Dateline Rice for Nov. 13, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

Thanksgiving: Can one day kill all my hard work?
Roberta Anding, a lecturer in kinesiology who has created meal plans for Rice student-athletes, shares tips for enjoying Thanksgiving without the stress of calories.
Active.com
http://tinyurl.com/p8j5fwh

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Judging Roberts
John G. Roberts Jr. is celebrating his 10th anniversary as the chief justice of the United States. Roberts and Rice President David Leebron are quoted from a 2012 forum at Rice.
The Weekly Standard
http://tws.io/1HGWUdh

Chinese female scientist debuts in NASA news conference
Alumna Yaxue Dong ’11 was the first female Chinese scientist to participate in a NASA news conference.
China Daily (This article also appeared in China Daily USA, Africa and Europe, People’s Daily Online and Jiangsu Net.)
http://tinyurl.com/pmu8afb

‘Raspberry crazy ants’ are ants that love to nest in computers
“Raspberry crazy ants” nest in pre-existing cavities, such as electronics, since they have the right width to house their brood. Scott Solomon, professor in the practice of ecology and evolutionary biology, explains that some ant species are capable of detecting electromagnetic fields to search for food or nest sites.
Upvoted
http://tinyurl.com/nsh4fjf

El petrodólar ya no es lo que era: las maltrechas economías del Golfo
If the Gulf countries do not take decisive action in the next five years, it could break from its unsustainable fiscal deficits. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow in Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
El Confidencial (An English translation is not available.)
http://tinyurl.com/o9s3wyo

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Food insecurity
Adjusting to family circumstances where there is less food available than previously can be a traumatic situation for children. Justin Denney, assistant professor of sociology and program director, and Rachel Kimbro, associate professor of sociology, are quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1RTJ7jL

Obamacare needs repair, not repeal
Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is pictured and quoted in an article about the need for improving the Affordable Care Act instead of repealing it.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Mrn14z

Rice grad to become fourth senior rabbi of Houston’s Congregation Emanu El
Alumnus Rabbi Oren Hayon ’94 became the fourth senior rabbi of Houston’s Congregation Emanu El.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1Ld09E1

Overview: Sectors of industry show activity, growth
Local business economists are reporting that the refining industry is doing well and paving way for new growth, despite the job losses in the oil and gas industry. Bill Arnold, professor in the practice of management at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://tinyurl.com/o6ac2q9

Houston’s Baker Botts marks its 175th anniversary
Baker Botts, the oldest and largest law firm in Texas that helped with the legal work for the creation of Rice University, celebrated its 175th anniversary.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1NuKykZ

Experts: Tax breaks for multifamily development could reinvigorate East End
The Urban Land Institute in Houston is planning the best way to develop the East Side but maintain its character. Bill Fulton, director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1RTMbwk

Houston universities’ entrepreneurship programs ranked the highest in Texas, but drop on list
Rice University’s Jones Graduate School of Business has the No. 6 graduate entrepreneurship program in the U.S., according to rankings announced by the Princeton Review and Entrepreneur magazine. This marks the seventh year in a row the Jones School has been ranked as a top 10 graduate program in entrepreneurship.
Houston Business Journal
http://bit.ly/1LdPZmI

Cruz banks on Texas to fuel his campaign
Though presidential candidates Ben Carson and Donald Trump are leading in the national polls following the latest GOP debate, Sen. Ted Cruz is ahead in campaign contributions. Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted. Jones also comments on Houston City Councilman Steve Costello’s endorsement of Sylvester Turner for mayor, Gov. Greg Abbott’s detainment request for criminal immigrants and why voters rejected the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Mineral Wells Index (This article also appeared in Palestine Herald.)
http://bit.ly/1NOL1TH
Endorsement watch: Costello for Turner
Off the Kuff
http://offthekuff.com/wp/?p=70876
Immigration safe issue for Texas GOP
Weatherford Democrat
http://tinyurl.com/pc364y6
Column: How lazy reporting helped kill the HERO
South Florida Gay News
http://tinyurl.com/pm8o7t6

Cancer survivors less likely to get job interview callbacks
Researchers at Rice and Penn State University found that job applicants who are cancer survivors are less likely to receive callbacks from potential retail employers. Michelle “Mikki” Hebl, professor of psychology and management, is mentioned.
North Dallas Gazette
http://bit.ly/1WQN9Ad

Ribbon cane farmers reap sweet rewards
Alumnus Doug Ford ’69 is featured for his ribbon cane and gourd fields.
Tyler Morning Telegraph
http://bit.ly/1NuTSFr

BROADCAST

Venezuela: ¿cuál es la situación actual de la petrolera PDVSA?
Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses the current situation of the oil company PDVSA.
CNN Español (An English translation is not available.)
http://tinyurl.com/ongqktf

It’s official: Dates set for Houston run-off election
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, explains why voters rejected the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
Houston Public Media
http://bit.ly/1SMLRjN

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Public policy approaches to the impact of hurricanes and severe storms
New structural and nonstructural solutions could better protect the Houston-Galveston region from the impact of hurricanes and severe storms, according to a research paper by energy, engineering and environmental law experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law, is quoted. Regina Buono, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at the Baker Institute, and Larry Dunbar, project manager for Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, are mentioned.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Science Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1PrBi76

Plastic fluorescence microscope can quantify white blood cells cheaply
In a project funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s Grand Challenges in Global Health Initiative, Rice researchers have recently developed a plastic, miniature digital fluorescence microscope that can quantify white blood cell levels in patients in rural parts of the world. Tomasz Tkaczyk, associate professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
BioOptics World
http://bit.ly/1LdPN6M

Clay batteries work better for harsh environments
Rice scientists developed lithium-ion batteries with clay-based electrolytes for high-temperature environments. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Materials Science and NanoEngineering and of chemistry, and graduate student Kaushik Kalaga are quoted.
Controlled Environments (This article also appeared in Overclockers Club and Fresh Ghana.)
http://bit.ly/1OItDl3

New information about bacterial enzymes to help scientists develop more effective antibiotics, cancer drugs
Rice scientists collaborated with the Scripps Research Institute on biosynthesis and the production of microbial natural products at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in Science Codex and Bioscience Technology.)
http://bit.ly/1N1GcHY

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Scientists detect wasps evolving into new species
A new study from biologists at Rice University, the University of Notre Dame, Michigan State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Florida finds that recent evolutionary changes for the fruit fly known as the “apple maggot” is having a domino effect on three predatory wasp species.
Notre Dame News
http://ntrda.me/1OHGAeQ

President Obama rejects Keystone XL Pipeline in favor of greener energy
President Barack Obama rejected a Canadian company’s request to build the Keystone XL pipeline. Kenneth Medlock, senior director of the Center for Energy Studies, the James A. Baker III and Susan Baker Fellow in Energy and Resource Economics and lecturer of economics, comments.
The Herald Voice Daily News
http://bit.ly/1ln5Fz2

Billy Graham warns of fire and brimstone in ‘final’ book
In his latest book, evangelist Billy Graham declares that non-Christians are doomed to live in a fiery hell. William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments.
The Sharon Herald
http://tinyurl.com/pc6gpbq

It’s all in the family at the Lanier Mansion
Alumnus Brady Lanier ’92 will perform at the Lanier Mansion.
Madison Courier
http://tinyurl.com/qfjrauq

SPORTS

Turner a jack-of-all-trades for Rice
Rice football player Luke Turner is featured. Head coach David Bailiff is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1kshVhH

UK women’s basketball team opens Friday against Rice University
Rice women’s basketball will play against the University of Kentucky tonight at Memorial Coliseum.
LEX18.com (this article also appeared in WKYT-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1lmxrvL

Staiti signs with Maryland women’s basketball to highlight West Forsyth signing day
Head women’s basketball coach Tina Langley is mentioned.
Forsyth County News
http://bit.ly/1SNOwd6

NEWS RELEASES

Improving college students’ STEM success is topic at Rice’s Baker Institute Nov. 18
David Laude, senior vice provost and professor of chemistry at the University of Texas at Austin, will speak about efforts to create collaborative partnerships to improve college students’ success in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Nov. 18.
http://tinyurl.com/pdcflpa

Baker Institute paper: Houston-Galveston region could be better protected from impact of hurricanes and severe storms
New structural and nonstructural solutions could better protect the Houston-Galveston region from the impact of hurricanes and severe storms, according to a research paper by energy, engineering and environmental law experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
http://tinyurl.com/ptabcfj