Dateline Rice for Nov. 19, 2015

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Nuclear agreement with Iran is a done deal, at least for now
Joe Barnes, the Bonner Means Baker Fellow at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about the possible failure of the recently implemented Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action.
The Hill
http://bit.ly/1Lm6mxB

Results vary when using blood from fingerprick tests
Fingerprick blood tests are becoming more common, but a Rice University study finds that fingerprick test results can vary significantly from drop to drop. The study found that as many as six to nine drops of blood were needed for consistent measurements of hemoglobin, white blood cells and platelets. Rebecca Richards-Kortum, the Malcolm Gillis University Professor, director of the Institute of Biosciences and Bioengineering and of Rice 360°: Institute for Global Health Technologies, and graduate student Meaghan Bond are quoted.
United Press International (This article also appeared in India Medical Times and 17 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1MWVN5c
Fingerprick blood test results vary from drop to drop: Study
Hindustan Times
http://bit.ly/1l7qONr

History, words, race
Princeton students led campus protests to end ties to Woodrow Wilson, and change the use of “master” to describe leaders of residential colleges. Rice is mentioned.
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/1lwvGMD

The unanswered question behind wage inequality
Gustavo Grullon, professor of finance at the Jones Graduate School of Business, is quoted in an article about wage inequality.
Chicago Tribune (This article also appeared in Daily Herald and Spectrum Online.)
http://trib.in/1Yinv4F

Scientists catch new ‘baby’ planet in the act of formation
Scientists have identified a juvenile planet called LkCa15, which is helping researchers understand how planets are formed and grow. Andrea Isella, assistant professor of physics and astronomy, is quoted.
USA Today (This article also appeared in over 20 other media outlets.)
http://usat.ly/1Xb7rz3
First photo of planet in making captured
Phys.org
http://bit.ly/1kHKBDp

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Before the Rice Hotel, there was this …
A feature on the Rice Hotel, mentions that the property was once the Republic of Texas capitol and later owned by Rice founder William Marsh Rice.
Houston Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1SFJ8rK

The Hallmark residents enjoy culture of community
Residents of The Hallmark, a luxury boutique senior living community, are given the chance to engage in cultural and educational classes and presentations. The article mentions that a Rice faculty member will conduct lectures on the upcoming operas of the season.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OhqKEO

Concerns over UT Houston plan growing
University of Houston regents met to discuss their concerns about the University of Texas expanding in Houston. Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1l7FL1R

Houston poet scripts success
Author Sandra Cisneros spoke at Rice’s Stude Concert Hall as part of the Margarett Root Brown Series.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1S6IAeu
http://bit.ly/1HaYKmP

On view at Houston’s art museums and galleries
A new installation called “Intersections” by artist Anila Agha will be on display in Rice Gallery through Dec. 6.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1S6IIuD

Culture stage: Nov. 19
“Visionary Rachmaninoff” will feature songs and chamber works by the composer at Rice’s Alice Brown Pratt Hall.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1XbeMPh

Candidatos a la alcaldía de Houston suben temperatura de la contienda
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 second round of the Houston mayoral election.
La Voz de Houston (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1S6OCvJ

The state of Texas: Nov. 18, 2015
StartClass.com, which compares education and career options, evaluated business school rankings of the Economist, Forbes and similar publications to create a list of the best MBA programs. Rice is ranked No. 28 for average post-graduation salary.
Texas Monthly
http://bit.ly/1Mpl5Mh

Like overweight woman, overweight men also face discrimination while applying for job
Men who are overweight are just as likely as overweight women to experience interpersonal discrimination when applying for a job or shopping at retail stores, according to new research from Rice University and the University of North Carolina, Charlotte. Michelle “Mikki” Hebl, professor of psychology and management, is quoted.
West Texas News (This article also appeared in NHV.us, East Montgomery County Observer, Spring Observer, Magnolia Potpourri and KDrama Stars.)
http://bit.ly/1T11pRf

BROADCAST

Are sexual assaults on campus up — or are more of them being reported?
Allison Vogt, director of sexual violence prevention and Title IX support, discusses the rise in sexual assault cases on college campuses.
Houston Public Media’s “Houston Matters”
http://bit.ly/1T1oVgQ

Open enrollment for health care insurance
The Kaiser Family Foundation is advising that for those who want to avoid significant premium increases for popular health plans, to change their provider during the current open enrollment season. Vivian Ho, the James A. Baker III Institute Chair in Health Economics at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and professor of economics, is quoted.
KTRH-AM
http://bit.ly/1kHTuNj
http://bit.ly/1QwiUdK

KTRH-AM
Patricia Reiff, professor of physics and astronomy, shares the best time to see the annual Leonids meteor shower.
http://bit.ly/1O5UQwE

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Microscopic machines use molecular motors to swim
Rice scientists build light-powered nanoscale submarines with just 244 atoms. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, and graduate student Victor García-López are quoted.
Engineering.com (Similar articles also appeared in AZoNano and 15 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/1MVx0mw
Researchers developing nanosubmarines powered by light
CBS Houston
http://cbsloc.al/1YiuP06
Art Bell radio’s ‘Dark Matter Network News’
KXL-AM (Portland, Ore.)
http://bit.ly/1QuGreS (This appeared in more than 40 other affiliates.)

The truth about kissing bugs: Chagas disease
Chagas disease — the third most common parasitic infection in the world — affects approximately 7.5 million people, mostly in Latin America. To help reduce outbreaks of this disease in their countries, the United States and Mexican governments should implement a range of programs as well as fund research for the development of Chagas vaccines and treatments, according to a new policy brief by tropical-disease and science policy experts at Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Kirstin Matthews, an adjunct lecturer of sociology and a fellow in science and technology policy at the Baker Institute, is quoted.
Design & Trend
http://bit.ly/1S6sr8W

Latin America’s economic prospects dim into 2016
Trade and financial shocks in the form of collapsing commodity prices and reduced availability of external financing have worsened Latin America’s economic prospects in the past year, according to an issue brief from Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. South America, in particular, is expected to perform poorly into 2016, the brief predicts. José Antonio Ocampo, a nonresident fellow with the institute’s Latin America Initiative and professor of professional practice in international and public affairs at Columbia University, is quoted.
Phys.org (This article also appeared in My Informs, EIN News Publications, Science Codex and Science Newsline.)
http://bit.ly/1PPyEH7

Houston region could be better protected from impact of hurricanes
New structural and nonstructural solutions could better protect the Houston-Galveston region from the impact of hurricanes and severe storms, according to a research paper by energy, engineering and environmental law experts at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Jim Blackburn, professor in the practice of environmental law, is quoted. Regina Buono, the Baker Botts Fellow in Energy and Environmental Regulatory Affairs at the Baker Institute, and Larry Dunbar, project manager for Rice’s Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center, are mentioned.
Terra Daily
http://bit.ly/1MpbQM1

Clay makes better high-temp batteries
Rice scientists developed lithium-ion batteries with clay-based electrolytes for high-temperature environments. Pulickel Ajayan, the Benjamin M. and Mary Greenwood Anderson Professor in Materials Science and NanoEngineering and of chemistry, and graduate student Kaushik Kalaga are quoted.
Space Daily (This article also appeared in EET Asia.)
http://bit.ly/1j9DG4a

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Study: Folks do use bike-share for recreation, transportation
A new report from Rice’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research finds that Sun Belt city residents are most likely to use bike-share programs for recreation, compared with users in the Midwest or Northeast, who regularly use the same programs for their daily commute. Kelsey Walker, a postbaccalaureate research fellow at the Kinder Institute and the study’s co-author, is quoted.
Public News Service
http://bit.ly/1O5LmBt

Texas and the next chapter for local climate action
Despite the tragedy in Paris, the United Nations COP21 climate talks will still be held. The event, “Confronting Climate Change: Policies and Opportunities,” at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, is mentioned.
GreenBiz
http://bit.ly/1NF52aY

SPORTS

Brown’s emergence serves as rare bright spot on Rice defense
Rice football player Derek Brown is profiled in an article about the team’s season. Assistant football coach Michael Slater is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OSPVjU

College basketball’s road to the Final Four
Rice men’s basketball fell to the University of California 65-97 at Haas Pavilion.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1T1jlLz

Panthers to play UTSA in C-USA tournament
Rice women’s volleyball will play against Southern Mississippi University Nov. 20.
FIUSM
http://bit.ly/1Qwi6p7