Dateline Rice for Jan. 22, 2014

FEATURED ITEMS

Rising demand for oil: ‘Growth is easy when you’ve been in the pits’
The United States accounts for 20 percent of global oil use, followed by China’s consumption of 10 million barrels a day. Peter Hartley, professor of economics, is quoted about the increasing demand and supply.
Marketplace World (This broadcast also appeared on KUHF-FM, KUOW-FM, KUT 90.5, WBUR-FM, WMFO-FM and KNPR-FM.)
http://bit.ly/1jzbFia

More competition for online certificate students
Rice is among the universities offering Specializations courses through the online platform Coursera.
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/LTr3L3
Academic partnerships launches new online global specializations credential with top US public and private universities
The Street (This article also appeared in University Business.)
http://bit.ly/KGTnid
Coursera creates ‘specialization’ programs for high-demand subjects
edSurge
http://bit.ly/1eSGrPL
Coursera launches specializations with 10 universities to offer multicourse series for specific subjects
The Next Web
http://tnw.co/KFKGW1
Coursera launches new multicourse series called specializations
PandoDaily
http://bit.ly/1edFqA3
Coursera is now offering a ‘specialization’ program for professional learners
VentureBeat
http://bit.ly/1hjcfza

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

This tiny sensor spots salmonella in minutes, not days
Rice researchers have developed a fast biosensor for pathogens in food. Sibani Lisa Biswal, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, is quoted, and graduate student Jinghui Wang is mentioned.
Futurity (This article was the top story on Futurity’s homepage.)
http://bit.ly/1cUSNEl
New test targets salmonella
HealthCanal (This article also appeared in Phys.)
http://bit.ly/1edpmOT
New test allows faster salmonella detection
FIS
http://bit.ly/1f6xepp
Novel biosensor rapidly detects pathogens
AZoSensors
http://bit.ly/1inbVmq

Small ‘tuning fork’ lets device find greenhouse gas
Frank Tittel, the J.S. Abercrombie Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and professor of bioengineering, and his group have created a highly sensitive portable sensor that tests the air for damaging greenhouse gases.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1hjoD1Z
Compact device has sensitive nose for greenhouse gases
Phys
http://bit.ly/1edDebW

Texas Democrat Davis battles suspicions of embellishing life story
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, is quoted in an article about Wendy Davis’ life story.
Chicago Tribune (This Reuters article also appeared in more than 50 other affiliates.)
http://bit.ly/1imTpe1
Life story of Texas state Sen. Wendy Davis questioned
MSN News
http://on-msn.com/1cVuMgy
Davis’ noncomments raise questions
San Antonio Life
http://bit.ly/1hjyCVb
Focus returns to Wendy Davis’ biography
KETK-TV (East Texas)
http://bit.ly/1aHNDfd

Hansen: Are our politics rooted in our DNA?
A column states that political beliefs are tied to genetic code. John Alford, associate professor of political science, is mentioned.
Omaha World-Herald
http://bit.ly/1hLuyha

ChinaLeaks: Exposé on Chinese elite’s offshore accounts comes at sensitive time
Relatives of at least five current and former members of China’s top leadership have been exposed as having offshore accounts, as part of a report by investigative journalists. Steven Lewis, the C.V. Starr Transnational China Fellow at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor in the practice and interim director of the Chao Center for Asian Studies, is quoted.
South China Morning Post
http://bit.ly/1aJ0h0C

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Sugar Land’s diverse, but aging, demographics
“A Changing City: Demographics and the Marketplace” marked the first topic of the city of Sugar Land’s six-part Land Use Forum series at Sugar Land City Hall Jan. 15. Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, will present his article in the second installment.
Your Fort Bend News (This article also appeared in the Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/LTvtBF

Low completion rates for online courses spark debate
Rice is mentioned as one of the universities offering courses on online education provider edX.
The Texas Tribune (This article also appeared in KTAB-TV, KRBC-TV, KAMR-TV and Education News.)
http://bit.ly/1inqMxc

Texas town of Megargel struggles to survive
Steve Murdock, the Allyn and Gladys Cline Professor of Sociology and director of Rice’s Hobby Center for the Study of Texas, is quoted in an article about the decline of Megargel, Texas.
Henderson Daily News
http://bit.ly/1edyvqz

BROADCAST

Houston’s ozone mystery: Pockets of pollution unlike other cities
NASA’s satellite project scientists met at Rice to discuss gathered data for air pollution research.
KUHF-FM’s “StateImpact Texas”
http://n.pr/1edHVCs

Legislators to revisit proposals to change Texas marijuana laws
Nathan Jones, the Alfred C. Glassell III Postdoctoral Fellow in Drug Policy at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted on the sale of retail recreational marijuana.
WFAA-TV (Dallas) (This broadcast also appeared on KENS-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1eSwuli
Texas lawmakers will consider legalizing pot
Opposing Views
http://bit.ly/1jnxm7g
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1aLsNve

Bun B addresses rumor he’s running for Houston mayor
Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, confirms that he’s not running for office in Houston.
The BoomBox
http://bit.ly/1edveYs

Urban Harvest’s Jan. 18 fruit tree sale at Rice’s Greenbriar parking lot is mentioned.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1aLs3X7
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1aqyOTC

KTRK-TV
Head men’s track and field coach Jon Warren appeared on KTRK-TV to provide commentary on the Chevron Houston Marathon.
http://bit.ly/1eAtprn

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

A Rice stock market study is referenced.
Netflix earnings will be fine this quarter, but next quarter things could get ugly
Business Insider
http://read.bi/1aJ7m19
What the buy side is saying about Netflix
Investing
http://bit.ly/1aJ8nGD
What you need to know about Coach
Investing
http://bit.ly/1msVzpO
Here’s what the buy side is saying about Netflix
Seeking Alpha
http://bit.ly/1inrz19

Researchers quantify plasmonic heating in metal nanowires
Douglas Natelson, professor of physics and astronomy and of electrical and computer engineering, and graduate student Mark Knight are mentioned for their research on thermoplasmonics.
AZoNano
http://bit.ly/1jnqUx9
Physicists quantify temperature changes in metal nanowires
Science Daily
http://bit.ly/1fbVyUX

Rice University researchers report novel technique for better protein capture
Christy Landes, assistant professor of chemistry, and her team have created a way to fine-tune a process critical to the pharmaceutical industry that could save time and money.
AZoNano
http://bit.ly/1dvDuCd

Attacking cancer with light-controlled bacteria?
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have engineered bacteria to kill surrounding cells when exposed to blue or red light, which may aid in the attack of cancer cells. Jordan Miller, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
C&EN
http://bit.ly/19KN2hA

‘Detune’ a molecule
Rice graduate student Yajing Li and Douglas Natelson, professor of physics and astronomy and of electrical and computer engineering, found that it’s possible to soften the bonds between atoms by applying a voltage and running an electric current through a single buckyball.
ChemEurope
http://bit.ly/1jzOeW1

Superbugs are breeding, spreading drug-resistant genes at water treatment plants
Tests at two wastewater treatment plants in northern China revealed antibiotic-resistant bacteria were not only escaping purification but also breeding and spreading their dangerous cargo. Pedro Alvarez, the George R. Brown Professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, is quoted.
Natural News
http://bit.ly/1hjd5M9

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Elias Goldstein, Espen Lilleslatten perform at VSU Jan. 27
Alumnus Espen Lilleslatten ’91 will perform at Valdosta State University Jan. 27.
Valdosta News
http://bit.ly/1f6z4q9

SPORTS

Articles recap Rice’s men’s basketball play.
Rice men’s basketball comes up short at Tulane
Your Fort Bend News (This article also appeared in the Sugar Land Sun, Bellaire Examiner and Memorial Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1imRjuO
Owl hoops: Rice men come up short at Tulane
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/1g09rKy
Men’s basketball preview: Florida Atlantic
Rice men’s basketball fell to Florida Atlantic University 73-68 at Tudor Fieldhouse.
Harvard Crimson
http://bit.ly/1cV2KSj

Sophomore ready to assume leadership
Rice men’s tennis will play against University of Texas at Arlington Jan. 24.
The Shorthorn
http://bit.ly/1f6l1Rv

Brown dazzles on alumni day
Rice women’s basketball will play East Carolina University Jan. 22.
East Carolinian
http://bit.ly/1edRHVp

Bearkat football: Sam Houston State names 5 finalists for head coaching job
Former Owls offensive coordinator Scott Wachenheim is cited as a candidate for head football coach at Sam Houston State.
The Potpourri (This article also appeared in Cypress Creek Mirror, the Villager and Spring Observer.)
http://bit.ly/1cV38QD

Grimes named offensive line coach at LSU
Former graduate assistant Jeff Grimes has been named offensive line coach and running game coordinator at Louisiana State University.
WAFB-TV (This article also appeared in KSLA-TV, WDAM-TV, WLOX-TV, WMC-TV, KPLC-TV, KCBD-TV, KAIT-TV and KTRE-TV.)
http://bit.ly/1fcclqY
Jeff Grimes joins LSU coaching staff
WWL-AM/FM
http://bit.ly/1fccZoq
LSU makes it official, Jeff Grimes hired as O-line coach
Times-Picayune
http://bit.ly/1hjwBby

Can Ricky Seals-Jones step up for Texas A&M Aggies in 2014?
An article references the August 2013 NCAA football game between the Rice Owls and Texas A&M Aggies.
Rant Sports
http://bit.ly/1edBAXE

LaSalle’s Luke Willson to represent hometown in Super Bowl
Alumnus Luke Willson ’12 is featured.
Windsor Star
http://bit.ly/LDsQTP
Willson’s amazing ride
Windsor Star (This article also appeared in Vancouver Courier.)
http://bit.ly/1aqnzL2

NEWS RELEASES
Better protein capture a boon for drug manufacturers
Christy Landes, assistant professor of chemistry, and her team have improved a process critical to the pharmaceutical industry.
http://bit.ly/1f6S7kj

Compact device has sensitive nose for greenhouse gases
Frank Tittel, the J.S. Abercrombie professor in electrical and computer engineering, and his group have created a highly sensitive portable sensor that tests the air for damaging greenhouse gases.
http://bit.ly/1aLhIuk