Plexin-B2 orchestrates collective stem cell dynamics via actomyosin contractility, cytoskeletal tension and adhesion.

During morphogenesis, molecular mechanisms that orchestrate biomechanical dynamics across cells remain unclear. Here, we show a role of guidance receptor Plexin-B2 in organizing actomyosin network and adhesion complexes during multicellular development of human embryonic stem cells and neuroprogenitor cells. Plexin-B2 manipulations affect actomyosin contractility, leading to changes in cell stiffness and cytoskeletal tension, as well as cell-cell and cell-matrix adhesion.

Gaussian beam scattering by two parallel nonabsorbing dielectric cylinders: displacement and rotational degrees of freedom.

An extension of the problem of a moderately focused Gaussian beam scattered by an arrangement of two parallel nonabsorbing dielectric cylinders of arbitrary refraction indexes and radii is developed. The feature introduced in the present solution is the relative angular position coordinate between the two cylinders (phi(0)) as a degree of freedom. Explicit dependence on this variable of scattering coefficients, beam shape coefficient, and extinction efficiency is given.