Roughly 47 million people in the United States smoke cigarettes. At any one time, more than 70 percent of those smokers report that they would like to quit smoking and about 17 million Americans annually attempt to quit. "I think a lot of those efforts are probably fairly weak," says Saul Shiffman, director of the […]
University Library System seeks user input on its strategic plan >
November 21st, 1996Faced with budget constraints, escalating journal subscription costs, rapidly changing technologies and new demands from its customers, University Library System (ULS) personnel have drafted a strategic plan to guide future decisions on improving Pitt library services and collections. Now ULS wants to know what its customers — Pitt faculty, staff and students — think of […]
Cardiovascular testing in athletes has limited value in preventing exercise-related sudden death >
November 21st, 1996A University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) cardiologist has found that routine cardiovascular testing to prevent exercise-related sudden death in athletes has limited usefulness because of the rarity of such events, the cost of screening and the poor accuracy of exercise testing for such events. Despite problems with routine testing, however, Paul Thompson, UPMC director […]
Computer science celebrates 30 years >
November 21st, 1996Pitt's Department of Computer Science celebrated its 30th anniversary on Nov. 15 with an alumni luncheon, computer and software demonstrations, historical displays and a reception. Heading the list of speakers was department chair Siegfried Treu, who provided an overview of the department's history. Faculty members representing the department's major research areas also presented programs. They […]
Fire-walking >
November 21st, 1996Help Wanted: University mathematician needed to develop a computer model of a foot engaged in fire-walking based on the laws of thermodynamics. The purpose of the project is to predict the temperature that the flesh of the foot reaches as a function of time. No salary. No tenure. No fringe benefits, except an opportunity to […]
List of area vendors participating in CampusFunds program grows >
November 21st, 1996CampusFunds, the money that faculty, staff and students deposit on their new PittCard ID cards, currently is being accepted in about 15 stores and restaurants in Oakland and Shadyside. And more vendors are being added to the list every week. "Our goal for the end of this year is a total of 35 vendors," said […]
University launches Brazilian studies program >
November 21st, 1996Ruth Correa Leite Cardoso, wife of Brazilian President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, visited the University Nov. 14-15 to help launch Pitt's new Brazilian studies program. Cardoso gave the program's inaugural lecture. As chair of Brazil's Commission of Solidarity in Community (CSC), she also discussed efforts to combat Brazil's poverty and social exclusion. CSC oversees social policies […]