Daily Business Report: Friday, April 14, 2023
Tallest full-scale building ever built on an
earthquake simulator put to the test at UC San Diego
By Iona Patringenaru | UC San Diego
A 10-story building made of cross-laminated timber will be tested on one of the world’s two largest earthquake simulators at the University of California San Diego this spring. Known as the Tallwood project, it is the tallest full-scale building ever to be constructed and tested on an earthquake simulator, or shake table.
The tests are scheduled to start in late April. The shake table will simulate earthquake motions recorded during prior earthquakes covering a range of earthquake magnitudes on the Richter scale, from magnitude 4 to magnitude 8, including various iterations of the 6.7 magnitude Northridge earthquake which struck Los Angeles in 1994 . This will be done by accelerating the table to at least 1g, which could accelerate the top of the building to as much as 3gs. For reference, on average, modern roller coasters produce 4g of peak acceleration.
The shake table can carry and shake structures weighing up to 2000 metric tons, or 4.5 million pounds–roughly the weight of 1300 sedan cars. This makes it the earthquake simulator capable of carrying the largest payload in the world. It’s also the only large-scale earthquake table in the world located outdoors.
The table was recently upgraded thanks to $17 million in NSF funding and is now able to reproduce the full 3D ground motions that occur during earthquakes, when the ground is moving in all six degrees of freedom — longitudinal, lateral, vertical, roll, pitch and yaw. It is part of NSF’s Natural Hazards Engineering Research Infrastructure network, or NHERI–eight experimental facilities support innovative research for mitigating damage caused by hazards such as earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, wind storms, storm surge, and flooding.
The Tallwood project will put to the test a 10-story, full-scale, cross-laminated timber building to assess seismic safety. (Photo: David Baillot/UC San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering)
Tobacco sales ban withers in California
without support from anti-tobacco advocates
By Alexei Koseff | CalMatters
Three years ago, advocates for reducing smoking and vaping in California won a major victory when they persuaded the state Legislature to adopt a ban on the sale of flavored tobacco products despite an intense industry lobbying campaign.
But in recent months, those same groups have been largely silent as a first-term lawmaker sought to phase out tobacco sales in the state altogether. His proposal was shelved this week without even receiving a hearing, and he will instead pursue a bill this session to strengthen enforcement of the flavored tobacco ban.
The decision by major anti-tobacco organizations to sit out another legislative fight reflects a broader disagreement among advocates about the best way to reach what they call the “endgame” of a tobacco-free future — and whether that should be their primary goal. Concerns over public backlash, political feasibility and potential cuts to programs funded by tobacco taxes are all factors.
“All these groups have the same goal,” to eliminate the deaths and disease caused by tobacco, said Chris Bostic, policy director for Action on Smoking and Health, one of only a handful of anti-tobacco groups to endorse the sales phaseout bill. “But people have varying opinions of how to get from here to there.”
Food & Drink Blotter — April 2023
Fresh Ice Cream in Hillcrest
by Frank Sabatini-sdnews.com
The legacy of an Ohio homemaker has reached the HUB Hillcrest Market with the recent opening of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream.
The company’s roots date back to 1945, when the late Alice Handel made small batches of ice cream for residents of her Youngstown neighborhood. In the summer, she would incorporate into the dessert fresh fruits from her backyard. The ice cream was eventually sold from her husband’s nearby gas station before outlets began appearing nationwide.
More than 100 flavors have since been developed, and the Hillcrest opening marks Handel’s third location within the city of San Diego. It is designed as a walk-up, featuring four service windows that face out to Cleveland Avenue.
Made daily, some of the flavor choices that go beyond the standard options include Key Lime pie, orange cream, peanut butter parfait, black cherry, banana cream pie, pistachio, chocolate malt, and more. 1080 University Ave., Suite H107, 619-310-6609, handelsicecream.com.
Port of San Diego approves construction contract
for new Sweetwater Park on Chula Vista bayfront
The Port of San Diego Board of Port Commissioners has approved a construction contract for a new bayfront public amenity, the future Sweetwater Park. To be built just north of the Gaylord Pacific Resort and Convention Center where construction is underway, Sweetwater Park is envisioned as a natural habitat-oriented recreational open space to showcase the unique natural wildlife assets of San Diego Bay, encouraging passive activities to complement the adjacent Sweetwater Marsh National Wildlife Refuge.
On April 11, the Port Board awarded a construction contract to 3-D Enterprises in the amount of $12,543,730 with an option to increase to $15,544,730 if a $5 million National Park Service grant is approved. Work is scheduled to get underway in May. The park is anticipated to be built and open well before Gaylord Pacific is completed.
Researchers to design bacteria
that extracts rare earth elements
By Susanne Clara Bard | SDSU
Rare earth elements (REEs) like lanthanum and neodymium are essential components of modern electronics, from cell phones and solar panels to satellites and electric vehicles. These heavy metals occur all around us, albeit in tiny quantities. But demand continues to rise and because they occur in such low concentrations, traditional methods of extracting REEs can be inefficient, environmentally polluting, and detrimental to the health of workers.
Now, with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Environmental Microbes as a BioEngineering Resource (EMBER) program, San Diego State University researchers are developing advanced extraction methods with the aim of boosting the domestic supply of REEs.
“We are trying to develop a new procedure for recovery which is environmentally friendly and more sustainable,” said biologist and principal investigator Marina Kalyuzhnaya.
Caine Group purchases multi-tenant
retail-office parcels in Carlsbad
The Caine Group, a development company, has acquired three contiguous parcels in Carlsbad Village, Carlsbad, for $6.7 million. The property is at 2780-88, 2802 State St. The Caine Group, has extensive experience in the San Diego market with redevelopment projects. The group owns the adjacent parcels at the Carlsbad Arcade and hopes to redevelop in the future.
Mas Fina Cantina owner Andy Davis will be re-occupying the restaurant space at 2780 State St. and Urban Property Group will be leasing out the additional vacant spaces.
On behalf of the seller and buyer, Urban Property Group made donations to The George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers and Brother Benno’s Oceanside.
Bill Shrader, Joe Brady, and Amy McNamara of Urban Property Group represented both the buyer and seller in the transaction.
Whiskey in the Wild Co releases lowball glasses
alongside eCommerce partner Speakeasy Co.
SAN DIEGO — As of June 2022, NHL retiree Jeremy Roenick and his experienced business partners signed their brand, Whiskey in the Wild Co, to Speakeasy Co. for their eCommerce solutions. After a successful launch and holiday season with the industry-leading DTC platform, the brand is now releasing 3D mountain range lowball glasses to pair with their flagship products. Whiskey in the Wild derived from the founders’ love for all things outdoors. In addition to its premium flavor offerings, the brand differentiates itself in the industry by offering a uniquely designed, full-size 750ml bottle and attached flask
Liquid Instruments announces
strategic global expansion
SAN DIEGO — Liquid Instruments, a leading innovator in precision software-defined instrumentation, announced strategic global expansion efforts to continue its three-year track record of 100 percent annual growth. The company has achieved numerous milestones as part of its scaling efforts, including sales growth in 41 total countries, adding 11 of those countries in just the past six months. This accomplishment comes after securing $30.4 million in Series B funding in 2022, aimed at accelerating product innovation, talent acquisition, and expansion in industrial markets.
Evofem wins Phexxi coverage in New York
SAN DIEGO — Evofem Biosciences Inc. announced a major new win in New York state that improves coverage for Phexxi (lactic acid, citric acid and potassium bitartrate), its hormone-free contraceptive vaginal gel, for more than 5.8 million lives statewide. New York Medicaid transitioned to a single Preferred Drug List effective April 1, 2023, that includes no Prior Authorization requirement on Phexxi. This facilitates access to Phexxi for women covered by New York Medicaid, the largest of all Commercial and Medicaid payers in New York.
Study validates SkylineDx’s Merlin test
can avoid surgery and lower health care costs
SAN DIEGO — SkylineDx, an innovative diagnostics company focused on research and development of molecular diagnostics for oncology and inflammatory diseases, announced research demonstrating significant cost-saving potential with use of its Merlin test, which may reduce the rate of unnecessary sentinel lymph node biopsies (SLNB) in SLNB-eligible patients with cutaneous melanoma. The SkylineDx molecular Merlin test helps identify melanoma patients who are at low risk for nodal metastasis, and may subsequently forgo a SLNB procedure. At a Medicare reimbursement rate of $4,600 per test, the Merlin test could significantly reduce the number of unnecessary surgeries, and the overall cost of care for cutaneous melanoma.
Leading independent auditor ‘greenlights’
TuSimple autonomous vehicle safety
SAN DIEGO — TuSimple, a global autonomous driving technology company, announced the results of a safety audit performed by TÜV SÜD, a world-leading certification body for safety and security in the autonomous vehicle industry. Within the report, it states TuSimple’s policies, processes and procedures for test driver selection, training and oversight process meet the guidelines and requirements of industry best practices. TuSimple is the first U.S.-based autonomous trucking company to publicly announce its results and the first to undergo this type of audit with TÜV SÜD.
Neighborhood Bancorp receives $3.7 million
grant from CDFI Equitable Recovery Program
EL CAJON — Neighborhood Bancorp has been awarded a grant from the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) through the CDFI Equitable Recovery Program. NB was one of 603 CDFIs across the country to receive a portion of the $1.73 billion in grants awarded. Neighborhood National Bank, NB’s community bank subsidiary, is San Diego County’s oldest community bank, serving San Diego County since 1997, when it became the first nationally chartered CDFI in the country.
EQM Indexes launches high-income
pass-through securities index
SAN DIEGO — San Diego-based index developer EQM Indexes announces the latest in its suite of Income Indexes, the EQM High Income Pass-Through Securities Index with the catchy index ticker “HIPSTR.” No, the index does not hold companies that make kombucha, avocado toast and premium tequila, but rather high-income yielding securities that must “pass-through” at least 90 percent of their taxable income to shareholders. The HIPSTR Index has been licensed by GraniteShares for its HIPS US High Income ETF (HIPS).
Masdar expands presence in U.S. with completion
of stake in project from EDF Renewables
SAN DIEGO — Masdar, one of the world’s fastest-growing clean energy companies, has further expanded its presence in the United States’ renewables market after closing the acquisition of a 50 percent stake in a combined solar and battery storage project from San Diego-based EDF Renewables North America. The Big Beau project, located in California, comprises a 128-megawatt (MWac) photovoltaic (PV) solar plant and a 40 MW/160 MWh battery energy storage system. It is one of eight projects that Masdar and EDF Renewables have agreed to jointly partner in, with a combined capacity of 1.6 gigawatts (GW).
Function Oncology announces launch
with $28 million in Series A financing
SAN DIEGO — Function Oncology, a precision medicine company advancing a CRISPR-powered personalized functional genomics platform to transform the future of targeted cancer treatment, announced its launch with $28 Million in Series A financing. The financing was led by a16z and Section 32, with participation from Casdin Capital and Alexandria Venture Investments. Function Oncology is leveraging a new CRISPR-enabled platform to profile and understand cancer in unprecedented and patient-specific detail. The company aims to identify optimal therapeutic opportunities for cancer patients and advance the next generation of targeted cancer treatments.
CourseKey partners with Paul Mitchell Advanced Education
SAN DIEGO — CourseKey, a software built to improve student outcomes at trade and technical schools, will partner with Paul Mitchell Advanced Education (PMAE), the franchisor for Paul Mitchell Schools (PMTS), to enhance the student educational experience. CourseKey’s Skills Tracker, a tool to help students track their educational assignments and progress, will now be included in PMTS’ Digital Student Kits to improve progress visibility and create a modern, tech-forward experience. With the ability to track attendance, participation, and skill mastery, students will have greater accountability and visibility into their education journey and enable PMTS to provide a personalized and engaging educational exper
