Dateline Rice for May 13, 2014

Correction: The James Hamrick who was mentioned in a Houston Chronicle article in the May 9 Dateline is not the Rice alumnus with the same name who graduated in 1986. The Hamrick in the Chronicle article had been involved with theater productions at Rice but was not a student here.

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Confronted on execution, Texas proudly says it kills efficiently
An article discusses the history of executions in Texas and cites Rice’s 33rd annual Kinder Institute Houston Area Survey finding that a higher percentage of Houstonians support alternatives to the death penalty.
Seattle Times (This New York Times article also appeared in the Dallas Morning News and Longview News-Journal.)
http://bit.ly/1mV7JJI

Mexico oil opening may release gusher for foreigners
Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto signed a constitutional amendment into law that powerful unions and political backers had fought against for decades. A 2011 study of Mexico’s oil industry from the Baker Institute for Public Policy is referenced.
Bloomberg (This article also appeared in La Repubblica.)
http://bloom.bg/1uY8O93

Management idea round up: Creativity and innovation — the 2 new buzzwords
Rice is mentioned for its research on employee creativity and idea implementation.
Live Mint
http://bit.ly/1sJ3ftd

Iceland’s anarchist comedian mayor is moving to Texas
Comedian and mayor of Reykjavik Jón Gnarr is interviewed about his move to Texas. Gnarr mentions having a friend who is a Rice professor.
Vice
http://bit.ly/1mmlker

Late registration as US universities finally embrace the study of rap
Bernard “Bun B” Freeman, the Center for Engaged Research and Collaborative Learning’s Distinguished Lecturer, is mentioned.
The Guardian
http://bit.ly/1jbdODv

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Conductor coaches with a gentle touch
Several graduates from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts plan to attend Rice.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1sIO17o

House panel faces historic decision on UT regent Hall
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 about the Texas House committee’s decision to impeach University of Texas Regent Wallace Hall and about political ads.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1nEa0fX
Pro-Wendy Davis group links GOP candidate to cancer
Washington Free Beacon
http://bit.ly/1jDiOjL
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1jX9jeE

Latinos ven con optimism tener su proprio museo en Estados Unidos
An article features the Friends of the National Museum of the American Latino event at Rice.
Sucesos (An English translation is not available. This appeared on the front page.)
http://bit.ly/RCvfkx

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Instant cervical cancer diagnosis
Rice researchers developed a battery-powered, low-cost, fiber-optic microscope that allows the user to place a fiber probe on tissue and image the cells with subcellular resolution.
NIH.gov
http://1.usa.gov/1jnUq0p

This new gel could let doctors grow bone exactly where they need it
Rice University bioengineers have created a hydrogel that instantly turns from liquid to semisolid at close to body temperature — and then degrades at precisely the right pace. The story includes a video produced by Public Affairs’ Brandon Martin.
Gizmodo Australia (This article also appeared in American Banking News and the U.S. Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1gzu1N8
Researchers create bioscaffold material that degrades as bone grows to replace it
Orthopedic Design & Technology
http://bit.ly/1jooIA5

Navy asks Rice synthetic biologist to tweak gut bacteria for mood, weight control
Jeffrey Tabor, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted about his plan to create an edible probiotic bacterium to protect sailors and marines from obesity and depression.
News Medical
http://bit.ly/1jnGgwb
Personalizing probiotics
Outside Online
http://bit.ly/1nJ5c6x
Engineered bacterial sensors can detect disease signals
AZoSenors.com
http://bit.ly/1sJ0GXR
No bioengineered gut bacteria, no glory
DailyNewsEn.com (This article also appeared in BioPortfolio, Phys.org, Computer Magazine and Bio-Medicine.)
http://bit.ly/RCqffT

Scientists from Rice’s laboratory for nanophotonics win multimillion-dollar MURI grant
Naomi Halas, the Stanley C. Moore Professor in Electrical and Computer Engineering and director of Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics and professor of physics and astronomy, is the principal investigator on a five-year, $7.5 million Department of Defense Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative. Peter Nordlander, professor of physics and astronomy and in electrical and computer engineering, is quoted. Farinaz Koushanfar, associate professor of electrical and computer engineering; Stephan Link, associate professor of chemistry and of electrical and computer engineering; and Junrong Zheng, assistant professor of chemistry, are mentioned.
AZoNano.com
http://bit.ly/RC8dKH

High-tech peg measures palsy patients’ dexterity
Rice engineering students created a Bluetooth-enabled device to boost cerebral palsy therapy. Senior Sonia Garcia is quoted. Gary Woods, professor in the practice of electrical and computer engineering; Eric Richardson, lecturer in bioengineering; and seniors Shaurya Agarwal, Allison Garza, Vivaswath Kumar and Andrew Schober are mentioned.
HealthCanal
http://bit.ly/1jWPZOH

3-D blood-vessel demo complements tissue-printing work
Jordan Miller, assistant professor of bioengineering, brought his 3-D printer to Capitol Hill to show lawmakers and staffers the potential use of this technology.
Evaluation Engineering (This article also appeared in National Journal Daily.)
http://bit.ly/1liau5t

Kelly Enos appointed new CFO of OrthoAccel
Alumna Kelly Enos ’84 has been appointed as the new chief financial officer and vice president of finance and administration for OrthoAccel Technologies.
Bio News-Texas
http://bit.ly/1jWMWGd

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Criminal groups endanger Mexican energy reform
Mexico’s budding energy reform is being threatened by organized criminal groups and requires focused action by the Mexican government, according to Tony Payan, a fellow for Mexico studies at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and director of the Baker Institute’s Mexico Center.
The Daily Fusion
http://bit.ly/1uZjK6g

SPORTS

Rice, UH seek ways to host NCAA baseball regionals
Rice baseball is No. 14 in the Baseball America Top 25 poll and is entering the final weekend of the regular season. Head baseball coach Wayne Graham shares a message for his team.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This appeared on the front of the Sports section.)
http://bit.ly/1gzmf5R

Roadrunners impressed by Rice
Rice baseball fell to the University of Texas at San Antonio 2-4 during the opener of a three-game series in San Antonio.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1l9fzxY

Aubrey Smith poised to finish strong
Rice is hosting the Conference USA Track & Field Championships May 15.
FIUSM.com
http://bit.ly/1l8X7p8

Nat Graham named assistant men’s basketball coach
Basketball assistant coach Scott Pera is mentioned.
Penn Athletics
http://bit.ly/1iIvTmI

Loons rout Whitecaps at Dow Diamond
Senior Austin Kubitza is mentioned.
MILB.com
http://atmilb.com/QEFrZ2
Loons rout Whitecaps 17-1
WNEM.com
http://bit.ly/RMlOPS

Ricky Hague’s RBI streak, versatile defense push him to Harrisburg Senators’ Player of the Week honor
Former Rice baseball player Rick Hague is featured.
Penn Live
http://bit.ly/1qzhB1r

Lining it up in spring
Football player Justin Bickham received a scholarship offer from Rice.
Austin American-Statesman
http://bit.ly/1mRY2A7

NEWS RELEASES

High-tech peg measures palsy patients’ dexterity
It looks like a game board and many of its users will find it fun, but there’s serious intent behind a device by Rice University students to test the abilities of cerebral palsy patients.
http://bit.ly/SXJbHd

Halas, Koushanfar land coveted MURI grants
Scientists from five Rice University research groups, including four from Rice’s Laboratory for Nanophotonics, are embarking on new nanotechnology research programs related to green chemistry, energy sustainability and computer security, thanks to two new multimillion-dollar grants from the Department of Defense’s Multidisciplinary University Research Initiative (MURI).
http://bit.ly/1mUYby6