Dateline Rice for Dec. 3, 2012 (Weekend Edition)

FEATURED ITEMS

Rice accepts matchup vs. Air Force in Armed Forces Bowl
Rice accepted an invitation Saturday to play Air Force in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/SBjkAQ
Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl: Get to know Air Force
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/TBaBeV
Rice accepts invite to Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/11HxNxR
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/WEeTDJ
KTRK-TV
http://bit.ly/YHRNBn
Rice playing Air Force in Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 29 in Fort Worth
KTRK.com
http://bit.ly/VpWZFB
Rice, Air Force to meet in bowl game
FoxSports.com (Coverage of this announcement also appeared in the Denver Post, SBNation.com and nearly 25 other media outlets.)
http://on-msn.com/Vg5scb

Era of the dumb jock is slowly ending in college football
Schools like Rice known for academics are excelling on the gridiron as well. An abundance of student-athletes has enabled universities to be selective in recruiting.
Los Angeles Times (This article also appeared in the Merrimack Valley Eagle-Tribune.)
http://articles.latimes.com/2012/nov/28/sports/la-sp-plaschke-20121128

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Sunlit nanoparticles turn water to steam
Rice University scientists have unveiled a revolutionary new technology that uses nanoparticles to convert solar energy directly into steam. Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering, director of Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics and professor of physics and astronomy, chemistry and biomedical engineering, is quoted.
Scientific American (This article also appeared on Yahoo.com.)
http://bit.ly/11AGzxx
Rice unveils super-efficient solar-energy technology
OneNewsPage.com
http://bit.ly/Ss3RSh

Muslim Brotherhood fox was hired to protect our Benghazi consulate henhouse
Joan Neuhaus Schaan, a fellow in homeland security and terrorism at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is interviewed about the investigation into the events that led to the death of the U.S. ambassador to Libya earlier this year.
Forbes.com
http://onforb.es/VoJGJj

Moderate exercise immediately boosts memory
A short surge of condensed exercise boosts the compression of memories in both elders in good mental shape as well as those with slight cognitive impairment, according to new research. Rice is mentioned.
South Asia Mail
http://www.southasiamail.com/news.php?id=107950

McCulley to promote US/Nigeria business relations
Terence McCulley, U.S. ambassador to Nigeria, is embarking on a two-week tour of the U.S. The articles note that the tour will begin with events in Houston, including a visit to Rice.
Leadership.ng
http://bit.ly/R1luLK
Doing business rating and the US strategy for Africa
BusinessDay.com
http://bit.ly/11r6SY0

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Mexico’s new president Enrique Peña Nieto to be inaugurated today
Enrique Peña Nieto was recently inaugurated as president of Mexico. Tony Payan, scholar for immigration studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
El Paso Times (This article also appeared in the Las Cruces Sun-News and Individual.com.)
www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_22103279

TEA chief will defer 15 percent rule
At a gathering of educators, school administrators and student assessment specialists in Austin, Texas Education Commissioner Michael Williams announced he would defer implementation of a rule that requires state end-of-course exams count for 15 percent of high school students’ final grades. Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and a former director of the U.S. Census Bureau, is mentioned.
Texas Tribune (This article also appeared on EverythingLubbock.com [Texas].)
http://bit.ly/UfWMUL

Houston venture capital firm DFJ Mercury pursues new brand
Jack Gill, professor in the practice of entrepreneurship at Rice’s Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted in an article about venture capital firm DFJ Mercury.
Houston Business Journal (subscription required)
http://bit.ly/Ug2Nk6

Taylor files bill to increase oil production: Legislation has early bipartisan support
Research by Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor and chair of political science and fellow in political science at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is cited in an article about legislation introduced by Texas Rep. Van Taylor.
Plano Courier Star
http://scntx.com/articles/2012/11/30/plano_star-courier/news/7877.txt

War, music blend for wounded Iraq veteran
An article about the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s "Music and the Journey of War" concert series mentions a piece written by Karim Al-Zand, associate professor of composition and theory at the Shepherd School of Music.
Houston Chronicle (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News, the Connecticut Post and the Seattle Post-Intelligencer.)
http://bit.ly/TzWWbO

Philip Glass has an étude
A Q-and-A with composer Philip Glass mentions Rice.
Houston Chronicle
http://www.chron.com/life/article/Philip-Glass-has-an-etude-4081658.php

Texas posts top high school graduation rates, but why?
New preliminary data released by the U.S. Department of Education shows that Texas ranks fourth in the nation for its four-year high school graduation rates. Rice research is cited.
KUHF.org
http://bit.ly/11ARkjj

The captain who helped solve the crime and save Rice University
An article reviews the book "Captain James A. Baker of Houston, 1857-1941," by Kate Sayen Kirkland. The book discusses the early history of Rice.
Galveston Daily News
http://bit.ly/R13MrT

BROADCAST/WEBCAST

KHOU-TV
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science and fellow in urban politics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted in an article about the possibility that attorney Benjamin Hall III will run for Houston mayor.
http://bit.ly/VdjPjF

Minnesota Public Radio
Rice is mentioned in an interview with a Minnesota flautist.
http://bit.ly/11qSEWY

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

A graphene/nanotube hybrid
Chemists have successfully grown forests of carbon nanotubes that rise quickly from sheets of graphene to astounding lengths of up to 120 microns. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Chair in Chemistry and professor of mechanical engineering and materials science and of computer science, is quoted.
NextBigFuture.com
http://nextbigfuture.com/2012/12/a-graphenenanotube-hybrid.html
Combing graphene and carbon nanotubes
OverclockersClub.com
http://www.overclockersclub.com/news/33260/

How plants feel
Although it’s known that plants can detect and respond to touch, how they relay information from physical contact has been less clear. Research by Janet Braam, professor and chair of biochemistry and cell biology, is mentioned.
The-Scientist.com
http://bit.ly/11GIjFH

Does mammography radiation increase cancer risks?
An article about mammography scatter radiation notes that alumnus Benjamin Smith ’96 served as a contributing expert for the story.
DailyRX.com
http://bit.ly/YiCTTl

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

More talk in Vandalia
Marcel LaFlamme, a graduate student in anthropology, authored this article about Vandalia, Ill.
Daily Yonder
http://www.dailyyonder.com/more-talk-vandalia/2012/11/28/5513

Interfaith dinners help guests reflect on faith — theirs and others’
Rice’s Boniuk Center for the Study and Advancement of Religious Tolerance is mentioned in an article about Amazing Faiths events in Oklahoma.
Oklahoman
http://bit.ly/Vghz98

Houston’s Tolerance and Mirror outdoor art by Jaume Plensa
An article about sculptures in Houston by renowned international artist Jaume Plensa includes "Mirror," a site-specific installation on display at Rice.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/Xi9WW5

UC Davis biomedical engineer earns Cyprus’ top prize
Articles about an award received by biomedical engineer Kyriacos Athanasiou note that he once taught at Rice.
Woodland Daily Democrat (Calif.)
http://www.dailydemocrat.com/rss/ci_22110008
Davis resident wins ‘Nobel Prize’ of Cyprus
Patch.com
http://davis.patch.com/announcements/davis-resident-wins-nobel-prize-of-cyprus

December is also a month of operas for ABQ, SF, Roswell
Alumna Mary-Jane Lee ’10 will perform with the Santa Fe Opera Dec. 11.
Albuquerque Journal (N.M.)
http://bit.ly/WBIkWN

SPORTS

Rice snaps skid with win over HBU
Articles recap a men’s basketball game between Rice and Houston Baptist University.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/VpQqCZ
Rice 61, Houston Baptist 53
CBSSports.com
http://cbsprt.co/WBBMHR
Jackson helps Rice steal a victory over Houston Baptist
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/VgbpGj

A&M cooks Rice
Articles recap a swim meet between Rice and Texas A&M University.
CollegeSwimming.com
http://www.collegeswimming.com/news/2012/dec/1/m-cooks-rice/
Aggies women’s swimming and diving team dominates in Houston
KBTX.com (Bryan/College Station, Texas)
http://bit.ly/R16mhC

Cinco Ranch grad Palmer leads Rice University to victory
An article discusses the performance of Hanszen College freshman Megan Palmer at a women’s basketball game between Rice and McNeese State University.
UltimateKaty.com
http://bit.ly/THoAAb

Los Lynx busy playing, coaching and posting ‘Los Links’
An article about the Minnesota Lynx women’s basketball team mentions Taj McWilliams-Franklin and notes that she is serving as assistant women’s basketball coach at Rice.
Examiner.com
http://exm.nr/VghJ0L

An imperfect ending as Humber is claimed
Articles report that former Rice baseball player Phillip Humber has been signed by the Houston Astros.
ESPN.com
http://es.pn/Ygo17Z
Astros claim Phil Humber from White Sox
CBSSports.com
http://cbsprt.co/Ygfhyu
Astros give Humber chance to fight for rotation spot
MLB.com
http://atmlb.com/TDgQ4M
Astros sign former Rice pitcher Phillip Humber
KHOU.com
http://bit.ly/Va1zWc
Astros claim Humber off waivers
Chicago Tribune (Coverage of Humber article also appeared on FoxNews.com, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram and nearly 160 other media outlets.)
http://trib.in/TEOIMt

Is a return to the Astros in the cards for Lance Berkman?
An article discusses former Rice standout Lance Berkman’s career prospects and notes that he has joined the Rice University baseball staff as a volunteer assistant coach.
MLBReports.com
http://mlbreports.com/2012/12/02/berkma/

Imagine if conference shuffle hit the Ivies
Rice is mentioned in a column about recent changes in collegiate athletic conferences.
Valley News (New Hampshire)
http://www.vnews.com/news/dartmouth/3060179-95/league-ivy-harvard-athletic

MTSU’s patience rewarded with move to Conference USA
Rice is mentioned in an article reporting that Middle Tennessee State University and Florida Atlantic University will join Conference USA.
Nashville City Paper
http://bit.ly/Ug2y8F

GFA’s Sean Obi signs with Rice University basketball
A Greens Farms Academy student-athlete has signed to play basketball at Rice.
Connecticut Post (This article also appeared in the San Antonio Express-News, the Greenwich Time, the Stamford Advocate, the Fairfield Citizen, the Danbury News-Time and the Westport News.)
http://bit.ly/YA1GRD
Obi signs for Rice University
Punch (Nigeria)
http://bit.ly/V9FhUt

NEWS RELEASES

Multitasking plasmonic nanobubbles kill some cells, modify others
Researchers at Rice University have found a way to kill some diseased cells and treat others in the same sample at the same time. The process activated by a pulse of laser light leaves neighboring healthy cells untouched.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=37875

OpenStax College publishes first iBooks textbook
OpenStax College has published College Physics, the first iBooks textbook that is based on a free, open-source textbook from Rice University-based publisher OpenStax College. The open-education resources publisher said it plans to create iBooks textbook versions of additional textbooks for heavily attended college courses from its growing catalog.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=37840

US must engage a rising China through tropical disease elimination, Baker Institute expert says
The relations between the U.S. and China can be strengthened by a coordinated effort to support neglected tropical disease control programs in countries where these diseases are still a major public health concern, according to Dr. Peter Hotez, the fellow in disease and poverty at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
https://news2.rice.edu/?p=37822