INSIDE ODK walkway is rededicated...... 3 Pitt research endeavors...... 4-5 PittNewspaper of the University of PittsburghChronicle Volume XI • Number 27 • October 4, 2010 Pitt Planet Hunters Track Long, Strange Voyage of Pitt No. 8 Among All Distant Planet as Part of International Collaboration U.S. Public Universities By Morgan Kelly

University of planet In Federally Financed hunters based at the Allegheny Observatory were one of nine teams R&D Expenditures around the world that tracked a planet 190 light-years from Earth making By John Harvith its rare 12-hour passage in front of its star. The project resulted in The is ranked the first ground-based observation No. 8 among all U.S. public universities and of the entire unusually drawn-out 13th among all U.S. universities, public and transit and established a practical private, in federally financed R&D expen- technique for recording the move- ditures for fiscal year 2009, according to ment of other exoplanets, or planets a Sept. 28 Chronicle of Higher Education outside of Earth’s solar system, the listing based upon a National Science Foun- teams reported in The Astrophysical dation report issued on Sept. 27. Journal. The other top-ranked public uni- The Pitt team, led by Melanie versities in the listing are Michigan, the Good, a physics and University of Washington, UC-San Diego, graduate student in Pitt’s School Wisconsin, Colorado, UC-San Francisco, of Arts and Sciences, observed the and UCLA. The top-ranked private uni- planet HD 80606b for more than 11 versities in the listing are Johns Hopkins, hours on Jan. 10, 2010, as it passed MIT, Penn, Columbia, and Stanford. Pitt in front of its star, HD 80606, located outranks, among many others, Caltech, more than 1.14 quadrillion miles Chicago, Cornell, Duke, Harvard, Min- from Earth in the constellation nesota, North Carolina, Northwestern, Ursa Major. The Pitt group included Ohio State, Penn State, USC, Washington Michael Wood-Vasey, a professor of University in St. Louis, and Yale. physics and astronomy; Louis Coban The listing also highlights universi- of the Allegheny Observatory; and ties’ 2009 rankings vs. their rankings in physics and astronomy undergradu- 2004. Here, Pitt advanced by one slot, ate students Shane Cerutti, Korena Costello, The Pitt team, led by Melanie Good, a physics and astronomy graduate displacing Harvard, which fell from Maya Hunt, Gary Lander Jr., Eric Roebuck, No. 13 to No. 19 among all universities. Chelsea Vincent, and Gwendolyn Weaver, student in Pitt’s School of Arts and Sciences, observed the planet HD According to The Chronicle of Higher all part of Good’s research group, Survey of Education, the list “is a leading indicator Transiting Extrasolar Planets at the Univer- 80606b for more than 11 hours on Jan. 10, 2010, as it passed in front of research quality because, unlike other sity of Pittsburgh, or STEPUP. financing sources, the federal government HD 80606b is among the strangest of of its star, HD 80606, located more than 1.14 quadrillion miles from awards most of its academic-research dol- the 500 exoplanets yet discovered, Good lars through national, open competitions.” said. Approximately four times the size of Earth in the constellation Ursa Major. Jupiter, the gaseous planet is scorchingly close to its star and follows an oblong orbit sands of degrees as it nears HD 80606. And transit make it difficult for a single obser- similar to that of Halley’s Comet. At its while most exoplanets complete their tran- vatory to observe all of it, according to According to The Chronicle of farthest, the planet is almost as far from its sits within a few hours, HD 80606b traipses the article in The Astrophysical Journal. star as the Earth is from the Sun, while at its along for nearly 12—and only makes the trip Coordinated by the Massachusetts Institute Higher Education, the list “is a closest, it is just 3 percent of that distance, every 16 weeks. leading indicator of so that the planet’s temperature jumps thou- Both characteristics of HD 80606b’s Continued on page 6 research quality because, unlike Pitt Researchers Report African American Seniors at Twice the other financing Risk for Mental Abuse, Five Times for Financial Exploitation sources, the fed- Pittsburgh researchers found that Rosen, a professor of psychiatry in Pitt’s eral government African American seniors could be School of Medicine. twice as likely to be mistreated than The Pitt survey is among only a few awards most of elders of other races. The survey that focus on race as a specific factor in its academic- also revealed that African Ameri- elder mistreatment, Beach said. In addi- can elders could be up to five times tion, the population-based survey collected research dol- more susceptible to being swindled. information directly from senior citizens Reporting the survey results in through face-to-face and telephone inter- lars through The Gerontologist, the researchers views, the most effective way to document urged that health care and social unreported abuse, he explained; typically, national, open service workers be especially vigi- elder-mistreatment data are gathered from lant for the possible mistreatment of complaints filed with Adult Protective Ser- competitions." African American seniors. vices. In this way, the Pitt study helps fill a Lead author Scott Beach, noted gap in elder-mistreatment research: assistant director of Pitt’s Univer- The National Research Council, in its sity Center for Social and Urban 2003 report, Elder Mistreatment, described Research (UCSUR) and director of existing elder-abuse research as having “a the center’s Survey Research Pro- number of weaknesses,” including a lack of gram, said the study is important to clear, consistent definitions and an absence the developing field of elder-abuse of population-based data. research. Beach worked with coau- The team interviewed 903 adults—a By Morgan Kelly thors Richard Schulz, director of statistically large sample—aged 60 and UCSUR and the center’s gerontol- older living in ’s Allegheny In the first population-based survey to ogy program; Nicholas Castle, a professor County about instances of psychological indicate a racial disparity in the psychologi- of health policy and management in Pitt’s cal abuse of senior citizens, University of Graduate School of Public Health; and Jules Continued on page 6 2 • Pitt Chronicle • October 4, 2010 BrieflyNoted

have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The For brief biographies of the panelists or New York Times, and Time magazine. more information about the panel discussion, The 2010-11 Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers contact Pitt Writing Internship Coordinator Caren Series season is sponsored by the University of Pitts- Marcus at 412-624-1737 or [email protected]. burgh Book Center and the University of Pittsburgh —By Sierra L. Starks Press. For more information, call 412-624-6508 or visit www.creativewriting.pitt.edu. Haiti Rising Exhibition —By Jessica Myers Comes to Pitt Oct. 14-17

“The Inside Track to a The Haitian Art Society of Pittsburgh will Top-Notch Internship” Panel present an exhibition titled Haiti Rising in the Discussion Set for Oct. 14 ’s (WPU) Kimbo Gallery Oct. 14-17. The exhibition will feature Haitian The University of art collected by the Pittsburgh community and Mark Kurlansky Pittsburgh’s Department a lecture by Marcus Rediker, Pitt Department of English and The Pitt of History’s Distin- Author Mark Kurlansky News, Pitt’s daily student guished Professor To Speak at Pitt Oct. 5 newspaper, will cosponsor a of Atlantic History, panel discussion titled “The at 1 p.m. Oct. Mark Kurlansky, nonfiction author Inside Track to a Top-Notch 15 in the WPU and journalist, will speak about his work at Internship” at 7:30 p.m. Ballroom. More the University of Pittsburgh at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 14 in the William Pitt information is Oct. 5 in the Frick Fine Arts Auditorium. small, impoverished area in the Dominican Republic Union Ballroom. David Shribman available by Part of the Pittsburgh Contemporary that has produced 79 major league baseball play- In addition to the panel calling WPU Writers Series, the event is free and open ers. In the book, Kurlansky examines the history, discussion, the winner of the annual McDowell Award at 412-648- to the public. culture, and impact of baseball on this struggling In Nonfiction, named in honor of late Pittsburgh 7815. Kurlansky is the author of a number Carribbean town. broadcasting pioneer Al McDowell (A&S ‘52), will be of bestselling books, A native of Hartford, Conn., announced. A dessert reception will follow the event. including Salt (Penguin, Kurlansky received a BA degree in David Shribman, executive editor of the 2002), Cod (Vintage, theater in 1970 from Butler Univer- Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, will serve as moderator of 1997), and 1968 sity in Indianapolis, Ind. He began the panel discussion. Panelists include Mike Leary, (Random House Trade, his career in New York City working managing editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer; Paul 2003), which earned as a playwright and as a playwright- Steiger, editor-in-chief, president, and chief executive him an American Library in-residence at Brooklyn College. officer of ProPublica; Anne Linaberger, KDKA-TV news Association Notable Book As a journalist, he has worked as director; Terry Foxx, program director for Pittsburgh Award. a foreign correspondent for the Sportsradio 93.7 The Fan; Cynthia Sterling, execu- The Eastern Stars International Herald Tribune, the tive publisher of SterlingHouse Publisher, Inc.; Tom (Riverhead Books, Chicago Tribune, the Miami Herald, Meinert, partner at Meinert Mashek Communica- 2010), Kurlansky’s latest and the Philadelphia Inquirer, based tions; and Katelyn Polantz (A&S ’09), reporter for book, is a portrait of a in Paris and Mexico. His articles also Virginia’s Roanoke Times.

Reemergence of Nuclear Power U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Com- PittChronicle mission (NRC) member and Pitt Newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh alumnus William D. Magwood PUBLISHER Robert Hill IV (A&S ’91) made a Sept. 30 ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John Harvith visit to Pitt to discuss the recent EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda K. Schmitmeyer reemergence of nuclear power EDITOR Jane-Ellen Robinet as a global energy option and ART DIRECTOR Gary Cravener STAFF WRITERS Sharon S. Blake to encourage students to study John Fedele science and engineering. One Morgan Kelly of the five NRC commissioners Amanda Leff responsible for ensuring the Anthony M. Moore safety of U.S. commercial Patricia Lomando White nuclear power plants, Magwood CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jessica Myers addressed current and prospec- Megan Grote Quatrini tive Pitt nuclear engineering Amy Dugas Rose students during Pitt’s Nuclear Anita Srikameswaran Engineering Night in the Lower Sierra L. Starks HAPPENINGS EDITOR Baindu Saidu Lounge of the William Pitt Union. The Pitt Chronicle is published throughout the year by University News and Magazines, University of Pittsburgh, 400 Craig Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Phone: 412-624-1033, Fax: 412-624-4895, E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.chronicle.pitt.edu The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution that does not discriminate upon any basis prohibited by law. JOHN H. BELL October 4, 2010 • University of Pittsburgh • 3 Sept. 10 Ceremony Welcomes Returning Pitt Honorees for ODK Walkway Rededication

By Patricia Lomando White

On this walk Omicron Delta Kappa honors those persons who, through intelligent leadership, personal integrity and intellec- tual honesty, have served their University well. This inscription at the beginning of a walkway between Pitt’s Cathedral of Learn- ing and the Heinz Chapel welcomes visitors to follow the Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK) walkway and peruse the engraved-in-stone names of those University of Pittsburgh alumni who, during their time at Pitt, earned the honor of ODK Senior of the Year. Through the decades, some stones had PHOTOS BY DAVID BACHMAN cracked, some had settled, and some of the names had faded, prompting the University of Pittsburgh to restore the walkway. Led by Pitt’s Office of Facilities Management 3 and the Cost Company, which cleaned and restored the several years ago, the walkway restoration was 1. Pitt’s ODK honorees, completed last fall. along with several Pitt A dedication and ribbon-cutting cer- 1 administrators, stand emony for the newly restored ODK walk- on the rededicated 4 way was held Sept. 10, with 27 of Pitt’s 70 ODK walk wa y living ODK Seniors of the Year present. The laude with a BS degree in math- between Heinz walkway commemorates student leadership ematics and physics. He also Chapel and the Cathedral of Learning. and celebrates ODK, a prestigious national was elected to Phi Beta Kappa 2 2. Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg addresses the honorees and their families. honorary leadership society. It is the only and received the M.M. Culver 3 and 4. Carol Simko Christobek (ENGR ’77), an ODK awardee, receives her walkway of its kind in the nation. Award in Mathematics. He is “While scholarship has always been a a past director of Pitt’s Alumni ribbon-cutting scissors for the ceremony. The ODK honor had been given exclu- strong requirement for ODK membership, Association. sively to male seniors at Pitt for 52 years—becoming known as the “Man of character and achievement in university- Among the 26 ODK honorees the Year” award—until Christobek won it and received the certificate (pictured) life leadership are the attending the dedi- in 1977. But, alas, the finer text of the award certificate was left unchanged and primary membership cation were a 15-term refers to her “as the senior man of the class of prerequisites,” said “While scholarship has Republican representative 1977.” Christobek said she still chuckles about Pitt Chancellor Mark for the 9th Congressional Dis- the wording, adding that some things never A. Nordenberg at the always been a strong trict of Pennsylvania; a change: When she attended last month’s event dedication ceremony. requirement for ODK regional administra- with her husband, Mark Christobek (ENGR “Pitt’s ODK walk cap- tor for the U.S. Gen- ’77), some participants incorrectly tures the promise of membership, character eral Services Admin- student leadership, istration Mid-Atlantic assumed that he, not she, was which sits at the very and achievement in Region, appointed by the ODK alumnus. 5. From left, heart of the noble work President Barack University Trustee Michael Bryson that is done on all five university-life leader- Obama; a direc- (A&S ’68), former Pennsylvania of our campuses each tor of Busi- Congressman The Hon. Bud and every day. Our ship are the primary ness Process Shuster (A&S ’54), and Pitt ODK awardees, whose membership prerequi- Excellence at Trustee J. Roger Glunt (KGSB names are memori- Ashland, Inc.; ’60) pose for a photo after the alized in stone, are sites. Pitt’s ODK walk a Pitt Rhodes rededication. linked to Pitt in per- Scholar who is 5 petuity.” captures the promise now an assistant ODK was the first professor in the college honor society of student leadership, Department of Bio- of national scope to logical Sciences at Carn- ODK Attendees at Rededication Ceremony recognize and honor which sits at the very egie Mellon University; meritorious leader- a national account execu- ship and service in heart of the noble work tive from Kellogg Com- Franklin Blackstone Carol Simko Christobek Kelly Coffield extracurricular activi- that is done on all five pany in Pittsburgh; and a presi- —Class of 1977 —Class of 1999 ties and to encourage dent and CEO of Terradime, —Class of 1949 the development of of our campuses each LLC, a real estate and research Ludwig Lippert Joseph Heim George Mongell campus citizenship. enterprise. (A listing of all the —Class of 1953 —Class of 1980 —Class of 2000 Pitt established and every day. Our attendees accompanies this The Honorable Bud Shuster Guy Molinari Michael Unangst the Gamma Circle in article.) 1916 as the third ODK ODK awardees, whose Founded in 1914 at Wash- —Class of 1954 —Class of 1983 —Class of 2001 chapter in the nation. names are memorial- ington and Lee University in Robert Muzik Patrick McElhinny Andy Hutelmyer The Gamma Circle Lexington, Va., ODK is an —Class of 1958 —Class of 1985 —Class of 2003 sponsors Pitt’s Senior ized in stone, are linked honorary society that recog- Sharon Metzker Elizabeth Blasi of the Year Award, nizes students who maintain Carl Templin given to students who to Pitt in perpetuity.” a high standard of leadership —Class of 1961 —Class of 1988 —Class of 2005 possess and exhibit —Mark A. Nordenberg in collegiate activities. The Michael Bryson Monica Perz-Waddington Tyler Gourley outstanding leader- founders—15 student and —Class of 1989 —Class of 2005 ship qualities in ser- faculty leaders—established —Class of 1968 vice to the University. the organization with the idea David Ehrenwerth Nathan Urban Joseph Pasqualichio The first ODK Senior of the Year was L.I. that “leadership of exceptional quality and —Class of 1969 —Class of 1991 —Class of 2007 Klinestivera, in 1922. versatility in college should be recognized, David Guydan Christine Bienkowski Dockey Andrea Youngo Among Pitt’s 70 ODK awardees is Uni- that representatives in all phases of col- versity Trustee Michael A. Bryson, the 1968 lege life should cooperate in worthwhile —Class of 1970 —Class of 1994 —Class of 2007 ODK winner, who spoke at the dedication. endeavors, and that outstanding students, David Blandino Julie Crowell Varghese Max Greenwald Bryson has served as a Pitt trustee since faculty, and administrators should meet on —Class of 1974 —Class of 1996 —Class of 2010 2002. A 2008 Pitt Legacy Laureate, Bryson a basis of mutual interest, understanding, graduated from the University summa cum and helpfulness.” 4 • Pitt Chronicle • October 4, 2010 Science&Technology

Perlmutter-Led Study Finds Common Seizure Drug Might Reverse, Prevent Severe Genetic Liver Disease By Anita Srikameswaran

The liver scarring of α1-antitrypsin The ability of carbamazepine and drugs (AT) deficiency, the most common genetic like it to “soup up” the cell’s autophagy cause for which children undergo liver trans- machinery might have value in other dis- plantation, might be reversed orders―such as Alzheimer’s or prevented with a medication disease, Huntington’s disease that has long been used to treat and Parkinsonism―that are seizures, according to findings thought to be caused by toxic from the University of Pitts- effects of protein clumping in burgh School of Medicine and the brain. Perlmutter and his Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh colleagues are now exploring of UPMC. these possibilities in preclini- Because the anti-seizure cal studies. drug is familiar to doctors and The team included lead has a well-understood safety author Tunda Hidvegi, a Pitt profile, clinical trials could begin research assistant professor in immediately to see whether it can David H. Perlmutter the Department of Pediatrics help patients with AT deficiency, at Children’s Hospital; Simon said senior author David H. Perlmutter, the C. Watkins, a professor in the Pitt School Vira I. Heinz Professor and Chair of the of Medicine’s Department of Cell Biology Department of Pediatrics, Pitt School of and Physiology; George Michalopoulos, Medicine, and physician-in-chief and scien- chair and professor in the School of Medi- tific director of Children’s Hospital. cine’s Department of Pathology; and other In the classic form of the disease, which researchers from the Pitt School of Medicine. affects one in 3,000 live births, a gene muta- The study, which appeared in the tion leads to an abnormal protein, dubbed July 9, 2010, issue of Science, was funded by ATZ, which, unlike its normal counterpart, the National Institutes of Health, Children’s is prone to aggregation. Hospital, and UPMC. “These aggregates of ATZ accumulate in the liver cells and eventually lead to scar- ring, or fibrosis, of the organ and set the stage In the classic form of the disease, for tumor development,” said Perlmutter, which affects one in 3,000 live Study Led by Feghali-Bostwick Finds who was elected to the Institute of Medicine in 2008. “The disease sometimes doesn’t births, a gene mutation leads to Potential Target for Fibrosis Treatment show itself until adulthood, when the liver starts to fail due to cirrhosis or cancer.” an abnormal protein, dubbed ATZ, By Amy Dugas Rose For the study, he and his colleagues treated an ATZ cell line with carbamazepine, which, unlike its normal counter- Researchers in the University of or Tegretol. Although this drug has been Pittsburgh School of Medicine have “Our study shows that used primarily to treat seizure disorders, part, is prone to aggregation. discovered that a molecule that regulates some recent work has suggested that it gene expression plays a central role in abnormally high levels of EGR-1 could enhance a natural cellular pathway the development of fibrosis, a condition are associated with the develop- called autophagy, or self-digestion. in which organ-supporting connec- The Pitt researchers reasoned tive tissues become thick, hard, and ment of fibrosis. Therefore, con- that Tegretol might be able rigid, restricting normal function. The to rid the cells of the toxic findings are available in the American trolling EGR-1 could be a potential aggregated ATZ. Journal of Pathology. They found that Early Growth Receptor-1 therapy for disorders such as carbamazepine did, (EGR-1) orchestrates the response to indeed, cause a certain growth factors and influences scleroderma and pulmonary marked decrease the activity of numerous genes, said fibrosis.” in ATZ because Carol Feghali-Bostwick, principal the abnormal investigator and a professor of medicine —Carol Feghali-Bostwick proteins were and pathology in the University of Pitts- degraded more burgh School of Medicine. tantly, when fibrosis was produced in cells quickly via “Our study shows that abnor- and animals lacking EGR-1, the amount of autophagy. mally high levels of EGR-1 are associ- fibrosis was dramatically reduced. The research- ated with the development of “We also found that com- ers then did fibrosis,” Feghali-Bostwick pared to healthy individuals, a n o t h e r said. “Therefore, controlling people who have pulmonary experiment EGR-1 could be a potential fibrosis had higher levels of in a mouse therapy for disorders such as EGR-1 in samples of their lung model of AT scleroderma and pulmonary tissue and in their fibroblasts,” deficiency. fibrosis.” Feghali-Bostwick said. The “ T h e Researchers induced findings suggest that targeting amount of ATZ fibrosis in animal and human EGR-1 provides a potential decreased in the fibroblasts, which are cells therapeutic approach for organ livers of the mice that give rise to connective fibrosis. treated with carba- tissue by utilizing a secreted Carol Feghali-Bostwick Researchers received mazepine,” Perlmutter protein called IGFBP-5 (insu- funding for the study from the said. “The most amazing lin-like growth factor binding protein National Institute of Arthritis and Muscu- finding was that the drug 5), made by a gene that is overexpressed loskeletal and Skin Diseases; the National reversed the fibrosis in the in fibrotic lung and skin tissues. They Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the Ameri- livers of the mice and, after found that the experimentally induced can Lung Association; the American Heart two weeks of treatment, the fibrosis was associated with abnormally Association Pennsylvania/Delaware affili- liver tissue resembled that of elevated EGR-1 activity. More impor- ate; and the Uehara Memorial Foundation. a healthy mouse.”

October 4, 2010 • University of Pittsburgh • 5

Blocking DNA Repair Protein Could Lead to Targeted, Safer Cancer Therapy, Pitt, UPCI Find By Anita Srikameswaran

Researchers in Pitt’s School of Medicine and the University of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute (UPCI) have discovered that inhib- iting a key molecule in a DNA repair pathway could provide the means to make cancer cells more sensitive to radiation therapy while protecting healthy cells. The findings are pub- lished in Science Signaling and provide new insights into mechanisms of how the body fixes environmen- tally induced DNA damage and into the deadly neu- rological disease ataxia- telangiectasia (A-T), said senior author Christopher Reduced Activity in Key Brain Areas Bakkenist, assistant pro- fessor of radiation oncol- ogy, pharmacology, and Seen in Women With Postpartum chemical biology at Pitt and UPCI. Depression, Pitt Study Finds “A cha r a ct e r ist ic symptom of A-T is height- By Megan Grote Quatrini ened sensitivity to ionizing radiation, such as X-rays Certain brain areas of women with and scared faces, and the researchers exam- and gamma rays,” Bak- postpartum depression react less to images ined the mothers’ neural reactions to the kenist said. “If we under- of scared or angry faces than those of women images. Researchers found that negative stand why that happens, who are well, according to a study by Uni- emotional faces activated the left dorso- then we might be able to versity of Pittsburgh School of Medicine medial prefrontal cortex, which is a social reproduce it to make tumor researchers that was published in a recent cognition region of the brain, significantly cells vulnerable to radiation treatments this problem despite lacking the kinase; issue of the American Journal of Psychia- less in depressed mothers than in healthy while sparing healthy cells, which would they presumably use another method to try. The researchers mothers. Deficits in this make therapy more effective while minimiz- check for and correct those errors. also found a reduction region, therefore, might ing side effects.” The discovery revealed a new in brain activity that represent diminished In A-T, brain areas that control move- approach to target cancer. was associated with "With our research, we awareness of the emotions ment progressively degenerate, causing “A characteristic of tumor cells greater impairment of are hoping to gain greater of others and less empathy walking and balance problems. Patients is that they rapidly replicate, possi- maternal attachment for them. The researchers carry a gene mutation that stops produc- bly because they have mutations that processes. mechanistic understanding also found that while neg- tion of a protein called ATM kinase, which encourage cell division or that thwart “The birth of a ative images were viewed, spurs other proteins involved in normal cell repair pathways,” Bakkenist explained. child is a greatly antici- of postpartum depression, communication between division, DNA repair, and “But ATM kinase remains pated and desired life the left dorsomedial pre- cell death. present in the vast majority event, but it is para- namely what is going on frontal cortex and the left Radiation causes Bakkenist and his of human cancers, so that doxically accompanied amygdala was present in DNA mutations during suggests it is needed by by maternal depres- in the brains of depressed healthy moms but not in the process of cell division, team are now those diseased cells during sion in 15 percent of mothers.” depressed ones, suggest- when genetic material is replication.” new moms,” said Eydie ing that this might be an copied for a new cell to studying the effects Cells that, unlike L. Moses-Kolko, lead —Eydie L. Moses-Kolko important neural circuit form. The cell has repair cancer cells, are not going author of the study and that regulates emotional pathways that include of such inhibitors on through what’s known as an assistant professor responses to unpleasant checkpoints to look for pancreatic, lung, replication stress, would of psychiatry at Pitt. stimuli, such as a crying baby. errors as well as methods to not be affected by an ATM “With our research, we are hoping to gain “We also discovered that greater repair them, but if enough and breast cancer inhibitor and, like A-T greater mechanistic understanding of post- infant-related hostility and more severe mutations accumulate, the cells, likely have another partum depression, namely what is going on depression were associated with reduced cell could become cancer- cells. way of repairing certain in the brains of depressed mothers.” face-related amygdala activity, which may ous or self-destruct. A-T radiation-induced muta- For the study, researchers compared be a mechanism for the reduced attunement patients, who lack the kinase, have a higher tions, Bakkenist said, “so that would 14 depressed and 16 healthy mothers, all and empathic responses in some depressed risk for developing cancer, Bakkenist said. make cancer cells particularly vulner- of whom delivered a healthy term infant in moms that is described in the literature,” Bakkenist and his colleagues tested able to an ATM inhibitor, while healthy the preceding 12 weeks, were medication- noted Moses-Kolko. “We need studies what would happen if they blocked the cells should be unaffected.” free, and had previously given birth to whereby brain responses can be directly activity of ATM kinase in cells that make Bakkenist and his team are now another child. Mothers were assessed using related to live mother-infant behavior in the protein. They had already determined studying the effects of such inhibitors functional MRI to look at brain activity in order to definitely clarify brain mechanisms that administering an ATM kinase inhibitor on pancreatic, lung, and breast cancer relationship to prenatal depression, anxiety, of mother-infant attachment. Ultimately, this from 15 minutes to 75 minutes after radiation cells. and function, as well as with a questionnaire information has the potential to guide the exposure was sufficient to make normal cells The work was supported by to determine attachment quality, hostility, development of more effective treatments more sensitive to the effects of radiation. a National Cancer Institute Lung and pleasure in interaction with their infants. for postpartum depression.” To their surprise, they found that inac- Cancer SPORE grant; the Lung Cancer To fully engage the brain regions The study was supported in part by tivation of ATM kinase prevented a type Research Foundation; the Breast Cancer involved in emotion processing, the research- funding from the National Institute of of DNA repair that is essential for proper Research Foundation; and the Frieda ers used a well-known face-matching test: Mental Health and the National Alliance for duplication of genetic material during rep- G. and Saul F. Shapira BRCA Cancer The mothers were shown images of angry Research on Schizophrenia and Depression. lication. However, A-T cells did not have Research Program.

6 • Pitt Chronicle • October 4, 2010 Sip ‘n Read University Library System’s Espresso Book Machine Prints Books on Demand

3

The massive EBM database, called EspressNet, includes nearly a mil- lion book titles, including text- books, thousands of titles in the ULS D-Scribe online collections, and most University of Pittsburgh 1 Press titles.

the University Book Center, and its ability to print books on demand is expected to reduce the cost of select student textbooks. Pitt is one of only 30 universities world- PHOTOS BY JOE KAPELEWSKI/CIDDE wide to have an EBM. Photos: 1. From left, University A group of Pitt dignitaries, faculty, and librarians and other Library System (ULS) Director Rush staff members gathered at Sept. 27 for a dem- Miller, Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Norden- onstration of Pitt’s new Espresso Book Machine (EBM), which berg, and Thornburgh inspect Thorn- can print, glue, and bind a paperback book in a matter of minutes. burgh’s book, Where the Evidence Leads, The first book “hot off the press” was an updated version of which was printed in about seven minutes Where the Evidence Leads (University of Pittsburgh Press, 2003) from a digital file. 2. Patricia Duff, head by former Pennsylvania Governor, former U.S. Attorney General, of ULS’s Department of Document Deliv- and Pitt alumnus and trustee Dick Thornburgh (LAW ’57). ery and Interlibrary Loans, explains the The massive EBM database, called EspressNet, includes EBM’s internal workings to Thornburgh. 2 nearly a million book titles, including textbooks, thousands of 3. Thornburgh displays the final product titles in the ULS D-Scribe online collections, and most University after his autobiography emerges from the of Pittsburgh Press titles. The machine soon will be housed in machine.

African American Seniors at Twice the Risk For Pitt Planet Hunters Track Long, Mental Abuse, Five Times for Financial Exploitation Strange Voyage of Distant Planet as Continued from page 1 Part of International Collaboration abuse and financial exploitation occurring stolen, having money tampered with, and within the past six months and since the being made to sign documents they did not Continued from page 1 adults had turned 60. The sample contained understand. Only 8.4 percent of non-African 210 African Americans, or 23.2 percent American elders reported being cheated of Technology and of respondents, which is nearly twice the since turning 60, and a mere 2.4 percent the University of proportion of African Americans living in said it happened within the past six months. California at Santa Allegheny County, Beach said. On the other hand, 23 percent of African Barbara, the nine- Psychological mistreatment included Americans claimed that someone meddled team project dem- b ei ng yel le d at or with their money since onstrated that mul- insulted, having per- they turned 60, and 12.9 tiple observatories sonal property destroyed, Among African Americans, percent said it occurred working together and receiving threats of recently. can capture such injury, stoppage of care, 24.4 percent reported Most striking about long transits in their or being sent to a nursing the team’s findings was entirety. home. Among African being abused since turn- that the racial dispar- As HD 80606b Americans, 24.4 percent ity in mental abuse or moved, the research reported being abused ing 60, and 16.1 percent financial exploitation was groups recorded the since turning 60, and reported psychological not explained by addi- transit from their 16.1 percent reported tional factors such as respective vantage psychological mistreat- mistreatment within the education, health, age, points. The data ment within the past six or socioeconomic status, was then combined months. Around half as past six months. Beach said. On average, to reveal unknown LOU COBAN many non-Black seniors African Americans in information about Pitt students working in the University’s Allegheny Observatory on the . reported abuse, with 13.2 the survey tended to be the planet, such as percent claiming psychological abuse since slightly younger, less educated, and more its mid-transit point turning 60 and 7.2 percent saying it hap- likely to be single, divorced, or widowed. and the precise transit duration. The effort Faulkes Telescope North in Hawaii. pened within the previous half year. Interest- Nonetheless, non-African Americans of included teams working from the Wise Pitt’s STEPUP team has tracked, in ingly, African Americans were usually less similar means, years, schooling, and marital Observatory in Israel; the Gran Telescopio addition to the HD 80606 project, the tran- upset by aggressive behavior, yet more Afri- status were still less likely to report mistreat- Canarias in the Canary Islands; Observa- sits of approximately half a dozen extrasolar can Americans reported being “extremely ment or financial deceit, Beach said. toire de Haute Provence in France; Rose- planets in the past six months, Good said. upset” when deliberately insulted or when Beach plans to follow up on the survey mary Hill Observatory in Florida; the Fred Group members also are helping make their belongings were destroyed. by including seniors from other parts of the Lawrence Whipple Observatory in Arizona; upgrades to the Allegheny Observatory African Americans reported even country, interviewing the perpetrators, and the Table Mountain Observatory in Califor- that will allow them to use and control the higher instances of financial exploita- developing more standardized definitions of nia; the George R. Wallace Jr. Astrophysi- Observatory’s 30-inch Thaw telescope from tion, which was defined as having checks the various types of psychological mistreat- cal Observatory in Massachusetts; and the Pitt’s campus. October 4, 2010 • University of Pittsburgh • 7

August Wilson Center for African American Culture, In My Father’s House, mixed-media exhibition about how African Americans collect and Happenings preserve their culture, ongoing, 980 Liberty Ave., Downtown, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-456-6666, www. pgharts.org. Hunt Institute for Botanical Docu- mentation, 13th International Exhibi- tion of Botanical Art & Illustration, features 110 watercolors, drawings, and prints, through Dec. 17, 5th floor, Hunt Library, Carnegie Mellon University, 4909 Frew St., Oakland, 412-268-2434, http://huntbot.andrew.cmu.edu. Fall Concert, , Senator John Heinz History Center, October 10 Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art, one of largest Vatican “An Update of Japanese Databases collections to tour , and Effective Methods to Find through Jan. 9; Beat ’Em Bucs: The Articles,” Hiroyuki Good, Japanese bib- Story of the 1960 Pirates, exhibition liographer for Pitt’s East Asian Library, through January, 1212 Smallman St., noon Oct. 7, 4130 Posvar Hall, Asia Over Strip District, 412-454-6000, www. Lunch Lecture Series, Pitt’s Asian Stud- heinzhistorycenter.org. ies Center, 412-648-7370, [email protected]. “What to Say About Natural Kinds,” Lectures/Seminars/ P.D. Magnus, visiting fellow, Pitt Center for Philosophy of Science, 12:05 p.m. Readings Oct. 8, 817 R Cathedral of Learning, Pitt Center for Philosophy of Science, 412- Mary Karr, poet and memoirist, 7:30 624-1052, [email protected]. p.m. Oct. 4, Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, Drue Heinz Between Women, a discussion of the Lectures, 412-622-8866, www.pitts- book by Sharon Marcus, Orlando Har- burghlectures.org. riman Professor of English, Columbia University, 12:30 p.m. Oct. 8, 526 “Towards a New Epistemology of Cathedral of Learning, Pitt’s Humanities Science,” Samuel Schindler, visit- Center Colloquium Series, humctr@pitt. ing fellow, Pitt Center for Philosophy edu, www.humcenter.pitt.edu. of Science, 12:05 p.m. Oct. 5, 817R Cathedral of Learning, Pitt Center for Philosophy of Science, 412-624-1052, [email protected]. Miscellaneous Science 2010—Transformations, “Magic and Religion in Ancient Pitt’s 10th annual celebration of science Corinth,” Ronald S. Stroud, professor, and technology, Oct. 7-8, Alumni Hall, University of California at Berkeley, free and open to public, www.sci- 4:30 p.m. Oct. 5, 324 Cathedral of ence2010.pitt.edu. Learning, Pitt Department of Classics, Archaeological Institute of America, La Ultima Cena, (The Last Supper, film www.classics.pitt.edu. by Tomás Gutiérrez Alea, 1976), 6:30 p.m. Oct. 7, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Mark Kurlansky, 2010 Fred R. Brown Cuban Eyes/Cubanize: Fifty Years of Literary Award winner, 8:30 p.m. Cuban Cinema Since the Cuban Revolu- Oct. 5, Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, tion Film Series, Pitt Center for Latin Vatican Splendors: A Journey Through Faith and Art, Senator John Heinz History Center, Pittsburgh Contemporary Writers American Studies, Department of His- through January 9 Series, Pitt Department of English, panic Languages and Literatures, www. [email protected], www.english.pitt.edu. [email protected]. Concerts “Reproductive Rights in Pennsyl- vania,” Rebecca Cavanaugh, vice Rakugo, Japanese sit-down comedy Puerto Flamenco, Spanish music with 709 Penn Gallery, Nature in Glass, president for public affairs, Planned Opera/Theater/ performance, 6 p.m. Oct. 5, Classroom choreography and spontaneous impro- exhibition of Gary Guydosh’s flowers and Parenthood of Western Pennsylvania, Dance A, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, 4400 visation, 7 and 9 p.m. Oct. 8, Pittsburgh other nature-inspired pieces, through noon Oct. 6, 2201 Posvar Hall, Pitt Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622-3151, Center for the Arts, 6300 Fifth Ave., Oct. 24, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust’s Women’s Studies Program, wstudies@ The Royal Family by George S. [email protected]. Shadyside, Guitar Society of Fine Art, Department of Education and Commu- pitt.edu. Kaufman and Edna Ferber, through 412-612-0499, www.gsfapittsburgh.org, nity Engagement, 412-456-6666. Oct. 31, O’Reilly Theater, 621 Penn Ave., Howie Alexander Trio, eclectic mix PITT ARTS Cheap Seats, 412-624-4498, Downtown, Pittsburgh Public Theater, of traditional and contemporary jazz, www.pittarts.pitt.edu. 412-316-1600, www.ppt.org, PITT ARTS noon Oct. 6, Nordy’s Place, Lower Level, Cheap Seats, 412-624-4498, www.pit- William Pitt Union, PITT ARTS’ Artful A Golden Age: Music of Tudor & tarts.pitt.edu. Wednesdays, 412-624-4498, www.pit- Jacobean England, featuring a cap- tarts.pitt.edu. pella ensemble Stile Antico, 8 p.m. The Barber of Seville, music by Oct. 9, Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Gioacchino Rossini, libretto by Cesare Diamanda Galas in Concert, avant- Shady Ave., Shadyside, Renaissance & Sterbini, Oct. 9, 12, 15, and 17, Ben- garde vocalist, pianist, composer, and Baroque Society in association with Cal- edum Center, 803 Liberty Ave., Down- performance artist, 8 p.m. Oct. 6, New vary Episcopal Church, 412-361-2048, town, Pittsburgh Opera, 412-456-6666, Hazlett Theater, Allegheny Square East, www.rbsp.org. www.benedumcenter.org, PITT ARTS’ North Side, 412-320-4610, www.newha- Pitt Night is Oct. 15, PITT ARTS Cheap zletttheater.org. Joy Ike, singer/songwriter, 2 p.m. Seats, 412-624-4498, www.pittarts.pitt. Oct. 10, Quiet Reading Room, First edu. The Fabulous ’50s With Marvin Floor, Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, Hamlisch & Sha Na Na, featuring 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622- Triple Espresso, story of failure-prone popular tunes from the ’50s, Oct. 7-10, 3151, newandfeatured@carnegielibrary. comedy trio trying for its big break, Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Downtown, org. through Jan. 9, Cabaret at Theater Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, PNC Square, 101 Sixth St., Downtown, Pops! 412-392-4900, www. Heinz Chapel Choir Fall Concert, Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, 412-456-6666, pittsburghsymphony.org, PITT musical performance, 3 p.m. Oct. www.pgharts.org, PITT ARTS Cheap ARTS Cheap Seats, 412-624- 10, Heinz Memorial Chapel, Pitt Seats, 412-624-4498, www.pittarts.pitt. 4498, www.pittarts.pitt.edu. Department of Music, 412-624- edu. 4125, www.music.pitt.edu. DBR: Woodbox Beats & The Fabulous Balladry, Pitt PhD Dissertation ’50s With featuring composer, Marvin Hamlisch violinist, and bandleader Daniel Defenses & Sha Na Na, Bernard Roumain, 6 p.m. Oct. 11, Heinz Hall August Wilson Center for Afri- Jennifer Whatley Schwartz, School October 7-10 can American Culture, 980 of Arts and Sciences’ Department of Liberty Ave., Downtown, English, 8:30 a.m. Oct. 6, “Writing With Pittsburgh Cultural Readers: Written Comments and the Trust, 412-456-6666, Teaching of Composition,” 526 Cathedral www.pgharts. of Learning. Kari N. Nejak-Bowen, School of Exhibitions Medicine’s Cellular and Molecular Pathology Graduate Program, 10 a.m. Carnegie Museum Oct. 6, “Beta-Catenin in Liver: A Matter of Art, The Art of of Life and Death,” 1103 Scaife Confer- Structure, through ence Center, Scaife Hall. Jan. 17; Past Meets Present: Decorative Arts Angela Green, School of Medicine’s and Design at Carnegie Molecular Virology and Microbiol- Museum of Art, ongoing, ogy Graduate Program, 10 a.m. Oct. 7, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, “Effector and Regulatory CD4 T Cells 412-622-3131, www.cmoa.org. Young Women Picking Fruit, 1891, During Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Pittsburgher Mary Cassatt, Permanent Collection, Carnegie Museum of Art Infection,” 1105A Scaife Conference Center, Scaife Hall.

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8 • Pitt Chronicle • October 4, 2010 Sharing Skills and Hope During Pitt’s 19th Annual United Way Day of Caring About 350 University of Pittsburgh administrators, faculty, and staff donned blue jeans and work shirts as they traveled to sites in Oakland and beyond to work on 14 different service projects during Pitt’s 19th United Way Day of Caring on Sept. 29. The University partnered on the projects with TIAA-CREF, a retirement planning and investment manager for University faculty and staff. There was more than enough work to go around, with digging and painting skills being in high demand. Among the service projects were interior painting at the Hazel- wood YMCA and Lawrenceville’s Stephen Foster Community Center. Volunteers also worked with Hill House Neighborhood Development to plant trees and other green- ery in lots adjacent to Cliffside Park, which is a playground on Cliff Street in the Hill District. Crews working at the Greater Pitts- burgh Community Food Bank in Duquesne sorted and packed bulk foods for distribution to needy families throughout the region. The Oakland Food Pantry, meanwhile, received help with interior improvements. Stephen Zupcic, Pitt’s assistant director /CIDDE /CIDDE for community relations, said the Oakland /CIDDE pantry, located on Lawn Street in South Oakland, serves 500 families a week. MARY JANE BENT MIKE DRAZDZINSKI MIKE DRAZDZINSKI

PUBLICATION NOTICE The next edition of Pitt Chronicle will be published Oct. 11. Items for publication in the newspaper’s Happenings calendar (see page 7) should be received at least two weeks before the event date. Happenings items should include the following information: title of the event, name and title of speaker(s), date, time, location, sponsor(s), and a phone number and Web site for additional information. Items may be e-mailed to chron@pitt. edu, faxed to 412-624-4895, or sent by

/CIDDE campus mail to 422 Craig Hall. For more /CIDDE information, call 412-624-1033 or e-mail [email protected]. MARY JANE BENT MARY JANE BENT