Dateline Rice for Oct. 23, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

US graft inquiries turn to Venezuelan oil industry
A top finance manager for Venezuela’s government-run oil company is suspected of taking millions of dollars in bribes to invest company pension money in an American hedge fund, according to court papers. Francisco Monaldi, a fellow in Latin American energy policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is quoted.
New York Times (This article also appeared in MSN News.)
http://nyti.ms/1OW4EZC

Argentina’s election will end the politics of fantasy
Mark Jones, the Joseph D. Jamail Chair in Latin American Studies, professor of political science and fellow in political science at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments on the possible outcomes of Argentina’s presidential election and Hillary Clinton’s testimony in front of the House Benghazi Committee.
Bloomberg Business (Similar articles appeared in ICIS.com, La Repubblica, Washington Post, Metro Ecuador, Publimetro, Metrord.do, Publinews.gt and LibrePrensa.com.)
http://bloom.bg/1kzuyay
Argentina election 2015: Next president will inherit a flailing economy
International Business Times
http://bit.ly/1OMkh7n
Clinton set to answer tough questions
KTSA.com
http://bit.ly/1KtI5W3

New flies in apple trees set off wasp evolution
Rice researchers were members of a Michigan State University team that studied how evolutionary changes of a new fruit fly affected other species.
Futurity
http://bit.ly/1NXOWP2

Increased US currency valuation bad for Texas exports, says international monetary expert
Fred Bergsten, founding director of the Peterson Institute for International Economics, is featured for his recent speech at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy.
Breitbart
http://bit.ly/1GYXoWv

It’s not about science or religion — It’s about being human
The Pew Research Center released a new study that determines how religion affects American’s view on science. Rice is cited.
Huffington Post
http://huff.to/203FKwk

HOUSTON/TEXAS

From the archive: Election publicity may have hurt city’s image
Bob Stein, the Lena Gohlman Fox Professor of Political Science, is quoted about past Houston mayoral campaigns that were misrepresented in the media.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1XokoHH

A Q&A with the HISD board candidates
Alumna Juliet Stipeche ’96, who is running for Houston Independent School District trustee, is interviewed. Stipeche is associate director of Rice’s Richard Tapia Center for Excellence and Equity.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1PGhRaJ
http://bit.ly/1XogRJx
Grier’s exit looms over HISD board races
Houston Chronicle (This appeared on the front of the City & State section. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1R0Ojls

Campus carry advocates make their case at TCU
Students and guests speakers at Texas Christian University voiced their support for the school to consider adopting Texas’ new campus carry law. Trinity College, Austin College and Paul Quinn College have opted out. Rice President David Leebron said he is still consulting with the campus community about the law.
Texas Tribune
http://bit.ly/1PL4yVp

Army Corps: Coastal protection study gets initial approval
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers granted an exemption to begin a nearly $20 million federal study of coastal hurricane protection systems. Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center’s protection study is mentioned.
Galveston County Daily News (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1i0B9sz

Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival starts Nov. 4
Glenn Olsen, instructor at the Glasscock School for Continuing Studies, will participate in the 22nd annual Rio Grande Valley Birding Festival.
Winter Texan Times
http://bit.ly/1kzPrm0

BROADCAST

Live video: Apache helicopter landing near Rice Stadium
With the Rice Owls football team taking on Army West Point Saturday at 11 a.m. for the university’s military appreciation game, Rice Athletics made arrangements for an Apache helicopter and Army Stryker armored fighting vehicle from Fort Hood to be on campus for display.
ABC13.com (Video is not available.)
http://abc13.co/1GvtQ7X

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Rice news release: Cobalt atoms on graphene a powerful combo: Rice University catalyst holds promise for clean, inexpensive hydrogen production
Cobalt atoms on nitrogen-doped graphene are a robust solid-state catalyst for hydrogen production. The Rice discovery may be an effective replacement for more expensive platinum-activated catalysts in fuel cells and other energy applications. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
Nanotechnology Now (This article also appeared in Chemie.de, Electronic Component News, NewsR.in, Space Daily and Clean Technica.)
http://bit.ly/1RYxqsq

Man-made carbon nanotubes are common air pollutant
Scientists detect the presence of carbon nanotubes in cells extracted from the airways of Parisian children with asthma. Their results suggest nanotubes may be common components of airborne pollution and vehicles may be a source. Lon Wilson, professor of chemistry, is quoted.
Nature World Report (Similar articles also appeared in Pioneer News, World Tech Today, Yibabda, Memorial Examiner, Fort Bend Sun, Sugar Land Sun, Science Recorder and Sciences et Avenir.)
http://bit.ly/1NrlSwf

Gene on-off switch works like backpack strap
A research team based in Houston’s Texas Medical Center has found that loop-forming proteins inside the human chromosome appear to work like the sliding plastic adjusters on a grade-schooler’s backpack. This discovery may allow researchers to reprogram human cells by directly modifying the loops that form in DNA. Erez Lieberman Aiden, adjunct assistant professor in computational and applied mathematics and in computer science, is quoted.
Science Daily
http://bit.ly/1OGmpNT

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Billy Graham warns of fire and brimstone in ‘final’ book
In his latest book, evangelist Billy Graham declares that non-Christians are doomed to live in a fiery hell. William Martin, the Harry and Hazel Chavanne Senior Fellow in Religion and Public Policy at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, comments.
Gazette
http://bit.ly/1PLdASi

SPORTS

Football heads to Rice Saturday
Rice football will play against the U.S. Military Academy Oct. 24 at Rice Stadium.
GoArmyWestPoint.com
http://bit.ly/1LKVgnl
Head to head: Army versus Rice
Scout.com (Subscription required.)
http://foxs.pt/1RsoKtu
In the Trenches has Army’s 2nd win and Black Knights heading to Texas
TWCNews.com
http://bit.ly/1LrxsXE

WTLH-TV (Tallahassee, Fla.)
Several celebrities participated in the Softball For A Good Cause event at Rice’s Reckling Park.
http://bit.ly/1W8W0HR

Arkansas to compete at Rice Invitational
Several university swim teams, including Rice, will compete at the Rice Invitational this weekend.
ArkansasRazorbacks.com
http://bit.ly/1PL4rt7

By the numbers: Wagner versus BYU
Rice football’s winning game against Wagner College is mentioned.
KSL.com
http://bit.ly/1PGlAoF

Men’s tennis seeks improvement at UTSA/ITA Texas Regional Championships
Texas A&M University will compete against Rice at the USTA/ITA Texas Regional Championships tomorrow.
TheBatt.com
http://bit.ly/1GvkjO0

NEWS RELEASES

Latin American expert available to comment on Argentine elections
Mark Jones is available to comment on the Argentine elections.
http://bit.ly/1GZ2H8r

Shepherd School Opera to present ‘The Barber of Seville’
The Shepherd School of Music’s Opera Department and Chamber Orchestra will present Rossini’s “The Barber of Seville” at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 6, 10 and 12 and at 2 p.m. Nov. 8 at Rice University’s Wortham Opera Theatre in Alice Pratt Brown Hall.
http://bit.ly/1RsjBla

‘Memories of the Nuclear Age’ to convene Japanese and US experts in Houston Nov. 18-20
Leading Japanese and American experts will gather in Houston Nov. 18-20 to highlight their ongoing cooperative efforts to preserve and disseminate information about the historic Atomic Bomb Casualty Commission. This international conference is jointly hosted by Rice University’s Humanities Research Center, the Texas Medical Center Library and Asia Society Texas Center.
http://bit.ly/1PGgIQs

November events at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music
Events at the Shepherd School of Music during November include the Shepherd School Opera’s fall production, as well as guest artist appearances, faculty recitals and the Rice Chorale’s annual holiday concert.
http://bit.ly/1LKMzcI

Plastic microscope designed to bring better diagnostic care for world’s rural poor
Rice University researchers have developed an inexpensive point-of-care device to examine blood smears and better diagnose diseases in rural areas of the world.
http://bit.ly/1Xopq78