Texas Business reports:  DALLAS—SPM Communications adde Austin-based Stubb's Legendary Kitchen, makers of Stubb's barbecue sauces, rubs and marinades, to its client roster.

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—Silverback Enterprise Group, which acquires and builds enterprise software companies, acquired PowerSteering Software Inc., a provider of cloud-based enterprise project and portfolio management (PPM) software, and Tenrox Inc., a provider of cloud-based, workflow-driven project workforce management software.

Texas Business reports: AUSTIN—University of Texas at Austin researchers have demonstrated a new and more effective method for regrowing blood vessels in the heart and limbs — a research advancement that could have major implications for how health care treats heart disease, the leading cause of death in the Western world. 

Texas Business reports: NEW YORK—Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, entered into a historic new record deal with Texas musician Willie Nelson. 

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—HomeAway Inc., a provider of online vacation rentals, opened its third Austin office, which brings 235 employees from the customer service and sales teams to the Penn Field campus, located at 3601 South Congress. 

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—Insuraprise Inc., a Medicare Supplemental Insurance agency, promoted Casey Hughes, its vice president, market development to chief operating officer.

Ovidio Farias III, Jim Lee McNeil and Theresa Eilers, all of Manchaca, Texas received U.S. Patent 8,091,378 for “Hitch Mounted Keg Beverage Dispenser.”

Texas Business Patent Of The Day:  Beer kegs are something that fraternities, tailgate parties and other social events need, if not outright require.  Now three Texans have invented the portable keg for your trailer hitch. Ovidio Farias III, Jim Lee McNeil and Theresa Eilers, all of Manchaca, Texas received U.S. Patent 8,091,378 for “Hitch Mounted Keg Beverage Dispenser.”

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—There’s marketing, and then there’s marketing. Alamo Drafthouse launched a signature wine inspired by The Princess Bride in honor of the 25th anniversary of the film. 

Don Rutledge Day and Rabindranath Dutta, both of Austin, received U.S. Patent 8,112,705 for “Magnifying the Text of a Link while still Retaining Browser Function in the Magnified Display.”

Texas Business Patent Of The Day:  Two Travis County men were the ones who allow you to see what  a link is before you click.

Don Rutledge Day and Rabindranath Dutta, both of Austin, received U.S. Patent 8,112,705 for “Magnifying the Text of a Link while still Retaining Browser Function in the Magnified Display.”

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN, Texas — A systematic analysis of power usage in microprocessors could help lower the energy consumption of both small cellphones and giant data centers, report computer science professors from The University of Texas at Austin and the Australian National University.

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—Virtual Bridges Inc. appointed Iser Cukierman to the company’s executive leadership team.

Texas Business reports:   AUSTIN—Buffalo Technology, a designer, developer and manufacturer of wired and wireless networking and network and direct attached storage solutions, appointed Hajime Nakai as chief executive officer of Buffalo Technology (USA) Inc. 

James M. Guthrie and Jonathan C. Stupka, both of Austin, received U.S. Patent 8,110,729 for “Pyrolytic Carbon Components For Stringed Instruments.”

Texas Business Patent Of The Day:  Two Austin men devised better materials for a better violin sound. James M. Guthrie and Jonathan C. Stupka, both of Austin, received U.S. Patent 8,110,729 for “Pyrolytic Carbon Components For Stringed Instruments.”

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—The greater Houston area is one step closer to reduced traffic congestion for more than 2.5 million people as the Texas Department of Transportation accelerates plans for the completion of the next phase of State Highway 99, also known as the Grand Parkway.

Kieu Thi-Bich Phan of Austin received U.S. Patent 8,109,417 for “Garment Washing Device With Removable Form.”

Texas Business Patent Of The Day: A Travis County resident developed a way to wash brassieres. Kieu Thi-Bich Phan of Austin received U.S. Patent 8,109,417 for “Garment Washing Device With Removable Form.” 

Texas Business reports: IRVING—Pinnacle Propane LLC, a provider of propane and refined fuels in the southwestern United States, acquired Bill Smith Butane of Marble Falls, Texas. 

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN— AdRevolution, a provider of digital marketing software solutions, appointed Michael Perham as vice president of business development.

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—Heart Hospital of Austin opened a Heart Valve Clinic, the first of its kind in the region.

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—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.

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN, Texas––The Texas Historical Commission (THC) announced Round VII grant recipients of its nationally recognized Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.

Texas Business reports:  An Austin cargo firm is participating with 13 other American firms in an exploration of Mexico’s safety and security business.

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas plans to expand locations in the Washington D.C. metro and surrounding areas with new franchise partner Cojeaux Cinemas.

Texas Business reports:  AUSTIN—EZCOR  Inc., a provider of specialty consumer financial services, entered into a definitive agreement to acquire a 60% ownership interest in Prestaciones Finmart, S.A. de C.V., SOFOM, E.N.R. (Crediamigo), a specialty consumer finance company headquartered in Mexico City.