science wire

Nano-Sized Protein Clusters Address Major Challenge of Drug Delivery
AUSTIN, TX — A new form of proteins discovered by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin could drastically improve treatments for cancer and other diseases, as well as overcome some of the largest challenges in therapeutics: delivering drugs to patients safely, easily and more effectively.

Multitasking Can Be Done Differently, Affect Perceptions of Work Practices
AUSTIN, Texas — In an age in which "multitasking" is often cited as a core competency for employees, organizational communication researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have begun to better understand the nuances of how different individuals accomplish multiple tasks. Such nuances can be important to organizations wanting to hire the right individual for a job and for employees seeking the best organizational and cultural fit.

Adolescents from Unstable Families Lose Ground in Rigorous High Schools
AUSTIN, Texas — The type of school a child attends may exacerbate the negative effect that family instability has on academic performance, according to a new study in the January issue of Sociology of Education .

New Book Explores Union Communication Through Lens of Boeing Labor Unrest
AUSTIN, Texas — Small groups of workers can use communication tactics to agitate for democracy, transparency and fighting spirit within their unions, according to the new book "We ARE the Union

Persistence Pays Off in the Mating Game
AUSTIN, Texas — A new study co-authored by a University of Texas at Austin psychology professor suggests that self-deception may help men succeed in the mating game, while women will benefit more from effective communication.

University of Texas Chemist Receives Major Grant to Improve Detection of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
AUSTIN, Texas — Developing a simple, paper-based test for drug-resistant tuberculosis (TB) is the goal of a University of Texas at Austin chemist, whose project just received a $1.6 million point-of-care diagnostics grant through Grand Challenges in Global Health , an initiative created by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Expanded Data Repository at Austin and Arlington Campuses to Improve Research Capacity for Entire UT System
AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin today announced that it is working with The University of Texas at Arlington to deploy a data rep

Research Warns Drivers About Most Deadly, Accident-Prone Intersections
AUSTIN, TX — The difference between an intersection controlled by flashing lights and one controlled by a stop sign can play a big role in accident prevention, according to a new study by researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

People More Motivated to Give When They See Others Volunteering Abroad
AUSTIN, Texas — People are more inspired to give when they see others contributing their time and money to a good cause outside their home state, according to a new psychology study from The University of Texas at Austin.

Researchers Receive $300,000 Award to Advance Technology With Potential to Predict Heart Attacks
AUSTIN, TX — A University of Texas at Austin engineering professor and a cardiologist from UT Medicine San Antonio have received a $300,000 award to develop a new imaging technique with the potential to predict, or even prevent, heart attacks. Biomedical engineering Professor Thomas E. Milner of the Cockrell School of Engineering at The University of Texas at Austin, and his longstanding collaborator Marc D. Feldman will serve as investigators for the Houston-based Clayton Foundation for Research and receive its ongoing support.

Make Room for Stampede: TACC Expands Data Center for New Supercomputer
Austin, Texas — The Texas Advanced Computing Center (TACC) at The University of Texas at Austin today announced that it is expanding the center's current high performance computing (HPC) data c

New Round of Cancer Research Grants Attracts Rising Young Researcher to The University of Texas at Austin Faculty
AUSTIN, Texas — With a $2 million startup grant from the Cancer Prevention Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT), biologist Jason Upton will join the faculty of The University of Texas at Austin in January to continue his efforts to improve existing cancer therapies and develop new ones.

St. David’s Foundation Supports Health Care for the Underserved at the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin
Event : Ceremony and reception honoring the St. David's Foundation's $3 million gift to the Center for Health Promotion & Disease Prevention Research in Underserved Populations (St. David's CHPR) at the School of Nursing at The University of Texas at Austin.

Harrington Fellows Bring World-Changing Ideas to The University of Texas at Austin
AUSTIN, Texas — A biomedical engineer hoping to grow human organs, a psychologist examining why employees sometimes act in ways that destroy economic value, a mathematician exploring the limits

Pair of black holes ‘weigh in’ at 10 billion suns, the most massive yet
AUSTIN, Texas — A team of astronomers including Karl Gebhardt and graduate student Jeremy Murphy of The University of Texas at Austin have discovered the most massive black holes to date - two

New Center for Cloud Computing Will Impact Mobile Computing and Internet Security
AUSTIN, Texas — As part of its research efforts to help create safer and faster computing, the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin has partnered with SunGard Ava

“Parkinsonian” Worms May Hold the Key to Identifying Drugs for Parkinson’s Disease, Says Scientist
AUSTIN, Texas — Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin have devised a simple test, using dopamine-deficient worms, for identifying drugs that may help people with Parkinson's disease.

Astronomer Sally Dodson-Robinson Receives Prestigious Career Grant from National Science Foundation
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas at Austin Assistant Professor Sally Dodson-Robinson has received a Faculty Early Career Development award of $363,000 from the National Science Foundation (NSF).

Early Results from Hydraulic Fracturing Study Show No Direct Link to Groundwater Contamination
FORT WORTH, Texas — Preliminary findings from a study on the use of hydraulic fracturing in shale gas development suggest no direct link to reports of groundwater contamination, the project leader at The University of Texas at Austin's Energy Institute said Wednesday. "From what we've seen so far, many of the problems appear to be related to other aspects of drilling operations, such as poor casing or cement jobs, rather than to hydraulic fracturing, per se," said Charles 'Chip' Groat , a university geology professor and Energy Institute associate director who is leading the project.

Being Smart is Already Part of your Mental Toolbox, Psychologist Says
AUSTIN, Texas — Intelligence and smart thinking are not the same, according to University of Texas at Austin psychologist Art Markman , who studies how best to apply knowledge for smarter thinking at work and home.

Explorers Invite Public to Join Historic Ocean Expedition Online
AUSTIN, Texas — Explorer Robert Ballard, who discovered the wreck of the R.M.S. Titanic in 1985, is partnering with scientists from The University of Texas at Austin and other institutions to webcast a live scientific expedition to the eastern Mediterranean Nov.

Memory-Enhancing Drug May Improve Exposure Therapy for PTSD Patients, Study Shows
AUSTIN, Texas — A memory-enhancing drug may improve the speed and effectiveness of prolonged exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients, according to a new pilot study by psychologists at The University of Texas at Austin, the University of Washington and the University of Pennsylvania.

Cain and Perry Neck and Neck in Texas, Poll Says
AUSTIN, Texas — If the 2012 Republican primary for president were held this fall, Herman Cain and Rick Perry would be in a virtual tie in Texas, according to a University of Texas at Austin/Texas Tribune poll.

Research on Education and Employment Outcomes for Deaf and Hard of Hearing to be Funded by $1.3 Million Grant
AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas at Austin educational psychologist Stephanie Cawthon has received $1.3 million from the U.S. Department of Education to spearhead a nationwide effort t

Publisher, Author and Artist Fleur Cowles’s Archive Donated to Harry Ransom Center
AUSTIN, Texas — The personal archive of publisher, author and artist Fleur Cowles has been donated to the Harry Ransom Center , a humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin.

Study Links Pollutants to a 450 Percent Increase in Risk of Birth Defects
AUSTIN, Texas — Pesticides and pollutants are related to a 450 percent increase in the risk of spina bifida and anencephaly in rural China, according to scientists at The University of Texas at Austin and Peking University.

Poll: Americans Believe U.S. Headed in Wrong Direction on Energy
AUSTIN, Texas — A poll released today by The University of Texas at Austin found less than 14 percent of Americans think the country is headed in the right direction on energy. Of more than 3,400 consumers surveyed, 84 percent were worried about U.S. consumption of oil from foreign sources and 76 percent about a lack of progress in developing better ways to use energy efficiently and develop renewable sources.

Professor Elected to the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
AUSTIN, Texas — George Georgiou , a professor at The University of Texas at Austin whose technology developments in the engineering, medical, biochemical and cellular fields could help treat te

Oil Exploration Would Endanger the Most Biodiverse Region in the Western Hemisphere, Say Scientists
AUSTIN, Texas — An international team of scientists that includes two University of Texas at Austin researchers has found that Ecuador's Yasuní National Park , which sits on top of massive reserves of oil, is in the single most biodiverse region in the Western Hemisphere.

Chagas Disease May Be a Threat in South Texas, Says Researcher
AUSTIN, Texas — Chagas disease, a tropical parasitic disease that can lead to life-threatening heart and digestive disorders, may be more widespread in Texas than previously thought, according to research from The University of Texas at Austin.

LBJ School of Public Affairs and William Wayne Justice Center collaborate on ‘Contract for Deed’ Study in Colonias
Oct.

University of Texas Marine Scientists Awarded $5.6 Million for Study of Critical Arctic Environment
Oct.

Sex-Segregated Schooling Ineffective and Increases Gender Stereotyping, Experts Warn
Oct. 3, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Sex-segregated schooling is not superior to coeducational schooling and carries the risk of exaggerating sexism and gender stereotyping, according to a new report co-authored by a University of Texas at Austin psychologist.

Five Principles Critical to Successful Nation-Building, Finds History and Global Affairs Scholar
Sept. 26, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — The United States must follow five fundamental principles in order to successfully build strong, self-sufficient nations in post-conflict situations, according to new research from The University of Texas at Austin.

Researchers Develop Optimal Algorithm for Determining Focus Error in Eyes and Cameras
Sept. 26, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — University of Texas at Austin researchers have discovered how to extract and use information in an individual image to determine how far objects are from the focus distance, a feat only accomplished by human and animal visual systems until now. Like a camera, the human eye has an auto-focusing system, but human auto-focusing rarely makes mistakes.

Trappings of Parenthood Leads to Long-Term Weight Gain, New Study Shows
Sept. 22, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Parenthood accelerates weight gain over the life course according to a new study from The University of Texas at Austin. In a study to appear in Social Science and Medicine , Debra Umberson, professor of sociology at the university, found that adults with children gain significantly more weight over time than those without.

Hogg Foundation Funds New Initiative to Provide Safer, More Effective Alternatives to Seclusion and Restraint
Sept. 20, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — The Hogg Foundation for Mental Health at The University of Texas at Austin is funding a new statewide initiative to help residential treatment centers adopt safer, more effective tools than traumatic and potentially deadly seclusion and restraint practices commonly used to manage the behavior of children and youth.

Captive Breeding Could Transform the Saltwater Aquarium Trade and Save Coral Reefs, Marine Biologists Say
Sept.

NSF Grant to Help Identify New Teaching Methods to Retain Women in Computing and IT
Sept.

Statoil Signs $5 Million Partnership with The University of Texas at Austin
Sept. 19, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — International energy company Statoil has signed an agreement with The University of Texas at Austin to fund $5 million of research over five years focusing on geology, geophysics and petroleum engineering.

Shell Partners with UT Austin to Pursue New Solutions to Unlock Gas Resources
Sept. 13, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Shell and The University of Texas at Austin today signed a five-year agreement to invest $7.5 million to address short- and long-term challenges facing the growing worldwide unconventional oil and gas industry.

One of the Largest Facilities For Growing Algae for Biofuels Opens at The University of Texas at Austin
Sept. 13, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin, in partnership with AlgEternal Technologies and Georg Fischer Piping Systems , has officially opened one of the largest of-its-kind algae growth demonstration facilities for biofuels in the country.

Appalachian Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly A Hybrid Species Of Two Other Swallowtails, Scientists Find
Sept. 9, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Flitting among the cool slopes of the Appalachian Mountains is a tiger swallowtail butterfly species that evolved when two other species of swallowtails hybridized long ago, a rarity in the animal world, biologists from The University of Texas at Austin and Harvard University have found.

Public Health Campaigns Should De-stigmatize Low Health Literacy
Sept. 7, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — When creating public health campaigns researchers and public policy makers should include messages to combat the perception that low health literacy equates to low intelligence, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin.

NSF Awards $1.4 Million to Study Remote Socialization and Effects of Information and Communication Technologies
Sept.

University of Texas at Austin Among the Most Efficient Universities in the Nation
Sept. 1, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin is among the most efficient public research universities in the nation, ranking 10th in the percentage of students it graduates for every public dollar it receives, according to a report released today by the university.

Latin American Focused Library Collection and Institute Pilot Joint Endeavor
Aug. 31, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — The Benson Latin American Collection (BLAC) and the Lozano Long Institute for Latin American Studies (LLILAS) are joining efforts in an inventive approach to achieving common goals.

Harry Ransom Center Receiving Applications for Research Fellowships in the Humanities
Aug. 31, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — The Harry Ransom Center , a humanities research library and museum at The University of Texas at Austin, is now receiving applications for its 2012-2013 research fellowships in the humanities. The application deadline is Feb. 1, 2012. Information about the fellowships and the application process is available online.  More than 50 fellowships are awarded annually by the Ransom Center to support research projects in all areas of the humanities.

Marine Science Institute Receives $7 Million Grant to Study the Impact of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill
Aug.

Advertising in Violent Video Games Results in Poor Recall, Negative Brand Perception
Aug. 30, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Embedding advertisements in violent video games leads to lower brand recall and negative brand attitudes suggesting advertisers should think twice about including such ads in a media campaign, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. Women in particular responded negatively to ads placed in violent video games.

Online Game Offers Autistic Children the Chance to Express Emotions
Aug. 25, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Yan Zhang , assistant professor in the School of Information at The University of Texas at Austin, is creating an interactive online game to help children with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) communicate their emotions.

Cockrell School of Engineering Faculty Partner with IBM to Accelerate Real-Time Flood Prediction Technology
Aug. 23, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Researchers from The University of Texas at Austin's Cockrell School of Engineering and IBM have applied advanced analytics to river systems, weather and sensor data, to predict the Guadalupe River's behavior more than a 100 times the normal speed.

Two Renowned Cardiovascular Experts Join University’s Computational Institute
Aug.

Empowerment, Self-Defense Motivating Factors for Texas Women to Hold Concealed Handgun Licenses
Aug. 23, 2011 AUSTIN, Texas — Texas women who hold concealed handgun licenses (CHLs) are motivated to do so by feelings of empowerment and a need for self-defense, according to new research to be presented at the 106th Annual Meeting of the American Sociological Association.

Active Participation in Voluntary Organizations Declining Faster Than Checkbooks Can Keep Up
Aug.

Top Faculty Recruited to The University of Texas at Austin With $2 Million Cancer Research Grants
Aug.