New research from the University of Rochester’s Laboratory for Laser Energetics will enhance the accuracy of computer models used in simulations of laser-driven implosions. The research, published in the journal Nature Physics, addresses one of the challenges in scientists’ longstanding quest to achieve fusion.

In laser-driven inertial confinement fusion (ICF) experiments, energy from short beams of intense light pulses is used to heat and compress a target of hydrogen fuel cells. Ideally, this process would release more energy than was used to heat the system.

However, the experiments require that the laser beams propagate through a plasma—a hot soup of free moving electrons and ions. In doing so, they interact with the plasma in ways that can complicate the intended result.

Experiments at LLE’s Omega Laser Facility show for the first time that the distribution of electron energies in a plasma is affected by their interaction with the laser radiation and can no longer be accurately described by prevailing models. Read more here.

A pacemaker-like device restored heart function in a group of cancer survivors — mostly women with breast cancer — who had suffered from heart failure as a result of chemotherapy, a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) reports.

The device was evaluated in a small observational clinical trial led by the Medical Center at 12 cardio-oncology programs across the U.S., including Wilmot Cancer Institute. The study was the first of its kind to assess whether cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) could improve heart function in patients with congestive heart failure and cardiomyopathy, an enlargement of the heart due to chemotherapy side effects.

The research builds on the legacy of renowned University cardiologist Arthur J. Moss, who pioneered a vast field of science aimed at preventing and treating sudden death, often with implantable cardiac resynchronization devices.  Read more here.

While parents with substance use disorders are more likely to treat their children harshly, they don’t do so all the time. What are the triggers?

And how can substance-dependent mothers and their medical care providers predict difficulties across challenging parenting contexts?

A new study by University of Rochester and University of Minnesota psychologists, published in the journal Development and Psychopathology, makes considerable progress towards answering both questions.

Lead author Debrielle Jacques, a Rochester doctoral student in psychology, and her co-authors—Rochester psychology professors Melissa Sturge-Apple and Patrick Davies, and Dante Cicchetti, a professor and the research director at the University of Minnesota’s Institute of Child Development, found that:

1. Alcohol-dependent mothers act more harshly when disciplining, but not when playing with their child.
2. Alcohol-dependent mothers used harsher discipline when their child is highly frustrated, but not when their child is sad or fearful.
3. When children express intense negative emotions such as defiance and anger, or aggressive traits, mothers are more likely to react harshly.
4. A mother’s alcohol dependence is a significant predictor of harsh parenting over time.
5. Mothers with greater psychological-behavioral difficulties stemming from alcohol impairment—who also have children with higher levels of negative emotions, behaviors, and characteristics—show higher levels of harsh parenting over time.

Read more here.

• Henry Kautz, professor of computer science and founding director of the Goergen Institute for Data Science, who has been selected to receive the AAAI Robert S. Engelmore Memorial Lecture Award by the Association for the Advancement of Artificial Intelligence. Kautz is being honored for “outstanding research contributions in the area of knowledge representation, data analytics, and data mining of social media for public good.”
• Nick Vamivakas, professor of quantum optics and quantum physics, and his lab and collaborators. Their optical-tweezer phonon laser has been chosen by Optics and Photonic News as a breakthrough of particular interest to emerge during the past year. Read more here.

Andrea Pickel has joined the Department of Mechanical Engineering as an assistant professor after completing her PhD at the University of California at Berkeley.

Her research focuses on using experimental and numerical methods to address fundamental problems in heat transfer, particularly at the nanoscale. The work has potential applications for data storage and the development of optoelectronic and integrated circuit devices as well as for advancing the understanding of nanoscale energy transport and conversion.

She also is exploring ways to harness the unique properties of luminescent materials to develop better techniques for measuring temperature with nanoscale spatial resolution, particularly with high temporal resolution.

The recipient of an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, she was selected to attend the Rising Stars in Mechanical Engineering workshop at MIT in 2018. At Berkeley, she was active in Graduate Women in Engineering, serving as events chair and speaker series co-chair.

The Wilmot Cancer Institute Post-Doctoral Research Fellowship supports mentored research training for physicians with M.D. or M.D./Ph.D degrees who have completed their residency training and intend to pursue an academic career in clinical, translational, or basic cancer research.

While not required, previous research experience demonstrating interest in a research career is desirable. The Wilmot Cancer Research Fellowship Program does not support clinical training. Wilmot fellows also may enroll in graduate courses at the University of Rochester that are appropriate for and related to their research and would enhance their research training experience.

The Wilmot Cancer Research Fellowship Program provides funding for up to three years. Fellows receive an annual stipend comparable to those awarded by many national foundations. In addition, each fellow receives an annual supply allowance and a travel allowance to provide support for attending national or international scientific conferences.

Applications are due by February 14, 2020.  Learn more. For questions and to submit applications, email Pam Iadarola.

The seventh annual America’s Got Regulatory Science Talent student competition is now accepting applications.

The competition aims to promote student interest in regulatory science. Students matriculated at the University are welcome to submit a 50-word entry and provide a five-minute presentation during the competition. The proposed solution should align with the FDA Regulatory Science priority areas.

The winning team will travel to the Washington, DC/Maryland region to meet with members of the FDA.

Learn more. Entry forms are due by 5 p.m. Wednesday, January 29, 2020.

The competition will be held noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, February 12, 2020 at Saunders Research Building, Room 1416.

Applications are invited for the 2020 University Research Awards.

The Request for Proposal and application are available here.

The deadline for submission is February 3, 2020.

Questions and completed applications should be directed to Adele Coelho at adele.coelho@rochester.edu.

Jinbo Li, pathology, “TGFB-Induced Degradation of TNF Receptor-Associated Factor 3 (TRAF3) in Mesenchymal Progenitor Cells Causes Age-Related Osteoporosis.” 9 a.m. December 19, 2019. 3-6408/K307 (Medical Center). Advisor: Brendan Boyce.

Benjamin Hmiel, geosciences, “A Study of In Situ Cosmogenic C and Paleoatmospheric CH From Accumulating Ice at Summit, Greenland.” 12:30 p.m., December 19, 2019. Hutchison 473.  Advisor: Vasilii Petrenko.

LECTURES AND TALKS

Dec. 16: Andrew McDavid and Brendan Mort from the Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology will discuss data visualization. Noon to 1 p.m.,  K-307 Auditorium, Room 3-6408 (Medical Center). UR CSTI Analytics Colloquium.

GRANT DEADLINES

Dec. 30: Deadline for self-nominations, or nominations by peers or department chairs for the 2020 President’s Ferrari Humanities Research Award. The $25,000 award promotes and supports humanities research by a tenured or tenure-track faculty member in Arts, Sciences, and Engineering (AS&E) who is affiliated with the University’s Humanities Center. The recipient of this annual award must demonstrate a creative research approach that either builds on a previous record of published work in peer-reviewed journals or books, or charts a direction that promises a new publication stream. Read more here.

Jan. 31: Initial proposal abstracts due for Department of Public Health pilot proposal applications that have a substantial component of, or impact on, public health sciences, practices, or policies.  Applicants may request a maximum of $25,000 for one year and must hold a position of assistant professor or higher. Learn more.

Feb. 3: Deadline to apply for 2020 University Research Awards. The Request for Proposal and application are available here. Questions and completed applications should be directed to Adele Coelho at adele.coelho@rochester.edu.

Feb. 14: Applications due for the Wilmot Cancer Research Fellowship program, which funds physicians for up to three years allowing them to investigate the causes, diagnosis, treatment or prevention of cancer. Mentored research training for physicians with M.D. or M.D./Ph.D. degrees who have completed their residency training and intend to pursue an academic career in clinical, translational or basic cancer research. Learn more. For questions and to submit applications, email Pam Iadarola.