Dateline Rice for Jan. 27, 2016

FEATURED ITEM

Clinicians embrace 3-D printers to solve unique clinical challenges
3-D printing is gaining acceptance in medicine as a way to overcome patient-specific challenges. Jordan Miller, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
The Journal of the American Medical Association
http://bit.ly/1nlV6x4

NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL

Ted Cruz battles, and boosted by, likability challenge
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, is quoted about Sen. Ted Cruz’s presidential campaign, undecided voters in the presidential election, Harris County District Attorney Devon Anderson’s reaction to the recent Planned Parenthood indictments and the possibility Julian Castro will be Hillary Clinton’s vice presidential nominee.
USA Today (Similar articles were featured in 47 other media outlets.)
http://usat.ly/20raW8a
Who do undecided voters prefer? Trump or Sanders. Sounds crazy but here’s why
The Street
http://bit.ly/1QqAxtc
DA denies politics played role in Planned Parenthood case
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. This article appeared on the front of the Jan. 27 print edition with a different headline, “DA’s reaction: Anderson denies politics played a role in the case.”)
http://bit.ly/20spt3m
Castro vice president talk bubbling up again in Iowa
WOAI
http://bit.ly/20syb1I

Endowments fall to earth
After two years of healthy growth, colleges’ endowment investment return rates grew by just 2.4 percent in the 2015 fiscal year. Rice is mentioned.
Inside Higher Ed
http://bit.ly/1lSaKPN

#AtheismSoWhite: Atheists of color rock social justice
The Secular Social Justice Conference, which will take place at Rice Jan. 30-31, is mentioned.
HuffPost Black Voices
http://huff.to/1SaR2NK

US aims to better refine its oil, not increase its net oil supply to world market
Peter Hartley, the George and Cynthia Mitchell Chair in Sustainable Development, is quoted about the lifting of the United States’ 40-year restriction on oil exports.
Trend
http://bit.ly/1PB1hE6

HOUSTON/TEXAS

Feds back new heart patch for infants
Bioengineers at Rice University and Texas Children’s Hospital have won a National Institutes of Health grant to develop a new generation of patches to repair the damaged hearts of infants. Jeffrey Jacot, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
TMC News
http://bit.ly/1Sb1dln
New patch repairs holes in infants’ hearts
Click2Houston
http://bit.ly/1Vrczzf
Feds back new patch to repair infants’ damaged hearts
Medical Design Technology
http://bit.ly/1SjfYAO

Open-source laser fabrication lowers costs for cancer research
In a move that slashes 90 percent of the cost of mass-producing metastatic microtumors and therapeutic microtissues for screening and research, Rice University bioengineers have adapted techniques from the open-source “maker” movement to reprogram a commercial laser cutter to etch up to 50,000 tiny “microwells” per hour into sheets of silicone. Jordan Miller, assistant professor of bioengineering, and graduate student Jacob Albritton are quoted.
TMC News (Similar articles appeared in 11 other media outlets.)
http://bit.ly/23thq90
Laser-based fabrication method reduces costs for cancer screening and research
News Medical
http://bit.ly/1Uq5YoC
Open-source laser fabrication lowers costs for cancer research say bioengineers
Scicasts
http://bit.ly/20svFZ2

What’s biting Texas? The hidden threat of Chagas disease
Jennifer Herricks, postdoctoral fellow in disease and poverty at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy, authored an op-ed about the increased risk of contracting Chagas disease in Texas.
Houston Chronicle (This appeared in the Chronicle’s “Gray Matters” online magazine. Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1KCZ8Xl

Houston experts urge end to restrictions on adolescents in STD research
Parental permission for adolescent participation in research on HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is not required ethically and may undermine public health interests, according to a new paper by law and public health experts at Rice’s Baker Institute for Public Policy and Baylor College of Medicine. Quianta Moore, scholar in health policy at the Baker Institute, is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1S9fBKW

Woodlands board eyes public parking garage to ease perceived crunch
Kyle Shelton, postdoctoral research fellow at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research, is quoted about a recent institute study on parking in Rice Village.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1OP7bnR

The most selective colleges in America
With an acceptance rate of 15.1 percent, Rice is ranked No. 29 among the most selective colleges in America based on data from the National Center for Education Statistics.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required. Similar articles appeared in Seattle PI and SFgate.)
http://bit.ly/1Uqg2Og
http://bit.ly/1PB76Br
NC school named one of the most selective colleges
Fox8
http://bit.ly/20sA5PT

Rice student sexually assaulted on campus
The Rice University Police Department investigated the sexual assault of a female student at a private party on campus. Rice Chief of Police Johnny Whitehead is quoted.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1PB3QWG
http://bit.ly/204D4kL

Dan Rather, grandson offer $10K prize for improving Texas schools
The finalists for the Rather Prize, which will be awarded for the best idea to innovate Texas education, were announced Jan. 25 in Austin. Lovett College sophomore Martin Rather is quoted.
KLBJ
http://bit.ly/20syzgD

Bach’s early years in the Royal Court inspired monumental works
The Bach Society Houston will perform at Rice Feb. 6.
Houston Press
http://bit.ly/1PSyxqV

BROADCAST

Young Artist in Residence: Jack Swanson
Jack Swanson, a graduate student at Rice’s Shepherd School of Music, performs with pianist Roderick Phipps-Kettlewell for “Performance Today.”
Classical MPR
http://bit.ly/204OtRF

TRADE/PROFESSIONAL

Special coating makes coaxial cables lighter
Rice scientists used carbon nanotubes to make durable, flexible coaxial cables for aerospace applications with half the weight. Matteo Pasquali, the A.J. Hartsook Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, chair of the Department of Chemistry and a professor of materials science and nanoengineering and of chemistry, and alumna Francesca Mirri ’14, a research scientist, are quoted. Also mentioned are graduate students Robert Headrick and Amram Bengio and alumni April Choi’14 and Yimin Luo ’13.
Controlled Environments (A similar article appeared in Nanowerk.)
http://bit.ly/1TnFMMT

Graphene could help create next-gen real-time de-icer for aircrafts
A composite of graphene nanoribbons and epoxy proves effective at de-icing a helicopter blade in an experiment at Rice University. The new material may be suitable for keeping aircraft, wind turbines and transmission lines free of ice. James Tour, the T.T. and W.F. Chao Professor of Chemistry, professor of computer science and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted. Graduate student Abdul-Rahman Raji is also mentioned.
Dispatch Tribunal
http://bit.ly/202qT7U
Graphene composite may keep wings ice-free
Materialsgate
http://bit.ly/1KFi8o6
Graphene ribbons to the rescue
The Deccan Chronicle
http://bit.ly/1lPjN3P
Report: Graphene could help planes fly in icy conditions
Canada Journal
http://bit.ly/1Sjghvr
Graphene nanoribbons, epoxy provide effective de-icing solution
American Laboratory
http://bit.ly/1RNyi6c
New technology to clear 1-centimeter thick ice on rotor blades
HeliHub
http://bit.ly/1PB9QP3
Study: Graphene might keep ice off blades
Rotor & Wing
http://bit.ly/1OPlIzJ

Catalyst-based thermodynamics method could enable improvements in DNA oligo design
Rice scientists have developed a tool to analyze the thermal behavior of DNA and RNA strands. It could speed the design of molecular diagnostics that positively identify disease subtypes to inform optimal treatment. David Zhang, assistant professor of bioengineering, is quoted.
Genome Web
http://bit.ly/1lRUSg0

Scientists discover the best way to clean nanotubes is to put them in the microwave
Researchers use a household microwave oven to enhance the purification of carbon nanotubes. The work could help in the preparation of nanotubes for drug delivery or photovoltaic applications. Andrew Barron, the Charles W. Duncan Jr.-Welch Professor of Chemistry and a professor of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
Factor
http://bit.ly/1RNzMxn

Aangepaste melkproteïnen filteren vervuild water
Tenacious proteins similar to those implicated in Alzheimer’s disease could help purify polluted water. Qilin Li, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering and of materials science and nanoengineering, is quoted.
De Redactie (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1PB1PKb

OTHER NEWS OF INTEREST

Can’t find a new job? Race matters when it comes to job leads
The racial composition of a labor market plays a significant role in whether workers find out about job leads — regardless of the race of the worker, according to new research from Rice University and North Carolina State. James Elliott, associate professor of sociology, is quoted.
Philly.com (This article also appeared in the Lebanon Daily News.)
http://bit.ly/1PE9zBd

Energy Department announces 16 collegiate teams to compete in Solar Decathlon 2017
Rice is listed as one of the teams that will participate in the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon 2017 competition.
Global Renewable News
http://bit.ly/1OZ0qxA

What Wheaton College faces in firing or retaining professor
Alumna Larycia Hawkins ’94 vowed to wear a hijab to Wheaton College, where she is on faculty, during Advent as support for Muslims. The college placed her on administrative leave. This article analyzes Wheaton’s options for resolving the matter.
Daily Herald
http://bit.ly/1lRRx0t

Hudson River Housing to host emerging community design leader 
Alumnus Allan Co ’04 has been chosen as one of the six young architectural designers to receive the Enterprise Rose Architectural Fellowship.
Hudson Valley News Network
http://bit.ly/1PAZXRy

Limelight events for Jan. 27
Timothy Morton, a philosopher and the Rita Shea Guffey Chair in English, will give a lecture at William and Mary University Jan. 28.
The Virginia Gazette
http://bit.ly/1KaALFf

Mayor Allen Owen announces re-election bid
Findings from a Rice study on Missouri City are mentioned.
Digital Journal
http://bit.ly/1PE5D3u

Per Boncinelli scienza, fede e filosofia sarebbero incompatibili
A Rice study on the intersection of science and faith is mentioned.
Science and Religion in Media (An English translation is not available.)
http://bit.ly/1QCNFx8

SPORTS

Cougars pouncing on title shot
Rice football player and Jones College freshman Isaiah Edwards is mentioned as a graduate of Cinco Ranch High School.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1WNQMmt

No more Mr. Rice Guy: Casey all in at UH
Alumnus James Casey ’11 has been hired as an offensive analyst for the football team at the University of Houston. Rice is mentioned.
Houston Chronicle (Subscription required.)
http://bit.ly/1KaCjPI

Letter to the editor: Bring the blue for WKU
Rice women’s basketball fell to Middle Tennessee State University 61-60.
Murfreesboro Post
http://bit.ly/204PskE

Jefferson Nichol becomes new head coach of Ragin’ Cajun Lacrosse
Rice men’s lacrosse will play University of Louisiana at Lafayette Jan. 31 at Rice.
The Vermilion
http://bit.ly/1QCLeus

Cowboys draft: Let’s get big in the middle
A photo of Wiess College senior Driphus Jackson during the 2015 Rice-Baylor game is included.
CBS DFW
http://cbsloc.al/1QCOPZA

NEWS RELEASES

Nano-coating makes coaxial cables lighter
Rice scientists used carbon nanotubes to make durable, flexible coaxial cables for aerospace applications with half the weight.
http://news.rice.edu/?p=86341