Daily Business Report: Thursday, July 14, 2022
General Atomics advances fusion technology
Researchers at General Atomics announced a new concept for advancing fusion energy using advanced Silicon Carbide (SiC)–based materials that can withstand the intense conditions within a high-power fusion device.
Offering significant safety and environmental advantages, the GA Modular Blanket (GAMBL) concept will support the accelerated development of a fusion pilot plant capable of producing safe, clean, and always-on energy.
GAMBL advances the design for the breeding blanket, a critical component of a fusion reactor that absorbs neutrons, produces heat, and creates tritium to make the fusion fuel cycle self-sufficient. It is described in an article published this month in the journal Fusion Engineering and Design.
Many concepts for fusion power plants use “reduced-activation” steel for components like the blanket because it resists becoming radioactive better than conventional steels. Advanced materials such as SiC have even lower activation properties and are therefore viewed as superior solutions. SiC’s ability to survive much higher temperatures than steel also means it can support more efficient electricity generation.
Top graphic: A cut-away of a fusion device illustrating how the GAMBL (GA Modular Blanket) could be incorporated into a fusion pilot plant. GAMBL uses SiC-based structures due to their inherent safety and high-temperature strength. The SiC/tungsten composite wall provides superior heat-removal capabilities and durability, and a modular approach enables fabrication using existing technologies. These advances allow for higher efficiency and less-expensive electricity.
Viasat completes major milestone
with second ViaSat-3 satellite payload
Carlsbad-based Viasat Inc., a global leader in satellite communications, announced delivery of the second ViaSat-3 payload module to Boeing’s El Segundo facility where it will be integrated with Boeing’s 702 spacecraft bus platform and undergo rigorous spacecraft environmental testing in preparation for launch. The second ViaSat-3 class satellite is expected to provide broadband service over Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) in 2023.
Viasat’s satellite payload, designed and built in-house, provides state-of-the-art electronics for receiving, transmitting and processing broadband internet data to and from the satellite at expected rates greater than 1 terabit a second (1,000 gigabits a second), which is three times faster than ViaSat-2, the fastest communications satellite currently operating
“Delivery of the second ViaSat-3 payload module marks a major milestone where we transition to spacecraft integration and test on the second satellite in our constellation,” said Dave Ryan, president, Space & Commercial Networks at Viasat. “This milestone increases our momentum towards delivering the future of affordable, accessible satellite broadband services, virtually anywhere around the globe.”
The ViaSat-3 class of Ka-band satellites is expected to provide the best bandwidth economics in the industry with incredible flexibility to move and concentrate that capacity virtually anywhere there is demand — whether it is over land, the ocean or in the air. The first two satellites are planned to focus on the Americas and on EMEA, respectively. The third ViaSat-3 satellite is undergoing final integration and testing and will focus on the Asia Pacific region, completing Viasat’s global service coverage.
Abortion pills will soon be available on California college campuses
By Mallika Seshadri | CalMatters
As California’s efforts to enshrine abortion access continue, the University of California and California State University are working to provide medication abortions on all campuses by Jan. 1.
So far, none of the Cal State campuses offer medication abortions, and access within the UC system varies from campus to campus. Both university systems, however, say they are on track to implement a law passed in 2019 requiring their student health centers to provide access to the pills.
As many as 6,228 students could seek medication abortions on UC and Cal State campuses each year, once they are available, according to Advancing New Standards in Reproductive Health, a research program at the University of California San Francisco.
Making medication abortions available on college campuses would likely free up appointments at clinics throughout the state that could then be sought by people living in areas of California where abortion access is limited or in other states where it is now illegal, multiple reproductive health experts and advocates told CalMatters.
Alejandra Mendoza joins Scripps Research
to unravel the neuro-immune connection
Alejandra Mendoza, Ph.D., will join Scripps Research as an assistant professor in the Department of Immunology and Microbiology to uncover the ways the immune and nervous systems interact to maintain homeostasis in the body.
“Innovation is a cornerstone of Scripps Research, and Mendoza’s multifaceted work is an illustration of the transformative science that our institute is built on,” says Jamie Williamson, PhD, executive vice president of Research and Academic Affairs at Scripps Research. “I look forward to seeing the ways her research leads to new breakthroughs across immunology, neuroscience and beyond.”
At Scripps Research, Mendoza’s lab will illuminate the diverse cellular circuits that form in tissues to ultimately reveal the interconnected mechanisms that drive inflammation. Specifically, her work focuses on barrier tissues, which are the areas of the body (like the skin or gastrointestinal tract) that interface with the outside world. These barrier tissues are constantly exposed to a myriad of stimuli across temperature, mechanical forces, tissue damage, pathogens, commensal microbes and countless others. Extensive communication between the nervous and immune systems is thus essential for the body to effectively—and correctly—respond to these many different inputs.
UC San Diego students to compete
in Sustainability Decathlon
By Katherine Connor
With the affordable housing crisis reaching a fever pitch in San Diego and the impacts of climate change being felt around the world, a team of students at UC San Diego is putting their skills to work as they design a sustainable AND affordable house for the Orange County Sustainability Decathlon.
“The goal of what we want to do as a team is address the housing crisis here in San Diego, and show that sustainable and affordable housing is very possible,” said Jolie Tran, a mechanical engineering student and co-lead of the newly formed Triton Solar Decathlon student organization.
The UC San Diego student team is one of 18 collegiate teams selected to take part in the inaugural Orange County Sustainability Decathlon. The OCSD is a competition for schools of architecture and engineering that challenges multidisciplinary teams to design, build, and showcase innovative, net-zero energy buildings with sustainable materials and state-of-the-art technology. The OCSD will offer consumers a collection of affordable, market-ready homes to accelerate the availability of sustainable dwellings that reflect design excellence and energy efficiency.
Thanks to a grant from the California legislature, each team will receive $100,000 to help fund their project. The competition will take place at the Orange County Fair and Event Center in October 2023.
San Diego County Credit Union proud
to sponsor San Diego Pride
San Diego County Credit Union, San Diego’s largest locally-owned financial institution, is a proud sponsor of the 48th San Diego Pride. SDCCU has been a long time supporter of the LGBTQ community and “we pledge to make everyone always feel welcome at SDCCU,” said Teresa Campbell, SDCCU president.
San Diego Pride is an annual event that centers on the LGBTQ community of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people by celebrating and supporting their talents and contributions to the community.
SDCCU serves the financial needs of customers in the Southern California counties of San Diego, Imperial, Riverside, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura. It has assets of $11.5 billion with more than 434,000 customers.
Pride Week runs July 9 – 17.
Groundbreaking held for new East
Otay Mesa County Fire Station 38
The San Diego County Fire Protection District broke ground Tuesday on Fire Station 38 in East Otay Mesa. Once built, the station will serve a rapidly developing area which includes warehouses, transport businesses, two power plants and a battery facility. Crews housed there will also respond to calls on expanding roads and highways in the area carrying traffic crossing the U.S. and Mexico border.
The $14.6 million station will be staffed with 12 personnel and have a ladder truck, a fire engine, ambulances and other apparatus and will be located just to the south of the intersection of Alta and Otay Mesa roads. The station will be 14,000 square feet with four double-depth apparatus bays, 12 bedrooms, a kitchen, an office, a day room, a fitness room and a conference room.
County and local partners launch Parks After Dark program
The County of San Diego is teaming up with the City of San Diego, San Diego Parks Foundation and other local partners to launch a new program that will transform three area parks into safe, family friendly, nighttime entertainment spaces throughout the summer.
The Parks After Dark events will feature live entertainment, activities for all ages, games and free meals for kids. The program will be offered from 6 to 9 p.m. on Thursday, Friday and Saturday nights at the City Heights, Linda Vista, and Skyline Hills Recreation Centers.
Parks After Dark is modeled after similar programs in the area, including a number of County initiatives. These programs are credited with reducing crime and creating a sense of community and safe places to gather and play on summer nights.
Tyson & Mendes graduates 25 attorneys from 2022 Trial Academy
Leading civil litigation and insurance defense firm Tyson & Mendes announced the graduation of 25 attorneys from its second annual Tyson & Mendes Trial Academy, a rigorous seven-week training program offered each year for a group of the firm’s aspiring trial attorneys.
Attorneys from across the firm’s 16 nationwide offices are invited to participate in the intensive program to learn, perform, and receive structured feedback on specific defense trial skills, utilizing a combination of in-depth lectures, active demonstrations and engaging working groups. The Trial Academy culminates in an all-day, 150-person virtual mock trial event, which was held this year at the end of May.
Firm Partners Mina Miserlis and James Sell, Tyson & Mendes’ Education and Training Department, and Professor Linda Lane from The University of San Diego School of Law led the development and implementation of the Trial Academy. Lane, Miserlis, and Sell drew upon their backgrounds as trial attorneys and Lane’s academic experience to lead this exclusive course for Tyson & Mendes. Firm partners Kristi Blackwell, Allison Lawrence, Edward Leonard, Mina Miserlis, Susan Oliver, James Sell, and Robert Tyson co-led each training session with Professor Lane.
New Office of Immigrant Affairs
launched by City of San Diego
With the goal of promoting an immigrant-inclusive lens in the City of San Diego and helping advance access to economic opportunity for all San Diegans, Mayor Todd Gloria announced the creation of the City’s new Office of Immigrant Affairs, which launched July 1 as part of Mayor Gloria’s Fiscal Year 2023 “Ready to Rebuild” budget.
With the creation of the Office of Immigrant Affairs, Gloria has appointed Rita Fernandez, the mayor’s current director of global affairs, to serve as the office’s first executive irector. Additional staff members for the office will be hired in the new fiscal year.
In addition to implementing the Welcoming San Diego strategic plan, the new Office of Immigrant Affairs will focus on workforce development for the immigrant population, promoting inclusive resources to help foreign-born communities through the integration process, advocating for immigrant rights, and developing a language access plan to provide translation and interpretation services for City programs and services.
Sony Electronics launches new ECM-G1 Shotgun microphone
Sony Electronics Inc. introduces the new ECM-G1 microphone for enhanced video recording through high-quality sound collection. The new ECM-G1 was designed for vloggers and video content creators seeking a compact, high-quality microphone.
With ambient sound suppression and clear frontal sound collection, creators can enjoy excellent sound quality when capturing content.
The ECM-G1 is ultra-light and compact, weighing just 1.2 ouncesand measuring 1 inch x 2 inches x 1.9 inches, making it easy to use anywhere, anytime.
The microphone’s compact size and weight provides flexibility and mobility, even when using gimbals and grips. In addition, due to its small size, the front of the microphone remains out of the frame, even when using a wide-angle lens.
Its compact form factor also allows creators to easily look through the camera viewfinder without the microphone touching their forehead.
SeaWorld San Diego returns six rescued and rehabilitated seals
SeaWorld San Diego announced that it returned six rescued seals after their successful rehabilitation on Thursday, June 30. The group includes five threatened Guadalupe fur seals and one elephant seal. The seals were rescued in partnership with the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC) and received rehabilitative care at SeaWorld San Diego – one of only two facilities in the United States authorized to rehabilitate Guadalupe fur seals. This is largely due to their threatened status under the Endangered Species Act and the expert care required to ensure their health and safety.
“Rescuing, rehabilitating and returning animals in need is at the forefront of our mission, and Guadalupe Fur Seals are no exception,” said Eric Otjen, vice president of Zoological Operations at SeaWorld San Diego. “Responding to animals in crisis requires a great deal of collaboration between partners dedicated to preserving threatened and endangered species, and we’re proud to work alongside partners like NOAA, PMMC and other members of the California Marine Mammal Stranding Network to ensure the conservation of these precious animals.”
