Imagine if Olympic skiers were forced to go down a slope on only one ski. Their ability to go “all out” would be severely hampered.

Something very similar happens with the microprocessors that control everything from our computers and cell phones to digital microwave ovens.

While state-of-the-art microprocessors contain billions of nanosized devices, they can use only a fraction of their capacity because of the “Dark Silicon phenomenon.” Simply put, a large percentage of the circuitry can’t be effectively turned on because heat generated due to high power dissipation would permanently damage the processor.

Contributing to this problem is the “Von Neumann” architecture used for most computing systems. The processing cores have to communicate frequently with memory units located in separate pieces of hardware. This not only limits processing speed, but also drastically increases the power dissipation that leads to overheating.

Mohammad Kazemi, a PhD student in electrical and computer engineering, has now proposed an entirely new concept to overcome this problem, and let microprocessors go “all out.” In a paper in Scientific Reports – Nature, he describes an electrically reconfigurable logic gate that:

• Combines processing and memory functions in individual magnetic nanodevices, instead of separating the functions between different pieces of hardware.
• Draws on the spin of electrons, in addition to their electrical charge, for processing.
• Uses bounded switching to reconfigure the gate for different logic operations. Reconfigurability is achieved by simply changing the amplitude of electrical pulse applied to the gate, also without the need for additional hardware in the gate.
• Combines all of this in a physical “footprint” 10 times smaller than other “state-of-the-art” logic gates.

“This has significant potential for enhancing the performance of microprocessors by orders of magnitude,” says Kazemi, who is a member of professor Mark Bocko’s research team. “You can use 10 times as many logic gates, and because the power dissipation is small, you can use all of them simultaneously at a high frequency, without having to worry about the Dark Silicon phenomenon.”

Read more here.

More than three decades of research in the Seychelles have consistently shown that high levels of fish consumption by pregnant mothers do not produce developmental problems in their children. The international team of researchers behind this study, one of the largest and longest population studies of its kind, is meeting this week in Rochester.

The Seychelles Child Development Study has transformed scientists’ understanding of the relationship between the consumption of fish rich in nutrients necessary for brain development and the possible harmful effects of mercury also found in fish. The study’s findings have global implications – fish represent the main source of protein for much of the world’s population – and challenge the long-promulgated advice of many organizations that expecting mothers moderate fish consumption during pregnancy.

“This study is a truly international and interdisciplinary collaboration that demonstrates how the combination of rigorous science and a commitment to taking the long view can help us answer important questions related to health, diet, and child development,” said Edwin van Wijngaarden, a professor in the  Department of Public Health Sciences who leads the Seychelles Child Development Study.

The Seychelles, a cluster of islands in the Indian Ocean, has proven to be the ideal location to examine the potential health impact of persistent low-level mercury exposure. The nation’s 90,000 residents consume a wide variety of ocean fish at a rate 10 times greater than the populations of the U.S. and Europe. The island nation also possesses universal and free health care and education and is largely free of the industrial development that could serve as a source of pollution.

Read more here.

Cancer is a group of diseases in which the body’s cells divide uncontrollably and invade nearby tissues. Scientists at Wilmot Cancer Institute and the University’s Center for RNA Biology are studying ribonucleic acid (RNA) as one piece of the puzzle to understanding more about how and why this happens, reports Wilmot’s Dialogue blog.

For example:

RNA, which is found in all cells, is made in the nucleus of a cell from our DNA, which holds the instruction manual for life. RNA puts those instructions into action.

One form of RNA, called messenger RNA (mRNA), carries those instructions out of the nucleus to the ribosomes, which produce proteins essential for functions ranging from digestion to protecting us from disease. If the mRNA has a bad copy of instructions, then either a faulty protein or no protein is created, leading to diseases like cancer.

Lynne E. Maquat, director of the Center for RNA Biology, studies a quality control process that blocks cells from making faulty proteins. Called nonsense-mediated mRNA decay (NMD), this process comes into play when mRNA has a set of instructions with a mistake that will lead to short or incomplete proteins. NMD acts like a set of factory inspectors that find and destroy this mRNA before the faulty proteins can be made.

Sometimes, though, NMD doesn’t catch the mistakes and harmful proteins are made. This process plays a part in one-third of all inherited diseases, such as cystic fibrosis and muscular dystrophy, and one-third of all acquired diseases, including a number of cancers.

One reason is that tumors can influence how these inspectors work. Maquat and her team are looking for ways to stop tumors from interfering with NMD with the goal of finding new ways to treat cancer.

A team from Maquat’s lab has also identified a protein called Tudor-SN that is important as cells prepare to divide. This protein controls many microRNAs, molecules that are very small RNAs that control the expression of tens of thousands of genes.

The scientists found that when Tudor-SN is removed from human cells, levels of hundreds of microRNAs go up, putting the brakes on genes that encourage cell growth. This slows down the process of cell division known as the cell cycle, which goes awry in cancer.

Maquat and Reyad A. Elbarbary, a former post-doctoral fellow in Maquat’s lab, have filed a patent application for methods that target Tudor-SN for the treatment and prevention of cancer. They continue to study how Tudor-SN works in concert with other molecules and proteins so that scientists can identify the most appropriate drugs to target it.

Read more here.

• Timothy Quill, professor of medicine, psychiatry, medical humanities, and nursing, who has received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine (AAHPM). Quill, the founding director of the Medical Center’s Palliative Care Program and acting director of the URMC Paul M. Schyve Center for Bioethics, is an internationally recognized pioneer in palliative care and end-of-life decision making. Read more here.
• Judith Smetana, a professor of psychology, who is being recognized with the 2018 John P. Hill Memorial Award from the Society for Research on Adolescence. Smetana, an expert in the development of moral and social reasoning, teen–parent relationships, and parenting beliefs, investigates and writes about the kinds of things that many parents of teenagers wonder about. How do I know if my teen is telling the truth? Would he tell me if he had sex with his girlfriend? Did she drink alcohol at the party? Read more here.

(This is part of a monthly series to help principal investigators understand their role in ensuring that human subject protection requirements are met in their studies.)

Department of Health and Human Service and Food & Drug Administration regulations (45 CFR 46; 21 CFR 56) define specific criteria that human subject research must meet in order for an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to approve the research.  A critical, yet often overlooked step in the protocol development process is to objectively evaluate study protocols against these criteria prior to IRB submission.  Doing so will help facilitate IRB review of the proposal, with the intent of minimizing IRB stipulations.

Over the upcoming months, as part the “PI Oversight Tip of the Month” series, each criterion for IRB approval will be reviewed.  This month we look at approval criteria #4: ‘informed consent will be sought from each prospective subject.’

In evaluating this criterion, the IRB will consider:

• What is the process involved in obtaining consent? Who will obtain consent?  Where will consent be obtained, is it private?  How much time will be given to subjects to consider their participation?  Is the information provided in a manner understandable to the study population?  Will the process minimize the potential for undue influence or coercion?
• If children, pregnant women, prisoners, or adults with decisional impairment will be recruited, have applicable regulatory requirements and OHSP policy requirements been met?
• Does the consent form include all necessary elements and applicable institutional template language?
• If non-English speaking individuals will be enrolled, have all applicable documents been translated? Does the study team have a mechanism for the consent process to occur in the subject’s native language, possibly through a study team member who speaks the language or translation services?
• If a waiver or alteration of consent is requested, what is the rationale for doing so and have applicable regulatory requirements been met (See section 7.0 of the OHSP Policy 701 Informed Consent)?

Stay tuned for criteria #5, “informed consent will be appropriately documented,” which will be highlighted next month. For previously highlighted criteria, see the 11/10/2017, 1/5/2018, and 2/9/2018 editions of Research Connections.

The Center for Urban Education Success (CUES) at the Warner School of Education will host the second annual symposium, “All In: When Theory Meets Practice in Education Reform,” on Saturday, April 28. The symposium will take place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at East Upper & Lower Schools, 1801 East Main St.

The symposium will highlight the transformational work of the University of Rochester-East Educational Partnership Organization (EPO). As part of the EPO, which was established in July 2015, the University has assumed management responsibilities for East, a Rochester city school that includes grades 6 through 12.

The symposium is organized around 50-minute sessions and two plenary addresses. East teachers, administrators, community partners, and staff will lead attendees through presentations that link educational theory to practice in the evolution of a school-based initiative. Sessions are designed to encourage dialogue among presenters and attendees.

Registrants will be asked to choose three sessions from the topics below:

• Curriculum and Instruction at East
• Creative Writing and Authentic Publication within the Freshman Workshop Model
• Growing a Literacy Program to Meet the Needs of All Students
• Re-visioning Social Emotional Support: East’s Family Group Model
• Leaving Your Own Island: The Ins and Outs of Writing Common, Research-Based Original Curriculum
• East’s Support Model: A Foundation for Scholar Success
• Inquiry in the 6-8 Math Classroom
• University-School Partnerships: Research and Engaging in Best Practices in Attendance
• UbD for the Performing Ensemble: Creating Quick and Easy Assessment to Make the Learning Visible
• Distributive Leadership: Sharing the Stage and the Work
• Family & Community Partnerships that Build Academic Achievement
• From Principles to Practice: Curriculum Embedded Performance Tasks
• Sociocultural Learning Theory in a Writer’s Workshop Model
• Historical Thinking Matters
•  Building Opportunities to Engage and Connect Families and the Community
•  Restorative Practices: Revitalizing Climate & Culture in an Urban School

Read more here.

The Clinical and Translational Science Institute (CTSI) is seeking outstanding candidates for a Population Health Research Postdoctoral Fellowship. The goal of the fellowship program is to produce interdisciplinary researchers trained in team science and competency-based skills who can conceptualize research across the translational continuum from basic research through population health.

Fellows will choose one of three tracks:

• Electronic Health Record as a Resource for Research;
• National, Regional, and Local Database Analytics;
• Population Health Behavior Change.

Candidates are encouraged to apply early; applications will be accepted until the position is filled. Additional information and application requirements are located on the CTSI website.

Yen Verhoeven, Warner School, “The Grounded Theory of Interactive Spatial Learning from a Virtual World.” 1:30 p.m. March 27, 2018. LeChase Hall, Room 215. Sponsor: Jayne Lammers. Independent Chair:  Nathan Harris.

March 25: “Migrants in the Movies: From Alambrista! to Today,” presented by Molly Ball, lecturer in the Department of History. 5 p.m. Morey Hall 221. Part of “Planting a Seed: Migrant Workers in the American Landscape,” sponsored by the Humanities Center, which examines the history and complex relationship surrounding labor migration into the United States from the US/Mexico border. See the other events in the series.

March 26: “The History of the Universe from the Beginning to the End,” presented by John C. Mather, winner of the 2006 Nobel Prize in Physics and senior project scientist for the James Webb Space Telescope. 3:30 p.m., Goergen Hall 101. Hosted by The Institute of Optics. Read more here.

March 29-30: “Social Life of Guns,” research symposium. Panel presentations and discussions with invited scholars on what guns mean and how do they matter in the United States today. Humanities Center Conference Room D. Sponsored by the Humanities Center. Click here for the schedule. For more information, contact Kathryn.mariner@rochester.edu or Kristin.doughty@rochester.edu.

March 30: PONS Luncheon Roundtable Series: Acquired Hearing Difficulties and Deafness. Discussion of ongoing hearing loss research at the University of Rochester with panelists Ross Maddox and Patricia White of the Department of Neuroscience and U-Cheng Leong of the Department of Audiology. Noon. URMC Med Center Specialty Room 2-7520. Refreshments will be provided. For more information on upcoming Neuro-related events, go to http://blogs.rochester.edu/pons/.

April 2: Deadline to apply for UNYTE Translational Research Network Pipeline-to-Pilot Awards of up to $10,000 from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Intended to stimulate research partnerships between UNYTE member institutions to compete for future external translational biomedical research funding. Learn more about the UNYTE Translation Research Network; view the full RFA; contact Karen Vitale with questions.

April 6: “Translating Neuroscience: Obstacles and Opportunities.” Keynote address by Kafui Dzirasa, associate professor in the Departments of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, Neurobiology, Biomedical Engineering, and Neurosurgery at Duke University. Medical Scientist Research Symposium. 3:00-4:30 p.m. Class of ’62 Auditorium. Jointly sponsored by the Medical Scientist Training Program and the Dr. Thomas A. and Joyce E. Pearson Endowed Lectureship fund. More information here.

April 9: Deadline to submit proposals for three Center for AIDS Research pilot grants. See the CFAR Pilot Funding Opportunities page and the specific RFA’s for additional information.  Contact the CFAR administrator (Laura_Enders@urmc.rochester.edu) for additional information on eligibility, budgeting guidelines, and required cost sharing forms no later than March 23.

April 12: “Forgetting Fear,” presented by Daniela Schiller, professor of neuroscience and psychiatry at Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Humanities Center Public Lecture Series. 5 to 6 p.m., Hawkins Carlson Room, Rush Rhees Library. Read more here.

April 12: “The American Health Paradox: What’s Missing?” Presented by Nancy Bennett, professor of medicine and public health sciences, director of the Center for Community Health, and co-director of the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Phelps Colloquium Series. 4-5:30 p.m., Helen Wood Hall. Click here to register.

April 16: Deadline to apply for Community-Based Participatory Research Pipeline-to-Pilot grant of up to $15,000 from the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. For academic and community partners currently completing the CTSI’s Introduction to Community-Based Participatory Research (CBPR) program, or who have demonstrated experience in CBPR. For more details, see the  RFA. Contact Indrani Singh with questions.

April 18: SBIR/STTR Symposium – Succeeding at SBIR/STTR Grants.  Hosted by NextCorp. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. 260 East Main Street, Suite 6000.  In depth session on writing successful proposals, understanding key agencies and seed funding for Phase 0 –  customer discovery & proposal development.  For details and to register go to https://nextcorps.org/event/succeeding-at-sbir-sttr-grants/

April 20-21: UpStat 2018: Better Living Through Statistics conference. A friendly and empowering annual gathering of statisticians, applied mathematicians, computer scientists, engineers, and data scientists from upstate New York and its neighboring regions. We are interested in contributions to statistical methodology as well as to statistical practice, consulting, and education. Read more.

April 28: All In: When Theory Meets Practice in Education Reform. Symposium sponsored by the Warner School Center for Urban Education Success (CUES). 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., East High School. Free and open to the public. Read more here.

April 30: “Zionism: Conflicting Dreams.” Public lecture by Israeli author Amos Oz, the inaugural Farash Fellow for the Advancement of Jewish Humanities and Culture. 5 p.m., Hawkins Carlson Room at Rush Rhees Library. The lecture will be followed by a reception in the Humanities Center. Presented by the Farash Foundation, the Humanities Center, and the Center for Jewish Studies. For more information, contact Jennie Gilardoni.

May 15: Respiratory Pathogens Research Center Scientific Symposium. Featured speakers, lectures by RPRC investigators, poster session. Lunch and refreshments provided. 7:45 a.m. to 6:30 pm., Saunders Research Building. Registration is free, but pre-registration is required by April 27 at RPRCSymposium.urmc.edu

May 17: “Ever Better Teams: A CTSI Team Science Summit.” Interactive symposium featuring keynote presentation by Gaetano “Guy” Lotrecchiano, an associate professor of clinical research and leadership at The George Washington University, and breakout sessions for networking and dialogue on the future of team science at URMC. 1 to 5 p.m. Hosted by the Clinical and Translational Science Institute. Contact Oksana Babiy with any questions.