Daily Business Report: Aug. 23, 2023
Computer scientists tackle annual waste
of 1.5 billion junked smartphones
By Kimberley Clementi | UC San Diego
From a pristinely packaged device on a box-store shelf to a beat-up and abandoned phone stripped of its SIM card, a smartphone’s journey from indispensable to deactivated is remarkably brief.
In a paper presented at the 2023 Architectural Support for Programming Languages and Operating Systems, computer scientists from the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering say that most smartphones are decommissioned 2.5 years after purchase. That’s the average length of time consumers keep their phones before depleted battery life, a broken screen, obsolete software or the release of a new model motivates them to shop for a replacement.
With 1.5 billion smart phones sold annually, it’s estimated that nearly as many are deactivated within that same time frame. The end-of-the-line for many of these outmoded smartphones is a junk drawer or a storage box in the garage.
But while these devices languish out-of-sight, out-of-mind, their processors could run faultlessly for more than 10 years. That means smartphones are routinely retired after expending just 25 percent of their functional lifespan.
$28 million financing secured for newly
completed apartment building in North Park
JLL Capital Markets announced that it has arranged the $28 million construction take-out financing for Casa Verde, a 94-unit, modern, urban infill apartment community located in North Park. JLL represented the borrower, Champion Real Estate Investments, to secure the non-recourse floating-rate bridge loan.
The new loan retired a high-leverage construction loan, covered transaction costs and carry reserves and provided significant cash out to the sponsor, while allowing sufficient time for stabilization in anticipation of permanent financing.
Casa Verde is located at 3066 North Park Way and sits at the center of San Diego’s highly desirable North Park neighborhood. The project consists of studio and one-bedroom units, along with 3,000 square feet of restaurant space on the ground floor. Community amenities include barbeque and fire pit areas, expansive rooftop deck and clubhouse, bike repair and storage, and gated parking garage and floors.
The JLL Capital Markets Debt Advisory team was led by Director Olga Walsh and Analyst Jack Wood.
New report identifies emerging threats
to mobile home park residents; offers solutions
The San Diego Seniors Community Foundation has released a Mobile Home Park Report that presents an overview of the mobile home park landscape, identifies emerging threats to residents, and provides policy solutions to preserve this critical form of affordable housing for older adults and other vulnerable populations.
“Given the limited inventory of traditional affordable housing options for older adults, it is imperative that we preserve what already exists,” said Joe Gavin, chief program officer for the foundation and a contributing author of the report. “The threat to the housing security of older adults who reside in these parks is very real. Even with an erosion of just of 5 to ten percent of these parks over the next several years, it would result in thousands of San Diego older adults with no other housing options.”
With almost 400 mobile home parks in San Diego County, manufactured homes are a primary source of affordable housing for those priced out of other forms of housing, including seniors, veterans, widows, the disabled, and families with low incomes. Despite their importance, these parks, and the number of affordable spaces within them are vanishing.
Specifically, this plan states that ‘it is imperative that we keep people in their communities and homes and preserve existing affordable homes. Some of our most affordable housing units are the ones that we already have,” said Bob Kelly, founder of the San Diego Seniors Community Foundation.
Netherlands increases order of MQ-9A from General Atomics
The Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) will double the number of MQ-9A Remotely Piloted Aircraft they will procure, taking the total order from four to eight aircraft. The first four MQ-9A Block 5 Reapers and associated Ground Control Stations were delivered to the RNLAF in 2022. MQ-9A is designed and developed by General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc..
“We are doubling the number of MQ-9A Reapers so we can increase our maritime and overland intelligence, reconnaissance, surveillance capacity,” said Lt. Col. Jan Ruedisueli, commander of the RNLAF’s 306 squadron that operate the new MQ-9A Reapers. “The MQ-9As will receive external pods for Electronic Intelligence, a communications relay, a Maritime Radar, and also be armed in the future.”
Southwestern College’s The Sun:
A celebration of student journalism
Southwestern College students had a remarkable experience at the annual Society of Professional Journalists awards banquet in June. The Sun, the college’s student-run newspaper, was named College Newspaper of the Year, beating out SDSU and UCSD. The achievements didn’t stop there as individual students and alumni also garnered prestigious awards for their outstanding contributions to journalism.
“Southwestern College journalism students earned 34 of 43 possible awards and 16 of 18 First Place awards,” said Dr. Max Branscomb. “Winners are Nicolette Luna, Camila Gonzalez, Lesley Garate, Sebastian Sanchez, Esteban Preciado, Diego Higuera, Ailyn Dumas, Hannah Ramirez, Liliana Anguiano, Alicia Rivero, and Ji Ho Kim.”
In addition to the College Newspaper of the Year award, The Sun also received recognition for its Arts Editor Razylin Avendano, who received one of the two major scholarships awarded by the Society of Professional Journalists. Other Sunistas, Diego Higuera and Brittany Cruz-Fejeran, also earned scholarships for their exceptional contributions.
High-fat diets alter gut bacteria, boosting colorectal cancer risk
The prevalence of colorectal cancer in people under the age of 50 has risen in recent decades. One suspected reason: the increasing rate of obesity and high-fat diets.
Now, researchers at the Salk Institute and UC San Diego have discovered how high-fat diets can change gut bacteria and alter digestive molecules called bile acids that are modified by those bacteria, predisposing mice to colorectal cancer.
In the study, published in Cell Reports on Aug. 22, 2023, the team found increased levels of specific gut bacteria in mice fed high-fat diets. Those gut bacteria, they showed, alter the composition of the bile acid pool in ways that cause inflammation and affect how quickly intestinal stem cells replenish. Bile acids are molecules produced by the liver and used by the gut to help digest food and absorb cholesterol, fats, and nutrients.
Vascular specialist joins San Diego Vein Clinic
La Jolla Vein & Vascular, a leader in vein care serving the San Diego community for 14 years, announces the recent addition of Dr. Amanda Steinberger to its team of physicians.
As a vascular interventional radiologist, Steinberger is specialized in non-surgical treatment of varicose veins and its root cause, venous reflux disease and associated symptoms such as leg pain, fatigue, and swelling.
Steinberger is board-certified in interventional radiology and diagnostic radiology.
She is also certified by the American Board of Venous & Lymphatic Medicine.
She completed her fellowship training in Vascular & Interventional Imaging at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.
Café Virtuoso rebrands as Talitha Coffee
Cafe Virtuoso, San Diego’s certified organic specialty coffee roaster, announce its rebranding as Talitha Coffee Roasters, along with the launch of its new e-commerce storefront at talitha.com, providing an exceptional coffee experience to customers across the United States. Talitha is a people-first coffee roasting company that is committed to making an impact by providing employment opportunities, training and support networks for survivors of sex trafficking as they build hopeful futures. Each bag of coffee sold directly supports a collaborative endeavor, directly contributing to a journey of healing, empowerment, and shared triumph.
StratEdge to present line of molded ceramic
packages at European Microwave Week
Santee-based StratEdge Corporation, a leader in the design and production of high-performance semiconductor packages for RF, microwave, and millimeter-wave devices, is set to showcase its off-the-shelf line of molded ceramic packages at European Microwave Week, Sept. 19-21. These StratEdge molded ceramic packages are designed to meet the requirements for chips with frequencies up to 18 GHz, including gallium nitride (GaN) devices. Packages are available in over 200 standard outlines, significantly expanding the packaging options for GaN devices.
$3 million Urban Greening grant awarded
for City Heights’ Manzanita Canyon
San Diego Canyonlands and Ocean Discovery Institute announced a $3million, three-year initiative to complete the Manzanita Greening and Canyon Health Project, lessening wildfire and flood risks, helping wildlife thrive, and enhancing community access to nature-based learning and recreation. Funds were awarded by the California Natural Resources Agency Urban Greening Program and build upon a history of support for Manzanita Canyon by City Heights community volunteers, who recognize that clean, safe, vibrant open spaces in urban canyons improves their quality of life.
Scale Biosciences and Basepair to democratize
single-cell sequencing data analysis
Scale Biosciences, a pioneer in single-cell sequencing technology, announced a new collaboration with Basepair to provide point and click bioinformatic analysis of single-cell data produced with its patented and disruptive combinatorial indexing technology. As a result of this collaboration, scientists will be able to access Scale Biosciences’ optimized bioinformatics pipeline through a user-friendly, web-based, graphical user interface.
Genesis Therapeutics closes oversubscribed $200 million Series B
Genesis, a company pioneering artificial intelligence (AI) technologies to create breakthrough medicines for patients with severe diseases, announced that it has closed an oversubscribed $200 million round of Series B financing. The fresh capital will enable Genesis to evolve into a clinical stage company, further invest in its state-of-the-art AI platform, and ambitiously expand its discovery pipeline.
Medcrypt Inc. and NetRise announce security partnership
Medcrypt Inc., the proactive cybersecurity solution provider for medical device manufacturers, announced its partnership with NetRise, the company providing granular visibility into the world’s XIoT security problem, to address critical cybersecurity challenges in the health care industry. This partnership will provide MDMs with a Software Bill of Materials (SBOM) lifecycle management solution that will empower device makers to proactively identify and address potential security risks and ensure the safety and integrity of their medical devices.
SeaWorld launches ‘Weather-or-Not Assurance for visitors
extreme heat and wild weather continue to batter regions across the country, SeaWorld is introducing “Weather-or-Not” Assurance: a new policy covering a wider range of weather conditions than ever before and the most generous in the theme park industry. This expanded offering is designed to give consumers peace of mind when planning their visits to SeaWorld. If extreme weather impacts their experience in the park or impacts their flight plans for an upcoming visit, SeaWorld invites them back within 12 months – and at no charge.
Procede Software celebrates 10-year anniversary of Insider Program
Procede Software, a leading heavy-duty commercial vehicle dealer management system and solutions provider, is celebrating the 10-year anniversary of the Insider Program, an initiative designed to incorporate insights from industry experts and daily users across all departments into the Excede roadmap and product development process. The Insider Program is a primary way the company ensures it is investing in areas that will have the greatest impact and that it is delivering best-in-class products and services, maximizing value, and providing a competitive advantage.
GemPharmatech launches NeoMab
GemPharmatech announces the launch of NeoMab, its independently developed fully antibody gene humanized mouse model, after four years of research and validation. NeoMab is specifically designed to meet the burgeoning therapeutic antibody development demands of biotechnology companies and pharmaceutical enterprises. NeoMab is developed on the widely recognized BALB/c genetic background, rendering it highly suitable for industry-leading antibody discovery.
Crown Bioscience work with HanX
Biopharmaceutical is published in Scientific Reports
Crown Bioscience, a global contract research organization and JSR Life Sciences company, said its collaborative work with HanX Biopharmaceutical Co. Ltd., employing a unique and broad portfolio of preclinical modeling in support of HanX’s successful FDA Investigational New Drug application, has been published in Scientific Reports, a journal within the Nature portfolio.