Daily Business Report: July 25, 2023
Navy, Congress continue to wrangle
over fate of San Diego-based warships
San Diego Union-Tribune
San Diego Bay is awash in warships the Navy no longer wants but may have to keep, at least for the short term. Congress continues to push back on efforts by the Navy to decommission some ships early, as well ships that are near or have reached their retirement age. Many lawmakers say the vessels are still needed, especially Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruisers.
The Navy disagrees, insisting that the ships should be scrapped to free up money to build new, more advanced platforms. The matter wasn’t clearly resolved when the U.S. House of Representatives recently approved a defense authorization bill for fiscal 2024. The matter has been passed onto the Senate.
That leaves a question mark over the fate of three San Diego-based cruisers, each of which were designed to last at least 35 years. The Navy wants to get rid of the USS Cowpens (age 32), USS Mobile Bay (36) and the USS Bunker Hill (37).
Photo: The USS Bunker Hill is one of three ships the Navy wants to get rid of. (Navy photo)
Community college transfer numbers
remain far below the state’s own goal
By Adam Echelman and Erica Yee | CalMatters
The community college system is falling short of one of its most important benchmarks: the number of students who transfer to a four-year college or university. It remains well below the system’s own goal, and lawmakers have taken notice.
“Although most students intend to transfer to a four-year university, few do,” wrote a group of state legislators this year as they asked the state to audit community college performance.
Set in 2017, the goal was to increase the annual number of community college students who transfer to the University of California and California State University from nearly 89,000 to more than 120,000 by 2022. In the 2020-21 academic year, the most recent data available, nearly 99,000 community college students transferred to a UC or Cal State.
Community College Chancellor Daisy Gonzales wrote to legislators that the goal “has not been fully achieved.”
She said that the UC and Cal State system rejected nearly 30,000 eligible community college applicants in fall 2020 — more than enough transfers to meet the community colleges system’s goal. She wrote there was “insufficient capacity” at the UC and Cal State campuses and asked the auditors to include equal scrutiny of those systems, since everyone is mutually responsible for coordinating successful transfers.
Strawberry consumption may improve
cognitive function in older adults
Daily strawberry consumption was linked to improved cognitive function, lower blood pressure and higher antioxidant capacity in a randomized clinical trial conducted at San Diego State University and builds on previous research demonstrating the cardiovascular, metabolic and cognitive health benefits of strawberries.
The double-blind, placebo-controlled study was conducted in 35 healthy men and women, aged 66 to 78. The participants consumed 26 grams of freeze-dried strawberry powder, equivalent to two servings of strawberries daily, or a control powder for eight weeks each.
Following strawberry consumption, cognitive processing speed increased by 5.2 percent, systolic blood pressure decreased by 3.6 percent and total antioxidant capacity significantly increased by 10.2 percent. Waist circumference decreased by 1.1 percent during both the control and intervention arms of the trial. While consuming the control powder, participants experienced increased serum triglycerides.
“This study demonstrates that consuming strawberries may promote cognitive function and improve cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension,” said Shirin Hooshmand, professor in the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at San Diego State and principal investigator on the study. “We’re encouraged that a simple dietary change, like adding strawberries to the daily diet, may improve these outcomes in older adults.”
USD and Fullstack Academy launch Artificial
Intelligence & Machine Learning Bootcamp
National tech education provider Fullstack Academy and the University of San Diego (USD) announced the launch of an Artificial Intelligence (AI) & Machine Learning Bootcamp program. The curriculum, designed and delivered by industry-experienced tech practitioners, will equip professionals with the skills and hands-on training needed to build specialized data career paths in AI and machine learning in just 26 weeks.
Demand for AI and machine learning professionals is projected to increase by nearly 36 percent over the next decade, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, far surpassing the average growth rate of roughly 6 percent for all occupations. Notably, this AI boom also has the potential to contribute a staggering $15.7 trillion to the global economy by 2035, with China and the U.S. positioned to account for nearly 70 percent of the worldwide impact, according to PwC.
Graduates can qualify for entry-level positions across the state, where the average entry-level salary for Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Engineer roles is $109,599 (Glassdoor). The top three AI employers in San Diego are Qualcomm, Amazon, and Accenture.
Single-cell atlas of the human kidney provides
new resources to study kidney disease
By Liezel Labios | UC San Diego
What causes certain individuals who experience a sudden decline in kidney function to develop kidney disease while others recover? A new study co-led by bioengineers at the University of California San Diego could provide detailed insight—at the level of individual cells—into the underlying factors contributing to these divergent outcomes.
The researchers constructed the largest single-cell atlas of the human kidney to date that maps healthy and diseased cell states across over 90 patients. The atlas is intended to serve as a foundation to better understand the progression of kidney disease after acute kidney injury, a condition in which the kidneys suddenly lose their ability to filter waste from blood.
Scripps Research awarded $9.8 million
to address deadly bacterial infections
The National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), has awarded Scripps Research a five-year grant of $9.8 million to pioneer novel immunotherapies against life-threatening and antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections.
The program grant will support multidisciplinary studies that identify therapeutic targets on bacterial pathogens listed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as “critical” or “high” priority. These include Staphylococcus aureus and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which can cause bloodstream infections, pneumonia, or bone and joint infections, and lead to approximately 1.8 million deaths globally each year. Another focus is the bacterium Neisseria gonorrhea, which is estimated to affect over 86 million adults each year globally and is responsible for the disease gonorrhea, one of the leading causes of sterility in women.
Knightscope reseller deploys security
robot in San Diego apartment community
Knightscope Inc., a developer of autonomous security robots and blue light emergency communication systems, announced that partner JDS security deployed the first of four K5 Autonomous Security Robots at a multi-family residential community in San Diego.
This new client is one of the top multifamily housing owners, developers and property managers in the U.S., as ranked by the National Multifamily Housing Council.
Aethlon Medical signs collaboration
agreement with 34 Lives
SAN DIEGO — Aethlon Medical Inc., a medical therapeutic company focused on developing products to treat cancer and life-threatening infectious diseases, announced that it has signed a Collaboration Agreement with 34 Lives, PBC, to investigate the use of Aethlon’s proprietary Hemopurifier technology and 34 Lives’ organ evaluation and preservation system, with the goal of increasing the supply of useable donated kidneys for human transplant. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.
Partners to develop music video for
William Shatner’s ‘So Fragile, So Blue’
SAN DIEGO — Space for Humanity and Legion M announced a partnership to collaborate on the production of a music video for William Shatner’s emotionally powerful song, “So Fragile, So Blue,” which chronicles his transformative journey to space. The partnership between S4H and Legion M aims to capture the essence of Shatner’s experience and share his awe-inspiring message with the world through the artistry of film.
Mesa College awarded $125,000
to improve community garden
SAN DIEGO —The San Diego Foundation, in partnership with the county, has awarded San Diego Mesa College $125,000 to work with program partner Garden 31 and student leaders to address food sovereignty by improving the TerraMesa Community Garden, expanding programming, and deepening collaboration with other food security initiatives on campus. The award is part of $5.56 million in grants provided to 43 community-based organizations to help San Diegans experiencing food insecurity by supporting localized, sustainable food production and distribution throughout the region.
Open now: California Competes Tax Credit
Applications are open July 24–Aug. 14, 2023 for the California Competes Tax Credit. This credit is for companies looking to expand or retain jobs in California. If your business is looking to grow over the next five years or is considering leaving California, you may be eligible for up to $164 million in tax credits from the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).
Awards are based on factors that include:
• Number of jobs created or retained
• Anticipated amount of new capital investments
• Overall economic benefit to the state
• Opportunities for future growth and expansion
Law requiring incarcerated parents to be
housed near their children becomes law
Assemblymember Matt Haney’s (D-San Francisco) AB 1226, known as the “Keep Families Close” bill passed the Legislature with bipartisan support and was signed into law by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Friday. This bill requires the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation to place an incarcerated parent, legal guardian, or caregiver of a minor child in the correctional facility closest to that child’s home. The bill also allows already incarcerated parents to request a transfer to the prison closest to their child’s home.
Sony Electronics’ new Retina
Projection Camera Kid is now available
SAN DIEGO — Sony Electronics announces that a new Retinal Projection Camera Kit is now available. This Kit consists of Sony’s DSC-HX99 compact camera and QD Laser’s RETISSA NEOVIEWER , a viewfinder that uses laser retinal projection technology. Together, Sony and QD Laser are offering a new experience with focus-free retinal projection, allowing people who have difficulty using a traditional viewfinder or screen display, even with glasses or contact lenses, a new, sharper way to view and photograph the world.
Heron Therapeutics announces
cost reduction plan and restructuring
SAN DIEGO — Heron Therapeutics Inc., a commercial-stage biotechnology company focused on improving the lives of patients by developing and commercializing therapeutic innovations that improve medical care, announced a cost reduction plan and a corporate restructuring, following a strategic review of the business conducted by the new management team. These actions are expected to result in cash savings of approximately $75 million through 2025, inclusive of $45 million in operational savings, and continue Heron’s progression towards a streamlined organization focused on commercial execution, enabling it to take a crucial step towards achieving profitability.
The Habit Burger Grill
to open Aug. 2 in Chula Vista
CHULA VISTA — The Habit Burger Grill, the California-based restaurant company renowned for its Charburgers grilled over an open flame, signature sandwiches, fresh salads, and more, announced the Aug. 2 grand opening of its newest restaurant at 770 Otay Lakes Road, Suite A, in Chula Vista. The 2,900-square-foot Chula Vista restaurant will offer dine-in, takeout and drive-thru; curbside pick-up and delivery will be available via The Habit Mobile App and online at order.habitburger.com.
USMC completes 20,000 flight
hours with unmanned MQ-9A UAS
General Atomics Aeronautical Systems, Inc. (GA-ASI) congratulates the U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) on achieving a significant milestone of surpassing 20,000 flight hours with their Marine Air-Ground Task Force Unmanned Expeditionary Medium-Altitude, High-Endurance MQ-9A Unmanned Aircraft System. To date, General Atomics has delivered eight MQ-9A UAS to the USMC. Two of these MQ-9A aircraft are actively engaged in operational missions, playing a vital role in supporting mission-critical Marine Corps objectives. The USMC awaits delivery of 12 additional aircraft, which will fulfill their goal of three squadrons by 2025.
Jamul Casino hosts second annual
San Diego Poker Classic
