Daily Business Report: Friday, March 3, 2023
Coastal water pollution transfers to the air
in sea spray aerosol and reaches people on land
Scientists find bacteria, chemical compounds from coastal
water pollution in sea spray aerosol along Imperial Beach
By Robert Monroe
New research led by Scripps Institution of Oceanography has confirmed that coastal water pollution transfers to the atmosphere in sea spray aerosol, which can reach people beyond just beachgoers, surfers, and swimmers.
Rainfall in the US-Mexico border region causes complications for wastewater treatment and results in untreated sewage being diverted into the Tijuana River and flowing into the ocean in south Imperial Beach. This input of contaminated water has caused chronic coastal water pollution in Imperial Beach for decades. New research shows that sewage-polluted coastal waters transfer to the atmosphere in sea spray aerosol formed by breaking waves and bursting bubbles. Sea spray aerosol contains bacteria, viruses, and chemical compounds from the seawater.
The researchers report their findings March 2 in the journal Environmental Science & Technology. The study appears in the midst of a winter in which an estimated 13 billion gallons of sewage-polluted waters have entered the ocean via the Tijuana River since Dec. 28, 2022, according to lead researcher Kim Prather, a Distinguished Chair in Atmospheric Chemistry, and Distinguished Professor at Scripps Oceanography and UC San Diego’s Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.
Top photo: Polluted waters off Imperial Beach. (Photo: WILDCOAST)
Carlsbad’s Viasat gets the green light
for proposed $7 billion Inmarsat deal
Carlsbad satellite Internet provider Viasat cleared a hurdle in its proposed $7 billion acquisition of London-based Inmarsat on Wednesday when a British antitrust regulator found the deal would not harm competition in the in-flight Wi-Fi market.
The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority, or CMA, provisionally ruled that the combined company faced increasing challenges from new players in space, led by SpaceX’s Starlink. Therefore, the deal would not lessen competition.
The decision comes after the CMA initiated a deeper antitrust review in October over fears that the combined company would be too dominant in providing in-flight Wi-Fi to commercial airlines.
Illumina, Myriad Genetics expand partnership
Illumina and Myriad Genetics said on Thursday that they have expanded their strategic partnership on homologous recombination deficiency (HRD) testing. Under the terms of the agreement, Illumina’s TruSight Oncology 500 HRD research-use-only assay will now be available in the U.S. Illumina will offer distributable kits while Myriad will offer a centralized laboratory service.
The firms have also created a companion diagnostic alliance for the pharmaceutical industry to help pursue regulatory approvals for both the MyChoice HRD assay companion diagnostic and a future clinical in vitro diagnostic test based on the TSO 500 HRD assay. Under this strategic alliance, Illumina and Myriad will seek joint HRD companion diagnostic partnerships with pharmaceutical companies worldwide, excluding Japan.
Financial and other terms of the deal were not disclosed.
$10 million grant funds Scripps
Research Alcohol Research Center
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has awarded scientists at Scripps Research a $10 million grant to study the cellular and molecular changes in the brain that underlie alcohol use disorder (AUD).
The grant will fund the Scripps Research Alcohol Research Center for five years, carrying the research into its 50th year of consecutive NIAAA funding — first beginning in 1977.
“A lot of exciting things have happened in the AUD field over the last 45 years, and the center has been at the forefront of many of them,” says TSRI-ARC Director Barbara Mason,
the Pearson Family chair and director of the Pearson Center For Alcoholism and Addiction Research at Scripps Research.
“But there is a lot of work still to be done, so it is incredibly gratifying to receive more funding that extends the lifetime of this grant to 50 years.
We’re bringing together an unusually wide-ranging group of experts to bear on understanding alcohol use disorder and the challenge of treating it.”
American Lithium Energy Corporation receives
$13.2 million from California Energy Commission
Carlsbad-based American Lithium Energy Corporation (ALE), a leading developer of sustainable energy solutions, specializing in the production of lithium batteries, been awarded two grants totaling $13.2 million from the California Energy Commission. ALE will receive $10.2 million in funding from the Zero-Emissions Transportation Manufacturing program and an expected $3 million from the California Energy Commission Realizing Accelerated Manufacturing and Production in April 2023. ALE will use this funding to expand its U.S.-based manufacturing production capabilities in Carlsbad, significantly grow its team in California, and increase use of U.S. and California-based raw materials and equipment supplies, in order to further its mission of developing sustainable energy solutions that promote the widespread adoption of zero-emissions transportation.
Chip makers looking to get billions
in federal subsidies must now provide
employer-sponsored child care to their workforce
This week, the U.S. Dept. of Commerce announced that semiconductor manufacturers seeking to receive nearly $40 billion in new federal subsidies will need to provide access to affordable, high-quality child care for workers who build or operate new plants. TOOTRiS, the nation’s largest child care benefit service for employers, has been partnering with manufacturers nationwide to ensure their workforce has access to a comprehensive, turn-key solution.
Last July, a bipartisan group of lawmakers passed the CHIPS Act, devoting $39 billion to directly boost U.S. semiconductor factories in hopes of making the U.S. less dependent on foreign suppliers for semiconductor chips. Chips are an essential component of electronic devices used in computing, healthcare, military systems, cars, video games, phones, and numerous other applications.
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told the New York Times that these new child care requirements should help companies by making it easier for them to attract and retain parents, especially women, who represent the manufacturing industry’s largest untapped pool of talent. “You will not be successful unless you find a way to attract, train, put to work and retain women, and you won’t do that without child care,” said Raimondo. While they’re 47.5 percent of the U.S. workforce, less than one-third of women work in manufacturing.
Smartville awarded $5.9 million for low-cost,
scalable second-life battery project
SAN DIEGO — Smartville, a leading developer of reliable second-life energy storage systems, was awarded $5.9 million from the U.S. Department of Energy to breathe new life into batteries from retired electric vehicles (EV) via its MOAB energy storage systems. The grant, part of a $75 million funding package through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, awards a total of 10 projects that advance technologies and processes supporting EV battery recycling and reuse efforts across the country.
Fit Athletic Club opens private location
in 3Roots master-planned community
SAN DIEGO — Fit Athletic Club, San Diego’s award-winning fitness club and lifestyle brand, announced the opening of its first private location situated within the newly developed Sorrento Mesa masterplan community 3Roots. The upscale Fit & Rec Center features state-of-the-art workout equipment, a variety of group exercise classes, expert personal trainers, café, nutrition programs, social events and more. 3Roots is located at 9255 Camino Santa Fe, San Diego, CA 92126. For more information, visit live3roots.com/wellness/fit-rec-center
Nuffer, Smith, Tucker announces
‘Make Things Better’ charitable initiative
SAN DIEGO — Committed to making a positive impact in the communities in which it operates, Nuffer, Smith, Tucker (NST) is announcing company-wide charitable initiative — dubbed Make Things Better — and its 2023 philanthropic cause: literacy. The Make Things Better initiative will follow a three-pronged approach: an umbrella program designed to live the company’s purpose; annual plans that allow the agency to support causes the team deems important; and backing for individual team members to support causes that matter to them. The 2023 philanthropic focus was chosen by NST employees who were asked to provide ideas on causes that resonate with them and align with NST’s mission, purpose and values.
Encinitas Tech-y Tutors event will help older adults
ENCINITAS — The City of Encinitas Senior Citizen Commission in partnership with the Encinitas Youth Commission will host a free Encinitas Tech-y Tutors event on Saturday, March 11, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Encinitas Community & Senior Center, 1140 Oakcrest Park Drive, Encinitas. The event is designed for older adults who need help learning how to get the most out of their phone, tablet, or laptop. Bring your charged device.
Older adults will receive free and friendly assistance from local teen volunteers, with tasks such as attaching photos to text messages, managing contact lists, adding events to calendars, handling spam emails, and more.
General Atomics sets new collaboration
agreement with Leidos in Australia
SAN DIEGO — General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc. (GA-ASI) and Leidos have agreed to continue the successful business relationship previously held between GA-ASI and Cobham Australia. With Leidos’ acquisition of the Cobham Special Mission business in October 2022, Leidos has now assumed the role of GA-ASI’s primary Australian industry collaborator for defence and security business. The arrangement will support discussions relating to a Defence Armed Remotely Piloted Aircraft System, and the Australian Border Force future crewed/uncrewed aircraft system under the Civil Maritime Capability Program.
Rakuten Medical to host
Research & Development Day
SAN DIEGO — Rakuten Medical Inc., a global biotechnology company developing precision, cell-targeting therapies based on its proprietary photoimmunotherapy technology Alluminox platform, will host a Research & Development Day on Thursday, March 16, 2023 from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. This virtually held event will showcase the possibilities of Rakuten Medical’s oncology technology and its lead investigational compound ASP-1929 for investors. The event will feature David M. Cognetti, M.D., in Thomas Jefferson University and Sidney Kimmel Cancer Center who will discuss the development of ASP-1929 in the United States.
Point Loma Nazarene University selects
YuJa Panorama for digital accessibility
SAN DIEGO — Point Loma Nazarene University (PLNU) has selected YuJa Panorama for digital accessibility to help deliver accessible course content to its more than 4,600 students across several campuses throughout San Diego County and Bakersfield, California. YuJa Panorama is a digital accessibility tool that automatically improves the accessibility of digital media and course content. YuJa Panorama also integrates directly into Canvas, the institution’s learning management system.
Jack Burns promoted to partner at
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton
Sheppard, Mullin, Richter & Hampton LLP has promoted attorney Jack Burns to partner in its San Diego office. Burns is a member of the Business Trial practice group and Healthcare industry team. He focuses on complex health care litigation involving a wide range of health care issues, including regulatory, reimbursement, privacy, fraud and abuse, overpayment and class action matters. Burns also maintains an active pro bono practice, including providing pro bono services to indigent criminal defendants facing felony-level charges.
Definity First achieves the 2023
Great Place to Work certification
SAN DIEGO — Definity First, a top-tier provider of advanced enterprise-grade IT solutions and a Microsoft Partner, announced its recent certification by Great Place to Work. The Great Place to Work Institute reserves its certification for select companies that pass its employee audits, determined by the Trust Index Score, calculated by the aggregate responses. It measures workplace experience, leadership behaviors, values, and trust. Definity First achieved an impressive 95 percent score on the final survey to earn the Great Place to Work certification.
Dogs of Downtown
Dog owners and furry friends are invited for a day of fun at the park, brought to you by the Downtown San Diego Partnership and Clean & Safe.
This free event for dogs and humans will be held on Saturday, March 11 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. at Fault Line Park in Downtown San Diego.
The event features local dog-related vendors, photo opportunities, doggy giveaways, live music, caricature artists, custom engraved dog tags, dog adoption and more.
Looking for your fur-ever friend? Kane’s K9s & Animal Rescue will be on-site with dogs available to be adopted and/or fostered.
