HOUSTON, Texas, May 27 -- The Baylor College of Medicine issued the following news release: You have often heard "You are what you eat," but according to research from Baylor College of Medicine, the new phrase could be "You are what you are exposed to." New research shows that, in animal models, the liver epigenome is permanently changed when exposed to certain chemicals in the environment early in life when the liver is developing, making the organism more vulnerable to diet-triggered metabol  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 28 -- The Baylor College of Medicine issued the following news release: Researchers at Baylor College of Medicine are conducting a study to examine the symptomatic characteristics of misophonia and anxiety in children and adolescents. Misophonia is a condition in which exposure to certain noises, such as others' breathing, chewing, and speech cause significant distress, such as anger, anxiety or disgust. "Misophonia can be debilitating for many people, yet little is known a  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 18 -- The Baylor College of Medicine issued the following news release: As healthcare systems handle the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, the risk of misdiagnosing a patient increases. Health safety experts at Baylor College of Medicine and Press Ganey Associates LLC in Boston identify eight types of diagnostic errors anticipated due to the pandemic and highlight strategies to minimize them. Their report was published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine (https  more

WACO, Texas, May 30 -- Baylor University issued the following news: As private rocket company SpaceX readies for the scheduled launch to the International Space Station on Saturday or Sunday -- the first space crew launch from America in nearly a decade -- Baylor University planetary geophysicist Peter James, Ph.D., says that private companies not only have lowered the cost of space exploration but also may speed it along. James, founder of Baylor University's Planetary Research Group and assi  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 28 -- ConocoPhillips, a producer of oil and gas resources, issued the following news release: ConocoPhillips (NYSE: COP) announced the completion of the sale of its subsidiaries that hold its Australia-West assets and operations to Santos. The total consideration for the sale is unchanged; however, in connection with the closing, ConocoPhillips and Santos agreed to restructure the payments such that $125 million of the originally announced $1.39 billion upfront cash payment   more

ABILENE, Texas, May 29 -- Hardin-Simmons University issued the following news: After an internal search that identified four strong candidates, Hardin-Simmons University is pleased to name Dr. Robert Tucker as the new dean for the Kelley College of Business and Professional Studies. After an internal search that identified four strong candidates, Hardin-Simmons University is pleased to name Dr. Robert Tucker as the new dean for the Kelley College of Business and Professional Studies. Dr. Tucke  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release on May 26: In a first-time disclosure of IPN60090, a small-molecule inhibitor of the metabolic enzyme glutaminase (GLS1), researchers from The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center's Therapeutics Discovery division and Ipsen Biopharmaceuticals reported the preclinical discovery and early-stage clinical development of this novel drug. IPN60090, now under investigation in a Phas  more

CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts, May 27 -- The Massachusetts Institute of Technology issued the following news: MIT researchers have discovered a phenomenon that could be harnessed to control the movement of tiny particles floating in suspension. This approach, which requires simply applying an external electric field, may ultimately lead to new ways of performing certain industrial or medical processes that require separation of tiny suspended materials. The findings are based on an electrokinetic v  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio issued the following news release: San Antonio patients with severe COVID-19 lung disease contributed to an international study published May 22 in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study outlined preliminary results of the recent Adaptive Covid-19 Treatment Trial, conducted partly in San Antonio, testing a new anti-viral drug called remdesivir. Thomas Patterson, M.D., is principal investigator of  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 29 -- Rice University issued the following news release: To the quantum materials in her lab, Rice University experimental physicist Ming Yi is a real pest. She pokes them with beams of light, provoking them in a way she knows they can't ignore, and then she records the whole thing and shares it with everybody. They don't know the half of it. Yi's lab and others at Rice are temporarily closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but she's preparing to pester quantum materials in   more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 27 -- Rice University issued the following news release: The Rice University COVID-19 Research Fund Oversight and Review Committee has awarded nine final grants to faculty working to mitigate the effects of the new coronavirus. Researchers at Rice, some with collaborators at other institutions, will study social, political, psychological and epidemiological aspects of COVID-19, as well as the development of genetic tools, a new ventilator design, a method to efficiently sch  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 27 -- Rice University issued the following news release: Beneath the ocean's surface, a virus is hijacking the metabolism of the most abundant organism on Earth. That may be of interest to those of us above who breathe. Rice University scientists analyzed the role of ferredoxin proteins produced when phages alter the ability of Prochlorococcus marinus to store carbon and counter the greenhouse gas effect arising from fossil fuel consumption. P. marinus is a photosynthetic   more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio issued the following news release: Cancer patients who get COVID-19 have a 13% risk of dying, more than double the rate for all patients with COVID-19 combined. The information is included in the first report by the new, international COVID-19 and Cancer Consortium (CCC-19). Three faculty members from the Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, are authors of the data analysis invo  more

CHICAGO, Illinois, May 27 -- Roosevelt University issued the following news: In a new study, Roosevelt University professor Dr. Steve Migacz and Texas A&M professor Dr. Angela Durko outline how the coronavirus pandemic has affected travel plans across the nation. Migacz teaches hospitality and tourism management at Roosevelt University, where his research focuses on service recovery -- what firms in the service industry do when a customer transaction goes poorly. Through the project, he and Du  more

HUNTSVILLE, Texas, May 29 -- Sam Houston State University issued the following news: Douglas Constance, professor of sociology, has been selected to receive the prestigious 2020 AFHVS Richard P. Haynes Lifetime Achievement Award in Sustainable Agriculture for his extraordinary accomplishments in research, teaching and service. Constance's long record as director of undergraduate studies in the sociology department at Sam Houston State University where he oversees curriculum development, mentor  more

NACOGDOCHES, Texas, May 28 -- Stephen F. Austin State University issued the following news release: Every year, seniors in Stephen F. Austin State University's interior design program take their final projects on the road to major Texas cities to receive feedback and obtain job leads. Their travel was canceled this year because of COVID-19. Like other designers around the country, the students decided to move their work online to showcase how they create beautiful spaces while focusing on saf  more

NACOGDOCHES, Texas, May 27 -- Stephen F. Austin State University issued the following news release: As students across the nation adjust to the altered academic landscape, students at Stephen F. Austin State University are preparing to attend a virtual commencement May 30, which is designed to celebrate their achievements in spite of the challenges faced this semester due to the impact of COVID-19. Through a series of videos, students will have access to the commencement address by SFA alumnus  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 27 -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio issued the following news release: New mothers who have returned to using opioids or have died of an overdose often have a troubled past going back to their childhood. The death of a parent, abuse by a trusted individual, the routine use of drugs in the home or problems with relationships later as an adult are some of the many contributing factors leading to opioid-related deaths in mothers. The findings  more

STEPHENVILLE, Texas, May 28 -- Tarleton State University issued the following news release: Starting with the 2020-21 school year, Tarleton State University will provide annual scholarships and guaranteed admission to the top 25 percent of the Lingleville High School graduating class. The Lingleville Independent School District and Tarleton leaders finalized the agreement virtually in April. As part of the program, called the Distinguished High School Partnership, Tarleton will waive ACT (Ame  more

STEPHENVILLE, Texas, May 22 -- Tarleton State University issued the following news release: The Valley Mills Independent School District and Tarleton State University agreed Wednesday to a partnership to aid VMISD seniors in getting their college educations. The Valley Mills ISD Board of Trustees and Tarleton leaders finalized an arrangement offering guaranteed admission and annual scholarships for the top 25 percent of the district's high school graduates beginning with the 2020-21 academic y  more

STEPHENVILLE, Texas, May 29 -- Tarleton State University issued the following news release on May 28: Tarleton State University biological sciences major Shady Kuster received the Bobby Baker Award for her presentation at the 2020 Texas Society of Mammologists Conference. She competed at the spring conference with other undergraduate students. The award is given annually for the best undergraduate oral presentation in mammalian molecular biology, evolution or systematics. For several months pr  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 27 -- Texas A&M University issued the following news release: Texas A&M University Provost and Executive Vice President Carol A. Fierke has announced the appointment of Dr. John August as interim dean of the College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences. August will serve as special assistant to the provost throug June, then will assume the interim dean position July 1 until the university finalizes the search for a permanent dean. August joined Texas A&M as  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 30 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: If you're familiar with Iron Man's arc reactor or the Tesseract in Marvel movies, you may recognize the eerie blue light emitted by these fictional energy sources. Popular culture and science fiction have taught us that advanced nuclear gadgets tend to release an intense blue or green light. While this certainly helps establish the other-worldly aesthetic that pervades science fiction, you  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 30 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: Scientists in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University are developing new ways to advance the field of regenerative medicine and cancer treatment. They are developing a 2D nanosheet that is 1,000 times smaller than a strand of hair. Dr. Akhilesh Gaharwar, associate professor, has developed a new class of 2D nanosheets called molybdenum disulfide that can adsorb nea  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 27 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: Dr. N.K. Anand, executive associate dean in the Texas A&M University College of Engineering, was awarded the American Society of Mechanical Engineers' (ASME) James Harry Potter Gold Medal. The formal presentation of the award will take place during the ASME 2020 Power Conference in August. Anand, who is also associate director of the Texas A&M Engineering Experiment Station (TEES), a Rege  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 28 -- Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences issued the following news release: A recent study by Dr. Gus Cothran, professor emeritus at the Texas A&M School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (CVM), has found that the Cleveland Bay (CB) horse breed has the third-lowest genetic variation level of domestic horses, ranking above only the notoriously inbred Friesian and Clydesdale breeds. This lack of genetic diversity pu  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 30 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: Dr. Jodie Lutkenhaus, Axalta Coating Systems Chair, holder of the William and Ruth Neely Faculty Fellowship and professor in the Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering at Texas A&M University, has been appointed to serve a three-year term on the Board on Chemical Sciences and Technology (BCST) of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. The BCST acts as an   more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 28 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: Two doctoral students in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University won prestigious graduate fellowships this spring. Rebeca Gurrola received a National Science Foundation graduate research fellowship, while Ciera Cipriani won a NASA space technology graduate research fellowship. Gurrola will work with materials science and engineering assistant professor   more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 27 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: The French Society of Nuclear Energy was founded to support the French nuclear industry and research programs. As part of their effort to support and recognize nuclear scientists, the society awards the Jean Burgois Prizes every year to the best Ph.D.s in fields related to nuclear energy. Visiting assistant professor Dr. Mauricio E. Tano was the recipient of one of these awards in 2019. T  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 30 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: A Texas A&M University team of scientists and engineers is leading the development of a device that can be used to rapidly identify antibodies produced by human B cells that can neutralize infection by SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. As we all see from the unfolding COVID-19 pandemic, when a new viral threat emerges, there are neither therapeutics nor vaccines available. Deve  more

COLLEGE STATION, Texas, May 28 -- Texas A&M University's College of Engineering issued the following news: With technology always evolving, health care has to adapt as well, using telehealth to reach patients who cannot easily travel to a physical clinic or hospital. A senior capstone design team in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University developed a new phone app to help diagnosis neurological issues. "Our application is sort of a first test to see how your vision is  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 27 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott issued a proclamation expanding additional services and activities that can open under Phase II of the state's plan to safely and strategically open. With this proclamation, water parks, recreational sport programs for adults, driver education programs, and food-court dining areas within shopping malls can begin operations with limited occupancy or regulations to protect the health and sa  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 28 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following statement on the death of former Texas Congressman Sam Johnson: "Sam Johnson was a fearless patriot and an American hero, and we are incredibly proud and fortunate to have called him a fellow Texan. Congressman Johnson dedicated his life to our nation and the state of Texas. He bravely served as a fighter pilot in the Korean and Vietnam Wars, and his profound sacrifice is something Texans will never forget. "As a congres  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 28 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott held a press conference to provide an update on the COVID-19 surge response efforts in Amarillo. The Governor discussed the state's ongoing collaboration with local and federal leaders to address COVID-19 hot spots within the Amarillo area, and outlined the data on hospitalizations, testing, fatalities, and positivity rates that demonstrate the success of the surge response teams in conta  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 28 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott requested a disaster designation from the Small Business Administration (SBA) in order to access the disaster loan program for Polk County. If granted, the SBA would provide long-term, low-interest physical disaster home and business loans and economic injury disaster loans for qualifying citizens and businesses in Polk County affected by major tornado damage sustained in April 2020.   more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 28 -- Gov. Greg Abbott, R-Texas, issued the following news release: Governor Greg Abbott and the Texas Health and Human Services Commission (HHSC) announced $3.6 million in funding for nursing facilities to purchase tablets, webcams, and headphones to connect residents with their loved ones during the COVID-19 pandemic. Texas is encouraging nursing facility providers to submit applications to HHSC to receive up to $3,000 in federal funding per facility for purchasing communic  more

VICTORIA, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Houston Victoria campus issued the following news release: Area residents interested in continuing or starting a college education can take advantage of reduced students fees being offered this summer for online undergraduate and graduate courses at the University of Houston-Victoria. "The COVID-19 pandemic has brought challenges to us all, and we are committed to doing everything we can to support our students during this time," UHV President Bob G  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 27 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Traffic congestion is a serious problem in the United States, but a new analysis shows that interactive technology - ranging from 511 traffic information systems and roadside cameras to traffic apps like Waze and Google Maps - is helping in cities that use it. Potentially, the researchers said, technology could limit the need to widen and expand roadways while saving commuters time and money and lessening en  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 28 -- The University of Houston issued the following news release: Shrimp, lobsters and mushrooms may not seem like great tools for the battlefield, but three engineers from the University of Houston are using chitin - a derivative of glucose found in the cellular walls of arthropods and fungi - and 3D printing techniques to produce high-impact multilayered coatings that can protect soldiers against bullets, lasers, toxic gas and other dangers. Although corn is better known  more

RICHARDSON, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas Dallas campus issued the following news release: Now that she has earned a master's degree in systems engineering and management from The University of Texas at Dallas, Elizabeth Labra BS'19, MS'20 is ready to begin her next mission: as a project engineer for a company that supports flight operations for NASA's Johnson Space Center. "I will be working on mission systems, including at Mission Control Center," Labra said. She will work for KBR  more

RICHARDSON, Texas, May 26 -- The University of Texas Dallas campus issued the following news release: To contribute to the public battle with COVID-19, University of Texas at Dallas faculty, staff and students have built websites that track current coronavirus health data and model future scenarios. Researchers from the School of Arts, Technology, and Emerging Communication (ATEC), the School of Economics, Political and Policy Sciences (EPPS), the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Compute  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release: A combination therapy of ivosenidib (IVO) plus venetoclax (VEN) with or without azacitidine (AZA) was found to be effective against a specific genetic subtype of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in a Phase Ib/II trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center. The results of this trial may support a novel course of action for patients with AML harboring an I  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release on May 28: In an international trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, treatment with MK-6482, the small molecule inhibitor of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-2a was well tolerated and resulted in clinical responses for patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease (VHL)-associated renal cell carcinoma (RCC). The results of the Phase II trial were shar  more

HOUSTON, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas's MD Anderson Cancer Center issued the following news release on May 26: New data from the Phase III EMBRACA trial led by researchers at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center found the PARP inhibitor talazoparib did not demonstrate a statistically significant overall survival (OS) benefit for patients with metastatic HER2-negative breast cancer and mutations in the BRCA1/2 genes. Most patients included in the study went on to receive  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas issued the following news release: If it weren't for leaky city pipes and irrigation runoff, it's possible far less water would be flowing through popular Austin swimming holes. A recent study led by The University of Texas at Austin has found that in urbanized areas, much of the water that flows through Bull Creek -- which feeds Bull Creek District Park and St. Edward's Park swimming holes -- can be traced back to municipal sources such as spri  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio issued the following news release: A cancer therapy may shrink the tumor of a patient, and the patient may feel better. But unseen on a CT scan or MR image, some of the cells are undergoing ominous changes. Fueled by new genetic changes due to cancer therapy itself, these rogue cells are becoming very large with twice or quadruple the number of chromosomes found in healthy cells. Some of the cells may gro  more

SAN ANTONIO, Texas, May 29 -- The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio issued the following news release: Studies have shown that individuals with cancer who get COVID-19 are more than twice as likely to have poor outcomes. And with everyone staying home during the pandemic, many people have missed their regular cancer screenings. Because it is much easier to treat cancer when it is in its earliest stages, the Mays Cancer Center, home to UT Health San Antonio MD Anderson, i  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 27 -- The University of Texas issued the following news release: The 5G revolution has begun, and the first lines of phones that can access the next generation of wireless speeds have already hit the shelves. Researchers at The University of Texas at Austin and the University of Lille in France have built a new component that will more efficiently allow access to the highest 5G frequencies in a way that increases devices' battery life and speeds up how quickly we can do thing  more

AUSTIN, Texas, May 28 -- The University of Texas issued the following news release: A 425-million-year-old millipede fossil from the Scottish island of Kerrera is the world's oldest "bug" -- older than any known fossil of an insect, arachnid or other related creepy-crawly, according to researchers at The University of Texas at Austin. The findings offer new evidence about the origin and evolution of bugs and plants, suggesting that they evolved much more rapidly than some scientists believe, g  more

DENTON, Texas, May 28 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: Habitat loss, pesticide use and climate change have led to declining pollinator populations around the world, but University of North Texas faculty, staff and students are working together to ensure these animals have what they need to help the environment thrive. The efforts to engage the campus in enhancing pollinator habitat and promoting pollinator conservation education have earned UNT a renewal of   more

DENTON, Texas, May 30 -- The University of North Texas issued the following news release: The ability to analyze data and translate it into useful insights and solutions for everything from saving the bees to navigating the new post-coronavirus world is in high demand. According to "Forbes" magazine, very few people have the skills needed to understand and analyze data effectively despite data analytics being one of the most important tools for any company. To address the demand, the Universit  more

RICHLAND, Washington, May 28 -- Washington State University's Tri-Cities Campus issued the following news release: Washington State University Tri-Cities education faculty are part of a new, $2.85 million National Science Foundation grant to develop curriculum and hands-on projects with local high schools that use geospatial technologies to improve STEM literacy and access to the STEM workforce. The four-year project is a collaboration between WSU, Lehigh University and Texas Christian Universi  more

MORGANTOWN, West Virginia, May 30 -- West Virginia University issued the following story: With more than a decade of experience as a secondary music educator, Cheldon Williams has been named the associate director of bands at West Virginia University. Williams will become the 13th director of the Pride of West Virginia Mountaineer Marching Band, effective Aug.1. He will follow Stephen Lytle, who resigned from the position on May 1. Williams comes to WVU from The University of Texas at Austi  more