INSIDE Keith E. Schaefer Scholarship...... 3 Beatriz Luna named to NIH panel...... 6

PittNewspaper of the University of PittsburghChronicle Volume X • Number 13 • April 13, 2009 Dixon Named Naismith Coach of the Year Pitt men’s basketball coach Jamie the integrity of the program and the total Dixon received a top national honor when, growth of his student-athletes his highest on April 7, the Atlanta Tipoff Club named priorities.” him the 2009 Naismith Men’s College Bas- With his 163 career wins, Dixon set an ketball Coach of the Year. NCAA Division I record for most victories Dixon was chosen by the club’s board after six seasons as a head coach. Dixon of selectors, a group of leading basketball also concluded the 2008-09 season as the journalists, coaches, and administrators Big East Conference’s all-time leader in from around the country. The Naismith the percentage of overall league games Award, presented annually to the men’s won (.698). and women’s top college coaches, is the During the 2008-09 season, Dixon most prestigious national award in college guided Pitt to a 31-5 record (15-3 Big East), basketball. earned the school’s first-ever No. 1 seed “ had a tremendous season, upon entering the NCAA Tournament, and much of that success goes to Jamie and and led the Panthers to the NCAA East the wonderful coaching job he did with this Regional final. Pitt also achieved the con- team,” said Gary Stokan, Atlanta Tipoff sensus No. 1 national ranking for the first Club president. “During his six seasons, time in school history, set or tied school he has built a solid program that continues records for victories (31) and league wins to produce wonderful results, both on and (15), and finished the year with a perfect off the court.” 19-0 home record. Pitt Chancellor Mark A. Nordenberg Dixon has now guided the Panthers said, “In terms of what our team accom- to NCAA Tournament appearances in plished, this past season probably was the each of his first six seasons as head coach, most memorable in the long history of the becoming the first coach in school history Pitt men’s basketball program. Even more to achieve that honor. He has amassed a remarkable, though, is the sustained record career record of 163-45, which places him of excellence that Coach Dixon has built— third on Pitt’s all-time coaching wins list

breaking a 57-year-old record by claiming after just six seasons. COURTESY OF PITT ATHLETICS DEPARTMENT the most wins by a major college coach in Dixon began his coaching career in Jamie Dixon his first six years as a head coach in the 1989 as the head coach at TeAute College in history of college basketball. And, as the New Zealand. He spent 17 years coaching community, and his many charitable affili- Later this week, Dixon will receive Atlanta Tipoff Club noted in announcing major NCAA Division I schools, includ- ations include the Caring Place, HOPE Net- the Bob Prince Award at the annual Art his selection, Coach Dixon’s teams have ing assignments at Pitt, Northern Arizona work Hoops Classic, St. Anthony’s Holy Rooney Award Dinner supporting the been great representatives of our Univer- University, University of Hawaii, and the Name Father-Child Breakfast, the Juvenile Catholic Youth Association. In 2004, he sity, on and off the court. He is a caring, University of California-Santa Barbara. Diabetes Research Foundation, and Boy was honored as the Pittsburgh YMCA’s compassionate individual who has made Dixon is very active in the Pittsburgh Scouts of America. Person of the Year. Provost Funds 11 Projects Promoting Innovation in Education By Jane-Ellen Robinet

The Office of the Provost’s Advisory and Kevin Conley, program director for disciplines taught at Pitt. The Women’s Studies Program com- Council on Instructional Excellence (ACIE) the Athletic Training Education Program Kevin D. Ashley, professor of law and prises a wide variety of students who are has selected 11 teaching proposals to fund in the Department of Sports Medicine and intelligent systems and senior scientist in engaged in research projects and internships under the 2009 Innovation Nutrition and assistant dean Pitt’s Learning Research and Development related to the study of women, gender, and in Education Awards Pro- for undergraduate studies in Center, “A Peer-reviewed-based Student sexuality. The program draws students and gram. Pitt’s School of Health and Model for Ill-defined Problem-solving.” faculty from the disciplines of political sci- The awards, begun Rehabilitation Sciences, Instructors are increasingly using ence, sociology, anthropology, communica- in 2000 by University of “Creating Clinical Compe- student peer review as a teaching aid. This tion, English literature/writing, psychology, Pittsburgh Provost and tence Through Interactive project seeks to fine-tune and strengthen social work, education, nursing, and the Senior Vice Chancellor Technology.” the peer-review process so that professors physical sciences. This project will create James V. Maher, encourage Developing and assess- can better gauge how well students are a Web site to provide an interdisciplinary instructional innovation ing clinical competence understanding the course material. Spe- space where faculty and students can col- and teaching excellence. in athletic trainers can be cifically, the goal is to develop and evaluate laborate on Webliographies (online bibli- The ACIE seeks to identify time-consuming and dif- methods to solicit peer-reviewer feedback ographies), personal and group blogs, and high-quality proposals that ficult. Working with real in a structured way on assignments and to wikis, which are server programs that allow show promise for intro- patients is ideal but not provide instructors with an in-depth report, users to collaborate in forming a Web site’s ducing innovative, creative always feasible. This proj- prepared by a computational model, of how content. This collaboration will lead to the approaches to teaching that ect’s goal is the creation of well students understood the assignments’ creation of a reference data base and links can be adapted for use in a computer program to help issues. Ashley, who will be working with to key research sites. It also will serve as a other courses. Vice Provost train athletic trainers and graduate student assistant Ilya M. Goldin, way for students and faculty to better share for Faculty Affairs Andrew Andrew Blair assess their competence. said this approach should be especially their research and experiences within the Blair, who chairs the advisory The idea was prompted, in part, useful in any University course in which women’s studies community. Also work- council, observed, “There was a significant by the national certification test for athletic students learn to analyze ill-defined ing with Carr and Cohen is Carly Woods, increase this year in the number of propos- trainers, which has a multiple-choice section problems—problems for which there is no a doctoral candidate in the Department of als submitted while the overall quality was comprising an interactive looping of ques- one right answer but competing reasonable Communication and a teaching fellow in the sustained. This attests to the continuing tions and information. Each student begins answers. The model will be available on the Women’s Studies Program. vitality of this awards program, which has with the same question, but the remainder of Internet and will be field-tested this fall in Berrylin Ferguson, a professor and now completed its 10th annual round of the question sequence depends on how the a law course’s peer-reviewed legal writing director of the Division of Sino-nasal Disor- funding.” student answers each subsequent question. exercise. ders and Allergy in the School of Medicine’s Funding for this year’s awards totaled The hybrid questions are visual in nature Jean Ferguson Carr, director of Pitt’s Department of Otolaryngology, “NASAL $182,113. and require students to use critical think- Women’s Studies Program and a professor Project: Nasal Anatomy, Simulation, and Winners of the 2009 awards along ing by applying their knowledge in real-life of English and women’s studies, and Frayda Learning.” with titles and summaries of their propos- clinical situations. Aggelou said such a pro- Cohen, a visiting assistant professor of This project focuses on the development als follow. gram could be helpful in teaching students women’s studies with a joint appointment of a sino-nasal simulator device, NASAL, Amy E. Aggelou, instructor and about athletic injuries that might not occur in Pitt’s Department of Anthropology, that will be used to train nurses, nurse clinical coordinator in Pitt’s undergradu- very often, for example. Also, the format “Theory and Practice: An Interactive Web ate Athletic Training Education Program, could be beneficial to an array of medical Site.” Continued on page 5 2 • Pitt Chronicle • April 13, 2009

board games (Scrabble, Monopoly, Connect 4, and more recently as cofounder and managing director Pictionary Jr., and others), Legos, lacing cards of Meakem Becker Venture Capital. BrieflyNoted and beads, and math games (Base Ten Blocks, —Amanda Leff pattern blocks, and others). Donations may be brought to the Volunteer Pool Office, 710 Library System Offers Alumni Hall. Deadline for donations is May 1. Improved Online Catalog The Volunteer Pool is also sponsoring the 2009 Book Drive to collect 2,009 reading and Searching for a historic photo of 19th-century coloring books as well as crayons for needy downtown Pittsburgh? While looking for a book, would children. New or used books (English and you like to see an image of the cover and its table of Spanish) and crayons may be sent via campus contents as well as the full text? Do you want to be mail to Gwen Watkins, 710 Alumni Hall. notified by Pitt libraries when selections of interest The collected items will be given to Children come in? All of this is possible for the Pitt community Incorporated (www.children-inc.org), which and people worldwide with the University Library delivers all types of school supplies to children System’s new online catalog, called PITTCat+ (http:// in need in the United States and in South and pittcatplus.pitt.edu). Central America. This new tool allows instantaneous access to The deadline for contributions is Friday, millions of print and e-books, articles from tens of May 29. thousands of ejournals, and Pitt’s digital collections, including the Historic Pittsburgh Collection; the Archive Pitt to Present McKinsey of European Integration; and PhilSci, on which scholars Cup Competition in the philosophy of science can post their April 17 research for review by colleagues. PITTCat+ also provides access to the ejournals, CDs, The University of Pitts- DVDs, and maps currently available on burgh’s Joseph M. Katz Graduate PITTCat Classic. School of Business will once again PITTCat+ offers an enhanced host the McKinsey Cup Playoffs approach to searching. When a user and Competition, to be held April conducts a search, a visual “cloud” of words appears on the left side of the Wellness Fair Set for April 14 p.m. on April 19, participants will gather for group pictures 17 in . The competition is in the Connolly Ballroom. The event ends with the Annual the culmination of a course that screen, displaying variant spellings of seeks to equip students with the each search term, associated words, The Staff Association Spring Concert, which will be held at 3 p.m. April 19 in the ability to achieve success in an and the same word in other languages Council will host the physical fitness forum “Spring . increasingly complex business to ensure that a user doesn’t miss Into a Healthy Lifestyle” from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. The campus walking tour and spring concert are world. The class merges tradi- relevant items. For example, using April 14 in the Assembly Room of the William Pitt free. The cost of the reunion dinner is $80, and the cost of tional and experienced-based the search term “global warming” Union. Friday’s sing-along is $10. learning by placing students will cause such related words as The event will include more than 10 vendors The Heinz Chapel Choir is an a cappella choir compris- with client organizations to “greenhouse,” “ozone,” and “climate” promoting health and wellness activities, including ing many talented Pitt students. The group performs numer- work on real-world issues. to appear. These are clickable and will a yoga demonstration at 12:20 p.m. Participating ous concerts in the Heinz Memorial Chapel, including fall, During the spring 2009 provide the user with additional results. organizations will include Pitt’s benefits department, holiday, and spring concerts. term, 17 such projects were Images of book covers also appear, accom- Student Health Service, and University Child Develop- This May, the Heinz Chapel Choir is heading to Asia undertaken with the following clients: panied by book reviews and tables of contents, ment Center, as well as the Greater Pittsburgh for a four-city Chinese tour. The members will perform a American Eagle Outfitters, Bayer BMS, Dlubak as well as links to the full text. Federal Credit Union and the Central Blood Bank. cappella repertoire from around the world at the Central Corporation, 84 Lumber Company, Ellis School, HM PITTCat+ allows users to refine their For more information, contact the Staff Association Conservatory of Music in Beijing, the Xian Conservatory Insurance Company, Kennametal Inc., Massaro Corpora- searches by author, topic, dates of publication, volumes Council Office at 412-624-4236 or [email protected]. of Music in Xian, Zhejiang University in Hangzhou, and at tion, Nemocolin Woodlands, McGowan Institute for on the shelf that are not checked out, or volumes —Anthony M. Moore the He Lu Ting Music Hall of the Shanghai Conservatory of Music in Shanghai. It is the eighth time the choir has toured Regenerative Medicine (Pitt-UPMC), Philips (Respiron- available only online. internationally and the first time the group is visiting Asia. ics) Inc., Precision Therapeutics Inc., Red Oak Café, A user can save any search as an RSS feed and Heinz Chapel Choir Celebrates Respironics Foundation, Samaritan Counseling Service, be notified when new material relevant to a search is 70th Anniversary Reunion For more information, contact John Goldsmith at [email protected] or 412-624-4508. and the Westinghouse Electric Company. added to the library. And a personal bookshelf called —Meredith Johnson At the playoffs and competition, students will My Discoveries allows users to save, tag, rate, and The University of Pittsburgh’s Heinz Chapel square off and be judged by faculty, alumni, and create shareable lists of items. Choir is holding a 70th Anniversary Reunion celebra- business executives from participating organizations. —Sharon S. Blake tion from April 17 to 19. Pitt Volunteer Pool Seeks After-school Program Items, The playoffs, which are open to the media, will narrow The event kicks off with a sing-along at 7:30 the competition to four teams in closed-door sessions. p.m. April 17 in Heinz Memorial Chapel, with a recep- Children’s Books The top four teams will then participate in the McKinsey tion to follow at the Holiday Inn Select, University Cup Competition, which is scheduled from 2 to 5 p.m. Center, 100 Lytton Ave., Oakland. The Pitt Volunteer Pool is calling for donations of in the Carnegie Art Museum Theater, 4400 Forbes Ave., At 1 p.m. April 18, the choir will host a campus items to help after-school programs in the Oakland/Pitts- Oakland. walking tour. A dinner will be held at 6 p.m. in Pitt burgh area. Some of the needed items, aimed at helping PittChronicle Prior to the competition, Glen T. Meakem will Newspaper of the University of Pittsburgh Alumni Hall’s Connolly Ballroom. From 1:30 to 2:30 children both educationally and recreationally, include present a free public lecture on the Employee Free Choice Act at 12:30 p.m. in the Steiner Atrium in Pitt’s PUBLISHER Robert Hill . Meakem has earned a national reputation ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER John Harvith as a new economy innovator and leader—first as EXECUTIVE EDITOR Linda K. Schmitmeyer cofounder, chair, and CEO of FreeMarkets, Inc., EDITOR Jane-Ellen Robinet ART DIRECTOR Gary Cravener STAFF WRITERS Sharon S. Blake John Fedele Morgan Kelly Amanda Leff Anthony M. Moore Patricia Lomando White CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Brittney Gillison Meredith Johnson Breanna Presken Anita Srikameswaran Megan Grote Quatrini HAPPENINGS EDITOR Lauren O’Leary The Pitt Chronicle is published throughout the year by University News and Magazines, University of Pittsburgh, 400 Craig Hall, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, Phone: 412-624-1033, Fax: 412-624-4895, E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.chronicle.pitt.edu

The University of Pittsburgh is an affirmative action, equal opportunity institution that does not discriminate upon any Heinz Chapel Choir basis prohibited by law. April 13, 2009 • University of Pittsburgh • 3 PittScholars&Stewards

Shooting for the Stars The Keith E. Schaefer Undergraduate Scholarship

Bobek is majoring in physics and astronomy in the School of Arts and Sciences. She has earned a spot on the Dean’s List and hopes to pursue a career teaching either high school astronomy, math, or physics—or possibly working for NASA.

either high school astronomy, math, or conducting experiments with electrons physics—or possibly working for NASA. and light waves in her physics classes—or Bobek is the recipient of the Keith learning about celestial spheres and their E. Schaefer Undergraduate Scholarship. evolution. Her other passions include the Established in 2000, the scholarship is theater and enjoying city life. given to a student from Allegheny County Schaefer is a member of Pitt’s Board enrolled in the School of Arts and Sciences of Trustees and has previously served as and has outstanding academic achieve- the Pitt Alumni Association president. ment. He is currently the president and CEO of JOE KAPELEWSKI/CIDDE COURTESY OF PITT ALUMNI ASSOCIATION “The scholarship literally enables me BPL Global, Ltd. an Internet communi- Keith E. Schaefer to be a student here. I definitely experience cations company. Schaefer received his less stress,” Bobek explains. “I am learning bachelor’s degree from Pitt’s College of By Breanna Presken and Brittney Gillison so much here at Pitt, both academically and Arts and Sciences in 1971. outside of the classroom, and the scholar- While Bobek is well grounded in In the world of academia, Natalie sophomore. ship has a great deal to do with that. I love her studies at Pitt, she continues to set Bobek’s individuality stands out. Sport- Bobek is majoring in physics and spending time in the neighborhoods around her sights high. ing bright red hair and spinning the astronomy in the School of Arts and Sci- Oakland, especially Shadyside, Squirrel “All of my dreams are now set into latest hits on WPTS, Pitt’s student-run ences. She has earned a spot on the Dean’s Hill, and Downtown.” motion to become reality thanks to Mr. FM radio station, she is not your typical List and hopes to pursue a career teaching When she’s not on air, Bobek is busy Schaefer’s generosity,” Bobek says. . One Step at a Time Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, Duquesne Students Present Ideas for Local Sustainability at April 16 Symposium By Morgan Kelly A truly sustainable society transcends Students and professors from fluorescent bulbs and recycling—it requires fresh ideas and local action. In that vein, Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, and students from the University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University, and Carnegie Mellon Duquesne initiated the One Step University will present at an April 16 sym- posium the results of a cooperative project at a Time project in Fall 2007 to develop practical city- and campuswide policies and habits to reduce Pittsburgh’s in response to the 2007 Rachel environmental footprint. Carson Legacy Challenge, issued The One Step at a Time Student Sus- tainability Symposium features ideas rang- by the Rachel Carson Homestead ing from establishing city green-building standards to calculating the energy univer- Association. The grant encour- sities could conserve by powering down their computer systems during off-peak aged all three universities to hours. Hosted by Sustainable Pittsburgh and coordinated by the Environmental Studies create student-designed solu- Program in Pitt’s Department of Geology tions to environmental issues on and Planetary Science in the School of Arts and Sciences, the symposium will take campus and around the city. place from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 16 in the 31st-floor conference room of the Regional Enterprise Tower, 425 Sixth Ave., Down- town. Registration for the free public event aimed to conserve money and energy by is available on the Rachel Carson Home- figuring out the best times to power down stead Web site at www.rachelcarsonhome- the computers. stead.org/Events/tabid/62/Default.aspx. At 11:30 a.m., Pitt students will present Students and professors from Pitt, ideas to streamline the City of Pittsburgh’s Carnegie Mellon, and Duquesne initiated sustainability efforts, a report on a project the One Step at a Time project in Fall 2007 to install a “green roof” on campus, and a in response to the 2007 Rachel Carson description of a Pitt outreach campaign to Legacy Challenge, issued by the Rachel increase awareness of environmental issues Carson Homestead Association. The grant and of ongoing Universitywide sustain- encouraged all three universities to create ability efforts. Among other student group student-designed solutions to environmental reports is an analysis of the participation and issues on campus and around the city. The influence of nongovernmental organizations Heinz Endowments also supported the in the United Nations Framework Conven- initiative. tion on Climate Change. The April 16 symposium begins with A 12:30 p.m. poster session will include an introduction by Sustainable Pittsburgh displays of additional student projects, at 9 a.m. and comments by Lindsay Baxter, a municipal-level application of MARKAL, Research and Education, Environmental Sci- including renewable energy as a catalyst for sustainability coordinator for the City of a computer model designed by the Interna- ence and Management Program, School of U.S. job creation; a comparison of green- Pittsburgh. Brief descriptions of the stu- tional Energy Agency for monitoring and Law, and Sustainable MBA Program. house gas emissions from the United States, dent presentations follow. All presentations implementing energy efficiency; a study of At 10:30 a.m., Carnegie Mellon stu- China, India, and Brazil; the influence of include a question-and-answer session. Duquesne’s greenhouse gas emission; and dents will report on their evaluation of the the international market for carbon credits At 9:25 a.m., Duquesne students will ideas from One Step at a Time that have energy usage of the university’s computer on controlling greenhouse gas emissions; present their research on climate-change been realized on campus. The students rep- clusters and the clusters’ contribution to and a look at federal, state, and local climate initiatives among international businesses; resent Duquesne’s Center for Environmental Carnegie Mellon’s footprint. The students change policies. 4 • Pitt Chronicle • April 13, 2009 Science&Technology

Mollusk Memories Pitt, Berkeley Researchers Reconstruct Stem Cell Therapy Makes Cloudy Seashells to Model Nervous System Function Corneas Clear, Pitt Researchers Find By Morgan Kelly

The enchantingly colored seashells To construct its model, the team stud- that lend beaches their charm could ied electron microscope images of mollusk also provide information about how mantles to understand the neurons connect- the brain converts memories and sen- ing the sensing cells in the mantle with the sory information into action, accord- secretory cells that produce calcium carbon- ing to research from the University of ate and pigmented proteins. The team found California at Berkeley that the excitatory and and the University of inhibitory synapses— Pittsburgh published which promote or online April 7 in the diminish cell activ- Proceedings of the ity—surrounding the National Academy of secretory cells and the Sciences (PNAS). cells’ firing thresholds G. Bard Ermen- act as a neural net- trout, a University work that determines Professor of Math- how much calcium ematics at Pitt, worked and pigment the mol- w it h t he pap e r’s lusk secretes. Differ- lead author, Berke- ent rates of calcium ley graduate student carbonate secretion Alistair Boettiger, and determine the shape By Anita Srikameswaran Berkeley biophysicist of the shell, while George Oster to model different amounts Stem cells collected from human cor- the neural network of of pigment result in inflammation, Funderburgh said. But To construct its model, neas restore transparency and don’t trigger three months after the lumican-deficient mollusks and design a pattern unique to a rejection response when injected into a computer program the team studied electron each species. mouse eyes were injected with human eyes that are scarred and hazy, according to adult corneal stem cells, transparency that can generate the For i nst ance, experiments conducted in mice by research- complex pat ter ns microscope images of mol- shell ridges result was restored. ers at the University of Pittsburgh School The cornea and its stromal stem and shapes of most from one cell increas- of Medicine. Their study was published in mollusk shells. The lusk mantles to understand ing calcium carbon- cells themselves appear to be “immune the journal Stem Cells and appeared online privileged,” meaning they don’t trigger researchers traced the the neurons connecting the ate secretion while April 9. trail of brain activ- depressing secretion a significant immune response even The findings suggest that cell-based when transplanted across species, as in ity that begins with a sensing cells in the mantle from surrounding therapies might be an effective way to treat mollusk’s tongue-like cells. The research- the Pitt experiments. human corneal blindness and vision impair- “Several kinds of experiments organ called a mantle with the secretory cells that ers also found three ment caused by scarring that occurs after and leads to the cells basic patterns of shell indicated that the human cells were produce calcium carbonate infection, trauma, and other common eye alive and making lumican, and that the that produce the shell pigmentation deter- problems, said senior investigator James L. and pigmentation. mined by excitatory tissue had rebuilt properly,” Funder- and pigmented proteins. Funderburgh, a professor in the Department burgh noted. They supposed that and inhibitory activ- of Ophthalmology. The Pitt corneal stem as mollusks build their ity: stripes perpen- In the next steps, the researchers cells were able to remodel scar-like tissue intend to use the stem cells to treat lab shells, they retrace dicular to the growing back to normal. their previous work with the mantle and edge, bands parallel to the growing edge, animals that have corneal scars to see “Our experiments indicate that after if they, too, can be repaired with stem use those “memories” to continue the and more complex “traveling wave” pat- stem cell treatment, mouse eyes that initially pattern. At the same time, the new pig- terns such as zigzags and chevrons. cells. Under the auspices of UPMC Eye had corneal defects looked no different than Center’s recently established Center ment and shell growth are influenced by With striped shells, a pigment-secret- mouse eyes that had never been damaged,” external factors resulting in ing cell inhibits secretion of for Vision Restoration, they also plan Funderburgh said. to develop the necessary protocols to the varied patterns and shell pigment by neighboring cells The ability to grow millions of the cells structure seen in nature. but not itself, so that the same enable clinical testing of the cells. in the lab could make it possible to create an The research was supported by Boettiger, Ermentrout, pattern is repeated day after off-the-shelf product, which would be espe- and Oster simulated the day, yielding a stripe. Bands grants from the National Institutes of cially useful in countries that have limited Health, the Eye and Ear Foundation neural network with inte- parallel to the growing edge medical and surgical resources but a great gral equations that, like form when pigment secreted (Pittsburgh), and an unrestricted grant burden of eye disease owing to infections from Research to Prevent Blindness, the mollusk, retrace the on one day inhibit secreting and trauma. previous pattern, but can be cells for a few days, resulting N.Y. Funderburgh holds the Jules “Corneal scars are permanent, so the and Doris Stein Professorship from manipulated to accurately in an on/off pattern. “Travel- best available solution is corneal transplant,” predict how a shell will ing wave” patterns of dia- Research to Prevent Blindness. Funderburgh said. “Transplants have a high form under specific condi- monds, zigzags, arrowheads, success rate, but they don’t last forever. The tions. The resulting models and other shapes come about current popularity of LASIK corrective eye help illustrate how neural G. Bard Ermentrout when a pigment inhibits surgery is expected to substantially reduce networks—including mam- future secretion at that site the availability of donor tissue because the malian cortices—function in response but excites secretion in surrounding cells, so procedure alters the cornea in a way that to a combination of sensory information that pigment moves laterally on successive makes it unsuitable for transplantation.” and past experience, the team reported in days like a wave. A few years ago, Funderburgh and PNAS. The project was supported by the “Our real contribution was not repro- other University of Pittsburgh researchers National Science Foundation. ducing the patterns, but showing that the identified stem cells in a layer of the cornea “These models demonstrate the nervous system can do it with one equa- called the stroma, and they recently showed combined influence of sensory input and tion,” said Oster, a professor of environmen- that even after many rounds of expansion memories on brain activity,” Ermentrout tal science, policy and management, and in the lab, these cells continued to produce said. “Brains convert sensory information molecular and cell biology. “The pattern the biochemical components, or matrix, into action. If a ball is thrown at you, you on a seashell is the mollusk’s memories. of the cornea. One such protein is called duck or catch it because you know that The shell is laid down in layers, so the lumican, which plays a critical role in giving the ball could hit you. That knowledge mantle is sensing the history of the mol- the cornea the correct structure to make it and the sight of the ball coming at you lusk’s ‘thoughts’ and extrapolating to the transparent. dictate your action. A mollusk collects next layer, just like our brains project into Mice that lack the ability to produce sensory information from its previous the future.” lumican develop opaque areas of their pigmentation and converts it into motor The full paper can be found on the corneas comparable to the scar tissue that action by producing more pigmentation PNAS Web site at www.pnas.org/content/ human eyes form in response to trauma and James L. Funderburgh and continuing the pattern.” early/2009/04/07/0810311106.abstract. April 13, 2009 • University of Pittsburgh • 5 Provost Funds 11 Projects Promoting Innovation in Education Continued from page 1 anesthetists, and medical students on how Evaluation and Structural Health Monitor- for Wireless Computer Networks.” is known as standardized-colleague meth- to place feeding tubes and nose-to-stomach ing, and Green Buildings: Design and Con- This project involves the creation of a odology. This process trains health profes- tubes in patients. These procedures can be struction. As concerns about global climate virtual laboratory to give students in the sionals to portray a particular professional painful if performed incorrectly and diffi- change and energy independence increase, Introduction to Computer Networks course a role, attitude, and communication style in cult if a patient has anatomic abnormalities, sustainability concepts are critical compo- concrete understanding of wireless computer a teaching situation with a student—and to such as a separated septum. The NASAL nents of civil engineers’ education because networks. One of the course’s main topics is give continual feedback to the student. The simulator has sensors in areas that could these engineers will play significant roles how data signals, or information, are actu- project will develop new course materials cause pressure, pain, or injury in a conscious in designing, constructing, and maintain- ally transmitted between computers over the consisting of three scenarios depicting patient. A laptop inter- ing new energy infra- air via wireless networks. There are many colleague-with-colleague communication face will allow for structure systems. The methods of over-the-air data transmission, challenges. direct measurement The awards, begun in 2000 courses will be linked and each one has pros and cons. Unfortu- Sarah E. Scott and Linda Kucan, of how the proce- by University of Pittsburgh through three activities nately, the equipment necessary for students assistant professors of reading education in dure was performed that have students from to actually be able to observe and manipulate the School of Education, “Using Innovative on the simulator and Provost and Senior Vice the different courses data-transmission parameters is expensive, Video Technology to Transform the Prepa- how well the students working together on costing more than $100,000 per set. Mickle, ration of Literacy Teachers.” scored. It is anticipated Chancellor James V. Maher, mapping energy losses working with Peter J. Hawrylak, a research Scott and Kucan will redesign the that less than 10 min- in buildings around associate with the RFID Center of Excel- Reading and Language Arts in the Inter- utes of practice will be encourage instructional Pittsburgh and then pro- lence, will create a remote laboratory, which mediate Grades course, seeking to optimize required for a student posing energy-efficient students can access via the Internet. The students’ opportunities to learn effective to master “painless” innovation and teaching solutions, creating a lab will enable a single set of equipment— literacy teaching practices in the intermedi- nasal intubation. Fer- excellence. case study to calculate a provided by the RFID Center—to be shared ate grades. Their redesign will situate the guson estimates that building’s energy using by an entire class. The remote lab could also monthlong course in the Pittsburgh Public the NASAL system an infrared camera and be extended to other courses. Schools’ summer school programs, where will help train about 400 Pitt medical comparing indoor environmental quality Susan M. Meyer, associate dean for Pitt students will have daily opportunities and nursing students a year. Other proj- between green and regular buildings. education in the School of Pharmacy; Helen to work with struggling readers. The project ect members include co-director Joshua Karen T. Lee and Bruce W. Robart, K. Burns, associate dean for clinical edu- will video-record the Pitt students’ class- Dunklebarger, a third-year resident at UPMC professors of biology in the University of cation, School of Nursing; Hollis D. Day, room sessions with their young elementary in otolaryngology; Carl Snyderman, a pro- Pittsburgh at Johnstown (UPJ), and Frances director of the Advanced Clinical Education students and will also employ Video Traces, fessor of otolaryngology in Pitt’s School of M. Zauhar, a professor of English and chair Center, Pitt School of Medicine; “We Need a software program that will allow the Pitt Medicine and codirector of the Center for of UPJ’s Humanities Division, “Developing to Talk: Facilitating Improved Interprofes- students and their professors to better cri- Skull Base Surgery; Susan Dunmire, a pro- a Multidisciplinary Student-faculty Learn- sional Communication Through the Use of tique the classroom sessions. The project fessor of emergency medicine in the School ing Community at UPJ.” Standardized Colleagues.” marks the first step of a larger research of Medicine; Sam Tisherman, a professor in Beginning in Spring 2010, UPJ will The Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and schoolwide endeavor to use technol- the Departments of Critical Care Medicine enroll its first students in a course on natural and Nursing are working together on ogy to transform the nature of supervision and Surgery, School of Medicine; Alice resources that will be team-taught by fac- this project, which is aimed at improving in teacher education. Scott and Kucan will Jane Haines, an instructor in Pitt’s School ulty from the natural sciences, education, interprofessional communication between also work with Kim Gomez, a professor of Nursing; and John O’Donnell, director humanities, and social sciences depart- pharmacists, nurses, and physicians. Their of reading education in Pitt’s Learning of the Pitt School of Nursing’s Nurse Anes- ments. Students will engage in independent approach will be based upon the schools’ Sciences and Policy Center and the Learn- thesia Program. research, as well as scholarly and creative current use of a standardized-patient ing Research and Development Center; Margo B. Holm, a professor in the projects, and will have the opportunity to teaching strategy where health-professions Michelle Rimbey and Virginia Jackson, Department of Occupational Therapy, attend films, field trips, social activities, and students learn patient-assessment and reading education doctoral students; and School of Health and Rehabilitation Sci- guest lectures. Students from the President’s communication skills by working with an software and technology consultant Reed ences, “How Reliable Am I?” Scholars program will be recruited for the individual who is trained to act as a patient Stevens, a professor of cognitive studies in The goal of this project is to develop pilot class in Spring 2010, but UPJ hopes with specific symptoms. Meyer, Burns, and education at the University of Washington, online interobserver training modules for to ultimately use the model for at-risk and Day will adapt that strategy to create what Seattle. students who need to establish reliability undecided students and perhaps as part of in scoring and interpreting patient obser- students’ freshman-year curriculum. The vational assessment tools. Interobserver project’s goal is to create a multidisciplinary reliability is one of four types of reliability learning community comprising students A DAY OF MOURNING estimates, and it is used to assess the degree and faculty and to introduce students to to which different raters give consistent undergraduate research, scholarly, or cre- estimates of the same phenomenon. (An ative collaborative experiences. UPJ faculty example would be assessing the degree to mentors for the project include Matthew which two nurses give consistent estimates Burstein, assistant professor of philosophy; of a patient’s mental alertness on a scale of 1 Michael Cox, assistant professor of English to 5.) The project idea stemmed from the U.S. writing; Carrie Davis Todd, assistant profes- Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ sor of geology; Catherine Kloss, a professor 2007 directive that hospitals and health care of English; Nina Girard, a professor of math- providers, to be reimbursed for Medicare ematics education; Mary Lavine, a professor outpatient services, must evaluate patients of geography and director of Environmental using valid and reliable tools and be reli- Studies; Daniel Santoro, a professor of soci- able in scoring and interpreting them. “How ology; and Xanzhi Song, assistant professor Reliable Am I?” will use online clinical of chemistry. video cases to teach students to reliably Elisabeta G. Marai, assistant profes- score and interpret observational screening sor in the Department of Computer Science and assessment tools. This approach allows and founder and director of the Pitt Inter- individualized pacing and repeated prac- disciplinary Visualization Research Lab, tice and enables students to “pre-establish” “Immersive Software Engineering.” screening/assessment tool reliability prior This project will develop a new software to clinical internships. In actual clinical engineering course that—along with teach- settings, there is no opportunity for “replay” ing the techniques of project management, or practice, because patients with fragile design, coding, and other requirements— conditions do not have the endurance to will offer a significant communications repeatedly perform tasks until a student can component. The class will require students PHOTOS BY MARY JANE BENT/CIDDE reliably assess their performance. Although to tackle large, team-based, real-world designed for Pitt’s Master of Occupational problems. It also will introduce project man- Pittsburgh Police motorcades escorted Therapy students, the training modules agement skills, usability testing, customer the hearses of three fallen comrades will also be appropriate for students in the interviewing, and specification of formal Department of Physical Therapy and the requirements—so-called soft skills aimed April 9 down Fifth Avenue to the Petersen School of Nursing. at making Pitt graduates more competitive Events Center, where a memorial service was Amy E. Landis, Melissa M. Bilec, and in the global marketplace. Finally, the new Piervincenzo Rizzo, assistant professors class will establish a repository of software held. Thousands of police from across the in the Swanson School of Engineering’s engineering code that will be reused and United States and Canada attended the service Department of Civil and Environmental expanded in following editions of the course. Engineering, “Enhancing Crosscutting It is hoped that the repository will accelerate for officers Paul J. Sciullo II, 36; Eric Kelly, 41; Sustainability Education in Civil Engineer- the learning process for software design. and Stephen J. Mayhle, 29, who were killed ing.” Geeta Kothari, director of the Pitt Writing Citing the need to actively infuse Center and founder of the Pitt Peer-Tutoring April 4 while responding to a domestic distur- sustainability concepts into the Swanson Program, will assist in developing the com- bance call in Stanton Heights. School’s civil engineering courses, Landis, munication component of this course. Bilec, and Rizzo said the project will use Marlin H. Mickle, the Nickolas A. three active, team-based learning activities DeCecco Professor in Electrical and Com- to link three classes: Design for the Envi- puter Engineering and director of the RFID ronment, Introduction to Nondestructive Center of Excellence, “Remote Experiments 6 • Pitt Chronicle • April 13, 2009 Pitt School-specific Graduation Awards&More Recognition Events

Beatriz Luna Appointed to NIH Advisory Committee Beatriz Luna, a professor of psychia- which provides support to the NIH as it try and psychology in the University leads the way toward important medical of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, has discoveries that improve people’s health been selected by the National Institutes and save lives,” said David J. Kupfer, of Health (NIH) to serve as a member of Thomas Detre Professor and chair, the Advisory Committee to the Director Department of Psychiatry. (ACD). Since 1966, the L u n a ’s p r i m a r y ACD has advised the NIH research focuses on using director on policy and plan- innovative brain imag- ning issues important to the ing technologies, such as NIH mission of conducting functional magnetic reso- and supporting biomedical nance imaging and dif- and behavioral research fusion tensor imaging, to and research training and characterize how the brain translating research results mechanisms underlying for the public. cognitive skills mature As a member of this during adolescence. Her prestigious committee, work provides insight into and the first from the Uni- how vulnerabilities inher- versity of Pittsburgh, Luna Beatriz Luna ent to adolescence lead to will join six other new advisors as they psychopathology and risk-taking behavior JIM BURKE/CIDDE support and counsel the NIH director and is central to the recent view that brain on matters of planning, managing, and function continues to be immature during The University of Pittsburgh’s annual Commencement Convocation will be held at coordinating the programs and activities adolescence. 1 p.m. April 26 in the . National Medal of Science honoree Bert of all 27 NIH components. Luna is the founding director of the W. O’Malley, a pioneering researcher in the field of biological sciences who earned his “Dr. Luna’s selection for this position Laboratory for Neurocognitive Develop- Bachelor of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees at the University of Pittsburgh, will is well-deserved recognition for her exten- ment at the Western Psychiatric Institute be the featured speaker. Numerous school-hosted graduation recognition events also will sive research in the field of psychiatry,” and Clinic of the University of Pittsburgh take place. said Arthur S. Levine, senior vice chan- Medical Center. Born in Santiago, Chile, College of Business Administration will host a graduate recognition ceremony on Sat- cellor for the health sciences and dean of she received her Ph.D. from Pitt. In 2005, urday, April 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. the School of Medicine. “Her commitment she received the Presidential Early Career Contact LeeAnn Falcon, 412-383-7409, [email protected]. to adolescent brain research makes her Award in Science and Engineering for her College of General Studies will host a graduate recognition ceremony and reception on ideal for this important role as a highly pioneering work investigating the neural Friday, April 24, at 5:30 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, 4215 Fifth Ave., Oak- capable steward of the NIH’s vision.” basis of developmental changes in behav- land. Contact Jennifer Bates, 412-624-6608, [email protected]. “We are most pleased that Dr. Luna is ior through adolescence. School of Arts and Sciences graduation receptions will be held during commencement the occupant of this significant position, —By Megan Grote Quatrini weekend to honor graduates. Please contact individual departments within the School of Arts and Sciences to determine their graduation reception plans. Graduate School of Public and International Affairs will host a graduation ceremony on SEASON STARS Saturday, April 25, at 10 a.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial, 4141 Fifth Ave., Oakland. Contact Barbara Porter, 412-648-7632, [email protected]. RSVP will be on zoomerang.com. Graduate School of Public Health will host a convocation ceremony and alumni dinner. The convocation will be held Saturday, April 25, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Twentieth Century Club, 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland. Reception follows ceremony at the same location. The alumni dinner will be held Saturday, April 25, at 6 p.m. at the Twentieth Century Club. There will be a cash bar from 5 to 6 p.m. at the same location. Contact Mary Derkach, 412-624-3004, [email protected]. School of Dental Medicine will host a dental medicine diploma ceremony on Saturday, May 16, at 1 p.m. at Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Downtown. Contact Rhonda Matthews, 412-648-8422, [email protected]. School of Education will host a graduation ceremony on Sunday, April 26, at 9 a.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial, 4141 Fifth Ave., Oakland. Contact Jere Gallagher, 412-648-1774, [email protected]. Swanson School of Engineering will host a senior recognition night on Saturday, April 25, at 7 p.m. in the David Lawrence Auditorium, followed by a reception in the David Law- rence Auditorium Lobby. Contact Marcia Lasky, 412-624-9815, [email protected]. School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences will host a recognition ceremony and recep- tion on Friday, April 24, at 6 p.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial, 4141 Fifth Ave., Oakland, that will be immediately followed by a reception in the Commons Room. Contact Mindy L. Columbus, 412-383-6554, mlc34@pitt. edu. School of Information Sciences will host a recognition ceremony and breakfast recep- tion. The ceremony is on Sunday, April 26, from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. in the Alumni Hall 7th- floor Auditorium. A breakfast reception will be held immediately following the completion of the morning ceremony in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room. Contact Wes Lipschultz, 412-624-9749, [email protected]. School of Law commencement ceremony will be held on Friday, May 15, at 3 p.m. at Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial, 4141 Fifth Ave., Oakland. Contact Susan McGregor, 412-648-1373, [email protected]. School of Medicine will host a diploma day ceremony on Monday, May 18, at 10 a.m. at Carnegie Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland. Contact Joanne K. Colligan, 412-648-8935, [email protected]. School of Nursing will host a pinning ceremony for BSN graduates and a graduate student dinner. The pinning ceremony will be held on Saturday, April 25, at 6 p.m. at Soldiers and MIKE DRAZDZINSKI/CIDDE Sailors Military Museum and Memorial, 4141 Fifth Ave., Oakland. There will be a reception Celebrating during the April 2 Dapper Dan Dinner & Sports Auction immediately following in the Cathedral of Learning Commons Room. The dinner will be at Pitt’s Petersen Events Center are Shavonte Zellous (left), the held on Sunday, April 26, at 4 p.m. at the Pittsburgh Athletic Association, 4215 Fifth Ave., Pitt women’s basketball guard who was named the Dapper Dan Oakland. Contact Joan Nock, 412-624-2404, [email protected]. 2008 Sportswoman of the Year, and DeJuan Blair, the former School of Pharmacy will host a reception and graduation dinner on Sunday, April 26. The

sophomore center for the Pitt men’s basketball team. Zellous reception will start at 4:30 p.m. and the dinner at 5 p.m. at Hilton Pittsburgh, 600 Common- GETTY IMAGES/SPORTS ILLUSTRATED GETTYIMAGES/SPORTS was drafted April 9 by the Detroit Shock in the first round of the wealth Place, Downtown. Contact Lori Schmotzer, 412-648-1014, [email protected]. WNBA draft—the first player from Pitt ever to be drafted by the WNBA. DeJuan Blair, meanwhile, School of Social Work will host an evening of recognition on Sunday, April 26, at 4 p.m. announced April 8 that he would enter the NBA draft and skip his junior and senior seasons of at Soldiers and Sailors Military Museum and Memorial, 4141 Fifth Ave., Oakland, with a college eligibility. Inset: Zellous and Blair appeared together on the Nov. 18, 2008, regional cover reception immediately following in Soldiers and Sailors Ballroom. Contact Colleen Scholl, 412-624-6327, [email protected]. of Sports Illustrated. While sports lore says that being pictured on the magazine’s cover jinxes an Joseph M. Katz Graduate School of Business will host a graduation ceremony on athlete, it seems to have had the opposite effect on Zellous and Blair. Friday, April 24, at 1 p.m. in the Alumni Hall 7th-floor Auditorium with a reception immedi- ately following in the Alumni Hall Connolly Ballroom. Contact Bev Bolden, 412-648-1668, [email protected] or Gee Chin, 412-648-1569, [email protected].

April 13, 2009 • University of Pittsburgh • 7

“Valentino/Mussolini: The Italian Masculinities of the Divo and the Duce in 1920s America,” Giorgio Bertellini, University of Michigan assistant Happenings professor of screen arts and cultures, Cinderella, Romance languages and literatures, noon Benedum Center, April 14, 501 Cathedral of Learning, Pitt’s April 24-26 Film Studies Program, 412-624-6564, www.filmstudies.pitt.edu. “Protein Dynamics and Allostery,” Ivet Bahar, Pitt’s School of Medicine John K. Vries Chair in Computational Biology, 4 p.m. April 14, 2500 Posvar Hall, Provost’s Inaugural Lecture series, 412-624-4222, www.provost.pitt.edu. “Biofueling Our Future: Balancing Food and Fuel in a Global Economy,” Victor Mosoti, special legal advisor in the cabinet of the director-general of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organiza- tion, 7 p.m. April 14, Teplitz Memorial Courtroom, , McLean Lecture on World Law, Pitt’s Center for International Legal Education, Global Solu- tions Education Fund-Pittsburgh, 412-648- “CO2 Sequestration Potential of “Human Societies as Ecosystems: 7023, www.law.pitt.edu/academics/cile. the North Michigan Silurian Reef Culture and the Evolution of Social Trend,” Brian Toelle, Schlumberger DCS Differentiation,” Rob Boyd, University “Microfinance Institutions and principal geophysicist, 4 p.m. April 16, 11 of California at Los Angeles professor of World Poverty,” Jen Lee, Pitt doctoral , Spring 2009 Colloquium, Pitt’s anthropology, 3:30 p.m. April 17, Room candidate in international development, Department of Geology and Planetary Sci- 817 Cathedral of Learning, Annual Lecture noon ence, 412-624-8780, www.geology.pitt.edu/ Series, Center for Philosophy of Science, April 15, 4217 Posvar Hall, Global Studies colloquium.html. 412-624-1052, www.pitt.edu/~pittcntr. Graduate Brown Bag lecture series, Pitt Global Studies Program, 412-624-2918, “Mixed Marriage Prohibitions in Philosophy of Gauge Theory Work- www.ucis.pitt.edu. Nazi Germany and Their Rule of Law shop, speakers will discuss gauge fields, Implications for Past and Future,” gauge metaphysics, quantum gauging, 8:45 “Perspectives on International Vivian Curran, Pitt professor of law, 6 p.m. a.m.-6 p.m. April 18, also 9:30 a.m.-noon Social Work: The Case of South April 16, Alcoa Room, Barco Law Build- April 19, Room 817 Cathedral of Learning, Africa,” Mandla Tshabalala, noon April ing, Pitt’s Center for International Legal Center for Philosophy of Science, 412-624- Pitt 2009 Studio Arts Exhibition, 15, lunch provided, 2017 Cathedral of Education, 412-648-7023, www.law.pitt. 1052, www.pitt.edu/~pittcntr. , through April 25 Learning, World Social Work Day Lecture, edu/academics/cile. Pitt’s School of Social Work Conference “Marriage, Men, and Money: Afri- Center, 2017 Cathedral of Learning, www. “The Women in the Middle: Inka can American Women’s Continued Concerts Arts Department, 412-648-2430, www. socialwork.pitt.edu. Concepts Manifested in Farfan’s Investment in the Romantic Ideal,” studioarts.pitt.edu. Burials,” Carol J. Mackey, California M. Belinda Tucker, University of California Frick Art and Historical Center, “New Directions in Research on State University of Northridge professor at Los Angeles professor of psychiatry French Impressionism Meets American Frick Art and Historical Center, The Illuminated Manuscripts Contain- emerita of anthropology, 1 p.m. April 17, and biobehavioral sciences, noon April Jazz, The Jazz Fauré Project in conjunction Road to Impressionism: Barbizon Land- ing Nicholas of Lyra’s Postilla super 3106 Posvar Hall, Center for Latin Ameri- 22, lunch provided, 2017 Cathedral of with The Road to Impressionism—Barbizon scapes From the Walters Art Museum, totam bibliam,” Sarah Bromberg, Pitt can Studies, Anthropology Department, Learning, Reed Smith Spring 2009 Speaker Landscapes From the Walters Art Museum, through May 3; A Revolution on Wheels: doctoral candidate in history of art and 412-648-7392, www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas. Series, Center on Race and Social Prob- galleries open 6:30 p.m., concert begins The Model T at 100, through May 3, architecture, noon April 15, Room 203 lems, 412-624-7382, www.crsp.pitt.edu. 7:30 p.m. April 14, 7227 Reynolds St., Car and Carriage Museum; Meissonier: Frick Fine Arts Building, History of Art “Early Human Populations in the Point Breeze, 2009 Music for Exhibitions A Final Masterpiece, A Pittsburgh Home, and Architecture Colloquium, Pitt’s History New World: A Biased Perspective,” “Grant Writing,” 10 a.m.-3 p.m. series, 412-371-0600, www.frickart.org. through May 31, Frick Art Museum, of Art and Architecture Department, 412- James Adovasio, Mercyhurst University April 25, Lecture Room 2, 4th Floor, 7227 Reynolds St., Point Breeze, 412- 648-2400, www.haa.pitt.edu. provost and Archaeological Institute direc- Scaife Hall, Survival Skills and Ethics Emily Pinkerton and Friends, North 371-0600, www.frickart.org. tor, 3 p.m. April 17, Bayer Learning Center, Workshop, to register call 412-578-3716, and South American-inspired music on the “Chasing a Roman Soldier,” James Pappert Lecture Hall, Duquesne University, www.survival.pitt.edu. guitar, fiddle, and banjo, 12:30 p.m. Carnegie Museum of Art, Laboratory Russell, University of British Columbia 600 Forbes Ave., Uptown; also 1 p.m. April 16, The Cup & Chaucer Café, of Architecture, with works by Mexican professor of classical, Near Eastern, and April 17, Carnegie Museum of Art Theater, Fourth Annual Springboard 2009: A , The Emerging Legends architect Fernando Romero, through religious studies, 4:30 p.m. April 15, 208A 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, Evidence Monthlong Celebration of Under- Series, University of Pittsburgh’s Library May 31; Matsubara: A Celebration Cathedral of Learning, Pitt’s Department of for Evolution: A Celebration of Charles graduate Research and Creativ- System, Calliope: The Pittsburgh Folk in Pittsburgh, woodblock prints by Classics, 412-624-4493, www.classics.pitt. Darwin’s 200th Birthday Lecture Series, ity, event encompassing undergraduate Music Society, www.emilypinkerton.com. Matsubara Naoko, through June 7; 4400 edu/events. Duquesne University, www.sepa.duq.edu/ research fairs, poster sessions, mini- Forbes Ave., Oakland, 412-622-3131, darwin/talks.html. conferences, art exhibitions, and creative Rachmaninoff Festival Finale, featur- www.cmoa.org. “Image of War in Chechnya,” Zarema performances occurring across the Univer- ing Vocalise, Symphonic Dances,Piano Mukusheva, H.J. Heinz Company Founda- Gotta Dance! A Film sity during April, www.pitt.edu/~provost/ Concerto No. 3; Leonard Slatkin, conduc- tion Fellow at Pitt, noon April 16, 4217 undergrad_research.html. Posvar Hall, Pitt’s Global Issues Lecture Salute to Gene Kelly, tor; Denis Matsuev, pianist; April 17-19, Film Heinz Hall, Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., Downtown, Series, Pitt’s Global Studies Program, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, BNY Frida, Naturaleza Viva (1984), directed Center for Russian and East April 23-26 Miscellaneous Mellon Grand Classics, 412-392-4900, by Fernando Solanas, 7:30 p.m. April 15, European Studies, 412-624- www.pittsburghsymphony.org. Frick Fine Arts Auditorium, Pitt’s Center 2918, www.ucis.pitt.edu/ “Spring Into a Healthy Lifestyle,” for Latin American Studies, Amigos del crees. vendors include Venture Outdoors, Uni- Piffaro: Piffaro Potpourri, featuring Cine Latino Americano Spring 2009 Series, versity Benefits Department, Davis Vision, pieces by Josquin, Obrecht, and Lassus, amigosdelcinelatinoamericano.blogspot. “Developing Productive Central Blood Bank, and more, 11:30 a.m.- 8 p.m. April 18, Synod Hall, Fifth Avenue com. Writing Habits,” Amy J. 2 p.m. April 14, Assembly Room, William and North Craig Street, Oakland, Renais- Markowitz, editor and scientific Pitt Union, Pitt’s Staff Association Council, sance and Baroque Society of Pittsburgh, The World According to Monsanto writing specialist in San Francisco, 412-624-4236, [email protected]. 412-361-2048, www.rbsp.org. (2008), directed by Marie-Monique Robin, 8:30-10:30 a.m., also 3-5 p.m. 7 p.m. April 16, Center for Museum April 16, S120 Thomas E. Starzl 2009 Nellie Leadership Awards Piano Magic With Jon Kimura Parker, Education, Classroom A, Carnegie Library, Biomedical Science Tower, Health Gala, Andrew Stockey, WTAE-TV, featuring Chausson’s Concerto for Violin, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, Real to Reel Sciences Faculty Professional Develop- will host this black-tie, red-carpet event Piano and String Quartet and Beethoven’s Documentary Film Series, 412-622-3105, ment Series, Postdoctoral Professional- celebrating community leaders; proceeds Piano Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Op. www.carngegielibrary.org. ism Series, Spring 2009 Work- benefit the Rising Star Scholarship Fund, 15; Andrés Cárdenes, conductor and shop, Office of Academic Career 5:30-9 p.m. April 30, Twentieth Century violinist; 7:30 p.m. April 23, Carnegie Youtube Poop, a collection presented Development, Magee-Womens Club, 4201 Bigelow Blvd., Oakland, Three Music Hall, 4400 Forbes Ave., Oakland, by Chris Miller, Pitt doctoral candidate Research Institute, Institute for Rivers Youth, 412-441-5020, www.threeriv- Pittsburgh Symphony Chamber Orchestra, in poetry; followed by Nowhere (1997), Clinical Research Education, ersyouth.org. 412-392-4900, www.pittsburghsymphony. directed by Gregg Araki, presented by to register visit www.oacd. org. John Trenz, Pitt doctoral candidate in film, health.pitt.edu. 6:30 p.m. April 17, 1501 Posvar Hall, free Opera/Theater/ Gotta Dance! A Film Salute to Gene pizza, Extreme Cinema: The Many Faces “Texts and Rites for Kelly, music performed in sync with Pitt of Shock Cinematheque Series, Pitt Film the Pre-baptismal Dance alumnus Kelly’s films, featuring Briga- Studies Program, 412-624-6565, www. Period: The Mother, Child, doon, Singin’ in the Rain, An American in filmstudies.pitt.edu. Midwife, and the Priest,” Angels in America, Part Two: Per- Paris; Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductor; Margaret Dimitrova, Sofia estroika, second part of Pulitzer April 23-26, Heinz Hall, 600 Penn Ave., University in Bulgaria assistant Prize-winning drama by Tony Kushner; Downtown, PNC Pittsburgh Symphony Lectures/Seminars/ professor of old Bulgarian lan- directed by Robert C.T. Steele, through POPS! 412-392-4900, www.pittsburghsym- guage and history of Bulgar- April 11, Charity Randall Theatre, Stephen phony.org. Readings ian language, 3 p.m. April 16, Foster Memorial, Pitt Repertory Theatre, 1401 Cathedral of Learning, 412-624-7529, www.play.pitt.edu. Organ recital, featuring Bruce Neswick, “Boris Mikhailov’s Soviet Por- Pitt’s Center for Russian and director of music at New York City’s traits,” Liliana Milkova, graduate East European Studies, 412- Rent, musical by Jonathan Larson, Cathedral of Saint John the Divine, 4 p.m. curational intern at National Gallery of 624-2918, www.ucis.pitt. April 14-19, Benedum Center, 719 Liberty April 26, Calvary Episcopal Church, Shady Art in Washington, D.C., noon April 13, edu/crees. Ave., Downtown, PNC Broadway Across Avenue and Walnut Street, Shadyside, 4217 Posvar Hall, Pitt’s Center for Russian America, 412-456-6666, www.pgharts.org. Organ Artists Series of Pittsburgh, 412-242- and East European Studies, 412-648-7407, 2787, www.oas-series.com. www.ucis.pitt.edu/crees. Godspell, musical, April 16-26, Byham Theater, 101 Sixth St., Downtown, Pitts- “The Central American Free Trade burgh Musical Theater, 412-539-0900, Exhibitions Agreement (CAFTA): A Panel Discus- www.pittsburghmusicals.com. sion,” panelists include James H. Cassing, Pitt 2009 Studio Arts Student Exhibi- Pitt professor of economics; Henry Posner A Moon for the Misbegotten, by Eugene tion, featuring paintings, drawings, sculp- III, Railroad Development Corporation O’Neill, April 16-May 17, O’Reilly The- tures, prints, and digital images, through chairman, noon April 14, Latin American atre, 621 Penn Ave., Downtown, Pittsburgh April 25; student artists will discuss their Lecture Room, First Floor Hillman Library, Public Theatre, 412-316-1600, www.ppt.org. work and answer questions, noon Center for Latin American Studies, 412- April 15, University Art Gallery, Frick 648-7392, www.ucis.pitt.edu/clas. Continued on page 8 Fine Arts Building, Oakland, Pitt Studio Pitt Chronicle University News and Magazines University of Pittsburgh 400 Craig Hall 200 South Craig Street Pittsburgh, PA 15260

8 • Pitt Chronicle • April 13, 2009

Lihua Zhang, School of Arts and Sciences’ International Affairs, “Institutions, Values Department of Classics, “Medea and Its Conflict, and Values Hierarchies,” noon Chinese Audience,” 1 p.m. April 17, 1518 April 22, 3412 Posvar Hall. continued Cathedral of Learning. Happenings Morimitsu Kurino, School of Arts Robyn Cutright, School of Arts and and Sciences’ Department of Economics, Sciences’ Department of Anthropology, “Essays on Dynamic Matching Markets,” Pitt PhD Dissertation Rosta Farzan, School of Arts and Sci- “Between the Kitchen and the State: Domes- 3 p.m. April 22, 4716 Posvar Hall. ences’ Intelligent Systems Program, “A tic Practice and Chimu Expansion in the Defenses Comprehensive Study of Social Navigation Jequetepeque Valley, Peru,” 3 p.m. April 17, Yanna Shen, School of Arts and Sci- Support,” 2 p.m. April 15, Room 522 Infor- 3307 Posvar Hall. ences’ Intelligent Systems Program, Katherine Sorrels, School of Arts and mation Sciences Building. “Bayesian Modeling of Anomalies Due to Sciences’ Department of History, “Austrian Tracey Jaffe, School of Arts and Sciences’ Known and Unknown Causes,” 1:30 p.m. Jews and the Idea of Europe: Reformulat- Fabio López de la Roche, School of Department of History, “In the Footsteps April 23, 5317 . ing Multinationalism as a Response to the Arts and Sciences’ Department of Hispanic of Cristo Obrero: Chile’s Young Catholic Disintegration of the Habsburg Empire, Languages and Literatures, “Conflicto, Workers Movement in the Shanty- town, Yeonmin Cho, Graduate School of Public 1880-1939,” 11 a.m. April 14, 3703 Posvar hegemonía y nacionalismo tutelado en Factory, and Family, 1946-1973,” and International Affairs, “U.S. Decision Hall. Colombia 2002-2008: Entre la comunicación 11 a.m. April 20, 3703 Posvar Hall. Making on Missile Defense,” 10 a.m. April gubernamental y la ficción noticiosa de 24, Conference Room, Ridgway Center. Jolie E. DeForrest, School of Arts and television,” 10 a.m. April 16, 1528 Cathedral Taura L. Palfreyman-barr, School of Sciences’ Department of Chemistry, “The of Learning. Nursing, “Whole Genome Expression Profil- Allenic Carbocyclization Reaction of ing of Acute Ischemic Stroke in Humans,” Allene-ynes: Progress Towards the Syn- Liying Ren, School of Arts and Sciences’ noon April 20, Room 138 Victoria Building. Blue, Gold, and Green theses of Fumagillol and Ovalicin,” 1 p.m. Department of Political Science, “Surveying Sustainability Festival April 14, 706 . Public Opinion in Transitional China: An Ekaterina Turkina, Graduate School of Examination of Survey Response,” Public and International Affairs, “EU-Russia Rescheduled for April 22 Jason Squinobal, School of Arts and 11 a.m. April 16, 4606 Posvar Hall. Regional Cooperation and Energy Networks The University of Pittsburgh’s Blue, Sciences’ Department of Music, “The in the Russian Northwestern and Southern Implementation of West African Musical Cornelie Piok-Zanon, School of Arts and Regions: Implications for Democratic Gov- Gold, and Green sustainability festival Traits and Techniques in the Music of Art Sciences’ Department of History of Art and ernance,” 3 p.m. April 21, 4217 Posvar Hall. and exposition originally scheduled for Blakey, Yusef Lateef, and Randy Weston,” Architecture, “The Sanctuary of Demeter April 9 have been postponed until April 1 p.m. April 14, Room 114 Music Building. Maria Jose Alvarez, Mitsubara: A Celebration at Pergamon: Architecture and Dynasty in School of Arts 22. The event was moved back to accom- in Pittsburgh, the Early Attalid Capital,” 9 a.m. April 17, and Sciences Department of Sociology, Naveena Yanamala, School of Medi- Room 104 Frick Fine Arts Building. “Contentious Urbanization From Below: modate the memorial service for the slain Carnegie Museum of Art, cine’s Program in Integrative Molecular through June 7 Land Squatting in Montevideo, Uruguay,” Pittsburgh Police officers on April 9 in Biology, “Allosteric Modulation of G Kwame Appenteng, Graduate School of 2:30 p.m. April 21, Conference Room 2431 protein-Coupled Receptors” 3 p.m. Public Health’s Department of Epidemiol- Posvar Hall. the Petersen Events Center. Information April 14, 1018 Biomedical Science Tower 3. ogy, “Inflammatory Cytokines Interleu- is available on the festival Web site at Pain in My Heart and Reachings, two kin-1A (IL-1A), IL-1B, IL-1RN, IL-6 and Mark Perry, Graduate School of Public one-act dramas by Rob Penny, directed by Li Zou, Swanson School of Engineering’s IL-6R Gene Polymorphisms and Prostate and International Affairs, “The Role of ww.bluegoldandgreen.pitt.edu Mark Clayton Southers, through April 18, Department of Bioengineering, “Role of Cancer Risk in African American and Information Among Policy 7th-floor Auditorium, Alumni Hall, Pitt’s Cell-cell Adhesion in Profilin-1-Dependent Caucasian Men,” 10 a.m. April 17, Room Elites in the Federal Com- Kuntu Repertory Theatre, 412-624-7298, Modulation of Breast Cancer Cell Prolifera- 109 . munications Commission: www.kuntu.org. tion,” 3:30 p.m. April 14, 2nd -floor Con- A Case Study,” 12:30 p.m. ference Room, 306 Center for Bioengineer- Vanessa L. Short, Graduate School of April 22, 3200 Posvar Hall. Cinderella, ballet, music by Prokofiev, ing, 300 Technology Drive. Public Health’s Department of Epidemiol- April 24-26, Benedum Center, 719 Liberty ogy, “Mycoplasma Genitalium: Risk Fac- Athanasios Thanopoulos, PUBLICATION NOTICE The next edition of Ave., Downtown, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Michael Mazza, School of Arts and Sci- tors, Clinical Characteristics, and Pregnancy School of Arts and Sciences’ Pitt Chronicle will be published April 26. 412-456-6666, www.pbt.org. ences’ Department of English, “This Fierce Outcome,” 9 a.m. April 17, A638 Crabtree Department of Economics, Items for publication in the newspaper’s Geometry: Uses of the Judeo-Christian Hall. “Essays on Social Insurance,” Happenings calendar (see page 7) should Gianni Schicchi, operatic comedy by Bible in the Anti-abolitionist and Anti-gay 9:30 a.m. April 22, 4900 be received six working days prior to the Giacomo Puccini, April 24-25, Buon Rhetoric of the United States,” 9 a.m. April Darren Liu, Graduate School of Public Posvar Hall. desired publication date. Happenings items Sapore Art Gallery, 326 Main St., West 15, 527 Cathedral of Learning. Health’s Department of Behavioral and should include the following information: End, Opera Theater of Pittsburgh’s Salon Community Health Sciences, “Health Infor- Sharika Crawford, School title of the event, name and title of speaker(s), Series, 412-621-1499, www.operatheater- James Ogburn, School of Arts and mation Technology and Nursing Homes,” of Arts and Sciences’ Depart- pittsburgh.org. Sciences’ Department of Music, “Conflict- 9:30 a.m. April 17, 226 Parran Hall. ment of History, “‘Under the date, time, location, sponsor(s), and a phone ing Lines, Cohesive Structures: Multiple- Colombian Flag:’ Nation- number and Web site for additional infor- Yerma, by Federico Garcia Lorca; directed directed Linearity in Witold Lutoslawski’s Pratibha Menon, School of Information building on San Andres and mation. Items may be e-mailed to chron@ by Melanie Dreyer, through April 26, Third Symphony,” 1 p.m. April 15, Room Sciences’ Telecommunications and Net- Providence Islands, 1887- pitt.edu, faxed to 412-624-4895, or sent by Quantum Theatre, 6000 Penn Ave., Down- 302 Music Building. working Program, “Overflow Channels for 1930,” 10 a.m. April 22, 3703 campus mail to 422 Craig Hall. For more town, 412-394-3353, www.quantumtheatre. Optimal Core Optical Networks,” 10 a.m. Posvar Hall. information, call 412-624-1033 or e-mail com. April 17, Room 502 Information Sciences [email protected]. Building. Ann Rudnicki, Gradu- ate School of Public and