Dateline Rice for April 8, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Water’s curvy surface forms tiniest wires
Rice University researchers create sub-10-nanometer wires from a variety of materials by using water as a mask in a simple etching process. The process is promising for microelectronics manufacturers who seek to shrink the circuits in their devices. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted. Graduate students Vera Abramova and Alexander Slesarev are mentioned.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1CwS4FX
Researchers produce nanowires using meniscus-mark lithography
AZo Nano (This article also appeared in BioSpace.com, ClinicaSpace, DeviceSpace and MDLinx.com.)
http://bit.ly/1IJJb0L
Water makes wires even more nano
Controlled Environments
http://bit.ly/1a5cOxZ
Indian origin researchers creating camera to gauge health by analyzing face
New Kerala (This article also appeared in TopNews.in, Chennai Online, New Kerala, Zimbabwe Star, Knoxville Times, Dallas Sun, Irish Sun, The Malaysia Sun and Silicon India.)
http://bit.ly/1CoHPUj

What’s so great about ‘American Pie’?
Douglas Brinkley, professor of history and fellow in history at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about Don McLean’s “American Pie,” whose original manuscript sold for $1.2 million.
CNN (This article also appeared in ErieTVNews.com, KRTV-TV and KPAX-TV.)
http://cnn.it/1IsiCAC
Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ manuscript sells for $1.2 million
Los Angeles Times (This article also appeared in RedEye Online, Report News Today and Kenly News.)
http://lat.ms/1N8VmLd

Shell said to be in talks to acquire BG Group
Royal Dutch Shell is trying to acquire BG Group to rise to the top of the global gas-export industry. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
The Sydney Morning Herald (This article also appeared in the Washington Post, Brisbane Times, the Age, Financial Review, Canberra Times, Malay Mail, Repubblica.it and World Oil.)
http://bit.ly/1DkamiX
Shell in ‘advanced’ talks to buy BG for LNG, Brazilian oil
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1CnMyWv
Royal Dutch Shell in talks to acquire BG Group
Fuel Fix
http://bit.ly/1ConiiE
Shell to buy BG Group for $70 billion in cash and shares
LiveMint
http://bit.ly/1y4EoGN
Shell said to be in talks to acquire BG Group
WA Today (This article also appeared in Canberra Times.)
http://bit.ly/1y4LStk

Touch-free ‘tricorder’ that takes a person’s vitals at a glance
Rice researchers are developing a touch-free system that monitors patients’ vital signs via video while compensating for skin tone, lighting and movement. Graduate student Mayank Kumar; Ashutosh Sabharwal, professor of electrical and computer engineering; and Ashok Veeraraghavan, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, are mentioned.
The Malaysian Insider (This article also appeared in Yahoo! News and MDLinx.com.)
http://bit.ly/1yd84Sv
An improved algorithm to measure pulse and breathing rate by looking at the patient’s face
Scicasts
http://bit.ly/1GL7RXR
Rice University researchers developing video camera to monitor vital signs by looking at a patient’s face
American Bazaar
http://bit.ly/1DjBjTE
New system uses video of your face to track health!
The Economic Times
http://bit.ly/1aJKrGN
Rice University researchers develop new camera-based, touch-free technology for measuring vital signs
VizWorld
http://bit.ly/1DJBZ6X
Indian-American researchers create touch-free system to monitor vital signs of patients
Med India
http://bit.ly/1NTOxrO
Neues Computersystem ermöglicht Messung von Puls und Atmung per Videokamera
Trends der Zukunft (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1FlrSA4

How the marathon became my own personal Apollo program
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
Wired.co.uk
http://bit.ly/1PjGA2O

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Famed installation artist Michael Petry to deliver Rice’s Campbell Lectures
Alumnus Michael Petry ’81, the Texas-born multimedia artist, author and director of the Museum of Contemporary Art, London, will headline Rice University’s Campbell Lecture Series April 7-9.
Houstonia
http://bit.ly/1CfWFxt

Gentrification takes toll on Houstonians’ job opportunities
Gentrification has contributed to Houston’s growth and surging job opportunities but has alienated lower-income residents. Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research is cited for its study on job proximity in the region.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1GKHFMU

Study: Private colleges get large tax-free endowments
The Nexus Research and Policy Center released a new study on government funding to public and private universities. Rice is included in a slideshow.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1IsI60y

Hundreds wrongly get acceptance documents for Texas State
More than 450 students wrongly received acceptance brochures to Texas State University. Rice is included in a slideshow of acceptance rates for the class of 2018.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Fh6NMz

BROADCAST

Houston mayoral race: Why is Garcia waiting?
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on Harris County Sheriff Adrian Garcia’s potential mayoral race announcement and the controversy about the college professor in Kansas who has turned his class into a course on conservative politics.
My Fox Houston
http://bit.ly/1H4rScn

Unprecedented power: Archive of Jesse H. Jones documents set to open
An archive of personal effects and communications from entrepreneur Jesse H. Jones will be open to the public at Rice.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1CxefvL

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Cells exercise suboptimal strategy to survive
Analysis of suboptimal metabolic pathways gives a more realistic picture of why organisms are able to adapt to new environments, according to researchers at Rice studying systemic response to hypoxia and exercise. Graduate student André Schultz and Amina Qutub, assistant professor of bioengineering, are quoted.
Science Daily (This article also appeared in BrightSurf.com and DailyMe.)
http://bit.ly/1NTVj0N
New model can help predict how humans adapt to high- and low-altitude hypoxia
News Medical
http://bit.ly/1Cu4oXF

Cultivar algas con valor comercial y al mismo tiempo depurar aguas residuales
In one of the first studies to examine the potential for using municipal wastewater as a feedstock for algae-based biofuels, Rice University scientists found they could grow high-value strains of oil-rich algae while simultaneously removing more than 90 percent of nitrates and more than 50 percent of phosphorous from wastewater. Meenakshi Bhattacharjee, faculty fellow and executive director of applied algal research, and Evan Siemann, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of BioSciences, are quoted.
Noticias de la Ciencia (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1ycOwOh

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

‘The resurrection of Mary Magdalene’
Jeffrey Kripal, the J. Newton Rayzor Professor of Religion, is cited for his book “The Serpent’s Gift: Gnostic Reflections on the Study of Religion” and his retelling of a symbolic dream in an article about the role of Mary Magdalene in Christian teachings.
Patheos
http://bit.ly/1Cx8vSy

What can be done about segregation in churches?
Religious leaders are confronting the challenges racism has posed for their communities. Michael Emerson, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology, is cited for his study on segregation, which found that churches were 10 times more segregated than their neighborhoods or nearby public schools.
Religion and Politics
http://bit.ly/1FBEl5w

Baylor names finalists for 2016 Cherry Award, the nation’s largest teaching award
Michelle Hebl, professor of psychology and management, is one of three finalists for Baylor University’s 2016 Robert Foster Cherry Award for Great Teaching. The winner of this national teaching award will be announced by Baylor in 2016.
Baylor.edu
http://bit.ly/1GLij1D

College honors SFSC professor as ‘textbook hero’
Rice honored South Florida State College physics and astronomy professor Erik Christensen, OpenStax College’s first user, with a formal dedication of the Christensen Conference Room.
Highlands Today
http://bit.ly/1H4eCVh

Star diva Deborah Voigt makes MOT debut in ‘Merry Widow’
Norman Fischer, the Herbert S. Autrey Professor of Cello, will perform Ernest Bloch’s “Schelomo” with the Michigan Philharmonic.
Detroit Free Press
http://on.freep.com/1Fl2DOo

UNT students petition for a speaker other than Texas Gov. Abbott
University of North Texas students are threatening to boycott their own commencement ceremony if Texas Gov. Greg Abbott gives the keynote address. Former Secretary of State Colin Powell will be Rice’s commencement speaker.
Star-Telegram (Thi article also appeared in Reading Eagle.)
http://bit.ly/1GKPa6D
North Texas students petition for a speaker other than Texas Gov. Abbott
The Bellingham Herald
http://bit.ly/1CwSk7Y

SPORTS

Top Maryland assistant named Rice women’s basketball coach
University of Maryland associate head coach Tina Langley was hired as Rice’s women’s basketball head coach. Athletics Director Joe Karlgaard is quoted. Head men’s basketball coach Mike Rhoades is mentioned.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/1y4xFfY
Breaking: Rice hires Maryland associate head coach Tina Langley
Swish Appeal
http://bit.ly/1DjBHSe
Tina Langley accepts head coaching job at Rice University
Umterps.com
http://bit.ly/1CwFmaj
Women’s hoops: Rice welcomes Tina Langley as new coach
Montgomery County Courier
http://bit.ly/1Cx3yJG

Rice baseball fell to Texas A&M University 3-1 at College Station.
Top-ranked Aggies notch comeback win against No. 13 Rice University
Austin American-Statesman
http://atxne.ws/1yVQugJ
Aggies notch comeback win against Rice
SECSports.com
http://bit.ly/1Fh8jyl
A&M notches comeback win over No. 13 Rice
247Sports.com
http://bit.ly/1H4wrU7
Late spark produces 3 runs to notch A&M win over Rice
TheBatt.com
http://bit.ly/1FgQnUq

Bush once again team to beat
Several universities competed at Rice’s Victor Lopez Bayou Classic last weekend.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1Jo9drh
Optimism stays high for Oilers
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1CwXf8N
Westbury boys tracksters lack depth
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1FloXHA

NEWS RELEASES

Latin America’s drug policy reform, liberalization topic at Rice’s Baker Institute April 20
A panel of leading experts will discuss the ongoing drug policy reform and liberalization in the Americas and its outlook at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy April 20.
http://bit.ly/1FlEcQZ

Amniotic stem cells demonstrate healing potential
Scientists use stem cells derived from amniotic fluid to promote the growth of robust, functional blood vessels in healing hydrogels.
http://bit.ly/1HQKXNl

VEST helps deaf feel, understand speech
A vest that allows the profoundly deaf to “feel” and understand speech is under development by engineering students and their mentors at Rice University and Baylor College of Medicine.
http://bit.ly/1DkeSOp

Kinder Institute to host renowned urban planner Mariela Alfonzo
Renowned urban planner Mariela Alfonzo will be the featured speaker at a public presentation titled “Improving Houston’s State of Place: The Economic Case for Making Houston More Walkable” at Rice University 6 p.m. April 13 in the Anderson-Clarke Center’s Hudspeth Auditorium. The event is free but RSVPs are requested by the host, Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research.
http://bit.ly/1y4GIgV

Rice political science expert available to discuss Astrodome’s 50th
Bob Stein, who has conducted polling on the Astrodome’s fate, is available to discuss the current state of the Astrodome and what its future may hold.
http://bit.ly/1Cx5TEl

Rice, Malawi Polytechnic partner to create innovative technologies
Faculty from Rice University’s Department of Bioengineering and the Rice 360°: Institute for Global Health Technologies are partnering with the University of Malawi to replicate the success of Rice’s award-winning, engineering education programs for global health.
http://bit.ly/1Fbu3vx