Dateline Rice for Jan. 28, 2015

FEATURED ITEM

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.
Science 360 (This is featured as the top story on the home page. This article also appeared in the Bellaire Examiner, Fort Bend Sun, Memorial Examiner and Supercomputing Online.)
http://1.usa.gov/1zY8ETG
Researchers decode how cancer uses cell-cell interaction mechanism to promote metastasis
News Medical (This article also appeared in the Bellaire Examiner and The Rancher.)
http://bit.ly/1Bvn3F8
Cellular model may shed light on metastasis
Medical Physics Web
http://bit.ly/1DalLih

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Weighing in on justice in China
China representatives, attorneys and community leaders attended a discussion on China’s judicial system at the Asia Society Texas Center. Rice President David Leebron is quoted. University Representative Y. Ping Sun served as moderator. Rice helped organize the discussion.
China Daily
http://bit.ly/1BxhYMy

More Kurdish oil seen coming to US as disputed tanker leaves
Iraq and the Kurds agreed to start selling oil jointly after a dispute caused a tanker carrying 1 million barrels of crude to return less valuable than when it was sent. Jim Krane, the Wallace S. Wilson Fellow for Energy Studies at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
Bloomberg Business (This article also appeared in First Enercast Financial.)
http://bloom.bg/1y4sVl7

Obama’s large delegation to Saudi: Bridging past loyalties, enduring future
Andrew Bowen, the Baker Institute scholar for the Middle East and director of the Levant Program at Rice’s Baker Institute, comments on the positive effect of President Barack Obama’s visit to the Saudi capital to pay his respects after the death of Saudi King Abdullah.
Al Arabiya News
http://bit.ly/15TvBLj
Al Jazeera
http://bit.ly/1v4qZNN

Charles McConnell: The fight against OPEC — an occasion for dialogue between Russia and the US
Charles McConnell, executive director of Rice’s Energy and Environment Initiative, is interviewed about the oil market and its effect on the world’s major oil producers.
Ria.ru (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1y5urmP

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Vampires, lemons and writer Karen Russell
Amber Dermont, the Gladys Louise Fox Associate Professor of English, conducted an onstage interview with award-winning fiction writer Karen Russell as part of the 2014/2015 Inprint Margarett Brown Reading Series.
Houston Chronicle (This article appeared in the Houston Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1D53qTS

Houston ranked as one of the unhealthiest cities
Rice’s 3-mile loop is mentioned as a top spot to work out in Houston.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1CMLvnc

5 things to know: Including 3 Texas MBA programs make Financial Times ranking
The 17th edition of the Financial Times global full-time MBA program rankings listed Rice’s Jesse H. Jones Graduate School of Business as No. 42 globally and No. 21 in the U.S.
Dallas Business Journal
http://bit.ly/15Tfa1D

Quiz: Beer, coffee or crude oil? Sometimes it’s hard to tell
Hanszen College senior Aruni Ranaweera created the quiz “Beer, Coffee, Crude” to test her classmates’ ability to distinguish the names of crude, beer and blends of coffee.
National Public Radio’s “State Impact Texas”
http://n.pr/1v46uAR

Advanced course grades stress students, schools
School districts and universities vary in their policies on dual-credit and advanced placement courses. Chris Muñoz, vice president for enrollment, is quoted.
Midland Reporter-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1zbHIgo

Politics, lack of funding hamper Texas universities’ climb to top tier
Texas is trying to elevate its universities to flagship status, but lacks enough funding to improve them all at once. Rice is mentioned as one of Texas’ three tier-one schools.
Midland Reporter-Telegram
http://bit.ly/1yNlkv2

Texas welcomes new governor — Greg Abbott sworn in
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 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s national influence.
The Prospector
http://bit.ly/15P9On8

John Halaka’s ‘Portraits of Denial and Desire’ tells a Palestinian story
Activist artist John Halaka’s exhibit, “Portraits of Denial & Desire,” will be on display at Rice through March 13.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/18u7tjz

MALDEF attorney ready in case Dist. 116 seat opens up
Alumna Marisa Bono ’01 plans to run for the Texas House District 116 seat.
San Antonio Express-News
http://bit.ly/1Eq6jTh

BROADCAST

Classical 89.5 (Salisbury, Md.)
Graduate student Aaron Perdue explains his background in flute and performs in studio.
http://bit.ly/1yxrKtq

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Researchers identify materials to improve biofuel and petroleum processing
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.
ECN Mag
http://bit.ly/1tm3fDG
Researchers use argonne supercomputer to identify materials for improving biofuel processing
World Industrial Reporter
http://bit.ly/1Dh260w
[ Raad een zeoliet (of niet) ]
C2w.nl (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1CMEDpR

Engineering self-assembling amyloid fibers
Researchers from Rice and the University of California-Davis found a way to manipulate proteins into amyloid fibrils, which are ideal for tissue engineering.
Controlled Environments (This article also appeared in ECN Mag and Medical Design Technology.)
http://bit.ly/1JCkTHo

Satellite data reveal Texan air pollution
Researchers from Rice, Harvard University, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics measured Houston’s emissions of anthropogenic highly reactive volatile organic compounds, which is five times higher than current estimates.
Environmental Research Web
http://bit.ly/1y5i0Yd

Hotez offers suggestions for how the next president can position the US to fight poverty-related diseases
Peter Hotez, a fellow in disease and poverty at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored a new policy paper stressing the importance of the U.S. leading the fight against poverty-related diseases and offers suggestions on how to accomplish this goal.
BioNews-Texas
http://bit.ly/1EPyecz

Thinnest-ever image capture may be gamechanger for wearables
A synthetic two-dimensional material known as copper indium selenide could be the basis for ultimately thin imaging devices and optical sensors. Graduate student Sidong Lei is quoted.
PSFK.com
http://bit.ly/1BowBiH

High-tech hydrogel helps promote blood-vessel healing
Injectable hydrogels promote the growth of healthy blood vessels in new tissue. The Rice University research shows promise for a broad range of tissue regeneration strategies as well as therapies to help victims of heart attack, stroke and ischemic tissue diseases.
Med Device Online
http://bit.ly/15IHh30

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Not because it’s easy
John F. Kennedy’s speech given at Rice in 1962 is mentioned.
JPost.com
http://bit.ly/1yLGXM8

SPORTS

UH, Rice see silver lining despite season’s struggles
Rice basketball will play against University of Houston today at Hofheinz Pavilion. Head coach Mike Rhoades is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1DgSWkI
Houston versus Rice – college basketball pick, odds and prediction
Sports Chat Place
http://bit.ly/1CMtLs1

Gearhart named a Senior CLASS award candidate
Rice basketball player Seth Gearhart was named one of 30 men’s basketball candidates for the 2014-15 Senior CLASS Award.
Fort Bend Sun (This article also appeared in Sugar Land Sun.)
http://bit.ly/1zzgiEC

Alumnus Luke Willson ’12 will play in the Super Bowl for his second straight season. Head football coach David Bailiff is quoted.
The distinctive international flavor of Super Bowl Media Day
Associated Press (This also appeared in USA Today and over 200 other media outlets. Subscription required.)
http://apne.ws/1yxE7Wo
Puppets and soccer balls: Foreign press has some of the wackiest moments during Media Day
U.S. News & World Report (This Associated Press article also appeared in Orlando Sentinel, Tribune, New Europe Online, Daily Press, Winnipeg Free Press, Brandon Sun and Daily Journal.)
http://bit.ly/1Hdbpoh
Super Bowl Media Day has a distinctive international flavor
Juneau Empire
http://bit.ly/1yNrb3s
KHOU-TV
http://bit.ly/1zbQ33C
KPRC-TV
http://bit.ly/1zz8RgP

NEWS RELEASES

Pandemics and perceptions in the media and public in focus at Rice’s Baker Institute Feb. 6
Two national experts from the fields of global public health and the media will discuss “Influenza, SARS, Ebola and the Next Pandemic: Perceptions in the Media and Public” at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Feb. 6.
http://bit.ly/1wB1MEH

Income inequality in US topic at Rice’s Baker Institute Feb. 3
Leading economists will gather at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy Feb. 3 to discuss the underlying causes and consequences of income and wealth inequality in the United States, evaluate the empirical evidence of rising inequality and examine potential solutions for dealing with these problems.
http://bit.ly/1BkXDY0