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The Univer- Pitt honors five faculty with Distin- sity Times guished Professorships...... 2 talks with Falk School faculty and students are Deborah turning a steep hillside into an outdoor classroom...... 6 & 7 Walker, the new president U N I V E R S I T Y of the Staff Association Council. See page 3. TIMES VOLUME 43 • NUMBER 21 JUNE 23, 2011 UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH State budget discussions continue s state budget discussions The Senate bill’s proposed $25 of Higher Education schools by continue in Harrisburg, million cut is significantly less 15 percent. Corbett’s proposal Alegislation awaiting final severe than Corbett’s initial plan had slated the schools for cuts of approval in the state Senate would to halve the appropriation for Pitt more than 50 percent. cut Pitt’s general appropriation by and its fellow state-related univer- Senate Bill 1123 would restore 15 percent. sities, but significant nevertheless. to Pitt some $62.5 million of Cor- Although the $142.8 million John Fedele, Pitt associate bett’s proposed cuts. If approved, proposal represents the Senate’s director of News, said, “Pitt is still it would provide nearly $142.8 goal for restoring some of the 50 working with legislators in hopes million ($140.6 million for general percent cut Gov. Tom Corbett that the percent reduction in the support and nearly $2.2 million proposed for Pitt, Paul Supowitz, appropriation for the state-related for rural education outreach) for vice chancellor for Governmental universities will be no greater Pitt in fiscal year 2012, which Relations, cautioned that the than that assigned to the Com- begins July 1. budget debate is still in progress. monwealth System universities.” Excluding funding for the “It’s not all that clear that will The House budget bill would cut medical school, Pitt’s current be the final number,” he said funding for the 14 State System fiscal year appropriation includes $160.49 million in state money plus $7.5 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Virtual desktops (ARRA) funds for a total of nearly $168 million. Mike Drazdzinski/CIDDE Corbett’s FY12 budget pro- Honored Technology yields savings Alaine M. Allen, director of the Pitt engineering career access posal would have reduced Pitt’s program housed in the Swanson School of Engineering, is this everal virtual computing VMware, which Lefcakis said has general appropriation to $80.25 year’s winner of the Chancellor’s Affirmative Action Award. initiatives are underway at been in the virtualization ware million. In addition, the end of The award, which carries a $2,500 prize, is presented annually Pitt, with an aim to simplify business the longest. to a program that, or an individual who, has made a signifi- S the federal stimulus program cuts cant contribution to affirmative action at Pitt. access to computing resources An employee who has to leave $7.5 million in the coming fiscal Chancellor Mark Nordenberg, left, presented the award to while cutting costs — both for the office in the middle of a project Allen at the June 15 Senate Council meeting. users and for the University. can click on the VM client to dis- CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 Virtual computing is gaining connect the work from the desktop popularity across higher educa- and reconnect it to pick up where tion, with many schools piloting he or she left off, using an iPad or Oakland Farmers’ Market to open various projects, said Computing other device at home or elsewhere, he Oakland Farmers’ in the adjacent UPMC lot. vegetables, meat and dairy prod- Services and Systems Develop- he explained. For example, Lefca- Market returns July 8, Pitt is among many community ucts from local farms. ment director Jinx Walton. kis said, a coder from an UCSUR with a dozen or so vendors partners sponsoring the farmers’ The program, launched in Pitt already offers virtual appli- lab who performs data analysis is T featuring homegrown and home- market with the Oakland Business 2007, offers fresh products deliv- cations through the faculty com- spending time in Japan. “We gave made local products such as fresh Improvement District. Informa- ered directly from area farms to puting program, which enables him VM and he’s able to work as produce, cut flowers, herbs, honey, tion on the farmers’ market is designated locations on the Pitts- faculty to use a number of software if he’s here.” eggs, fresh-baked bread, vegan available at http://oaklandfarmer- burgh campus. Subscribers pay a packages on or off campus with- Users who may need multiple baked goods, all-natural beef and smarket.org/this-years-vendors/ fee in advance then receive farm- out downloading the programs software setups can have several ethnic delectables. or by calling 412/683-6243 ext. 19. fresh products weekly through to their own machines, Walton virtual desktops, allowing them to The market will be held noon- The University also sponsors October. For more information said, adding that faculty, staff simply log into the configuration 4 p.m. on Fridays through Nov. a Farms to Pitt program, run by on the Farms to Pitt program, and students will be seeing more that’s needed, rather than need- 18 on Sennott Street between Isidore Foods, that enables Uni- visit www.isidorefoods.com or call virtual computing options in the ing different desktop machines, Atwood Street and Meyran versity employees to subscribe to 412/400-4721. coming academic year, including he said. Avenue. Free parking is available a weekly delivery of fresh fruits, —Peter Hart n virtual servers, virtual computer There’s even an option for labs and virtual desktops. users who want to continue their work offline — perhaps on an UCSUR an early adopter airplane or in a remote area. They While many University depart- can “check out” a desktop before ments are showing interest, Jim losing their connection then check Lefcakis, information technology it back in when they have Internet director for the University Center access again, he said. for Social and Urban Research, The virtual technology will be said his center is the first to be put to the test during UCSUR’s virtualizing desktops — replacing move this summer. Its current desktop computers with monitors home, the University Place and small machines called thin (or building, is slated for demolition zero) clients. to make way for a new freshman A virtual desktop enables dorm. a computer user to access the Faculty and staff who use resources available at the office the virtual environment should from anyplace with Internet experience no downtime during access, while the data remains UCSUR’s move. Instead of having secure on Pitt’s network. to take users offline, “We’ll have Any device with connectivity 100 percent accessibility,” Lefca- will work — a laptop, iPad or kis said. By setting up thin servers even a smart phone — although in UCSUR’s new offices on Forbes it’s more practical if the device is Avenue, employees will be able to equipped with a keyboard, Lef- “leave work here one day, then cakis said. go to another place the next day” Several companies offer without interruption. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 the software but UCSUR uses Photo courtesy of OBID 1 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES

dynamics/simulated annealing algorithms and multidimensional, 5 faculty awarded Distinguished Professorships heteronuclear magnetic resonance Pitt has honored five faculty of new diagnostics, population- synthase gene. logical molecules, such as proteins, spectroscopy methods that she members with Distinguished Pro- based field studies, clinical vaccine Billiar’s work and how their function is affected developed, Gronenborn studies fessorships, one as a Distinguished trials, computational modeling of also extends into by changes in their structure and the structure, folding and dynam- University Professor and four as epidemic control strategies and the areas of liver by their interactions. ics of macromolecules. Distinguished Professors. policy analysis. disease and innate Gronenborn has solved solu- • One of the nation’s leading The honorees and their new • Billiar is the George Vance immunity. There tion structures of a large number experts in the early detection titles are: Donald Burke, Dis- Foster Professor and Chair in the are seven U.S. of medically of Alzheimer’s disease, Klunk tinguished University Professor School of Medicine’s Department patents associ- and biologically is a professor of psychiatry and of Health Science and Policy; of Surgery. ated with his research. important pro- neurology in the School of Medi- Timothy R. Billiar, Distinguished The main research focus of • Gronenborn is the UPMC teins, including cine. He also is co-director of Professor of Surgery; Angela Billiar’s laboratory is studying the Rosalind Franklin Professor and cytokines and the Alzheimer Disease Research Gronenborn, Distinguished Pro- immune response to injury and Chair in the School of Medicine’s chemokines, Center at UPMC. He is a pioneer fessor of Structural Biology; shock. His laboratory, which cur- Department of Structural Biology. transcription in the field of in vivo amyloid imag- William E. Klunk, Distinguished rently is funded by three National She has made key contribu- factors and their ing in humans, and his group’s Professor of Psychiatry, and Peter Institutes of Health (NIH) grants, tions in the field of structural complexes and various HIV- and paper on imaging the pathology Strick, Distinguished Professor of is credited with initially cloning biology, which is the study of the AIDS-related proteins. of Alzheimer’s disease, published Neurobiology. the human inducible nitric oxide three-dimensional shapes of bio- Using restrained molecular CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 A Distinguished University Professorship recognizes eminence in several fields of study, transcending accomplishments What makes a Distinguished Professor? in and contributions to a single discipline; the rank of Distin- hat’s in a name? Among approved adding the Distin- then has to assemble a dossier on study, transcending contributions guished Professor recognizes Pitt’s three distinguished Professor in a discipline behalf of the individual. There’s a to a single discipline. National extraordinary, internationally Wguished professorship category; for example, Distin- lot of work involved putting those and, where appropriate, interna- recognized scholarly attainment designations, the differences are guished Professor of Physics,” materials together.” tional recognition in at least one in an individual discipline or field. subtle but important, according Blair explained. In addition to personal state- field is required. (See sidebar.) to a senior administrator involved In 2009, the modifier “Distin- ments from the candidate on his or In addition to the expectation Chancellor Mark A. Norden- with the recommendation process. guished” was added to the category her research, teaching and service that the individual make special berg last week announced the The University established University Professor in order to activities, supporting materials contributions to the advancement appointments, which become policies for honoring its most avoid confusion with a generic are expected to include a state- of his or her home department, effective July 1. distinguished faculty members term, he noted. ment of the nominee’s predicted school and to the institution, • Burke is the inaugural Uni- in 1994. Distinguished professor- “Some places in academia, productivity and directions for the expectations include promoting versity of Pitts- ships, the highest honor accorded particularly in Europe, didn’t future, as well as letters of recom- the intellectual advancement of burgh Medical a faculty member, currently come understand that University Pro- mendation from 10-12 non-Pitt other departments or schools Center-Jonas in three forms: Distinguished fessor meant anything special, affiliates, the majority of whom within the University. Salk Professor Professor, Distinguished Univer- believing instead that all faculty are to be scholars at distinguished —Distinguished Service Pro- of Global Health sity Professor and Distinguished are university professors,” he said. ranks who are not former advisers, fessor. This designation recog- and the dean of Service Professor. “We view all three as co-equal colleagues or collaborators of the nizes distinctive contributions the Graduate Sixty-three active Pitt faculty designations; the differences nominee, Blair noted. and outstanding service (e.g., School of Public members (out of approximately reflect the faculty member’s career The dossiers and supporting professional, regional, national, Health. 1,250 tenured faculty University- track, rather than one being con- materials are reviewed by the international) to the University He is recognized as one of the wide) hold one of the three des- sidered higher in any sense than committee in the spring, he said. community in support of its multi- world’s foremost experts on the ignations, including the five new another,” Blair added. The faculty committee com- faceted teaching/research/service prevention, diagnosis and control appointments announced by the A 10-person faculty committee prises six Provost-area desig- mission, as well as performance of infectious diseases of global chancellor last week. that recommends nominees for nees and four Health Sciences excellence in the faculty member’s concern, including HIV/AIDS, “Initially, we had two catego- appointment meets at least twice representatives — a breakdown department or school and national hepatitis A, avian influenza and ries: University Professor and a year, Blair said. “Nominations that reflects roughly the same stature in his or her discipline or emerging infectious diseases. University Service Professor,” are made by deans or campus proportion of tenured faculty field. The designation normally He also is director of Pitt’s said Andrew Blair, vice provost for presidents typically by Sept. 15, so University-wide, Blair said. Com- is reserved for senior faculty Center for Vaccine Research and Faculty Affairs who staffs the pro- the committee meets in the fall to mittee members serve three-year who have established a record of serves in the newly established vost’s faculty committee charged discuss which nominations should terms, with three or four members distinguished service within the position of associate vice chan- with reviewing nominations. continue on in the process. The annually rotating off the com- University. cellor for global health, Health “In 2000, the chancellor nominating dean is alerted and mittee. The chair is chosen from Other factors common to the Sciences. among members in their third three ranks include: Burke’s career-long mission year of service, and chairs alternate • Each appointment is limited has been prevention and mitiga- L E T T E R S annually between a Provost-area to the school in which the faculty tion of the impact of epidemic and Health Sciences-area repre- member holds tenure. infectious diseases of global Surviving rejections sentative. • Appointments most often importance. His research activi- To the editor: “Man and Superman” (1905), a The three distinguished pro- are made for an indefinite term. ties have spanned a wide range Upon learning of the demise writer put down belittlingly as fessor categories share similar However, there may be instances of science “from the bench to the recently of Dick Wimmer, whose one who “will never be popular in eligibility criteria, which include: where a limited term, with or bush,” including development ultimately acclaimed novel, “Irish the usual sense of the word, and • Prior tenure status. without the possibility of renewal, Wine,” was rejected 162 times scarcely remunerative.” • Performance requirements may be desirable. over a wrenching 25 years, my The foregoing authors, along and expectations for the distin- • All appointments are made mind, drawn to the excruciating with the recently deceased Dick guished ranks as established by the with the expectation that profes- rejections endured by the profes- Wimmer, were not immobilized department chair and the dean of sional performance will be main- soriate, inspired me to forage for by failure when their literary the school in which the professor tained at a level appropriate for U N I V E R S I T Y anecdotes about successful writ- products initially were rejected, holds tenure, in consultation with the distinguished appointment. ers who would not take no for enjoying spectacular success after appropriate departmental faculty. • The advancement to one TIMES an answer as they resolutely and having been mercilessly rejected. • Demonstrated “accomplish- of these appointments does EDITOR indefatigably stayed in the game, Unintimidated by these rebukes, ments and contributions beyond not alter the manner in which N. J. Brown 412/624-1373 among whom the following illus- they continued to believe in the authoritative knowledge, salaries, teaching assignments or [email protected] trations stand out: “This Side of themselves and in the publication stature and service expected of a academic matters are determined WRITERS Paradise,” by F. Scott Fitzgerald worthiness of their manuscripts. full professor in any school.” in the faculty member’s depart- (1920), about whom the publisher Kimberly K. Barlow 412/624-1379 No one is immune from adver- The three ranks focus on some- ment. However, a separate salary [email protected] said, “It seems to us in short that sity. The hallmark of achieving what different aspects of a faculty adjustment, over and above what Peter Hart 412/624-1374 this story does not culminate with persons — indeed, of Pitt profes- member’s attainment: is available in the annual salary [email protected] anything”; “The Diary of Anne sors — is their — our — ability to —Distinguished Professor. increase pool, is determined by Frank” (1952), who was described snap back after misfortune, ben- This designation specifically the appropriate dean consistent BUSINESS MANAGER as “The girl [who] doesn’t have efitting from — and not stopped recognizes extraordinary, inter- with the appointment. Barbara DelRaso 412/624-4644 a special perception or feeling dead in our tracks by — failure, nationally acknowledged schol- In addition, an annual alloca- [email protected] which would lift that book above choosing, instead, energized by arly attainment in an individual tion of funds by the appropriate Events Calendar: [email protected] the curiosity level”; “The Spy fierce self-confidence, to hang discipline or field. By nature of dean typically is made to support The University Times is published bi-weekly on Thursdays by the University of Pittsburgh. Who Came in From the Cold” in there, carrying on tenaciously, their appointment as Distin- the faculty member’s professional Send correspondence to University Times, (1963), by John LeCarre, about relentlessly, thumbing our noses guished Professors, individuals activities. 308 Bellefield Hall, University of Pittsburgh, whom the would-be publisher at the snappish nay-sayers. are expected to make special To mark the occasion of the Pittsburgh, PA 15260; fax to 412/624-4579 asserted disparagingly that “You’re Robert Perloff contributions to the intellectual appointment, the distinguished or email: [email protected]. welcome to LeCarre — he hasn’t Distinguished Service advancement of their home faculty member is expected to Subscriptions are available at a cost of $25 for the publishing year, which runs from Septem- got any future”; “Atlas Shrugged” Professor Emeritus of departments and schools, as well present an inaugural lecture at ber through July. Make checks payable to the (1957), by Ayn Rand, demeaned as Business Administration and as to the institution as a whole. which time he or she will be pre- University of Pittsburgh. an author whose “book is unsalable of Psychology —Distinguished University sented with a special medallion The newspaper is available electronically at: and unpublishable,” and, inter Joseph M. Katz www.utimes.pitt.edu. Professor. This designation recog- commemorating the occasion. alios, George Bernard Shaw’s Graduate School of Business nizes eminence in several fields of —Peter Hart n

2 JUNE 23, 2011 A talk with SAC’s new president DEBORAH WALKER Newly elected president of the Staff Association Council Deborah L. Walker has held many positions during her nearly 28 years working at Pitt: security guard, police officer, assistant director of community standards in the Office of Residence Life and director of the RISE mentoring program. Her current job is student conduct officer in the Division of Student Affairs, a post she has held since 2007. (For a feature on Walker, see Sept. 16 University Times.) While working here, Walker has earned a BA in administration of justice and legal studies from the College of General Studies and a Master of Public Policy Management from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs. During her days on the campus police force, Walker helped develop several departmental crime prevention programs; for those and other efforts she received a 2002 Chancellor’s Distinguished Service Award for Staff. Walker joined SAC in May 2010 and was the driving force behind the creation of SAC’s new standing committee, the staff mentoring program committee, of which she was the inaugural chair. Walker and the other newly elected officers will be inducted formally in a ceremony on July 13 at 4:30 p.m. in the William Pitt Union lower lounge. Following her election to a two-year term as president at the June 8 SAC meeting, Walker discussed her concerns on behalf of staff and some of her goals with University Times staff writer Peter Hart. Kimberly K. Barlow

UNIVERSITY TIMES: What are your will be on the William Pitt Union patio, to that issue? concerns about us working together. And top priorities as the new SAC president? from noon to 1 p.m. We’ll have some In response to the governor’s proposed we talked about possibly having confer- WALKER: One of my top priorities will popcorn and other snacks. We’ll have a budget cuts, I took the lead with initiating a ence calls for our meetings, if we can set be pushing career advancement. When I suggestion box for staff. collective response to ensure that the voice that up inexpensively with something like reflect back on my career at Pitt, I took of University staff was heard. Specifically, FreeConferenceCall.com. advantage of the educational benefits and There has been a lot of turnover I coordinated the letter-writing campaign We’ve already started moving in the the professional development workshops recently in the SAC membership. Your [to state legislators]. I held conference calls direction of working together with the offered by the University. If I had not gone thoughts? with University regional SAC members and letter-writing campaign, because when I back to school and acquired my master’s Obviously, if anyone has a concern about was able to use my contacts in Harrisburg had meetings on that we did conference degree, I would not hold the position I SAC — old members, new members — to meet with both the governor’s chief of calls with all the regionals. We wanted have now and also would not be earning then they should come and talk to us about staff and his policy director, taking along one voice when we went to Harrisburg, the salary I earn. it. They should come and meet with the members of SAC and two student leaders. so we shared strategies. I was so proud I think that should be a big priority for president and tell me their concerns. If they In these uncertain budgetary times, we of the regionals. They had such a large a lot of our staff because I’m finding out have legitimate concerns, then we can work need to ensure that the interest of University representation [in Harrisburg] of not only that, as I talk to staff, a lot of them are here toward resolving those. It doesn’t have to staff is adequately represented. staff but also students. Also, we all had the because of the educational benefits available be in writing. It could be informal. But I letter-writing campaign on the same day. for their children instead of for themselves. can’t do anything based on the rumor mill. Do you see SAC playing a role in future The regionals also expressed concern Another priority is job classification. We One of the things I told the members is lobbying efforts regarding the budget? about access to our HR professional devel- want to be mindful that whenever a person that I will make them abreast of everything Yes I do. My feeling is people become opment classes on their campuses. Now that is hired for an Admin I or an Admin II, I can as it relates to SAC, because every involved when they see success. If they don’t I’ve heard that concern, I will call [associate they’re doing the job that they were hired member should know exactly what our hear too much about an organization, they vice chancellor] Ron Frisch to see how our to do and also have the necessary skills and goals are, what our objectives are. Myself won’t become involved. But if they see and regionals can be more involved. tools they need to do that job. And if not, and the new officers will be sitting down hear about success, everyone wants to be then maybe there can be an adjustment. We in the next month to sketch out what our a part of that. Recent SAC-sponsored assemblies have want to ensure that people are starting in goals and objectives are for the upcoming This year was the very first time that featured marketplaces, where staff can the right job and are ready to do it. year. Every member should know exactly we collaborated with students and we even see what discounts and other services where we’re going, where we’re headed for took two student leaders with us to meet the are available. That’s a contrast with You’re a relative newcomer to SAC, the next year. governor’s chief of staff. And just because past assemblies that have focused on having joined in May 2010. Are you As of now, I haven’t even met with a of those two events, we’ve had a number an issue important to staff. Do you see concerned about your transition to the lot of the committee chairs. My plan is of inquiries from staff we’d never heard SAC moving back to the former type council’s leadership role? to meet with every committee, to at least from before, numerous people who weren’t of assemblies? It’s true that with having a new admin- attend one or two committee meetings, to even aware of SAC contacted us about the Absolutely. That’s something we should istration — myself and the other three get a feel for what they’re working on and letter-writing campaign. look at every year, because it provides officers — we don’t have a lot of time on what their goals are. Our bylaws require Now that the visibility has been raised information to our staff. There are a lot of SAC, so therefore we are not as familiar that committees report on their goals. So I I think, at least I hope, that more people issues that are legitimate concerns to staff with a lot of the history of SAC and the need to get a firsthand look at that, because will become involved. that we could focus on, [such as] safety, concerns that were within SAC. But I will that’s where the real work is done. promotion, the Port Authority — If you say I welcome input of any kind. If staff SAC has representation on the Univer- travel by bus and you can’t get to work on have concerns, I want to hear about them. What would be your response to a staff sity Senate standing committees, but time, that’s a concern. Under my leadership, SAC will work member frustrated with the cost of sometimes SAC members don’t attend We could maybe do a survey and send to give a voice of shared governance to health care going up each year? the meetings regularly and don’t report it out to the University community and ask the University staff. In addition, our work Health care costs have been rising across on those committees’ actions. Is that what as a staff person would you like to see will include scheduling regular meetings the nation. I think we’re doing pretty well acceptable to you? discussed, and then we could sponsor that. with senior administration to address the in comparison to others. But if I hear It’s up to the SAC executive officers to It could be health care costs. It could be concerns of staff, increase our membership that at the University, I would say to that make sure that if we place a SAC member [continuing] education. to become inclusive of the diversity of our disgruntled staff member: “Let’s sit down on a committee that they work on that University community and establish strate- and talk about that. Let’s try to come up committee, attend the meetings and report If the stagnant U.S. economy has direct gies that will increase career advancement with some strategies that we can bring back to the Staff Association Council. That negative effects here, such as little or for University staff. then to the administration to help us with should be the expectation. no salary increases, is that potentially a So we’re here to build upon the past rising health care costs. Maybe to get an When we have vacancies, and we’ve had source of low morale for staff? successes of SAC, but also to put our own incentive of some kind. I don’t know what a couple, I’ll send out an email to our mem- We don’t know yet about how it will play signature and our own leadership on SAC. that incentive would look like, but maybe bership to ask anyone who is interested in out. I think the University administration We’ve started doing that by having an that would be something to propose to the serving to let me know. Then I’ll interview is doing a good job, a wonderful job, really. installation ceremony for the newly elected administration as a balance when they have them and see exactly what their interests It’s too early to tell exactly what will happen officers. We’ve never had that before. to raise our health care costs, some kind of are and ask: Are you able and would you to us, so we need to have an attitude of let’s One of the concerns I have is the fact alternative. Our executive committee will be willing to go to the meetings and report wait and see. I’m very confident that our that a lot of people on campus don’t know have to talk to our membership and see back? When we do our committee reports senior administration is going to do what’s what SAC is, exactly who we are and what what types of strategies or alternatives we that should be part of it. best for the University and that impacts our function is. I thought by inviting the can suggest and then discuss those with the staff as well. entire University community to our instal- administration. You recently represented SAC in John- lation ceremony it would give people an stown at the June 9 Council of Campuses Are you looking forward to your term opportunity to know who we are, what we Clearly, the biggest concern for Pitt this at a meeting with regional staff leaders. as SAC president? do and what we’re about. term, from the chancellor on down, is a What did you learn? Yes, I’m very excited. I told the executive Also, on July 8 we’re going to have a potential severe cut to the University’s After I came back from the Council board this will be my slogan to begin with: “meet the SAC representatives event.” commonwealth appropriation. What is of Campuses, I talked with our executive “We are going to plan our work and then That’s something new as well. The event your view of SAC’s role as it pertains board and told them there were some work our plan.” Yes we can, yes we will.n

3 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES

the University money and be a real service to people,” she said. “It’s Virtual desktops equal real savings for UCSUR a good solution for people using CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 standard software packages.” Virtual labs infrastructure, security and stor- Lefcakis said he’s currently First on CSSD’s agenda in age, but when multiplied across working with the engineering the fall term is to offer virtual multiple machines, financial school to test whether physical computer labs for Pitt students, advantages emerge. machines may be better for some Walton said. She had no estimate of the more heavy-duty computing Students will benefit because potential cost savings that could applications. they will have access to power- be realized University-wide. Brian A. Vidic, director of the ful software that would be too Swanson School of Engineering expensive to purchase on their own Virtual servers technology group, said engineer- and too large to load onto their Walton noted that virtual serving students are testing the virtual personal computers, Walton said. ers are another cost-saving area desktop environment through Virtual labs also will give of interest. Virtual servers enable the coming academic year on the students the option either to sit resources to expand and contract intensive computer-aided design physically in a Pitt computer lab based on need. Because the serv- software SolidWorks. If those tests — which at peak times may have ers aren’t physical, they can add are successful, the school plans to lines of users waiting for a seat capacity to meet peak times of test additional applications, with — or to choose to “visit” the lab need without the accompanying the potential to put the virtual virtually from a remote location. cost of physical hardware. desktop to use in actual comput- In addition to being conve- “The University is showing ing classrooms in the 2012-13 nient, Walton said virtual labs interest,” she said, adding that academic year. will be cost-effective for the Uni- many departments are consider- “Provided this testing yields versity. While there are no plans ing them. Due to the investment positive results, it will revolu- to eliminate physical computer involved, many are moving to vir- tionize the manner in which we labs on campus, offering virtual tual servers when existing physical manage our computing class- access means Pitt won’t need to servers need to be replaced, she rooms, increase flexibility in room add to the existing facilities. “We said. “It makes sense when you scheduling and save millions of will maintain our labs but this will need new [servers] to look at dollars over the life of a computing keep us from needing to expand VMware.” classroom,” Vidic said. “Extrapo- Kimberly K. Barlow our labs,” Walton said. University Center for Social and Urban Research information UCSUR is a case in point. late that experience and potential Virtual labs also can help cut technology director Jim Lefcakis has been replacing desktop com- Lefcakis said he has been able to across the University’s computing puters in UCSUR labs with less-expensive thin client boxes that software costs, enabling Pitt to create portable virtual desktops for users. cut 30 servers down to six with labs and other school and depart- look at other licensing models VMware. ment classrooms, and the benefits rather than needing University- in place — without actually load- years, he said. realized could be immense.” wide licenses for some software, ing or copying the data onto their Once the infrastructure is When is real better? While Lefcakis says that the she said. machines, eliminating the danger built, the cost of refreshing labs Virtual desktops may not be verdict is still out regarding more While Pitt offers about 130 that could arise should a laptop essentially is eliminated — all the for everyone, particularly for intensive users, he sees potential software applications, not all will containing sensitive information machines can be updated in hours researchers who need especially for broad appeal. be available immediately in virtual be lost or stolen. rather than days, he said. Rather powerful computing resources. “If you are a student, why can’t labs, but Walton said the plan is than reconfiguring each machine, “Not everything works in you be handed a virtual desktop initially to launch a handful of Other benefits “I do it one time and it propagates a virtual environment but it’s that follows you everywhere?” them and increase the virtual Beyond increasing conve- to all devices.” improving,” Walton said, noting Students could save money by offerings over time. nience for users, UCSUR’s Lefca- There’s also a green aspect that vendors are being nudged to using an inexpensive netbook or Lefcakis said UCSUR is con- kis said virtual machines make life to virtual desktops. They save ensure their products are com- thin client while the University verting some of its labs as well, easier for IT staff and cut costs. on electricity and cooling costs patible. would benefit through reduced which, because they will be virtual, However, working on virtual because they don’t use as much Virtual desktops may be pressure on computer labs and even could be “loaned” to other machines requires a shift in power, nor do they generate as impractical for some faculty who other resources. departments in short-term need of mindset. “You’re no longer fixing much heat, Lefcakis said. need highly specialized desktops, “I could see it being a Univer- computing resources on which to a computer, you’re fixing a file Walton agreed that startup “but for general administrative sity-wide thing,” he said. run their projects. that replaces a computer,” he said. costs are high, requiring server desktops it has potential to save —Kimberly K. Barlow n And, if a client wants to enter But there are many advantages. his or her own data, but have Reliability and security remain UCSUR analyze it, “We can spin high because the data remain on up a virtual lab” that enables the Pitt’s network, Lefcakis said. And State budget discussions continue client to do his or her own data recovering data or fixing viruses CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 entry, yet send it securely. becomes easier because data can year and Corbett’s proposal also Another pay freeze looming? each year develops a budget be restored by rolling back to an would have eliminated $17 million The potential impact a 15 recommendation — including Virtual desktops earlier point in time, eliminating in current funding for the School percent cut could have on Pitt recommendations regarding the Virtual desktops will be an what otherwise could be a time- of Medicine, Western Psychiatric employees remains unclear. salary pool — to present to the option for more University consuming chore and downtime Institute and Clinic, Pitt’s dental Fedele told the University Times, chancellor, who then submits employees by the end of the next for the user. clinic and the Center for Public “It is not productive to attempt budget proposals to the Board of academic year, Walton said, noting Lefcakis said the changes Health Practice. to predict the specific impact of a Trustees for action. that CSSD has equipment in place already have saved UCSUR The medical line items, which funding level while the legislative UPBC’s parameters subcom- that automatically supports virtual thousands of dollars and enabled are budgeted separately from process is still playing out.” mittee reportedly was assuming desktop environments. it to reduce its hardware budget Pitt’s appropriation as part of the Following cuts of 6 percent a FY12 salary freeze as a given In addition to enabling people by 40 percent. Department of Public Welfare from its state appropriation in during early budget deliberations. to work remotely, virtual labs and The cost of the initial infra- budget, also stand to be restored 2009, the University implemented However, no freeze has been desktops provide security advan- structure roughly equates to the in part. a salary freeze for FY10. announced. Pitt Chancellor Mark tages, she said. “We are able to cost of 10 computers, he esti- Supowitz estimated that Pitt’s state appropriation was A. Nordenberg, in a press confer- create the environment where mated, but the investment soon approximately half of the pro- held flat for FY11, but University ence following Corbett’s budget the software resides and structure pays off. The thin client boxes cost posed $17 million in cuts could trustees last July approved a 3 proposal in March, said only that the security around it.” Users of about $350 and have a lifespan of be restored, adding that the Uni- percent salary pool increase for “everything’s on the table” as the confidential information would about 10 years, compared to com- versity has “continued to push,” the current fiscal year. University responds to further access it in a controlled way — with puters that can cost $1,000 each stressing again that the state The University Planning and declines in state support. University firewalls and security and need replacing in three-five budget has not been finalized. Budgeting Committee (UPBC) Other schools were more specific. Penn State President Graham Spanier announced a pay freeze for the coming fiscal 5 faculty awarded Distinguished Professorships year; Ann Weaver Hart, president CONTINUED FROM PAGE 2 of Temple, followed suit with a in January 2004, is the most fre- stream to enable researchers to play roles, which he is exploring those same circuits, when dys- similar announcement in April. quently cited research paper on see the location and distribu- with anatomic, physiologic and functional, partly could be respon- Pitt’s annual operating budget this disease. tion of the brain’s beta-amyloid functional imaging. sible for symptoms of behavioral traditionally is not set until after Klunk also was a member plaque deposits associated with Strick also is studying neural illnesses such as schizophrenia, the University’s state appropria- of the Pitt team that invented Alzheimer’s. circuits between the basal gan- obsessive-compulsive disorder, tion has been approved in Har- Pittsburgh Com- • Co-director of the Center for glia and the depression and autism. risburg. While optimism remains pound B, a radio- the Neural Basis of Cognition at cerebellum that Studying viruses that have an that legislators will complete a active compound Pitt and Carnegie Mellon, Strick are important in affinity for the central nervous budget deal before the July 1 start that, when cou- is a professor of neurobiology and planning, initi- system, Strick’s team has devel- of the fiscal year, Pitt’s appropria- pled with PET psychiatry in the School of Medi- ating and regu- oped an approach to tracing the tion will not be finalized in time for imaging, can cine. He studies how the brain’s lating volitional circuitry of the central nervous the Board of Trustees to approve be injected into cerebral cortex controls voluntary movement. His system that also sheds light on an FY12 budget at its June 24 an Alzheimer’s movement; he has shown that recent research how these viruses move through meeting. patient’s blood- there are six pre-motor areas that indicates that the brain. n —Kimberly K. Barlow n

4 JUNE 23, 2011 Lecture traces a lifetime of transplantation work ur goal in life is many immunosuppressant drugs work in that area continues as perhaps his most enduring legacy “In addition to being a fabulous really not to avoid are toxic. doctors and scientists seek new to us so that we are taught never to surgeon and clinician, [Corry] “Odeath — that’s not q ways of avoiding or reducing com- really be satisfied with what we’ve was a great mentor and wonder- possible — but to try to cheat In the 1960s and 1970s the plications in transplant recipients. accomplished in the care of our ful friend, really a role model death as much as possible,” said first anti-rejection regimes used In addition to being instru- patients and are always trying to for a great academic surgeon,” professor of surgery Ron Shapiro azathioprine — a failed cancer mental in the development of improve what it is we are trying Shapiro said. as he celebrated his appointment drug — with steroids and anti- tacrolimus, Shapiro said his to do,” Shapiro said. “He went out of his way to help as the Robert J. Corry Chair in lymphocyte preparations, Shapiro group’s work over the past two Shapiro also paid respect to many people in the field, really just Transplantation Surgery. recounted. decades has included reducing the memory of Robert J. Corry, to do it, just because he thought it Shapiro came to Pitt in 1986 as In the 1980s, cyclosporine — and avoiding complications such professor of surgery and director was the right thing to do. a clinical fellow in transplant sur- discovered by researchers seeking as infections and lymphoma. of pancreas transplantation at the Corry died in 2002 at the age gery under Thomas E. Starzl. He a new antifungal agent — “revolu- Another area Shapiro said his Starzl Institute. of 67. “We miss him still,” Shapiro now directs the kidney, pancreas tionized transplantation,” Shapiro group has been involved in is find- Shapiro, who studied under said. “We still think about him and islet transplant programs at said. It improved survival in kidney ing matches for patients who need Corry, credited him with helping every day and we still think about the Thomas E. Starzl Transplanta- transplant recipients and made transplants via paired donations to establish Pitt as a major center what he would do.” tion Institute. liver and heart transplantation and donor chains. for pancreatic transplantation. —Kimberly K. Barlow n Shapiro, whose career has possible. It also brought about q focused in particular on the devel- the start of successful pancreas Shapiro said the University’s opment of improved immunosup- and lung transplants. However, progress in the field was a “huge pression protocols, credited the cyclosporine is toxic to the kidneys group effort,” crediting close Manners awards announced collective efforts of many scientists and comes with side effects includ- relations between nephrologists The University Center for Social and Urban Research (UCSUR) and medical professionals as he ing hypertension and cosmetic and surgeons, the dedication of has announced the winners of the 11th annual Steven D. Manners outlined advances in the field over and metabolic problems, Shapiro pathologists and scientists, team Faculty Development Awards. The awards were established in recent decades. noted. members including nurses and memory of the center’s assistant director, who died in 2000. His June 9 talk, “A Life in The first immunosuppressive research coordinators, and fellows UCSUR offers annual awards in two categories: research devel- Transplantation,” was presented agent not discovered by accident of the Starzl Institute program. opment grants to support pilot research in the social, behavioral and as part of the Provost’s Inaugural was tacrolimus, or FK506, which “And at the end of the day, it policy sciences, and infrastructure development awards aimed at Lecture series. was discovered in 1982 and found kind of doesn’t matter how many enhancing faculty capabilities to carry out interdisciplinary research Before the development of its first clinical use in 1989 in papers you wrote or how many in the social, behavioral and policy sciences. the first anti-rejection regimens, liver and kidney recipients. The talks you gave, but what really This year’s winners are: successful transplants were limited new drug improved survival and matters is who did you train and • Jane E. Clougherty, assistant professor in the Department of to identical twins, Shapiro said. resulted in fewer side effects, how did they do?” he said, adding Environmental and Occupational Health at the Graduate School “Sixty years ago if you had end- although it too was toxic to the that many former fellows now of Public Health, for the project, “Adapting Geospatial Modeling stage renal disease it was pretty kidneys. are running transplant programs Methods to Assess Individual-Level Variability in Urban Chronic easy — you just died. There was It enabled doctors to withdraw all over the world. “It’s been a Stress.” no dialysis; there was no trans- or nearly withdraw the steroid privilege to be involved in their Clougherty and her co-investigators propose a novel adapta- plantation.” prednisone in a large number of training,” he said. tion of spatial modeling methods developed for air pollution As anti-rejection treatments patients. “This was a new phenom- Shapiro credited his own men- epidemiology known as “land-use regression,” or LUR, to predict were developed, they came at a enon,” Shapiro said, noting that tors, including former chief of individual-level stress as a function of community-level stressor price. tacrolimus and mycophenolate surgery Richard Simmons, who exposures. The “stress LUR” models will enable exploration “The history of immunosup- mofetil — a successor to azathia- was recruited to Pitt by Starzl and of the proportion of individual-level chronic stress that may be pression is to a large extent the prine — have become the domi- was chief of surgery when Shapiro attributable to community stressors; identification of key com- history of all the terrible things nant immunosuppressants over was a young faculty member. munity stressors most associated with individual stress experience, we’ve done to our patients in the years in kidney transplants. In addition to being “a great and — if the models predict individual stress — the extrapolation terms of infections, weight gain Newer treatments — including surgeon and a very thoughtful of chronic stress exposure estimates across large urban cohorts for and growth retardation in children the use of bone marrow infusions and analytical individual,” Shapiro epidemiological analyses. as a result of steroids,” Shapiro — have enabled doctors to wean said, “he was one of the greatest • Fengyan Tang, assistant professor in the School of Social Work, noted. In spite of their value, some patients off steroids, but mentors that one could possibly for the project, “Retirement Transition, Volunteer Engagement have.” He added that Simmons and Physical Health.” 2 alums nominated as trustees and Starzl formed a formidable Current cohorts of older adults are engaging productively in team. increasing amounts of paid work and volunteer activity. This study Two Pitt alumni last week were During his undergraduate years, Starzl’s list of accomplishments will use the Health and Retirement Study (1998-2008) panel data nominated to serve on the Pitt Richards was a member of the is lengthy but his most interest- to investigate the dynamic process of retirement transitions, associ- Board of Trustees. men’s basketball team and at the ing aspect as a mentor is that he ated changes in volunteer engagement during such transitions and Roberta A. Luxbacher (Engi- time of his graduation was ranked is never satisfied, Shapiro said. related physical health changes among middle-aged and older adults. neering 1978), vice president of 11th on Pitt’s all-time scoring list. “We can always do it better, we This study also will examine group differences based on gender, global industrial and wholesale, He has served as a member can always come up with some race and social class and contextual effects of birth cohorts and time ExxonMobil Fuels Marketing of the School of Information sort of better way of taking care of periods on the relationship between productive engagement and Co. of ExxonMobil Corp., and Sciences board of visitors and patients, better immunosuppres- physical health change. Thomas E. Richards (Arts and as a director-at-large of the Pitt sion,” is what Starzl insists. “This —Peter Hart n Sciences 1976), president, chief Alumni Association. n lack of complacency, I think, is operating officer and executive committee member of CDW LLC, were recommended by the trustees’ nominating committee. The full board is expected to act on the committee’s recommendations tomorrow, June 24. As an undergraduate, Lux- bacher was a University Scholar. She joined Exxon in 1978, the same year she earned her BS in chemical engineering from the Swanson School of Engineering, where she now serves on the board of visitors. In her current position, Lux- bacher is responsible for global fuel sales, marketing and opera- tions for industrial, commercial and wholesale customers in more than three dozen countries. Richards is responsible for sales, advanced technology services, marketing, product and partner management and e-com- merce at CDW, a provider of technology products and services to business, government, education and the health care sector. He earned his BA in economics at Pitt in 1976 and his MS in management at MIT in 1991.

5 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES A bit of nature in the city

itt is known as an urban where students not only can learn growing up,” she said, adding that A natural trail emerged beneath black cherry and hawthorn, as well university, but students at about science and nature, but also children tend to have a natural the overgrown vines, and a map as some white pine and Eastern PFalk Laboratory School pause to reflect and study in a affinity for the outdoors, but was created, marking meandering hemlock. Wildflowers include are working to enhance a small natural setting. are at risk of losing it if it’s not footpaths, major trees and stands star of Bethlehem, goldenrod, enclave of nature on the sloping “Eventually we want the space encouraged. of plant life, and identifying areas wild geranium and woodland hillside that adjoins their school. to be used when they need a spot Wertz said teacher training where seating will be added. buttercup. In conjunction with the Audu- to read a good book or to make will benefit as well. While School Students helped decide on the “What is already here is really bon Society of Western Penn- observations for journal entries,” of Education interns assigned to kinds of plants they wanted to just a treasure,” Wertz said. sylvania’s schoolground habitat said Lori Wertz, an intermediate Falk School will gain experience see and the types of animals they Some new plants and shrubs enhancement and restoration teacher and special projects direc- by using the site for outdoor edu- hoped to attract. will be added — SHERP requires program (SHERP), Falk students, tor who is coordinating the work. cation, she’s hoping eventually to As for wildlife, some of the they all be native varieties. Wertz teachers and families are turning Wertz said she has a strong develop workshops to show other youngest students were hoping said planting will begin in fall. the steep site above University desire to help kids connect with new teachers how to incorporate for lions or tigers, but learned that New trees will include viburnum, Drive into an outdoor classroom nature. “It was important to me the outdoors into lessons on sci- their woodland is more amenable holly, beech, dogwood, ironwood, ence or environmental education. to other kinds of creatures. The red maple, nannyberry, redbud, She and other teachers had slope already is home to songbirds, dogwood and spruce. Raspberry, been wanting to bring SHERP to rabbits and groundhogs; neigh- rhododendron, spicebush, ser- the Falk School grounds as long bors have reported that a gray fox viceberry and a variety of forest as eight years ago, in order to frequents the site. and meadow herbaceous plants enhance students’ outdoor studies. Red-tailed hawks have been also will be added. Teachers initially sought to seen, and a peregrine — likely Wertz said she is trying to use the green space adjoining the from the nearby Cathedral of ensure all classrooms — from building, but plans to enlarge Learning nest site — often perches kindergarten to 8th grade — are the school nixed that idea — the in the schoolground’s large oak. involved in some way. Some 36 expanded school building now sits The site is populated mainly hours of work/class days were atop that space. with hardwood trees including completed for the project in 2010 However, the steep 1.2-acre locust, oak, maple, elm, box elder, and 90 hours during the 2011 hillside below the school, albeit inaccessible due to overgrown plants and vines, emerged as a possibility. “It’s the only green space we have now,” Wertz said, “People want to make it work.” Students loved the idea, Wertz said, adding that they had a hard time waiting to get started. During the 2008-09 school year, initial planning began. The following Photo courtesy of Falk School year, Audubon naturalists trained teachers and helped students assess the site. Invasive plants were cleared so students could collect data — testing soil, compiling plant inventories and a tree index, and identifying wildlife habitats. Weekend workdays included Above: A pair of Falk School 4th/5th-graders study a decaying log Falk family members who cleared on the site. trash, removed invasive hon- Photos by Kimberly K. Barlow Right: Black raspberries are among the plant species found on eysuckle, grapevine and garlic the wooded hillside above University Drive. mustard and cleared a path.

6 JUNE 23, 2011

Above: The meandering paths offer several views of the Cathedral of Learning.

Left: The rustic pathways of Falk School’s nature trail are well hidden from traffic on University Drive. school year. community. “Our students and Older students learned to University students use the site level trails or took pride in saving at different times,” she noted. trees and shrubs that were being “The general rule would be that strangled by vines. Some built during school hours the site is benches for trailside seating. for Falk students; afterwards it’s Even the youngest students okay if University students use were given hand tools and small it,” she said, adding that the policy rakes so they could help clear a could be changed based on trial seating area, she said. The going and error. was slow as raking was balanced While a dedication for the with inspecting interesting bugs, nature trail is planned for next but that’s all part of the learning. spring, Wertz said the project The process of clearing the never will be completed. trail offered Falk students some “Maintenance is always going Above: A highlight near the trail entrance is a large plane tree, identifiable by its intricately pat- benefits beyond experiencing the to be there,” she said, noting that terned bark. natural world. Wertz said early although Pitt grounds employ- Below: Lori Wertz, a Falk School teacher and special projects director, takes in the view of Pitt’s in the project, students were dis- ees may assist after storms or to lower campus from the Falk School nature trail. Wertz is coordinating the project, undertaken as mayed at the amount of trash they conduct major pruning, “It’s our part of the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania’s schoolground habitat enhancement and found as they cleared pathways. project to maintain.” restoration program. One entrance to the slope Given the speed with which is easily accessible, situated at invasive plants take over, until a the rear of the SC parking lot summer maintenance schedule is between the school’s basketball established, Wertz said she fore- court and several University sees that the start of each school fraternity houses. While it was year will be accompanied by efforts never determined exactly who was to redefine the trails. “That’s part responsible for the litter, the Falk of the learning that goes with it.” students wrote letters directed at Along with maintenance, students the Pitt student body — express- will monitor the plantings to see ing their desire to share the site, which did well and which didn’t. but also asking them not to trash “It’s going to be a lot of work,” their outdoor classroom. The she said. response to the letters and to a “We don’t want kids to think of subsequent project presentation it as an environmental education was unanticipated. Not only has place, but this is our hillside. We the littering abated, Wertz said, have woods and everything that but one fraternity is partnering comes with it.” with Falk as part of an adopt-a- q school program, and several Pitt Wertz said faculty and staff students are working to obtain the interested in volunteering for necessary clearances required to trail work or site maintenance work with the children. Others should contact her at lwertz@pitt. also have expressed an interest in edu. Donations in support of the helping with the project. project can be made through the q Pitt Annual Fund by specifying Exactly who may use the site the Falk School Education Fund/ remains a question. Recognizing SHERP project. Additional infor- the value of a quiet woodland mation on the project is available path, Wertz said the inclination at www.falkschool.pitt.edu. is to share it with the University —Kimberly K. Barlow n

7 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES East Asian Library expands collection with purchase of unique N. Korean materials

itt’s East Asian Library is trip. In keeping with tradition, the strengthening its position With the help of Pitt faculty, publications typically pay homage Pas a resource for scholars Xu compiled a list of desired to North Korean leaders in the of North Korea by expanding subjects and publications and opening pages — a sign of respect, its collection of journals, books, forwarded it to Yanbian. Zou noted. textbooks and videos from North The initial shipment arrived at q Korea. The library recently Pitt in 2006; the latest such deliv- Xu said Pitt’s North Korean received its fifth delivery of mate- ery arrived last month, Xu said. collection is larger than many rials acquired through an agree- Xu also developed sources for other university libraries’, adding ment with a Chinese university materials through a Yanbian public that its array of North Korean near the North Korean border. library’s bookstore, which sells journal titles may be unsurpassed. Pitt’s Chinese collection, North Korean titles, and through “We haven’t done much in established in 1960, was renamed other contacts in another border promoting the collection but we’re the East Asian Library five years town, Dandong. thinking about making presenta- later so it could include materials She also was able to purchase tions in the national conferences,” in Japanese. The Korean language materials indirectly from a North Xu said, noting that other library materials, which have been added Korean vendor at an international directors have been asking about since 2004, are the most recent book fair in Beijing in 2009 Pitt’s collection. expansion of the East Asian through a Chinese book vendor. “We’ve noticed that East Asian Library collection. Fearing that the North Koreans libraries here nowadays are paying Hong Xu, head of the East would refuse to sell to her if they more attention to North Korean Asian Library, began developing discovered she was from America, materials,” Xu said, anticipating the collection in 2003. Although she selected the books, but the increased demand for the pub- Pitt previously had received gifts vendor who accompanied her lications. of Korean language materials, it made the purchase on her behalf. “I’m glad I’m among the first had not formulated its plan for “They didn’t ask and we didn’t tell to do this.” collecting them systematically them,” she said. —Kimberly K. Barlow n prior to that time, she said. In addition to the Yanbian Pitt’s Korean collection ranked connections, she is able to acquire No. 19 in North America as materials through vendors in of June 2010, with nearly 13,000 South Korea and China. With a Above, Hong Xu, volumes and 130 journal titles. network of sources established, head of the East The North Korean segment of Xu said she no longer must travel Asian Library, left, the collection is being developed regularly to the region in search and Xiuying Zou, a public services mainly to meet the teaching and of materials. librarian in the East research needs of faculty and q Asian Library, look students affiliated with the Asian Given that many resources over a North Korean journal that has been Studies Center, which provides are available in digital form, the acquired for the col- some funding for acquisitions, library aims to collect unique lection.

Xu said. items, Xu said. “Students and The library is expand- “I can see that in the future faculty are more interested in ing its holdings of there could be increasing demands getting hard-to-find materials North Korean books, journals, textbooks on Korean materials because of and primary sources,” she said. and videos. the increasing importance of the Pitt’s collection has 82 different Korean peninsula and the North North Korean journal titles total- Korean-South Korean relations ing more than 2,000 volumes, as and U.S.-North Korean relations. well as some 400 North Korean I think people are paying more books. The publications include attention to this region and they pictorial journals that document may need to have more access to current events and achievements, resources from this region.” arts journals and publications by Obtaining materials from the nation’s medical science press. North Korea is difficult. “It’s Topics include history, archae- Photos by Kimberly K. Barlow impossible for us to directly buy ology, literature, economics and materials from North Korea,” Xu politics. Pitt-Johnstown has been named to the President’s Higher Educa- said. “They have very strict control The collection also includes tion Community Service Honor Roll for the second consecutive year. on their printed publications.” In a dozen textbooks, including The honor roll, administered through the Corporation for addition, the quality of the paper elementary school, high school National and Community Service, is the highest federal recogni- used for many North Korean and college-level texts. There is tion that a college or university can receive for its commitment to publications is poor — even in even a documentary on North volunteering, service-learning and civic engagement. More than 600 materials reprinted for foreign Korean taekwondo. UPJ schools and campuses were honored. distribution. “They really don’t Xiuying Zou, a public services During the 2009-10 academic year, the period for which the want to export their material. librarian in the East Asian Library, campus is being recognized, Pitt-Johnstown students, faculty and They don’t want to lose face, I said, “We would like to collect as staff performed more than 12,300 hours of service, impacting the think,” she said. many school textbooks as possible honored lives of some 5,000 individuals. Among the major service projects To overcome the lack of a — especially in humanities and on the campus were: direct source for North Korean social sciences and history — to see • Pitt-Johnstown @ Your Service, where UPJ faculty, staff and materials, Xu consulted librarians their perspective.” Those subjects for its students support community organizations with time, talent and at Yanbian University, which is are difficult to collect, she noted, expertise to address areas of importance to Pitt-Johnstown and near China’s border with North adding that science and math texts the community, including health promotion, veteran outreach and Korea. “This is one of the key uni- are easier to obtain. volunteer education. versities in China and has strong Other highlights include the • The Pitt-Johnstown RealWorld Action program, the center- ties in North Korean academic complete works of the late presi- piece of cocurricular and student development initiatives, which circles,” she said. Its librarians dent Kim Il Sung, documentaries, efforts offers students the opportunity to develop customized personal and attend North Korean book fairs popular movies including the professional development plans to become agents of positive change and have other exchange programs well-known film “The Flower in communities. Overall, 560 Pitt-Johnstown students, 18.5 percent with the neighboring nation, she Girl” and recordings of Korean of the student body, were engaged in service-oriented work as part explained. music ranging from folk songs to of the program. Projects included serving meals, providing staffing During a visit in 2004, Xu karaoke. Korean and English ver- assistance at community events, tutoring K-12 students, participat- forged a verbal agreement in sions of “Arirang” — the anthem ing in community cleanup programs and promoting conservation. which Yanbian would purchase that accompanies the elaborate • Pitt-Johnstown Habitat for Humanity alternative spring break, North Korean academic journals ceremonies performed before where last year 111 faculty, staff and students traveled to Florida and on Pitt’s behalf; a formal agree- sporting events — are included Georgia and spent more than 4,400 hours constructing four homes.n ment followed on a subsequent in the collection.

8 JUNE 23, 2011

once it’s implanted is through an R E S E A R C H N O T E S The University Times X-ray. But even that does not Research Notes column provide such details as size, model reports on funding awarded Leaky genes gene, which caused Neprilysin-1 uploaded to it prior to an opera- number or manufacturer, or health to Pitt researchers and on to show up in different neurons tion and sensors within the chip information about the patient that speed evolution findings arising from Uni- than usual. From there, Rebeiz would gauge the pressure on the is directly related to the implant’s Small genetic mutations that versity research. said, the development of D. san- implant, the chemical balance and performance,” Berger said. add up over time could create We welcome submis- tomea’s distinguishing neurons temperature of the tissue and the “For a physician to provide an evolutionary express lane that sions from all areas of the plays out with the clarity of a film presence of harmful organisms. follow-up care, it’s important to leads to the rapid development University. Submit informa- as four mutations in subsequent The information would be read know the exact device a patient of new traits, say researchers tion via email to: utimes@ generations intensify the errant by a handheld probe developed in has, and there are several dif- from Pitt and the University of pitt.edu, by fax to 412/624- enhancer’s impact until Neprily- the laboratory of Pitt electrical ferent models, shapes and sizes Wisconsin-Madison. 4579 or by campus mail to sin-1’s presence in optical neurons and computer engineering faculty of devices for use in knees, hips, The team reports in the 308 Bellefield Hall. become an exclusive feature of member Marlin Mickle. feet, the spine and other parts of Proceedings of the National For submission guide- D. santomea. On the other hand, When placed against the the skeleton. With Ortho-Tag, a Academy of Sciences (PNAS) lines, visit www.utimes.pitt. ensuing genetic alterations in D. patient’s skin, the probe com- doctor only has to scan a chip to that slight changes in segments edu/?page_id=6807. of DNA known as transcriptional yakuba actually extinguished this municates with a radio-frequency see all that information.” enhancers — which determine the new expression and restored that identification (RFID) tag, devised In addition, said Mickle, defec- when, where and how much in fly’s Neprilysin-1 to its original by graduate researcher Xiaoyu tive implants typically are recalled poor and wealthier counties — gene production — can activate location. Liu, that emits a unique wave- by serial number, crucial informa- even though the wealthier coun- dormant genetic imperfections. “It has been long appreciated length designed to travel through tion that usually is kept on written ties had received more timely and These alterations awaken specific that nature doesn’t make anything human tissue. Special software records where the original surgery abundant vaccine access. genes to low-level activity, or from scratch, but the mystery has would display information from took place. Ortho-Tag could be The study’s lead author, Bruce “leakiness,” in developing tissue remained of how genes that have the tag on a computer. used to identify a suspect implant Y. Lee, a faculty member in medi- different from the genes’ typical been performing the same job New Jersey-based orthopae- quickly and easily. cine, epidemiology and biomedical location. Just a few subsequent for hundreds of millions of years dic surgeon Lee Berger, CEO of “There are a lot of differ- informatics, said, “When vaccines mutations built on that stirring can are suddenly expressed in new Ortho-Tag and inventor of the ent devices manufactured by a are in short supply, distributing result in a new function for an old places,” Rebeiz said. “Our work tagged implant, recently patented lot of different companies and them quickly and equitably among gene — and possibly a novel trait. shows that even slight mutations the Ortho-Tag system and his implanted at a lot of different populations and localities can be Co-author Mark Rebeiz, a in a transcriptional enhancer can company has optioned the rights hospitals by a lot of different a difficult challenge. However, faculty member in biological sci- cause leaky gene activity, which to Mickle’s work. surgeons,” Mickle said. “There policymakers across the country, ences, and his colleagues traced can initiate a short route to the Berger, who envisions Ortho- has to be accountability for objects in poor and wealthy areas alike, how a certain unwitting gene development of new traits.” Tag being attached to implants implanted in the body, and we have an incentive to ensure that found itself in the unique optical by the manufacturer, currently hope that this technology will poorer residents have equal access neurons of a species of fruit fly. RFID system is building partnerships with finally make orthopaedic devices to vaccines.” They found that tiny alter- reads implants manufacturers. Ortho-Tag would much easier to monitor and, thus, Lee is the applied modeling ations in the transcriptional Radio-frequency technology distribute the software and probe safer for patients.” project principal investigator for enhancers of the species’ ancestor developed at Pitt is being used to physicians. the Models of Infectious Disease caused the gene to take root in as the basis of a new electronic For people with existing Vaccine access Agent Study (MIDAS) National these neurons for the first time. A “tag” system designed to track and orthopaedic devices, the company affects Center of Excellence. couple of mutations later and the monitor orthopaedic implants. is considering producing wallet- flu spread He and his co-authors developed the flu vaccination model gene became a permanent fixture The noninvasive system, known sized cards with an affixed RFID Pitt researchers say that giving while working with the Depart- in the fly’s brain cells. as Ortho-Tag, features a wireless tag uploaded with information wealthier counties greater access ment of Health and Human The work expands on research chip attached to the implant and about the patient and the implant, to influenza vaccine than poorer Services during the 2009 H1N1 during the past 30 years that dem- a handheld receiver that together Mickle said. counties could worsen a flu epi- pandemic. The team studied how onstrates that new genes made would let physicians view the Berger said he developed demic because poor areas have the course of the pandemic might from scratch are rare in animals, critical information about artificial the Ortho-Tag concept because fairly high population densities have been affected by vaccinating Rebeiz said. Instead, the diversity knees, hips and other internal patients who had received ortho- with higher levels of interaction residents of various counties at of living things is thought to stem prosthetics — as well as the con- paedic implants often knew little among households and commu- different rates and times. from existing genes showing up dition of the surrounding tissue about the type of device they had nities, enabling the infection to Computer simulation mod- in new locations. In a famous — that currently can be difficult received, the company that manu- spread faster. eling suggested that equitable example, researchers at the Uni- to track down. factured it or even the surgeon The study, published in the vaccination could reduce an epi- versity of Basel in Switzerland The chip, or tag, would have who had performed the procedure. June issue of Health Affairs, used demic’s severity because poorer reported in Science in 1995 that information about the patient, “Other than written records, a detailed computer simulation of counties tend to have high-density a gene known as PAX6, a “master the implant and the procedure the only way to learn about a device the Washington, D.C., metropoli- populations and more people control” gene for the formation tan area and found that limiting considered higher risk — such as of eyes and other features in flies, or delaying the vaccination of children — per household, result- mice and humans, could cause the residents in poorer counties could ing in more interactions. This growth of additional eyes on the raise the total number of influenza leads to increased transmission legs and antennae of fruit flies. infections. of influenza and greater risk for With their report in PNAS, Moreover, inequitable access poorer influenza outcomes, the Rebeiz and his co-authors offer to vaccinations increased the study found. the first explanation of what makes number of new infections during these genes go astray in the first the peak of an epidemic in both CONTINUED ON PAGE 10 place — and they identified the deviant DNA as the culprit. The researchers found that the gene Neprilysin-1 present in the optical neurons of the fruit fly species DEPRESSED? Drosophilia santomea emerged in that location about 400,000 years ago — a blip in evolutionary terms DRINKING — in the last common ancestor the fly shared with its relative D. Ortho-Tag would be affixed to an orthopaedic implant and TOO MUCH? scanned via radio-frequency with a probe and RFID tag developed yakuba. The mutation began with at Pitt. Information from Ortho-Tag would be displayed on a com- a transcriptional enhancer for the puter by way of specially designed software. Researchers at the University of Pittsburgh are recruiting people ages 18 to 55 for a medication research study. We are seeking RESEARCH STUDY people who feel depressed and drink alcohol. Participants will receive an evaluation that includes study medication for 8 weeks at no cost. Participants will be compensated after each visit.

For more details, call 412-246-5189.

All calls are confidential.

9 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES

P E O P L E O F T H E T I M E S after 18 years of and achievement in their scientific employment at discipline as evidenced by the The Chinese American Librar- American and Chinese libraries. users are from 40 U.S. states and the University. quality of research accomplish- ians Association Miller developed the ULS- from other nations worldwide. At SAC’s June ments, publications in scientific (CALA) has China librarians’ training and Following the 2008 earthquake 8 meeting, outgo- journals and other scientific activi- named Rush G. exchange program, which allows in China, Miller spearheaded a ing SAC Presi- ties, achievements and honors. Miller, director Chinese librarians to spend six-12 book drive for materials in English dent Gwen Wat- Xie is a core co-director of the of Pitt’s Uni- months at Pitt to visit and learn for students in grades 7-12. He and kins presented NIH-funded Pittsburgh Center versity Library from libraries in the United States; a delegation personally took 1,700 Mengel with a Tiffany lamp for Chemical Methodologies System (ULS) ULS librarians do the same in volumes to schools and universi- and a certificate of appreciation and Library Development. He and Hillman China. To date, the program has ties impacted by the disaster. acknowledging her service. is a member and co-PI of the University Librarian, the recipient benefited 41 Chinese and 14 Pitt In 2004, Miller helped orga- Pittsburgh Molecular Library of the 2011 CALA Distinguished librarians. nize a three-week summer insti- Xiang-Qun (Sean) Xie, a Screening Center, which previ- Service Award, the association’s Miller also implemented the tute at Hillman Library called faculty member in pharmaceutical ously was funded by the NIH highest recognition. East Asian Gateway Service East Asian Librarianship: China sciences at the School of Phar- Roadmap Initiative. Miller, a longtime advocate (EAGS), a transcontinental Focus, which included training for macy, has been invited to serve He holds joint of programs that reach out to resource-sharing service that pro- 28 Chinese studies librarians from as a member of the biophysics of faculty positions Chinese libraries and librarians, vides document delivery between across the United States. neural systems study section of in the School of is being recognized for his leader- key academic libraries in East Asia the National Institutes of Health Arts and Sciences ship and achievements in library and scholars in the West. EAGS The Staff Association Council (NIH) Center for Scientific Department of and information science and his has expanded to 17 academic this month honored Mary Beth Review, for the term beginning Computational and contributions to the advancement libraries in mainland China, Hong Mengel, who has served as SAC July 1 and ending June 30, 2015. Systems Biology of Chinese-American librarian- Kong, Macau and Taiwan and one secretary for the past nine years. Members are selected on the basis and the University ship and cooperation between research library in Korea. Western Mengel is retiring June 30 of their demonstrated competence of Pittsburgh Cancer Institute. n

R E S E A R C H N O T E S CONTINUED FROM PAGE 9 Even with the best inten- in the development and use of Diamond single spin magnetic Pitt psychiatry faculty member monkey brain and takes longer tions, inadequate infrastructure, computational models that will sensors are a highly promising Judy Cameron, who also is a senior to develop, maturation of adult geographical or socioeconomic prepare the nation to respond to material platform featuring high scientist at the Oregon National human neurons likely would take barriers or cultural differences outbreaks of infectious diseases, magnetic field sensitivity, nano- Primate Research Center, Oregon even longer. can lead to inequitable access to such as the H1N1 swine flu. The meter spatial resolution and the Health and Science University, The study was funded by the vaccines, Lee said. MIDAS research agenda includes important ability to operate under said: “Expanding our knowledge National Institutes of Health, Research has shown that the development of computational ambient or harsh environmental beyond rodent models to under- the Spastic Paralysis and Allied poorer people may have less access tools for the analysis of the dynam- conditions required to study many stand how neurons mature in Diseases of the Central Nervous to medical care, including vaccina- ics of emergent diseases and for material systems. non-human primates will give us System Foundation and the tion, than wealthier people. the predictive evaluation of the Dutt’s proposed work will take more insight into what happens Retirement Research Foundation. The study was supported by effectiveness of proposed inter- a multifaceted approach toward in the human brain. In rodents, the National Institute of General vention strategies. improving the accuracy, sensitiv- neuronal maturation happens in Public health Medical Sciences and the Vaccine ity and robustness of this plat- four weeks, which is considerably research grant Modeling Initiative, funded by the Prof receives form through investigations into different than what we have found announced Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. DoE early quantum control and precision in our monkey studies.” The Public Health Adaptive Pitt co-authors included career funding quantum metrology coupled with Cameron’s research team gave Systems Studies (PHASYS) at the Shawn T. Brown and John Gurudev Dutt, a faculty innovative design, sophisticated adult monkeys injections of an Graduate School of Public Health J. Grefenstette of biostatis- member in physics and astron- nanofabrication and advanced agent called BrdU, which can be (GSPH) recently announced tics; Rachel R. Bailey, Sarah omy, recently received a five- measurement techniques. used as an indicator of new neuron that Shawn T. Brown, a faculty M. McGlone and Shanta M. year, $750,000 grant from the formation, then examined brain member in the Department of Zimmer of medicine; Richard Department of Energy’s early Neurons slow tissue at different times to look for Biostatistics and a research fellow K. Zimmerman of family medi- career research program. Dutt to mature markers of stages of maturation in at the Pittsburgh Supercomputing cine; Margaret Ann Potter of was chosen among 65 promising New neurons take more than tiny neurons called granule cells. Center, is the 2011 PHASYS pilot health policy and management, researchers nationwide from a six months to mature in adult Six weeks after an injection, 84 study grant recipient. and MIDAS center head Donald field of 1,150 applicants. Selec- monkeys and that time is likely percent of the new cells still bore Brown’s study is “The Geospa- S. Burke, dean of the Graduate tion was based on peer review by even longer in humans, according markers of immaturity and were tial Area and Information Analyzer School of Public Health. outside scientific experts. to researchers from the School immature in shape; in a rodent, all (GAIA), a Visualization Tool for MIDAS was initiated by the Dutt is working to develop a of Medicine, Penn State and the of the cells would have matured by Understanding Emergency Pre- National Institute of General magnetic field imaging technique University of Illinois. this time. Only one-third of the paredness Through Geospatial Medical Sciences to investigate with nanoscale resolution that Their findings, reported online monkey granule cells had markers Analysis.” Brown’s group has been novel computational and math- would allow for non-invasive, in the Proceedings of the National of maturity up to 28 weeks after developing a Geospatial Area and ematical models of existing and non-destructive probing of a Academy of Sciences, challenge BrdU injections. That means the Information Analyzer to create emerging infectious diseases. variety of important physical the notion that the time it takes majority of new granule cells will information-based visualization In 2009, the University was phenomena such as quantum tun- for neurogenesis is the reason not reach maturity until more for public health. In Brown’s pilot designated a MIDAS National neling in single-molecule magnets antidepressant medications are than six months have passed, the study, an interactive, web-based Center of Excellence, leading a and quantum bits encoded into not fully effective until three-five researchers said. Also, because the application of a preparedness collaborative network of scientists spins in quantum dots. weeks after treatment begins. human brain is larger than the dataset will be created for public health officials to explore. Under a five-year grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, PHASYS, located in the Center for Public Health Practice at GSPH, conducts research to develop, test and apply criteria and metrics for measuring the effectiveness and efficiency of preparedness and emergency response to hazards with public health consequences. PHASYS annually seeks applications for pilot studies that expand the research capability of GSPH in the field of public health systems research, with a strong focus on preparedness.

Sociology project funded The Department of Sociology recently announced that faculty member Waverly Duck has received funding from the Center on Race and Social Problems for his research on “Social Policy, the State, and the Poor: An Eth- nographic Examination of Policy Intersections in an Impoverished Urban Neighborhood.” n

10 JUNE 23, 2011

School of Social Work dean mand of the U.S. Air Force. emeritus David E. Epperson, who David E. Epperson A native of Donora, Pa., led the school to national promi- few faculty members. He is cred- opment Authority of Pittsburgh; Epperson earned four degrees nence during his 29-year tenure, ited with building a baccalaureate on the board of trustees for the from Pitt — a bachelor’s degree died of apparent sudden cardiac program, enlarging the school’s YMCA of the USA; on the board in political science (1961); master’s arrest June 20, 2011. He was 76. master’s program and developing of directors of the YMCA of degrees in social work (1964) and Epperson served as dean from a diversity program for students Pittsburgh, and as a member of in political science and interna- 1972 until his retirement in 2001, and faculty. When he retired, 22 PNC Bank’s urban advisory board. tional affairs (1970), and a PhD making him the longest-serving percent of the School of Social In addition, Epperson served as in political science and public dean at Pitt and the longest-serv- Work’s students and 25 percent a member of the Pittsburgh Foun- policy (1975). ing dean of any American school of its faculty were from under- dation’s Copeland Fund advisory He was awarded several honors of social work when he retired. represented populations. committee and its Lemington over the course of his career, Under his leadership, the “Dave Epperson and I began Home advisory board. including the YMCA of Pitts- School of Social Work gained working together as deans more He was a life member of the burgh’s Lifelong Achievement national attention: Its enrollment than a quarter of a century ago,” NAACP, an emeritus director Award, the Renaissance Publica- more than tripled and its rank- said Chancellor Mark A Nor- of the Pittsburgh Theological tions Trailblazers Torch Lighter ing rose to the top 10 percent of denberg. “He already was an Seminary and an elder at the East Award for Higher Education and graduate social work programs accomplished academic leader at work can do to alleviate human Liberty Presbyterian Church. the Urban League of Pittsburgh’s nationally. that time, so I naturally turned to suffering. He was a marvelous and Epperson also had served as Outstanding Members’ Award, all Epperson provided leadership him for guidance. He remained a good man who loved people and chair of the boards of NEED in 1998; the Urban Redevelop- to the Center for Mental Health special source of advice, encour- brought true and healing warmth (Negro Education Emergency ment Authority of Pittsburgh’s Services Research, an interdisci- agement and support through all into each room he entered.” Drive), the Urban League of Volunteer Award in 1996, and the plinary initiative between social the years that followed. Larry E. Davis, who succeeded Greater Pittsburgh and the Vectors Pittsburgh Man of the work and the Department of “Dave devoted most of his Epperson as dean of the School YMCA of Greater Pittsburgh. Year in Education award in 1982. Psychiatry and one of only seven professional life to Pitt, where of Social Work, said, “Because of He was a member of the board Epperson is survived by his National Institute of Mental he was respectfully known as Dave’s efforts, our school has the of directors for both the Council wife, Cecelia Trower Epperson; Health centers of its type in the ‘the dean of deans,’” Nordenberg best reputation in the country as on Social Work Education and two daughters, Sharon Emily United States. continued. “He was a wonderful a school that is responsive to the the National Association of Deans Epperson and Lia Beth Epperson, He also developed the child person who will be sorely missed needs of its community. He was and Directors of Schools of Social and three grandchildren. welfare education for leadership by all who knew him, but he has a real hero and truly a man who Work. Visitation will be 4-9 p.m. June program, which provides edu- left an inspiring legacy of good worked for the greater good of He also served as a trustee of 24 in East Liberty Presbyterian cational opportunities for public works and a legion of devoted all of us. After 10 years as dean, I the National Urban League and Church, 116 S. Highland Ave., child welfare personnel. friends who will continue to continued to rely on him regularly the National Center for Social where a funeral service will be In 2008, Pitt established the honor his memory through their for counsel, which he was always Policy and Practice. In addi- held at 10 a.m. June 25. David E. Epperson Endowed own commitments to the causes happy to provide.” tion, he had been a member of Contributions may be made to Chair in the School of Social in which he believed.” Epperson also served in leader- the Pennsylvania State Planning the David E. and Cecelia T. Epper- Work. Provost emeritus James V. ship capacities in local, national Board and the Commonwealth’s son Scholarship Fund; contribu- Epperson began his deanship Maher said, “David Epperson was and international nonprofit orga- Judicial Reform Commission. tions should be sent to the Office when Pitt’s School of Social Work absolutely dedicated to advancing nizations. Most recently, he served From 1954 to 1958, Epperson of Institutional Advancement, 128 was a program of 200 students with all the good that a school of social as vice chair of the Urban Redevel- served in the Strategic Air Com- N. Craig St., Pittsburgh 15260. n

Professor emeritus Ronald ate School of Public Health’s questioned. together and the professor became Bentley of the Department of Bio- Department of Biochemistry and Ronald Bentley “He had a classical education a grandfather figure to her two logical Sciences died June 6, 2011, Nutrition. you don’t find anymore — both daughters. “He always had some in Charleston, S.C. He was 89. He was promoted to associate as a scientist and a man of arts little experiment for them,” she A native of Derby, England, professor in 1956 and in 1960 and letters,” Berliner said. “He said, recalling the cooking and Bentley earned a bachelor’s degree became a full professor. In 1960, definitely was a Renaissance man.” chemistry projects that have from Derby Technical College in Bentley received a Public Health Bentley was proficient in glass- sparked her 12-year-old’s desire 1943. He earned a PhD from the Service (PHS) special fellowship blowing, fabricating glassware for to become a chemist. University of London Imperial at Stanford University’s Hopkins use in his experiments. He took up “Being a teacher was really College of Science and Tech- Marine Station. He also was pottery making as a hobby, install- important to him,” she said, nology in 1945, followed by a awarded a PHS fellowship and ing a kiln at home and presenting recalling his gift for explaining Diploma of the Imperial College took a sabbatical from Pitt in 1963 the pots he made as gifts to friends complicated ideas in understand- in 1946. to spend a year at the University and colleagues, she said. able ways — to the extent that he He was an internationally rec- of Lund Institute of Biochemistry Bentley also was an excel- used the example of werewolves ognized expert in stereochemistry in Sweden. lent cook, known for sharing his eating people as a memorable — the study of spatial arrange- He earned a doctor of sci- homemade fruitcake — soaked in metaphor for enzyme kinetics ments of the atoms in a molecule ence degree at the University of rum and aged for months — as a with his undergraduate students. and how they affect the molecule’s London in 1965. holiday treat for those colleagues Bentley enjoyed the outdoors, properties — as it applies to biol- Bentley chaired Pitt’s bio- highly specialized field of stereo- who appreciated the delicacy. taking an interest in birds and ogy. Among his many scholarly chemistry department 1972-76 chemistry. Berliner said Bentley disliked plants, Popp said, adding that he publications was the two-volume and was assistant chair 1976-77 of Christine Berliner, an adviser “fake” holidays such as Secretary’s had a special interest in hunting book, “Molecular Asymmetry in the Department of Life Sciences. in the Department of Biological Day, but enthusiastically would and identifying mushrooms. “A Biology,” published in 1969. He retired from the University Sciences, studied as an under- celebrate St. George’s Day (which lot of organisms he studied were The professor’s early research, in 1992 but continued to teach graduate under “Doc B.,” and coincidentally falls very close to fungi,” she said, attributing his including his PhD thesis on the until 1996, according to faculty later worked as an aide in his lab. the late April workplace obser- love for nature to his interest in chemistry of penicillin, focused on records. She remembered the profes- vance) by cooking an elaborate secondary metabolism — which the structure and possible synthe- Colleague Lewis Jacobson said sor as extremely focused in class. multicourse meal to share with comes from plants, fungi and sis of the drug. He also studied the he met Bentley when Jacobson Later, she learned that in spite the department’s office staff. He bacteria. carbohydrate metabolism of fungi. joined the University’s biophys- of his years of experience, he would prepare homemade appe- Bentley was an avid hiker, Bentley’s research interests ics department. They became reserved the hour just before each tizers, soup, bread and a main dish, camper and backpacker who centered around the study of departmental colleagues when the class period for reviewing what he but the highlight that caused the traveled with his family to many chemicals synthesized by plants University combined the depart- planned to discuss in class. “You staff to salivate in anticipation was destinations across the United or microorganisms, explained Jen ments of biochemistry, biology did not bother him — that was his his famous dessert — a trifle with Kingdom, Europe and North Popp, who researched vitamin K and biophysics in 1977 to form time to prepare,” she said. “He was ladyfingers, custard and whipped America. Their trips included — one form of which is synthe- what is now the Department of thinking about what he wanted to cream, all made from scratch. backpacking in Otter Creek, W. sized by plants, another by bacteria Biological Sciences. tell the students.” Berliner said Bentley was kind Va.; visits to Crown Island, Ont.; — as a graduate student in his lab. “He was a believer in under- Bentley exhibited meticulous and warm with students and col- the Tetons, and Yosemite. Bentley came to the United stated wit,” Jacobson said. “Defi- attention to detail, often starting leagues. “He really cared,” she Bentley is survived by two sons, States in 1946 on a Common- nitely a British wit, the cliché class by pointing out even the said, noting that he was particu- Colin and Peter. wealth Fund fellowship to image of a dry-humored English- smallest of errors in diagrams in larly close to the graduate students A memorial is set for 3 p.m. Columbia University. There, he man.” the text, she said. So observant he mentored. July 9 at the Radisson Hotel in met another scientist, Marian In addition to his expertise in was he that he once penned a Popp, who earned her doc- Green Tree. Blanchard, whom he married in science, Bentley was a historian of letter to the editors of the journal torate in 1988 as Bentley’s last The family suggests memorial 1948. science with a very clear sense of Biomedical Education to note graduate student advisee, recalled donations to the Alison Bentley- The two returned to London the way scientific ideas developed that the depiction of an amino thanking him in her dissertation Kephart Award Fund, which that year, where he was a member over time, Jacobson said, noting acid formula on a 1975 Iranian foreword for being a gentleman benefits a first-year undergraduate of the scientific staff at the that the trait is not ubiquitous postage stamp could imply that and a scholar. “That is really student in the biological sciences National Institute for Medical among scientists. amino acids (which can have two true. He was very academically at Pitt. Bentley and his wife estab- Research until 1951. When Bentley retired, he stereochemistries, L or D) were oriented, but also a real, genuine lished the memorial fund follow- He then returned to Columbia closed his lab, “but he did not stop all of one type. “Is it possible that person and human being. And a ing the death of their daughter, as a research associate before join- science,” Jacobson said, noting a whole generation of Iranian teacher,” she said. Alison, in 1985. Marian Bentley, ing the Pitt faculty in 1953 as an that Bentley continued to write biochemists will be brought up Popp and Bentley remained who also was a faculty member in assistant professor of biochemistry and publish scholarly works in in the belief that proteins contain close over the years. Their fami- biological sciences, died in 1989. in what then was the Gradu- the important but obscure and exclusively D-amino acids?” he lies often spent holiday weekends —Kimberly K. Barlow n

11 U N I V E R S I T Y TIMES

C A L E N D A R Moquin; June 28, 307 Eberly, Exhibits 10 am Pharmacy/Pharmaceutical Audubon Exhibit June Sciences “Little Owl,” through July 5; “Evaluation of the Effects of “Shore Lark,” July 5-19; Hillman Thursday 23 Wednesday 29 Therapeutic Hypothermia & July ground fl. exhibition case, reg. Cardiac Arrest on Specific Cyto- library hours (8-7715) Cave Canem Poetry Reading Clinical Oncology & Hematol- Wednesday 6 chrome P450 Isoform Activity,” Toi Derricotte, Cornelius Eady, ogy Grand Rounds Jocelyn Zhou; June 28, 456 Natasha Trethewey & Amiri “Oncogenomics to Target HSLS Workshop Salk, noon Deadlines Baraka; Monterey St. between Myeloma in the Bone Marrow “Gene Regulation Resources,” A&S/Economics SSWR Summer Institute Sampsonia & Jacksonia, North Microenvironment,” Kenneth Ansuman Chattopadhyay; Falk “Essays on Life Cycle Dynas- Workshops Side, 7:30 pm (412/321-2190) Anderson; UPMC Cancer Pavil- Library classrm. 2, 1-3 pm tic Discrete Choice Models,” Registration deadline is July 2 for ion Herberman Conf. Ctr. 2nd Mehmet Soytas; June 29, 4716 2 Pitt workshops: “Community- Friday 24 fl. aud., 8 am PhD Defenses Posvar, 9 am based Intervention Research Pathology Research Seminar/ A&S/Biological Sciences for Underserved & Minority Board of Trustees Mtg. Menten Lecture Medicine/Neuroscience- “Identification of Small Molecule Populations,” July 12-14; “Bio- Assembly Rm. WPU, 10 am “Recurrent Gene Fusions in Neurobiology Inhibitors of Polyomavirus Rep- social Methods for Social Work WPIC Lecture Common Solid Tumors: Impli- “Beyond Neurons: The Role of lication,” Sandlin Preece Seguin; Research,” July 26-28. (info: “Depth Psychology & Neu- cations for Personalized Medi- the Oligodendrocyte-Specific June 29, 169 Crawford, 1 pm www.sswr.org/SSWR-summer- roscience: The Relationship cine,” Arul Chinnaiyan, U of Gene CNP1 in Major Depressive GSPH/Biostatistics workshops.php) & Legacies of Sigmund Freud MI; 1105 Scaife, noon (8-1040) Disorder,” Nicole Edgar; June “Longitudinal Data Analysis New Faculty Orientation & Carl Gustav Jung,” James HSLS Lunch With a Librarian 23, LRDC 2nd fl. aud., noon in Depression Studies: Assess- Registration deadline is Aug. Harris; WPIC 2nd fl. aud., 11 “Registered Research & Clinical IS/Library & Information ment of Intermediate-Outcome- 18 for orientation to be held on am-12:30 pm Trial Databases,” Ahlam Saleh; Science Dependent Dynamic Interven- Aug. 25, 8 am-2 pm in Connolly Greensburg Campus Poetry Falk Library conf. rm. B, noon “Relationship Analysis of Image tion,” Jesse Yenchih Hsu; June Ballrm., Alumni. (www.cidde. Reading ReSET Panel Discussion & Descriptions: An Ontological 30, 308 Parran, noon pitt.edu/-1) Cave Canem; Village, UPG, Networking Reception Content Analytic Approach,” Medicine/Cellular & Molecu- 7:30 pm “Smoke-Free Campus Initia- Allen Benson; June 23, 1A04 lar Pathology tives”; 109 Parran, 3 pm IS, 1:30 pm “Beta-Catenin Signaling in Event Deadline Tuesday 28 Information Sciences Recruit- Medicine/Molecular Phar- Hepatic Differentiation: Which ment Initiative macology Way Does the Wnt Blow?” The next issue of the University Molecular Medicine Research Kathy Humphrey, Student “Targeting Protein Kinase D by Abigale Lade; July 6, S123 Starzl Times will include University Seminar Affairs; WPU lower lounge, 6 pm Novel Small Molecule Inhibitors BST, 10 am and on-campus events of July “Thrombospondin-1-CD47 & RNA Interference in Prostate A&S/Chemistry 7-21. Information for events Globally Regulates Multiple Car- Thursday 30 Cancer,” Courtney LaValle; June “Convection-Enhanced Deliv- during that period must be diovascular & Stress Responses,” 24, 1395 Starzl BST, 2 pm ery of Macromolecules to the received by 5 pm on June 30 at Jeff Isenberg; Rangos Research Provost’s Inaugural Lecture A&S/Chemistry Brain Using Electrokinetic 308 Bellefield Hall. Information Ctr. 3rd fl. conf. ctr., noon Andrew Peitzman, surgery; “In Vivo Fast Scan Cyclic Transport,” Amir Faraji; July 6, may be sent by fax to 4-4579 or n Scaife lecture rm. 6, 4:30 pm Voltammetry Reveals Distinct 135 Chevron, 2 pm email to [email protected]. Domains of Dopamine Terminal Function in the Striatum,” Keith C L A S S I F I E D Short-term lease available. Phone 412/363- • $8 for up to 15 words; $9 for 16-30 0299 M-F 9 am–4 pm; 412/951-1031 M-S all Teach Di erent. words; $10 for 31-50 words. day, leave message. • For University ads, submit an account SOUTH OAKLAND number for transfer of funds. Dawson St. 4 BR, completely renovated, equipped kitchen, central AC. $1,400+. Avail- • All other ads should be accompanied by able Aug. 1. 412/600-6933. a check for the full amount made payable SQUIRREL HILL Educational Technology to the University of Pittsburgh. Wilkins Avenue near Wightman. 3-BR town- • Reserve space by submitting ad copy house. W/D, porch & attic room. $1,340 + Center one week prior to publication. Copy and utilities. Available Aug. 1. Sachs Management payment should be sent to University Co., 412/421-2140. Times, 308 Bellefield Hall, University www.cidde.pitt.edu/ets of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh 15260. SERVICES • For more information, call Barbara ELDER LAW—ESTATE ATTORNEYS DelRaso, 412/624-4644. Michael H. Marks & Associates. Elder law; nursing home/Medicaid cost-of-care planning; wills; POAs; trusts; probate & estate administra- FITNESS tion; real estate. Squirrel Hill: 412/421-8944; INTERESTED IN ROWING? Monroeville: 412/373-4235; email: michael@ The Pitt Masters Rowing Club is recruiting marks-law.com. Free initial consultation. Fees new members. Staff & faculty of all skill levels quoted in advance. Personal & informative. & ages are welcome to join. Includes indoor FREELANCE RESEARCHER practice sessions & in-season water rowing. For Copy source documents from the Library of Mobile Learning Courseweb Training more details about club membership, contact Congress, the National Archives and other [email protected]. federal government agencies. Call 1-301/565- 2917 or email to [email protected]. HELP WANTED STUDENT WORKER SUBJECTS NEEDED Compile events calendar for University Times BLOOD PRESSURE & THE BRAIN beginning immediately or start of fall term. 15 Research study with 1 MRI & 2 interview ses- hours/week, very flexible schedule. Must be sions seeks healthy adults ages 35-60. Cannot organized & detail oriented. Prefer freshman, have low blood pressure, hypertension, heart sophomore or junior, but seniors are welcome to disease or diabetes. $150 compensation. Will be apply. Would like work-study-eligible student invited to repeat study in 2 years with additional but not a requirement. Email resume with compensation. Contact Kim Novak at 412/246- Audio/Video Consulting Coursecasting work history & contact information ASAP to 6200 or [email protected]. [email protected]. ECONOMIC GAME STUDY SUMMER HELP WANTED Participants needed for an economic game Need responsible student (undergrad/grad) study. Compensation: $12-$16 for 30 minutes Faculty can visit us with car. Two or 3 days a week to check on of your time, depending on the performance 13-year-old, run errands, help w/chores. of the 4 participants involved in the game. Nothing too intense. Very part-time (6-8 To participate you need to be a student (ID in B-23 Alumni Hall hrs/wk). Flexible. Major bonus if you have required) & native English speaker. To sign some interest or skill to share: Know iMovie, up write to: [email protected]. Monday-Friday photography, guitar, drums? 412/916-3176; 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. [email protected]. TUTOR Economics/calc tutor needed. Will pay. Contact me by email: [email protected]. Find it CENTER FOR HOUSING/RENT in the Instructional Development HIGHLAND PARK & Distance Education 1st-floor apt. (in duplex). Quiet neighborhood, fully furnished includes microwave, linens, AC, University Times kitchen utensils. Ample street parking. 15 min. to campus. Near bus route, park, pool, lake, bike & walking trails. $595/mo. includes utilities. CLASSIFIEDS! 12 Call 412/624-4644.