Daily Business Report: March 20, 2024
Engineering alumna
becomes newest NASA astronaut
By Katherine Connor | UC San Diego
Deniz Burnham, who earned a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of California San Diego Jacobs School of Engineering, became one of NASA’s newest astronauts on March 5. Burnham, who is part of NASA’s 23rd class of astronauts, graduated from two years of basic training and earned her wings, meaning she is now able to serve on missions to the moon, the International Space Station, and even Mars.
She was one of 12 newly minted astronauts in the class– 10 Americans and two from the United Arab Emirates– selected from a pool of more than 12,000 applicants.
“After this long two-plus year journey of training as an astronaut candidate, we’re honestly just ready to serve,” said Burnham. “We’ll be supporting in our ground jobs while we wait for flight assignments.”
Burnham joins a storied group of three other UC San Diego alumni – all women – to complete training and serve in NASA’s astronaut corps. The first American woman to fly in space, Sally Ride, became a professor at UC San Diego after retiring from NASA.
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U.S. Department of Justice grant bolsters
a gender-based violence project for
SDSU’s cultural resources centers
Monica J. Casper, special assistant to the president on gender-based violence and chair of the Blue Ribbon Task Force on Gender-Based Violence, will lead efforts at SDSU in a new three-year project titled “Preventing Gender-Based Violence and Supporting Survivors in University Cultural Resource Centers.”
Casper received a $500K grant from the Office on Violence Against Women.
The Office on Violence Against Women “provides federal leadership in developing the national capacity to reduce violence against women and administer justice for and strengthen services to victims of domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking,” according to the mission statement. The Biden Administration has supported efforts to address gender-based violence, including the 2023 release of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence.
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Using wrist-worn activity trackers to help
patients reduce long COVID symptoms
Scientists at the Scripps Research Digital Trials Center have partnered with the health technology company CareEvolution to launch a remote study that will investigate whether wrist-worn devices, such as activity trackers and smartwatches, can help people with long COVID manage and reduce the severity of their symptoms.“New treatments and interventions are urgently needed,” says the study principal investigator Julia Moore Vogel. “We’re excited to launch the Long COVID Wearable Study and apply our team’s expertise in sensor technologies and digital trials to collecting robust data on how activity trackers might provide some patients with much needed relief. While symptom management will not remove the root cause of long COVID, we hope to validate the patient community’s experience that pacing is currently one of the best ways to reduce symptom severity, and wearable devices can help implement pacing.”
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Kratos receives $57.6 million contract for 70 BQM-177A Aerial Targets
Defense company Kratos Defense & Security Solutions Inc. announced that its Unmanned Systems Division has received a $57.6 million modification to a previously awarded contract to procure full rate production and delivery of 70 BQM-177A Surface Launched Aerial Targets and 70 Rocket-Assisted Takeoff attachment kits, as well as associated technical and administrative data in support of weapons system test, and evaluation and fleet training for the Navy.
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Northrop Grumman’s B-21 Raider
receives Aviation Week Grand Laureate Award
Northrop Grumman Corporation received the Aviation Week Grand Laureate Award in the defense category for its role as the prime contractor delivering the B-21 Raider to the United States Air Force. Aviation Week announced the Grand Laureate winners at its 66th Annual Laureate awards in Washington, D.C.
In the fall of 2023, the Air Force confirmed the first B-21 test vehicle had entered flight test, followed by low-rate initial production award. The aircraft is currently undergoing a robust flight test campaign executed by the B-21 Combined Test Force at Edwards Air Force Base in California. The program continues to meet all DoD technical, schedule and affordability requirements on its path to operational capability.
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City launches search for a new fire chief
The City of San Diego has launched a nationwide search for a new chief of the San Diego Fire-Rescue Department, including a public survey and community forums to gather feedback from residents. Colin Stowell, the current chief, has served the city for 34 years and will be retiring in August.
Prevail Legal announces ISO 27001 certification
Prevail Legal Inc., a pioneering testimony management platform providing legal transcription, court reporting services, and advanced testimony intelligence tools, announces the achievement of SOC 2 Type 2 attestation and ISO 27001 certification. These accreditations establish Prevail as the only testimony intelligence platform on the market today to offer the highest degree of data security in legal transcription for a wide array of proceedings, including depositions and arbitration hearings.
Blacksmith Medicines to present at the Gordon Research Conference
Blacksmith Medicines Inc. , a leading biopharma, announced that it will present a talk highlighting its novel chemistry technology platform at the New Antibacterial Discovery and Development Gordon Research Conference (GRC): Innovative Approaches in Antibacterial Research and Development to Fight the Antibiotic Resistance Crisis being held through March 22 in Ventura.
Preferred Employers Insurance awarded 3 American Advertising awards
Preferred Employers Insurance, a Berkle y company, has been awarded three 2024 American Advertising Awards for the company’s brand refresh that launched in December 2023 The San Diego competition is one of 200 regional competitions generating over 30,000 total annual entries competing for the “ADDY” awards nationwide.
Point2 Technology to showcase at Optical Fiber Communications Conference
Point2 Technologym a leading provider of ultra-low-power, low-latency mixed-signal SoC solutions for multi-terabit interconnect, announced its participation in the Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition through March 28 at the San Diego Convention Center. Co-founder Sean Park will participate in the “Cutting-Edge Technologies” panel discussion.
Spectra7 to participate in Ethernet Alliance demonstration
Spectra7 Microsystems Inc., a leading provider of high-performance analog semiconductor products for broadband connectivity markets, will participate in the Ethernet Alliance demonstration during the 2024 Optical Fiber Communication Conference and Exhibition at the San Diego Convention Center through March 28.
Drata releases Adaptive Automation
Drata, a leading continuous security and compliance automation platform, unveiled a new offering, Adaptive Automation. Augmenting the scope of continuous control monitoring and evidence collection, Adaptive Automation empowers GRC professionals to save time and automate even more of their compliance program through customized tests within Drata’s platform, all from a no-code test builder.
Procede announces release of Excede UPS Integration v1.0
Procede Software, a leading heavy-duty commercial vehicle dealer management system and solutions provider, announced the release of the Excede UPS Integration v1.0, which is designed to streamline dealership shipping processes by integrating them directly into Excede. Shipping is a high-volume, time-consuming activity that takes place in every dealership and represents a key opportunity to create broad business impact across Procede’s entire customer base. The integration reflects the company’s ongoing commitment to listening to its customers.
SoCal Gas joins Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Electrochaea
Southern California Gas Company, a subsidiary of Sempra, announced its collaboration with Electrochaea and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory on an innovative research project that aims to develop a single-stage electro-bioreactor to transform excess renewable electricity and biogas into carbon-neutral synthetic biomethane, also known as renewable natural gas. This approach could mark a significant advancement in power to gas technology.
Salt Labs creates the first relief fund for clients
affected by BlueBoard’s abrupt shutdown
Salt Labs, a modern employee rewards solution for frontline workers, announced the creation of the first relief fund for the hundreds of thousands of workers recently affected by the sudden shutdown of San Diego-based Blueboard, an experiential employee recognition platform. This relief fund is reserved for Blueboard client employees who have pre-funded rewards that can no longer be honored due to the company’s unanticipated closure on March 12, 2024.
Speakeasy Co. launches Liquid Library, the
ultimate one-stop-shop for wine and spirits
Speakeasy Co., leading direct-to-consumer e-commerce solution for the beverage alcohol industry, announces the launch of its new online marketplace, the Liquid Library, providing customers with a convenient and innovative way to shop for their favorite alcohol brands, and brands they have yet to discover. Since its launch in October, Liquid Library has already seen significant growth and success.
Sony Group exhibits at world’s largest
international conference on accessibility
Sony Group announced that it will have an exhibit at the world’s largest international conference on accessibility, the “CSUN Assistive Technology Conference 2024” March 18 to 22in Anaheim. The exhibit will showcase Sony’s accessible products and various inclusive design initiatives, including Access controller for the PlayStation 5 console, which can be customized to suit each players needs, and Float Run off-ear headphones.
