Dateline Rice for Jan. 27, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

Immigration reform is more than just a US-Mexico problem
Tony Payan, the Baker Institute’s Françoise and Edward Djerejian Fellow for Mexico Studies and director of the institute’s Mexico Center, who hosted a symposium at Rice with the U.S. State Department, immigration activists and ambassadors to discuss national immigration, elaborates on immigration reform.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1EoIYkP
Real estate, immigration, pet care and deflategate: ‘Houston Matters’ for Monday, Jan. 26, 2015
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/15PloQ8

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

The right ‘rip’ could control graphene’s edges
Rice University theorists show it may be possible to tune graphene edges by varying heat and force as graphene is fractured. Edge configurations affect graphene’s electronic and mechanical properties, which are important for applications. Boris Yakobson, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Materials Science and NanoEngineering and professor of chemistry, and graduate student Zi-Ang Zhang are quoted. Postdoctoral researcher Alex Kutana is mentioned.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1CvcSl9
Graphene nanoribbons can be fracture to get desired edges
AZoNano
http://bit.ly/15FiY5W
Graphene edges can be tailor-made
Product Design & Development (This article also appeared in Controlled Environments, Microwave Engineering Europe, Science Newsline, Fort Bend Sun and Bellaire Examiner.)
http://bit.ly/1yL7BEO

Bio-engineering: Self-assembling strong, long protein fibers developed
Researchers from Rice and UC Davis found a way to manipulate proteins into amyloid fibrils, which are ideal for tissue engineering.
International Business Times
http://bit.ly/1z6bKSN
Self-assembling amyloid fibers from smaller proteins for nanotechnology applications
AZo Materials
http://bit.ly/1LeEZZX
Engineering self-assembling amyloid fibers
Science Daily (This article also appeared in Phys.org, Science Blog, Nanotechnology Now, e! Science News and Science Newsline.)
http://bit.ly/1yreEhe

Rice University student turns dorm room into ball pit
Brown College senior David Nichol covered his dorm room floor with 13,000 plastic balls.
USA Today (This article also appeared in CentralOhio.com, KVUE-TV, News Leader, Battle Creek Inquirer, Visalia Times-Delta and the Times.)
http://usat.ly/1EouwcD

Obama’s India visit must focus on economic ties, Baker Institute expert says
Russell Green, the Will Clayton Fellow in International Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and an adjunct assistant professor of economics, explains that President Barack Obama’s and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meetings with business leaders from India and the U.S. will have a positive effect on a broader trade agreement.
Diversity Global
http://bit.ly/15FJThQ

Houstonians closely watch upcoming trial, ready for HERO to take effect
Rice is mentioned as a supporter of the Houston Equal Rights Ordinance.
HRC.org
http://bit.ly/1Ccnzuy

HOUSTON/TEXAS

You can visit many universities without leaving town
Rice is mentioned as a participant in University Transfer fairs.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1BuPAuh

New strategy for ‘blue’ Texas?
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, recommends that Democrats focus on local elections as a strategy to turn Texas “blue.”
KTSA.com
http://bit.ly/15PgSkB
http://bit.ly/1zqtpI3

5 school leaders selected for Rice entrepreneurship program
Four Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District principals and one director of instruction were accepted into the yearlong Rice Education Entrepreneurship Program.
Cypress Creek Mirror
http://bit.ly/15OPh33

BROADCAST

How crude oil prices drive the cost of gasoline
Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, discusses the varieties of crude on State Impact Texas.
National Public Radio’s “State Impact Texas”
http://n.pr/1y3wkAv

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Supercomputer helps identify potential materials to improve ethanol and petroleum production
Scientists identify zeolites that may be synthesized to improve ethanol and petroleum production using a sophisticated algorithm developed at Rice University. The algorithm has the power to screen candidates for specific applications from millions of possibilities. Michael Deem, the John W. Cox Professor of Biochemical and Genetic Engineering and co-author of the study, is quoted.
AZo CleanTech
http://bit.ly/1CczfNS
University of Minnesota identify potential materials to boost ethanol production
Biofuels Digest
http://bit.ly/1JzZWgk
Materials screening ‘improves’ biofuel processing
Laboratory Talk
http://bit.ly/15FFpI1

How cancer turns good cells to the dark side
Rice University biophysicists reveal how cancer uses notch-signaling pathways to promote metastasis. Their computer models provide a fresh theoretical framework for scientists who study ways to target cancer progression. Eshel Ben-Jacob, a senior investigator at Rice’s Center for Theoretical Biological Physics; Herbert Levine, the Karl F. Hasselmann Professor of Bioengineering, and José Onuchic, the Harry C. and Olga K. Wiess Professor of Physics and Astronomy, are quoted.
Medical Xpress (This article also appeared in Health Canal, Science Codex, Science Daily, Science Newsline and SciGuru.org.)
http://bit.ly/1BjLIdd
Sender/receiver cancer cells lure good cells to the dark side
Genengnews.com
http://bit.ly/15DrlPe

Study on crumpled graphene oxide-based nanocomposites for advanced water treatment receives NSF grant
Former postdoctoral fellow John Fortner will study new composite materials for advanced water treatment with a grant from the National Science Foundation.
AZoNano
http://bit.ly/1zTKvO7

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Look at both sides with respect
James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted in a reply to an article about atheism.
Niagara This Week
http://bit.ly/1zqgA0y

How the CIA made Google
John Doerr and Ann Doerr, funders of Rice’s Center for Engineering Leadership, are mentioned for their early investment in Becholstein’s Sun Microsystems.
MintPress News
http://bit.ly/1CclzSO

SPORTS

Ranking the Super Bowls
A ranking of past Super Bowls mentions that Super Bowl VIII was played at Rice Stadium.
NFL.com
http://bit.ly/1Ctl5X6

When they were younger
Head football coach David Bailiff is quoted about alumnus Luke Willson ’12.
Sports Illustrated
http://on.si.com/1CJqQjM

Strong defense not enough against Louisiana Tech
Rice basketball fell to Louisiana Tech University 58-45 at Tudor Fieldhouse. Head coach Mike Rhoades is quoted.
The Rancher
http://bit.ly/1uxH0G0

Lance Berkman won’t be on Rice baseball coaching staff this season
Former Rice baseball player Lance Berkman will not return as a student assistant on the Rice baseball coaching staff this season. Head baseball coach Wayne Graham is quoted.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1zUdNMD