir Sheafer, Rector of the Hebrew University, added: "For nearly 100 years, the Hebrew University has remained committed to excellence in research and teaching. Thanks to our outstanding researchers, we are at the forefront of the global scientific stage, making a decisive impact on humanity's progress towards a better future. We recently concluded the academic year amidst the longest war since the establishment of the State of Israel. Through the united efforts and unwavering dedication of our academic staff, who have earned us a place among the top 100 universities in the world, we provided academic, financial, and social support to all the Hebrew University students serving in the reserves, ensuring that each and every one of them could complete the year without being left behind."

The Shanghai Ranking, published annually, is considered one of the most reliable academic rankings globally. The rankings evaluate the quality of research at academic institutions, based on various indicators, including the number of faculty members and alumni who have won Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals, as well as the quantity and quality of publications in leading journals. The ranking includes approximately 2,500 universities. Among the top 100 institutions, 38 are in the United States, 14 in China, 8 in the United Kingdom, 5 in Australia, 4 in France, 4 in Germany, 3 in Canada, and 3 in Israel.

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

 

 

 

A recent study led by Dr. Yonat Rum from the Seymour Fox School of Education at the Hebrew University and the University of Cambridge with Professors Ella Daniel and Esther Dromi along with student Yael Armony from Tel Aviv University and Prof. Ditza A. Zachor, Head of the Autism Center at the Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center and Tel Aviv University provides fresh insights into the dynamics of sibling relationships in families with a child diagnosed with autism. This research explores the unique perspectives of both mothers and siblings, unveiling fascinating findings on how these relationships compare to those in families with typical children.

The study included twenty-nine children, with an average age of 8.78 years, who have younger siblings diagnosed with autism, along with their mothers. This group was compared to forty-six children, averaging 9.12 years of age, with younger typical siblings, and their mothers. Utilizing a mixed-methods approach of both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis, both groups completed the Sibling Relationship Questionnaires and participated in interviews, offering a comprehensive view of their sibling dynamics.

According to the children's reports, sibling relationships across both groups showed remarkable similarities. There were no significant differences in overall warmth, conflict, rivalry, or relative power between siblings, regardless of the presence of autism. This suggests that, from a child's perspective, having a sibling with autism may not drastically alter the fundamental aspects of their relationship.

The mothers' perspectives revealed a different layer of complexity. Mothers of children with autism reported less warmth and closeness between their children and, surprisingly, less conflict compared to mothers of typical children, highlighting nuanced challenges and decreased involvement in these sibling relationships.

Additionally, the study found more disagreement between mothers and children in the autism group than in the typical group. Both mothers and children in the autism group reported less intimacy and fewer quarrels between siblings. Interestingly, the qualitative analysis showed that siblings tended to focus on their present experiences, while mothers considered the broader processes in sibling relationships. Discussions in the autism group often referenced various specificities without explicitly mentioning “autism.”

Dr. Yonat Rum emphasizes the importance of these findings, stating, "Our research sheds light on the nuanced experiences of siblings and mothers in families where autism is present. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for providing better support and resources to these families."

Autism spectrum conditions affect a significant portion of the population, with recent estimates indicating that 1 in 36 children in the United States are diagnosed with autism.  This translates to millions of families worldwide grappling with the unique challenges that come with raising a child on the autism spectrum. The impact of autism extends beyond the diagnosed individual, affecting the entire family unit. Studies have shown that  parents of autistic children often experience higher levels of parental stress compared to parents with typically developing children and siblings of autistic children were also studied mainly as at risk for various psychological outcomes. At the same time, research has shown that for autistic children, growing up with typically developing siblings is associated with better social-communicational skills and that growing up as a sibling of an autistic child has a positive effect on the development of cognitive empathy. For autistic children and their families, siblingship is, thus, an essential and meaningful resource, and it is important to learn about the quality of this meaningful relationship

This study underscores the understanding of these widespread effects and the need for a holistic approach in supporting families with autistic children, considering the diverse experiences and perspectives within these families. It highlights the importance of understanding both the typical-like experiences of siblings and the unique challenges perceived by mothers, ensuring comprehensive support for these families.

Methodology: Data was collected in Israel from Hebrew-speaking participants, and initial findings were published in Hebrew in 2020 as part of graduate and post-graduate works at Tel Aviv University. Further analysis and synthesizing the qualitative and quantitative findings in a mixed methods approach resulted in the current paper published in JADD this year. The mixed methods (quantitative AND qualitative analysis) multi-informant (mothers’ reports AND children’s reports) examination of what is similar and different in the relationships of autistic children and their siblings compared with typical siblingships has added to the literature by revealing not only differences and similarities in the sibling relationships but also in mothers' and children's perspectives.

Data/Statistical Analysis

The research paper titled “Sibling Relationships in Families of Autistic and Typical Children: Similarities and Differences in the Perspectives of Siblings and Mothers” is now available in Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-023-06222-0.

Researchers:

Yonat Rum^1,2, Ditza A. Zachor^3,4, Yael Armony⁴, Ella Daniel⁴, Esther Dromi⁴

Institutions:

1. The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. University of Cambridge
3. Shamir (Assaf Harofeh) Medical Center
4. Tel Aviv University

Funding

This project is supported through the generosity of the Azrieli Foundation, by an Azrieli Fellowship to Y.R.

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/e

 

 

 

Researchers Dr. Oren Forkosh and Sharon Mordechay from the Department of Cognition and Brain Sciences and The Department of Animal Sciences at Hebrew University have proposed a new theory about how animals store and retrieve cached food. Their study, published in Scientific Report, challenges traditional views on animal caching behavior by suggesting a non-memory-based mechanism.

Revolutionizing Understanding of Caching Behavior

Contrary to the long-held belief that scatter-hoarding animals rely on memory to retrieve cached food items, Forkosh and Mordechay propose a static mechanism similar to hash functions used in computing. Hash functions in computing are algorithms that convert input data of any size into a fixed-size string of characters, which typically represents the data in a unique and efficient manner.

Key Findings

Hippocampal Spatial Cells: The researchers' mathematical model aligns with the activity of hippocampal spatial cells, which respond to an animal's positional attention. The remapping ensures that these cells activate consistently across subsequent visits to the same area but differ between areas.

Persistent Hash Functions: This remapping, combined with unique cognitive maps, generates persistent hash functions that can aid both food caching and retrieval.

Neural Network Architecture: The study presents a simple neural network architecture capable of producing a probabilistic hash unique to each animal, providing a virtually boundless capacity for encoding structured data.

Innovative Neural Framework

The proposed framework involves a biologically plausible realization of hashing through a neural network. The input layer encodes key environmental landmarks, while the output layer designates food cache locations. Both layers are arranged in a two-dimensional grid, with each cell corresponding to a specific location. The cache site is determined by the activity level of the output neurons, known as the cache score.

Implications and Future Research

This innovative approach offers a new perspective on animal behavior and cognitive processes, suggesting that animals may use non-memory-based mechanisms for complex tasks such as caching. The findings could have broader implications for understanding brain functions and developing artificial intelligence systems.

The research paper titled “A non-memory-based functional neural framework for animal caching behavior” is now available in Scientific Report and can be accessed at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-024-68003-8#Sec2

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-68003-8

Illustration

Title: “Caching Bird”

Description:  A minimalist and geometric illustration featuring a bird, possibly a woodpecker or jay, carefully tucking away a small acorn or berry into the ground.

Credit: AI-generated image using DALL-E

 

Researchers:

Dr. Oren Forkosh^1,2 and Sharon Mordechay²

Institutions:

1. Department of Cognitive and Brain Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. Department of Animal Sciences, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/e

 

 

A new study led by Dr. Meir Barneron from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem reveals that genetically diverse groups make more accurate collective judgments compared to genetically homogeneous groups. This research, published in Personality and Individual Differences, provides new insights into the origins of the ‘wisdom of crowds’ phenomenon, emphasizing the role of genetic diversity in enhancing collective intelligence.

Past studies have suggested that combining individual judgments can improve accuracy, especially when individuals differ in background, education, and demography.

However, Dr. Barneron's research takes this a step further by proposing that genetic diversity itself contributes significantly to the accuracy of combined judgments.

The study involved 602 identical and fraternal twins, who participated by making numerical judgments in pairs. These pairs consisted either of co-twins (related pairs) or non-related individuals (unrelated pairs). The results revealed that judgments made by unrelated (i.e., heterogenous) pairs were more accurate than those made by related (i.e., homogeneous) pairs. Theoretically, however, this finding could emerge either from environmental or genetic factors.

In order to distinguish between environmental and genetic factors, the study compares the performance of related and unrelated pairs, separately among identical and fraternal twins. This comparison is relevant as genetic influences make identical twins more similar to one another compared to fraternal twins because the former share virtually 100 percent of their genetic variance, whereas fraternal twins share, on average, 50 percent of the genetic variance.

The findings revealed that the superior performance of unrelated versus related pairs was evident for the identical twins. This underscores the impact of genetic relatedness on collective judgment.

Dr. Barneron's research is the first empirical demonstration of the benefits of genetic diversity for collective judgments. The findings suggest that genetic diversity enhances the collective cognitive abilities of groups, providing a deeper understanding of how diverse crowds can achieve wiser outcomes. By uniquely highlighting the genetic aspect, this research adds a new dimension to the ‘wisdom of crowds’ phenomenon.

"These findings highlight the significant impact genetic diversity can have on collective decision-making, underscoring the importance of embracing diversity in all its forms to enhance our cognitive abilities and tackle complex challenges more effectively." - Dr. Meir Barneron, Hebrew University

Utilizing a sample of identical and fraternal twins, the study effectively isolates genetic diversity, allowing for a clear comparison between genetically homogeneous and heterogeneous groups, and providing robust evidence for the hypothesis. This empirical evidence supports the broader theory that diversity enhances decision-making, with significant implications for organizational management. It suggests that diverse teams may be better equipped to tackle complex problems and innovate effectively.

Moreover, the research contributes to our understanding of genetic diversity as a fundamental aspect of biodiversity, highlighting its crucial role in adaptation, resilience, and the long-term survival of populations in the face of environmental changes.

The research paper titled “Genetically-diverse crowds are wiser” is now available at Personality and Individual Differences and can be accessed at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/personality-and-individual-differences

Researchers:

Meir Barneron^a, Ilan Yaniv^b, Lior Abramson^{b c}, Ariel Knafo-Noam^b

Institution:

1. Seymour Fox School of Education, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
2. Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel
3. Department of Psychology, Columbia University, New York, United States

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

 

 

A new study by Prof. Eyal Klement and PhD Student Michal Morgenstern from the Koret School of Veterinary Medicine at the Hebrew University, in collaboration with Dr. Jaap Sok from the Business Economics Department at Wageningen University and Research, has unveiled key factors influencing vaccination intentions among Israeli dairy farmers. The research, crucial for optimizing voluntary vaccination programs, compared five diseases affecting dairy cattle: Botulism, Bovine Ephemeral Fever, Brucellosis, Lumpy Skin Disease, and Rabies.

Effective vaccination is vital for epidemic control, especially in voluntary vaccination contexts. Despite its importance, there is limited understanding of how veterinarian communication and disease-specific traits impact farmer vaccination intentions. This study fills that gap by analyzing responses from 340 Israeli dairy farmers through questionnaires grounded in the theory of planned behavior. Veterinarians overseeing these farms also provided insights into their opinions and perceived influence on vaccination decisions.

The findings revealed varying levels of farmer vaccination intention, with Botulism (a deadly bacterial induced intoxication) showing the highest and Bovine Ephemeral Fever (an arthropod-borne viral disease) the lowest. Social pressure significantly influenced farmers' vaccination decisions, with distinct patterns emerging across different diseases. Notably, veterinarian opinions had the highest influence only for Lumpy Skin Disease (an arthropod-borne viral pandemic), while other factors played critical roles for other diseases. Interestingly, there was no correlation between veterinarians' recommendations and farmers' perceptions of these recommendations.

Prof. Klement emphasized the need for tailored interventions to optimize voluntary vaccination programs. "The study highlights the multifaceted influences on farmers' vaccination intentions, particularly the prevailing impact of perceived social pressure," he said. "However, variations exist across diseases, and there is a notable disconnection between veterinarians' opinions and how they're perceived by farmers. This discrepancy suggests potential communication breakdowns."

Regulations, laws, and guidelines regarding livestock vaccinations vary by country and region, often combining mandatory and voluntary programs to safeguard animal health and food safety. For instance, the European Union and Israel have specific vaccination protocols, while organizations like RUMA in the UK provide non-binding guidelines. However, understanding the influences on farmers' decision-making processes beyond these rules—such as social pressures and veterinarian recommendations—is crucial. These factors significantly impact the effectiveness of voluntary vaccination programs, as farmers' choices are shaped by a complex interplay of social norms, trust in veterinarians, and perceived cost-benefit analyses. Recognizing these influences can lead to more tailored and effective vaccination strategies, enhancing overall livestock health and productivity. The study advocates for the pivotal role of veterinarians in guiding vaccination choices due to their medical expertise. It underscores the necessity of improving communication between veterinarians and farmers, with an emphasis on effective risk communication training.

The research paper titled “Would you bet on the vet? Influences on dairy farmers' vaccination choices, with a spotlight on the Veterinarian impact” is now available in Preventive Veterinary Medicine and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.prevetmed.2024.106262.

Researchers:

Michal Morgenstern¹, Jaap Sok², Eyal Klement¹

Institutions:

1. Koret School of Veterinary Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. Business Economics, Wageningen University and Research (WUR)

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

 

Microscopic Syringes and AI: Scientists Uncover New Bacterial Weapons

In a novel study, featured on the cover of August 2024 volume of Molecular Systems Biology journal, researchers have unveiled new secrets about a fascinating bacterial weapon system that acts like a microscopic syringe. Led by Dr. Asaf Levy from the Hebrew University and collaborators from the Hebrew University and from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaine, the team has made significant strides in understanding the extracellular contractile injection system (eCIS), a unique mechanism used by bacteria and archaea to inject toxins into other organisms.

Cracking the Bacterial Code with Artificial Intelligence

The eCIS is a 100-nanometer long weapon that evolved from viruses that previously attacked microbes (phages). During evolution these viruses lost their ability to infect microbes and turned into syringes that inject toxins into different organisms, such as insects. Previously, the Levy group identified eCIS as a weapon carried by more than 1,000 microbial species. Interestingly, these microbes rarely attack humans, and the eCIS role in Nature remains mostly unknown. (Geller et al. 2021). However, we know that it loads and injects protein toxins.

The specific proteins injected by eCIS and their functions have long remained a mystery. Before the study we knew about ~20 toxins that eCIS can load and inject. To solve this biological puzzle, the research team developed an innovative machine learning tool that combines genetic and biochemical data of different genes and proteins to accurately identify these elusive toxins. The project resulted in identification of over 2,000 potential toxin proteins.

"Our discovery not only sheds light on how microbes interact with their hosts and maybe with each other, but also demonstrates the power of machine learning in uncovering new gene functions," explains Dr. Levy. "This could open up new avenues for developing antimicrobial treatments or novel biotechnological tools."

New Toxins with Enzymatic Activities against Different Molecules

Using AI technology, the researchers analyzed 950 microbial genomes and identified an impressive 2,194 potential toxins. Among these, four new toxins (named EAT14-17) were experimentally validated by demonstrating that they can inhibit growth of bacteria or yeast cells. Remarkably, one of these toxins, EAT14, was found to inhibit cell signaling in human cells, showcasing its potential impact on human health. The group showed that the new toxins likely act as enzymes that damage the target cells by targeting proteins, DNA or a molecule that is critical to energy metabolism. Moreover, the group was able to decipher the protein sequence code that allow loading of toxins into the eCIS syringe. Recently, it was demonstrated that eCIS can be used as a programmable syringe that can be engineered for injection into various cell types, including brain cells (Krietz et al. 2023). The new findings from the current paper leverage this ability by providing thousands of toxins that are naturally injected by eCIS and the code that facilitates their loading into the eCIS syringe. The code can be transferred into other proteins of interest.

From Microscopic Battles to Medical Breakthroughs

The study's findings could have far-reaching applications in medicine, agriculture, and biotechnology. The newly identified toxins might be used to develop new antibiotics or pesticides, efficient enzyme for different industries, or to engineer microbes that can target specific pathogens. This research highlights the incredible potential of combining biology with artificial intelligence to solve complex problems that could ultimately benefit human health.

"We're essentially deciphering the weapons that bacteria evolved and keep evolving to compete over resources in Nature" adds Dr. Levy.  “Microbes are creative inventors and it is fulfilling to be part of a group that discovers these amazing and surprising inventions”.

The study was led by two talented students: Aleks Danov and Inbal Pollin from the department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, the Institute of Environmental Sciences, and was performed in collaboration with Prof. Tommy Kaplan (School of Computer Science and Engineering) and Dr. Philippos A Papathanos (Department of Entomology) from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in collaboration with Prof. Brenda A Wilson from University of Illinois Urbana Champaign.

The research paper titled “Identification of novel toxins associated with the extracellular contractile injection system using machine learning” is now available in Molecular Systems Biology and can be accessed at https://www.embopress.org/doi/full/10.1038/s44320-024-00053-6

The cover of Molecular Systems Biology featuring eCIS injecting toxins that were predicted by AI. Artwork by Dr. Yitzhak Yadegari

Funding:

The study was funded by the Israeli Science Foundation, Israeli Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, Volkswagen Foundation, and a joint seed grant between the two universities.

Researchers:

Aleks Danov¹, Inbal Pollin¹, Eric Moon², Mengfei Ho², Brenda A Wilson², Philippos A Papathanos³, Tommy Kaplan^4,5 and Asaf Levy¹

Institutions:

1. Department of Plant Pathology and Microbiology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. Department of Microbiology, University of Illinois
3. Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food & Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
4. School of Computer Science and Engineering, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
5. Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

A new study led by Prof. Shoham Choshen-Hillel and Mika Guzikevits from the Hebrew University, Dr. Alex Gileles-Hillel from Hebrew University- Hadassah Medical Center, Dr. Tom Gordon-Hecker from Ben-Gurion University, and an international team of researchers from Hebrew University, Hadassah Medical Center, the University of Missouri, and Marshall University has uncovered a concerning sex bias in pain management decisions at emergency rooms. The research, published in the journal PNAS, analyzed over 21,000 patient records across the United States and Israel and found that female patients are consistently less likely to receive pain medication prescriptions compared to male patients with similar complaints.

The study revealed that female patients are prescribed fewer pain relief medications than male patients, even after considering the levels of pain reported and other variables such as age, medical history, and the type of complaint. This suggests a systemic issue where women's pain may not be taken as seriously or treated as aggressively as men's pain.

By analyzing electronic health records from American and Israeli healthcare systems, the researchers present evidence that a female patient discharged from the emergency department is less likely to receive treatment for a pain complaint compared to a male patient. Specifically, datasets from emergency departments in the US and Israel, with a total sample size of 21,851 discharge notes, revealed that female patients are less likely to receive a prescription for any type of analgesic medication, both opioids and non-opioids, compared to male patients.

Female patients with pain complaints are less likely to receive analgesics for every pain score and at every age group and receive less analgesics from both male and female physicians. In addition, female patients stay an additional 30 minutes at the emergency department, and their pain score is 10% less likely to be recorded by triage nurses. In a controlled experiment involving 109 nurses, pain was rated as less intense if the patient was said to be female rather than male, suggesting that the bias is driven by gender stereotypes. According to the authors, the under-treatment of females’ pain bears immediate implications for the healthcare system and broad implications for society’s attitude toward female pain.

Interestingly, the study found that this disparity in prescribing pain medication exists regardless of whether the treating physician is male or female. Both male and female doctors are less likely to prescribe pain medication to women, indicating that the bias is pervasive and not limited to one sex of healthcare providers.

The research also highlighted that nurses are 10% less likely to record pain scores for female patients compared to male patients. This lack of documentation can contribute to underestimating the severity of women's pain and result in inadequate treatment. Additionally, the study found that female patients spend an average of 30 minutes longer in the emergency department than male patients. This delay could be due to a variety of factors, including potentially being taken less seriously when they report pain or symptoms.

In a controlled experiment, nurses judged female patients' pain as less intense than male patients' pain when presented with identical clinical scenarios. This suggests that there may be a subconscious bias in how healthcare professionals perceive and assess pain based on the patient's sex..

"Our research reveals a troubling bias in how women's pain is perceived and treated in emergency care settings," said Prof. Choshen-Hillel. "This under-treatment of female patients' pain could have serious implications for women's health outcomes, potentially leading to longer recovery times, complications, or chronic pain conditions."

Recommendations: The study argues that these findings reflect a systemic under-treatment of women's pain in medical settings. The researchers call for urgent policy interventions to address this bias and ensure equal pain treatment regardless of sex. They recommend training programs for healthcare professionals to recognize and counteract sex biases and suggest that pain management protocols should be revisited and standardized to ensure fair and adequate treatment for all patients.

This research highlights the critical need to address unconscious biases in healthcare to provide fair and effective treatment for all patients. The full study, "Sex Bias in Pain

Management Decisions," is published in PNAS and can be accessed at: 10.1073/pnas.2401331121

Illustration Credit: Avi Blyer

Discrimination Against Women in Pain Management in Emergency Rooms

Researchers

Mika Guzikevits^{MA 1,2*}, Tom Gordon- Hecker^{PhD 3*}, David Rekhtman^{MD 4}, Shaden Salameh^{MD 4}, Salomon Israel^{PhD 5}, Moses Shayo^{PhD 2,6}, David Gozal^{MD 7,8}, Anat Perry ^{PhD 5}, Alex Gileles-Hillel^{MD 9,10**}, Shoham Choshen-Hillel^{PhD 1,2**}

Affiliations:

¹Hebrew University Business School, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem, Israel.

²Federmann Center for the Study of Rationality, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem, Israel.

³Department of Business Administration, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev; Be’er-Sheva, Israel.

⁴The Department of Emergency Medicine, Hadassah Medical Center, Jerusalem, Israel.

⁵Psychology department, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem, Israel.

⁶Economics department, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem, Israel.

⁷The University of Missouri School of Medicine, Columbia, MO, USA

⁸ Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine, Marshall University, Huntington, WV, USA

⁹ Pediatric Pulmonology Unit, Department of Pediatrics, Hadassah, Medical Center

¹⁰The Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem; Jerusalem, Israel.

*Equal first authorship

**Co-senior authorship

Funding

Israel Science Foundation grant 2824/22 (AGH)

Israel Science Foundation grant 354/21 (AP, SCH)

Recanati Fund at the Hebrew University Business School at the Hebrew University (SCH)

Azrieli Fellowship of the Azrieli Foundation (AP)

National Institutes of Health grant AG061824 (DG)

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/e

 

An international team of scientists, led by Profs. Daniel Strasser and Roi Baer from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, has made an important discovery in molecular physics, revealing unexpected symmetry-breaking dynamics in ionized carbon dioxide dimers. Published in Nature Communications, this study uncovers new insights into the structural changes that occur when these molecular clusters are exposed to extreme ultraviolet (EUV) radiation. The collaborative effort has demonstrated that ionized CO₂ dimers undergo asymmetric structural rearrangements, leading to the formation of CO₃ moieties. The discovery has significant implications for atmospheric and astrochemistry, offering a deeper understanding of molecular behavior under extreme conditions.

Key Findings: Symmetry-Breaking Dynamics and Structural Rearrangement

In environments such as cold outer space and atmospheric settings, carbon dioxide molecules often form symmetrically shaped pairs. According to quantum mechanics, the wave function of these pairs should preserve symmetry even after ionization. However, researchers from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem (Israel), the Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics (Germany), and the FLASH free electron laser facility at DESY (Germany) have observed a phenomenon called symmetry-breaking.

Two well-established quantum chemistry models were used to predict the behavior of the ionized dimers. The first model suggested that the molecules would move in unison, maintaining their symmetrical shape. In contrast, the second model predicted that ionization would break the symmetry, causing one of the molecules to slowly rotate around its axis and point toward its partner within approximately 150 femtoseconds. Through the use of ultrafast EUV pulses produced by the FLASH free electron laser, the researchers confirmed the second model, showing that the ionized dimers indeed undergo asymmetric structural rearrangement.

This symmetry-breaking leads to the formation of CO₃ moieties, which could play a crucial role in the chemical evolution of more complex species in cold outer space environments.

Quantum Mechanics and the Symmetry-Breaking Phenomenon

A key question arising from this study is how symmetry-breaking occurs despite quantum mechanics forbidding it. The researchers explain that, similar to Schrödinger's famous cat, the pair of carbon dioxide molecules exists in a superposition of two symmetry-breaking states. The system preserves symmetry until the quantum wave function collapses upon measurement, resulting in one of the CO₂ molecules rotating relative to the other.

Broader Implications and Future Research

Prof. Daniel Strasser, the study's lead author, highlighted the significance of the findings: "Our research demonstrates the power of combining cutting-edge experimental techniques with advanced theoretical modeling to uncover unexpected molecular behavior. These insights into the dynamics of ionized carbon dioxide dimers could open new avenues for carbon dioxide chemistry and contribute to our understanding of planetary and atmospheric processes."

Prof. Roi Baer, who led the theoretical modeling, commented: “By directly comparing theory with experimental measurements, we improve our ability to simulate and predict the outcome of chemical reactions that occur in remote environments and are not possible to experimentally test in a laboratory.   

The study's results have significant implications for atmospheric chemistry, astrochemistry, and provides new insights about the atmospheric carbon dioxide cycle. The discovery of asymmetric structural rearrangements, formation of a CO₃ moiety, and time-resolved dynamics provides a deeper understanding of molecular processes in extreme conditions.

This research was made possible through international collaboration and the use of state-of-the-art facilities, including the FLASH2 free electron laser at DESY in Hamburg, Germany. The team's innovative approach paves the way for further investigations into the behavior of molecular clusters under extreme conditions, with potential applications ranging from atmospheric science to novel chemical synthesis methods.

The research paper titled “Symmetry-breaking dynamics of a photoionized carbon dioxide dimer” is now available in Nature Communications and can be accessed at https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-50759-2.

Researchers:

Ester Livshits^1,2, Dror M. Bittner¹, Florian Trost³, Severin Meister³, Hannes Lindenblatt³, Rolf Treusch⁴, Krishnendu Gope^1,5, Thomas Pfeifer³, Roi Baer^1,2, Robert Moshammer³ & Daniel Strasser¹

Institutions:

1. Institute of Chemistry, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

2. Fritz Haber Research Center for Molecular Dynamics, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

3. Max Planck Institute for Nuclear Physics, Heidelberg, Germany

4. Deutsches Elektronen-Synchrotron DESY, Hamburg

5. IISER-Thiruvananthapuram, Vithura, Kerala, 695551, India

Credit: Authors

Clip: Movie shows simulated CO2 dimer dynamics that are initiated by photoionization.  The kinetic energy release (KER) in the Coulomb explosion of the dimer by a time-delayed pulse allowed to experimentally probe the dynamics.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1tueG1PIEbsP8GQm6BYtQLSo9iWRkr51z/view?usp=drive_link

Figure: Title: Time-resolved Coulomb explosion results

Description: Comparing the experimental measurement (top) and the theoretical simulation (bottom)

 

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/e

 

 

The debate about the meaning of stereotypes is longstanding. Do they carry an inherent, hereditary factor, where, for example, boys and girls differ biologically, or is it the influence of social expectations? While the effects of heredity are relatively straightforward to measure, isolating and empirically measuring the impact of the environment is much more challenging. A new study led by Prof. Ruth Mayo at the Hebrew University, together with Dr. Yonat Zwebner, Dr. Moses Miller, Prof. Jacob Goldenberg of Reichman University's Arison School of Business, and Noa Grobgeld from the Hebrew University, has made a groundbreaking achievement by demonstrating the significant impact of social structuring. It was found that this influence is so powerful that it can even change a person's facial appearance.

The study has uncovered intriguing evidence that a person's name may influence their facial appearance as they age. This research, which combines human perception tests and advanced machine learning techniques, offers new insights into the complex interplay between social expectations and self-identity development.

Building on previous findings that adults' faces can be matched to their names at above-chance levels, Prof. Mayo's team sought to determine whether this face-name congruence is present from birth or develops over time.

Key findings include:

• Both adults and children could accurately match adult faces to their names above chance levels.
• Neither adults nor children could match children's faces to their names above chance levels.
• Machine learning algorithms found greater similarity between facial representations of adults sharing the same name compared to those with different names.
• This name-based facial similarity was not observed among children.
• Artificially aged images of children's faces did not exhibit the face-name matching effect seen in actual adult faces.

"These results suggest that the congruence between facial appearance and names is not innate, but rather develops as individuals mature," explains Prof. Mayo. "It appears that people may alter their appearance over time to conform to cultural expectations associated with their name."

This "self-fulfilling prophecy" highlights the profound impact that social factors have. The study suggests that even seemingly arbitrary social tags like names can shape our appearance in subtle yet measurable ways.

The research raises fascinating questions about identity formation and the long-term effects of social expectations on individual development.

Prof. Mayo emphasizes that further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind this face-name matching effect and its broader implications. However, this study represents a significant step forward in understanding how social factors shape who we become.

 

The research paper titled “Can names shape facial appearance” is now available in PNAS and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2405334121.

Researchers:

Yonat Zwebner¹, Moses Miller², Noa Grobgeld³, Jacob Goldenberg^1,4, Ruth Mayo⁵

Institution:

1. Marketing Department, Arison School of Business, Reichman University
2. Data Science Department, Arison School of Business, Reichman University
3. Clinical Child and Educational Psychology, The Seymour Fox School of Education, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
4. Marketing Department, Columbia Business School, Columbia University
5. Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

 

 

A new study conducted by Prof. Meital Balmas Cohen from the Department of Communication and Journalism, alongside Nitzan Attias and Prof. Eran Halperin from the Department of Psychology at the Hebrew University, reveals that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's communal personality traits significantly increase empathy and pro-social behaviors towards Ukrainian citizens amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war.

The research, which aimed to explore how national leaders can leverage their personality traits to influence public opinion and garner support beyond their borders, found that emphasizing Zelensky's communal traits such as warmth and morality led to increased empathy, willingness to help, and actual monetary donations for Ukrainians. The study was conducted through two experimental studies in Israel and the United States, providing robust evidence of the impact of personality traits on global perceptions and actions.

Since the onset of the Russian invasion in early 2022, President Zelensky has become a prominent figure on the world stage. His appeals to both world leaders and ordinary citizens have been pivotal in maintaining international support for Ukraine. Zelensky's frequent updates on social media and direct communications have aimed to elicit empathy and support from the global community.

"This study delves into the psychological mechanisms behind these efforts, revealing the power of communal traits in fostering empathy and pro-social behavior," said Prof. Meital Balmas Cohen. "Our findings have profound implications for understanding how national leaders can shape global public opinion and mobilize support. By highlighting communal traits, leaders can potentially overcome psychological barriers and foster a sense of connection and responsibility among international audiences."

This study underscores the critical role of personality in international relations, offering valuable insights for leaders seeking to galvanize global support for their nations. It also highlights the importance of media representation in shaping perceptions of foreign leaders. By focusing on communal traits, media outlets can enhance empathy and support for populations in conflict zones. These findings have significant implications for international diplomacy and humanitarian efforts, suggesting that strategic communication can be a powerful tool in mobilizing global assistance.

These findings offer a hopeful perspective on the power of empathy and the role of leadership in fostering global solidarity. The research underscores the potential for leaders to influence public opinion and drive positive action through the strategic emphasis of their personality traits.

The research paper titled “The Warm War: The Effect of Ukrainian President’s Communal Personality Traits on Empathy and Pro-Social Behavior towards the Ukrainians” is now available in Journal of Conflict Resolution and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1177/00220027241258379.

Researchers:

Meital Balmas¹, Nitzan Attias², and Eran Halperin²

Institutions:

1. Department of Communication and Journalism, Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. Department of Psychology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/en

Foto credit: Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP

 

 

A new study from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem has revealed that a balanced diet is essential for the optimal health and task performance of honeybees, a key species for pollination and ecosystem stability. The study, led by Prof. Sharoni Shafir from the Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, investigates how honeybees balance their nutritional intake to maintain homeostasis and enhance fitness. The findings indicate that an unbalanced diet with a high omega-6:3 ratio (5:1) significantly affects the bees' ability to nurse larvae, delaying the onset of nursing, reducing the frequency of nursing visits, and altering the attention given to larvae of different ages.

To test these effects, one-day-old adult worker bees were fed either a balanced diet or an unbalanced diet for seven days. The bees were then released into a common-garden hive, tagged with barcodes, and continuously filmed for six days. The analysis revealed that those on the unbalanced diet exhibited delayed nursing behavior and reduced efficiency in caring for larvae, particularly in differentiating between three-day-old and four-day-old larvae.

"Balanced nutrition is fundamental for honeybee colonies, impacting not just individual health but also the overall efficiency and survival of the hive," said Prof. Shafir. "Our study underscores the importance of maintaining a balanced omega-6:3 ratio in the diet of honey bees to ensure they can perform their crucial roles within the colony effectively."

The implications of this research are far-reaching, particularly in cultivated landscapes where the availability of nutritionally balanced pollen sources may be limited. The shift towards a greater omega-6:3 ratio in these areas could pose a significant threat to bee populations, affecting their health, cognitive abilities, and ability to sustain their colonies. "This study opens new avenues for further research linking fitness-related behaviors to nutritional balancing in honeybees," added Prof. Shafir. "It also highlights the need for conservation efforts to ensure diverse and nutritionally adequate pollen sources are available for these essential pollinators."

The research aligns with broader findings in other species, where nutritional imbalances are known to affect survival, reproductive success, and offspring health. It calls for increased awareness and measures to support the nutritional needs of honeybees, essential for maintaining their populations and the vital pollination services they provide.

The research paper titled “Unbalanced dietary omega-6:3 ratio affects onset of nursing and nurse–larvae interactions by honey bees, Apis mellifera” is now available in Animal Behaviour and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anbehav.2024.05.007.

Researchers:

Danny Minahan, Maya Goren, Sharoni Shafir

Institution:

B. Triwaks Bee Research Center, Department of Entomology, Institute of Environmental Sciences, The Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel's premier academic and research institution. Serving over 23,000 students from 80 countries, the University produces nearly 40% of Israel’s civilian scientific research and has received over 11,000 patents. Faculty and alumni of the Hebrew University have won eight Nobel Prizes and a Fields Medal. For more information about the Hebrew University, please visit http://new.huji.ac.il/en. 

Pictures:

Title: Worker Honey Bees with Barcodes Engaging in Nursing Behavior
Description: Under red light (used to film the bees without disturbing them), with one barcoded bee as detected by the image-analysis software and its personal identification number appears on the screen.
Credit: Danny Minahan

 

Title: Barcoded nurse bees patrolling the brood area.

Credit: Danny Minahan

 

 

 

A new study led by PhD student Kinneret Endevelt, under the supervision of Dr. Roni Porat from the Department of Political Science and Department of International Relations and Prof. Eran Halperin from the Department of Psychology at the Hebrew University, unveils a novel approach to bridging the achievement gap for minority students in higher education. The research emphasizes the critical need to address minority students’ lingering sense of belonging uncertainty and introduces a psychological intervention aimed at fostering inclusivity and success within the university environment.

The study introduces a targeted intervention to enhance minority students' sense of belonging by modifying the institutional learning space. Tested in two large-scale field experiments in Israel with over 20,000 Jewish and Palestinian students during the COVID-19 pandemic, the intervention involved displaying the lecturer's name in Hebrew, English, and Arabic on Zoom. Results showed a significant positive impact on Palestinian students, including increased belonging, engagement, participation, and improved academic performance. Average grades rose by 10 points in the first experiment and by 4 points in the second. The research underscores that small, strategic institutional changes can significantly benefit minority populations, highlighting the importance of promoting an inclusive learning environment.

“This study underscores the power of seemingly minor modifications in educational settings to make substantial impacts on minority students' academic experiences and outcomes,” said Dr. Porat. “By acknowledging and integrating minority students’ cultural and linguistic backgrounds, we can create a more inclusive and supportive environment that promotes equity in education.”

Beyond the virtual classroom, this approach can be extended to physical spaces by incorporating minority languages and cultural elements into faculty offices, cafeteria menus, and student lounges. Such practices can reinforce the sense of belonging and inclusion for minority students, creating a more supportive and equitable educational environment.

The implications of this study are extensive. By adopting and consistently reinforcing inclusive practices, educational institutions can reduce disparities and promote social mobility. This intervention also offers insights applicable to other contexts, such as workplaces and public spaces, suggesting that subtle changes in everyday environments can foster a more equitable and welcoming society.

The study reveals that small, meticulously crafted changes to the institutional environment can significantly impact minority students' academic achievements and sense of belonging. By embracing these findings, educational institutions can take meaningful steps toward creating a more inclusive and supportive environment for all students.

The research paper titled “Zoom out: An intervention on the virtual learning environment improves minority students’ grades in two field experiments in Israel” is now available in PNAS and can be accessed at https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2313496121.

Researchers:

Kinneret Endevelt¹, Eran Halperin¹, Roni Porat^2,3

Institution:

1. Department of Psychology, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
2. The Department of Political Science, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
3. Department of International Relations, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem is Israel’s premier academic and research institution. With over 23,000 students from 90 countries, it is a hub for advancing scientific knowledge and holds a significant role in Israel’s civilian scientific research output, accounting for nearly 40% of it and has registered over 11,000 patents. The university’s faculty and alumni have earned eight Nobel Prizes, two Turing Awards a Fields Medal, underscoring their contributions to ground-breaking discoveries. In the global arena, the Hebrew University ranks 86th according to the Shanghai Ranking. To learn more about the university’s academic programs, research initiatives, and achievements, visit the official website at http://new.huji.ac.il/e