catalyst

Research, Scholarship and Creative Achievement at UTSA

Contents

Mathematics and the Bilingual Brain

Mathematics and the Bilingual Brain

When bilingual children recite multiplication tables in their heads, what language are they using? What language do bilingual adults use when they are balancing their checkbooks or calculating their income taxes?

UTSA Builds Military Connections

UTSA Builds Military Connections

UTSA is improving the tools and readiness of the nation’s military might through research, education and leadership training, and by addressing the special needs of soldiers and their families.

Training Our Nation’s Next Generation of Scientists

Training Our Nation’s Next Generation of Scientists

Developing students into scientists has been the life’s work of Andrew Tsin, Director, Center for Research and Training in the Sciences

A Modern-Day Gold Rush

A Modern-Day Gold Rush

The Eagle Ford Shale is rapidly transforming the quality of life in oncedeclining rural communities in South Texas and brings the promise of a better education and better quality of life for thousands of South Texans.

DoD Funds Infection Genomics Research Center

DoD Funds Infection Genomics Research Center

The DoD award funds the creation of a Center of Excellence in Infection Genomics, which supports four areas of research to understand and develop treatments for infectious diseases, as well as an educational component meant to increase the number of students interested in working towards cures for infectious diseases.

Discovering History along the River

Discovering History along the River

Humans have lived along the San Antonio River for more than 10,000 years and are still using it today as a recreational area

Tramps Abroad: Jeanne Reesman on Mark Twain
and Jack London

“Tramps Abroad”: Jeanne Reesman on Mark Twain and Jack London

Offering some lesser-known and fascinating information on two important but controversial American writers, the article expounds on their differences and their similarities and discusses methods of humanities research as well.

Letters

John Frederick and Ricardo Romo

Welcome to the fifth edition of UTSA Discovery. Researchers at UTSA continue to seek new insights into and solutions for complex questions and problems in energy, health, security, sustainability, and human and social development. Many of the research programs address two or more of these areas, and most require multidisciplinary collaborations. In this volume, we present seven feature articles on researchers who are contributing to improving the quality of our lives now and in the future.

Our cover story (“UTSA Builds Military Connections”) focuses on the many UTSA collaborations with the military and other San Antonio institutions to work on projects in medicine, engineering and cyber security.

In “Mathematics and the Bilingual Brain,” studies of the brains of bilingual people contradict previous views that people access math concepts more efficiently in the language in which they were learned.

The various programs at UTSA designed to train students for graduate school and develop faculty and support research in the biomedical sciences are detailed in “Training Our Nation’s Next Generation of Scientists.”

UTSA has produced important studies on the impact of hydraulic fracturing on the economy, community and environment of South Texas which inform policy makers and stakeholders. “A Modern-Day Gold Rush” presents the challenges and opportunities of the Eagle Ford Shale.

“DoD Funds Infection Genomics Research Center” discusses the multidisciplinary, integrated program that facilitates research in microbial pathogenesis and uses genomics to find solutions the Department of Defense can use.

The thrill of the early history of the San Antonio area being dug up today by UTSA’s Center for Archaeological Research is described in “Discovering History along the River.” The discoveries greatly expand CAR’s understanding of how native cultures evolved under Spanish influence.

“’Tramps Abroad’” compares and contrasts iconic American authors Mark Twain and Jack London and offers information not generally known about them.

In addition to these feature articles, the Abstracts give you an overview of the breadth of programs from basic to applied and translational research. The Commercialization Corner describes innovative work which may be the next biggest stent-related innovation to be generated in San Antonio since the invention of the Palmaz stent itself. Our research expenditures at UTSA continue to expand at double-digit rates as we move toward becoming a Tier One Research University.

We hope that you will enjoy this volume of UTSA Discovery. For additional information, please visit the UTSA Research Website at http://research.utsa.edu

John Frederick,
Interim Vice President for Research

Ricardo Romo,
President