Rochester Data Science Consortium researchers at the University of Rochester, in partnership with the University of Vermont and the New York Power Authority, have been awarded $225,000 from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) to apply the latest machine learning methods to develop accurate, reliable, and scalable algorithms for modeling electric generator power systems.

If successful, this “proof of concept” research has the potential to lay the groundwork for modernizing today’s modeling methodology for power systems.

“Having accurate system models and scalable modeling tools are indispensable to the power system’s overall safety and reliability,” says Beilei Xu, principal investigator and senior research scientist at the Rochester Data Science Consortium. “By introducing machine-learning based methods to current modeling tools, this research has the potential to provide more sophisticated modeling methods for the smart grid.”

Read more here.

New research in the journal Scientific Reports unpacks the list of chemicals that comprise flavored e-liquids and pods used in vaping and details their harmful effects to lung tissue, including inflammation and genetic damage that could indicate long-term risk for respiratory disease and even cancer.

“While names like mango, cucumber, and mint give the impression that the flavors in e-juices are benign, the reality is that these sensations are derived from chemicals,” says Irfan Rahman, a professor in the Department of Environmental Medicine and lead author of the study.  “These findings indicate that exposure to these chemicals triggers damage and dysfunction in the lungs that are a precursor to long-term health consequences.”

Other than propylene glycol and vegetable glycerin, which form the base of vaping liquids, and nicotine, most manufacturers do not disclose the chemical compounds used to create the flavors in vaping products.

Employing mass spectrometry, the researchers identified almost 40 different chemicals present in various combinations in seven flavors manufactured by JUUL. These include hydrocarbons and volatile organic compounds, many of which have industrial uses and are known to be harmful if inhaled.

Read more here.

New research from Mauricio Ibañez-Mejia, an assistant professor of Earth and environmental sciences, gives scientists better insight into the geological processes responsible for the formation of Earth’s crust.

In a paper published in the journal Science Advances, Ibañez-Mejia and his colleague François Tissot, an assistant professor of geochemistry at the California Institute of Technology, studied the isotopes of the element zirconium.

Most elements in the periodic table have multiple isotopes; that is, different atoms of the same element can have different masses due to the varying number of sub-atomic particles in their nuclei. Researchers have traditionally assumed that processes occurring within the solid Earth, particularly in high-temperature environments such as those found in volcanoes and magma chambers, do not have the ability to ‘fractionate’—distribute unevenly—isotopes of the heavy elements amongst solids and liquids because of the isotopes’ minute differences in mass.

In the study, the researchers showed that stable isotopes of the element zirconium, a heavy transition metal, can be fractionated by magnitudes much larger than those previously thought and predicted by theory.

“This changes our view of how this element behaves in the solid Earth,” Ibañez-Mejia says. “By recognizing this variability, we developed a tool that can help us gain further insights into the changing chemistry of magmas as they crystallize within Earth’s crust.”

Read more here.

One of the potentially life-altering side effects that patients experience after cranial radiotherapy for brain cancer is cognitive impairment. Researchers now believe that they have pinpointed why this occurs and these findings could point the way for new therapies to protect the brain from the damage caused by radiation.

The new study – which appears in the journal Scientific Reports – shows that radiation exposure triggers an immune response in the brain that severs connections between nerve cells. While the immune system’s role in remodeling the complex network of links between neurons is normal in the healthy brain, radiation appears to send the process into overdrive, resulting in damage that could be responsible for the cognitive and memory problems that patients often face after radiotherapy.

“The brain undergoes a constant process of rewiring itself and cells in the immune system act like gardeners, carefully pruning the synapses that connect neurons,” says Kerry O’Banion, a professor at the Del Monte Institute for Neuroscience and senior author of the study, which was conducted in mice. “When exposed to radiation, these cells become overactive and destroy the nodes on nerve cells that allow them to form connections with their neighbors.”

Read more here.

After he saw the success of the Rochester Dental Dispensary that he founded in 1915, George Eastman established similar institutions in London, Rome, Brussels, Stockholm, and Paris. All but Brussels remain open today, sharing similar names and missions to provide excellent post-doctoral education and clinical care, address oral health care disparities, and conduct relevant and meaningful research.

Integrated into outstanding universities, these institutions are linked together through the Eastman International Alliance (EIA), which was established to address global problems related to access, to collaborate in education, clinical care, and research, and to engage in faculty and student exchanges.

After working out technical and time zone logistics, the first Eastman International Alliance Grand Rounds was held recently. Oral health experts, faculty, residents, and staff from Rochester; Stockholm, Sweden; and London, England each shared a complex oral medicine patient case.

Read more here.

Joanna (Asia) Pietraszko is an assistant professor in the Department of Linguistics. She joins the Rochester faculty following two years as a visiting assistant professor at the University of Connecticut, where she taught courses on syntax and the science and field methods of linguistics.

Working primarily in the areas of morphology—how words are formed and how they relate to each other—and syntax—the study of sentence structure, Pietraszko explores the fundamental properties common to all human languages. With an emphasis on the Slavic and Bantu languages, she analyzes and compares the structure of sentences and words in unrelated languages.

Pietraszko’s work has been published in the journals Syntax and Natural Language and Linguistic Theory. She has served as a research proposal reviewer for the National Science Foundation and has organized several conferences, including the 49th Annual Meeting of the Chicago Linguistic Society and the 20th Central European Summer School in Generative Grammar, held in Wroclaw, Poland.

She earned her PhD in linguistics from the University of Chicago.

The Office for Human Subject Protection recently updated several policies and guidelines which are available on the OHSP website.

Each department, center, and school is required to develop a department-specific policy for conducting scientific review of human subject research proposals and to provide a copy of the policy and any subsequent policy updates to the Research Subjects Review Board office.

Updated policies should be sent to Ann Marie Scorsone. Questions concerning policy updates can be directed to Nicole Mason.

Wilmot Cancer Institute is accepting applications for a new Predoctoral Cancer Research Fellowship Program.

This program provides support for two-year predoctoral fellowships, open to PhD or MD/PhD candidates under the mentorship of a Wilmot Cancer Institute member.

Applicants must be engaged in a research project that primarily involves the causes, diagnosis, treatment, prevention, or management of cancer or its side effects. Contact Thom Fogg with questions.

Applications are due February 14.

This training program helps postdoctoral MD or PhD researchers establish careers as independent investigators in cancer control and prevention research.

For more information about this program, contact  Michelle Janelsins, Ph.D., or Gary Morrow, Ph.D., program directors of the UR Cancer Control Research Training Program, or Kate Kessler, program coordinator.

Learn more. Submit applications by Saturday, February 1.

For the past several years, the Office of Portfolio Analysis at the National Institutes of Health has aggregated over 420 million citation links from sources like Medline, PubMed Central, Entrez, and CrossRef.

A new NIH tool, iCite, allows users to access bibliometric tools, look at productivity of research, and see how often references are cited. Learn more.

Research Connections will resume on January 10.

LECTURES AND TALKS

Jan. 22: Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Andrew Cashner (Music) (internal fellow). 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

Jan. 30: Phelps Colloquium. “A Vision for the Future: How to Recruit Neural Plasticity for Sight Restoration,” by Krystel Huxlin, professor in the Department of Ophthalmology. “Making Stars and Planets in the Laboratory and Pushing the Frontiers of Physics with Lasers,” by E. Michael Campbell, director of the Laboratory for Laser Energetics. 4-5:30 p.m. Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons, River Campus. Register here.

Feb. 6: Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Tom Fleischman  (History) (internal fellow). 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

Feb. 19: Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Sue Uselmann (ESM Humanities) . 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

Feb. 26: Phelps Colloquium. “Surgery of the Future: 3D-Printed Patient-Specific Organs Guide the Way for Complex Cancer Surgery,” by Ahmed Ghazi, associate professor, Department of Urology. “Structural Engineering to the Rescue of Cultural Heritage,” by Renato Perucchio, professor and chair, Department of Mechanical Engineering, and director of the Program in Archaeology, Technology, and Historical Structures. 4-5:30 p.m. Feldman Ballroom, Douglass Commons, River Campus. Register here.

March 4: Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Eduardo Herrera (Musicology, Rutgers) (external fellow). 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

March 18: Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Elena Bellina (ESM Humanities). 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

March 26: Phelps Colloquium. “Harnessing Immunity to Fight Cancer: Clues from the Tumor Microenvironment,” by David Linehan, professor and chair, Department of Surgery. “Preparing for the Worst: Portrayal of Downside Risk in Professional Investment Advice,” by Joanna Wu, professor of business administration,  Simon Business School. 4–5:30 p.m. Eisenberg Rotunda, Schlegel Hall, River Campus. Register here.

April 2: Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Alexandra Lindgren-Gibson (History, Univ. of Mississippi) external fellow). 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

April 16: Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Ash Arder (Studio Art) (visiting artist). 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

April 22: Phelps Colloquium. “Making Fuel and Fertilizer from Sun, Air, and Water,” by Kara Bren, professor in the Department of Chemistry. “A Black Musician in the Court of Henry VIII. You’re Kidding, Right?” by Lee Koonce, president and artistic director of the Gateways Music Festival in association with Eastman School of Music, and senior advisor to the dean, Eastman School of Music. 4–5:30 p.m. Max of Eastman Place, 25 Gibbs Street, Rochester.  Register here.

April 30:  Rosenberger Work-in-Progress seminar. Khan and Sullivan (Public Humanities fellows). 12:30 to around 1:45 p.m. in Conference Room D of the Humanities Center. River Campus.  All are welcome to attend, exchange ideas, and have lunch.

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.

FELLOWSHIP, TRAINING PROGRAMS

Feb. 1: Applications due for clinical and translational research training in cancer control and preventive research. Helps postdoctoral MD or PhD researchers establish careers as independent investigators. For more information, contact  Michelle Janelsins, Ph.D., or Gary Morrow, Ph.D., program directors of the UR Cancer Control Research Training Program,  or Kate Kessler, program coordinator. Learn more.

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 MD or MD/PhD 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.

Feb. 14: Applications due for Wilmot Cancer Institute Predoctoral Cancer Research Fellowship Program. Contact Thom Fogg with questions.