Dateline Rice for July 10, 2014

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Bacteria could provide a powerful new way to fight fat and depression
Certain mixes of probiotics may aid in curing obesity. Jeffrey Tabor, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
Business Insider (This article also appeared in Yahoo! News.)
http://read.bi/1nhNUyQ

Are emoji taking the emotion out of our communication?
Researchers studied the gender, age, social class and geography of emoticon and emoji users to understand its sentiment and role in communication. Rice’s study on the use of emoticons is referenced.
Mashable
http://on.mash.to/1rTK1ms

Arab spring, American fall
Houston’s Rothko Chapel, in partnership with Art Jameel, will host an independent artists’ expedition called “CULTURUNNERS.” Ussama Makdisi, the Arab-American Educational Foundation Chair of Arab Studies and professor of history, will moderate a discussion.
The Gulf Today
http://bit.ly/1sCvSI0

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Texas can lead in approaches to meeting emissions caps
Daniel Cohan, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, authored an op-ed about the Environmental Protection Agency’s proposal on climate-warming emissions.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1jtLWvM

One of the best Texans
Alumna Diana Hobby ’58, former associate editor of “Studies in English Literature,” died at the age of 83.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1trld79

Davis continues to pound Abbott over chemical disclosure ruling
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 Wendy Davis’ campaign strategy.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1lX6aZd
Davis: Abbott lets Texans unknowingly ‘sleep next door to explosives’
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1mNPTMk
Aprueban medidas contra niños migrantes
Telemundo Houston (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1oK80kC

Houston Chronicle entertainment critics help plan your week
Lin Ma, a graduate student at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, will perform at the annual Houston Chronicle concert.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1qo0tYz

Population growth makes road inadequate
Stephen Klineberg, professor of sociology and co-director of Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about high-speed rail’s potential to alleviate travel in Texas.
KPRC-AM
http://bit.ly/1kInwcx

The Q-and-A: María Robledo Montecel
Maria “Cuca” Robledo Montecel, president and CEO of the Intercultural Development Research Association in San Antonio, is interviewed. Rice is mentioned.
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/1mCLTwl

Texas Children’s Heart Center welcomes new physicians to treat congenital heart disease
Alumnus Peter Ermis ’01 has joined Texas Children’s Heart Center’s Adult Congenital Heart Disease Program team.
The Rancher
http://bit.ly/TUTwTQ

Taylor named president-elect of international campus police organization
Former Rice Chief of Police Bill Taylor is president-elect of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators.
Pasadena Citizen
http://bit.ly/U5nbdq

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Startup summer school: Rice’s ProsthetiTech builds a robotic arm
Rice’s OwlSpark is working with University of Houston’s RedLabs on a startup demo called “Bayou Showcase.” Duncan College senior Nimish Mittal is quoted. Rising seniors Sergio Gonzales and Matthew Nojoomi are mentioned.
Xconomy
http://bit.ly/1zrynBE

Rice’s silicon oxide memories catch manufacturers’ eye
Rice’s silicon oxide technology can now be used to fabricate devices with conventional production methods, which brings it a step closer to mass production. 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.
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1q1NbF2

Budget 2014: American corporate houses ready to pump money into India
Tough reforms are needed to overcome the challenges facing the Indian economy and to revive the critical Indian manufacturing sector, according to Russell Green, the Will Clayton Fellow in International Economics at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and an adjunct assistant professor of economics at Rice.
Economic Times (This article also appeared in TopNews.in, Deccan Herald and Kerala Kaumudi.)
http://bit.ly/1q1Mb3Z

Plasmons excite hot carriers
Rice researchers are the first to develop a complete theory of how plasmons produce “hot carriers.” Peter Nordlander, professor of physics and astronomy and in electrical and computer engineering, is quoted.
PhysicsWorld.com
http://bit.ly/1qZzczm

Magnetically guided nanoparticles to target and destroy diseased cells
Scientists from Rice and Houston Methodist Research Institute led an international team of researchers to create composite particles that can be injected into patients to kill malignant tissues or trigger the release of drugs.
Singularity Hub
http://bit.ly/1jgHrEn

Research to find the best heat transfer nanofluid underway
Rice scientists discovered that a mixture of diamond nanoparticles and mineral oil outperforms other fluids created for heat-transfer applications. Alumnus Jaime Taha-Tijerina ’13 is quoted.
Process Heating
http://bit.ly/1qNPjOF

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Estes Park summer music festival starts July 14
Larry Rachleff, the Walter Kris Hubert Professor of Orchestra Conducting at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, will conduct at the Estes Park Music Festival.
Trail Gazette
http://bit.ly/W0FZMz

How much do our genes influence our political beliefs?
Research by graduate student Aleksander Ksiazkiewicz on the correlation between religious importance and conservatism is referenced in an opinion column.
The Nation (This article also appeared in Vox Verax.)
http://bit.ly/1kIdIj1

The 20 best college traditions in the US
Rice’s Beer Bike relay race is included in a list of the best college traditions.
Wicked Local Chelmsford (This article also appeared in Wicked Local Lincoln and 90 other publications.)
http://bit.ly/1kIwSVS

Have you met … Rep. John Kline (R-Minn.)
Alumnus John Kline ’69 discusses his journey to becoming a congressman.
TownHall.com
http://bit.ly/1jtJxBk

Local churches welcome new pastor from Vermont
Alumna Rebecca Strader ’74 is the new pastor at Christ’s Church Methodist and Presbyterian United.
Polk County Itemizer-Observer
http://bit.ly/1qnIW2v

CFI Summit: Highlights
Zack Kopplin, who is taking a year off from his studies at Rice, is featured for his fight against teaching creationism in public school science classes in Louisiana.
Csicop.org
http://bit.ly/1qNO8io

SPORTS

At Transplant Games, competition secondary to getting word out
An article about the Transplant Games of America mentions Rice as one of the locations for the events.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1jtF29K

Sweet vindication for Ramljak
Alumnus Austin Ramljak ’14 is featured.
Thousand Oaks Acorn
http://bit.ly/1oJQQUf

NEWS RELEASES

Is health care becoming more affordable? Baker Institute event to explore question July 23
Leading health economist Vivian Ho will discuss who has, and has not, benefited from the Affordable Care Act, based on the latest research from around the country at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy during a forum July 23.
http://bit.ly/W0Rbso

Rice’s silicon oxide memories catch manufacturers’ eye
Rice University’s breakthrough silicon oxide technology for high-density, next-generation computer memory is one step closer to mass production, thanks to a refinement that will allow manufacturers to fabricate devices at room temperature with conventional production methods.
http://bit.ly/1nhWTQE