A UTSA-led study found that post-9/11 military veterans with traumatic brain injury (TBI) are at higher risk of chronic disease, mortality, and mental health issues compared to the general population. The study estimates excess deaths among a large cohort of veterans and highlights the need for better methods of intervening.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has established a San Antonio-based Coccidioidomycosis Collaborative Research Center (SA-CCRC) focused on developing therapeutics and vaccines against coccidioidomycosis. The center will support applied clinical research and house an extended network of experts from partnering institutions.
A recent study found a significant increase in maternal deaths in the US, with drug and alcohol poisoning and homicides being major contributors. The mortality rate for all causes increased by 4.4% per year from 2015-2019.
A new study by a criminology professor reveals an uptick in homicides and threats of gun violence since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Victim advocates reported increased frequency of gun-related abuse, with nearly half stating threats became more frequent during this time.
The UTSA Brain Health Consortium will study genetic brain disorders using transgenic marmosets, which could impact treating or eliminating neurological diseases such as epilepsy and Alzheimer’s disease. The team aims to develop novel methods for producing sperm with genetic changes that can be used to study human brain disease.
The UTSA-Glasgow model analyzed nearly 100 American cities to understand the relationship between city design and traffic congestion. It found that high-intensity urban land use and polycentric city shapes are associated with higher levels of congestion, supporting the long-held belief that traffic congestion is tied to urbanization.
A UTSA researcher has developed a theory behind the record-setting experiment, which demonstrates the most accurate entangling gate without lasers. This achievement enables more cost-effective and easier-to-use quantum computers, with potential applications in fields such as science, engineering, and finance.
The University of Texas at San Antonio's Center for Innovative Drug Discovery (CIDD) has received a $3.2 million grant to develop strategies targeting cancer-related proteins considered 'undruggable'. The Proteolysis-Targeting Chimeras (PROTAC) platform aims to promote degradation of targeted cancer proteins and kill cancer cells.
Lindsey Macpherson, a UTSA neuroscientist, has received a $450,000 award to research ways to restore the sense of taste in chemotherapy patients. Her team will study mice and potentially partner with dental schools to translate findings into human treatments.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has secured $5 million to improve college attainment among middle and high school students in targeted schools. The project aims to address financial limitation, limited advising, and lack of understanding about college, with a focus on empowering underrepresented students.
A new NSF-funded project will focus on developing data-driven methods and algorithms to make cyberinfrastructure more resilient against ransomware attacks. The goal is to provide actionable cyber threat intelligence to mitigate this debilitating threat.
Researchers from UTSA, UCF, AFRL, and SRI International have developed a new method that improves how artificial intelligence learns to see. By adding noise to multiple layers of a neural network, the team creates more robust representations of images recognized by AI, leading to better explanations for AI decisions.
A recent study published in Social Influence found that when people are explicitly told they are free to accept or reject propagandistic claims, their likelihood of choosing a moderate view increases. This approach, based on self-determination theory and psychological reactance theory, aims to disrupt the radicalization process among v...
Shattuck finds that innate social distancing can prevent infection spread within social groups, echoing public health directives. His research explores the biological and cultural factors influencing human behavior during illness.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has been awarded a $1.2 million grant from CISA to develop a system for identifying and prioritizing high-value assets in state, local, tribal, and territorial governments. The two-year pilot program aims to enhance the protection of critical infrastructure against cyber threats.
The University of Texas at San Antonio received a $10 million technology grant from Dell Technologies to support advanced research infrastructure and attract top talent. The partnership will enable UTSA to invest in hybrid cloud solutions, high-performance computing systems, and storage for big data workloads.
The University of Texas at San Antonio has been awarded a three-year, $5 million grant from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation to develop a transformative community-based project advancing racial justice. Through the Democratizing Racial Justice initiative, selected fellows and faculty will collaborate on public-facing projects, facilitat...
The University of Texas at San Antonio's MATRIX AI Consortium has received over $1 million in research funding to develop novel brain-inspired lifelong learning algorithms. Inspired by the honeybee brain, these algorithms aim to close the performance gap between modern AI systems and biological systems.
The UTSA Institute for Economic Development is hosting the Texas Retail Academy to educate city leaders on retail and business recruitment, real estate, and small business support. Six communities in Texas have been selected to participate in the program, which aims to boost retail and small business growth.
Researchers found parental job loss during the pandemic increases risk for psychological and physical abuse towards children. However, positive coping strategies mitigate this risk, even among families experiencing job loss.
A UTSA researcher studied drug overdose mortality among US Hispanics from 2000-2017, finding lower rates overall but higher rates for people of Puerto Rican heritage born in Puerto Rico. The study emphasizes the need for culturally-tailored services in Spanish to address these groups' needs.
A team of UTSA researchers discovered long-range parvalbumin-expression neurons from the cortex to the striatum in mouse brains, challenging the exclusive local organization of cortical circuit neurons. This finding could lead to new treatments for epilepsy, PTSD, schizophrenia, and other mental conditions involving GABAergic neurons.
The University of Texas at San Antonio's Bexar County Fostering Educational Success Housing First Project aims to address critical housing needs of at least 25 students pursuing college degrees each year. The program provides rental assistance, wrap-around support, and educational resources for 12-24 months to support degree completion.
GingerVR, an open-source Unity tool kit, tackles cybersickness in VR and AR environments. Researchers found that the software implements eight reduction techniques to address individual differences in user symptoms.
A computer science researcher has developed an algorithm called Orchestra that reduces spikes in resource demands in cloud computing, allowing companies to maintain smooth operations despite increased work-from-home usage. The solution uses lightweight monitoring and performance-based models to adjust cloud resources in real-time.
Researchers studied 45 female colobus monkeys in Ghana to understand the impact of social groupings and distance on their gut microbiomes. They found that individuals from different groups with closer social connections had more similar gut microbiomes, suggesting microbes can be transmitted during occasional encounters.
Assistant Professor Dr. Murtuza Jadliwala is developing a new approach to protect against uncoordinated sensing and actuation in modern ubiquitous environments. His project aims to provide holistic privacy protection by efficiently sharing sensitive user-contexts across diverse devices and applications.
A study by UTSA researchers found a significant link between cultural values and how individuals express illness. Participants who identified as stoics or had lower household incomes were more likely to claim being sick. The study's findings have implications for understanding sickness behavior and its relationship with social norms.
The researcher will employ real-world materials to study the effect of surface roughness on dynamic behavior of hypersonic shock-wave interactions in a Mach 7 Ludwieg Tube facility. The goal is to aid in the design of next-generation Air Force flight systems, overcoming technical challenges such as extreme heat and pressure loads.
Researchers at UTSA found that AR programs are best delivered using controller commands, followed by programs that communicate with age-specific language. This approach resulted in reduced time and error among elementary school students. The study aims to improve immersive learning tools for classrooms.
A study reveals that pair living played a key role in the evolution of social systems in primates, serving as a stepping stone for group living. The research analyzed genetic data and behavioral observations of 362 primate species, finding that pair living was crucial for transitions among different forms of social complexity.
E-scooters pose significant safety concerns, but new research highlights additional security and privacy risks including data breaches and spoofed GPS systems. The study identifies vulnerable points in the ride-sharing ecosystem that can be exploited by malicious actors.
Biomaterials Science and Engineering Fellow Anson Ong recognized for outstanding contributions to biomaterials research, education, and service. His primary focus areas include implant surface modifications and tissue-engineered bioceramic scaffolds.
Researchers at the University of Texas at San Antonio have developed a revolutionary nanodisk technology that uses magnetic fields to modulate brain cell functionality. This innovation has the potential to restore quality of life for individuals affected by Lou Gehrig's disease and other motor neuron disorders.
Researchers at UTSA are developing new methods to synthesize organosulfur compounds, which are widely used in pharmaceuticals. The goal is to improve the accuracy and speed of these synthesis processes, leading to more effective medicines and potentially advancing functional materials.
The UTSA program is a cross-disciplinary collaboration to prepare students for careers in nuclear security, utilizing experimental and computational technologies. The project will support diverse students with strong backgrounds in nuclear science and technology, providing opportunities for research and career advancement.
Researchers at UTSA are reexamining bone mineral density and proteoglycans to improve fracture risk assessments. Studies show that BMD captures only 50-60% of actual bone fragility fractures, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive approach.
A new study by UTSA researchers reveals that popular smart light brands have significant security holes, including infrared capabilities that can be exploited by hackers. The study warns that smart bulbs could become a prime target for hackers, posing a risk to consumers' personal information.
The UTSA/NIH program aims to increase diversity in the biomedical sciences by training underrepresented students in research skills and experience. High-achieving freshmen from South Texas high schools will be recruited for a five-year grant-funded program.
A new study reveals that youth who experience intrusive police stops are at risk of heightened emotional distress, social stigma, and post-traumatic stress. The research found that frequent stops were associated with increased emotional trauma and negative reactions.
A recent study reveals that nearly half of routes analyzed exceeded an individual's annual mobility carbon budget, with direct routes generally producing lower emissions. The researchers suggest selecting nonstop routes whenever possible to mitigate carbon footprint.
A UTSA professor received a $350K NSF grant to develop survey scales for measuring STEM social capital among students. This research aims to understand the role of social networks and resources in promoting positive student outcomes in STEM.
Researchers at UTSA will develop a solar tracking system to optimize solar energy collection and regulate energy flow between indoor and outdoor environments. They will also work on a prototype of a clean energy technology for steam turbines using supercritical carbon dioxide, aiming to increase efficiency and reduce water usage.
The Building a Healthy Temple Cancer Prevention Program is expanding to 30 churches in San Antonio and the Rio Grande Valley to educate and support at-risk individuals with faith-based health programming. The program aims to reduce cancer risks through good nutrition, physical activity, and healthy lifestyle habits.
Researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio aim to improve the design of AM parts that are less susceptible to hydrogen embrittlement. They will study the effects of high pressures, elevated temperatures, and hydrogen atoms on the nickel-718 alloy material.
Researchers at UTSA are developing indestructible cells that can dissipate energy during earthquakes without deforming or requiring repairs. The new architectural materials could reduce structural steel costs, be lightweight, and absorb high levels of energy.
The University of Texas at San Antonio will develop a new interdisciplinary Center for Advanced Measurements in Extreme Environments (CAMEE) with a $3 million NASA grant. CAMEE will investigate extreme conditions such as ocean and polar warming, and study hypersonic speeds.
A new grant-funded database is being used to track educator misconduct in Texas, providing empirical data on the issue. Researchers found that female educators make up 25% of offenders, and 36% of sanctioned teachers were in their first year of teaching.
Researchers at UTSA have successfully removed new neurons that developed after a brain injury to reduce seizures in mice. The study found a 65% reduction in seizures, but the effect was not permanent and may be due to underlying factors such as chronic inflammation or reactive astrocytes.
Galahad uses role-based isolation, real-time sensing, and machine learning to detect malicious activity in cloud workloads. The system provides a secure platform for users to host applications without relying on specialized AWS services.