Daily Business Report: June 14, 2023
Researchers find an immune system
‘trip wire’ that detects COVID-19
By Mario Aguilera | UC San Diego
Inflammasomes make up an intricate system of molecular sensors that our bodies use to sound an alarm when an infection occurs. However, the mechanisms behind these sensors, which initiate responses to threats such as invading pathogens, and how they operate has been an area of intrigue for immunologists.
In a new study, University of California San Diego biologists describe a previously unknown way that the immune system detects certain viruses. The inflammasome immune protein known as CARD8, they found, can serve as a trip wire to detect a range of viruses, including SARS-Cov-2, which causes COVID-19.
Adding a twist to their discovery, researchers led by the School of Biological Sciences’ Matt Daugherty, and colleagues at the University of Washington and UC Berkeley, found that CARD8 functions differently among various species and even varies between individuals in the human population.
Biologists have identified a previously unknown way that our immune system detects viruses. The immune protein CARD8 acts as a trip wire to detect a range of viruses, including the virus that causes COVID. (Credit: iStock/peterschreiber.media)
General Atomics awarded contract
for aircraft launch system and
arresting gear for future USS Doris Miller
General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems has been awarded a contract modification by Naval Air Systems Command for the Electromagnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS) and Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG) for the future Ford-class aircraft carrier USS Doris Miller.
General Atomics will provide production, manufacturing, engineering, program management, logistics support, and information assurance to deliver the systems for the ship.
General Atomics delivered the systems to the first-in-class USS Gerald R. Ford and is under contract with the Navy to support CVN 78 sustainment requirements. CVN 78 has completed blue water certification with a full air wing and sustained operations supported by EMALS and AAG. In addition to this CVN 81 contract award, General Atomics is also under contract and delivering EMALS and AAG for the future USS John F. Kennedy and USS Enterprise.
California’s COVID unemployment
reckoning goes national
By Lauren Hepler | CalMatters
A former federal technology official enlisted by Gov. Gavin Newsom to triage California’s pandemic unemployment response details in a new book how technical and political failures combined to block payments to workers while enabling fraud.
Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code For America and former U.S. deputy chief technology officer, writes that the turmoil at California’s Employment Development Department is a prime example of failures that have also plagued other major civic tech efforts, such as the post-Obamacare implosion of healthcare.gov or archaic IT systems at the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.
“Of all the tech disasters I’ve witnessed and tried to help untangle, the one I’ve come to see as most emblematic of these forces — and the ways we consistently misunderstand them — is the story of California’s unemployment insurance in the first year of the pandemic,” Pahlka writes in the book “Recoding America: Why Government is Failing In the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better.”
LA Rams and Denver Nuggets owner to be
primary investor in Sports Arena project
Voice of San Diego
Stan Kroenke, the billionaire owner of the Denver Nuggets, which won the NBA Finals Monday night, the Los Angeles Rams and several other major sports teams, has announced that he is going to be the primary investor in the Midway Rising project at Sports Arena. Midway Rising won the right to negotiate exclusively with the city to come up with a final plan for the thousands of homes, commercial amenities, parks and new arena on the nearly 50 acres of city land at the site.
It was Kroenke’s decision to purchase land in Inglewood and first secret, then loud, campaign to move the St. Louis Rams there that provoked the owners of the then San Diego Chargers to openly advocate for a move to Los Angeles as well.
Department of Homeland Security releases
human trafficking toolkit for Tribal industries
The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released its new toolkit to address human trafficking in popular Tribal industries this past week. Called the “Human Trafficking Response Guide for the Tribal Gaming and Hospitality Industry,” this is the first response guide specifically tailored to human trafficking in Tribal hotels and casinos.
The toolkit, developed at the request of Tribal leaders, business owners, and human trafficking survivors, outlines culture-specific signals of human trafficking, providing a number of definitions and examples as well as resources hotel and casino workers and owners can use to detect, report, and address human trafficking in their place of business.
“Successfully combating human trafficking is a multi-disciplinary, ‘whole-of-society’ effort,” said Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. “I thank the (National Indian Gaming Commission), the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and U.S. Department of Treasury for their continued partnership to combat human trafficking within the Indian gaming and hospitality industry.”
ICE used controversial tool to request
student medical records and more
By Jakob McWhinney and Jesse Marx | Voice of San Diego
From 2016 to August of 2022, U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement used a controversial legal tool to demand information from San Diego County organizations over 500 times.
The tool, called a 1509 summons, is meant to gather information related to illegal imports, duties and customs investigations. But a database obtained through FOIA by Dhruv Mehrotra of WIRED and shared with Voice of San Diego showed that over a nearly six-year period, ICE issued more than 170,000 of the summonses across the country.
The summonses have been criticized by legal experts and immigration advocates as a way of bypassing the judicial oversight that comes with a warrant. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General reviewed a sample of summonses in response to public pushback and concluded in 2017 that 20 percent had been issued illegally or in violation of federal policy.
Plant With Purpose CEO celebrates 30
years of helping environmental nonprofit
SAN DIEGO — Plant With Purpose, a San Diego based, Christian nonprofit organization dedicated to reversing global poverty and environmental damage, is celebrating the 30th anniversary of CEO Scott Sabin.
He joined the company in 1993 and has served in an executive capacity since 1995.
Sabin helped grow Plant With Purpose from a single program in one country to now include more than 1500 communities in nine countries around the world.
GOGO Charter’s bus and shuttle
fleet comes to San Diego
SAN DIEGO — GOGO Charters, a national charter bus and shuttle brand, has officially launched it service in the greater San Diego area. The company will offer one-time and recurring group transportation services for a variety of trips, events and special occasions. The company’s vehicle fleet accommodates groups of all sizes, ranging from minibuses for 18-30 people, to full-size motorcoaches for up to 56 people, and even party buses. Farzin Parsa is president of GOGO Charters.
City Council secures $3 million for World
Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024
SAN DIEGO — The San Diego City Council voted 9-0 to secure $3 million in funding in the FY24 budget for the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024 program development and implementation. This investment from the city represents critical funding for the program, but more support is still needed. The funding will be used for program planning, production and marketing efforts. WDC 2024 is committed to supporting nonprofit arts, culture, and design organizations, cultural districts, and other community associations in San Diego.
County’s evening budget hearing is Thursday
SAN DIEGO — If you missed the first public hearing on the County of San Diego’s $8.11 billion recommended budget for fiscal year 2023-24, a final hearing will take place at 5:30 p.m. on Thursday. View an executive summary. The public can also attend the final budget hearing and the 9 a.m. budget deliberations and adoption on Tuesday, June 27 at the County Administration Center.
NeoVolta solar battery maker slated
to join Russell Microcap Index
POWAY — NeoVolta, a solar battery manufacturer and developer of smart residential energy storage solutions, will join the Russell Microcap Index following the 2023 Russell indexes annual reconstitution, which takes effect once the U.S. market opens on June 26, 2023. Membership in the Russell Microcap Index, which is a one-year term, allows for automatic inclusion in relevant growth and value-style indexes.
Credit union to host webinar on
how to protect against elder abuse
SAN DIEGO —San Diego County Credit Union,will host “District Attorney Tips on How to Avoid Becoming the Next Victim of Elder Financial Abuse,” during Elder Abuse Awareness Month in June. This complimentary educational webinar presented by San Diego County
Deputy District Attorney Scott Pirrello will take place on Wednesday, June 21 at 12 p.m. This free webinar is open to the public, but virtual seating is limited and reservations are required. Register here
County to host town hall
on keeping families together
County of San Diego Child Welfare Services is transforming into the Child and Family Well-Being Department, expanding its focus to keeping families intact and thriving.
The public is invited to participate in a town hall on the topic this Saturday, June 17 at the Copley-Price Family YMCA, 4300 El Cajon Blvd. from 10:30 a.m. to noon. People who would like to learn more or share their thoughts on how the county can better serve children and families can register to attend here.
GoFormz application
earns Acumatica certification
SAN DIEGO — GoFormz, a leading digital forms and data collection platform announced that its software has been recognized as an Acumatica-Certified Application (ACA), meeting the highest standards set for Acumatica integration and functionality. The certification can give both Acumatica customers and prospects confidence that GoFormz’s application can meet their needs. Acumatica, the world’s fastest-growing cloud ERP company, was recently recognized by customers for its positive relationships and usability, leading to ten No. 1 rankings in G2 Business Software and Services 2022 reports.
Paul G. Yock joins Starlight Cardiovascular board
SAN DIEGO — Paul G. Yock has joined the Starlight Cardiovascular Board of Directors. Yock is the founder, director emeritus, and a board member of the Stanford Byers Center for Biodesign. He is the former Martha Meier Weiland professor of medicine, founding co-chair of Stanford University’s Department of Bioengineering, and the 2018 recipient of the National Academy of Engineering’s Gordon Prize for Innovation in Engineering and Technology Education.
ProciseDX announces acquisition by Biosynex S.A.
SAN DIEGO — ProciseDx Inc. announced that it is being acquired by Biosynex S.A., a French diagnostics company that specializes in point of care testing. With the support of the Biosynex Group, ProciseDx expects to commercialize the first FDA approved infliximab and adalimumab drug monitoring tests later this year. ProciseDx technology enables Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (TDM) tests at point-of-care. Biosynex Group’s commitment to TDM was demonstrated earlier this year, when Biosynex took control of Theradiag S.A., the leading European provider of biologic TDM testing kits for centralized laboratories.
Dr. Kyu Rhee to serve as senior
strategic advisor for XiFin
SAN DIEGO — XiFin announced that Kyu Rhee, M.D., will serve as senior strategic advisor to help drive acceptance for expanded payor coverage of pharmacist-provided clinical services through medical benefits and the convergence of diagnostics and therapy. Rhee serves as a physician executive across the health care industry, and most recently, was senior vice president and Aetna chief medical officer at CVS Health. Rhee will work with XiFin’s pharmacy division, OmniSYS, to build momentum behind the national movement to broaden and make permanent pharmacists’ role as proven providers of clinical services.
