Dateline Rice for June 9, 2017

FEATURED ITEMS

Today’s home page on Science360 News features two research projects from Rice:

Muscle-sensing prosthetics: A source of hope for amputees
Engineers working to add “muscle sense” to prosthetic limbs found that tactile feedback on the skin allowed blindfolded test subjects to more than double their ability to discern the size of objects grasped with a prosthetic hand. Marcia O’Malley, professor of mechanical engineering and computer science, visiting researcher Edoardo Battaglia and Rice graduate student Janelle Clark are featured in the video.
Science 360 News (This is the daily video on the Science 360 News home page.)
http://bit.ly/2s4vHhm

Seismic CT scan points to rapid uplift of Southern Tibet
Using seismic data and supercomputers, Rice geophysicists have conducted a massive seismic CT scan of the upper mantle beneath the Tibetan Plateau and concluded that the southern half of the “Roof of the World” formed in less than one-quarter of the time since the beginning of India-Eurasia continental collision. Research scientist Min Chen and Fenglin Niu, professor of Earth science, are mentioned.
Science 360 News (This appeared in the Headlines section on the Science 360 News home page.)
http://bit.ly/2s4vHhm

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Rice U. scientists slash computations for deep learning
Rice University computer scientists have adapted a widely used technique for rapid data lookup to slash the amount of computation — and thus energy and time — required for deep learning, a computationally intense form of machine learning. Anshumali Shrivastava, assistant professor of computer science, and graduate student Ryan Spring are quoted.
National Science Foundation
http://bit.ly/2t2NeUu
How ‘hashing’ cuts deep learning computations, energy up to 95 percent
Edgy Labs
http://bit.ly/2r2t1xq

Leaders of Mexico and Germany are about to meet ‘in solidarity’ against Trump
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute for Public Policy’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, is quoted.
Los Angeles Times (This also appeared in Salina Journal, The Gazette and San Diego Jewish World.)
http://lat.ms/2sm2QFO

Can humans live on Mars? Colonist might find planet deadly for the immune system
Scott Solomon, professor in the practice of ecology and evolutionary biology, is quoted about evolution.
IBT
http://bit.ly/2rIOttW
Mars colony may lead to evolution of new human species
Tech Times
http://bit.ly/2s4dSiq

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Turner calls for City Council vote on ‘sanctuary city’ lawsuit
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science, fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and fellow at Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, created a chart to rank the members of the Texas House of Representatives on the liberal-conservative dimension. Jones is also quoted about Gov. Greg Abbott calling a special session. Leah Binkovitz, staff writer for Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, authored the Rivard Report op-ed.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front page of the June 9 print edition with a different headline, “Council to vote on ‘sanctuary city’ suit.”)
http://bit.ly/2sbuB4r
Special session will serve Abbott well
Houston Chronicle (This also appeared in My San Antonio and My San Antonio.)
http://bit.ly/2rU05sJ
The 2017 Texas House, from left to right
Trib Talk
http://bit.ly/2smatvZ
Houston and Harris County went even more blue in 2016. When will Texas?
Rivard Report
http://bit.ly/2sL8AX2
Texas to consider bathroom restrictions for transgender people this summer
EPeak
http://bit.ly/2t2Fwty

Competitive markets have lowered Texans’ utility bills, study finds
Residential electricity rates in competitive areas in Texas have declined relative to wholesale electricity prices, which suggests that Texas electricity providers are minimizing costs to meet market demands, according to a new paper from Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This also appeared in My San Antonio.)
http://bit.ly/2s4hb9u
http://bit.ly/2r2QZse

The Christian Science Monitor takes a look at Pearland’s diversity
Stephen Klineberg, founding director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research and a professor of sociology, is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2t2AKvM
http://bit.ly/2s46rb2

Spot a rainbow in the blooming showers of the Dandelion Fountain
An article discusses the Gus S. Wortham Memorial Fountain, which was created by William Cannady, professor of architecture.
365 Things To Do in Houston
http://bit.ly/2smewIA

BROADCAST

June 7: Cracked phone screens are a $4B business
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 quoted about the health insurance marketplace.
American Public Media’s “Marketplace with Kai Ryssdal” (This also aired on 488 radio stations.)
http://bit.ly/2skdHQD

Two of Houston’s running loops make top 20 most popular in America
Rice’s outer loop is featured on Under Armour’s list of most popular running routes in the U.S.
KIAH’s “NewsFix”
http://bit.ly/2s4nI3F

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Chemists develop hydrogel strings using compound found in sea creatures
The Rice lab of chemist Jeffrey Hartgerink had already figured out how to make biocompatible nanofibers out of synthetic peptides. In new work, the lab is using an amino acid found in the sticky feet of mussels to make those fibers line up into strong hydrogel strings. Hartgerink is a professor of chemistry and of bioengineering and the associate department chair for graduate studies. Graduate student I-Che Li is also mentioned.
Phys Org
http://bit.ly/2s3VDtp

Nanoparticles to make leaky vessels
The endothelial cells that line blood vessels are packed tightly to keep blood inside and flowing, but scientists at Rice and their colleagues have discovered it may be possible to selectively open gaps in those barriers just enough to let large molecules through — and then close them again. Gang Bao, the Foyt Family Professor of Bioengineering, is mentioned.
BioSpectrum
http://bit.ly/2smcWq5
Making vessels leaky on demand could aid drug delivery
Science Daily (This also appeared in InternetMedicine.com.)
http://bit.ly/2r2QRsP
Drug delivery into tissues now made easy with leaky vessels
Med India
http://bit.ly/2rISleH

Smarter algorithms could lead to greater understanding of the brain’s true complexity
The human brain naturally makes its best guess when making a decision, and studying those guesses can be very revealing about the brain’s inner workings. But neuroscientists at Rice and Baylor College of Medicine said a full understanding of the complexity of the human brain will require new research strategies that better simulate real-world conditions. Xaq Pitkow, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, and Dora Angelaki, adjunct professor of electrical and computer engineering and of psychology, are mentioned.
News Medical
http://bit.ly/2rdGcL7

12-hour biological clock works independently from 24-hour circadian rhythm
A team of scientists from various institutions, including Baylor College of Medicine, has revealed that in addition to 24-hour clocks, mammals and other organisms have 12-hour clocks that are autonomous, work independently from 24-hour clocks and can be modified by external factors. Athanasios Antoulas, professor of electrical and computer engineering, is mentioned.
Bioscience Technology
http://bit.ly/2rIS7Er

Rice University, Texas Heart Institute researchers test microwave-powered device
A wireless, battery-less pacemaker that can be implanted directly into a patient’s heart is being introduced by researchers from Rice and their colleagues at the Texas Heart Institute at the IEEE’s International Microwave Symposium in Honolulu June 4-9. Aydin Babakhani, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering; graduate student Yuxiang Sun; Behnaam Aazhang, the J.S. Abercrombie Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Joseph Cavallaro, professor of electrical and computer engineering and computer science, are mentioned.
iConnect 007
http://bit.ly/2sL5nXl
Researchers unveil battery-less pacemaker
iAdvance Senior Care
http://bit.ly/2rU05sF
Researchers develop a wireless and battery-less pacemaker
Hindustan Times
http://bit.ly/2rdwdWl

The benefits of including floor vibration control for nano-tech facilities over designing ‘quiet’ buildings
The Rice University BioScience Research Collaborative is mentioned.
Azo Nano
http://bit.ly/2s4CUOg

Robert Kliment dies at 84
An article mentions that Robert Kliment taught at Rice.
Contract
http://bit.ly/2rIK8ao

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

New York Youth Symphony announces 55th season
Alumna Hilary Purrington ’13 is mentioned.
Broadway World
http://bit.ly/2rIM2aP

USC provost leads delegation to Yerevan for ‘End of Transition’ Conference
Ambassador Edward Djerejian, director of Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, participated in “The End of Transition: Shifting Focus a Quarter Century After the Soviet Collapse” international conference held May 23-24 in Yerevan, Armenia.
Asbarez
http://bit.ly/2r2WfMC
‘End of Transition’ international conference concludes in Yerevan
Armenian Weekly
http://bit.ly/2r39AEs

LAPS Foundation Scholarship winners announced
A student who plans to attend Rice is mentioned.
Los Alamos Daily Post
http://bit.ly/2t2qKCW
Summit Shasta celebrates inaugural graduating class
Pacifica Patch
http://bit.ly/2rINgmo

Wait, what!?
There’s at least one person in the world for whom smoking has a beneficial effect, and it took an international collaboration of scientists led by a Rice University to figure out why. John Olson, the Ralph and Dorothy Looney Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, is mentioned.
Jewish World Review
http://bit.ly/2rIOjTw

Music at Penn Alps opens season
Rice is mentioned.
Cumberland Times-News
http://bit.ly/2rUbCbx

Honors for the gener8tor accelerator, which could expand to 3 more Midwest cities
Seed accelerators AngelPad and Y Combinator have landed the coveted top spots in the inaugural 2017 rankings from the Seed Accelerator Rankings Project, a benchmarking program run by entrepreneurship and management experts from Rice, MIT and the University of Richmond.
Wisconsin State Journal
http://bit.ly/2sbKl7x

Caps off to the Class of 2017
President John F. Kennedy’s famous “Moon Speech” delivered at Rice Sept. 12, 1962, is discussed.
Jordan Independent
http://bit.ly/2s4E3ph

SPORTS

NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships results
Sid Richardson College senior Scott Filip finished fifth in the NCAA Championships in Eugene, Ore.
Federal News Radio (This also appeared in WTOP.)
http://bit.ly/2r9A4Zg
Wichita State’s Veith sets school record in NCAA Decathlon
Wichita Eagle
http://bit.ly/2sbEMFM

On TV/Radio: Tough sledding for media in Texas Sports Hall of Fame
Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2sKZud0

Deer Park prepares for 1st baseball state tournament in 27 years
A Rice commit is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/2rIqGdU
http://bit.ly/2s3Lyg3

Texas’ Tom Herman tried to excuse fan from wedding for USC game
An article mentions that Tom Herman coached at Rice.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2sKTpgH

Cowboys’ 2016 2nd-round pick Jaylon Smith finally practicing
A slideshow features a photo from a Rice football game.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2t2nEyQ

The ultimate MLB draft: The best pick ever at every spot from 1-30
Former Rice baseball player Lance Berkman is mentioned.
ESPN
http://es.pn/2r35KeI

Meet USA’s Youth America’s Cup team
Hanszen College senior Carson Crain is mentioned.
Bernews
http://bit.ly/2sbloc1

The Riley Factor: It’s OU’s way to tap young assistants as head coaches
Rice is mentioned.
Austin American-Statesman
https://atxne.ws/2r2ArAR

JSU’s Harper announces 4 spring basketball signees
Rice men’s basketball is mentioned.
Gasden Times
http://bit.ly/2rU18Ja
Improving bottom of league a priority for C-USA men’s hoops
Bowling Green Daily News
http://bit.ly/2s4CGXp

Torrid Tigers await Mississippi State
Rice baseball’s season ended with a 5-0 NCAA Regional loss to Louisiana State University.
Plaquemine Post South
http://bit.ly/2sbgj3q
Baton Rouge Supers breakdown
D1Baseball
http://bit.ly/2rIYdV3
LSU ready for another showdown with Mississippi State in Super Regional
Daily Reveille
http://bit.ly/2sKTHnE
2017 NCAA Super Regional preview: Mississippi State-LSU
Baseball America
http://bit.ly/2rUsiPZ
Reminders of 2016 motivate LSU’s ‘Fab 4’ heading into the 2017 Super Regional
The Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/2smpHkK

UNT Elite Camp brings more than 1,000 high school players to Apogee
Rice football is mentioned.
Denton Record-Chronicle
http://bit.ly/2r9IijY
LSU football countdown day 86: Ken Kavanaugh saves the day versus Rice
The Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/2sbw7DA
C-USA West Division 2017 win totals
Underdog Dynasty
http://bit.ly/2rdxzAs

Why SEC football will miss Bob Stoops
Rice baseball is mentioned.
Fansided
http://bit.ly/2rdkvuG

Catholic High to induct Coogan, Gaines, Applewhite, Jones into Athletic Hall of Fame
An article mentions that Major Applewhite coached at Rice.
Sports NOLA
http://bit.ly/2r2WfMD

Freshmen more than supporting cast at LSU
Rice baseball head coach Wayne Graham is mentioned. Former Rice coach David Pierce is mentioned in the College Baseball Central article.
American Press
http://bit.ly/2r9JDat
Sam Houston State’s breakthrough a product of a well-laid foundation
College Baseball Central
http://bit.ly/2rTWOJV

Nick Saban is only SEC head coach in same job after 10 years
Rice football head coach David Bailiff is mentioned.
SEC Country
http://sec.news/2rdNoXw

Michigan golf duo excel at US Amateur Four-Ball
Unnamed Rice golfers are mentioned.
Hometown Life
http://bit.ly/2r9HEDd

NEWS RELEASES

Gee, Huie and Patterson elected to Rice Board of Trustees
Three prominent business professionals in investments, real estate and the beverage industry have been elected to the Rice University Board of Trustees. Terrence Gee, senior vice president and chief information officer for Coca-Cola Beverages Florida; Tommy Huie, former president and chief investment officer for BMO Global Asset Management; and Brian Patterson, founder of White Star Real Estate, will serve four-year terms on the board.
http://bit.ly/2rIXWRY

Mussels add muscle to biocompatible fibers
The Rice lab of chemist Jeffrey Hartgerink had already figured out how to make biocompatible nanofibers out of synthetic peptides. In new work, the lab is using an amino acid found in the sticky feet of mussels to make those fibers line up into strong hydrogel strings.
http://bit.ly/2sLbefy